Top places for food and drink lovers in Nottingham

Following a recent visit to Nottingham, in search of delicious food and drinks, Isobel King from ilovemygrub.com reviews what Nottingham has to offer for foodie fanatics. Here are her top highlights and places of interest... Hart’s Restaurant Modern, stylish and with a stellar menu, Hart’s is Nottingham’s no. 1 restaurant. Peppery tuna carpaccio, pickled carrot and lime crème fraîche tastes as good as it looks, followed by freshly-caught exquisite brill served with saffron hollandaise and a Jenga-style stack of chips. There’s a wide selection of old and new world wines, with some vintage options if you want something really special, and the most delectable desserts – try the hot chocolate fondant with pistachio ice cream. Delilah Fine Foods Recently awarded the ‘Local Gem’ in the Good Food Guide 2014, Delilah is a superb deli offering fresh bread, local cheese, charcuterie and a whole host of other artisan foods. Pick up Miller’s Damsels hand-baked buttermilk wafers, a loaf of tangy apple sourdough, Stichelton blue cheese made on the local Welbeck Estate, ‘zebra farfalle’ dyed with black stripes of sepia ink and award-winning Giuseppe Giusti eight-year-old balsamic. Set in a grand, neo-classical style building with high ceilings and enormous windows, it’s the place in town to meet for coffee. Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem Supposedly the oldest Inn in England, Ye Olde Trip is naturally a tourist hot spot. That said it’s still well worth a visit, serving delicious local beer such as Rock Mild (a traditionally crafted ale from the local Nottingham Brewery). Made from the finest hops and malted barley, its smooth and rounded flavours make it one of the best beers we’ve ever tasted. Nottingham Castle Café Although the Nottingham Castle no longer stands, sitting on the terrace outside the 17th century ducal mansion is difficult to beat. You get exceptional views of the city 130ft up, and a refreshing breeze while you sip coffee or tuck into a Nottingham cream tea. Afterwards, walk it off by wandering round the exhibitions and don’t miss the Cave Tour, where a guide regales you with stories of King Edward II and Sir Roger de Mortimer (who both came to a sticky end). Calcutta Club Only open for six months at the time of writing, this Indian restaurant may not look like much on the outside, but inside it’s a foodie paradise. Starters are outstanding: soft-shell crab samosas come with a fiery carrot and tamarind chutney, while plump king prawns delicately roasted in the tandoor are fragrantly spiced with caraway seed and ginger. Be sure to order the Boatman’s Fish Curry - this Keralan-inspired dish consists of fresh monkfish in an irresistible coconut sauce. Mop up every drop with homemade butter naan. What else is there to do around Nottingham? There’s nothing like a rush of adrenaline to work up an appetite. Explore the gruesome old courthouse and gaol, Galleries of Justice Museum, or tag along on Nottingham’s Ghost Walk for spooky tales of spirits and mysterious happenings. On 25 October, the Bramley Apple Festival is a great celebration of the nation’s favourite cooking apple in the picturesque market town of Southwell.