Food Review: Prickly Pear

With its cool, contemporary setting, simplistic, stylish décor and open-plan kitchen, Prickly Pear on Mansfield Road has quickly established itself as a must-visit for meat-free diners in Notts. More than happy to break the myth that living a vegan lifestyle means eating nothing but healthy food, their wickedly enticing menu gives those who have missed the guilty satisfaction of fast food a chance to indulge, all in the knowledge that no animals were harmed for the sake of your taste buds.

We kicked off our culinary journey with some genius homemade seitan BBQ ‘ribs’ (£8.50) which, having gone more than a decade without trying the real thing, were more than enough to satisfy the rib-lover in me. Although served without a bone, the deliciously juicy seitan is shaped in a way that would trick anyone. We were also treated to their sumptuous Attack of the Mac burger (£10), a buttermilk fried seitan burger with homemade purple coleslaw, cheddar cheese, bacon, and crispy fried onions, all topped with a mountain of luscious, creamy mac and cheese. It’s difficult to pick a favourite part of a meal as faultlessly tasty as ours was but, if pushed, it would be hard to look past their indulgent biscoff milkshake. Creamy, dreamy and tasty beyond description, it could well be the best dairy-free milkshake I’ve ever tried.

As one of the fastest-growing consumer markets in the UK, Prickly Pear feels like it has arrived at the perfect time for those living a vegan lifestyle. The restaurant is relaxed and welcoming, the staff are friendly and attentive, the prices are reasonable, and the food is sumptuous. Whether you eat meat or not, it’s definitely worth checking out. 

Prickly Pear, 127 Mansfield Road, NG1 3FQ

Prickly Pear website