THE CHEFS/RESTAURATEURS
Thomas Aubrit and Gemma Aubrit-Layfield: the couple run L’Hexagone, a French bistro in the Norwich Lanes which has built a loyal following since opening in 2020.
George Wood: Norfolk-born George was head chef at Neil Rankin’s Temper restaurants in London before opening Brix and Bones, bringing exceptional meat, aged in-house, and live-fire theatre to Norwich.
Shunsuke (Shun) Tomii: the chef runs Norwich’s enduringly popular family-owned Japanese restaurant, Shiki, which opened in 2004.
Jaime Garbutt: founder of dessert bar, Figbar, Jaime has brought pastry expertise honed in the kitchens of top chefs such as Marcus Wareing, Gordon Ramsay, and Yotam Ottolenghi to this Norwich sweet spot in since 2016.
Richard Bainbridge: the chef runs classy, contemporary, multi award-winning Benedicts in the city centre with his wife, Katja.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS
Breakfast/brunch
The Unthank Kitchen
'My first choice for a big brekkie,' says Shun Tomii of this spot tucked up in Norwich’s residential Golden Triangle area, south-west of the city centre. Expect British café food and a full English that is generous and familiar, with the Bumper version big enough to satisfy the super-hungry. American pancakes, plenty for vegan and vegetarian diners, and children’s portions add to the appeal. www.theunthankkitchen.com
JC Pinto
'It’s always great. Jeremy [King, owner] and the gang do an amazing job,' says Jaime Garbutt who will grab a rare child-free morning to linger over breakfast at JC Pinto on cobbled St John Maddermarket with his wife, Stephanie. 'Be it a full English, a gochujang mac to remind us of our Korean restaurant days, or Turkish eggs, it’s well worth a visit.' www.jcpinto.co.uk
No33 Café
This friendly spot with two city-centre sites is a favourite of Thomas Aubrit and Gemma Aubrit-Layfield. 'More often than not there is a queue, but it’s well worth the wait. We quite often head there for a brunch date on a Monday. We’re predictable: we can’t say no to their breakfast bagel and chorizo hash!' Really hungry? The Beast includes local sausages (two), rashers of Norfolk smoked bacon (three), fried eggs (two), black pudding, hash browns… and the rest. Look out also for pancake stacks, and specials such as vegan tacos filled with sticky sesame cauliflower and Asian slaw. www.no33cafe.co.uk
Pip’s
This brunch spot which opened in November on St Augustine’s Street site is the fresh incarnation of the popular Hashery café. A dose of the unconventional coloured the Hashery menu – think prawn cocktail hash browns with anchovy crème fraiche and wild salmon caviar. 'I love Pip’s for a Sunday breakfast,' says Shun. 'It’s not an ordinary one, but Steve’s [Steven Bishop-Laggett, owner] funky plates and eccentric flavours are great.' @pipsdining
Bread Source
'Absolutely love Bread Source!' says Richard Bainbridge of this local bakery with several city outlets and sites in the Norfolk market towns, Reepham and Aylsham. 'The branch in Norwich Cathedral has a beautiful atmosphere. Such an incredible location. They roast their coffee in a more sustainable way and the pastries are to die for.' www.bread-source.co.uk
A coffee
Strangers
'Our dear friends at Strangers, right by L’Hexagone, are our go-to for a flat white fix on a busy prep morning,' says Thomas. The Norwich-based roastery specialises in single-origin coffees and as well as the Strangers café on Pottergate, there are kiosks at the roastery on Dove Street and in Jarrolds department store. You’ll find Strangers coffee on the machine at Figbar too. 'It means we don’t have to go out for coffee!' says Jaime. 'You’re unlikely to get a better cup in town than in one of the Strangers locations.' www.strangerscoffee.com
Fika
Quirky little Fika gets George Wood’s coffee vote. 'It’s a daily fix on the way into work.' Laying claim to be Norwich’s smallest coffee shop, Fika is owned and run by Norwich native, Mark Lawrence. 'He’s a craftsman, really knows his coffees,' says George. Look out for coffees from London-based Scenery, and hot chocolate from Norfolk bean-to-bar specialists, Darkroom. www.fikanorwich.co.uk
Buffalo Coffee
'I like to pick up a coffee from our friends at Buffalo Coffee Brewers on St Benedicts Street,' says Richard. 'They’re fairly new on the scene but the coffee hits the spot, and Giles [Hayward-Smith, owner] and his staff are friendly and welcoming.' @buffalocoffeebrewers
A casual bite
Norwich Market
'I absolutely love the variety of food on Norwich Market,' says Richard. 'You can graze on everything from New York-style sandwiches to bao buns, find the best fruit and veg, and delicious local ice cream.' The city-centre market is one of the UK’s oldest and largest outdoor markets and a perfect spot for a pit-stop bite.
On the market…
The Bodega
Gemma and Thomas make a bee-line for The Bodega 'for sandwiches that are as big as your head'. Billed as ‘NYC comes to NRW’, the vast New York-style sandwiches include the Coq Joke (southern fried chicken cutlet, hash brown, smoked Monterey jack cheese) and pulled pork with tonkatsu mayo, shredded daikon, white cabbage and five-spice bacon crumb. 'Hard to choose, but the Coq Joke probably edges it for us.' says Gemma. It works for an occasional breakfast too, with the likes of loaded bagels and avocado toast, says George. @bodega175_norwich
Bun Box
'We love the pork teriyaki donburi, and the sweet potato katsu curry is so good,' says Thomas of this Japanese street-food stall with its rotating menu of donburi rice bowls (think tempura shimeji mushroom, or spicy chicken) and bao buns including a duck-filled bestseller. @bun_box_
The Little Red Roaster
'Best coffee in Norwich!' says Shun, a regular at this speciality coffee spot that’s been energising local folk on the Market for over 20 years. 'The owner Darren [Groom] is a good friend of mine.' @lrrnorwich
Beyond the market…
Nergiz
'It’s a humble Kurdish kebab joint a ten-minute walk from Shiki,' says Shun. 'They use real charcoal and make their own bread. It’s a cheap bite but so satisfying.' Drop in for a fix of chicken shawarma or falafel wrap. @nergiz_restaurant
The Bun X
'The best burgers in Norwich. We’ll often go with our son,' says Thomas. Find them at Micawbers Tavern on Pottergate – check out The Big Smoke with two patties, American cheese, house pickles, bacon jam and smoked cheese sauce – or at their second site, Little Micky’s, which opened in November and also offers cocktails and small plates. @bunxnorwich
Jive
'Great Mexican-influenced food, fab drinks – especially the margaritas – and personable service!' Safe to say, Jaime is a fan of this lively spot close to Figbar where the menu includes shredded pork tacos with roasted pineapple salsa, and burritos packed with braised beef shin, tomato-chilli ‘salsa roja’ and refried beans. www.jivekitchen.co.uk
Sunday lunch
The York
'I’m fussy when it comes to Sunday lunch, but they do a brilliant job here,' says George. It’s high praise for this classic Victorian pub in Norwich’s Golden Triangle run by Joe Kelly, formerly a chef at the Eagle gastropub in London’s Farringdon, and his partner Wendy Rose. 'There’s a lovely pubby candlelit aesthetic. And the meat is well-sourced, cooked well and comes with big Yorkshire puddings, really nice gravy and seasonal veg. Just what you want from a Sunday roast.' You might find Jaime there too. 'The roasts are to die for. Great drinks too, and it’s always welcoming.' www.theyorknorwich.co.uk
Blue’s NR3 at The Rosebery
'They do an amazing Sunday lunch at The Rosebery,' says Richard of this independent pub with rooms just north of the city centre run by Jessie and Tim Dodd. 'It’s relaxed, family-friendly and every element is cooked really well. The cauliflower cheese is deluxe, and the rosemary hash browns are inspired.' Sunday roasts centre on the likes of Norfolk beef sirloin, rolled and stuffed pork belly, or vegetarian wellington. Gemma and Thomas are fans too. 'Nothing beats their roast on our Sunday day off.' www.theroseberypubnorwich.co.uk 
A drink
The Drawing Rooms
'It’s a stylish spot for delicious drinks and cocktails, and only a stone’s throw from us here at Benedicts,' says Richard of this art deco-inspired bar in the Norwich Lanes. www.drawingroomsnorwich.co.uk
… though you might also find him at
The Maids Head hotel
The oak-panelled Jacobean bar in what is one of the UK’s oldest hotels is a favourite of Richard’s for a pint of local beer. 'I’ll soak up the cosy atmosphere and imagine what it must have been like as a busy coaching inn in days gone by.' www.maidsheadhotel.co.uk
The Plasterers Arms
'A great stop-off on the way home!' says George. 'It’s friendly, you can just drop in for a game of cards, and the beers change regularly.' www.theplasterersarms.co.uk
The Kings Head
The pub, a short walk from Shiki, is a favourite of Shun’s. 'I love real ale and the ones at The Kings Head are just perfect. There’s a cosy atmosphere (no background music!) and superb choice. I can’t resist their pork pie either.' www.kingsheadnorwich.com
Hop Rocket
'This is my number-one place for a drink either with the family and the dog, or on a night out with the lads,' says Jaime. 'Amazing selection of beers and great staff. Always a winner.' Look out for bitter and session IPA from the Norwich-based Fat Cat Brewing Company. www.hoprocket.co.uk
A special occasion
The Corkscrew
'It’s got to be The Corkscrew on St Benedicts Street,' says Thomas. 'Sam [Beggi, chef-patron] is a one-man show and has created something so special with his Italian sharing menu. Incredible [Italian] wines too.' The daily changing five-course menu (£41) at this tiny 16-seater blends an Italian menu style with Norfolk ingredients to offer dishes such as a ‘primo’ of tortelli with local chanterelles and walnuts, and a ‘secondo’ of roast monkfish with Brancaster mussels or local beef striploin with swede and peppercorn sauce. www.thecorkscrew-benedictstreet.co.uk
Benoli
'I love Benoli for a special occasion in the city,' says George who’s also a fan of Benoli’s tapas-serving little sibling, Bar Cerdita (www.barcerdita.com) over the road from Brix and Bones. 'We’ll go with friends and order all the starters and all the small plates and maybe a pasta dish to share. It’s a feast.' The contemporary Italian-influenced restaurant is run by chef-patron Oliver Boon who spent a decade in top London kitchens before returning to his home city. www.benolirestaurant.com
The Steam Packet
'Always a beautiful dinner,' says Shun, of this independent pub with an upstairs restaurant where a weekly changing menu of hearty, seasonal dishes might include venison sausages with lentils and grilled radicchio or pork and partridge pie with pink fir potatoes, and basque cheesecake with poached quince. The site was refurbished by chef Jacob Emerson and his partner Ellen Grove, opening at the end of 2022. 'Jacob works with beautiful ingredients and cooks them perfectly without any complications,' says Shun who you may also spot tucking into The Steam Packet’s occasional Sunday roasts. 'I always go for the beef with a glass (or two) of claret and it’s a divine.' George is a fan too: 'Great ingredients, and honest cooking' he says. www.steampacket.info
