Tapestry

At ALEA, Nottingham’s newish £9.5million ‘contemporary gaming, dining & entertainment concept’, the dining element is a 65-seater pan-Mediterranean restaurant, also open to non-gamblers. Ignore the naff name; this place has a subdued sexiness & is not nearly as bling as you might imagine from its location within a flashy casino complex. The huge Iberico ham on the bar advertises the selection of pinchos (tapas from the Basque region) – from beef & courgette parcels to rosemary prawns. But the nicely balanced main menu includes Med-inspired dishes such as confit of Moroccan-spiced duck with salted lemon couscous & rocket salad & sea bass a la plancha (chorizo, tomato fondant potatoes, fennel puree & basil aioli). As you can gather, the ambition of the French chef here is impressive. And, although some of the dishes occasionally seem overly complex, this fine dining experience is worth a punt, for good service & cuisine that’s showy, elaborate, & extravagant.