MOD Pizza Opens in Nottingham

We sent Mark to MOD Pizza Nottingham's Opening in the Market Square

MOD Pizza NOttingham in Market Square

On Wednesday 14th December Mod Pizza officially opened it doors to the public here in Nottingham,. We were privileged to have been invited to the opening and to sample the goods on offer. MOD Pizza - Made On Demand- is an American pizza company that started about  8 years ago in Seattle providing a community based restaurant serving reasonably priced good quality food and the rest as they say is history! Look at their web site for more on who they  are at; modpizza.co.uk.

I did have a chance to speak to the manager at MOD Nottingham - Dave - he was very friendly and willing to share on the ethos at MOD. I wont go into to much details but I do  want to highlight a few things: Their Staff are paid well above the norm for a job of this type, catering is- and fast food catering staff especially, a low wage career. Often workers have to exist on minimum wage but not at MOD a basic crew member is on over £8 per hour!

3 Courses for £10.90 at Rajah in Sherwood

Whilst we love a little luxury sometimes a hearty good value meal is in order. We''ve made numerous trips to Rajah in Sherwood over the years and their set menu is a winner for us at a great value £10.90 for starter, main and a coffee or ice cream for dessert.

Here's our photos from a recent visit and sampling of the 3 courses for £10.90 menu.

For starters we opted for the Chom Chom- Tender chicken tikka pieces pan fried with Indian Cheese, garlic and onions which came out with succulent flavourful chicken and a small fresh salad. Our other option was the Meat Samosa which was slightly spiced and full of flavour.

Meat Samosa

Sunday Lunch at the Queens Head Belton

We love the opportunity to head out to a good country pub. Whilst we appreciate the hustle and bustle of Nottingham we're no longer the party animals we might have been. We're now at the point where we'd rather treat ourselves to Sunday dinner so when the opportunity to pop over to the Queens Head at Belton for a review came about we jumped at the chance.

We've been hearing good things about the Queens Head for a while and whilst it's a little further than we might normally venture it's actually not that far in honesty. A relatively short 25 minute drive from Nottingham city centre and we were out past East Midlands Airport and into some lovely rolling countryside on quiet roads. The area's not far from Nottingham, Leicester, Derby and Loughborough so if you're looking for inspiration for your Sunday lunch it could be well worth consideration.

The Queens Head, Belton

It's Time to Griddle & Shake Nottingham

Last week Mark came along to the opening party for Griddle and Shake. Where the farm meets fast food with quality burgers cooked up before your eyes. 

Griddle & Shake Nottingham's Front on Fletcher Gate

I had the pleasure of attending a special event to celebrate the opening of the long awaited Griddle and shake restaurant in Nottingham’s Fletcher gate - a fast food burger joint that actually sells great service with better burgers than other so called burger franchises!

The owner Edd Halls has probably succeed in creating the genuinely first fast food burger joint that is actually fast and serves a great burger with great toppings. 

Liam and I had the opportunity to talk to Ed Halls at length about his vision and the concept of the restaurant, what is clear is that Ed has a great passion for good food and in providing it in an environmentally friendly way-the plastic cutlery isn’t really plastic!! Edd's vision is a great one that not only looks to provide a great meal but also to look after his staff the way they look after us  the customer and the environment. Though this is not entirely unique it is rare and it is good that Nottingham has been chosen to be the launch site for this new venture.

Ed Hall's Tell Us All About His Vision for Griddle & Shake

Situated on Fletcher Gate the restaurant is on the tram route almost opposite Lace Market Tram Stop and close to major bus routes with a 5 minute walk from Market square.  The outside is much as you would expect with modern branding and signs extolling the virtues of the food inside and…a life size orange cow in the window! as per the photo at the top of the page. 

Inside you have a themed but very spacious area.  and we were greeted at the entrance, shown to where we were being hosted for the evening and provide a little bit of information with regard to the evenings format. We were directed to order a drink and told we would get to experience ordering our burger later on. The restaurant was open to the public for the evening however all the happenings were going on at the rear. 

Beers at Griddle & Shake Come Couressy of Freedom 

Ed is keen to partner with people who share a common goals and vision and here with Freedom Brewery he has found a good beer supplier. There is the usual soft drinks as well and of course the shakes but we will get those later. The beer was either a hand crafted ale or a lager, I naturally chose the lager. Now don't get this confused with Kronenbourg, Stella, Carling etc this is really a level above what they do mass produced.  The Freedom lager has a great golden colour with a nice head but it was the taste that won it for me, the combination of spring water , malted barley, hops and yeast produces a fragrant sweet and slightly floral taste. This is both full of flavour and refreshing and being brewed in a sustainable way is truly fitting to Edd’s overall vision.

Fresh and Modern Dining Areas to the Rear of the Restaurant

Towards the back of the restaurant there is a mural wall depicting food pictographs in keeping with the restaurant, bright colours but loads and loads of space. Turning around to look out to the front of the restaurant we see the outside inside!! With fake grass and country panorama complete with seating areas cunningly discussed as barns come milking sheds. Even a jersey cow patch arm chair. We were told that there should have been a swing as well, but some body broke it!!

Moo-ve Over to the Cowshed.

The tables all look like reclaimed oak planed and nicely finished with brightly coloured chairs and a tractor bonnet turned into a coffee table! it seems that there is an eccentricity to the decor but one that fits with the style of the place.

Finally we get to order our burgers so we head up to the counter and there are presented with the first decision - the Bap! With thee to choose from including gluten free it is not all that difficult but unusual as who gives you the choice of filling with the choice of bun! there is that sandwich place but they don't do burgers! 

Your Burger Cooks Right Before Your Eyes

Having chosen my brioche bun i went on to  choose the toppings and the chutney for my burger. What is too nice is being ballot to pick and choose what you  want  without having to  wait for someone to bother to do your “hold the pickles” order. once all this was done all I had to  do  was head to my seat and the  staff will bring you your meal. I guess I waited less than five minutes before I was unwrapping my brioche bun with cheese,bacon and a smoked bacon chutney burger. I could have had half a dozen other toppings instead - stilton , pulled pork as well as salad toppings.

Mark's Finished Burger Creation from Griddle & Shake

So I bite in to my juicy and flavour some burger getting hints of the relish the mature cheddar and crispy bacon and a beef patty that is course in texture but moist and just cooked with the beef being just pink inside it was as near to perfect as it could be. I thoroughly enjoyed the burger it was full of flavour and at the end of the day it was my burger, I created it, and it had only on the bun what I wanted no pickles!!

While we were eating the sides were brought out there were skin on chips and sweet potato fries these were again served with additional spices/herbs etc that you can chose. the chips were fine =, they were crispy and tasty but not blow you mind amazing. I also tried the sweet potato fries - now I need to  explain at this point i am not a fan of sweet potato, HOWEVER, these were amazing!! Seasoned with garlic and rosemary they were nothing short of brilliant! The sweet taste of the potato with the tang of garlic and the earthiness of the rosemary combined to make a great dish. 

House Spiced Sweet Potato Fries

If you may permit me a small digression, I firmly believe that cooking good food is not difficult, I truly think anybody can do it with a little help and guidance. The difference comes in turning good food to GREAT food. That is where the skill comes in, in taking small things and combining them to make something better than the sum of their parts like for instance the sweet potato fries! Simple ingredients with a big impact on taste. 

These days it seems every one is doing chicken wings, usually drowned in BBQ sauce of one description or another… BORING!! In the beginning they were different but now its like everyone has to do them. Griddle and shake have chicken wings as well, but not drowned in what is usually a mediocre sauce at best. No, Griddle and shake have blended their own spice, they have put together the flavours they want and then lightly dust the wings when cooked. 

Griddle & Shake's Amazing Chicken Wings

Oh such sweet, juicy spicy and beautiful chicken wings so Moorish I kept wanting more! I thought that these were soon very good until one of management team joint us for a chat and suggested I try them with the blue cheese dip! Ok so NOW I am in love!!  So many flavours mingling and hitting all those sweet, sour and salt tasting areas of the tongue all at the same time while no one taste overpowered the others I was in chicken wing heaven! I wish I hadn't had so many previously as but this time I was getting to the very full stage. The blue cheese dip made that dish, it took a great chicken wing and lifted it to amazing!

Lastly but by no means least we have the shakes, All made with milk vanilla ice-cream and with over a dozen flavours to add one or all if you want to create you very own flavourful shake. Even with dairy free at the same price. 

We tried 3 different shakes - strawberry, Speculoos and Malteser, Oreo, peanut butter and Speculoos, and one other that escapes memory but it had speculoos in it as well as Nutella! These were only samples but full of the creamy goodness of a vanilla ice-cream whole milk. The added flavours were so good, so tasty and way overboard on the calories but hey you don't go to  a burger joint for salad! 

Again I should point out I hate peanut butter. I guess its one of those things you like or don't much like satay. but when combined with the Speculoos and Oreo’s it was actually not bad! I liked the result it wasn't overpowering you got the flavours of the other ingredients so it was all good. My favourite shake was definitely the strawberry- it was so good. Creamy and tasty, I was sold on this the moment I tasted it.

Ed Halls is a man with the plan! He has a clear strong and concise vision for Griddle and Shake. In his welcome to us he said he has partnered deliberately with people who share or can compliment his vision. He has made decisions based on ethics not the bottom line - So what if he pays 2-3 pence more for his cups, and napkins, the vision is as much about sustainability as it is about great food. 

Where Ed has a self admitted lack of knowledge in some areas he has surrounded himself with those who do have the knowledge and has a great team from the suppliers to the management that help and oversee the operation. Add his vast knowledge of the industry and as such a charismatic and personable man you cannot help but like him and get excited as he is about Griddle and Shake. It's not difficult to see his enthusiasm for the business and how that draws people in.

Food Should be Fun

All in all I loved Griddle and Shake, its concept, food ,outlook and the staff who really made us feel welcome

Griddle & Shake 
http://www.griddleandshake.co.uk/
9 Fletcher Gate
Nottingham
NG1 1QQ
Tel 0115 9506000

Fine Dining at the Blue Grill, Thoresby Hall Hotel

For many of us Thoresby Hall is a hotel complex and despite knowing where it is we wouldn't really consider it as somewhere to go for dinner. Mum has had a few trips up to use their amazing spa previously. Up to now we hadn't even considered their Blue Grill and it's open to non-residents wishing to sample their double AA Rosette award winning restaurants cuisine. We had a very memorable evening and really it shouldn't remain a fine dining secret.

The decadent surroundings of the Blue Grill at Thoresby Hall

Taste Testing The Springfield Inn, Lowdham

When you think of a country pub you often hope for a roaring fire, plenty of ales and lots of comfy seating to sit and chat. We love a good pub with some rustic, rural character. In that sense the newly refurbished Springfield Inn at Lowdham could well rise up our list of places to visit on a cold winters night.

The Springfield Inn, Lowdham

Set back off the Epperstone Bypass road, access is via the Old Epperstone Road beside the garages but it's hard to miss the large 6ft tall signs beside the main road. The Springfield Inn is part of the Vintage Inns group and promises hearty food from an extensive menu.

Cosy and Rustic

5 Great Places for Vegan Food in Nottingham

With the celebration of World Vegan Day on November 1st and the whole month of November being World Vegan Month we thought it would be great to showcase some of Nottingham's best cafes, restaurants and shops for Vegan Food. Whether you're on your travels to the city or a local looking for new inspiration there's plenty of options for you. Whilst labelling something as the best vegan food in Nottingham is very subjective we've sure there's something in the below list to satisfy

Three Mushroom Fajita at Las Iguanas

With a limited range on offer in some of Nottingham's more prominent chain venues this list is a chance to highlight some of the amazing independent retailers we have in the city alongside some choices you might not have considered.

Jemma Goes Vegan at Las Iguanas

Jemma celebrates World Vegan Day and World Vegan Month with a trip to test the menu at Las Iguanas, Nottingham

Vegan and Vegetarian options on menus in the past I've noticed some vague nut roast, vegetable medley or vegetable burger. They’ve all offered a very general affair but a few restaurants are now taking on board meat free food needs to be interesting full on taste and texture. Whether it’s ‘Meat-Free Monday’ or wishing to appeal to the vegetarians, pescatarians and vegans among us. Las Iguanas offers lots of Latin American inspired options which you rarely see on a menu locally to add to the intrigue.

With an invite to Las Iguanas to try out their Vegan menu and celebrate World Vegan Day (November 1^st) we were excited to see what they could come come up with. I decided to take along the newest member of the Nottingham Food Lovers team, Shareese out to sample something different. Despite being a self confessed hater of mushrooms she was even willing to try some on this occasion. You certainly don’t get a lot of Latin American food from her side of Mansfield.

We were the first people in for lunch and after a warm welcome from the staff we made our way over to one of the comfy booths

Inside Las Iguanas Nottingham

10 of the Best Cafes in Sherwood Forest

Exploring some of the best cages, coffee shops and food vans amongst Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire

Sherwood Forest as Autmn turns to Winter

If you go out in the woods today you're sure to need refreshments and there are a great selection of cafes in the Nottinghamshire and Sherwood Forest area.

The amazing cake selection at Brambles

Brambles Tea Room- Farnsfield. Arguably the best cake in the Sherwood Forest area. This is more a quaint tea room than a cafe and it's a level above. With some fantastic homemade cakes alongside some great food it's our top tip on a dry summers day. Easily accessed from Farnsfield along the Southwell Trail if you follow the cycle route to Bilsthorpe and then join the Southwell Trail before turning off into Farnsfield. Far better than the cafe at Sherwood Pines and well worth the journey.

Java Deli Cafe on the A60 North of Warsop

Red Dog Saloon Opens It's Doors

American food is really getting popular in Nottingham and last Thursday saw the opening of Red Dog Saloon on Victoria Street a stones throw from Lace Market Tram Stop. It's the family run business' first venture outside of London showing Nottingham is firmly on the map for foodies.

Red Dog Saloon Nottingham

We're looking forward to tackling their 'Devastator Challenge'. An 18 oz burger served with 200g of Pulled Pork. Applewood smoked bacon rashers and cheese. Served alongside fries and a milkshake it sounds like a meat lovers delight with a great selection of American Barbecue food. 

Chicken Wings at Red Dog Saloon Nottingham opening

Awesome ribs at Red Dog Saloon

And mini burgers on offer

The opening night saw 400 people cram into the Red Dog Saloon for opening night. We got the chance to sample some amazing Hickory Pork Ribs which almost were a meal by themselves alongside Mini Burgers and Korean Chicken Wings with a warming sour sauce. They were also serving up the excellent Frontier Craft Lager which we first came across at the Mighty Deerstalker event after party last year and sampled maybe one too many. 

Red Dog Saloon has created 50 new jobs in the area

The event showcased what looks to be a very relaxed dining and entertaining space. In terms of money spent it looks to be one of the most ambitious new ventures in the city centre we've recently seen. The new venture at the top of the Hockley area of Nottingham city centre looks set to be a success. 

We're definitely looking forward to heading back to Red Dog Saloon to sample the menu in the the coming months 

Evening was welcomed by these lovely people

Fancy a Honkers Ale, a Brahma pr a Becks Vier? 

The Corran Ferry- A Great Trip to The Pub

On a recent trip up to the Scottish Highlands we encountered what we would argue to be the best trip to the pub, ever. Having booked some cheap accommodation at the Corran Bunkhouse on A82 between Ballachullish and Fort William we arrived to be advised that there was a pub around 400 metres away- by boat.

The Corran Ferry and View to The Inn at Ardgour

We've never taken a ferry to the Pub before but it's certainly a great way to pass an evening. The joy of the Corran Ferry is that it's free for walkers and cyclists which makes it ideal for a trip to the pub across the water- The Inn at Ardgour.

The beer at the Inn at Ardgour was OK, A few choices from Bellhaven however if you're looking for real ales in the area Inchree, a 500 m walk in the opposite direction from the Corran Bunkhouse is a better choice.

The Inn at Ardgour

Now that's what you call a lounge- The Inn at Ardgour

Bacon Bad? Not at the Last Chance Saloon

We love bacon so a night of all you can eat piggy was always going to appeal to us when we saw a Facebook advert for the Last Chance Saloon. Their Thursday night offering is Bacon Bad. All you can eat bacon dishes for £9.99. Winner, winner, bacon dinner.

The Last Chance Saloon Nottingham- I Bacon We Trust

Fast forward a couple of weeks and we're sat in the Last Chance Saloon. A basement bar on Plumptre Street within Nottingham's Lace Market area a stones throw from the Ice Stadium It's what you imagine a modern version of a Wild West Saloon would look like with lots of wood and plenty of Bourbon displayed above the bar.

We chose a table pretty much  facing the bar and began to peruse a special meny of piggy related delight. From Bac n'Cheese (Mac and Cheese with added bacon) to Buffalo the Vampire Slayer Wings (Chicken wings wrapped in Bacon). The rule is simple, order 2 items, finish them and you can order 2 more. For £9.99 it sounded like a bargain to us.

The Bar at Last Chance-Plenrty of Bourbon

We started on the #supercoolbaconsushi which sounds more than a little wrong, the wings, Bac n'Cheese and the Bacon Dippers featuring candied bacon with a BBQ dip

#supercoolbaconsushi

The Super Cool Bacon Sushi was ridiculously good with rice cake wrapped in bacon with a delicious barbecue sauce for dipping. The rice cake was nice an chewy with the bacon working well as a wrap. They were so good I wish I had a bag full at the recent Rat Race The Wall Ultramarathon event as they would be very easy to eat on the move and were exceptionally moreish.

Buffalo the Vampire Slayer Wings at Last Chance Saloon

Jumbo chicken wings wrapped in bacon sounds great with a blue cheese dip. The bacon crisping on the outside to lock in the juices of the chicken, keeping it nice and moist.

Buffalo the Vampire Slayer Wings with a serving of Crazy Sauce

We loved the chicken wings wrapped in bacon. Usually served with a blue cheese sauce we also opted for the Crazy Sauce. The wings were great, 2 good sized pieces wrapped in bacon which kept in some of the moisture for the chicken to be nice and succulent. The Crazy Sauce wasn't quite as mad as it sounds. It had a kick but with a very nice sourness added to some smokey tones like a good hot sauce.

Chips and Red Grey Gravy

With a very American feel to the menu the Chips with Red Eye Gravy sounded good. The gravy was lovely and creamy with a nice hint of coffee whilst being topped with cheese and bacon bits. Nice to try though there were certainly better options on the menu. An all you can eat menu is never going to satisfy everyone in entirely.

Frank n'Swine Hotdog

If you love a good hot dog, Frank 'N' Swine will work for you. A bacon wrapped hot dog with mozzarella cheese in a bun with a covering of Funions. Very easy to pig out on.

We also loved the Bac N Cheese. A macaroni cheese with extra cheese and bacon.

Bac N Cheese- Mac and Cheese with Bacon, pure genius

We really enjoyed Bacon Bad at the Last Chance Saloon. Plenty to choose from although after a while it may get a little overkill, although certainly not on the first visit. It's a great variation on the usual all you can eat restaurants in Nottingham and that little bit unique so well worth a visit.

The Last Chance Saloon

A modern saloon style bar- The Last Chance Saloon

Mark Visits Memsaab

We recently sent Mark for an evening event at MemSaab, Nottingham's award winning fine dining Indian Restaurant. Here's his thoughts on the evening

I recently had a chance to visit Memsaab, Arguably Nottingham’s best Indian restaurant. Situated on Maid Marian way the exterior of the building is clean well maintained but not extraordinary in any way. Having never visited before, I was not sure what to expect.

The Chefs Created Some Fantastic Canapes

The interior of the place is very well done even down to the live traditional music being very well played. The decor pays homage to some traditional Indian influences and it all looks very rich and sumptuous. I am greeted by a very pleasant and friendly member of staff who directed me to the  reception to which I have been invited.
Drinks and Canapés and a chance to have a taste of a Michelin 2 rosette restaurant! I am greeted by  staff holding trays of very tasty looking  canapés and rows of glasses of champagne and strawberries. A very smart and professional  looking waiter behind the table greeting customers and pouring drinks, everything looked on point well organised and gave the impression I was more important than I actually am. 

Champagne With Strawberries at MemSaab Nottingham

On to the food, we were served lots of tastes of the cuisine available all looking amazing in how they were presented, fresh tasty and very appealing. So on to a selection of the different dishes we were treated to on the night.
We start with the Dahi Batata Puri - this  was unlike like anything I have tried before and am still not sure what was in it!  The dish was not a spicy one as your would suspect but a crispy samosa style topped with a yogurt.

Dahi Batata Puri

The next dish was the Mozzarella and watermelon with mint. This was a cool and refreshing dish perfect for cleansing your palate after several of the more spicy dishes on offer. This was a great dish that I returned to time and again in between other tastes as is did leave your palate feeling like it had been cleansed and thus allows you to experience the different tastes without them being overly contaminated by the previous dishes sampled.
.

Mozarella and Broccoli with Mint

Lamb Kathi - this  was served as a wrap of sorts filled with sweet tender chicken or lamb. These were good dishes perhaps to big to be considered a Canapé  in the traditional sense, but nonetheless they were very tasty with a great delicate blend of spices and the veg/salad in the wrap it  gave a different texture with the tenderness of the meat and crispness of the veg.

Next we have the Aloo Broccoli Bonda - This is much like a Bharji in appearance, small and golden in  colour but the taste was one of real spice - probably the spiciest dish of the evening but still not a rocket fuel temperature so I imagine that no one struggled with the spicy nature. This was a good taste and a delicate balance between the broccoli and the potato these were then batter fried giving a nice light but crisp exterior. These were great bite size potions and easily consumed in one bite.

My favourite dish of the evening was the Keema Lamb on a crispy Roti, these tiny morsels had a great balance of spice, flavour and texture that had me going back again and again for more as they were so tasty! Though on appearance they were not by any means the most attractive dish of the evening they were my favourite

Over the years I have grown to love prawns and especially King Prawns! The ones served this night were cooked in coriander, mint these were very juicy and tasty like a king prawn should be. The balance of the flavours nicely held so the delicate prawn flavour was not overwhelmed.
lastly,  well the last dish I tried was the Chicken Murghgola, a more tomato oriented dish with slight spice that was really quite tasty with juicy moist chicken and a decent balance between flavour and spice. 

There were other dishes served but I was not able to  try them all there were number of vegetarian  dishes including a what looked like a tandoori paneer kebab served in a glass with dip!!

Tandoori Paneer Kebab

All through the evening I was impressed by the staff and the presentation of the dishes supplied, there was such a great hub of conversation and it was nice to meet up with some old and new faces all enjoying the one thing  we share in common…GREAT FOOD!!

I had a chance to talk brief with our host and discovered that MemSaab primarily draws its influence for the dishes from the north of India with some dishes originating from southern India and Goa, But where ever the influence does from Memsaab serves great quality food and will have to be visited again  to get a full flavour of the menu.

Taste Testing Faradays- A Food Review

Faradays has been open for a couple of weeks now after a refurbishment from it's former guise as Cape. It's refurbishment cost owners Stonegate £300,000 and it's been transformed into something that little bit special. It's a welcoming place where you could easily sit and watch the world pass by outside or meet friends for chic cocktails on a Saturday night.

Outside Faradays at the top of Hockley

Whilst the cheap drinks of Lloyd's will draw in the drinkers of a weekend, Faradays should draw a slightly different crowd. Whilst drinks may be that little more expensive there's a lot more on offer with a great selection of local real ales. When we popped in they even had the excellent Thornbridge Jaipur on tap so it was a great shame to be driving.

A selection of beers and ales a level above from Faradays

The decor is very much that of a modern pub or bar. Clean lines with a degree of eccentricity to keep things fun and encourage the conversation to flow. There are plenty of cosy points to sit together whether you fancy a booth or a comfy sofa or grab lunch with a group of friends

Clean and uncluttered interior

Upstairs is the Static Attic, The old space previously used for private parties is now a very slick extension of the bar and a great space to mingle late at night. There's a section set up for cocktail masterclasses as well as an area to set up for live acts on a Friday night and a DJ on a Saturday.

The Static Attic upstairs at Faradays

The main reason we were at Faradays was the food. After an invite to check out their menu we couldn't turn down but as always the feelings we express are what we genuinely feel. We rate a bar or restaurant as though we were paying ourselves and Faradays ranked highly for us.

Starters at Faradays

Starters and Tapas at Faradays

Whilst there's no real starters section on the menu, Faradays prefer to concentrate on Tapas and light bites on the menu with a small section. With 3 plates for £9 and 5 for £14 it does appear to offer very good value with a selection of continental style dishes which would work great for sharing at lunch or dinner. There's quite a few options that you wouldn't usually see as pub food so be prepared for a treat.

Chorizo Bites

One of the five plates for £14 was chorizo bites, Plated up were 3-4 decent sized chorizo sausages served with a subtle garlic dip. The chorizo had a soft edge of smoked paprika without the roughness you often taste. It worked great with the garlic mayonnaise dip although the cress served was wilting somewhat and while may have been fresh at the start of the day had lost some of it's joi de vivre.

Deep Fried Calamari

Our second choice was the Deep Fried Calamari and we weren't disappointed. Too often have we experienced rubbery, overcooked calamari but not today. Our Calamari was soft in texture and wrapped in a great flavoursome batter that added to the dish. So good I think I could have requested 5 plates worth for £14 with a portion of chips on the side.

Smoked Haddock and Coley Fishcake

We also opted for the Smoked Haddock and Coley Fishcake. We were persuaded by the promise of it's Applewood Smoked Cheddar as well as an oat and parsley crumb. It's presentation was excellent with the fishcake sitting upon an arrangement of fresh salad items and topped with a piece of lemon for obligatory squeeze.

The fishcake featured a very nice crumb adding a great texture to a very smooth interior. The inside had a lovely creaminess from the cheddar and a hint of smoke from the Applewood and the haddock. Very well presented and well worth trying.

Beef Tomato and Mozzarella

We opted for the Beef Tomato with Mozzarella cheese which was very clean on the palate. It came with a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar although we'd have liked to have seen maybe some fresh basil leaves and black pepper to season instead of the previously mentioned wilting cress.

Iberico Ham Croquetas

I was really looking forward to our fifth choice of Iberico Ham Croquetas. Beautifully gooey and very tasty with chunks of ham inside they worked great with the garlic mayo they were served with.

Our Main Meals at Faradays

Meat Feast Pizza

With a big selection it was pretty tough choosing what to have for mains. We opted for a Pizza and the interesting sounding Topped Mac and Cheese although there was a little confusion from our order due to not only having two versions of Mac and Cheese on the menu, but a third option of a Mac and Cheese Pizza which sounds wrong yet right at the same time. Fortunately this was resolved very quickly and without issue.

The Meat Feast Pizza featured a pig lovers dream. Plenty of bacon, Cumberland Sausage and Pepperoni adding varieties of texture, colour and flavour making this dish very easy on the eye. Pizza is nothing pretentious or complicated but the simplicity is complicated when you factor in that you're looking for a nice, light and crispy base, plenty of zest from your tomato sauce and a serious amount of quality toppings. Faradays hit these tick boxes to create a very nice meaty pizza.

Topped Mac and Cheese

Mac and Cheese I find to be a great Winter comfort food and whilst it's not quite that time of year just yet it doesn't have to be cold for me when you're adding pulled pork on top. The pulled pork had a nice, warming element in the form of a hint of chili. Too often I've had overly dry pulled pork but today it was lovely and moist with plenty of barbecue sauce. Add that to the stodge of the mac and cheese for a classic meal in my book.

Bargain Food Monday to Friday

If you're eating on a budget it's worth considering that Faradays offer a Monday to Friday - 2 for £8.99 menu including Cod and Chips which must be cheaper than heading to the Chippy.

£2.99 Desserts- Seriously Cheap! 

Dessert pricing seems to be an afterthought these days. We've been to plenty of pubs where you can easily part with the best part of a fiver for a pretty standard dessert. We were impressed when we looked at the menu for the desserts at Faradays before we had even seen what they look like. £2.99 is very reasonable indeed.

The Faradays Nottingham Dessert Menu- £2.99 bargains

We opted for the Lemon Meringue Pie with ice Cream as well as the Salted Caramel and Chocolate Bar and were very impressed with what we got. 

The Salted Caramel Bar was a chocoholics wet dream. A chocolate biscuit base, smeared with salted caramel and topped with a rich chocolate fondant to create a little piece of heaven for me. It worked very well with the smooth vanilla ice cream to balance out the flavours.

The Amazing  Salted Caramel and Chocolate Bar

Almost as good was the Lemon Meringue which was certainly a more modern take on the classic. Featuring nice crumbly pastry with a zesty lemon filling topped beautifully with crushed meringue. It came with a lovely tart raspberry coulis and vanilla ice cream.  

Lemon Meringue 

We really enjoyed our visit to Faradays. The service was excellent with some great enthusiastic staff. There's a great choice of food which would suit everyone in the family, desserts are exceptional value for money. As a venue the changes made seem to really open it up as somewhere to consider to draw you higher up Hockley or out from the Lace Market too. You'll certainly be seeing us in there again soon.

Faradays is at 44-48 Pelham Street, Nottingham NG1 2EW