Norwich

Strangely for such an historic city, the traditional English eatery is rather hard to find in Norwich. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, in fact, far from it. Norwich provides a wide choice of superb international cuisine. A taste of Americana can be enjoyed at Fatso's Speakeasy Restaurant, with succulent flame grilled burgers and ribs. However, it does face stiff competition for those would love the food and the atmosphere of the traditional American diner from Zaks Mousehold Diner. The Last Wine Bar & Restaurant takes advantage of the space afforded by its premises, a converted shoe factory, to offer an airy and varied dining experience. Adlards sits peacefully in the shade of Norwich cathedral and has been recognised for its attention to excellence with a Michelin star. This menu makes up for what it lacks in length with outstanding taste and quality. A special mention should go to the Debut Restaurant, which a part of the city college. The students often find success in top restaurants and the Debut Restaurant offers their first taste of the industry. Gourmet nights and exceptionally low prices make it more than worthy of a visit.

Popular Restaurants in Norwich

Café Rouge Norwich City Centre

Despite being a branch of a national chain, Café Rouge in Norwich still manages to offer a tasty and delightful dining experience. Ideally located along the popular Exchange Street , the restaurant is sur pr isingly spacious, yet it offers a rich and homely feel created by the tasteful, dark red colour scheme and atmospheric lighting scheme. The walls are adorned with French posters and artwork.

Every night of the week hoards of diners cram into the main room, giving it a real cosmopolitan feel. The food was pr ompt despite the restaurant being filled with customers end to end, served by a real French waiter, further underpinning the feel of the place.

The steak was cooked to perfection, tender and juicy, just right to eat. Sauces are something Café Rouge has fine tuned down to a tee, with the beef bourguignon in a rich, meaty and thick sauce, along with the seafood which came in a delicious light and creamy sauce. The salad on the other hand was a little lacking in imagination and would have benefited from a stronger dressing to liven it up. The dessert menu offers many mouth-watering treats from a selection of cheeses to rich chocolate cake. They have also had the novel idea of including the option of a trio of desserts, perfect for the indecisive ones amongst us or the couples just wanting to share. Unfortunately this option was not available the night we dined so we opted for the cheesecake and the crème brûleé. The cheesecake was mouth-wateringly fresh and very tasty, served with a tangy blueberry coolie this offset the creamy flavour of the cheesecake. However, the crème brûlée was unfortunately a little too loose for my liking and a little burnt on top.

Eating in Café Rouge was a pleasurable experience all in all, the pr ices are reasonable while the food is of a superior quality. The warmth of the atmosphere makes any evening spent here both enjoyable and relaxing.

Reviewed by Carys Robshaw, Norwich University, local writer for Britain.tv

Prezzo's

Situated opposite the train station, on the edge of the city and near the nightlife of Norwich's riverside complex, Prezzo offers a unique dining experience for all. The restaurant is deceivingly large with tables tucked away in corners, so that diners can enjoy themselves without interference from other customers.

The waitresses in Prezzo are polite, charming and mostly have foreign accents which adds to the authenticity of this Italian restaurant. Upon entering, I was informed of the ‘specials' which were on offer and taken to a quite, hidden table overlooking the bustling traffic passing outside.

Prezzo offers candlelight, comfort and the creation of special moments. Because my visit coincided with Valentines Day, there were lots of couples soaking up the romantic atmosphere amongst the gorgeous greenery and flowers that decorate the restaurant.

The menu offers delicious tasting food at reasonable prices. The starters range from large garlic bread sharers to mozzarella and beef tomatoes coated in breadcrumbs. There is something for everyone when it comes to choosing a main course from old favourites such as lasagne through to pizza. However, I highly recommend the main specialities, in particular the Gorgonzola chicken, which is truly a delight for the taste buds.

For me, Prezzo is the perfect place to relax, sip delicious wine and indulge in a gorgeous dining experience. It is certainly a place that I will revisit, whether with friends, family or as a romantic couple. The only negative is Prezzo's policy for customers to leave behind unfinished bottles of wine rather than take them home.

Reviewed by Sarah Lovelock, Norwich University, local writer for Britain.tv

Also recommended:

Delia's Restaurant and Bar

The name will be familiar to all and her love for Norwich City Football Club is well known, and this love influences the placement of this great restaurant. Delia's Restaurant and Bar is found in the Norwich & Peterborough stand of Norwich City’s Carrow Road ground. All the meals served are selected from Delia Smith’s vast range of recipes and cooked to her own, unfaltering specifications. Newly refurbished, the restaurant is fresh, clean and welcoming. There is one significant fact with must be remembered… Delia's Restaurant and Bar is only open for service on a Saturday night so reservations are not favourable but essential. Enjoy!!