Fine dining in Norwich’s Fine City

The Unthank Arms on Newmarket Street in Norwich. (Image: Archant © 2011; 01603 772434)

Norwich and the surrounding area boasts one AA rosette holder for every 6,500 people compared to one per 18,200 in London, making it the best city in the country for food fans keen for a great dining experience.

Visonarydining.com, which works with the hospitality industry across the UK, studied the 2014 AA Guide to discover which cities had the biggest concentration of award-winning restaurants and revealed that Norwich was top, beating Winchester, Edinburgh, York, Portsmouth, Manchester, London, Bristol, Brighton and Newcastle.

And this year, as part of the Norfolk Food and Drink Festival which begins at the end of August, more people than ever will be able to enjoy a culinary adventure as the city launches the first-ever Norwich Restaurant Week, which will run from September 1 to 7 and include more than 50 city eateries.

Whether you try a new dish at an old favourite, enjoy a fixed-price menu at a restaurant you'd always thought was out of your financial reach, delve into Norfolk's plentiful store cupboard with a range of locally-themed specials or enjoy a special food-themed event, there's plenty to whet every appetite during Norwich Restaurant Week.

The Dining Rooms, Norwich. Photo: Bill Smith. (Image: Archant © 2010)

Sponsored by Norse and supported by the Norwich BID, the promotional week is designed to encourage as many people as possible to visit a wide range of different restaurants, cafes and pubs in the city to try locally-sourced food produced by some of the county's best chefs.

Jayne Raffles, from Raffles Restaurants, said: 'We are delighted to be championing our fantastic produce, suppliers and culinary talent, showcasing what we think everyone should know, that Norwich and Norfolk are one of the best-kept secrets for local produce, from the seafood to vegetables, meat and even wine. Let's celebrate great local produce and hospitality by dishing up Norwich Restaurant Week 2014.'

Roger Hickman suggested that people forgo chain restaurants for a week and head to an independent, instead.

'I hope people will take advantage of the week to get out and discover the great food which is on offer around the city and the way that more and more chefs – and in particular in independent restaurants – are including Norfolk food and drink on their menus,' he said.

Roger Hickman (Image: Archant)

'There are lots of great chefs in the city, especially once you look outside the chains, so use Norwich Restaurant Week to get out there and try their food.'

Nigel Emblin from The Waffle House echoed Roger's sentiments about choosing local: 'Obviously anyone with an interest in food is now spoilt for choice in Norwich, with literally hundreds of establishments to choose from,' he said.

'Being a co-owner of an independent restaurant, my interests in other eateries are very much dependent on their philosophy, ideas, quality and uniqueness. I don't think Norwich needs any more chains or franchises – I believe that although they serve a need, these chains don't supply the standard of food, service or ambience that I look for when eating out.

'As with any business, I feel strongly that to support local and independent is what makes each town or city unique and the benefits for the local economy and tourism benefit hugely from it.'

What can I expect?

Restaurants involved in Norwich Restaurant Week are all doing something different to celebrate being part of the Norfolk Food and Drink Festival.

• The Assembly House has a Norfolk-themed afternoon tea which will be available from Monday to Saturday (£16 for one, £29.95 for two).

• Dunston Hall is offering a free glass of prosecco with afternoon tea for two or more (£25 for two).

• Pinnochio's is planning an evening of Italian food and wine.

• The Library will host a slow-food indoor market from 11am to 3pm on September 6.

• Roots Farmshop, Bistro and Coffee House is offering diners a special Norfolk Ploughman's lunch packed full of local ingredients.

• The Last Wine Bar and Restaurant and The Last Brasserie will have Norfolk Prix Fixe menus created by the respective head chefs which will cost £14.50 for two courses or £18.90 for three with each dish featuring Norfolk produce.

• Yellows Diner at Carrow Road will have a two-course set menu for £15 and a three-course set menu for £19 and Delia's is planning a special Norfolk-themed menu.

• At The Wig and Pen pub, 'Norfolk Sharers' will be on the menu, featuring two of the pub's famous doorstep sandwiches with two halves of any local ale for £10 per couple – choose from Broadland ham, Binham Blue cheese and home-made tomato jam or east coast brown shrimp with rocket and lemon mayonnaise all served in Crusty Corner on Silver Road. Ales will be from Woodforde's, Humpty Dumpty, Wolf, Lacon's, Grain, Norfolk Brewhouse, Panther and more.

• The Lawyer will offer special set-price Thai dishes from The Sugar Hut kitchen.

• At The Unthank Arms, a three-course Norwich Restaurant Week menu will change daily and be available from Monday to Saturday.

• The newly-refurbished Café Benjamin at Jarrold will be participating with a two-course meal for £12.50 featuring locally-sourced products which will include a mezze board starter, a main course and a glass of wine or a soft drink.

• Roger Hickman's will offer a glass of Norfolk-based Winbirri wine to every diner during the week.

• At the Maid's Head Hotel, sous chef David Lovett has created a Norfolk quail dish for diners: potato crisp, potato fondant, confit garlic, pan-roasted quail breast and potato and white onion puree, which will cost £15.95 and feature potatoes from Heygate Garms, garlic from Barsby Produce, quail from Norfolk Quail and rapeseed oil from Crush Foods.

• At The Waffle House, you can get 20% off the total bill at lunch or dinner from September 1 to 4.

• The Britons Arms will be serving retro recipes from the restaurant's archives with dishes that have appeared on the menu since the venue opened in 1951. Sue Skipper from The Britons Arms said: 'We've always cooked local, traditional, seasonal food and we have a traditional method of cooking which is English cuisine – such as Norfolk pork and apple pie, Norfolk treacle tart and Norfolk strawberry shortcake. We will be offering recipes from when The Britons Arms started trading, recipes from families that have been handed down.'

• Diners at Bishops will be able to claim a free glass of prosecco with lunch or dinner on September 2 and 3.

• There's 20% off your total bill at the Namaste India on Opie Street.

• Wok and Go in Castle Mall is running a competition – buy a meal deal during Norwich Restaurant Week and you could win one of 10 meal deals for four.

• The Coach and Horses on Thorpe Road will be offering six local specials – three fish dishes and three meat dishes – paired with local beer or cider while Café Seven is giving guests a free hot drink with all their classic breakfasts which feature locally-sourced sausages from Hazel's Butchers.

• When diners order The Great Norfolk Dish at Cinema City's The Dining Rooms during Norwich Restaurant Week, they will be given a free glass of house wine.