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This restaurant regards itself as a modern British restaurant, with no-nonsense wholesome cooking using only the finest ingredients and drawing its inspiration from the bustling, unpretentious eating houses so frequently found in large cities. Executive Head Chef Dean Crews, a star of the future without doubt, creates exciting menus that offer a unique take on modern British dining.

The décor is not without credit either. Lush in a compelling manner, its reflective ceilings draw from the chainmail light features, add in the red leather seating and come up with a comfortable feeling of decadence that colours the company with elegance and wit. That this restaurant has won 2 AA Rosettes shows that it has confirmed its place in the culinary world.

Merchants is the sort of place that attracts men who lunch, as well as the ladies who prefer a refined and graceful setting where it is possible to think clearly and creatively and look to the future. Salad of grapefruit marinated salmon, roasted beets, anchovy and dill, or salt and pepper squid with pickled mouli and lime mayonnaise can lay a good foundation. Tackling the main options may not an easy task as it may include popular dishes such as boneless duck leg with harrissa, spiced cabbage, potato rounds and dehydrated olives, or slow braised beef ribs with spiced carrot, pickled mushrooms, salt and vinegar chips.

Vegetarians revel in the aubergine and summer vegetable terrine, kohlrabi 'chips' and sesame dressing, but may well join forces with others for a dark chocolate brownie with milk ice-cream, raspberry and Tonka bean.

Roasted vine tomato soup is served with red pepper vinaigrette and basil gremolata or tart of salt cod and sardines with black olives and courgette pesto. Unusual variations on traditional ingredients yield Cornish sea trout with radish carpaccio, broad beans, new potatoes and lemon aioli.

The rise and rise of afternoon tea has not escaped Lace Market Hotel either, and the champagne version is such good value, particularly when compared with city prices that one can well see why it is so popular with those for whom a little something around 4pm helps the rest of the day assume a more pleasing colour than it might otherwise have done.

Tasting menus are always such fun - the coming and going of flavours and textures, the blending and the contrasts. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings for an amazingly modest sum an amuse bouche, 5 courses and four wines are served, with a chef and grape gurus to talk guests through the entire proceedings.

The wine list is more a tutorial than a list. Each wine and its district is carefully described and it's clear that not only is it well able to be supportive of the menu, but must afford persons unknown - and fortunate - a great deal of pleasure in its compilation. Enough wines are available by the glass to make keeping within the law perfectly possible.

As befits their high level of style Merchants has a Website which is a joy to visit, particularly if you happen to be a wine buff. They are of course eminently suitable for weddings and special occasions, corporate events and as a base when in Nottingham on business or pleasure. The surrounding countryside is rich in places of interest to visit.

Their Website will keep you up to date on menu changes, special events and snap offers. Don't miss out!

Chapel Quarter has swiftly emerged as one of Nottingham's premier destinations very much thanks to places like Tonic, which can be aptly described as a welcome addition to this culinary oasis. There's plenty to explore once you're inside; the first floor restaurant is a striking combination of comfort and style with smart furnishings and atmospheric lighting. The impressive cinematic art installation grips your attention instantly and the open kitchen exemplifies the theatrical experience.

Tonic is certainly causing a stir on the Nottingham eating out scene, winning Best Newcomer in the Nottingham Restaurant Awards 2007 and following this up with runner up in the overall category of Nottingham Restaurant of the Year and Best Drinks and Wine List in the 2008 awards, and Young Chef of The Year in 2009.

If a steaming hot cup of Fair Trade coffee with some pastries helps you kick start the day, then just head to Tonic. What's more? Well, you could even pack a gourmet sandwich or salad for lunch. The main bar with its timber ceilings is the perfect place for an after-work drink and at weekends DJs tactfully pump up the decibels by playing an eclectic mix of funky, vocal, soul, Motown and house while ensuring that the sound levels do not disrupt conversation.

The regularly changing menu is in tune with the seasons and brings in a modern twist to formula British cooking. So there's leek and potato soup; home cured salmon, rocket, capers, lemon and rye bread, and confit and smoked duck salad, pickled walnuts, honey and glazed parsnips to be enjoyed as starters. This could be followed by roast Goosnargh turkey, apricot and sage stuffing, fondant potato and mini toad in the hole, or poached organic salmon accompanied by spinach, basil mash and fish velouté. A sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and crème anglaise or Bailey?s cheesecake with almond tuile and chocolate sauce will delight those with a sweet tooth.

If you fancy a nibble at the bar, classics of smoked haddock fishcake, creamed wild mushroom on toast, Mr. Dooley's sausages and char-grilled chicken burger are there aplenty, and the opportunity to indulge in one of their extensive cocktail selections should not be missed. Never mind if you decide to have a burst of originality and try something different, the bartender enjoys a challenge.

With several entertainment venues nearby, Tonic's pre-theatre deals are designed to work in tandem with a diner's theatre plans and who'd not love a local game terrine or pan-fried sea bass before hitting the shows?

Whether it's soulful live music to ignite the spirit or nail-biting sporting events, it's all happening here at Tonic. For those who want to be a part of this fun-filled night out experience or are just looking to explore what this wonderful place has to offer, delving through their Website should do the trick.

At the heart of the thriving city of Nottingham is Sinatra Lounge Bar, Bistro and Restaurant, offering class cuisine for those to whom quality and excellence are paramount considerations. Sinatra is located in the Chapel Quarter of Nottingham, an area that has quickly established itself as one of Nottingham's premier destinations.

The Bistro has its own menu starting with breakfast, through lunch, with a sparkling selection of dishes, whereas the restaurant offers more formal dining and a comprehensive choice of seasonal specials. The wine list seems to have been designed to give as wide an international coverage as possible - and succeeds - with wonderful selections, many by the glass, or bottle.

Inside, the atmosphere is stylish yet relaxing, a haven of good taste and comfort. The background music is a careful mixture of soul, jazz and blues, which enhances the restaurant's buzzing ambiance.

With a clientele drawn from office lunchers, theatre-goers, shoppers and those seeking a venue in which to socialise, there are not too many quiet moments at Sinatras. For those who do not want the formality of a dining table, if the weather is right there is an al fresco area under large umbrellas and patio heaters for you to enjoy your food.

The menu incorporates modern bistro favourites alongside a good choice of specials dictated by the seasons. Starters of smoked haddock and dill fishcakes are oven baked and served with homemade tartar sauce. At Sinatra, pan-fried king prawns with spring onions and chilli served on linguine, finished with lime zest bisque and a tomato ragoût seem to bring the warmth of the sun right on to the table.

There is a good range of salads, starting with a classic Caesar salad of roast chicken breast wrapped in bacon, romaine lettuce and tarragon croutons tossed with Caesar dressing and pancetta crisps. Pan-fried salmon comes topped with a soft herb crumb, dill potato rösti, roast chicory and a white wine and caper sauce. The pasta dishes have that distinctive trade mark of their country of origin, using sautéed chicken strips and bacon, king prawns, chorizo or roasted red peppers.

Bistro mains include slow cooked shoulder blade of beef in Guinness, served on whole grain mustard mash and topped with curly kale, and lamb tagine. Great pleasure is taken in preparing a daily selection of special main courses and your waiter could advise you about what is available.

Tempting desserts could include chocolate tart and orange mascarpone, rum and raisin cheesecake, and a selection of fine cheese, served with homemade chutney and biscuits.

Sinatra is clearly one of the most popular venues in Nottingham, and rightly so. Tight management usually makes for good results and there is every evidence of it here, however, the proof of the pudding is in the eating and their Website should provide good evidence of that.

The handsome contemporary building which is home to Hart's stands amidst elegant Georgian and Victorian town houses, on the site of the ramparts of Nottingham's famous medieval castle. Located in its own traffic-free cul de sac, it is just five minutes to the city centre. It opened in November 1997 and was almost immediately awarded Restaurant of the Year 1997 by The Guardian, a tribute to the quality of its fine modern British cuisine.

Hart's was voted as Nottingham's highest rated restaurant in the Good Food Guide 2004 and winner of Restaurant of the Year at the 2008 Nottingham Restaurant awards. Hart's restaurant maintains a focus on delivering superb food and excellent personal service in a modern, chic and intimate environment, under the leadership of Head Chef, Tom Earle, and Restaurant Manager, Sally Martin.

The British cuisine is highly seasonal with the emphasis on fantastic fresh ingredients. Expect to see delicious starters such as game terrine with Cumberland jelly, raisin purée and toasted brioche, or the sublime smoked haddock risotto with poached egg and mustard foam. For main courses choose pan-fried calves? liver, crispy bacon, mash, shallot and sage sauce, or roast duck breast, plums, baby carrots and duck consommé. Desserts are to die for, chocolate brownie with milk ice cream; caramel, lime and ginger soufflé with yoghurt sorbet, or Gewürztraminer mousse with cassis poached pear.

The aesthetic for the interior of the restaurant is inspired by the Bauhaus abstract paintings of Stefa Hart's father, who trained in the famous Weimar design school in the 1920s. The very comfortable wool fabric seating, together with the crisp white linen and rich American cherry of the floor and tables, gives the main dining room both warmth and sophistication.

Hart's restaurant could be described as a bright, uncluttered stage set for the enjoyment of very good food and first class service. They have a sound wine list with plenty of choice in the £15 to £30 price bracket. More information can be gleaned from their excellent Website.

They also opened Hart's Hotel in 2003, it is Nottingham's first purpose built boutique hotel and winners of the Good Hotel Guide 'City Hotel of the Year' for the UK and Ireland in 2007. Light pours into all of the 30 bedrooms and two suites, and the majority of guest rooms boast spectacular views of the city below. Beds are decked with Egyptian cotton bed linen and goose down pillows and duvets. All rooms have en suite bathrooms and state-of-the-art communications technology offered by few hotels in London.

Garry Hewitt, who used to work at Hart's, brings his expertise to bear at World Service, where the ambience is oriental but the food in the main leans slightly more towards Europe than the Pacific. He uses first-class ingredients to produce such eclectic gems as Indian spiced scallops with piccalilli, yoghurt, poppadom and apple, or pan-fried cod with chickpea puree, brandade croquette and a pepperdew and lemon salsa; the execution of these dishes is aided by Sous Chef Andrew Lincoln.

The bar is quite a local destination now, concentrating on offering a wide range of wines by the glass, spirits from every nation imaginable and their own speciality cocktails, all offered in a richly different setting.

Those who knew the Nottingham United Services Club may be surprised to hear that it has consolidated on the upper floors of its elegant Georgian house, leaving World Service to set up on the ground floor, where it quickly earned its award of Nottinghamshire Newcomer of the Year.

There is a choice of three separate dining areas, two of which are also available for private hire; their lunch menu, which changes daily, represents excellent value whilst still remaining as inventive as the rest of their food.

Amongst the menus, which vary according to the time of the year, is a wide variety of dishes that are designed to blend with the gracious interior of this extraordinary house, a real survival of the gracious city that went before.

Starters of bresaola with pickled shimeji mushrooms, manchego cheese and plum membrillo; seared tuna loin with wasabi mayonnaise and pickled vegetables, or sweet potato and sage soup, all pave the way for main dishes that could include butter poached chicken breast with roast garlic, parsley and lemon risotto and Caesar dressed leaves; turbot with cauliflower, samphire, potato gnocchi and red wine sauce, and rabbit loin in bacon with lentils and confit leg tian.

The side dishes sound equally compelling, mange tout with shallot butter, minted new potatoes, and home-made fries. Puddings of chocolate pave with pistachio and spiced orange sorbet, or sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream ice cream and caramel sauce make a gracious end to a meal prepared and served with impeccable taste.

They boast a masterful wine list with eighteen available by the glass; all helping to increase the enjoyment derived from this smooth-running and promising place, which gained the accolade of overall restaurant of the year in the Nottingham Restaurant Awards for a staggering four years out of seven: 2003, 2004 and 2005 and 2007. They also have recognition from The Good Food Guide, and, at the end of 2006, they gained a second rosette from the AA.

Far more information can be gleaned from their Website, including very full details on their menus and huge choice of drinks.

Iberico brings together three auspicious events. One is the rapidly increasing popularity of the Spanish tapas in Britain. The second is the prosperity of Nottingham which, though like most other places has taken a knock recently, still manages to cope. The third is a location that is breathtakingly beautiful, in the heart of Nottingham's Lace Market, namely the historic Galleries of Justice, a grade II Listed building that has many a story to tell.

To be more precise it's in the vaults of this lovely building, a fact that makes it even more enchanting, offering a great relaxed dining atmosphere with a cosmopolitan interior. You could even be in Spain. There's Spanish cool combined with Moorish flamboyance, and the leather seating welcomes the human frame with a soft caress and firm support.

At the time of writing they are rejoicing in their success at the 2009 Nottingham Restaurant Awards, where they walked away with 'Best Set Lunch' and 2nd 'Best Overall Restaurant'. The competition is stiff in this city of many restaurants with more than 300 places to eat and drink in the city centre alone, so these are Awards that need to be taken seriously.

Because of its city centre setting Iberico is in poll position to satisfy lunch time hunger pangs. They do this in a highly impressive manner and for £11.95 stressed out business people - anybody - can enjoy a selection of tapas and a dessert. Best Set Lunch - do you wonder?

A browse through their menu is sufficient to stoke the most recalcitrant appetite into life. Happily this is something I have never been afflicted with but if I had the slow cooked lamb, Serrano ham, chorizo sausage or wild boar salami would give me a jolt of galvanic proportions. Add to this Jamon Iberico, the 'king of hams', hotly pursued by the Soka ham, cured pork shoulder, reared deep in the not so distant Sherwood Forest and cured, smoked and air dried by another award winner, Johnny Pusztai.

On the maritime side we have smoked eel, black cod with spicy miso, not to mention lime, salt and pepper squid. Spain knows a thing or two about cheese as well and there is a choice of five amongst the tapas, including tetilla, one of the four Galician cheeses, and manchego, always a favourite. From outside Spain, but only just, is gorgonzola.

We tend to think savoury when tapas are on the table, but they lend themselves equally to desserts such as jasmine ice cream, raisin and walnut bread, churros and hot chocolate, and the Iberico dessert board will prove. Specialists will approve of the green tea and chocolate tomago.

A well chosen and fascinating wine list naturally explores Spain pretty thoroughly and when in Spain (or Rome) do as the people there do. So exciting sherries, ports, dessert wines and other wines from both New and Old backgrounds make for enjoyable reading and subsequent closer attendance.

Check out their Website for changes and other information updates.

Flamboyant and exciting, Bar de Nada is a friendly, locally run, bar/restaurant on the corner of Broad Street and Lower Parliament Street, at the north end of the hippest strip in Hockley, with a clientele that's both laid-back and hedonistic, and definitely a style that is all it own. It lays claim to being possibly the most genuine of Nottingham's bars.

People come there mainly for the excellent Spanish and World tapas but also to indulge in a uniquely different atmosphere where the lack of a dress code, affordable drinks and a range of some of the most amazing beers from across the world create the right kind of buzz. One of their popular offers is from 5 to 7 pm on weekdays for a special tapas menu where the price you pay is the time you arrive, and that allows for three tapas and bread. So if you arrive at 6.15, it costs you £6.15.

It's one of the best places to head for tapas, which are served Monday to Saturday till 9.30pm in an informal and spacious environment. The menu brings together an interesting mix of classic with some very eclectic world variety tapas elevating the experience to another level altogether, while also giving plenty of choice for vegetarians.

The range of classic tapas is such that even prolonged attendance at this buzzing restaurant should not dull the appetite for what has become an increasingly popular form of gastronomic grazing. Consider the traditional Spanish casserole of haricot beans in tomato sauce with chorizo, black pudding and ham, or prawns fried in olive oil with sliced red chillies, the delicate pickled white anchovies in dressing, or lamb's kidneys in sherry - a real dish for the connoisseur.

Tapas often tend to lose in the making, so it is refreshing to find the simpler dishes such as mature Manchego cheese served with tomato and olive oil, or Spanish mackerel pan-fried in garlic, the two strong flavours blending rather than competing with each other.

Amongst the world-style tapas expect to find pork dumplings in Chinese pastry, the celebrated tom yum soup with choices of chicken, mushroom or prawns, the Indonesian deng deng chicken, or chicken Caribbean jerk style with red bonnet and chillies.

Thirty beers from around the world, with the likes of Anchor Steam Beer and Erdinger on draught, are regularly enjoyed by a crowd of friendly, appreciative types who lap up the continental vibes and are about as troublesome as a day-old kitten. Spacious and inviting, the serving of tapas till 9.30 encourages the social imbibers but doesn't deter determined drinkers from joining in the fun.

More information including the full tapas menu is available on their Website.

Close to the Old Market Square and the Victoria Shopping Centre, Zizzi Nottingham features an extensive Italian menu served in modern surroundings. Spread over two floors, Zizzi boasts a spacious setting with a mezzanine level and cosy alcoves ideal for intimate dining with friends or the family.

Just a short walk from the Cineworld Cinema complex, Zizzi is perfect for a pre or post-film meal while numerous other attractions such as the Royal Concert Hall and Nottingham Playhouse are within a 10-minute walk.
 
Zizzi's special antipasti platter has mixed Italian meats with buffalo milk mozzarella, marinated sun-dried tomatoes, mixed olives and red onion focaccia bread. There's also choice of arancini, crispy risotto balls stuffed with mozzarella and peas and served with a tomato chilli sauce as well as gnocchi gorgonzola, potato dumplings in a creamy gorgonzola and spinach sauce seasoned with nutmeg and black pepper, setting the tone for a hearty meal.

For a delicious pasta or risotto choose between penne vodka, king prawns, chilli, peas and Grana Padano in a creamy tomato and vodka sauce; ravioli di capra, goat's cheese and spinach ravioli served with tomato sauce and topped with pesto and pine nuts; zucca e pancetta, pumpkin, pancetta, spinach, sage and Grana Padano topped with mascarpone and rigatoni con pollo e funghi, chicken in a tomato, onion, rosemary and mushroom sauce. Gluten-free pasta is also available on request.

If you prefer a pizza, then you could try Zizzi's speciality pizza rustica, which couples extra thin and crispy bases with a range of toppings such as bufala, buffalo mozzarella with sunblush tomatoes, basil, rocket and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil or mare e monti, one half topped with tiger prawn, courgette and mozzarella and the other with spicy sausage, tomato sauce and chilli, all finished off with a rocket and crème fraîche. The carne piccante calzone has marinated chicken, meatballs, Bolognese sauce, mushrooms, chillies, tomato and mozzarella while the clarissa version, has aubergine, and red pepper caponata, olives, goats' cheese, rocket, pine nuts, tomato and mozzarella. Zizzi's calzon'pizzas, half calzone and half pizza, add an interesting twist to the meal.
 
Sumptuous mains include agnello con peperonata, roasted lamb shank served with basil, roasted vegetables and a little pot of potatoes with tomato, red onion and Grana Padano; duck arrosto, slow roasted whole duck leg in a balsamic, olive and pancetta reduction served with Tuscan potatoes and green beans; and sea bass al vino, sea bass pan fried with wine, garlic and baby plum tomatoes and served with herby potatoes.

The scrumptious dessert list offers torta cioccolata with its thick hazelnut chocolate base topped with rich chocolate torte and served with vanilla mascarpone; homemade tiramisu; creamy vanilla pannacotta with fruit compote and torta Zizzi, an almond-based plum and fig tart topped with pistachios and icing sugar and served with gelato.

The wine list is dominated by a range of Italian wines from regions such as Veneto, Lazio, Sicily, Tuscany and Lombardy. Also on offer is an assortment of beers, and spirits as well as a range of soft and hot drinks.

More information can be found on their Website.

With quality food, friendly staff, quick service and excellent value for money, Nando's is a great place to eat. Don't expect identikit, pre-fab restaurant interiors which are usually a staple of the larger chains; each restaurant is tailored to its local surroundings and customers, offering up a unique restaurant experience to go with the equally unique taste of legendary, Portuguese, Peri-Peri chicken.

Your peri-peri chicken, when the chips are down so to speak, is a fresh A grade chicken that has never seen the inside of a freezer, but having made the supreme sacrifice is butterfly-cut, marinated for 24 hours in a secret brew called - you've guessed - peri-peri, and is then cooked to your choice over an open flame.

There are, of course, many variations on this broad theme, numerous plays on words such as Nando's experi-perience, peri-peri good reasons why you should eat at a Nando's' and all one hopes is that for their sake chicken never goes out of fashion. New Nando's are opening all the time, peri-peri quickly in fact, the spicy bastes become hotter and more daring, and the full platter offers a whole chicken, large chips or spicy rice and Nando's salad or coleslaw.

Since chickens are vegetarian it seems logical you can order veggie or bean burgers and patties, and still feel the heat from the peppers. All in all, Nando's is hotly recommended for those occasions when you have a large following of permanently hungry children, or adults even, to keep happy - the only thing taken really seriously is the quality of those peri-peri good chickens.

Nando's is a place for bright people who love to laugh and love to eat, and is guaranteed to spice up your taste buds. Their fun approach to life means that when you visit Nando's you can fully relax without the airs and graces associated with more starchy dining out.

For the location of your nearest Nando's restaurant and a host of details about menus, parties and drinks, a click on their Website will reveal a Pandora's box of information.

The Beefeater Grill range of restaurants, owned by the well established firm of Whitbread has transformed over time into what is now predominantly a cooking platform for chargrill. The restaurants are warm, modern and stylish, with low lighting and contemporary artwork. A comfortable, cosy, mainly booth layout offers guests their own space with no feeling of being hurried at any point. Staff are friendly and helpful if need be - what a difference that can make to a good evening out.

Be it the wide open spaces of Argentina, the intimate setting of a French restaurant, or a busy grill in London's West End, there's no denying the popularity of chargrill. As the production of quality beef, chicken, fish and lamb has grown, prices have come down by comparison, and the simple and traditional art of minimally cooking dishes by chargrill, sealing in the flavours and tastes by intense heat has caught the public imagination.

All the steaks at Beefeater Grill are matured for a minimum of 28 days before being seasoned. Whether it be juicy rib eye, the classic sirloin, that emblem of the Sunday lunch, a tender fillet, or a delicious 7oz rump, all grilled to your own specification, you're never far away from perfection. Even beefburgers have shaken off their dubious image and the highly popular Beefeater burgers are made from 100% beef.

The popular sirloin with giant prawns offers a treat to those for whom an alliance between sea and pasture is a natural attraction, whilst a 16oz steak platter links rump, fillet, sirloin and rib eye into one mouth-watering dish served with chips, battered onion rings, grilled tomato, a flat mushroom and peppercorn and brandy sauce.

Many of us love rib meat, and the rack of ribs at a Beefeater Grill has a meaty rack smoky flavour; maple ribs of pork with a choice of three sauces, mojito, smoked caramel and apple glaze, or Bourbon and black BBQ. And if all else fails and you are totally baffled by the wealth of choices, ask to have a word with the Steakmaster who will help find what is right for you, together with the best cooking method. These guys leave nothing to chance.

On a menu that is a delight to read, let alone choose a meal from, expect to find smaller dishes such as traditional prawn cocktail, whitebait, chicken liver pâté and baked Camembert, or juicy lamb koftas served with yoghurt and mint dip. There's something about a good steak meal that always leaves a gap for a little temptation to sweeten up the scene and from amongst twelve options look for Belgian chocolate cheesecake, treacle sponge pudding or a caramel apple crumble pie.

Throughout the day a wide range of more general dishes are yours for the ordering, sandwiches, jackets, classic favourites like fish and chips, pasta, salads, and sharing dishes of nachos, potato shells and a Beefeater Grill combo. Next door to many of the restaurants are Premier Inns, so staying the night whatever the circumstances need not be a problem.

And what about wine? Endorsed by Matthew Jukes, wine writer in the Daily Mail and bon viveur in his own right, a wine list that marches with the menu completes an impressive and compelling invitation to enjoy whatever takes your fancy at the nearest Beefeater Grill.

Click on their Website for menu updates and special offers.