bohns best burgers, nottingham.

Found in the heart of Hockley, Bohns Best Burgers is an independent joint serving up a rhapsody of creations between brioche buns. The clue is in the name though, could these really be the best burgers in Nottingham? It's true, I'm always on the look out for the best burgers in the East Midlands (shout out to Leicester's Crafty and Hide in Derby) but could these be the hit that Hockley needs? I think so.

sushimania: all you can eat sushi in nottingham.

Crazy about California rolls? Got a lot of love for gyoza? A fan of futomaki? Whether you're already a seasoned Japanese food fanatic or are only just dipping your maki into the soy sauce, Sushimania is the perfect way to try a whole host of Japanese cuisine at a real steal. For only £16.80 per person, with a minimum of diners, you can delve into six dishes each. (Or share, if you want). And guess what, you can reorder.

bistrot pierre, nottingham.

For a French inspired experience in the heart of Nottingham, Bistrot Pierre and their new seasonal menu is a must-try. Established in 1994, Bistrot Pierre bring French style cuisine to your table, freshly prepared and at an affordable price. The restaurant straight away hits you with a Francais feel, with vibrant retro prints, low lighting and framed mirrors, reminiscent of Parisian cafes. 

The menu has all the classic French dishes, from Minute Steak to Potato Dauphinoise and Camembert to Beef Bourguignon, with French wines to boot. However there are also dishes from further afield, with hints of France here and there. Think Eton Mess, Deep Fried Brie and Spicy Prawns. They even have a Sunday Roast, which proved popular, as well as truly surprising me.

pizzastorm, nottingham.

Your pizza, your way. That's the philosophy of recently opened PizzaStorm in Nottingham city centre. With the likes of mozzarella balls to meatballs and butternut squash to baby spinach, they're pretty proud of their create your own pizzas. Mix and match a drizzle of sauce with your favourite toppings, scattered on their in house sour dough bases. Or if you aren't in a decision making mood, they've put together some classic pizza options to get the pizza party started.

Vegan, vegetarian and meat options mean that they cater for a variety of dietary requirements too. The main thing is that you love pizza. Who doesn't, right? Their Vegetable Supreme is loaded with tomatoes, mushrooms, sweetcorn, peppers, courgetti and an option for vegan cheese, with dairy free flatbread on offer too. Whilst the Decadence is made up of white sauce, mozzarella, regatta, tomatoes, spinach, red onion, spicy beef and rocket. Delicious!

We went along to try their bottomless pizza offering Pizza Fest, which is on every Sunday for £9.50 a head. As a group of four with two vegans in tow, it was the perfect pizza test. But how did they fare?

the butchers bar and steakhouse, long eaton.

When a restaurant's tagline is "because meat matters," you know they they're serious about their steak. Found in the unlikely location of Long Eaton, the restored Victorian mill makes for a quirky restaurant and the perfect industrial inspired setting for a modern steak house. Second to the steak, The Butchers Bar and Steakhouse are all about the cocktails. There's a super cool bar area where the usual suspects can be muddled together. Or you can make your way to the restaurant to oggle at their mouthwatering menu.

sherwood hideaway, nottinghamshire.

For a weekend of adventure, beautiful nature and an escape from the day-to-day, Sherwood Hideaway ticks all the boxes. Surrounded by the pines of Sherwood Forest, you'll find a scattering of luxury lodges nestled amongst the Nottinghamshire nature. With the nearby 17th Century Thoresby Estate, cycle paths and walking routes, you can really make your break at Sherwood Hideaway suit you.

Whether you're into spa days or tree climbing, you'll find something to do. If you want to switch off your phone and unwind in the jacuzzi, that's fine too. Being a foodie, I couldn't help putting a foodie spin on our stay, making sure I'd packed lots of delicious grub to enjoy in our Woodland Rustic lodge. Because it turns out relaxing amongst nature with a fully stocked fridge and lack of 4G is absolute bliss.

hart's hotels & restaurant, nottingham.

Nottingham based Hart's is a 4 star boutique hotel and restaurant found along Park Row. Just a short ten minute walk from the city centre, Hart's hotel was designed by architect Julian Marsh and built on the former walls of Nottingham’s medieval castle. The design is contemporary with modern art throughout, although the grounds have a more rural feel which make you feel far away from the busy city centre. I went along to experience on of their Superior Rooms as well as dine in the nearby 80 seater restaurant.

jim's smokehouse, nottingham.

In Nottingham's creative quarter of Hockley, you'll find Jim's Smokehouse. It's a cool and quirky establishment, serving up low and slow cooked meats alongside a US style menu. From larger than life burgers to stomach-busting platters, here you'll find all the American classics and more. With a Man vs. Food attitude, you'd struggle to leave hungry. 

oaks, nottingham.

Serving up lip-smacking homemade sausages and an array of inspired meat and fish combinations, OAKS in Nottingham showcases a modern menu that has been smoked by natural wood embers. Their impressive custom built grill has been stocked with wood from the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, which has been sustainably sourced as a natural byproduct of coppicing.

The smoky scent of embers swirls around you as you enter the restaurant, which is further decorated with natural timber with hints of industrial metallics. Seating is cosy and communal but really well spaced out, with an inviting central table lit up with quirky bulbs and hanging candles. 

tapas and cocktail class: rocket @ saltwater, nottingham.

Tapas? Cocktails? Fun with a group of lovely bloggers? This was a sure fire winning night. I went along to Rocket @ Saltwater at the top of Nottingham's Cornerhouse for a brilliant evening of cocktail making, tapas munching, photo snapping and general catching up with some of East Midlands' finest. 

borgia bull wine tasting night.

recently i was lucky enough to win a wine tasting evening with nottingham based borgia bull. imagine my excitement when i was told i'd won an evening packed with wine and food from around the world for myself and nine friends? hosted by nottingham rugby player and foodie rupert cooper, the evening was a taste of his new venture into hosting private catering and wine tasting in the comfort of your own home. 

tamatanga, the cornerhouse, nottingham.

an inspiring menu of modern indian cuisine with fresh and tasty ingredients, a colourful environment and friendly staff along the way; this urban indian canteen is the perfect mix of authentic indian flavours with a modern influence. 

i would go as far as to say this is one of my favourite restaurants and somewhere i always visit when i'm in nottingham - i have so many pictures on my phone of dishes i've had there over the years! so since i met up with my friend grace there last weekend, i thought it was about time i shared my love of the place.