About Sheffield
Eating and Drinking
Sheffield’s restaurant scene has unfairly been considered a poor relation by London-based critics who think that anywhere north of the capital is somehow bound to be inferior. Not so – the city boasts a host of great restaurants offering quality food at prices somewhat more sensible than those found down south.
If the Londoners scoff at our fine dining even they have to admit that Sheffield has the finest public houses and beer in the UK. For sheer variety this is a statistically proven fact – you can find (and drink) more varieties of real ale in Sheffield than any other British city, and the quality of the local brewing is not in doubt either, with breweries such as Kelham Island and Abbeydale regularly winning awards at national and regional beer festivals.
Here are a few recommendations from around the centre of Sheffield and the west side of the city, encompassing a range of prices and cuisines:
Restaurants:
Zing Vaa (map): Sheffield’s best Chinese restaurant.
Nonnas (map): Fashionable Italian restaurant and bar, home to the beautiful people of the South-West of the city.
Nirmals (map): Top-notch Indian with eccentric hostess and an original range of curries.
Everest (map): Another excellent Indian restaurant.
Baan Thai (map): Palatial setting and quality Thai food.
Zizzi (map): Newly-arrived Italian chain in the heart of the city centre.
Wasabisabi (map): Award-winning Japanese restaurant on the London Road, just south of the city centre.
Pubs:
The Fat Cat (map): Multi-award winning freehouse in an old-style two-room pub, selling umpteen different beers, and incredibly good value food too. Legendary.
Kelham Island Tavern (map): Just around the corner from the Fat Cat, and just as good, the Kelham Island Tavern was voted Yorkshire’s top pub in 2007.
The Devonshire Cat (map): Combining a vast range of UK and continental beers with modern décor and decent food; just 5 minutes from the conference venue.
The Red Deer (map): A favourite with academics, tucked away off West Street. A cosy and quiet pub with good beer.
University Arms (map): The University’s own public house, formerly the 197 Club. Lovely beer garden and ale from the Thornbridge Brewery.
The Forum (map): Modern café-bar/independent shopping complex that has more style and atmosphere than its chain-pub rivals along Division Street.
A more extensive and detailed set of restaurant reviews can be found at the Sheffield Tonight website.
For a whole host of opinions on the above places and other options, try posting a question on the very active Sheffield Forum, where you’ll get the best of the local knowledge on any subject Sheffield-based.