As a foodie I tend to blow hot and cold regarding eating out in ere these parts. I eat out most weeks, and tend to stick with the Indian/ Oriental places.

When I'm in other cities, there's plenty of places, maybe French or Italian, or even British influenced, that I could visit, but I find Sheffield horribly lacking.

However, I don't think this is purely a problem with the restaurants. I think it's a problem with the people of Sheffield too.

There's a new wave of British cooking, influenced by the likes of Mark Hix and Fergus Henderson that is doing very well in London and surrounding areas. What's the problem with Sheffield? Are we just too tight with our purses/ wallets? What do the restauranters think?

Are people simply not ready to part with their cash for good British cooking, like at Kitchen, or is it something else?

I mean, even the sushi places up here are crap compared to other cities.

What's happening?

I'm not a massive foodie, and i prefer to cook with friends rather than eat out, but in my opinion there are too many chain restaurants in Sheffield, especially in the city centre, but there are good restaurants, you just have to hunt them out, La Scala and Christians in Millhouses for example.....

Get your self off too the mangla on spital hill very nice food ,,,if you like a balti try lamb class

There are loads of fantastic restaurants in Sheffield - just look on the forum for recommendations. If you want French then try Chez Lahlou on the main road up to Walkley, or for good Italian food then I'd recommend either Piccolo's on West Street, La Scala in Millhouses or Vito's in Walkley. I'd also recommend Rowsha in Walkley or Shiraz on Abbeydale Road for Middle Eastern food, if you like that sort of thing.

[QUOTE=chinaski;6173028]As a foodie I tend to blow hot and cold regarding eating out in ere these parts. I eat out most weeks, and tend to stick with the Indian/ Oriental places.

When I'm in other cities, there's plenty of places, maybe French or Italian, or even British influenced, that I could visit, but I find Sheffield horribly lacking.

However, I don't think this is purely a problem with the restaurants. I think it's a problem with the people of Sheffield too.

There's a new wave of British cooking, influenced by the likes of Mark Hix and Fergus Henderson that is doing very well in London and surrounding areas. What's the problem with Sheffield? Are we just too tight with our purses/ wallets? What do the restauranters think?

Are people simply not ready to part with their cash for good British cooking, like at Kitchen, or is it something else?

I mean, even the sushi places up here are crap compared to other cities.

What's happening?[/QUOTE

You cant compare Sheffield with London and surrounding areas. For one there is a lot more money and footfall around London - therefore more variety and competition.

I love Sheffield and I have lived here all my life and I will always stick up for it, however if I fancy a real foodie treat then we are limited here. London is the best place for the widest choice of restaurants and the best food. Places like The Capital, Amaya and Benares etc are great but I like them as a treat and wouldn't want to go (and couldn't afford to go) on a regular basis.

I'm not a massive foodie, and i prefer to cook with friends rather than eat out, but in my opinion there are too many chain restaurants in Sheffield, especially in the city centre, but there are good restaurants, you just have to hunt them out, La Scala and Christians in Millhouses for example.....

I agree - the city centre is overrun by chain restaurants. I can only assume that the rents are too high for smaller businesses to contemplate opening up in town.

There are, what people would call 'good' restaurants, not all of which I would agree with, but I think that these are generally considered to offer the 'best' in Sheffield;
Moran's, Milestone, Marco at Milano, Rafters & Artisan.

Hopefully the London Club will make it into that list and other popular restaurants such as Platillos and Wasabisabi, whilst I think are very good, are probably not considered to be in the same league by some people.

Interestingly the Good Food Guide 2010 only lists Artisan, Cricket Inn, Greenhead House (Chapletown) and Moran's, with the highest scoring being Moran's with 4/10. They too class The Old Vicarage as being in Derbyshire.

Take a look at Leeds and there are 8 restaurants listed, 6 of which are in town, with the highest scoring restaurant having a score of 7/10 and listed as number 25 of all restaurants in the UK (note that Fischer's is listed as number 24).

Ok - this is only another guide and shouldn't be taken as gospel but it is based on nominations made by readers so it does try to give a fair reflection of the restaurants.

Admittedly, Leeds is very different to Sheffield. Good God, this place is still very town like, whereas Leeds is a bit more daring, but that is no excuse to not strive for something more. Like Chinaski suggests, is it the people of Sheffield who are holding us back?

Admittedly, Leeds is very different to Sheffield. Good God, this place is still very town like, whereas Leeds is a bit more daring, but that is no excuse to not strive for something more. Like Chinaski suggests, is it the people of Sheffield who are holding us back?

As long as it comes with a crust, a bottle of Hendersons and costs less than a fiver. :)

As long as it comes with a crust, a bottle of Hendersons and costs less than a fiver. :)

Ha ha - exactly!

I'd rather invite friends round every weekend for a wonderful meal than roam round expensive restaurants
It costs them nothing
they can stay as long as they like - and don't have to book a table
they can either stay or drive home the next morning.
Oh - and the service is good too

I've been out to too many over priced 'plastic meals' to waste money every week. Going out tends to be a monthly treat these days.

try ka china near entrance to rother valley BEST CHINESE IN THE UK BY FAR.

I think their are several factors at work. First, in the middle of a recession and as a city with an industrial heritage, Sheffield doesn't have the cash flow of other large cities to support an overflowing restaurant scene. I think in particular this effects modern British food - high quality ingredients, especially those free-range or organic don't come cheap. Any many foodies (myself included) tend not eat out in places that serve dishes they can make themselves. I'm italian and my partner is british, and we can make fresh pasta or a roast at home, so we tend to eat out at ethnic restaurants. But I think those places are Sheffield's strong point - wasabisabi; east & west; uk mama; lokanta; the greedy greek and tons of great indian. There's quite a bit out of good food out there, if you're willing to sacrifice the traditional restaurant atmosphere and experience.

I think their are several factors at work. First, in the middle of a recession and as a city with an industrial heritage, Sheffield doesn't have the cash flow of other large cities to support an overflowing restaurant scene. I think in particular this effects modern British food - high quality ingredients, especially those free-range or organic don't come cheap. Any many foodies (myself included) tend not eat out in places that serve dishes they can make themselves. I'm italian and my partner is british, and we can make fresh pasta or a roast at home, so we tend to eat out at ethnic restaurants. But I think those places are Sheffield's strong point - wasabisabi; east & west; uk mama; lokanta; the greedy greek and tons of great indian. There's quite a bit out of good food out there, if you're willing to sacrifice the traditional restaurant atmosphere and experience.

I think that's very true. We were meant to be eating out at The London Club last week and I just didn't have the enthusiasm (or money!) to spend £100 for a steak and sauce I know I could most likely cook just as well at home.

So you spend £30 having a great meal at East and West or, as you say, many of the other ethnic places around.

I'm going to The London Club this Saturday instead, so it'll be interesting to see whether it's worth the money. The Milestone sounds like it's certainly worth a visit too.

I'm going to The London Club this Saturday instead, so it'll be interesting to see whether it's worth the money. The Milestone sounds like it's certainly worth a visit too.

Milestone is worth a try. Let us know how the London Club is. I too want to go, but I am often disappointed with my steak (like you I can do better at home) and it is expensive, so I do want to hear some positive reviews before committing myself to it!

We've virtually given up eating out. I adore cooking and enjoy trying out new recipes. Every now and then I yearn for a beautiful restaurant with swift and attentive service and delicious, freshly cooked food. We go out and I'm disappointed yet again.

Our last experience was at Losehill House Hotel where they brought me a pale cream sherry when I asked for dry and, when I complained, told me that that's all they had. The table service was superb, but the food, which should have been just as superb, was salted so much that I couldn't eat it.

I've mentioned the Milestone elsewhere - but the main course here was a battle to order, as the fish had been already prepped and wrapped in meat, which I don't eat. The meal came with vegetables already on it and the lot drenched in butter.

I want good, fresh food not cooked in salt, vegetables delivered to the table in serving dishes so I can help myself to as much or as little as I want and a space where my friends and I can chat without shouting.

Until Sheffield can offer that, we'll eat at home.