The 30 Best Restaurants in Derby

“Wow! Caught a last minute booking for the ten course - yes TEN - tasting menu. Fab-u-lous! Something so wrong yet right about starting with the unmistakable taste of a Big Mac from the first course but we then cantered through so many creative and sumptuous dishes, each painstakingly presented and introduced by her enthusiastic and friendly team. Start with a cocktail and then enjoy taking your time with the wide choice of wines to suit all tastes (and budgets). We went with a Montrachet as it was a special occasion and the food deserved a wine to match. But please don’t make a reservation - it was hard enough to get one this time!”

“As outsiders to Derby we came here after reading such great reviews online. This place did not disappoint! The food was delicious, the staff helpful and accommodating and there were lots of veggie options. My jalfrezi was nice and spicy, just a shame i couldn’t finish it or take it back to our hotel. Thanks!”

“Wow what a gem of a place. First time eaten at this Mexican Restaurant. Food absolutely delicious. Service second to non. Very welcoming by lovely young lady and Chef/Manager. The chef /Manager even found time to come over and speak to us. Live music absolutely fantastic. Will definately be back. I would recommend visiting this restaurant 100% We also had fun wearing a Mexican Hat We had a fantastic evening, thank you.”

“What an amazing hidden gem of a restaurant! We ordered the three-course set menu, and every dish was delicious. The best naan bread i've ever had too! The atmosphere was nice and welcoming, and the service was excellent from start to finish. Highly recommended!”

“We came here for Valentines and have found a great little gem. Food was delicious and the staff were really welcoming and came and had a laugh with us. Thanks for making our 1st Valentines so special.”

“Our second time here, first time trying the grazing menu. Food was absolutely outstanding. Louis made our experience special and memorable. Sam and Sadie were very efficient too. Totally recommended. Big thank you for our Instagram competition prize.”

“Went to the restaurant. Fantastic food and service. Would highly recommend and we will certainly be back! If I could six stars I would. I recommend the sea bass…”

“Staff Brilliant, location easy to find, fantastic service and excellent customer service from a friendly welcoming team. Toilets are what feels like in another building but up a few stairs! Unfortunately they can’t make a cosmopolitan cocktail….. only what’s on the menu…. Enjoy”

“Had an incredible meal tonight. The service was fantastic, the staff very friendly and the food superb. Have been multiple times and every time they've put on a fantastic meal every time! Would thoroughly recommend!”

“I’ve been coming to Istanbul Restaurant regularly, and every time is a great experience. The food is always fresh, flavorful, and consistent no matter what I order. The chefs are amazing and clearly take pride in their work. The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and beautifully decorated. It’s a comfortable place to enjoy a meal, whether you’re with friends, family, or just grabbing a quick bite. What really makes this place special is the staff. Everyone is incredibly friendly and welcoming. They talk to you with genuine kindness and make you feel right at home. Overall, Istanbul Restaurant is my go-to spot. Great food, great service, and a great vibe what more could you ask for?”

“Another great visit to Nicco's, when you don't think it could ever get better it does. A great welcome and service by Ethan he really made the food experience amazing, being the first two people to try the new bottomless brunch menu. The quality of the food was immense and we can't wait for our next visit.”

“Truely amazing restaurant, excellent, freshly prepared food, lovely host, menu changes each day. Even gave me and my friend a birthday desert with a candle and sang happy birthday. Highly recommend this restaurant”

“I stayed in Derby for 4 days for work and I only wish I’d discovered this place at the beginning of the stay. I’m on a bit of a low carb kick and all I could find in Derby was pizza or fast food. The food here was absolutely delicious and fresh, the Greek salad was perfect with a large chunk of feta on top, the skewers were cooked to perfection. The chap who served me was friendly and very helpful and the restaurant itself was lovely, I opted for takeaway as I was in a rush but I’d definitely sit in there on any future trips”

“I cannot recommend Browns Restaurant enough! Absolutely fantastic service- the host was amazing- so attentive. The food was top quality, freshly cooked and excellent value for money. This was a celebration for my Husband’s birthday and Browns went above and beyond to make it special. We are definitely returning very soon!”

“Food was amazing. Service was fantastic. Was very busy. Only thing I could fault is the lighting. It's not bright enough. Would definitely go again.”

“Out for a meal with 2 friends . There should have been 4 of us : he defo missed out. Lovely setting , good food and lovely waitresses . The menu changes every month… so photos are from the August 22 menu . Bit of a treck for us to go from Stoke but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend ( already have actually)”

“Fantastic food and atmosphere for our wedding anniversary dinner. Nothing was too much trouble, my wife is gluten free and they were able to do her a gluten free base pizza. Definitely order the olives as well! Loved the fact that this was a family run restaurant and you can really see the effort put in especially into the food. Thank you for an authentic Italian food experience!”

“Superb authentic cuisine in a unique environment. A real treat for the palate and the eye. Jackie was a most welcoming host. A very enjoyable evening was had in this little gem of a restaurant.”

“Ordered steak , it was so amazing cooked and taste very nice! The portion was very good, couldn't even finish all chips ! There is no place in derby with same taste of steak. Highly recommended. Interior inside amazing, really love it. Friendly staff. Definitely come back to try something more from Greek cuisine!”

“Lovely little restaurant located in the heart of Burton upon Trent. The staff are polite and friendly and the prices (Lunch time menu) are inexpensive for a decent dish. I have been multiple times and it's been decent throughout. My only complaint is that the chicken pieces could be a little higher in quality overall. But that wouldn't stop me from going back again.”

“This is a great little find! Consistently good! Great selection of food and are wonderful with gluten free options! Don’t expect much from the decor but honestly the food out-ways the setting! It’s what you would expect from a Thai in the village off the side of the pub! Always busy so that adds to the atmosphere! Eaten here many times and it’s always been good!”

“I don’t usually leave reviews, but this place deserves it and more. The food is consistently incredible — genuinely some of the best pizza I’ve ever had, and the prices are unbeatable, especially with the app discounts. It’s rare to find somewhere that delivers both exceptional value and quality, but Best Pizza nails it every single time. I’ve been a loyal customer for over two years, and they’ve never let me down. If there’s ever a small issue, their customer service is spot on — just give them a call and it’s sorted instantly. It’s clear they genuinely care about their customers. Whether it’s cosy family nights in or cheesy late-night cravings, Best Pizza delivers (literally and figuratively). It’s become a part of our happiest memories — comfort food done right, every time. If you’re in Derby and looking for your next go-to takeaway, stop searching — this is it. Your new favourite is right here, waiting for you. Thank you, Best Pizza. You’ve set the bar high.”

“Beautiful restaurant, they have special prices during the week. Nice selection of dishes, drinks menu is good and cocktails taste great.”

“Visited on Easter Sunday for a birthday celebration. Only found out about the place online the day before. How have we not been here before? This is a little gem of a restaurant. Although fairly small, and quiet when we arrived late afternoon, the restaurant had a nice feel from the moment we arrived. Service was excellent all the way through even as it got busier, and all our questions about the menu were answered by the manager who obviously took great pride in the restaurant. The food was excellent as we shared 5 tapas between 2 of us, which was more than enough, although we were tempted by dessert. The selection of wines was good, and the Spanish beers were interesting and varied. Overall an excellent meal, and good value when taking into account drinks as well. We’ll be back.”

“Good, polite service and delicious food. Tablecloths on the tables were clean as was everything else. The salmon starter was quite a small portion, but the mains were big portions to balance it out. The veg that came with the Sunday lunches was all delicious. Would highly recommend the restaurant.”

“Always an exceptional experience — highly recommended.”

“Lovely atmosphere for get together. Food was really nice huge portions and well worth the price. Service was pretty good and very friendly. Definitely be returning.”

“I ordered catfish pepper soup and ofada and they were both really nice. The service was remarkable and very fast. I enjoyed my experience very much.”

“Had a team dinner we were approximately 20 people, made a reservation and got there and everything was set up very nicely! The food was delicious really felt like the chefs were able to bring out the authentic flavours of Nepal. Great hospitality, efficient service - bit slow maybe due to the large orders but nonetheless a very pleasant experience.”

“Great food. Always tasty. Love the onion rice.”