To Roast or Not to Roast

A guide to alternative Sunday lunch in our fine city.

(Norwich)

Of course if you do fancy a traditional Sunday roast my top 2 favourites are the Temple Bar for under £15 and loads of veggies, no booking, go early to avoid disappointment or a tad later to enjoy mid-afternoon. I’m always too full to eat dessert but they are classic too and look extremely yummy. 

My top choice is Boston House more than your usual but it’s a fine dining style roast of the highest order, no topside here just prime cuts and beef fat roast potatoes, I defy you to find a better expertly cooked roast dinner. And Tim hits the sweet spot every time, with desserts I mean he was once a pastry chef, like me but probably better.

For something in-between you have 2 Caribbean feel Roast dinners.

Turtle Bay  offer a Sunday Reggae Roast with choices of Roast beef, half a chicken, belly pork or a veggie option all Jerk style with a dash of heat. Lightly spiced gravy and traditional carrots, parsnips, cabbage and roasties with plantain and dumplings. From £18.50 – £20

Last Pub Standing – Kings Street, Also offer Geoff’s Norwich soul Kitchen Roast dinner with a hint of the Caribbean.  

My Maykan – is the only and of course best Malaysian restaurant in the city and open Sundays . Exciting dishes and a big menu to choose from. A beef Rendang would be perfect for Sunday lunch, they also offer amazingly different Malaysian desserts. 

Kimchi – Brigg Street is well established now and the only Korean in the city, apart from their takeaway place called Seoul Kitchen. 

But they don’t offer Toppoki like Kimchi do and free kimchi pickle. Toppoki is a spiced stew of chunky rice noodles and tofu. But they also make tasty rice bowls with their thinly sliced tender pork or beef. 

Not presently open Sundays but plan to open when they can – – Sundays COMING SOON 

Roti on Queens road / Finkle Gate corner (with parking) is the only Indian restaurant open on a Sunday lunch, they make everything fresh and own all the classics. But of course you have to start with papadums and chutneys and my drink of choice is a sweet lassi. 

Plan Burrito – Timberhill are open Sundays and offer a mighty fine big arse burrito wrap, with optional taco chips and sauces. You can also go 50/50 on the fillings so a bit of caramelised beef is a must. They are also licenced to sell beer.

Yalm – Food Hall offers 7 vendors including desserts from Christopher Crepes and Folks coffee café have some pastries and make divine cocktails too. You can choose Pizza and Italian antipasti from Erics, Middle Eastern from Souk, Noodles and Ramin, Baha Tacos and Flame licked meats and veggies from On the Bone. 

Sunday 9 – 6pm, Brunch from The Diner is available until 4pm, the others open up lunch service from midday. 

Assembly Rooms – Afternoon Tea simply the best in Norwich with a great choice of local teas, a supply of fresh soft finger sarnies, fluffy scones and delicate mini cakes. But book ahead as it books up fast on their seasonal themed menus. 

Christopher Crepes – Pottergate, Sweet and savoury and always amazingly tasty. The perfect family spot along with  – – – 

  • The Waffle House – a Norwich institution on St Giles Street since the 70’s. Never disappoints. Always specials and always save space for a banana waffle for dessert as they’ll let you pour on a generous amount of maple syrup. 

Benoli’s – fine dining Italian done right including house made pasta and the best Croquettes in the world. 

Orford Street – open 7 days a week. 

And the other alternative is to wander around the streets of Norwich and munch (and drink) at various venues, there is always a selection of street food stalls on the Norwich market open, Castle Mall food court and for a big juicy burger pop into the Ten Bells, on St Benedict’s Street for aFUP