Image:
No old reviews to put here at present. Check out American restaurants page for latest reviews!
__________________________________________________
Image:
No old reviews to put here at present. Check out Australian restaurants page for latest reviews!
__________________________________________________
Image:
No old reviews to put here at present. Check out Belgian restaurants page for latest reviews!
__________________________________________________
Image:
21, Tombland, Norwich, Norfolk NR3 1RF
Tel: 01603 766670
Smoking: Yes - designated area (at time of visit)
Parking: No - nearest carpark Tomland or Castle Mall
Expect to pay: £20-25 (approx) a head for two courses with drinks and £25-30 (approx) a head for three courses with drinks
It's Catherine's 32nd birthday today! We decided we wanted to go out for 'posh nosh' and thought we'd come here for a change. We'd eaten here a few years ago but not since I started this website. We'd had a good meal then and hoped we'd get the same this evening.
I have to say I was disappointed with my main course and it spoiled the evening a bit for me. It was quite an expensive meal and I don't think we got good value for money. The service, menu, wine list and atmosphere were all very good but I doubt we'd return anytime in the near future. It was a very similar experience to when we went to The Aquarium (now closed - lower down this page). Everything was good, it just felt like there was something missing. Again, I can't think what it was - apart from the money out of our account!
I had: For starter I had the pigeon breast with black pudding and a walnut salad. This was very nice, nothing spectacular but was a nice appetiser. Pigeon was cooked nice and pink and the black pudding and salad complemented it very well.
For main course I had the fillet of beef with duck fat chips, roasted garlic and spinach. The beef was fantastic but the accompaniments were very poor. I got about five chips (that didn't really taste any different to normal chips) and they looked like they could've come out of a packet. I would've expected some big chunky ones stacked on top of each other like big planks but these were like McCain oven chips - a bit tasteless, too crispy and not fluffy in the middle. The garlic overpowered everything and stuck in my palate and less said about the spinach the better. It was a bit sloppy for my liking and didn't really add anything to the dish. However, the side order of red cabbage we shared went perfectly.
For desert I had the chocolate fondant with vanilla ice-cream. This was wonderful. A slightly charred outside led to a moist middle with melted chocolate oozing out of it. That, mixed with the cold ice-cream was a fantastic combination and end to my meal.
Rating:
Food *** Service ***** Atmosphere *** Menu **** Wine/Drinks *****
OVERALL: ***1/2
5, Ipswich Rd, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 2LJ
Tel: 01603 773227
Smoking: Strictly no
Parking: Yes - On Ipswich Road
Catherine had heard of this place from one of her work colleagues. I was really intrigued. A restaurant totally run by students studying catering at City College. Also, I had a hankering for some ‘posh nosh’ and a good bottle of red. We decided to go for the four-course themed evening and this weeks theme was Australia.
I suppose you could say the atmosphere is quite formal. You are meeted and greeted by someone very smiley and pleasant, have your coats taken and then shown to your table. There’s quiet orchestral music in the background and your table is adorned with linen and expensive-looking cutlery and glasses. I liked it a lot.
Even though it was a fixed menu, we were asked very politely if everything on it was OK for us to eat. I thought that was a nice touch.
It was an excellent meal and the service, as you would expect, was first class. We had someone for our wine, someone else for our water, a lovely waitress came over to check if our food was ok and various people brought each course. I did double check to see if any of them were going to follow me to the toilet!
I especially loved it when the trainee chefs came out to each table with their books for comments. It was so nice to be able to thank them for our meal and give honest feedback.
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Looking forward to when we can get a table to the five-course gourmet evening…
We both had: 1st course – Goats cheese and tomato tart with sweet pepper sauce. Delicious. A perfectly light starter. We’re both big fans of goats cheese so we were more than happy.
2nd course – Crispy salmon with creamed spinach and a citrus ju. I really enjoyed this. The skin of the salmon was wafer crisp and the salmon itself was cooked perfectly. The spinach itself was a bit sloppy but nevertheless worked as an accompaniment. The ju was very good but maybe a little thick.
3rd course – it had to be lamb didn’t it? A good five slices of loin of lamb cooked nice and pink. It came with mashed sweet potatoes, courgettes (zucchini in Australia!), red cabbage and carrots. Very good choices of veg but were a bit overcooked and ‘squidgy’ for our liking.
For dessert we were given an Australian cheesecake with lime and passion fruit. It was like a giant biscuit with cream filling. Neither of us could finish it. We were very full and the cheesecake had a bit too much sugar in it. We mentioned this to the chef and he said that he may have put the same amount in twice! It made us laugh so we let him off…
We left our comments in the book, our coats were fetched and we left contented.
Rating
Food *** Service ***** Atmosphere *** Menu *** Wine/Drinks ***
OVERALL = ***
Image:
68, London St, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1JT
Tel: 01603 622967
Smoking: Yes
Parking: No- Nearest car park Castle Mall
My Australian friend Jay was coming up for the weekend and he set me a challenge of finding a restaurant I hadn't been to that did a good steak. No problem you may think. It took me quite a while to think of Stones.
It turned out to be a good choice. I liked the furniture, the decor and the atmosphere. The staff were very pleasant and (dare I say it) quite pretty too. The wine was excellent (he insisted on Australian) and most importantly, the steaks were good.
We left very full and also very drunk.
I had: Sirloin steak with new potatoes, salad, grilled tomato, field mushroom and onion rings. I was a little disappointed with the tomato/mushroom/onion ring combo. It lacked a bit of inmagination and looked a bit 'pubby' but it was presented well. My steak was cooked perfectly but I couldn't help noticing that Jay's steak looked better than mine. His just looked a little thicker and had no fat. Mine had a thin line of fat all the way through it. I know you expect it with a sirloin and it adds to the flavour, but I found it a bit off-putting.
Rating:
Food *** Service **** Atmosphere *** Wine/Drinks ***1/2 Menu ****1/2
OVERALL = ***1/2
Image:
68, London St, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1JT
Tel: 01603 622967
Smoking: Yes
Parking: No- Nearest car park Castle Mall
We wanted to treat our friend Jason as he had given up his Saturday afternoon to do some DIY for us. He decided that he wanted to come here as he'd had a nice meal previously.
Also my best friend, Matt, was paying a surprise visit from Cheltenham and I wanted to take him somewhere that did a good steak.
We arrived quite early - about 7.30 - so there weren't many people there and not much atmosphere. However, by the time we left about 9.30 it was bustling with activity and every table was filled.
Our waitress was really jolly, knew what she was talking about and was very attentive. The food was excellent and we left very full and also quite drunk on superb wine.
For starter I had the prawns with garlic butter. Large juicy prawns in a beautiful butter. It was messy but well worth it. I also got given some bread to soak up the leftovers which was spot-on.
For main course I, and the other chaps, had the fillet steak with the pepper sauce. The steak was cooked perfectly and tasted gorgeous. I was a bit disappointed however with the frozen chips. I'm positive that last time I came they were homemade.
None of us fancied, or had room for, a dessert.
Rating:
Food **** Service ***** Atmosphere ***1/2 Wine/Drinks **** Menu ****
OVERALL ****
Image:
9, St. Benedicts St, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 4PE
Tel: 01603 765377
Smoking: No
Parking: No - Nearest parking St. Benedicts, St. Andrews or near Toys R Us/TK Maxx
We were out to celebrate me getting a new job. We'd already had a couple of glasses of champagne to drink and were ready to eat.
I wanted to go somewhere close to home and somewhere I knew I'd get a good meal. This place, along with its sister restaurant Pinochio's, immediatly sprang to mind. As St. Benedict's had a nice sounding steak on the menu, I opted for here. I'm glad I did. It was superb.
Unfortunately, for some reason we were the only two people in there for some time so there wasn't really much of an atmosphere. We put this down to Pinochio's next door being completely rammed and it being a Wednesday night. However, the music was good and at a nice level and it being empty suited us.
Our service, from the manager and owner of both St. Benedict's and Pinochio's, was excellent. She also told us about the history and architecture of both buildings, which was really interesting. Overall, a really nice night and we left very happy.
I had: For starter I had the lobster caesar salad. Well, I was celebrating! This was very good although a little too chilled. Really meaty pieces of lobster (including claw meat) with crispy cos, thick croutons and big slices of parmesan in an excellent dressing.
For main course, I was a bit of an awkward bugger. I had the fillet steak from the normal menu but the accompaniments that went with the sirloin from the specials board. I know I'm a pain but they were quiet. I really fancied the brandy and pepper sauce and homemade chips with a fillet rather than sirloin. Sirloin sometimes tends to be a bit fatty for my liking.
It was exactly how I wanted it to be. I'd been fantasising about this all day and it lived up to my cravings. Perfectly cooked meat, really chunky chips and a wonderful sauce. Spot on.
For dessert I had panna cotta. Yes, again. Absolutely superb and went perfectly with the caramalised plums and biscuits that came with it.
Rating:
Food ***** Atmosphere *** Service ***** Menu ***** Wine/Drinks ****
OVERALL = ****
Image:
2, Warwick St, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 3LD
Tel: 01603 627687
Smoking: Yes - in Mad Moose pub downstairs
Parking - No - nearest parking along Warwick Street or Unthank Road
The Wildebeest's 'sister' restaurant based above the Mad Moose pub. We'd been here before over 2 years ago and had a fantastic meal so we were really looking forward to it.
Even though we were almost 20 minutes early (I got the time wrong!) we were made to feel really welcome by the cheery waitress, allowed to choose our own table and offered drinks whilst having our coats taken.
The atmosphere was perfect. Candlelit with Jack Johnson playing at just the right level.
The menu was superb. I could have (and would have if allowed) chosen at least 3 starters and 3 main courses. I'll get to the desserts later. I think we all had to make a very hard decision for each course.
The service was excellent. Really friendly waitresses who gave the perfect amount of attention to the table and were also very professional.
The food was wonderful. Not quite as rich and complex as what is on offer at The Wildebeest but superbly presented and most importantly tasted fantastic. The sauvignon blanc that we chose to go with it was equally superb.
I'd like to find a fault but I can't. Oh yeah! I knew there was something. They accidentally charged us for a bottle of wine we didn't have. I'll let them off...
I had: We were all given a lovely bread roll (choice of plain or onion bread) then brought a beautiful parsnip and onion soup in an espresso cup as an appetiser. It was very 'moorish' (as my gran would've said) and really got our pallets excited.
For starter I had the scallops with a vanilla sauce on a bed of deep fried spring onions and celeriac. Absolutely fantastic. Beautifully cooked scallops and the accompaniments complimented them superbly.
For main course I had the sea bream on a bed of crushed new potatoes and purple sprouting broccoli (with a sauce that I can't remember!). This was really good. Really fresh, gleaming-white fish, and the potatoes, broccoli and sauce went really well with it. I'd never had bream before and was surprised how 'chunky' it was. I really liked it. With this we also ordered some red cabbage and balsamic-roasted potatoes, which we had to fight over. Gorgeous.
For dessert I had to make one of the hardest decisions of my life - Panna Cotta with a raspberry coulis or the chocolate fondant (20-minute wait) with an orange sorbet. It was like having to choose one of your children (if I had any!) as your favourite. I was a bit full from main course so I opted to have the fondant as it gave me time for my food to go down. This was the best dessert ever. Just fantastic. Wonderfully rich fondant with a lovely crunchy outside and gooey middle. The sorbet was really fruity and sharp and complimented the fondant perfectly. I was full but could've eaten another one easily.
Rating:
Food ***** Service ***** Atmosphere ***** Menu ***** Wine / Drinks *****
OVERALL = *****
Image:
Image:
First Floor, 10 Queens Rd, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 3PR
Tel: 01603 483889
Smoking: Yes (at time of visit)
Parking - Yes - it's in a car park!
I really wasn’t looking forward to going to this place. I’m going to sound really snobby but it just didn’t look my cup of tea. It just looks wrong. A restaurant stuck into the side of a car park, up some stairs that quite frankly stink of urine.
My girlfriend promised to pay if we could come home early to watch the Big Brother final. I’ll do anything for free food…
I have to say, that once inside it is actually really nice indeed. Loads of tables, lovely décor and friendly staff surround a veritable bounty of tasty treats that is the buffet.
We were seated by a very friendly woman, had a drinks order taken and then we got stuck into the food.
We had a really lovely evening. The food was very good, the atmosphere was vibrant and I left with an extremely full stomach. Couldn’t have asked for more really. I also learned never to judge a book by its cover…
We had: To begin, we had crispy duck pancakes with hoi sin sauce, cucumber and spring onion. Fantastic. One of all-time favourites. We devoured three each.
Our second batch of ‘starters’ were a plate of spring rolls and other delights in filo pastry with dollops of soy and sweet and sour sauces. Delicious.
For main course, we really got stuck in. Sweet and sour chicken, spicy beef, beef with mushrooms, pork dishes, vegetarian dishes, chow mein, egg fried rice and prawn crackers. There must have been at least 20 different dishes to choose from, or in our case, put on our plates. We just about managed to get through two platefuls.
We declined on desert but I’m told they have banana pancakes and ice cream…
Rating:
Food **** Service **** Atmosphere *** Menu ***** Drinks/Wine **
OVERALL = ***1/2
Image:
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Image:
29-31, Exchange St, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1DP
Tel: 01603 624230
Smoking: Yes (designated area)
Parking: No - nearest parking St. Andrews Street
Catherine’s 30th birthday and eight family members went out for a meal. We’re regulars here and it seemed like the perfect place to go. The ambience of the place was very relaxed and we always get a good welcome and a good table. Tonight it was lit up with candles and gave a really laid back and calm atmosphere.
The service was as good as always but the food let the night down just a little. One friend had to send her mussels back because they were tiny and my duck was just a little overcooked. Although it’s a fantastic place to go for lunch, I feel that Café Rouge suffers from not having an evening menu or a really top class chef.
However, the rest of the party had no complaints and a good night was had by all.
I had: (starter) Nicoise salad . Traditional salad of leaves, green beans, olives, potatoes, etc in a nicoise dressing. One of my favourites a la rouge. Really fresh ingredients and a perfect appetiser.
For main I had something from the special’s board. Duck with cherry and kirsch sauce with green beans and new potatoes. The duck was nice and pink in places but like I said earlier, just a tad overcooked. I would also have liked my skin a little crispier. I also thought the sauce was a little too thick and was a bit ‘jammy’.
I had birthday cake for dessert.
Rating
Food *** Service *** Atmosphere **** Wine/drinks *** Menu ***
OVERALL RATING= ***
Image:
Tel: 01603 624230
Smoking: Yes (designated area)
Parking: No - nearest parking St. Andrews Street
It was my job to organise a meal out for my work colleagues, their partners, Catherine and myself. They didn’t all know Norwich very well so I decided to book a table somewhere they could easily find and somewhere that I trusted to do a good meal.
We got a very cheery welcome, as always, and the ambience was really relaxed with candles lighting up the room just as last time. The music was just the right level and gave the place a lively but comfortable atmosphere. I’ve always liked the décor in this place and the service never disappoints.
It was the first time we’d ever gone out for a meal in a non-work environment and also the first time we’d met each other’s partners. It was a really nice evening and the food definitely helped it go with a swing. Apart from mine…
I had: For starter I had the crayfish salad with a mango dressing – a new addition to the Rouge menu. Excellent. Like a posh prawn cocktail. Nice crisp salad, juicy pieces of crayfish, which went perfectly with the delicious dressing. The three other people that had it all said the same.
For main course I was going to have the confit of duck – another new addition to the menu. However, I was encouraged to go for the whole plaice with lemon and caper butter, new potatoes and ratatouille. I was so disappointed and actually a bit annoyed with this. When I saw the words ‘whole plaice’, I expected something quite big with lots of meat on it. What I got was something that resembled a goldfish with about as much meat on it. What meat it did have was very nice but overall it was very poor and left me still feeling hungry. The butter was nice, the new potatoes were cooked perfectly and the ratatouille was good also but didn’t make up for the lack of fish. To make things worse, everybody else’s (including David’s duck) looked excellent. And they all said it was really good too. How annoying…
For dessert I had the tarte tatin with vanilla ice cream. My favourite dessert here at rouge and there’s some good ones to choose from. Perfectly cooked apples in a lovely crisp pastry. There can’t be a better accompaniment than vanilla ice cream to go with it.
Rating:
Food *** Service **** Atmosphere ***1/2 Menu *** Wine/Drinks ***
OVERALL ***1/2
Image:
Image:
45, Magdalen St, Norwich, Norfolk NR3 1LQ
Tel: 01603 762836
Smoking: Yes (designated area)
Parking: No - Nearest parking Magdalen Street or Anglia Square
I have to say I’m not the biggest fan of curries. I’ve never got into the post-beers ritual of for one with my mates, preferring the kebab option. And I’ve never liked the idea of food that hurts you. However, in the passed few years, I have come to enjoy spicy food and the odd evening out to a curry house. I now realise there is more to them than throat burning Phals etc and see them as a real treat for the taste buds with all the different spices and flavours involved.
Another thing I’ve had to get used to, now I’ve started going to curry houses, is what side dishes to order. There’s so many of them and I have hardly any idea of what many of them are! But when you’re with experienced friends, you just let them order…
The atmosphere is a little too quiet for my liking here and to be a bit ‘snobbish’, I also think the tables are too close together giving a cramped feeling and made me feel a little rushed.
However, the staff are incredibly professional and efficient, the menu has fantastic choice and most importantly of all the food was excellent.
We had individual starters and then shared four different curries between us. Like I’ve said before, sharing is the best way of eating out.
I had (for starter): King prawn puri. Beautifully tender king prawns in a light curry sauce on a thin ‘pancake’ flavoured with plenty of coriander. I had this last time I came and I don't think I’ll be choosing anything else next time. A wonderful way to start a meal.
We shared: King prawn rogan josh. Very similar to my puri but slightly hotter and more flavoursome.
Chicken patia. Lovely tender chicken in a thick tomatoey sauce. Not incredibly hot but just nice and spicy. You could taste all the different flavours going on in every bite.
Chicken dansak. Again, lovely tender chunks of chicken with lentils in a thick pulpy sauce. Pretty hot with fantastic flavours and loads of spices.
Chicken jalfrasie. Our friend Dave ordered this especially as this is one of the hotter dishes on the menu. He really likes his hot food so I was a bit worried about trying it. Again, lovely tender chicken pieces but this time with whole chillies in a quite thin, oily liquid. It was gorgeous. It was hot but not at all painful as I expected. In fact, I surprised myself by liking this one the most. It also made me feel quite brave…!
For sides we shared: Bombay potatoes. Potatoes in a mildly spicy tomato sauce. A garlic naan and a kima naan (naan bread full of lamb – a bit like a kebab) and pilau rice.
An absolutely fantastic meal, all washed down with Kingfisher lager. We left the restaurant absolutely stuffed, rosy-cheeked and happy.
Rating:
Food ****1/2 Service ***** Atmosphere ** Menu ***** Wine/Drinks ***
OVERALL ****
Image:
Image:
11, St. Benedicts St, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 4PE
Tel: 01603 613318
Smoking: Yes - designated area
Parking: No - Nearest parking St. Andrews or car park near Toys R Us/TK Maxx
It's my birthday! A much quieter affair than last year with just Catherine and myself going out to eat.
It was also our first meal out since we'd returned from our fantastic holiday in Australia.
As you may or may not know, Pinochio's has been closed down since it had a fire earlier in the year. Being one of my favourite restaurants I was really looking forward to it opening again.
Luckily its reopening coincided with my birthday so we decided to see if it was as still as good as it was before it had to close.
Fortunately it was. Excellent food, excellent service and even live music (at the perfect level) to accompany our meal.
Most of the fixtures and fittings remain the same and it has kept its comfortable homely feeling. We'll definitely be coming back.
* I have found it hard to classify Pinochio's. It's billed as an Italian restaurant because of the pasta, pizzas and risottos on its menu (and obviously its name!). However, it sells cuisine from all over the world. I've classed it as Italian just to make it easy for myself.
I had: For starter I had the chorizo and squid salad. This was so good. I could've eaten it all night long. Beautifully juicy chunks of Spanish sausage with beautifully cooked (possibly charred) slices of squid. Somehow they complimented each other perfectly and went really well with the leaves, dressing and crispy red onion rings. Excellent.
I also got to try Catherine's goats cheese, which was equally amazing. It came with bruschetta, roasted vegetables and salad leaves. Beautiful.
For main course, I had the wild boar fillet. Oh my God, this was amazing. The meat just fell apart and melted in the mouth. The mash, vegetables and jus that came with it all complemented it perfectly and I could eat this dish again and again. Sensational.
For dessert, I had my first taste of panna cotta. Wow! I think I now have a new favourite dessert. It was wonderfully light and creamy. I even ate the raspberries that came with it and I normally hate raspberries (and all summer fruits to be totally honest).
Rating:
Food ***** Service ***** Atmosphere ***** Menu ***** Wine/Drinks *****
OVERALL = *****
Image:
1, All Saints St, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 3LG
Tel: 01603 667809
Smoking: Yes - designated area
Parking: No - Meter parking around area. Castle Mall is also close enough to walk from
The two friends we were meeting had raved about this restaurant for quite a while. I didn’t even know we were going until yesterday! Catherine had organised it but didn’t realise she hadn’t told me. It was a very pleasant surprise.
We had to rush to get ready and almost had to run to the restaurant because I had to work late. When we got there, it was definitely worth it. The restaurant was bright and breezy and the staff were very friendly. I liked the furniture, the music and the décor. I was also pleasantly surprised to discover they had enough seating upstairs to hold large parties of people too.
The food kept up to our friends’ billing. The only complaint I could have is the lack of choice on the menu and the fact that they had no specials. Although everything sounded really inviting and I could have easily ordered four or five things, the choices were mainly pasta or pizza. There was one meat dish, one fish dish and one salad.
However, what I did have was excellent. It was a really nice place just to sit, chat and spend time with good friends. We left very happy with nicely full tummies.
I had: For starter I had tiger prawns with garlic and lemon butter. Four huge stripy prawns that were both meaty and succulent. The garlic and lemon butter was just the right balance. I loved the way they had shelled the prawns for you after they’d been cooked then put the shell back on again. This kept the flavour but also made them so much easier to eat. The bread that came with it to mop op the butter was perfect. Warm and crisp and lots of it.
For main course I had spaghetti with meatballs with Figaro’s special tomato sauce. I really enjoyed this and finished it very quickly. The meatballs were excellent, the spaghetti was cooked perfectly and the sauce was superb and just the right consistency. Again, I had more bread to mop up the sauce.
For dessert, I had half a portion of profiteroles and half a portion of chocolate fudge cake that I shared with Jason. The fudge cake was very nice. Very sweet but just the right balance. The (WARM!) profiteroles however were quite the sickliest sweet thing that I have ever tasted and made me feel quite ill. Perfect if you have a really sweet tooth but alas I don’t.
Rating:
Food **** Service **** Atmosphere **** Menu *** Wine/Drinks **
OVERALL ***1/2
Image:
2-3, Tombland, Norwich, Norfolk NR3 1HE
Tel: 01603 615718
Smoking: Yes - designated areas
Parking: No - nearest parking Tombland
A meal out with friends before we went on holiday to Italy – how appropriate! Decided to use our SPREE booklet again and this was where we all fancied going.
We were met by a very camp, very friendly chap who took us to a table by the window. The restaurant was pretty busy and the atmosphere was vibrant and lively.
We had a very friendly but terribly nervous young man for our waiter. He was very efficient and couldn’t do enough to help us. Like I’ve said before, I’m not the greatest fan of chain restaurants but we really didn’t feel like we were in one in this place. Overall, a very pleasant evening.
I had: For starter I had a chicken Caesar salad. Yes, there were prawns on the menu but I decided to go for something different. There’s so many variations on a Caesar so I didn’t really know what to expect. It was a pretty basic affair – grilled chicken, cos lettuce, parmesan, croutons and Caesar dressing – but it was very nice and I enjoyed it.
For main course I had the rib-eye steak with butterflied king prawns (I had to have some!) with fries and a pepper sauce and vegetables.
Arrrrrgggh! Why does everywhere you go overcook steak? I asked for medium rare and got medium well. To be fair, I didn’t actually notice until I was halfway through my meal – mainly because I was chatting away. I didn’t complain because of how much I’d eaten and didn’t want to seem cheeky.
Rating:
Food **1/2 Service **** Atmosphere **** Menu ***1/2 Wine/Drinks ***
OVERALL = ***1/2
Image:
11, St. Benedicts St, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 4PE
Tel: 01603 613318
Smoking: Yes - designated area
Parking: No - Nearest parking St. Andrews or car park near Toys R Us/TK Maxx
Our last meal out of 2005. And what a place to spend it. It was Jason's 32nd birthday and after we'd gone on about it so much, he wanted to come and try this place. He wasn't disappointed. A fantastic evening.
Everything about the evening was absolutely spot-on. The atmosphere, the service, the wine and of course the food.
Pinochio's now has two new fans and we shall be coming back in the near future as there were 'too many good things to choose from'.
I had: For starter I had the taglitelle with a lamb ragu. Oh my God! This was sensational and I could have eaten this all night. It came in quite a small bowl but it was actually quite filling.
For main course I went for the corn-fed chicken breast stuffed with pesto and mozzerella served with homemade gnocci. I never order chicken in a restaurant but tonight I really fancied it. It was absolutely brilliant. Although the chicken was just a tiny bit dry, but nothing to complain too much about. The pesto and the mozzerella complemented the chicken wonderfully and the gnocci was superb. With this I shared some carrots in thyme butter. Beautiful.
For dessert I had to have the panna cotta again with figs and a biscotti. Just the best way to finish a meal off. Even better than the tiramisu here and that's saying something.
Rating:
Food ****1/2 Service ***** Atmosphere ***** Menu ***** Wine/Drinks *****
OVERALL = ****1/2
Image:
Image:
81, Prince Of Wales Rd, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 1DG
Tel: 01603 614714
Smoking: No
Parking: No. Nearest parking is meters on Prince of Wales Road.
I was going to cook a three-course meal for Valentines Day, being the incurable romantic that I am.
However, we decided to go out instead. We didn’t want to do anything ‘cheesy’ like going to a nice romantic place, just out for a good meal after the rubbish we’d had on Thursday.
Bamboo Noodle Bar is a relatively new restaurant, very much in the style of ‘Wagamama’s’ – the chain of noodle bars in London. It’s brightly lit, with lines of benches which encourage you to share space with other diners and gives a real authentic feel. We’d been here late last year with some friends and had a fantastic meal so I was really looking forward to it. I just love the way you’re encouraged to share your food with each other. Everything looks so good you can’t keep your eyes on just your plate. I think sharing should be made compulsory in every restaurant.
The food didn’t let us down. I thought it was even better than last time. We’ll definitely be coming back again…
I had: A starter of Tom Yum soup. A hot and sour soup with (optional) prawns. It was just the right hotness with plenty of tender prawns and also squid beautifully flavoured with my favourite herb – coriander. Fantastic.
For main course I couldn’t resist having what I had last time – crispy duck with soy sauce. I exchanged the fried rice for noodles. I suggest you do likewise. I’m not a great fan of rice, it bores me.
It was absolutely gorgeous. Juicy pieces of duck breast with wafer-like skin. The food of the Gods.
Rating
Food **** Service **** Atmosphere **** Menu **** Wine/Drinks **
OVERALL ***1/2
Image:
81, Prince Of Wales Rd, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 1DG
Tel: 01603 614714
Smoking: No
Parking: No. Nearest parking is meters on Prince of Wales Road
Back so soon? Yes, but this was unplanned. It was actually a ‘bribe’ from my girlfriend. Her friend was having her birthday party at Riverside and I absolutely loathe Riverside. Catherine said she’d treat me to a meal if I went with her. So that’s why we came here. It was the closest good restaurant to the dreaded Riverside.
We got our ‘usual’ table along the bar and the service was excellent again. Because we were very early, it wasn’t busy so the food was served really quickly and our waitress couldn’t do enough to help us.
I had: For starter I had tempura prawns and vegetables with sweet chilli sauce. Fantastic. The tempura batter was beautifully crisp and the prawns and vegetables were cooked to perfection. What better accompaniment than sweet chilli sauce? Even Catherine had a prawn! She doesn’t eat seafood but liked the look of mine… Typical!
For main course, I followed a theme and had mixed seafood with crispy noodles. Again, the seafood was cooked perfectly but I didn’t really know what to do with the noodles. They were too crispy to grab with chopsticks, I felt stupid picking them up with my hands and I didn’t like the texture of them in my mouth. Luckily, there was a soupy liquid at the bottom of the bowl so I could soften and eat them that way. All in all, it was very nice but I don’t think I’d order it again.
Rating:
Food ***1/2 Service **** Atmosphere *** Menu **** Wine/Drinks **
OVERALL ***1/2
Image:
81, Prince Of Wales Rd, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 1DG
Tel: 01603 614714
Smoking: No
Parking: No. Nearest parking is meters on Prince of Wales Road
Again? Yes, again. It’s my birthday weekend and Anne, a friend we made whilst on holiday in Ireland, came up from London to see me. She couldn’t make my party tomorrow so she came up for the evening on her way to Birmingham.
As she is allergic to dairy products, bread and all kinds of other weird and wonderful things (and we wanted to take her somewhere we knew was good!) we played it safe and brought her here.
I have to say that I thought something was missing tonight. Something felt different. There seemed to be a lack of atmosphere. Or maybe it was the lighting. Maybe it was because we were eating quite early and it was pretty empty compared to other times we’ve been.
The food was as good as always and we had a very nice meal before setting off round the city to show Anne the sights.
I had: I’m so boring. For starter I had the tempura prawns and vegetables with the chilli sauce again. Excellent as always.
For main course (you guessed it!) I had the crispy duck with chow mein and soy sauce. I’d been craving this all day and I just had to have it. I have to be honest and say that it wasn’t quite as good as usual. The duck was slightly overdone and the skin wasn’t as crisp as it normally is, resulting in quiet a chewy meal. I still enjoyed it but not as much as normal… It won’t stop me coming back though.
Rating:
Food ***1/2 Service *** Atmosphere **1/2 Menu **** Wine/Drinks **
Overall ***
Image:
16, Prince Of Wales Rd, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 1LB
Tel: 01603 618901
Smoking: No
Parking: No. Meter parking on Prince of Wales Road
I was really looking forward to this. I would even go as far to say I was actually quite excited about it. I happened to be passing here last week, looked at the menu and decided this was where I wanted to bring my friend Matt who was up from London. I'd also heard very good stories about this place from friends and work collegues so my expectations were high. It didn't disappoint.
For those of you, like me, who don't know what Tepin Yaki means, it basically means that everthing is cooked in front of you by an extremely talented chef. They also like to show off a bit too with their chopping and catching skills. It really adds a sense of occasion to the meal and is a fantastic experience.
Ok, where do I start? Everything, and I mean everything about this place is wonderful. The welcome, the service, the decor, the atmosphere, the wine and of course, the food. The food is out of this world. I think I may have fallen in love with this place and may have a new favourite restaurant. We'll definitely be spreading the word about Ah So and wil be coming back as soon as possible.
We shared: We all had a miso soup to start. It's like a very clear broth with lots of fresh flavours going on. A real palate cleanser and nice and warming after walking in from the cold.
Our chef then presented himself to us. He cooked us some vegetables and divided them up between our plates and told us which of the three sauces in front of us we should dip them in. Fantastic. Just after we'd eaten these, the tempura prawns and vegetables arrived along with 4 oysters that I'd ordered. Both were sensational. Perfect tempura batter, juicy prawns and crunchy veg. The oysters were incrediubly fresh, as they should be, and were equally as good.
Then it was time for the main course. Catherine and Matt were sharing a meal of egg fried rice (cooked in front of us), duck breast in hoi sin sauce, jumbo king prawns and chicken. I of course had to try it all too whilst I waited for my sushi. The chicken was excellent. Moist, juicy and tender and melted in the mouth. Went superbly with the apple dipping sauce. The duck was cooked pink with a sensational crispy skin. Just fantastic. The jumbo prawns were quite possibly the best thing I have ever tasted. I can't find an adjective good enough to describe them. Meaty, juicy and charred to perfection. Could've eaten them all night.
My sushi was wonderful. Luckily neither Catherine or Matt like sushi so it was all mine. Incredibly fresh tuna, salmon, eel and octopus accompanied by wasabi, soy sauce and fresh ginger. Absolutely perfect. All washed down with two excellent bottles of French Sauvignon. Could well be the best meal I've ever had, certainly in Norwich.
Rating:
Food ***** Service ***** Atmosphere ***** Menu ***** Wine/Drinks *****
OVERALL *****
Image:
Image:
No old reviews to put here at present. Check out Lebanese restaurants page for latest reviews!
__________________________________________________
Image:
Chapel Field Gardens, Chapel Field North, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1NY
Tel: 01603 614725
Smoking: Yes (at time of visit)
Parking: No. Nearest parking Forum car park. Would maybe advise walking or taxi.
I’d been to Pedro’s 4 or 5 times before and it’s a place I have a love-hate relationship with. I love the uniqueness of the place. The fact that it’s a one-off and not a chain and the fact that there isn’t someone somewhere else eating the same meal as you. I love where it is. It’s almost romantic the way it’s situated in a park just outside the town centre. I love the way the inside is set out with its mixture of party tables for groups and its 2-tops dotted round the side. The atmosphere is always lively and friendly. The lighting and the music are always just right. The staff are always so enthusiastic and nice to you.
So what do I hate about Pedro’s? The food. It’s not the quality or the flavour. That’s always good. It’s just the QUANTITY! There’s always so much of it. And it’s always smothered with too much guacamole, sour cream and salsa that every meal looks exactly the same. Some people might like their food that way. It irritates me.
However, I must say tonight was different. We were out with Catherine’s cousin and husband and our friend Jane. It wasn’t too busy but the atmosphere was still there. Maybe because they weren’t so busy they had time to think about what they were putting on the plates. Everyone’s meal looked (and probably tasted) great. A couple of us even managed to clean our plates this time!
I had: Chicken fajitas. I almost always have this at Pedro’s (mainly to do with my above disagreements with the presentation) and it is always very good and very filling. It was really tasty. Big slices of juicy spiced chicken breast on a sizzling skillet with peppers and onions served with (just the right amount of) sour cream, cheese, salsa, guacamole and of course Pedro’s very own sautéed potatoes.
Rating
Food ***1/2 Service **** Atmosphere *** Menu *** Drinks/Wine ***
OVERALL = ***1/2
Image:
14-16, Lower Goat Lane, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1EL
Tel: 01603 666802
Smoking: Yes (at time of visit)
Parking: No. Nearest parking St. Giles Street or St. Andrews
This was the venue for a late evening meal with my friend Jason. My girlfriend was holding a Body Shop party at home so I’d been kicked onto the streets and he was working late. Seemed like the perfect opportunity to catch up on each other’s news and have a bite to eat together.
After much debate we (well, I) decided to go to Mambo Jambo’s. I’d heard good things about it and my work colleague told me it was her favourite place so I was quite looking forward to it.
I have to say that I wasn’t very impressed. I was surprised by the size of the place – deceivingly large for where it’s situated. But it just seemed to lack the atmosphere of a ‘Tex-Mex’ place. To me, it felt like a pub restaurant with loud music. The staff were friendly enough but it didn’t feel that natural.
The food wasn’t that great either so I was quite disappointed even though I had a really good yarn with my mate about holidays and work.
I had: Cajun chicken sandwich with fries. Nice piece of chicken breast flavoured with Cajun spices in a bun with iceberg lettuce and mayonnaise. I had a craving for something like this all day and it hit the spot. However, the chips were definitely not fresh. I think they may have gone cold and then been refried. The salad that came on the side of the plate was a bit limp too.
He had: Club sandwich with fries. Bacon, chicken lettuce and cheese in a bun with mayonnaise. He says he really enjoyed it even though he’s a fussy sod and asked for it without almost half the things it was supposed to come with. Again, his fries were exactly like mine and he thought the same as me. Neither of us finished our meal.
Rating
Food ** Service *** Menu *** Atmosphere ** Wine/Drinks ***
OVERALL = **1/2
Image:
Chapel Field Gardens, Chapel Field North, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1NY
Tel: 01603 614725
Smoking: Yes (at time of visit)
Parking: No. Nearest parking Forum car park. Would maybe advise walking or taxi.
I happened to bump into my work colleague, Rebecca, at a work function and we realised that we hadn't been out togther as a foursome for ages. We decided that Friday was as good a time as any and arranged to go to Pedro's that Friday. Can you believe that her and Ben had lived in Norwich for over a year and had never been to Pedro's? Shame on them! They had however been wanting to go for a while. I told them not to each much lunch and be prepared for the biggest meal of their lives.
We had a superb evening. The atmosphere was loud and lively as usual, the service was friendly and fast, the portions were massive as expected and the jugs of sangria went down a treat.
We left very full, very happy and extremely drunk.
I had: All the Way - I didn't have fajitas or steak! I wanted this the moment I saw it on the menu. A rack of ribs, a chilli tortilla and a chicken chimichanga with spicy rice and salad on one plate. A crazy amount of food for one man to take on but I was determined to empty my plate for once at Pedro's. As this was Ben's first visit and he said he was going to eat all of his, I didn't really want to let the side down.
Yes, when it came, our plates all looked the same but we all dived in. It seemed that even though I kept eating, my plate didn't get any emptier. However, I did it! I finished my meal and I felt like a champion. I expected the waitress to run over and hold my arm aloft and announce me as some form of winner. She didn't and I'm glad because I would have probably collapsed. I was SO full.
Anyway, the food. I have to say it was bloody fantastic. The ribs were tender and juicy and there was just enough of the glaze, which was just the right mixture of flavours. The tortilla stayed crisp and the chilli was just the right hotness. The chimichanga was packed with chicken, cheese and spices and was the best part of the meal. The spicy rice and salad complemented the meal perfectly. Afterwards I sat slumped, full to bursting but strangely proud of my little achievement.
Everyone else enjoyed theirs too, especially Ben, who managed to finish his - and eat the rest of Rebecca's! A true champion.
Rating:
Food ****1/2 Service ***** Atmosphere ***** Menu **** Wine/Drinks *****
OVERALL = ****1/2
Image:
Image:
66, London St, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1JT
Tel: 01603 624620
Smoking: Yes (upstairs at time of visit)
Parking: No. Nearest parking Castle Mall but still quite a walk.
I just had a good feeling about this place. I was given the job of choosing somewhere for us and two friends to eat. I really fancied Moroccan and this place jumped out of the Yellow Pages at me. The gentleman on the other end of the phone seemed really friendly and I was sold.
The welcome when we got there was very friendly. A smiling manager greeted and seated us on a couple of sofas round a table while we chose our food. We were then lead to our table where our wine was poured.
We all got the feeling that this was a genuine place and that it was family-run.
The food was amazing, the service excellent and the atmosphere was perfect – ambient lighting with Moroccan music playing gently in the background. Such a pity the wine was so disgusting. Bizarrely, it complemented the food but on its own it tasted like liquid liquorice. Overall, a fantastic evening rounded off by mint tea and cakes in the ‘Turkish Room’ upstairs. On some evenings apparently, they even have a traditional belly dancer up there. Alas, tonight was her night off. You must pay this place a visit. Just be careful what wine you choose!
I had: For starter I had Kofta Marrakchia – Mildly spiced meatballs in a tomato and garlic sauce with a portion of perfectly cooked risotto. It was absolutely gorgeous. You get lots too. Make sure you’re hungry before deciding on three courses!
For main course I had Marrachi, a Lamb Tagine (stew). Fantastically tender chunks of lamb that had been cooked slowly with garlic, onion, sweet peppers, butter beans, coriander and chilli served in a traditional clay pot. At first glance it doesn’t look like you’ve been given a very big portion. On further inspection, you then realise that it’s deeper than you think and you might not even finish the meal because there’s too much! Especially as you get free sides of fluffy cous-cous (with vegetables and prunes) and a large bowl of risotto to share.
Rating:
Food ***** Service ***** Atmosphere ***** Menu **** Wine/Drinks **
OVERALL ****1/2
Image:
Image:
23, Red Lion St, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 3QF
Tel: 01603 633683
Smoking: Yes - designated area (at time of visit)
Parking: No. Nearest parking Castle Mall
We have recently purchased a ‘Spree’ book. It’s a book of vouchers worth about £2-3000, which you pay £20 for, with the money going to charity. Some of these vouchers are ‘Buy one meal deal, get one free’. We were going to the cinema and fancied a quick bite to eat before going to see the film.
I really like what I call ‘the posh KFC’. The food is freshly cooked, you can choose how spicy you want your chicken wings, wrap or burger and you get a good portion of chips. The sides – corn on the cob, coleslaw, extra wings, beans etc - are always superb too. I like the décor and the music and I think the plates the food comes on are pretty groovy too. And as you would expect from a chain restaurant, the service was bright, breezy and very efficient. A good feed and a good time.
There is one thing that bugs me about Nando’s though. It was NOT started in Portugal! It was a started by a Portuguese man in South Africa. Johannesburg to be precise. We found that out last year when we were there.
I had: Chicken burger (medium spicy) with fries. Excellent flame-grilled chicken fillet with a spicy mayo. Great chips that went superbly with Nando’s own spicy sauce.
We shared: Sides of corn on the cob, extra wings (3) and coleslaw. Perfect accompaniments for a couple of pigs!
Rating:
Food ***1/2 Service ***1/2 Atmosphere **** Menu *** Wine/Drinks **
Image:
Image:
Image:
24, Tombland, Norwich, Norfolk NR3 1RF
Tel: 01603 776420
Smoking: Yes - designated areas (at time of visit)
Parking: No. Nearest parking Tombland or Magdalen Street. Would suggest walk or taxi.
I love tapas and I love this place. You get fantastically good value for money and I’ve always left happy. The atmosphere is always vibrant, the service is always efficient and friendly and very importantly, they don’t try and rip you off with the wine prices.
Call me ‘Mr. Stupid’ but I only realised La Tasca was a chain last summer, which took the charm away for me a little while. But I guess it won’t stop me coming back.
We were here with a new (Australian) friend from work and her boyfriend. They’re both new to the city and I felt we should take them out to a few places in the city. So after a few drinks, we decided to go and eat some tapas. Also, if there are more people, you can order more dishes and have more choice!
We shared: Meatballs. My favourite! Three large meatballs smothered in a tomatoey sauce. Chorizo in red wine (x2). Gorgeous chunks of sausage in a nice ju. They’re so more-ish. King prawns. Four really fresh juicy prawns in the shell on a bed of salad. Squid rings. Calamari rings in soft batter served with a lemon mayonnaise. Mixed seafood – battered swordfish, squid and whitebait also served with a lemon mayonnaise. Fresh anchovies (not the salty type!). Something I’ve never tried before and was a bit sceptical. Delicious. Lamb casserole with mustard and peppercorns. Tender chunks of lamb in a lovely thick sauce. Chicken breast in white wine and garlic. I always find this really bland but Catherine really likes it. Spanish cheese and tomato. I actually thought this would be really nice. It turned out to be very boring. We also had two lots of potatas bravas – roast potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce. Excellent. All washed down with two bottles of Rioja and a jug of sangria. A really good, fun night had by all.
Rating:
Food **** Service **** Menu **** Atmosphere **** Drinks/Wine ****
OVERALL = ****
16-20, Exchange St, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1AT
Tel: 01603 764077
Smoking: Yes - at bar (at time of visit)
Parking: No. Nearest parking St. Giles Street or St. Andrews
We were here as part of a group for our friend Carol's birthday. We were running a bit late and by the time we got there the place was swinging. It was packed with people, there were two ladies singing and staff looked rushed off their feet. The poor guy behind the bar looked like he needed an extra pair of hands. I liked it here instantly.
I have to admit that I'm not a great fan of eating out in a group. I normally find the food not to be as good as when you come out as a two or a four. This place proved to be an exception. The food was really authentic and tasted fantastic too, the service was efficient, friendly and very Spanish - she didn't understand any of my rubbish jokes. I loved the way they only brought us a few dishes at any one time and the fact that each part of the table was given the same amount of everything. I was worried that I'd be peering up the table wondering what they had and worried that I wouldn't get any of it. We must have had about 12 different dishes from the kitchen and they were all excellent.
The sangria and beers were superb and I can't wait to come back with either just Catherine or another couple so I can choose my own things off the menu and make a complete pig of myself.
I shared: I'm going to try and remember everything we had. Before the food was served we had tortillas and salsa and fresh bread. There was also olives, cheese and fresh salad too. Firstly we were brought pieces of oven baked chicken, which had beautifully crisp skin and just fell off the bone. We were then brought chorizo in tomato sauce with chick peas which was really good. Cheese croquettes went really well with the potato wedges with spicy salsa. I thought this was their version of patatas bravas until a portion of those arrived. Beautifully fried cubed potatoes smothered in a smokey tomato sauce. I was really excited to see a plate of shell-on king prawns. Unfortunately, Catherine decided she liked prawns tonight so I only got to have one. They were really tasty so I was quite annoyed with her. The meatballs in tomato sauce were wonderful and I managed to sneak an extra one onto my plate. The mushrooms in garlic butter were really good and it was great to be able to mop up the butter with the crusty bread.
There was something I'd never had before. Bowls with shrimps, mushrooms and peppers cooked in olive oil. Strange but it worked.
I was a bit disappointed there wasn't any Spanish omelette but you can't have everything...
This is what eating out should be about. A good lively atmosphere, good food that you can share and experience together, lots of alcohol, fun company and good conversation. Europeans seem to do it better than us for some reason. Somehow I can't imagine doing this in a British restaurant anytime in the near future.
Rating:
Food **** Atmosphere ***** Service **** Menu ****
Wine/Drinks *****
OVERALL ****1/2
Image:
Image:
No old reviews to put here at present. Check out Thai restaurants page for latest reviews!
__________________________________________________
No old reviews to put here at present. Check out Vegetarian restaurants page for latest reviews!
__________________________________________________
Other pages:
This is the text-only version of this page. Click here to see this page with graphics.
Edit this page |
Manage website
Make Your Own Website: 2-Minute-Website.com