Go dine review
Located on Mansfield Road, just a short walk up from The Victoria Centre bus station and in close proximity to the Nottingham Trent University city site, is Encounters, a restaurant that has been serving honest British cuisine up in the city centre since 1993. Now entering into its second decade in business, the longevity of Encounters is proof of its good food at real value for money prices.
The restaurant is small yet perfectly proportioned and offers diners an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city centre for an hour or two. With comfortable chairs and a light and airy dining space, Encounters provides the perfect backdrop for enjoying the delicious British cuisine on offer.
Proprietor Paul Shaw has used his extensive knowledge and wealth of experience in the restaurant business to create a classic British menu that showcases the best of British produce, which he sources locally where possible. You can expect, when seasonally available, to see dishes such as plaice stuffed with crab, cooked in a Thermidor sauce with onions, cream, cheese and English grain mustard; honey glazed chicken cooked in a cream and mild mustard sauce; and the indulgent beef encounter that features a succulent fillet steak stuffed with local stilton, wrapped in puff pastry and served with a creamy port sauce. As well as a delectable a la carte menu, a fantastic value lunch offer runs daily that is ideal for city centre business men and women to enjoy on their lunch break or for weary shoppers to devour before heading back out in to the mayhem.
Encounters is an excellent independent restaurant boasting fantastic cuisine at affordable prices that comes with great friendly service as standard. Booking is highly recommended, particularly at the weekend.
View the menu
and reserve your table online
or by calling 0115 754 0389.
John Dowling – 15/03/2013
A wonderful dining experience which prides itself on booking a table for the evening. Some people consider service slow but when we asked if a pie had a pastry base we were told yes but as it hasn't been cooked yet as we cook to order you can have it with just a crust if you like or in a suet pastry. If you enjoy your food as fresh as that then you can't expect it to be as fast. Personally I like the fact that you eat at a slower pace and enjoy the fine food. If you want fast food then Burger King is just down the road and you will miss out on a wonderful evening!
John Dowling – 26/01/2013
Firstly, the restaurant is a lot bigger than it looks from the outside. The small appearance has put me off for years but I was wrong. Service - The staff cannot do enough to help and are friendly, efficient but relaxed. If you want to enjoy a relaxed and un-rushed dining experience this is the place! Oh and I forgot to mention very friendly. I you expect to be rushed out of your seat for the next customer expect to be disappointed! I think they have a policy of book a table and it is yours for the night.
Food - Huge menu along with specials. My only problem was choosing which I wanted the most! I went with my partner and we had completely different meals and enjoyed them all.
Value - Meals were less than I expected but superbly cooked. Wines good value. Just be warned that House is served by the litre and not the standard 75cc but is very pleasant.
Overall - We went for my partner's Birthday and it was a very enjoyable experience and we will go again just ourselves and with friends.
Sara Hurst – 25/12/2012
After visiting last year and being highly impressed with the service and food I decided to go back again. The service was just as good and the food was second to none - couldn't have asked for better. Definitely going back next year!
Steve Wheatcroft – 04/12/2012
This was the first time at Encounters for many of us and we were made to feel very welcome. Good food and excellent service. I am sure that we will return.
Donna Marquess – 08/05/2012
Absolutely Fantastic, menu extensive with somthing for everyone. Don't expect to rush in and out as foods cooked from fresh and with the amount you get your going to spend an enjoyable, relaxed evening there. Front of house is fantastic, warm and welcoming.
Terri Chong – 17/03/2012
Very good service.
Steven Swift – 20/02/2012
Sara Hurst – 25/12/2011
Couldn't have asked for better. The food and the service was second to none. I was really well looked after and definatley well fed. The restaurant has a very relaxing atmosphere and there is no rush. The owner is very accomodating and friendly. I will definatley recommend Encounters to everybody and it is one restaurant I intend to frequent.
Stuart Mayfield – 07/09/2011
This is a superb restaurant, friendly and polite staff and so accommodating. Well presented, delicious food, cooked to perfection. I'm so pleased we went here and we'll be back again.
Helen Ridley – 18/08/2011
As always great food and great service. Very friendly and welcoming. Would recommend to my friends.
Sara Osborne – 12/06/2011
This was our first vist to Encounters and we were not disappointed!
The greeting on arrival and the friendly efficient service were second to none. It made a refresshing change to have the owners serving, in a relaxed and informal way.
The starters were fantastic (the menu is honest when it states the Prawn Cocktail is the biggest you will have seen). The only slight criticism would be that my husbands fillet steak was not as tender as he expected it to be. However he did choose beef Wellington, which comes cooked in pastry, and understands that the chef cannot see the steak cooking once it is hddden inside the crust. He expected the steak to fall apart as it was fillet, but it was actually a little tough, although still tasty (He did say that it wouldn't put him off try a differrent type of steak next time! and ........it can't have been too tough because he ate every last bit!). The bread was superb, and freshly baked.
Jonathan Castledine – 31/05/2011
Everything was just great.
Linda Richards – 02/05/2011
Excellent venue, friendly service always a joy to have a meal at Encounters.Have recommended to several friends and no-one has ever been disappointed.