East Twenty Six, Exchange Street, Norwich

Apologies for being so slack with posts! 

I've got a few posts ready to write, so expect an overdose of delicious food posts to make up for it!

I went out to celebrate a friend's birthday. The location was East Twenty Six, a modern tapas restaurant with a beautiful glass front. 

View from our table

The Binham Blue wantons, £3.50 were incredible, soft, salty cheese deep fried in a crispy parcel. Binham Blue is a soft, blue veined cheese and a nice touch that it is locally produced in Norfolk. Unfortunately we were so hungry that we demolished most of them before I could take a photo!

Binham Blue Wantons (mostly eaten!), £3.50

The waitress recommended that we each have 2 or 3 dishes. So after sharing the wantons as an appetiser, we each ordered 2 dishes and a few portions of chips to share.

I had lime, chilli and ginger potted crab (I forgot the price, sorry!) The lime, chilli and ginger complemented the crab beautifully. However, the star for me was the tempura battered avocado, soft and creamy avocado with a deliciously crunchy batter.

Lime, chilli and ginger potted crab, price unknown

We are all big fans of macaroni cheese, so when we saw the house smoked haddock with macaroni cheese, £6.50, on the menu, we were all tempted! The smoke haddock added a lovely fishy addition to the creamy, cheesy pasta. 

House smoked haddock macaroni cheese, £6.50

We all shared a few portions of chips. Golden, crispy skin with a soft centre.

2 dishes with a few sharing sides and glasses of wine came to around £20 each. The atmosphere is perfect for a group gathering and if you can, sit upstairs to enjoy the view.

The portions are a lot bigger than regular tapas dishes, so I would definitely recommend sharing dishes with one or 2 other people so you can sample more of their delicious food!

Food - 8.5/10
Service - 8.5/10
Atmosphere - 9/10
Value for Money - 7.5/10

Favourite Norwich lunch spots - part 1

Norwich has some great spots for lunch. Here are some of my favourite (and great value) options:-
Shiki, Tombland

This Japanese restaurant in Tombland is situated close to the Cathedral and has a great value lunch menu with noodles, soup, curry & sushi on offer. The Bento boxes (£10) are a great option to try a few dishes too (I've yet to sample one - mission for 2015!).

Beef Yaki Soba, £5.95

Flaming Galah, Ber Street

Sample of seres of delicious Aussie pies at Flaming Galah, with classics such as garlic chicken and mushroom, beef and onion and beef and stout pies alongside more unsual offerings like spicy Panang curry, chicken satay, seafood chowder and goats cheese. Upgrade for £1 to get the Bonza Deal (mash potato, mushy peas and gravy). 

The Aussie Deluxe, £4.95 when purchased as a Bonza Deal

Pizza Express, St Benedict's Street / Bethel Street

The Leggera Superfood Salad is such a great choice for a healthier lunch. Without chicken, this is under 300 calories and is super filling. A mix of leaves, cucumber, roasted butternut squash, beetroot, mozzarella, avocado, pine kernels, lentils with balsamic syrup and fresh basil. 

A beautiful view of St Peter Mancroft Church on Hay Hill can be seen from Pizza Express at the Forum.

Mambo Jambos, Lower Goat Lane

Mambo Jambos is a bit of a Norwich institution and a popular place to go for group meals out. Specialising in Mexican and South American flavours and super-size portions, you will never leave hungry! Unfortunately forgotten by many for lunch, definitely worth a visit for one of the Mexican offerings or a delicious Hoagie for under £8 (Sticky Pig with BBQ pork, onion rings and cheese is my winner!) 

Sticky Pig Hoagie, £7.95

Where are your favourite places for lunch? I am always after inspiration!

Bullitt Burger @ The Fat Cat & Canary, Thorpe Road, Norwich

I have been hearing good things about Bullitt Burger for a while. Starting life as a guerrilla dining experience, Bullitt now has its own set-up in The Fat Cat & Canary pub.

The pub itself is one of three Fat Cat pubs in the city, known for stocking a great selection of real ales. The Fat Cat & Canary is their newest offering and keeps with the traditional pub decor and was my location for a casual Friday night catch up with friends. 

A burger and some cherry beer (Liefmans Kriek) were definitely in order after a busy week.

The gold menu brought a choice of 8 burger options, alongside a range of sides and other food options (ribs, chicken, steak). The burger options offered the some classic options alongside a few more unusual topping choices.

The Nacho Libre (£8) was my choice for the evening, a beef patty topped with Chorizo, Bullitt Cheese and Nachos.

Burgers can be ordered from the counter (cash only currently) and you can pay at order or at the end of your meal.

You are able to eat on any of the tables in the pub area or in the Bullitt room with 3 benches and some great wall art. We took a seat on one of the long wooden benches whilst we waited for our order. Considering there were 6 of us, plus another table of 4 diners and only 1 person cooking the food with waitress support, the service was speedy.

Out came a beast of a burger. Burger eating etiquette is a funny thing, particularly when the burger comes with a mass of toppings; do you cut into bitesize chunks with a knife and fork, cut in half or go for the whole burger and risk making a mess? 

The Nacho Libre did not look like the sort of burger that would appreciate being cut up, so I squished it together and went for a bite.

You can always taste the quality of the meat in a burger and Bullitt did not disappoint. All burgers are 100% local, natural, free range beef chuck steak and this gave a really meaty patty.

I felt that the chorizo was a little overpowered by the nachos in the burger and I was a little disappointed that the nachos were cold. I imagined the nachos being topped by the cheese and place under a grill. However, the nachos added a great crunch to the burger and were a great addition to the burger.

Nacho Libre, £8

I also had my first taste of poutine (Bullitt Cheese Poutine, £4.50) and these really were the star of the night. Poutine is a Canadian dish of french fries topped with with a gravy-like sauce and cheese curds. Bullitt's version brings in Bullitt cheese. Do not mistake Poutine for chips, cheese and gravy - these babies have a lot more class.

Bullitt Cheese Poutine, £4.50

Perfectly cooked wedge-like fries with a rich, gravy sauce (really thick and meaty) and cheese; I was in heaven!

I also got a photo of the Carnivore with streaky bacon and Bullitt Cheese.

Carnivore, £8

At the end of our meal, out came another pot of fries. Mr Bullitt had some spare Fries and we gladly took them off his hands, covering them in the range of sauces available (try the Rose Harissa Mayo...!) Really great service.

Like Harbercue, Bullitt is a pop-up option, so currently only takes cash for payment. Around £10 for burger and fries (more is you go for the Poutine) is pretty good value for good quality produce.

We were advised to return for a steak - these had been hung for 40 days and were coated with a special glaze. Definitely worth a return visit with a side of Poutine and a few cherry beers!

Food - 8.5/10
Service - 9/10
Atmosphere - 8.5/10
Value for Money - 8/10

The Marsh Harrier, Ipswich Road, Norwich

Sorry for the absence - it's been a busy few weeks settling back into work and life after a week away!

A week-night catch up with my lovely Dad was in order and we decided to try The Marsh Harrier for some food and a few drinks. The Marsh Harrier is part of The Vintage Inns chain of pubs with venues throughout the UK. It seems to be popular for after-work meals and currently has a week-night set menu - with 2 courses for £11.95, with some tasty looking options on the menu.

The pub itself definitely has a 'vintage' feel, wooden beams and exposed brick with nude coloured walls and cream touches. A mismatched feel, with a variety of table shapes and sizes makes it feel less like a chain.

With 3 choices of starter, I copied by Dad and we went for the Potted Oak Smoked Chicken Liver Pate, which came with an onion marmalade and crusty bread. I was slightly concerned that this would come out like regular mass produced pate, slippery and no texture. However, I was gladly mistaken. The pate was delicious; slightly smokey with a coarse texture. My only minor complaint would be that the bread portion was a bit stingy. This is often the case when you order pate - you get oodles of delicious pate, but not enough bread to spread it on. This either causes you to be left with a large amount of pate or that you have so much piled on your bread that it is a struggle to eat! (I definitely fall into the second category!)

The branded paper was a nice touch to the plate.

Potted Oak Smoked Chicken Liver Pate, part of £11.95 2 course deal

The other options for Starter were Prawn Cocktail (always a classic!) or Baked Cornish Brie and Onion Marmalade Brulee (I was seriously tempted!)

There were some seriously great classic choices for main; steaks (rump and gammon), battered fish, fishcakes, burgers (beef and Feta and Broad Bean) and chicken.

I tried my hardest to go for something different - the Feta and Broad Bean Burger was seriously tempting, as it seemed such a unusual menu option, but I faltered when I read the description for the British Beef Burger, which came with cheddar and bacon... I'm sorry, I tried to blog about something different, but my love of a beef burger won on this occasion...!

British Beef Burger, £11.95 as part of two course deal

 I was not dissappointed. Although this looks fairly small in the photo, the burger patty was big and meaty, with slightly crispy bacon and melted cheese on top. I was asked if I wanted to upgrade by regular chips to 'thick cut chips' and declined. When my meal came out these were already some seriously thick chips and I was intrigued to see what any 'thick' chips would come out like! A little pot of tomato salsa accompanied.

Daddy NF was tempted by the burger, but went for the Gammon Steak. this came with a big wedge of pineapple, a lovely fried egg with a runny yolk, lots of chips and some slightly wrinkled peas. Daddy NF was very jealous of my meal when it came out, as the gammon steak was slightly on the small side (you can barely see it under the egg and pineapple in the photo). Luckily for him, the burger defeated me, so he got lots of my my chips.

A nice touch was that after bringing out our food, the waiter brought out a wooden tray full of pots of sauces and we were able to help ourselves from the varied selection.

Grilled Gammon Steak, £11.95 as part of the 2 course deal

Full of burger and wine, I'm not really sure how I was tempted into a dessert, but at only £2.00 when purchased as part of the deal, it seemed like a great idea!

I figured the Raspberry Creme Brûlée would be a light option and definitely not a regular choice for me (I was trying to make up for the burger!). This was really tasty and definitely a lighter choice of dessert. Cracking through the crisp caramelised sugar topping to a rich thick vanilla custard. I wondered where the raspberry section of the brûlée was, until I reached the bottom of the pot, where there was a layer of fresh raspberries. A really tasty light dessert.

Raspberry Creme Brûlée, £2.00 when purchased on top of the 2 course deal

Daddy NF made me jealous and opted for one of my winter favourites; crumble. This was a seasonal fruit crumble and looked very tasty - coming with ice cream AND custard (a winning combination in my opinion!) I believe the crumble had raspberries in it, but I've completely forgotten what else! The branded paper was brought out again (the Chef was also definitely a fan of a herb garnish!). 

Seasonal Fruit Crumble,  £2.00 when purchased on top of the 2 course deal

Feeling extremely full, we moved to the other side of the pub for a drink. This side has a relaxed vibe - with cutlery in pots, a large fireplace and a whole wall of shabby chic style mirrors - great for a relaxed Sunday meal.

The Marsh Harrier also has an extensive regular menu for lunch and dinner (including a light bites section), a Sunday menu and a Wednesday 'Pie Day' menu. We actually dined on a Wednesday and asked to see the pie menu. However, most of the options differed from the menu or were not available at all. I'm not sure if this was a one off thing or part of some larger misprinting for the menu.

Although The Marsh Harrier does have a slight chain pub feel through the classic pub options, the food is good and there are definitely some unusual options to sample fromt he menu (Creme Brûlée, Feta & Broad Bean Burger, Salt Beef Hash, Wild Boar and Chorizo Burger). The 2 course menu has some great options for the price too.

A great venue for a casual meal and I imagine on a cold day, this would be a great option for a Sunday roast next to the fire. It always seems busy (even at 6.30 on a Wednesday evening, a lot of the tables were filled).

Food - 8/10
Service - 8/10
Atmosphere - 7.5/10
Value for Money - 9/10 (based on the two course menu, although Daddy NF treated me...!)

Zaks Waterside Grill and Diner, Barrack Street, Norwich

Sorry for the delay. I've just got back from a lovely winter break in Morocco. Feeling refreshed after a bit of sun and plenty of food, of course!

Just before I went away, I took a trip to one of my favourite casual dining venues, Zaks.

Zaks has been a feature in Norwich since the 1970s and my Dad often tells stories of getting a burger from the original caravan after a night out.

Nowadays, Zaks has 2 restaurants in Norwich and 1 out of the city in Poringland. Each one has a slightly different style and this visit took me to the Waterside branch - with it's flamingo pink exterior and retro feel.

The American diner theme suits the menu - with chicken, ribs, steaks, burgers & hot dogs available. In my opinion, Zaks Waterside has the best atmosphere - big booth seats are great for a group visit accompanied by music from the 1950s and 60s. 

We hadn't booked (booking is definitely advised) so sat in the 'Sunset Bar' to eat - round tables with tall bar stools. The staff are friendly. The restaurant is always busy, so they aren't always overly attentive, but rarely leave you with an empty drink or waiting for dessert.

My favourite starter is the Awesome Nachos. A huge plate of corn chips topped with chilli (beef or vegetarian available), jalapeno cheese sauce, guacamole, salsa, sour cream, lettuce and extra jalapenos. 

However, at this visit I had a real craving for chicken wings, so no photo of the nachos this time.... I'd never had the Famous wings (£5.45) before and went for the sticky BBQ sauce (Hot Sauce, Garlic, Tennessee Glaze, Lime and Tequila & Naked wings are also available).

With no celery left, I was offered coleslaw instead. The wings also comes with a pot of blue cheese sauce (not pictured). Tender chicken with a slightly crispy skin and a seriously sticky, smoky BBQ sauce. It's difficult to see in the photo, but I had aboutn 6 wings - Zaks always provides a good portion! 

The salty blue cheese doubled up the sauce on the wings, complimenting the BBQ. Thankfully a finger bowl was brought out, so I dove in with my hands (the only way to eat chicken wings or ribs in my opinion!)

Sticky BBQ Famous Wings, £5.45

Mr NF forgave me for not ordering the nachos (his absolute favourite!) and had Garlic Bread (£2.95) with grilled monterey jack cheese (extra 75p) (also available plain or with mushroom or bacon bits). 

Garlicky sour dough with lots of cheese - these went down well (I was definitely forgiven for the nachos!)

Garlic bread, £2.95 + 75p for cheese

Then onto the mains. Zaks is best known for the burgers with a choice of 20 on the menu plus regular off-menu specials. There really is a burger for everyone (chicken and a selection of veggie burgers are also available with any of the toppings). Everyone I speak to has a different favourite - Mr NF alternates between Surf 'N' Turf (prawns in a cocktail sauce) and The Godfather (mushrooms and parmesan on a garlic toasted bun) and those who remember the original burger van can reminisce with The Big Un (a double-stacked cheeseburger wrapped in foil likes the original burgers).

Being the food lover that I am; I can't decide on a favourite and over the years I have tried almost every burger on the menu (the menu changed just over a year ago - so I a bit of a regular customer...!) 

Today was the perfect opportunity for The Meltdown (£10.25). Labelled as the sloppy option on the menu with crisp bacon, mushrooms and the jalapeno cheese sauce (the same sauce as on the nachos). All burgers come with a choice of Fries, Curlies, Jacket Potato or Wedges. For an extra £1.50 you can also have Sweet Potato Fries and I went for the upgrade to share with Mr NF in exchange for some Fries.

As I've already mentioned, Zaks is known for it's portions. Out came a tasty beef patty topped with two pieces of crispy salty bacon, some fried mushrooms smothered in a seriously cheesy sauce with a hint of spice from the jalapenos.

My picture does not do justice - the sweet potato fries were soft on the inside with a crispy outside and were perfect for dipping into the jalapeno sauce. I also had a few Fries from Mr NF - 

Meltdown, £10.25

Mr NF went for The Godfather (£9.75) and ended up with a double helping of garlic. Juicy fried mushrooms complimented by salty parmesan cheese. Also, take note of my generosity - look at the sweet potato fries compared to the fries I got in return!!! Ha ha! 

The Godfather, £9.75

It is pretty impossible to eat the burgers as a whole. The combination of size and the fillings make it a messy option! Due to the serious plateful of food, I normally can't even manage the top half of the bun and this visit was no exception!

No dessert this time - it's almost impossible to have a starter AND a dessert. There are some great options and naturally a big portion!

Zaks is really good to Customers - offering a loyalty card with discounts changing monthly (2 for 1 on burgers, 10% off, free refills etc). 

I am a big Zaks fan and this is often my go-to place for food, a catch up with friends, a casual date night or a big group meal. I've celebrated many an occasion here since my childhood, so Zaks holds a lot of memories for me personally. As a skater with the Norfolk Brawds, I was really happy when Zaks became our sponsor 2 years ago. Zaks offers 10% discount for Customers wearing a Norfolk Brawds Roller derby t-shirt (available here).

Please note that although I am a skater with the Norfolk Brawds, all views are completely my own. As previously mentioned, I have been a loyal customer at Zaks since childhood.

Food - 8/10
Service - 8/10
Atmosphere - 9/10
Value for Money - 9/10

Harbercue Smoke House @ The Mash Tun, Charing Cross, Norwich - Visit 2

After such a great visit before Christmas, I had been keen to try Harbercue on their regular menu night. When friends suggested going for dinner and drinks, I was quick to suggest a return visit (and the opportunity to visit the Gin Palace!).

To fit 11 of us in, we were placed at the large table by the bar, which was perfect for nipping to get drinks (as it is a pop-up restaurant, drinks are purchased at the bar of the Mash Tun). The atmosphere of the Mash Tun makes it worth a visit in it's own right. A rustic feel, with wooden flooring and a long bar with a great selection of craft beers (choices displayed on their very own beer board!) alongside regular bar drinks.

I ordered some Battered Pickles (£3) for the virgins amongst us to try and, as expected, the juicy slices of pickled goodness surrounded in crispy batter were a hit (see my last Harbercue post for a picture of their deliciousness!). 

At my last visit, I had made the decision that I would try the brisket, but the menu had me torn between a tray of brisket, The Beast (pulled pork, beed brisket, slaw, cheese and pickle in a brioche bun), the Double Beef and Blue (beef patty topped with brisket and blue cheese) and the special of the day, Beef Ribs. 

My love for blue cheese won and I went for the Double Beef and Blue and it did not disappoint...

Double Beef and Blue, £8.50

Melt in the mouth brisket on a juicy patty with rich and salty blue cheese. So much filling that it was falling out of the brioche bun. Check out the meat close up...

Brisket and blue cheese close up!

Although disappointed by the Double Cooked Fries last time, I decided to give them another go. This time they were a great combination - soft yet crispy with a fluffy interior.

I was really happy with my choice... UNTIL... this appeared...

Pork Ribs, £8.50

My picture does not do these beauties justice. Slow-cooked fall off the bone pork ribs topped with a smokey sweet barbecue sauce. The portion was huge and for only £8.50 you also get 2 sides (in this case my friend chose the Homemade Spicy Slaw and Double Cooked Fries).

Luckily for me, she was unable to finish them all, so I got the chance to try a bit of the tender meat. I loved the burger and would definitely have it again, but I am also a sucker for ribs!

Unfortunately with so many of us around the table, I didn't get a chance to catch up on what the others ate, but the empty plates said it all! After getting caught out last time, I remembered to tell the group that Harbercue is cash only - being a pop-up that is run separately to the bar.

With full satisfied tummies, we ventured upstairs to the Gin Palace. A beautiful room with an old-fashioned pharmacy style bar. Lots of wooden drawers surrounded by bottles of gin.

The Gin Palace Bar

I have never seen so much gin and did not realise that there were so many different types! Unfortunately, the lighting wasn't great for pictures, but I would really recommended checking out the photos on Facebook. Antique tables, ornate armchairs and frilly desk lamps add to the relaxed atmosphere - it is like stepping back in time.

Infused bottles line the bar front and it is a mission to decide!

I know nothing about gin, so asked the bar staff for some tips (not too sharp with some fruity notes). I went for a Pinkster (about £8.50 for a double including a mixer of your choice). A pink hued dry gin, infused with raspberries with a smooth taste. Gin experts amongst you may gasp, but I went for a lemonade mixture to add a bit of sweetness. Drinks are served in large glasses with complimentary garnish, raspberries and mint in my case.

Double Pinkster with lemonade, £8.50

It was delicious and I am now a gin convert. I even returned on the Saturday night for a few drinks!

Unfortunately, antique furniture can pose a few risks... We were sat at a large table with an extended middle panel. Suddenly the middle of the table collapsed, taking my second drink (Sipsmith Sloe Gin - a sweet pink gin) and a few others with it. The bar staff promptly sorted it - giving my friend some tissue to clean up his gin soaked jeans and replacing our lost drinks.

Definitely a unique place for a casual drink. Slightly on the more expensive side and more for a relaxed evening.

My review below is based on Harbercue Smoke House only. 

Food - 9/10
Service - 9/10
Atmosphere - 8/10
Value for Money - 8.5/10

Coast to Coast, Riverside, Norwich

Happy New Year! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to sampling lots of delicious food in 2015!

After over-indulging over the Christmas period, it seemed only fitting that I started 2015 as I mean to go on, with some lovely food!

Intending to make a trip to the cinema on Friday night, we decided to grab some food nearby.

Coast to Coast is my favourite place to eat in the Riverside complex - slightly higher priced than the other chain restaurants, but definitely better quality. With a nice atmosphere, booth seating in dark leather, it's definitely a better quality place to eat than some of the other options.

We walked in around 6.30pm, forgetting it was a Friday night and the restaurant was particularly busy. After waiting around 5 minutes at the bar, we were taken to a table. I took the opportunity to get my favourite non-alcoholic drink; homemade lemonade. Coast to Coast's pink lemonade is made on site and is delicious. I drank it before I had the opportunity to take a photograph, but I definitely recommend! A sweet, refreshing, non-fizzy thirst quencher.

I'd already decided I wanted to try one of their Chicago-style, deep dish pizzas. We decided to forego side dishes and opt for a couple of starters to share. The Sea Salt Pretzels (£3.45) with a garlic dip sounded perfect and Mr NF opted for Cheese and Chive Loaded Skins (£5.95).

The pretzels were a big winner - a saltier version of the Dough Balls, soft and doughy with a crispy bite and perfect with the garlic dip. Excellent value for money too, particularly when compared to the price of the Potato Skins.

Sea Salt Pretzels, £3.45

The Skins were lovely, coming with a sour cream dip - crispy exterior with soft potato filling and plenty of cheese on top. 

Loaded Skins, £5.95

We were advised (as repeated on the menu) that the deep dish pizzas take upto 20 minutes to make - but these arrived straight after we finished our starters.

Mr NF went for the Cajun Chicken (£12.95), whilst I finally decided on the Californian (£11.95), with goat's cheese, peppers, mushrooms, onion, pesto.

Cajun Chicken, £12.95

I instantly regretted dough for starter, as was already a little full from the pretzels!

A crispy, thick crust full to the brim with the combination of toppings. I would definitely recommend the pizza - the Cajun Chicken definitely being my choice next time.

Californian, £11.95

I was defeated less than half-way through, so the remainder had to come home with me...! 

Doggy bag for me!

Coast to Coast is more of an American theme, but has a really extensive menu selection, definitely something for everyone. I've also sampled their ribs previously, which are another delicious option. The staff are courteous and friendly, nothing is too much trouble and is definitely one of my favourite places for a pre-cinema treat.

Total bill for soft drinks, starters and main meals for 2 came to around £41.


Food - 8.5/10
Service - 9/10
Atmosphere - 9/10
Value for Money - 7.5/10