[THR]

I'd be interested to know of any good places to eat in Chesterfield that you could recommend?

We eat out occasionally in Chesterfield and have been very impressed by:

Calabria

Impressed by

Coco's (tapas)
Market Tavern - limited menu but good - and great wines

Neither impressed nor unimpressed by

Deli 41
Star of Sall
Blue Rooms

Slightly unimpressed by

Aubergine
Thai Pavillion

I notice there's a couple of places that (I think) must have opened fairly recently. The Indian restaurant called Raaz - near the central car park on that street where the mobility shop is. Any reports on this one please? It looks to have got a good menu with interesting dishes like tandoor fish on there - usually a good sign that it's a bit better than your average onion bhaji and poppadom emporium.

The other one is some kind of trendy steak bar on the corner of Cheapside and Beetwell Street. Wondered if anyone has tried that? Can't remember the name of it now. Summat to do with motorbikes or scooters? Harley's or Lambretta's maybe?

Anyone been a bit further afield and tried the Red Lion at Stonedge? It looks magnificent and we went in when it first re-opened about a year ago. We weren't dining on that occasion but we'd threatened to go back for a meal. However, we've heard so many mixed, i.e. not good, reports about it that we've not bothered. Anyone tried it?

Are there any other little gems we are missing?

[Guest_freelander2_*]

THR, on 11 September 2012 - 05:27 AM, said:

I'd be interested to know of any good places to eat in Chesterfield that you could recommend?

Impressed by
Coco's (tapas)

We've been a handful of times now, mainly late on a Saturday afternoon, we thought the food was OK to good, but the service is poor given the number of service staff.

THR, on 11 September 2012 - 05:27 AM, said:

Slightly unimpressed by
Aubergine

I'm surprised.

We like it, regular visitors and yet to have a bad meal / service.

THR, on 11 September 2012 - 05:27 AM, said:

The other one is some kind of trendy steak bar on the corner of Cheapside and Beetwell Street. Wondered if anyone has tried that? Can't remember the name of it now. Summat to do with motorbikes or scooters? Harley's or Lambretta's maybe?

Again, visited a handful of times.

The food's OK to good, but the service is absolutely dire. The last time we visited, we refused to ask for a third time if someone could take our food order, so just shy of an hour, we got up & walked out!

THR, on 11 September 2012 - 05:27 AM, said:

Anyone been a bit further afield and tried the Red Lion at Stonedge? It looks magnificent and we went in when it first re-opened about a year ago. We weren't dining on that occasion but we'd threatened to go back for a meal. However, we've heard so many mixed, i.e. not good, reports about it that we've not bothered. Anyone tried it?

We've visited this place twice (mid Saturday afternoon) and have still yet to have a meal!

Whether things have changed or not, I don't know, but they advertised a bistro menu on their website, yet on both occasions when we got there, they were only serving from what looked like an expensive 'daily specials' menu, more suited to Fri / Sat night dining.

If you advertise that you serve burgers / fish & chips, serve the things!

BTW, I'll give credit to the owner though, the fit out is first class.


Here are a few places that we like!

http://www.bellablu.co.uk/

http://www.elmtreeelmton.co.uk/

http://www.lombardisrestaurant.co.uk/

http://www.doregrill.co.uk/ (As the name suggests, not in C'field)

I'd best give Dave Allen a plug too, the food at both Owlerton Stadium & Napoleons is superb.

[JonB]

Agree regarding the service at Cocos...we went in a large group for a friends birthday and it was a disaster. They had no idea how to deal with it and actually said as much but were happy to take the booking. Told everyone to order all sorts of bits then wanted to bring everything the same on the same plates despite the fact we were spread over a long thing table so people at opposite ends of the table who'd ordered the same thing would have to try and share somehow!! Also when we did complain they did nothing but tut at us as if we were in the wrong. I gave them the benefit of the doubt as it was not long after they opened but speaking to people who've been since it doesnt appear to have got any better.

Not been to Aubergine as yet but a couple of folk i've spoken to werent impressed.

Used to go to Star of Sall ages ago after cricket on a Saturday but then after one of their refurbs it seemed to change getting more expensive and not as good. Definitely not as good as Zahids on Chatsworth Rd or possibly even the Gulab.

In terms of places we like....we've been to the Fox & Goose at Old Brampton a lot and always had good food, Blu (used to be Poachers Rest) is still good even after the change although i will admit to having a slight interest as its run by my Aunty and Uncle, Olde Post in town, Inn at Troway, Batemans, had a good meal in the place at Casa although beer is expensive and Brampton Manor do a decent cheap range of food.

[Guest_freelander2_*]

JonB, on 11 September 2012 - 08:21 AM, said:

Blu (used to be Poachers Rest) is still good even after the change although i will admit to having a slight interest as its run by my Aunty and Uncle,

I saw the write up and was meaning to ask you about that!

How long have they had it? Has your Uncle retired now?

[JonB]

freelander2, on 11 September 2012 - 08:36 AM, said:

I saw the write up and was meaning to ask you about that!

How long have they had it? Has your Uncle retired now?

Only a few months and as well as being the restaurant at night serving pretty much the same stuff that Poachers Rest did they are also open as a Coffee Shop\Bistro place during the day doing breakfast and lunches. Mainly my Aunty running it during the day with one cousin a manageress at night with another cousin working as one of the chefs throughout the day. My Uncle hasnt retired as yet.

[Goku]

Soulville Steakhouse is pretty good. Lombardi's as well.

[JonB]

Lombardis was good but they've got greedy and it went downhill. We used to go a lot for friends birthdays etc and could accept pre ordering etc but they now make you go at 7pm or 9:30pm and pretty much force you out the door to get the next lot in.

Soulville also suffered with service issues and heard other people saying the same.

This post has been edited by JonB: 11 September 2012 - 11:03 AM

[SpireiteFitzy]

THR, on 11 September 2012 - 05:27 AM, said:

I'd be interested to know of any good places to eat in Chesterfield that you could recommend?

We eat out occasionally in Chesterfield and have been very impressed by:

Calabria

Impressed by

Coco's (tapas)
Market Tavern - limited menu but good - and great wines

Neither impressed nor unimpressed by

Deli 41
Star of Sall
Blue Rooms

Slightly unimpressed by

Aubergine
Thai Pavillion

I notice there's a couple of places that (I think) must have opened fairly recently. The Indian restaurant called Raaz - near the central car park on that street where the mobility shop is. Any reports on this one please? It looks to have got a good menu with interesting dishes like tandoor fish on there - usually a good sign that it's a bit better than your average onion bhaji and poppadom emporium.

The other one is some kind of trendy steak bar on the corner of Cheapside and Beetwell Street. Wondered if anyone has tried that? Can't remember the name of it now. Summat to do with motorbikes or scooters? Harley's or Lambretta's maybe?

Anyone been a bit further afield and tried the Red Lion at Stonedge? It looks magnificent and we went in when it first re-opened about a year ago. We weren't dining on that occasion but we'd threatened to go back for a meal. However, we've heard so many mixed, i.e. not good, reports about it that we've not bothered. Anyone tried it?

Are there any other little gems we are missing?

I used to work at the Red Lion out at Stanedge. The food they do up their is really good, the Sunday lunches were brilliant when I was there, but is a little on the expensive side (in my opinion). But the service is usually very good and its a nice area up there so I'd recommend it definitely. They have weddings most fridays and Saturday's so if it is those days you go out your best ringing up and booking for after 7 as the wedding party have usually eaten by then and you won't be left waiting whilst there food is cooked, they are usually over a 100 big so it takes some time lol. Sundays are popular though and as said the lunches are pretty good so that might be an option. Weekdays are usually steady so you can usually go without reserving.

A small disclaimer it is 3 months since I left so it might have changed from what I remember.

[Search & Destroy]

Hardwick inn is a nice place on a warm sunny day.
I'd love to find a good tapas place locally.

[JonB]

Search and Destroy, on 11 September 2012 - 12:46 PM, said:

I'd love to find a good tapas place locally.

The long standing rumour is that the old Just Tyres place on Chatsworth Rd just up from Nonnas etc will become a Tapas place but this has been doing the rounds for ages now.

[JonB]

NOKIN, on 11 September 2012 - 02:41 PM, said:

I am tempted to try the Kathmandu in Clay X as I love Nepalese food, anyone ever been?

Not been but brother in law lives on Clay Lane and we had a take away once. I've had worse to be honest but we'd had a few in the George & Dragon next door prior to having it, mucked up the order and didnt actually have enough to go around so didnt get to taste a lot!!

[Guest_freelander2_*]

JonB, on 11 September 2012 - 08:53 AM, said:

Only a few months and as well as being the restaurant at night serving pretty much the same stuff that Poachers Rest did they are also open as a Coffee Shop\Bistro place during the day doing breakfast and lunches. Mainly my Aunty running it during the day with one cousin a manageress at night with another cousin working as one of the chefs throughout the day. My Uncle hasnt retired as yet.

That's good to hear, we'll have to give it a go.

Am I right in thinking your cousin (manageress) worked there before?

[Guest_freelander2_*]

Has anyone tried The White Bear at Stretton or The Devonshire Arms at Handley?

[RPL42YEARS]

Rowleys at Baslow

Scotsmans Pack at Hathersage

The Barrel at Foolow

Monsal Head Hotel - The Stables

Fox & Goose at Old Brampton

[Goku]

Going to Little Italy tomorrow, anyone been?

[JonB]

freelander2, on 11 September 2012 - 07:41 PM, said:

That's good to hear, we'll have to give it a go.

Am I right in thinking your cousin (manageress) worked there before?

Yep she was.

Goku, on 11 September 2012 - 09:13 PM, said:

Going to Little Italy tomorrow, anyone been?

The place in Dronfield? Went there a couple I years back and it was decent enough.

[SpireiteFitzy]

Goku, on 11 September 2012 - 09:13 PM, said:

Going to Little Italy tomorrow, anyone been?

If its the one in dronfield then yeah its brilliant.

[Goku]

That's the one. Sounds decent, nice one.