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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.

The Almond is situated on the west side of the city centre in a traditional red-brick building that has a history of uses, including, according to locals, a chapel, a blacksmiths and most recently a fondue restaurant. Today, the furnishing is modern and the ambience relaxed, warm and friendly - just right for everyone, from groups of friends or colleagues to couples of any age.

The a la carte menu takes influences from Britain, France and Italy, and includes items such as: a saffron risotto with seared scallops or smoked red pepper chutney; an original take on a traditional dish with funky fish chips and peas; a satisfying roast beef bavette and dumplings with a hint of horseradish and a naughty but nice sticky toffee date and agen prune pudding.

On Sundays, a great, traditional British Sunday lunch is served. As with their other menus, this is cooked and served fresh to order. The Almond is the kind of individual restaurant that one feels pleased to discover - tantalising to the taste-buds and relaxing to the soul.

Le Mistral is one of a group of several new and very perky restaurants in the North Midlands, with an accomplished style and approach, and French flavour. They work on two menus, one a daytime job that deals with the requirements of a working day, offering such delights as croque monsieur, croque mistral, freshly baked baguettes with imaginative fillings such as brie and roasted grape, a soup du jour, minute steak, and an omelette du jour. This is quality food that meets the need and paves the way to something rather more relaxed and elaborate in the evenings.

Expect to find on the dinner/supper menu special starters from the blackboard, pate du jour, or platters, olive, charcuterie, cheese or 3 dips, all substantial enough for light meal status.

Main courses offer good French staples such as moules marinieres et frites, Marseilles meatballs, beef bourguignon, and steak hache, followed by desserts of tarte tatin and chocolate chilli cake.

An elegant wine list offers a carefully selected range of bottles, and is a happy hunting ground for connoisseurs, with a large number by the glass. Their house wine from Domaine de Laroux is a gift from the gods. Continental lagers and bottled beers from UK feature some of the best, including Liefmans Kriek and Marston Pedigree.

If these restaurants do not succeed there is no justice on earth.