Advice for restaurants in Nottingham

[Hippychickster]

Hi, would anyone be able to recommend a restaurant in Nottingham? It's my son's birthday soon and I'd like to buy him a voucher for a meal with his girlfriend.

I've looked on Trip Advisor and Time Out and some look lovely but then when I look at reviews they are not so great, eg Hart's Kitchen looks nice, but some reviews say it's a bit old fashioned decor wise (although the food seems great).

The voucher will be for £100 so not Sat Bains 😂but somewhere nice. They like all sorts of food. I don't live in Nottingham so don't really know.

Many thanks

What sort of environment do they like? Posh michelin star or more casual? I'm local.

World Service is very nice. Memsaab is beautiful Indian food.

Why not just give them the cash and let them know what it’s for? That will give them the freedom to choose

Kushi-Ya is excellent, a bit more trendy and has just been named Jay Raynor's restaurant of the year.

Or how about Alchemilla? Pricey, but less so than Sat Bains.

What age are they? What type of food do they like? Formal dining? Tapas? Indian? Italian?

Annie’s Burger Shack if they’re young-ish!

Thanks for your replies. I did think of giving them the money, but it just feels so impersonal.

Alchemilla looks fab but I could only see a tasting menu which was about £100 pp. Is it just a regular restaurant? Because it looks just right.

@Beezknees I think better than Nando's, but not as posh as The Ivy 😁
I will have a look at the others.

Thanks again!

They are both 28. They both eat absolutely anything!

Fat Hippo

They are 28, give them the cash.

Sat Bains is really overrated anyway, worst michelin starred place I have visited, i went twice as I thought my first visit was an anomaly.
Alchemilla is a tasting menu, but a noisy venue imho.
World Service is a happy medium, if it is fine dining you are looking for.
Iberico is a nice tapas experience.

Tomahawk steakhouse has just opened. I think it's on Lower Parliament Street?

Also hickory smokehouse is lush!

In my opinion:

Marco Pierre White has great service and does the best steaks and Sunday lunches.

Browns is nice and has a range of different dishes. Feels fairly classy but in a relaxed way.

Iberico and Bar Iberico both lovely and do great tapas. Iberico is in a very cool building set in caves and a bit more up-market. Bar Iberico feels more lively/relaxed and is less expensive.

World Service is a lovely restaurant which feels special but I find the menu a bit limited and overpriced.

I would agree that Sat Bains isn't worth it.

I haven't tried Alchemilla but have heard good things. Possibly a bit over your budget?

Oh, and I would advise against Harts Kitchen. The food is good but I do think it's a bit stuffy and for an older crowd than your son.

We had a great meal at Piccolino's, also agree with Iberico if Bar Iberico is any indication.

If they like tapas Iberico World Tapas, otherwise in my 20s my choice would’ve been Annie’s Burger Shack too.

Mesa. Best restaurant in Nottingham and nowhere near sat bains prices! World service is also lovely, as is harts (old photos maybe as it wasn't old fashioned when I went in recently). Yushi-ya is excellent but hard to get in since it was in the Guardian. Bar Iberico is really good. Sans Patrie does a good tasting menu.

Where is this?

It's in nuthall.

OK loads of advice here! Many thanks to everyone! I've got to post it, so cash may not be the best. Definitely going to look at all these.

I also recommend Memsaab.
The food and the staff are amazing.
If they like Indian food this is the place to go.

At that age, just head to Maid Marian Way which is Nottingham Curry Mile - bloody brilliant.

At that age, for excellent food and a modern cool restaurant, I'd go Iberico or Mesa

Uchi if they like Japanese food. I live hours from Nottingham and sometimes wonder if I could justify a day trip just to go back there