Nottingham (or Derby) Restaurant Recommendations

[omniflow]

I've just starting planning a trip to Alton Towers, and I want to mix it up a little and stay overnight close(ish) the night before. Max 1 hour away, which looks to me like Nottingham (just), Derby or Stoke on Trent. Of those 3, Nottingham looks like the best bet for a decent evening out. Despite the destination there are no kids in the equation. Not looking for swanky, but definitely looking for good food - pretty much all cuisines considered.

Any recommendations - or any suggestions for another town / city? I've already ruled out Birmingham, Manchester and Sheffield as being too far away.

TIA

[Mr.Chips]

Not restaurants, but really good pubs serving good food and beer, The Exeter Arms and The Silk Mill, both in Derby city centre. They are owned by the same people and booking is strongly recommended.

[Fermit]

If you're happy to step off the beaten track, then this is the place I had the best curry in memory recently. https://rajdhaani.co.uk/

[LunarOne]

Get The Michelin Guide app. All listings are curated (unlike Google/Tripadvisor) and they have sections for 3 Michelin Stars down to Bib Gourmand which shows easting places that are good value and still good quality, plust a few places without distinction. 5 entries for Nottingham area.

[Mobile Chicane]

LunarOne said:

Get The Michelin Guide app. All listings are curated (unlike Google/Tripadvisor) and they have sections for 3 Michelin Stars down to Bib Gourmand which shows easting places that are good value and still good quality, plus a few places without distinction. 5 entries for Nottingham area.

Good shout.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

On Maid Marian Way in Nottingham there are several Indian Restaurants, two of which (Memsaab & the Calcutta Club) are exceptional.

We always enjoy Piccolino. Nothing fancy but good food served well. We love Bar Iberico, but I don't think you can book. (Both Nottingham).

[Dazdot]

Anoki in either Derby or Nottingham, great food with an authentic, friendly atmosphere. A good place local to Alton Towers for food is the Duncombe Arms, they also have rooms for an overnight stay.

[LunarOne]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

On Maid Marian Way in Nottingham there are several Indian Restaurants, two of which (Memsaab & the Calcutta Club) are exceptional.

We always enjoy Piccolino. Nothing fancy but good food served well. We love Bar Iberico, but I don't think you can book. (Both Nottingham).

Bar Iberico is one of the places listed in The Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand, as is Iberico World Tapas with pricing listed as "On a Budget". There's also Kushi-Ya listed as "a moderate spend". Then there's alchemilla with one Michelin star "a special occasion" and Restaurant Sat Bains "Spare no expense" with two stars.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

LunarOne said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

On Maid Marian Way in Nottingham there are several Indian Restaurants, two of which (Memsaab & the Calcutta Club) are exceptional.

We always enjoy Piccolino. Nothing fancy but good food served well. We love Bar Iberico, but I don't think you can book. (Both Nottingham).

Bar Iberico is one of the places listed in The Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand, as is Iberico World Tapas with pricing listed as "On a Budget". There's also Kushi-Ya listed as "a moderate spend". Then there's alchemilla with one Michelin star "a special occasion" and Restaurant Sat Bains "Spare no expense" with two stars.

OP not after swanky (read eye watering prices...), that omits Alchemilla & Sat Bains.

[Bradgate]

Kayal is a superb Keralan restaurant in Nottingham city centre. Highly recommended if you like regional south Indian food.

https://www.kayalrestaurant.com/

[Dsdans]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

On Maid Marian Way in Nottingham there are several Indian Restaurants, two of which (Memsaab & the Calcutta Club) are exceptional.

We always enjoy Piccolino. Nothing fancy but good food served well. We love Bar Iberico, but I don't think you can book. (Both Nottingham).

Another shout would be Masala Junction, slightly out of the city centre towards Sherwood. Set up by the same family as Memsaab. The food is as good, if not better and the atmosphere is far more relaxed.
I enjoy Memsaab, but often feel rushed through the process.

[rustyuk]

Stay in Bakewell and go to Loveage in town.

https://www.restaurantlovage.co.uk/

[Sarkmeister]

I agree with all the Nottingham suggestions mentioned so far. Bar Iberico or Iberico World Tapas (same people behind both) would be my choice.

Another option if you want something a little different would be the Pelican Club. Really good Italian food and live jazz most nights. Really good cocktails as well.

[simon_harris]

Dsdans said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

On Maid Marian Way in Nottingham there are several Indian Restaurants, two of which (Memsaab & the Calcutta Club) are exceptional.

We always enjoy Piccolino. Nothing fancy but good food served well. We love Bar Iberico, but I don't think you can book. (Both Nottingham).

Another shout would be Masala Junction, slightly out of the city centre towards Sherwood. Set up by the same family as Memsaab. The food is as good, if not better and the atmosphere is far more relaxed.
I enjoy Memsaab, but often feel rushed through the process.

Both setup by the same family and subsequently sold. The same other family bought both!

Massala junction has suffered slightly since the transition but is still very good.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Any help then OP?

[omniflow]

Well - the first thing I need to do is amend my OP to say - "pretty much all cuisines considered apart from Indian".

Whilst I like Indian food, it's just not my idea of a go-to for a fun evening out.

I think Nottingham is the right place - it just seems to have more going on than Derby or Stoke.

The Japanese place looks ideal - apart from the fact that they don't appear to serve wine. Neither I nor my Wife are fans of Saki - we've tried it a few times just to make sure. Neither am I too keen on the idea of drinking cocktails with dinner.

The two Tapas places look to be favourite, but we've got a 6 week trip to Spain lined up a couple of weeks after this. We could treat this as a warm up I suppose.

I don't know if it's an age thing, but I am really not interested in "Fine Dining" any more. Now I prefer a much more relaxed environment.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

omniflow said:

Well - the first thing I need to do is amend my OP to say - "pretty much all cuisines considered apart from Indian".

Doh!

[Fermit]

Let me just add then, if of use, Mr Mans Chinese in Wollaton is IMO the best Chinese in Notts.