• Added: 6th of September 2008
• Area: Derby
• Category: Restaurants

Derby DE1 1BU

kazcaine said
Average chinese buffet
Wokmania is in a converted church building near Friar Gate. So, the building is stunning and a beautiful place to eat but that is probably the best thing about it. The staff were pretty friendly but we had to wait absolutely ages for drinks (and they werent busy) and we had just about eaten our food before they arrived. It is a chinese-style buffet restaurant, basically all you can eat for a cheap price at lunch-time. The problem is the food wasnt hot, only warm and was only average - pork balls and the likes. A good selection of starters however. There are also desserts at the back but a pretty poor selection - there were cheap cakes and sweets and cheesecake when I went. There was also a chocolate fountain but thats pretty unhygienic with kids sticking their fingers in! There is 25% NHS discount on presentation of your ID badge so its cheap for average food but don't think I will be rushing back anytime soon.

• Added: 6th of September 2008
• Area: Ilkeston
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Ilkeston DE7 5FW

kazcaine said
Great atmosphere
This pub used to be dreadful for smoke before the smoking ban but that has now all been resolved. It has about 4/5 parking spaces at the front but is next to a big pay and display car park should you take your car. It is an Irish pub and it is pretty small and dark inside but that is what contributes to is ambience. The staff are always friendly and welcoming. The food selection isnt big but the food is great pub grub. They do special theme nights like curry nights and I have never had a bad meal here. They also do a quiz night which is good for a bit of banter. There is a small beer garden to the side as well. All in all, a nice pub.

• Added: 6th of September 2008
• Area: Ilkeston
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Ilkeston DE7 8TJ

kazcaine said
Below average
This pub really seems to have gone down hill. I have lost count the amount of times it has been taken over. It looks fairly nice from the outside and has plenty of parking as well as some outdoor seating.
Inside, could do with a bit of a refurb. The seating needs new springs and the decor is dated.
We have been there twice in the past 4 months and were not impressed either time. We booked for a sunday lunch and when we turned up they didnt have us down. We finally managed to get some seating and the food was pretty poor, came out half cold after a really long wait. By this time the kids were bored and causing havoc. No apologies for the amount of waiting time and they werent impressed at having to take cold food back. The 2nd time we went the carvery wasnt on, some kitchen problem. We had to wait an hour to get food. The staff are not particularly friendly and the food was poor. Won't be going again.

• Added: 6th of September 2008
• Area: Heanor
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Heanor DE75 7LX

kazcaine said
Best pub near Shipley
The Munday Arms lies on the main road between Shipley and Heanor. It looks nice from the exterior and has ample parking. They have recently built a small extension/conservatory type thing on the outside which makes a nice addition. If going at the weekend then its recommendable to book a table if eating as it is very popular. It is child-friendly and has plenty of highchairs. There is also an outdoor play area for the older ones. Good selections of beer, normally a couple of specials on - like Rocking Rudolph at Christmas! Food is ok, seems to vary when I go there from being pretty average to pretty good! But there is a good sized menu as well as a specials board. The staff are polite although not always the friendliest, guess it depends how busy they are. Only downside is that quite a few times they seem to have run out of something we order.

• Added: 6th of September 2008
• Area: Nottingham
• Category: Restaurants

Nottingham NG8 2AF

kazcaine said
The BEST Chinese Restaurant around
Mr Mans. This is such a great chinese restaurant. You definitely need to book a table as the place is always really really busy (a good sign!). The car park can be difficult to get in especially if you go peak meal times but I have never not been able to park. Before you go to your table they ask you to sit in the waiting area right next to the bar. They then take you upto your table. The staff are very polite and helpful if needed, happy to explain anything or recommend anything on the menu. The food, it is out of this world. Absolutely delicious. Never had to wait too long even in peak periods. Huge drinks list too. It is pricey so a place to go for a celebration but it is so worth it. On a Sunday lunch time they do an all you can eat buffet. This is mainly the usual kind of chinese food (nothing too fancy on it) but because its so busy there is a fast turnaround so you know the food is fresh. This is good value for money, was about £12 per person.

• Added: 6th of September 2008
• Area: Ilkeston
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

Ilkeston

kazcaine said
Ok I guess
There is a cafe inside the Co-op on Wharncliffe Road. It is split over 2 floors with a couple of steps dividing the floors. I went here with my son in his pushchair and found it difficult to navigate. I didnt want to leave him on his own so took him up with me and no members of staff even offered to help me with my drink and bite to eat. I had to ask and they didnt seem best pleased in helping. There was also an old lady who needed assistance and when I asked, they said they would come over and take her order, they did, but 10 minutes later and the cafe was extremely quiet so no excuse! Customer service is very disappointing. I was also disappointed at the selection of food available, they didnt have an awful lot in, the saving grace was that, the food that was in was at least tasty.

• Added: 6th of September 2008
• Area: Ilkeston
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Ilkeston DE7 5QA

kazcaine said
Standard Wetherspoons Pub
The Observatory is just down from the market place in Ilkeston. I would call it a standard wetherspoons pub. No music, cheap food and drink. Don't expect the food to be the best you have ever tasted but it's not bad. If you want a cheap night its the pub to go - there are always drinks on offer and cheap beer/bitter. It does get extremely busy on a friday and saturday night and you can wait ages at the bar but I guess thats the same in most pubs up and down the country. The interior is clean, the staff are friendly enough and there is plenty of seating - including an upstairs bit which is open.
I would say the crowd is mainly groups of young lads/girls or the older gentleman!

• Added: 6th of September 2008
• Area: Ilkeston
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Ilkeston DE7 4LY

kazcaine said
Great little pub
Since being taken over a couple of years ago and refurbed this place is a lovely little place. There are 2 sides to it, the bar area with a pool table and the lounge with the tables to eat. The staff are always friendly and it has a lovely atmosphere to the place. They serve really nice food too, we thought the prices were too cheap to be true but the food was great, great pub grub. There is an outdoor area for the smokers - one bit undercover but it is also a nice place to sit with the sun shining. It is next to a busy main road but this area at least takes you away from it slightly. There is a small area at the back, all grassed and fenced it with a couple of swings for the kids.

• Added: 6th of September 2008
• Area: Ilkeston
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Ilkeston DE7 8TE
0115 9325347

kazcaine said
Average pub
This pub is on the main road between Ilkeston and Heanor, right near Shipley View. From the outside it looks deceptively small but once in, it's like the tardis. It has a lovely beer garden, plenty of benches to sit at. Food-wise I would stay its fairly standard and average pub food, nothing to rave home about but fine to eat. The staff are friendly, think my only comment would be around waiting times, we went there for a Christmas meal and even though they weren particularly busy, it took over an hour to get our starters! I also feel like it is a pub for locals and can be abit old-man-ish but it is friendly enough, best in summer.

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Nottingham
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Nottingham NG10 5DU

kazcaine said
Good standard pub
This is a good standard kind of pub based in Sandiacre. It recently underwent refurbishment and the inside is actually really really nice now. Makes for a pleasant evening - very cosy with sofas too. The staff are friendly and the food is I guess standard pub food, nothing outstanding but nice. (Hasnt stopped me going back anyway). Good selection of beer on (so my other half tells me) and it is always fairly busy which I take as a good sign. There is a pub quiz in the week with good prizes and free food! There is also a snooker table on one side of the pub.
It has a massive beer garden which is great in the summer and if you are lucky enough you can grab the one bench past the gates overlooking the canal. Car parking isnt too bad, a few spaces at the front and then some round the back. Worth a visit for the sizzlers on offer!