It hasn't been open for too long, but Binks Yard is already establishing itself as a must-visit Notts spot...
The newly-opened Binks Yard restaurant is the first addition to The Island Quarter. This venue boasts canal-side dining, and is the more casual of the two eateries at the site. Its neighbour, Cleaver and Wake, is a fine-dining restaurant, and there's certainly some glamour in their kitchen: MasterChef winner Laurence Henry and fellow contestant Hira Thakur serve up the goods behind the scenes.
Binks Yard provides a bar with an outside kiosk, and a bespoke grill serving wood-fired pizzas, tacos, burgers, steaks, salads, and smaller sharing plates.
Walking up to the Island Quarter is a striking and impressive experience. The development wouldn’t look out of place amongst the spiralling skylines of Manchester. Once seated, you can view the canal from the arched windows, and enjoy a cocktail from the fully-stocked bar. Feeling fancy, I ordered the Binks Garden Martini - which consists of Sauvignon Blanc, elderflower, gin, apple juice, cucumber, and a dash of bitters. I moved up six social classes with my first sip...
The pizza offerings are certainly unique: You can order pizzas topped with mussels, or even a Waldorf Salad
We ordered a few things to share, but the star of the show was the nduja pizza. Its doughy base came with plenty of flavour, spice, and cheese - each slice was triumph. We also sampled some fish tacos which were light and refreshing, but it's fair to say you can expect a 'starter portion'. The truffle and parmesan fries are some of the best I’ve ever had - forgetting to order these would constitute a catastrophic failure!
The pizza offerings are certainly unique: You can order pizzas topped with mussels, or even a Waldorf Salad. It's out-of-the-box thinking, but the more adventurous among us will certainly reap the rewards!
We left with one regret - we didn't make our way through the desert menu. A menu, by the way, which features Basque-burnt cheesecake and lemon meringue pie. A full inquiry is underway, we assure you.
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