This tiny cafe is easy to miss but missing it would be a mistake…read more This is the self proclaimed oldest cafe in the Dale's (Derbyshire Dales) and if it has always been this good it isn't hard to see why it has lasted so long. There is a good sized menu for one so small and the prices are really low (90p for a tea). The cafe is very snug and cozy and crammed with cycling ephemera. The staff were friendly and so very helpful. We walked in late Christmas eve afternoon and they put out chairs for us making us feel a little guilty. There is a stock of games and puzzles to pass the time and our dog, or any dog, was welcomed and a water bowl provided. Mum was particularly impressed that the freshly made scones came with real butter.

We had a lovely meal at Viva Restaurant in Matlock, UK. The restaurant was clean and attractive,…read morethe food was tasty, and the service was on point! The restaurant itself was spacious and well lit. The tables were clean and the place settings were already set when we were sat at the table. At least when we were there (6 pm mid week) it restaurant was relatively quiet so we could hear ourselves talk. The background music was old Italian and old rack-pack standards (dean martin, etc etc)-- it was basic Italian fanfare but at the same time it wasn't distracting. The food was both visually appealing and tasty. The portions were just right as I finished an entree and was satisfied without feeling either hungry or like I was going to go into a food coma. I had a Pasta Di Pollo and it was very good! There was a good amount of chicken and the sauce accentuated both the pasta and the veggies and meat rather than overwhelm it. The sauce was also light so I didn't feel weighted down afterwards. (At least in the states, everything tastes like it's overloaded with sugar fat and salt. Drowning a dish in sauce is an easy way to hide the inferior quality of the food). Lastly, our server was very prompt in seating us, taking our orders, and bringing out our food in a very timely manner. He was both polite and professional. I can speak for both my wife and I when it comes to a place like this-- if you're looking for a nice Italian dinner in Derbyshire without wanting to break the bank, then keep Viva on your shortlist!

This was a horrible experience. My daughter and I had the hotel ring ahead to make sure they were…read moreopen and could serve us. While it was 8:30 pm and it purported to close at 10:00 pm, UK places often close early. The hotel desk clerk, Joanne, let them know we were coming and would be there in 5 minutes. We arrived promptly and were greeted by Jack at the door with, "I don't know of we're still serving." I told him the hotel had just rang 5 minutes beforehand and whoever the clerk talked to said they, in fact were still serving. Jack came back and said, "No one called, that's not true... who did they talk to?" I said, "I don't know, however, why would one lie about that?" He said, "Well, no one called and while we do have room, I'm just letting you know, no one called." I then said, "once again, why would I lie?" He then told me while they were still serving, he'd have to ask me to leave." At this point, I was completely confused, angry, offended... I tried to brush it off and diffuse the situation and managed to get my daughter and I seated. When the waitress came over, I had put the the hotel clerk on speaker phone to confirm that she had spoke to a person "upstairs." Long story short, there is an "upstairs" component to this restaurant and they DO answer the phone. Jack, 18, who called me a liar and nearly threw me out, never thought once about the fact that they aren't the only ones answering the phone. Rather, he abused his position (I found out night manager) and wanted to go home. IMHO there are very few 18 year olds that should be in management at a fine dining eatery. Jack needs to know this is called a service industry for a reason. This place fell below the bar... WAY below the bar. It's simple, don't call your patrons liars. Maybe they need a refresher in "the customer is always right?" In this case, they were. Oh BtW, a group of men showed up 45 minutes after we were seated and had no problem being seated. While Jack did find out from " above" that the hotel did call, and he tried to apologize... I was enraged. What a nightmare...

Tuckers is an excellent fish & chips takeaway in Matlock Bath. It is located on the main road,…read moreopposite the river Derwent. The f&c I had there were tasty and crispy, very good quality at a decent price. The place is well known among locals and tourists alike, and thus almost always rather busy. Service is quick and friendly, the décor inside the restaurant simple but certainly nice for a short stay. You can also sit outside, but the road is very busy indeed. Soft drink options available.

Seriously, I think this is the nicest Nandos I have been to. The large windows at the front of the…read morerestaurant are a really nice touch... I also love the light fixtures. The only reason this isn't my absolute favourite location is the difficulty getting in and out of the Leisure Park and the lack of parking when it is really busy. Of course this hasn't been helped with the addition of a Chiquitos. Clearly parking was an afterthought... not to mention the back up at the entrance/junction. Besides that, the restaurant is quite open with lots of tables for groups and families. There is background music, but it doesn't seem too loud to me. There is a large area with sauces, silverware, condiments, and even the frozen yogurt machine. It really is a great atmosphere for groups and families... although equally as nice for couples. The staff are efficient and quite friendly as well. Obviously the menu is the same as every other Nandos, but I have to say it is one of the chains I have no trouble admitting I like... really they must sprinkle crack on the chicken :)

Bangers and mash were fire! Staff was friendly and attentive. That had AC! I recommend this place…read moreto anyone who wants British cuisine. The beer selection was great too. I had the Hockney Helles.

A real hidden gem. Table service adds to the overall laid back atmosphere. The cocktails are out…read moreof this world many coming with a little something to make them stand out.

This hidden gem (it can be found at the back of a cute boutique) should not be missed. The coffee…read moreis delicious and the cakes are absolutely amazing. We stopped in Matlock en route to Chatsworth House and had a late breakfast / early lunch. It was so wonderful (the cakes especially) that we seriously considered going back for tea after our visit even though it was out of our way! Sadly it couldn't be done, but it will definitely be a top reason to head back to matlock soon!

This is one of my favourite places to eat in the Midlands. Funnily enough, neither myself or my…read morehusband are vegetarians but with a range of flavours and tastes like this, who needs meat?! We usually do the deli plate with a selection of different and interesting veggie pates, a really interesting salad (and I mean REALLY interesting) and warm fresh bread. The cakes are fantastic too, I had a lime and courgette cake there once and it was bliss! Good value for money and we don't need any dinner when we have lunch here as the portions are very generous. The only thing that would make me loathe to leave a positive review is the danger of alerting so many people to this wonderful little tucked away gem that I might have to queue for my favourite outdoor table on the shady patio by the honeysuckle and bees!

Adorable vegetarian cafe in the heart of Matlock!…read more Opened in Spring 2008, this is a cosy, homely cafe run by very friendly staff. There is a dining room that overlooks the town, a small family room with childrens play area and a compact courtyard that really traps the sun in summer. All the food is home made and vegetarian, with vegan options too and is changed regularly. There is also a good range of hot drinks available - I'd particularly recommend the hot chocolate!

Located in the heart of Sheffield's Devonshire Quarter, the Forum is a cool,bohemian place to…read moreshop,eat and drink. The Forum includes numerous boutique stores, a 'common room' and the Forum Bar. The summer bar is an ideal place to spend your evenings. In the summer, sit outside on the deck chairs patio that runs on to Devonshire Green. Or, in the winter sit inside cool and laid back bar and enjoy the independant beers that are on offer!

Forum is a mecca for Sheffield students but a real mix of people gravitate towards the shops, food…read moreand bar located in this vast building. We popped in for lunch due to our favourite Tamper Coffee being fit to burst. Sitting ourselves outside in the sun, it didn't take us long to realise something was amiss; the buckets with menus/napkins/cutlery were on the tables over there...not here. Turns out we'd plonked ourselves right in the middle of the drinks only section. Making the most of the situation, we stayed and had our drinks here, then sadly had to move inside. Due to the additional seating, they could only handle so many food orders, so had to put some restrictions in. Forgiven. Inside there are large windows and it feels very airy, meaning we weren't too shut off from the outside world. We had to flag down servers throughout lunch, but it's such a relaxed place that it felt like the norm. There's a great range of sandwiches, burgers and bigger meals - they've even introduced a fasting menu for those so inclined to go on the 5:2 diet but tease themselves with eating out. I went for the mozzarella, chicken and pesto pannini, a current love affair I'm having, but everyone's meals looked great; the onion rings were battered and crunchy, plenty for everyone, and the fish finger sandwich looked like the bee's knees, with proper battered fish rather than breadcrumbed. I can't comment on pricing but everything seemed to be fair, Northern prices - no complaints here.