Reviews for ARTHUR'S, BELPER
2/5 from Hollie
3 years ago
3 years ago
After following Arthurs online for a while I was excited to finally try the tasting menu, however this just didn't live up to expectations.
Whilst the food was nice, it wasn't anything amazing and given the price of the 10 course menu I'd say you can get a lot better for your money else where.
There was some smoked fudge at the end that quite frankly tasted like eating a cigarette butt.
Also the service was just not up to par for a fine dining experience, smoke and the smell of fish filled the restaurant from the moment we entered, serving staff were leaning over the table every time they put the food down, additional cutlery was placed on the table and we were expected to share this around rather than placing it for every one and overall it was just very slow with very little interaction from anyone and no explanation of the dishes.
A final mention for the toilet (only 1 in the building), this was disgusting! The room was dirty and dingy and the floor was soaking wet.
3/5 from Claire
3 years ago
3 years ago
I was really looking forward to dining here after reading great reviews but, although a nice evening was had, we left feeling slightly disappointed. The staff were friendly and nothing was any trouble. They were attentive and prompt with our meal.
We had the 5 course tasting menu £45 and took our own wine as it is a BYOB restaurant.
The venison was an outstanding dish! Really wonderful meat and cooked and seasoned beautifully. Bread (which is classed as a course) and the soup were nice but not very memorable. The apple tart tartan was served stone cold. The pastry was hard as nails and would of benefited from being warmed up a bit. The smokey fudge was not at all smokey. None of the menus flavours of any of the dishes were punchy.
The restaurant was uncomfortably hot and had left over decorations and pin nails still in the walls near their rather unimpressive bookcase. All looked a bit tired and in need of a bit of a re-paint.
I really hate writing this as I feel I sound a right snob but the place really needs some nice linen. There I said it! For a £45 tasting menu I would expect a proper linen napkin and the tea towel that the servers delivered our plates to us was tatty and I've seen cleaner ones.... The toilets had no hand towels and the toilet in the pub we went to beforehand was more pleasant than here.
This is a lovely place with very nice staff but with nothing "special" about it's visit. I really, really wanted to love it with it being local and using local produce but our evening was just OK.
5/5 from Greg
3 years ago
3 years ago
After being recommended to go to Arthur’s me and my wife came for the 10 course November menu. The food was absolutely incredible. Every course was wonderful. The staff were really nice. I’d recommend it to everyone. The only thing id change is making it closer to my house.
5/5 from David
3 years ago
3 years ago
Great. Not cheap. Five or ten courses. You must book. Very snazzy food. You will still feel full afterward. Service excellent.
5/5 from kieran
3 years ago
3 years ago
Second time we've been and the 10 courses were amazing. Rich and bursting with flavor. Fun menu. The service has improved as well
4/5 from Rebecca
3 years ago
3 years ago
We often do taster menus and were excited for this one which was nice but not wow.
Some down points
Basic IKEA cutlery which I hate
One of my plates was chipped
No one asked us if we wanted the cheese course
The toilet is very small and a tight squeeze to get in and out. The bin is also very small for disposing of paper towels.
The atmosphere could be improved
Would also appreciate the cork being returned from our wine as we didn't finish it all and took it home.
The food was well presented, and the prescatarion option was good. For me the pickled egg was too pickled and overpowering, the peach Melba tart was slightly under baked on the pastry and it was a shame the final trio of sweets were not the same as the menu.
Highlights for me were the smoked fudge and onion compot.
5/5 from Joe
3 years ago
3 years ago
Dinner.
Last minute booking
10 course tasting menu £70
Using the best locally sourced ingredients.
We thought we had missed this incredible menu,but they had carried it on for another week, luckily.
Snack-Sausage and cheese muffin
Crich sourdough, salted butter, onion compote, beef dripping
Wild garlic velouté, truffled rarebit
Wye valley asparagus, fresh peas, broad beans, lamb bolognese, spring herbs.*
*It's one of the tastiest lamb dishes we have ever had.
Monkfish tail roasted in tikka butter, wood fired mango jam, raita,
battered seafood sausage, curry sauce
Sirloin of Derbyshire beef, steak bake a lá birds, beef dripping
hasselback Jersey royal, wild garlic salsa verde, sauce bordelaise
"Beef 'n' ale."
This is like no other ice cream you will have ever eaten. Absolutely delicious.
Rhubarb and custard tart
Smoked fudge
Piña colada pastille
Jam tart
47 degrees coffee
Chef patron Leo and his team certainly knocked it out of the park with this menu.
It's probably one of his best so far.
Last year they received Most Innovative restaurant at the Derby food and drinks awards.
Also Best restaurant runner-up @obsfood monthly awards.
This is unusually a BYOB restaurant.
So if you like a drink with your meal don't forget to bring a bottle.
The staff are lovely and friendly.
Our advice is to get yourself booked into this amazing dining experience before certain guides catch up.
4/5 from Carla
3 years ago
3 years ago
Firstly, when we arrived we were told we were booked in the next day and kind of left us hanging, however with proof on an email response we had saved from the restaurant they accommodated us.
Onto the food and we chose the 5 courses, which was plenty for us. The dishes were all really tasty👌 and offered something different than the usual choice on offer from other restaurants.
I was a little disappointed with the rhubarb and custard tart as that's all that was served on the plate and it had no 'crunch' and maybe could have benefited from a little something extra or a crisp pastry.
Something for the restaurant to take note of; there could be a bit more attention to detail to make the dining experience that little bit better.....
Double check your booking to ensure the correct date.
Change the water in the vases on the tables, most looked brown and the flowers were drooped on our table.
Maybe when setting out the replacement cutlery, place it down properly rather than in a heap at the end of the table.
Provide a couple more milk pots with the tea/coffee to save people asking for more, there was only one small eggcup full for 4 diners.
Offer tap water without us having people having to ask first.
These are only minor points but noticeable to the customer so it would be even better if these points could be addressed for next time we visit.
So overall, yes, we would visit again and look forward to it being even better next time 🙂.
5/5 from Guys
3 years ago
3 years ago
Dinner Arthurs Belper
10 course tasting menu £65
Last minute booking at the best restaurant in Belper.
This wasn't planned but saw they had a no show so we just rang up to grab the table. As they are normally fully booked when we have wanted to go.
They do a 5 course £38
or 10 course £65.
We chose the 10 obviously.
Using the best locally sourced ingredients.
To start is a lovely little snack described as Ham,egg & chip,which we could of eaten a whole bowl full.
Next was the freshest Crich sourdough served with the roast tomato bisque.
Cullen skink tart with an oozing egg in the middle as you cut through it.
Next was the star of the show for us.
Monkfish tail roast on the bone,
Hot honey buffalo cheek, celery and apple salad,tartare sauce.
The duck dish was also a wow.
Accompliments were so tasty.
Caramelised pumpkin fondant,
Confit leg stuffed shallot topped with duck dripping crumble,
Bacon braised brassica,Black Garlic jam,
Juniper spiked sauce bordelaise.
These raised the dish to levels we have never had before.
Chef patron Leo has truly upped his game since our last visit.
Recently just won Most innovative restaurant at the marketingderby food and drinks awards.
Also Best restaurant runners up obsfood monthly awards.
This is unusually a BYOB restaurant.
So if you like a drink with your meal don't forget to bring it.
The staff are lovely and friendly, we were served by Grace and James.
Our advice is to get yourself booked in to this rising star before jayrayner and michelinguide cotton on to it.
5/5 from David
7 years ago
7 years ago
A fantastic experience that's a bit different. The carefully selected menu options are not what I'd normally choose, but was very happy to be adventurous and pleased with the quality. Both staff were keen to explain each dish and were clearly passionate about the quality of their food. A lot of attention to detail went into each dish. We left very happy and full!