What The Fork? – Portfolio

- Eating out guide- Takeaway guide- Lucky Fox Restaurant Review- Bungalows & Bears Restaurant Review

Eating out: Comprehensive guide to eating-out in SheffieldMay 21, 2015 Written by Rob MilneAs you would expect with a major UK city there are a multitude of places to eat in and around the city centre in Sheffield. Whether you are prepared to venture out or go as close to the train station as possible you will find somewhere good to eat. Here are some of the locations you can eat in Sheffield, their price ranges and the best place at each location:

Leopold Square

Leopold Square

Leopold Square is the more expensive option for a meal in the city centre, but the food here mostly lives up to the price tag. Aagrah’s is as good as any curry house in the city and also offers a brilliant Indian Spiced fish menu. Cubana offers authentic Spanish tapas and you can even try some Japanese cuisine at Wagamama. Also, offering a good selection of Italian food at two restaurants. At some of these restaurants you can eat outside in the square, looking over the fountains in a quiet spot of the city centre.Many of the restaurants here are part of big chains, country wide or restricted to the north of England, but this does not diminish the quality. You know what you are getting in Leopold Square, top-quality food at a slightly higher price. Perfect for an evening out or celebration.• Aagrah – Indian cuisine (http://www.aagrah.com/)• Bamboo Door – Polynesian cocktail bar (http://www.bamboodoor.co.uk/)• Cubana – Tapas restaurant and Cuban bar (http://www.cubana.co.uk/)• Strada – Italian restaurant (http://www.strada.co.uk/)• Tropeiro – Brazilian food (http://www.tropeiro.co.uk/)• Wagamama – Japanese (http://www.wagamama.com/)• Zizzi – Italian Restaurant (http://www.zizzi.co.uk/)Our Pick: Aagrah

West Street/Glossop road (city centre side)

Bloo 88 on West Street

Usually the ‘party-hub’ of the city during the day you can find some very good priced food which can fulfil your hunger needs. Excluding all the takeaways on the street there are some restaurants that won’t have long wait times and are coveted by students. Of course you have Nando’s, a popular choice, but then there is a selection of more unique places to eat. Be it Bloo 88 for a well-priced, Italian style pizza or Istanbul Mezze Grill for the taste of Turkey, there is a good array for a very affordable price.People think of West Street as somewhere just to party but you can quite easily go for a nice meal here. Oh, and right at the top, you have The Harley (as West Street turns into Glossop Road) known for their brilliant burgers and ‘gig-like’ atmosphere, if you haven’t tried their food, you simply have to.• Bloo 88 – Pizza (http://www.bloo88.com/)• Istanbul Mezze Grill – Turkish cuisine (http://istanbulmezzegrill.co.uk/)• Nando’s Sheffield – Chicken (http://www.nandos.co.uk/restaurant/sheffield-west-street)• Beehive/Cavendish/The Wick at Both Ends – Pub food• The Harley – Burgers (read our review here: http://www.whatthefork.co.uk/?p=63)• U Buffet/Hui Wei/Three Corners of China – Chinese• California Fresh – Mexican/AmericaOur Pick: The Harley

Division Street

Lucky Fox on Division Street

Here at What the Fork we love Division Street. It has the most character of any  street in Sheffield and its places to eat food reflect that, offering

competitive prices too. The food served on Division Street is not very varied (with the exception of The Great Gatsby) but you will struggle to have a bad meal on the street. Also, there is a new Taco Bell that has just popped up, perfect for lovers of Mexican fast-food.Some of the restaurants are quirky, but don’t stay here too late admiring the places you eat in, soon enough, just like West Street, the masses of people on nights out will descend on the bars.• Lucky Fox – Fried Chicken (read our review here: http://www.whatthefork.co.uk/?p=114)• Bungalow’s and Bears – Burgers (read our review here: http://www.whatthefork.co.uk/?p=3)• The Common Room – American (http://www.common-room.co.uk/)• The Great Gatsby – Mexican (http://www.thegatsbybar.co.uk/)• Forum – Café food (http://www.forumsheffield.co.uk/food-drink/food)• Taco Bell – Mexican• The Old House – Pub food (http://www.theoldhousesheffield.com/)• The Frog and Parrott – Pub food (http://gkpubs.co.uk/pubs-in-sheffield/frog-and-parrot-pub/)Our Pick: Bungalows and Bears

Saint Paul’s Place and surrounding areas

Saint Paul’s is probably the nicest area to eat in in the city. A stone’s throw from the winter gardens in the modern architectural area of the city and not far from the train station you will find Saint Pauls place. It is equal

with Leopold Square in terms of expense but arguably has a better quality of food. The excellence of Smoke Barbecue and the elegance of Browns (perfect for a date) combined with continental-esque Cafés, perfect to sit outside on a summer’s day. Picollino is near-by, a romantic restaurant but you can find better Italian food in the city for a much cheaper price.Browns breakfast would be our one of our recommendation in this area. If you are in the city centre this is the place to go.• Smoke Barbecue – BBQ food/Meat (http://smokebbq.co.uk/)• Browns – (http://www.browns-restaurants.co.uk/home/)• Pizza Express – Pizza/Italian• Café Rouge/Café Nero – Café food• Piccolino – Italian (http://www.individualrestaurants.com/piccolino/)Our Pick: Smoke Barbecue

Ecclesall Road

Fancie on Ecclesall Road

There is so much choice on Ecclesall Road it’s hard to know where to start,  in many ways it can be considered the food hub of the city. Slightly away from the city centre and short drive or walk will leave you overwhelmed with the amount of choice. So much so we can’t list every place in this post. Mudcrab is fantastic value and the food is delicious and for a weekend brunch you cannot go wrong at Fancie. Ecclesall Road has you covered for fast-food, Italian Cuisine, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, anything you can think of and at a wide-range of prices, making it accessible to everyone.This short trip into the student area of Sheffield will fill you with culinary delight. To add to all this All Siam Thai serves the best Thai food in the city. Here are our picks on Ecclesall Road:• Mud Crab Diner – Diner (read our review here: http://www.whatthefork.co.uk/?p=131)• Carluccio’s – Italian (http://www.carluccios.com/restaurants/sheffield/ecclesall-road)• Fancie – Cupcake specialist (http://www.fancie.co.uk/)• Yankees – American (http://www.yankees-sheffield.co.uk/)• Prezzo – Italian (http://www.prezzorestaurants.co.uk/restaurant/sheffield-ecclesall-road/)• La Tasca – Spanish (http://latasca.com/)• Maranello’s – Italian (http://www.maranellos.com/)• All Siam Thai – Thai (http://allsiamsheffield.co.uk/)• Graze Inn – International (http://www.grazeinn.co.uk/welcome.html)Our Pick: All Siam Thai

Kelham IslandKelham Island is the location on this list furthest from the city centre but has some of the best places to eat. A 10 minute drive from the city centre and prices not as steep as that Saint Pauls and Leopold Square, Kelham Island offers arguably the best burgers in town at Urban ¼, alongside some classic pub food and Italian food, not to mention the Edo sushi Takeaway.If you are prepared to take the short journey to Kelham Island you might find your new favourite place to eat. For those inclined for a drink The Fat Cat Pub offers the best ales in the city too.• Urban ¼ – Burgers (http://www.urbanquarter.co/)• Little Mesters Café and Bistro – French/English (http://www.littlemesterssheffield.com/)• The Riverside – Burgers (http://www.riversidesheffield.co.uk/)• Fat Cat Pub – Pub food (http://www.thefatcat.co.uk/)• Craft and Dough – Italian/Pizza (http://www.craftanddough.co.uk/)• Pure on Raw – European/Vegetarian (http://www.pureonraw.co.uk/)• Edo Sushi Takeaway – Sushi (http://www.edosushi.co.uk/)• 7 Spices Balti – Indian (http://www.7spicesbalti.co.uk/)Our Pick: Craft and Dough 

There are 100s of other places to eat in Sheffield, this list could have gone on forever, always remember to look down little side-streets to find little gems. You never know what is hidden away in The Steel City.By Rob Milne. 

Top Five post night-out food destinations on West Street and Division StreetMay 19, 2015 Written by Rob MilneIt’s that time of the week again, you’ve been working hard all week and you decided to venture into Sheffield city centre for an evening of drinking, dancing and celebration of everything you achieved in the past week.We’ve all been there, starting the night in Vault or Tiger Works, consuming levels of alcohol far beyond the recommend monthly intake, let alone daily.Next step the night can go one of two ways, Carver Street or back up West Street to West Street Live, the destination for all who want cheap drinks, sing-along music and an all-round good time.But what happens when the night comes to an end? You need food, but where is the best place to go? You don’t want to stray far and risk getting lost in the city so you limit yourself to West Street and Division Street, here is What The Fork’s top five post-night out take-away destinations in that area:1. PopeyesMany claim that Popeyes sells the best chicken on West Street and you have to be inclined to agree with these experts of night-time cuisine. It’s your last realistic chicken station before you venture away from the town centre, for those times when you haven’t been sure you wanted post-night food, the bright lights of Popeyes shine in the distance and make your decision for you.

Chicken shop of dreams

2. Spicy ChikSpicy Chik, it is a bit more of a modern establishment, cleaner and offering good food at a reasonable price. It has received a 4 star rating on JustEat and has been known to offer vouchers and deals out to people meandering around West Street of a evening. I’ve even been in there in daylight – which is saying something. The wide range on the menu is one of the best in the city and they do well to please as daylight approaches.

They also offer some more healthy grilled-offers for those who want something less greasy.

A more classy establishment.. if a take away can be classy

3. Crown PizzaIt is in the title, Crown Pizza sell pizza and it is the best pizza on West Street, receiving a 5 star rating on JustEat and sat next to Popeyes, the best of pizza and the best of chicken next door to each other. Their chicken isn’t half bad either, many a time I have sampled the peri peri chicken in Crown Pizza and it always fulfills the ambition of ridding the taste of sambuca.

So.. you want pizza?

4. Aslan’sAslan’s has more of a cult status than being known for its cuisine. The last stop before you leave the Narnia that is West Street. It is the first name that comes to everyone mind when on their way home, it is one of the first establishments you come to and is regularly filled with people. The kebabs are very good, probably the only good kebabs on west street, and offered at a reasonable price, I’m not sure how comfortable you would be eating from there sober though.. but you never really want a kebab unless it’s 4am. Oh and it only just re-opened! Rejoice! Prais Aslan!

Kebab’s on the corner

5. MerdocsThis is a little off the beat-and-track, well… if taking one side-street is too much effort for you.Merdocs has seating, allowing you to relax and chill after a night out and arguably sells the best chips on this list. Division Street is a classy street, and this takeaway will no doubt be quieter than those on West Street, choose Murdocs to get away from the hustle and bustle of West Street.

Eating Out: Lucky FoxMay 8, 2015 Written by Rob Milne 

Walking down Division Street it is easy to miss this gem of a restaurant/cafe. Lucky Fox with its simple appearance, a throwback to classic cafes, does not stand out as one of the best places to eat in Sheffield, but is widely acclaimed as so. Known for its fried chicken and superb selection of bottled beer you will struggle to find a seat in this quaint establishment, especially at peak times. We went down to the Lucky Fox to see what all the hype is about:Taste:It was difficult to select three items from the extensive menu but after much deliberation we decided to review and array of the items on offer, the famous fried chicken, a Lucky Fox sandwich and an option for those who fancy something that isn’t chicken.First off we tried the ‘Waffles and Chicken’, a dish that was highly recommended when we decided to visit Lucky Fox. We were speculative to say the least when the food arrived but non-the less intrigued to discover how the sweet maple syrup would react with the fried chicken – it worked brilliantly. The five pieces of fried chicken on a bed of waffle, topped with maple syrup and cinnamon butter, the combination of tastes were exquisite and the chicken was everything it lived up to be. Getting your dessert and main in one course is what dreams are made of. Not only was it good quality it was big enough to fill a largely empty stomach. This quirky and unique creation is a fantastic idea, executed well and highly recommended.

Following on from the Waffles and Chicken. attention was switched toward Lucky Fox’s take on a classic, the ‘Club Sandwich’. The brioche bun was topped with lettuce, tomato, succulent double-dipped fried chicken and bacon, as is expected from a traditional club sandwich. But the special fried chicken shone yet again, setting this sandwich apart from your everyday club sandwich, and obviously topped off with some mayonnaise to complete the creation.  The slight spice on the chicken really made this sandwich, easy to polish off quickly, despite being larger than you would expect. Accompany this with some fries (we’ll come back to the fries later) for the full experience.For those of you not ‘chicken-inclined’ with our third and final choice we sampled the ‘Sandwich for a bear’. The name does not give too much away but this is a seafood combination with smoked salmon, prawns, avocado and rocket, all the ingredients needed for an elite sandwich. Again, served on a brioche bun the fishy creation was joined by a gorgeous sauce (we couldn’t identify the sauce) which perfectly complemented the salmon. The salmon itself was everything you’d expect and the prawns too, perhaps not worth the £6 price but still an enjoyable sandwich, perfect for a little lunchtime treat.The fries do not come with the meals but can be purchased as a side-order. They are lovely and soft in the middle and appear fried on the outside, but not deep fried, to give them a fantastic texture and taste, with a initial crunch and soft inner potato.The menu has a huge array of items, by no means limited just to chicken, despite a large chunk of it being centred on the special double-dipped fried chicken. The restaurant also offers beef patty burgers, classics like mac n’ cheese and another take on a classic, the LuckyFox apple pie for dessert.Atmosphere/surroundings:As soon as you enter Lucky Fox you are struck by the gorgeous smell of the chicken frying in the open kitchen behind the counter. With the frying smell in the air, I warn you it will get stuck to your clothes (but it’s worth it) the chilled out music provides a relaxing atmosphere while you tuck into your food and sip on your unique beer. It is very, for want of a better word, ‘retro’ on the interior,

with unusual pictures on one wall and the other being a wooden wall, giving a more rustic feel.All the signage is handwritten, emitting a more homely and caring vibe than printed signs, and the customer service is quick and with a smile, surprisingly quick considering the quality of the food.Range/quality of drinks:Lucky Fox has one of the most impressive ranges of chilled beers in the entire city, challenging the likes of ale specialist Brewdog just up the road. With regular lagers such as Estrella on offer you do not have to leave your comfort zone but you can be also adventurous  and branch out to one of the IPAs on offer or the American imported bottled craft ales, some of which even this experienced ale drinker had not heard of.The restaurant also offers coffee, for people who come for breakfast or need a little boost when coming for their lunch, alongside soft drinks, serving San Pellegrino carbonated drinks.Price/value for money:With no real offers available on food Lucky Fox is not as great value for money as other places in the city but it really does depend on the dish you select, taking into account that the majority of food does not come accompanied with fries.You can get a lovely lunch for £5-£10, which for the quality of food is superb, but some items are of course more worth the price than others. The quality of the double dipped fried chicken itself is worth the asking price.Popping into this quaint little restaurant/café on a weekday afternoon or for morning breakfast will not set you back much and will brighten up your day with an overall relaxed and taste filled experience.Final rating – Four starsBy Rob Milne.

Eating out: Bungalows and Bears

March 12, 2015 Written by Rob Milne

Bungalows and Bears is a student favourite in Sheffield, especially amongst burger lovers. At this old fire station, opposite the Great Gatsby, you will enjoy some of the most outrageous burger combinations the city has to offer. So we thought where better to start here at ‘What The Fork’ than to review the experience we had at one of Division Street’s most iconic locations. We went to Bungalows and Bears on it’s signature 2-4-1 burger Tuesday evening – probably it’s busiest time of the week – here’s what we thought:

Taste:On the trip to Bungalows and Bears we sampled four of the handmade burgers on the menu. The burgers are all served with sumptuous crisp fries, with a great texture. They are well cooked, with a pinch of salt to top them off, making them not far off perfect. If you are looking for chunky chips though, this is not your place to eat.First up we tried ‘The Wafkin’, one of the more unusual burgers on the menu.

‘The Wafkin’

The Wafkin was a combination of grilled chicken, bacon and maple syrup in a waffle bun. With the waffle acting as the burger bun in this unique combination the sweet flavouring sat brilliantly with the salty and more savoury chicken and bacon. It arrived as a striking creation which really caught the eye but sadly was slightly impractical and fell apart as soon as it was bit into. It turned into more of a basket of food which had to be eaten with a knife and fork, but this did not take away from the heavenly taste.Next up was the Pulled pork and chipotle jam. The fusion of chipotle jam, pulled pork and beef burger worked amazingly. Although it was stacked high and hard to put in your mouth at once, the classic burger bun held up well in comparison with the ambitious Wafkin.Bungalows and Bears prides itself on its halloumi, including it in many of their burger creations so it was only right to try one of these. The chicken with halloumi and spicy Cajun mayo was our choice, there was a sceptical feel as to how the spices would work but they in fact complimented each other very well. By recommendation, if you are to go to Bungalows and Bears, you must try a combination that includes the halloumi, it is sublime.Last, but by no means least, came the classic beef patty with cheese and smoky bacon (we added a little bit of chorizo on top for that extra punch.) You can never go wrong with this classic creation and Bungalows and Bears pulled it off well.Some of the toppings you can add such as mac n’ cheese and monster munch are unheard of but go down very well with the restaurants loyal following.There is a vast array of beef burger options, but the chicken and vegeterian options are less broad. They also serve favourites such as fried chicken, hot dogs and mac n’ cheese. The mac n’ cheese is very popular, but the bar/restaurant is best known for their burgers, so we chose only to review those this time around.Atmosphere/surroundings:Bungalows and Bears is quirky, unlike a majority of city-centre eateries, and this feeling is embodied by the fact that it is built in an old fire station. It is tailored toward young people and specifically student culture. With the bear head behind the bar and multiple record walls it really gives the feel of an indie music venue (in fact it sometimes becomes just that as there are gigs on weekly!).The dim lighting contributes to a relaxed atmosphere, especially in the late afternoon, the art and slogans on the wall mean there is an awful lot to look at and discuss (especially if you are on a date which isn’t going so well).The music varies but can generally be covered as ‘alternative’ it may not be to everyone’s taste. On an evening, such as when we went, it is slightly louder and perhaps encroaches on the relaxing nature of the venue.

There is also a raised enclosed area just above the bar which if you want a bit of privacy and would serve perfectly for a quieter meal.Range/quality of drinks:

A refreshing pint of Brooklyn Lager

The drink range is not extensive but covers all the standard drinks and a few more outlandish drinks, such as the Brooklyn Lager on tap, alongside Red stripe on tap, both at opposite ends of the lager spectrum but each a refreshing drink to have with your burger. The lack of ale selection is a slight downfall but they do not always go the best with a burger anyway. The pints are of a very good standard, although they come at quite a price, with a minimum of £3.50 for a pint.Price/value for money:It is tailored and perfect for students who want a good meal or want to take someone out but not be out of their price range. On a Tuesday you will struggle to find better value for money in the city centre, two people can eat for just a fiver each!At £9 for a burger on a normal day it is not quite as impressive as on a Tuesday – but still well worth the asking price! Bungalows and Bears really gives value for money at any time of the week, but if you are willing to have to wait for a few minutes on a Tuesday you will have no complaints at your bill come the end of your evening.The drinks are slightly extortionate but that is to be expected for a location on Division street.Final rating – 4 1/2 StarsBy Rob Milne.