Sheffield Restaurant News

Sheffield restaurant goers could get their hands on a bargain this summer as international dining platform First Table officially launches in the Steel City. Under the scheme, local food lovers and diners can secure a 50% discount off their food bill across a range of participating Sheffield venues.

Already trusted by more than 3 million diners and partnering with over 4,500 restaurants worldwide, First Table is a global restaurant discovery platform and booking app known for offering generous discounts in exchange for a small up-front booking fee.

More than 20 local venues in Sheffield have already signed up to take part. The list of participating spots includes West10, Head of Steam, Silversmiths, Selena, Grappa, Kolam, Lost & Found, and Terrace Goods, among others.

The booking concept is simple: guests, ranging from solo diners up to groups of six, can reserve a limited number of available tables at either the beginning or end of service via the First Table app or website. In return for paying the booking fee, customers receive 50% off their food bill. This provides an opportunity for diners to explore new eateries while helping venues welcome more patrons during off-peak periods when tables might otherwise sit empty.

Unlike many traditional booking platforms, the New Zealand-born app charges zero participation fees to restaurants, aiming to serve as a supportive partner to hospitality businesses navigating a challenging trading climate.

Mat Weir, Founder of First Table, noted that Sheffield is a city built on craftsmanship and innovation, adding that the same spirit is alive across its restaurant scene today. He highlighted the quality and variety available throughout the city, explaining that restaurants are seeking innovative ways to maximise every service and attract new customers. According to Weir, the platform helps venues convert quieter trading periods into valuable opportunities while giving food lovers an incentive to discover new dining destinations.

The arrival in Sheffield marks part of First Table’s ongoing UK expansion. The platform now operates across 22 nationwide cities, alongside continued growth into Northern Ireland and other key locations across the UK.

A popular and much-loved restaurant in Sheffield is continuing its expansion with an ambitious new opening. DOMO, which opened in 2019, occupies the ground floor of a 19th-century redbrick former mill building on the Kelham Island development. Built around Sardinian food and culture, the restaurant has gone from strength to strength over the years, establishing itself as one of the most in-demand dining spots in Kelham Island. The award-winning restaurant has even earned a feature in The Good Food Guide and proved successful enough to launch a second spot in Leeds.

Now, the team behind DOMO are preparing to expand their empire in Sheffield with an exciting new addition. Named Mercato, the latest venture from husband-and-wife team Raffaele Busceddu and Sarah Elliott-Busceddu is set to open towards the end of September. Located at Green Lane in Little Kelham, not far from the original restaurant, it will serve as a new production kitchen, deli, and neighbourhood café.

Mercato is set to specialise in freshly made Sardinian produce, with much of the food created on site before being supplied directly to the group's restaurants across both Sheffield and Leeds. The owners explain that the concept originally developed after their recent expansion into West Yorkshire, which brought about the need for a dedicated production facility capable of supporting both operations and achieving greater self-sufficiency. However, the team chose to take the vision further by transforming it into a neighbourhood venue open to the public that connects food, retail, and the local community.

Visitors heading to Mercato can look forward to an offering centred on the dishes and ingredients that built DOMO's reputation. The menu and retail shelves will feature items such as coffee, focaccia sandwiches, fresh pasta, homemade gelato, Sardinian deli goods, desserts, and wine. The new venue will also include a small seating area both inside and out where guests can sit back and relax. The founders intend for Mercato to serve as a warm, welcoming, and bustling space full of life, whether guests are visiting to grab a morning coffee, picking up fresh pasta for dinner, or simply stopping by to watch pasta making in action.

A popular Sheffield cafe has closed after a serious fire broke out in the early hours of the morning.

Aesthete, on Sandygate Road in Crosspool, was affected by a fire on 26th July. Firefighters were called to the cafe in the middle of the night after a blaze broke out inside the building.

The following day, red and white tape used by the fire service could still be seen tied to lamp posts on both sides of the street. The smell of smoke remained in the air, while doors and windows near the back of the building had been boarded up.

The cafe's owners, who also run a second Aesthete venue on South Road in Walkley, described the incident as "devastating news" and said they were "absolutely heartbroken".

In a statement, they said they had been contacted by the fire brigade at 2:30am and told that the Crosspool kitchen had caught fire, due to what was believed to have been an electrical fault.

Thankfully, nobody was hurt and everyone was safe.

However, the owners said the damage was significant. All of the kitchen equipment had been ruined, while the front-of-house area had suffered smoke damage.

As a result, the Crosspool cafe will remain closed for the foreseeable future while the owners assess the damage and work out the next steps.

The owners have encouraged customers who want to support the business during the difficult period to visit Aesthete's Walkley cafe on South Road, which remains open as usual.

The former Blue Moon cafe in Sheffield city centre is set to enter a new chapter after the name of the restaurant replacing it was revealed.

The building on St James Street will become Olive Tree, with new green and yellow paintwork and signage now in place on the front of the property.

The name and font match those used by The Olive Tree Mediterranean restaurant in Buxton, indicating the type of cuisine that may be on offer. It is thought that a worker at the Buxton restaurant is behind the new venture.

Blue Moon cafe, a popular vegetarian cafe, first opened in 2001 before closing at the start of 2023.

The property, which is thought to date back to the 1850s, has a long history. Before becoming Blue Moon cafe, it was home to auctioneers and estate agents Eadon, Lockwood and Riddle.

Located on St James Street, the building sits in one of Sheffield's historic areas, next to Sheffield Cathedral and close to Cutlers' Hall on Church Street. The arrival of Olive Tree marks the latest chapter for the historic property.

A popular Sheffield restaurant has been recognised as one of the best local restaurants in the UK after earning a place in the latest Good Food Guide rankings.

The Orange Bird, based on Middlewood Road in Hillsborough, has been included in the Good Food Guide's Best Local Restaurant awards. The restaurant was ranked 54th nationally, making it the highest-rated restaurant from South Yorkshire on this year's list.

Known for its South African and international street food, The Orange Bird has built a strong reputation with diners, attracting customers from across Sheffield and beyond. The restaurant has received rave reviews from guests and has continued to grow in popularity in recent years.

The eatery first opened during the height of the pandemic and has since overcome those early challenges to establish itself as a well-loved destination in the city.

The Good Food Guide, which describes itself as the authority on eating out around Britain since 1951, organises the Best Local Restaurant awards. Now in their 16th year, the awards celebrate community-driven restaurants that offer excellent value for money alongside top-quality cooking in a relaxed and welcoming setting.

This year marks the first time the Best Local Restaurant list has been ranked, with The Orange Bird securing 54th place nationwide. The achievement also sees the Sheffield restaurant recognised as the highest-ranked restaurant in South Yorkshire on the list, highlighting its growing reputation among local dining destinations.

A well-known Sheffield restaurant is hoping to make a return to the neighbourhood where it first built its reputation.

Come a Casa, which previously operated from premises on Lound Side in Chapeltown that had formerly housed Costa and KFC, closed in 2024. The business is now seeking to reopen at a new location within Chapeltown.

Plans have been submitted to Sheffield City Council to open the restaurant in a unit on Station Road that was previously occupied by Sheffield Vintage antiques shop.

Announcing the proposal, the business said it wanted to return to its roots and appealed for community backing.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page, Come a Casa said: "We want to come home. We are currently trying to open a brand new Italian restaurant right back in the area, but we've reached a vital step where we need your support to make it a reality. Our official planning application has been submitted to Sheffield City Council, and the more positive community feedback it gets, the higher our chances of approval."

The planning application seeks permission to change the use of the premises from retail to a restaurant.

The proposal has attracted significant public support. According to the application, 69 comments have been submitted, with 68 supporting the plans.

However, the application has also prompted objections from a nearby resident, who has raised concerns about potential late-night noise and cooking odours.

The objection also refers to an earlier planning application for a kitchen canopy ventilation system at the rear of the same site, which was refused in March.

At the time, a council report stated: "While the principle of supporting an existing restaurant use within a designated shopping centre is acceptable, the proposal of the extraction equipment within a confined rear yard directly beneath residential accommodation would result in unacceptable impacts on the living conditions of the occupiers of the flats above."

The latest application is now under consideration by Sheffield City Council.

Popular Sheffield restaurant Prithiraj has once again been recognised as England's best Indian restaurant, securing the prestigious title for the third time in five years at this year's English Curry Awards.

The Ecclesall Road restaurant celebrated a double success at the national awards ceremony in Wolverhampton, winning the award for Best Restaurant while also being recognised for Outstanding Customer Service.

The awards were determined through customer nominations, with voting opening in February and diners choosing their favourite restaurant.

Restaurant owner Sobuj Miah attended the ceremony and thanked the people who helped make the achievement possible.

"This achievement belongs to our amazing team, our loyal customers, and everyone who has supported us throughout the years," he said. "Thank you for believing in us, dining with us, and being part of the Prithiraj family. Here's to continuing to serve great food, warm hospitality and memorable experiences for years to come."

Prithiraj has now earned three major national titles, having also won the British Curry Awards in 2022 and 2025. The latest recognition continues to strengthen the restaurant's reputation on the national stage.

The 100-seat restaurant has been serving authentic Indian food for more than 10 years and has become well known for attracting a number of high-profile visitors. Among those to have dined at the restaurant are Dan Walker, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Chris Wilder, Mark Labbett and Richard Hawley.

Earlier this year, the restaurant also welcomed former Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom, who was joined by Mark Crossley and Dean Windass. Actor James Cosmo, best known for his roles in Game of Thrones and Braveheart, has also visited the restaurant.

With another national award to its name and recognition for customer service, Prithiraj continues to build on its reputation as one of England's most celebrated Indian restaurants.

Sheffield restaurant JÖRO has achieved its highest-ever position in the National Restaurant Awards Top 100 after being named the 13th best restaurant in the UK.

The Oughtibridge fine dining restaurant secured 13th place in this year's rankings, placing it ahead of many of the country's best-known restaurants. The awards were announced during a ceremony at Magazine London, where leading chefs and restaurateurs gathered to celebrate achievements across the hospitality industry.

Reacting to the news, the JÖRO team shared their excitement, saying: "In a year that just keeps giving for us, we've been listed at our highest ever, coming in at No. 13."

The evening also brought individual recognition for the restaurant, with Junior Sous Chef Ashley James being named one of the National Restaurant Awards' Rising Stars, an honour that recognises emerging talent within the hospitality industry.

Reflecting on the achievement, the team said they were "extremely proud" and described the recognition as something their younger selves had only dreamed of.

"To be sat in a room filled with incredible people from across the industry is truly inspiring," they said.

The latest accolade adds to what has already been a significant year for JÖRO. Earlier this year, the restaurant earned Sheffield's first Michelin star in more than a decade after inspectors praised its "focused and flavourful" cooking, confidently creative tasting menus and excellent service.

The Michelin recognition followed JÖRO's move from its former home at Kelham Island's Krynkl development to a converted 300-year-old former mill in Oughtibridge.

Owned by chef Luke French and Stacey Sherwood-French, the restaurant has steadily built a national reputation over several years. Before receiving its Michelin star, JÖRO had already earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand, three AA Rosettes and a place in the Michelin Guide.

The National Restaurant Awards ranking further highlights Sheffield's growing reputation as a food destination. JÖRO was the highest-ranked Yorkshire restaurant in the top 20 and one of only a handful of northern restaurants to feature near the top of the list.

This year's National Restaurant Awards were topped by Bouchon Racine in London, with Michelin-starred restaurants including The Ritz, Moor Hall, Ynyshir and The Ledbury also featuring in the top 10.

Thanking those who supported the restaurant, the JÖRO team said: "Thank you to our peers and the panel who voted for us. Huge well done to everyone on the list too, especially our fellow northern legends - it was a bumper year and the representation was stronger than ever."

Forbici has been recognised as one of the world's best pizza restaurants after being named in the 2026 Best Pizza Awards, held in Milan, Italy.

The company, which opened its Sheffield restaurant earlier this year near the Peace Gardens in Millennium Square, earned a place in the prestigious global top 100 ranking. It is the only pizzeria in northern England to feature on the list and one of just two UK pizzerias to secure a place in the top 100. The remaining British restaurant recognised is located in London.

The award places Forbici alongside some of the most respected names in international pizza making, marking a significant achievement for the growing business.

Forbici first opened in Manchester in 2024 before expanding with its Sheffield restaurant in March 2026. The company combines traditional pizza-making techniques with Italian ingredients.

Its signature dough, created by head baker Davide Argentino, is made using a biga fermentation process that develops at 24 degrees. According to Forbici, the method produces a light pizza base with tall, airy crusts. The restaurant also has a distinctive serving style, with pizzas cut into four slices using scissors.

Argentino, a fifth-generation baker from Naples, described the recognition as a proud milestone for both himself and the wider team.

"It is a huge honour for Forbici to be recognised as one of the best pizzerias in the world. Baking has been in my family for five generations, so this is a really proud moment."

He added:

"In crafting Forbici's signature dough we challenged convention pushing the fermentation process to the limit. Every bite reflects the patience, precision and expertise behind our approach.

"This recognition belongs to our entire team, whose passion, skill and commitment to the craft of pizza-making make Forbici what it is every day."

Forbici's menu features classic pizzas including the Marinara, Margherita and American, alongside Italian-inspired options such as the Provola e Pepe, topped with San Marzano tomato, smoked provola, black pepper and fresh basil. The restaurant also serves white-base pizzas including the Porcini e Tartufo, made with Fior di latte, porcini mushrooms, Italian truffle sauce and chives.

Sheffield restaurant Uncle Sam's celebrated its 55th birthday, marking more than five decades as a familiar fixture on the city's dining scene.

The American-style diner on Ecclesall Road first opened its doors on 4th July 1971. Over the years, it has become known for its quarter pounders, fries, its renowned cheese sauce and the sense of nostalgia it offers customers, earning a reputation as a Sheffield "institution."

The milestone was marked with a celebratory post on the restaurant's Facebook page, where the owners thanked customers for their continued loyalty.

"Happy Birthday to Us! We turn 55 today. Thank you for all the continued support and love over the years. Happy 4th of July!" the post read.

The anniversary has prompted an outpouring of memories from admirers on the restaurant's Facebook page, reflecting its long-standing place in the community.

Manager Nicola Cawthorne, whose parents, Susan and Clive Crossland, bought the American diner in 1984, said the restaurant's enduring appeal lies in its consistency.

"It's just the same as it always was, nothing has changed, and that's the way customers seem to like it," she told The Star newspaper.

As Uncle Sam's celebrates 55 years in business, the restaurant continues to be recognised for its familiar atmosphere, signature menu and lasting connection with generations of customers.