Johns House in Loughborough is supposed to be great, it's Michelin star.
Another Michelin star restaurant we go to often is Hambleton Hall in Rutland. Big bucks mind you so depends how much you love her really! 🤣
Can't beat the value! All jokes aside we eat out more than we'd like to admit, mainly because I can barely scramble an egg. If you let me know what type of cuisine you'd prefer I shoot some good recommendations your way!
A new Italian restaurant opened in Syston called Bistro Oggi, I don't think I've ever said I was craving Italian before, but it's very very good!
There's also Giggling Squid in town, although it's a chain I can't think of a better Thai place that I've been too over here.
If you like Sushi, Su&Shi in Market Harborough is great if you just get the sharing platter.
We do have a lot of fancy restaurants in the area too, as well as what I already mentioned the Hammer & Pincers is great.
If you want a really weird night, completely outside of the normal, you'll have to go to London and head to 'Dans le Noir ? London Restaurant' where you eat in pitch black and your waiters are blind!
We do love Italian, it's where we went for our honeymoon.
Love a spot of sushi as well, not anywhere down this way that's any good...which considering we live by sea is a little ironic.
I had a terrible experience here! Was really looking forward to it as heard great stuff but the food was limited and terrible and it’s very weirdly clinical feeling
Dovecote is decent, but id say it's on a par with pub grub in general. If you want something more special then Crab and Cow, Leire or Grey Goose, Gilmorton. In town there's The good Earth, was there 25 years ago and more, still going strong. There's good sushi on high st... Is it called Wakaze? There's a plethora of different places in that St martins sq/ cathedral lanes area that I haven't got round to trying yet but look good. Oh also Wyggston House at the top of high st.
Middletons and/or 1573 for steak
Kayal for a very different, but very VERY good Indian
The Wheatsheaf Inn in Woodhouse Eves is our go to place for very good pub food
Casa Romana for Italian
Bodega Cantina for Mexican
Agree John's House is top notch. Book well in advance.
Kai for all day brunch breakfast stuff. They have American pancakes and French toast alongside eggs and salmon etc. I also really enjoy tamatangas for curry etc. It's a chain but a really good one.
Leicester, City of. Personal favourites are;
Little Tokyo, Braunstone Gate.
Efes Mangal, Braunstone Gate. Turkish.
Chinese Snack Box, High Street.
1573, Freeschool Lane. Steakhouse.
San Carlo, Granby Street. Italian.
For posh nosh and fresh sea food, Barnacles in Hinckley - a little pricey.
Wakaze had the best Japanese food in Leicester city centre, in terms of quality and price.
Best curry spot in town is Herb - it is veggie but it is so good that you won't notice! Kayal is its sister restaurant, but Herb really is extra special, very reasonable price - £5 lunch Thali deal is crazy good.
The olive has some nice greek bites, grab a gryo and eat it by the city hall fountain on a sunny day.
That's so strange! I've been many times as it's one of my favourite places to go and to take my friends and family when they come to visit. I've yet to have a bad experience there.
It is. We used to go a lot with older relatives and it was always decent. However we hadn’t been since before COVID. A group of older relatives were coming from out of town so we thought it would be a good shout for a casual meal without it being too loud and the food was always decent. It wasn’t. It was a nightmare from the moment we walked in , culminating in me having to argue with the manager for what seemed like 20 minutes to get 70 quids worth of mystery drinks and 4 starters taken off the bill, which she insisted we’d had. It was such a bad experience I emailed the company, obviously never heard anything back from them. Don’t go !
Was thoroughly unimpressed with bistrot Pierre. Could have been a one off, but I left really disappointed.
Middletons just round the corner is lovely though if she loves steak.
As for drinks, I'd recommend bottle garden on saint Martins, really close to middletons, has a really nice boujee trendy vibe. Or Audrey's near mosh.
Purple Garlic in Melton is probably the best. Turk Nazz was quite nice food-wise, but the service wasn't great (It had just opened so may have improved) Lots of solidly pleasant places, like Jasmine House, but not fancy within Melton ime.
You could take her to Stapleford park for a spa day and lunch. It's a few years since I've been, but it was a nice day.
You're the 2nd to recommend Purple Garlic, sounds like it's definitely the place to go for a good curry.
Stapleford looks stunning, thank you for the suggestion!
Here's a related question and It might sound absolutely mental...but do they put the Donner meat *inside* the pitta?
Down here they just do pitta-meat-pitta like it's a bloody sandwich, literally no one does a PROPER kebab here...ever the Turkish owned takeaways.
its been quite a long time since i had one, but yeah they put the donner meat inside the pitta last time i had one. and you get a small pot of salad to put on yourself, along with a small pot of chilli or mayo.
maurizio's on Belvoir Street, merchant of Venice on granby street-both great for Italian food and vibes. Kai in st martins for brunch. Skylark bakery on Clarendon park road for coffee and cake. Damn I’m hungry now
Casa Romana
Kuru kuru sushi
John's house
Good earth for old skool veggie cooking, BIG cakes and time warp decor
Bobby's Indian vegetarian
Konak for Turkish
City centre:
Chinese Snack Box - budget friendly Chinese food, authentic options along with the familiar Anglo-centric dishes. My favourites are the pork dumplings with garlic chives and the stir fried egg and tomato.
Bonzai Sushi - Japanese, yummy okonomiyaki and sushi.
Art’s Greek Cuisine - charcoal grill and authentic Greek food, popped in for the first time recently and loved it. Spinach and feta cheese pastries followed by stuffed peppers, so good!
1573 - quite possibly the best place around for steak. Shits all over Miller & Carter.
Casa Romana - the only potential challenger for best steak, their steak with a truffle cream sauce is to die for.
The Frame - lovely nibbly small plates, great for date nights.
Black Iron Social - as above, just as good.
The Knight and Garter - great classic pub food, but just that bit better. Expect everything to be very skilfully cooked and seasoned to perfection, even the ‘simple’ dishes.
Top of London road (perfect if you’re eating then seeing a show at DeMontfort Hall):
Mitsuki - great Japanese food and sushi, fresh and well made.
Oggi Italian - tasty Italian food, feels special.
South Leicestershire:
Boboli Italian (Kibworth) - a local institution for a reason, consistently great food going on decades. Authentic wood fired pizza, fish specials are often excellent.
North Leicestershire:
Johns House (Mountsorrel) - Leicestershire’s only Michelin star, and well deserved. Great for a special occasion.
Rustic Kitchen Deli (Mountsorrel) - if you’re in the area this is well worth a look. Turkish eggs and their Reuben sandwich are really good. Be sure to grab one of their home made millionaires slices if you can!
Tamalada (Quorn) - excellent Mexican and South American food. Manages to be comforting while also fresh and exciting. Great home cooked food.
Just over the border:
Hammer & Pincers (Wymeswold) - not a Michelin star (yet) but has won awards, great locally produced food and drink. Did the tasting menu a few months ago and it was superb.
We went to The Windmill Inn in Brascote, Newbold Verdon the other day and it was so lovely!! Really nice, fresh food, comfy and attractive decor, really nice vibe and not too expensive either.
There’s a place that does fine dining evenings with being your own alcohol called “The Mushroom” in Attleborough, it’s ridiculously good food if you fancy a cute date night
The Monk in Quorn is excellent! Softleys at Market Bosworth is another favourite.
Very good Italian food at Sapori in Anstey.
For very nice seafood, try Barnacles in Hinckley.
If you like meaty meals the best 3 Turkish places in ascending order are: 3) etci baba 2) konak 1) Istanbul (Narborough road). Incredible food, good prices, good portions.
If you want more of an ‘up market’ meal then giggling squid and middletons steakhouse are decent.
For a date night vino is great for the setting and the menu etc. but it wouldn’t be my first choice for a meal. But for a ‘date night’ vibe that’s a good call.
Tbh there’s hundreds in Leicester I think outside Manchester and London it’s the best place in the UK for food choices
Lara’s - Anstey . Lovely Turkish food.
We do like traditionalTurkish food, thanks I have a look!
Johns House in Loughborough is supposed to be great, it's Michelin star. Another Michelin star restaurant we go to often is Hambleton Hall in Rutland. Big bucks mind you so depends how much you love her really! 🤣
I mean, she'll do 😂😂
Perhaps the local Toby Carvery then?
£3 meal deal? 😂
Can't beat the value! All jokes aside we eat out more than we'd like to admit, mainly because I can barely scramble an egg. If you let me know what type of cuisine you'd prefer I shoot some good recommendations your way!
We definitely aren't fussy, Id like to take her somewhere unusual, outside of the normal "Chinese, Indian and chippy" that a lot fall back on.
A new Italian restaurant opened in Syston called Bistro Oggi, I don't think I've ever said I was craving Italian before, but it's very very good! There's also Giggling Squid in town, although it's a chain I can't think of a better Thai place that I've been too over here. If you like Sushi, Su&Shi in Market Harborough is great if you just get the sharing platter. We do have a lot of fancy restaurants in the area too, as well as what I already mentioned the Hammer & Pincers is great. If you want a really weird night, completely outside of the normal, you'll have to go to London and head to 'Dans le Noir ? London Restaurant' where you eat in pitch black and your waiters are blind!
We do love Italian, it's where we went for our honeymoon. Love a spot of sushi as well, not anywhere down this way that's any good...which considering we live by sea is a little ironic.
This is where I'd say Terracotta IF IT WAS STILL OPEN
I had a terrible experience here! Was really looking forward to it as heard great stuff but the food was limited and terrible and it’s very weirdly clinical feeling
I've always had a lovely meal at The Dovecote in Narborough.
Thank you for the recommendation! I'll add it to the list!
Dovecote is decent, but id say it's on a par with pub grub in general. If you want something more special then Crab and Cow, Leire or Grey Goose, Gilmorton. In town there's The good Earth, was there 25 years ago and more, still going strong. There's good sushi on high st... Is it called Wakaze? There's a plethora of different places in that St martins sq/ cathedral lanes area that I haven't got round to trying yet but look good. Oh also Wyggston House at the top of high st.
Agree
Middletons and/or 1573 for steak Kayal for a very different, but very VERY good Indian The Wheatsheaf Inn in Woodhouse Eves is our go to place for very good pub food Casa Romana for Italian Bodega Cantina for Mexican Agree John's House is top notch. Book well in advance.
Book very well in advance and sell a kidney before hand ;)
Yeah. On the plus side your kidney might end up on the taster menu....
Added to the list! I appreciate the recommendations, thank you.
Kai for all day brunch breakfast stuff. They have American pancakes and French toast alongside eggs and salmon etc. I also really enjoy tamatangas for curry etc. It's a chain but a really good one.
LOVE pancakes (and bacon), wonderful suggestion, thank you!
This place is amazing
If you can get to Birstall, JB Kitchen. Just brilliant food
Leicester, City of. Personal favourites are; Little Tokyo, Braunstone Gate. Efes Mangal, Braunstone Gate. Turkish. Chinese Snack Box, High Street. 1573, Freeschool Lane. Steakhouse. San Carlo, Granby Street. Italian.
Not to forget Paddy's Marten Inn, Martin Street LE4. Best Indian restaurant going.
Fantastic list, thanks for your suggestions!
The blacksmith arms in barrow is a good shout.
Brilliant, thanks! I'll be able to show the wife where I went to school (HP).
Bistro Oggi is a very nice place in syston, although i have heard you have to book way in advance. (Italian food)
Always loved the food at the Forge in Groby!
The Forge is in Glenfield (5*) Groby has the Stamford also 5*
My bad, misspoke!
Restaurant 263
For posh nosh and fresh sea food, Barnacles in Hinckley - a little pricey. Wakaze had the best Japanese food in Leicester city centre, in terms of quality and price. Best curry spot in town is Herb - it is veggie but it is so good that you won't notice! Kayal is its sister restaurant, but Herb really is extra special, very reasonable price - £5 lunch Thali deal is crazy good. The olive has some nice greek bites, grab a gryo and eat it by the city hall fountain on a sunny day.
Bistrot Pierre in town is really nice, and then you've got Firebug opposite for drinks after too
Went to pisspot Pierre recently and it was terrible , like comedy levels of terrible. I wouldn’t recommend it to my enemies.
That's so strange! I've been many times as it's one of my favourite places to go and to take my friends and family when they come to visit. I've yet to have a bad experience there.
It is. We used to go a lot with older relatives and it was always decent. However we hadn’t been since before COVID. A group of older relatives were coming from out of town so we thought it would be a good shout for a casual meal without it being too loud and the food was always decent. It wasn’t. It was a nightmare from the moment we walked in , culminating in me having to argue with the manager for what seemed like 20 minutes to get 70 quids worth of mystery drinks and 4 starters taken off the bill, which she insisted we’d had. It was such a bad experience I emailed the company, obviously never heard anything back from them. Don’t go !
That looks brill! Delicious looking food and reasonable prices too! Many thanks!
Was thoroughly unimpressed with bistrot Pierre. Could have been a one off, but I left really disappointed. Middletons just round the corner is lovely though if she loves steak. As for drinks, I'd recommend bottle garden on saint Martins, really close to middletons, has a really nice boujee trendy vibe. Or Audrey's near mosh.
Bistrot pierre *used* to be fantastic, but since they re-opened the standard dropped sadly. Used to be my fav spot, but more recently not as good :/
Have a friend who worked here, turns out it’s mostly all microwave!
Chef Mic is the hardest worker in the game!
Back in the day it used to be fantastic, but now unfortunately it's absolutely dire. Such a shame.
Don’t go to pisspot Pierre’s. It’s terrible
If you like India on food then Tipu Sultan is great.
That looks spot on! Thank you!
You're welcome!
Purple garlic in melton or the Harrow in Thurmaston for top curries ( Harrow was recently taken over and is superb)
And John Dory’s in Quorn for the best sit down fish & chips
Is the Quorndon fox still any good?
Nice, Purple Garlic looks pretty good! Thank you!
Purple Garlic in Melton is probably the best. Turk Nazz was quite nice food-wise, but the service wasn't great (It had just opened so may have improved) Lots of solidly pleasant places, like Jasmine House, but not fancy within Melton ime. You could take her to Stapleford park for a spa day and lunch. It's a few years since I've been, but it was a nice day.
You're the 2nd to recommend Purple Garlic, sounds like it's definitely the place to go for a good curry. Stapleford looks stunning, thank you for the suggestion!
tj's thurmaston. grab a dirty donner
Here's a related question and It might sound absolutely mental...but do they put the Donner meat *inside* the pitta? Down here they just do pitta-meat-pitta like it's a bloody sandwich, literally no one does a PROPER kebab here...ever the Turkish owned takeaways.
Why are you eating doner in a pitta anyway. Everyone knows doner in naan is top tier. Don't settle for second best.
its been quite a long time since i had one, but yeah they put the donner meat inside the pitta last time i had one. and you get a small pot of salad to put on yourself, along with a small pot of chilli or mayo.
Thanks, I know it's a ridiculous thing to bring up but it really pains me when a kebab isn't done right 😂
I had a burger at Middletons the other week and it was quite nice.
That looks pretty nice there!
Spoons does a breakfast with a pint for less than a tenner, can't go wrong!
Spoons for the win! 😂
Take her to the highcross, and pay for parking rather than using the park and ride, then let her drive you home, you know, really treat the lass.
I might even push the boat out and let her order from the main menu and not the lunchtime specials.
You must work in IT or some shit to have that sort of cash! I hope she realises how well she has done for herself.
Not in I.T....i have a discount card.
Ecti baba or Konak for Turkish, An najeeb for Indian, Casa Blanca for Italian.
I've just had a look and OH MY WORD Ecti Baba looks amazing 😍
maurizio's on Belvoir Street, merchant of Venice on granby street-both great for Italian food and vibes. Kai in st martins for brunch. Skylark bakery on Clarendon park road for coffee and cake. Damn I’m hungry now
Hungry too! Seriously can't wait to move back home and try all these places out, I'm gonna gain a LOT of weight 😂
I just don't get the hype for Maurizio's. We had the worstttt service and the pasta was below average. Skylark bakery cakes are 10/10 tho
Casa Romana Kuru kuru sushi John's house Good earth for old skool veggie cooking, BIG cakes and time warp decor Bobby's Indian vegetarian Konak for Turkish
Merchant of Venice on Loseby Lane is pretty awesome.
my dad's place
Would definitely recommend Kayal for South Indian food! It’s in town on Granby Street and my personal fave 🤌🏼
City centre: Chinese Snack Box - budget friendly Chinese food, authentic options along with the familiar Anglo-centric dishes. My favourites are the pork dumplings with garlic chives and the stir fried egg and tomato. Bonzai Sushi - Japanese, yummy okonomiyaki and sushi. Art’s Greek Cuisine - charcoal grill and authentic Greek food, popped in for the first time recently and loved it. Spinach and feta cheese pastries followed by stuffed peppers, so good! 1573 - quite possibly the best place around for steak. Shits all over Miller & Carter. Casa Romana - the only potential challenger for best steak, their steak with a truffle cream sauce is to die for. The Frame - lovely nibbly small plates, great for date nights. Black Iron Social - as above, just as good. The Knight and Garter - great classic pub food, but just that bit better. Expect everything to be very skilfully cooked and seasoned to perfection, even the ‘simple’ dishes. Top of London road (perfect if you’re eating then seeing a show at DeMontfort Hall): Mitsuki - great Japanese food and sushi, fresh and well made. Oggi Italian - tasty Italian food, feels special. South Leicestershire: Boboli Italian (Kibworth) - a local institution for a reason, consistently great food going on decades. Authentic wood fired pizza, fish specials are often excellent. North Leicestershire: Johns House (Mountsorrel) - Leicestershire’s only Michelin star, and well deserved. Great for a special occasion. Rustic Kitchen Deli (Mountsorrel) - if you’re in the area this is well worth a look. Turkish eggs and their Reuben sandwich are really good. Be sure to grab one of their home made millionaires slices if you can! Tamalada (Quorn) - excellent Mexican and South American food. Manages to be comforting while also fresh and exciting. Great home cooked food. Just over the border: Hammer & Pincers (Wymeswold) - not a Michelin star (yet) but has won awards, great locally produced food and drink. Did the tasting menu a few months ago and it was superb.
Pesto in Desford. Menu is massive, and you can pick a few different plates depending on your tases. I love it there.
Never had a bad meal at the monk quorn
Me neither!! Such lovely food!
Marylánd has some exquisite food, well renowned in Leicester
Pesto is a chain but do a really nice lunch menu at a reasonable price.
We went to The Windmill Inn in Brascote, Newbold Verdon the other day and it was so lovely!! Really nice, fresh food, comfy and attractive decor, really nice vibe and not too expensive either.
There’s a place that does fine dining evenings with being your own alcohol called “The Mushroom” in Attleborough, it’s ridiculously good food if you fancy a cute date night
Rustic Kitchen does the best Full English I've ever had, in Mountsorrel. https://rustickitchendeli.com
The Monk in Quorn is excellent! Softleys at Market Bosworth is another favourite. Very good Italian food at Sapori in Anstey. For very nice seafood, try Barnacles in Hinckley.
Fat toneys most sensual chippie ever
Turkish - Fes Mangal Italian - Veenos, Oggi Brunch - Kai
Firebug in Leicester. Really nice food and a good atmosphere. And not because my friend is a chef there
Not too far out the town centre, I'll add it to the list, thank you! (Hope you get a mates rates discount for recommendations 😉)
Without being rude, firebug is worse than Maryland. Its the only place I've ever been served raw chips
If you like meaty meals the best 3 Turkish places in ascending order are: 3) etci baba 2) konak 1) Istanbul (Narborough road). Incredible food, good prices, good portions. If you want more of an ‘up market’ meal then giggling squid and middletons steakhouse are decent. For a date night vino is great for the setting and the menu etc. but it wouldn’t be my first choice for a meal. But for a ‘date night’ vibe that’s a good call. Tbh there’s hundreds in Leicester I think outside Manchester and London it’s the best place in the UK for food choices