Seafood in Nottingham: Where to Eat Fish and Shellfish

How Nottingham's seafood scene splits

Three kitchen styles do most of the work. Chippies handle battered fish and mushy peas, Turkish grills lean on charcoal and mezze, and Italian kitchens turn out seafood risotto and grilled fish in sleeker rooms. A modern British restaurant adds a fourth option for a special occasion, with a rooftop bar and Sunday lunch.

Because the city is inland, freshness depends on how often a kitchen sources and how it cooks, not on coastal geography. A kitchen that grills to order or fries in busy batches tends to serve better fish than a grander room having a slow night. For a wider picture of the city's dining rooms, see the best restaurants in Nottingham, which groups places by what you're after rather than a top-ten ranking.

The Cod's Scallops: a casual chippy tea

The Cod's Scallops is put forward as the chippy option in Marmaris's round-up of Nottingham seafood, which lists classic battered fish, mushy peas and catch-of-the-day choices in a casual setting. Treat the description as a starting point: the venue's own current menu, prices and hours are worth confirming before you travel. It is a candidate for a no-fuss meal where the fish is the point rather than the room.

A chippy is generally a quicker, less booking-heavy affair than a sit-down restaurant, though queues at busy times are possible. If you want a proper seafood dinner with a starter and a pud, look to the Italian or modern British rooms instead. For the wider fryer scene, see the fish and chips Nottingham guide.

Marmaris on Alfreton Road: Turkish charcoal grill

Marmaris Restaurant sits at 91 Alfreton Road in Radford, a short trip out of the city centre. Its kitchen grills seabass over charcoal and serves king prawns with Mediterranean herbs, and the style is built for sharing: hot and cold mezze such as hummus, tabbouleh and halloumi sit alongside the fish. The restaurant's own blog states it is open every day from 9am to 11pm and offers dine-in, takeaway and online ordering, so it works for a relaxed group meal or a late lunch.

The trade-off is the setting: a casual restaurant on a busy road rather than a city-centre dining room, which suits a group more than a quiet date. Order a spread of mezze plus grilled fish to share, and ask about portion sizes before committing to a large round of starters. The blog lists no prices, so ask when you book.

Casa Italian: city-centre Italian seafood

Casa Italian is described in Marmaris's round-up as being in the heart of town, with a sleek modern room and seafood dishes such as seafood risotto and salmon tagliatelle. It is put forward as a pick for a date night or a business lunch where you want a proper table and a menu that runs beyond the fryer. Confirm its current menu, hours and booking policy directly, especially for weekend dinner.

The trade-off of an Italian kitchen is that fish is one part of a broader menu, so a dedicated seafood lover may find fewer choices than at a dedicated grill. It can be a good compromise for a mixed group where not everyone wants fish. For other Italian and European rooms, cross-check with The Best Restaurants in Nottingham, Picked by What You're After.

Venezia Italian & Seafood: the Upper Saxondale trip

Venezia Italian & Seafood Restaurant is described in Marmaris's round-up as being in Upper Saxondale, outside Nottingham rather than in the city, so treat it as a short trip by car or taxi. The blog frames its Italian seafood with a countryside setting, citing pan-seared scallops, prawns in white wine sauce and grilled sea bream as the kind of plates to expect. It is put forward for a slower lunch or a date where the journey is part of the plan.

The trade-off is the travel: you need to plan transport and allow more time than a city-centre table. Check the journey and confirm opening days directly before setting out, especially for weekend evenings. If you want to stay central, the Italian rooms in town are the easier choice.

Cleaver & Wake: modern British with a rooftop bar

Cleaver & Wake sits at The Island Quarter, 1 The Great Northern Close, Nottingham NG2 3JL, and describes itself as a modern fine-dining restaurant serving refined British dishes alongside a rooftop bar rather than as a seafood specialist. Its published restaurant hours are Tuesday to Friday dinner from 5pm to 9pm, Saturday lunch 12pm to 2.30pm and dinner 5pm to 9pm, and Sunday lunch 12pm to 4pm. The bar runs later: Tuesday to Thursday until 11pm, Friday until midnight and Saturday from 11am until midnight, with Sunday 11am to 6pm. It is a special-occasion or Sunday lunch room rather than a fish-led one.

Book well ahead for Saturday dinner and Sunday lunch, when a higher-end room comes under pressure. The trade-off is price and formality: this is a smarter, modern British room rather than a chippy or a casual grill, so check that its seasonal menu suits the fish lover in your party before committing. For other special-occasion rooms, see fine dining in Nottingham.

Choosing by occasion rather than a single best

Match the venue to the occasion. A casual tea or a quick lunch points to The Cod's Scallops; a group sharing mezze and grilled fish points to Marmaris in Radford; a date or business lunch points to Casa Italian; a countryside lunch points to Venezia in Upper Saxondale; and a celebration or Sunday lunch points to Cleaver & Wake at The Island Quarter.

For a cheaper seafood meal, the chippy and the Turkish grill are the value options, while the Italian and modern British rooms cost more. If you are watching the budget, the cheap eats Nottingham guide covers other low-cost rooms, and What to Eat in Nottingham covers the city's broader eating picture.

Booking and timing notes

Book ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner at the Italian and modern British rooms, and for Sunday lunch at Cleaver & Wake, where the published slot is 12pm to 4pm. Marmaris lists daily hours of 9am to 11pm, which makes it flexible for a late lunch or an early dinner, and offers dine-in, takeaway and online ordering.

Hours and pricing for The Cod's Scallops, Casa Italian and Venezia are not given in the blog descriptions, so confirm directly before travelling. Two checks are worth making: current closing times for a late table, and whether Sunday lunch at your chosen room needs booking. Keep the trip simple by confirming the postcode, especially for Venezia in Upper Saxondale.

Which seafood table should you book?

Choose by kitchen style: a chippy tea at The Cod's Scallops, a charcoal grill and mezze spread at Marmaris in Radford, an Italian dinner at Casa Italian, a countryside trip to Venezia in Upper Saxondale, or a modern British celebration at Cleaver & Wake at The Island Quarter. Confirm hours and book ahead for weekend dinners and Sunday lunch, then check the postcode and the menu before you travel.