Opened in the summer of 2024, Raymond’s is one of the coolest spots on Nottingham’s dining scene. The aesthetic ticks all the boxes with a Scandinavian air and Instagram full of film-style photos; it’s all mid-century furniture, effortless bistro glasses and pendant lighting. If you’re looking for a place to impress a date or get your best friends together, this is it.
As for the menu, think neighbourhood gem with classic, small plates vibes. You might start with snacks like Maldon rock oysters or fish crackling (sounds interesting, right?) before moving onto a mix of the plates of the day. A sample menu offers up examples such as grilled leeks with brown butter, vinaigrette and leek emulsion, alongside salt aged pork chop, trotter jus and wholegrain mustard, as well as scallop crudo with blood orange, chilli, smoked ginger and coriander oil. We particularly like the sound of the Fallow venison tartare with black garlic and the crunch of hand cut crisps.
After dinner, make sure you leave some space for spoils like custard panna cotta with Yorkshire rhubarb or chocolate orange Basque cheesecake. When it comes to drinks, Raymond’s likes what it likes. For example, cocktails include a select, curated few: Tammy’s Margarita, an Old Fashioned and a Cherry Negroni. Luckily for us, we like the sound of all three.
The wine list is much longer, though. There’s multiple champagnes by the glass (which is a rare but wonderful thing), a selection of chilled reds and some orange wines in there too - alongside, of course, all the classics: white, red, rose and fizz from prosecco to pet nat and a fair few in between. Again, by the glass - which is impressive.
As for location, Raymond’s has lucked out there too, with a fantastic perch in the middle of Nottingham’s historic Lace Market. A trendy part of town, you’ll be surrounded by the city’s best architecture and a short walk from the rest of the nightlife, without being next to any main roads.