Lizzy O'Riordan headed down to the Mansfield Road meat-free eatery to find out what all the fuss is about...
If there’s one thing in life I truly believe in, it’s that all hard work should be met with a disproportionately large treat. Hence, after the deadline for LeftLion’s May magazine, it only felt right to wander down to Mansfield Road’s Prickly Pear, rewarding myself with a long and luxurious ‘well done’ lunch.
Joined by the rest of the editorial and design team, we squashed around one table in the small restaurant and got straight to browsing the menu. Taco Tuesday made it an obvious choice for me, and I opted for the Fish’ish tacos, alongside a Fentimans sparkling raspberry drink - as did two of my co-workers.
A 100% plant-based restaurant, the tacos were, of course, faux fish, though I’d be hard pressed to notice, with the texture and batter resembling cod with an almost uncanny likeness. Served on a fresh corn tortilla, the ‘fish’ is made from beer-battered tofu and nori, and is presented with an accompaniment of fresh salsa, avocado, pickled red cabbage, pink onions, and - most importantly - garlic and coriander mayo.
Truly delicious, tacos are, in my opinion, one of the most fun foods, and these were no exception. For me, the pièce de résistance really lay in the pink onions and garlic coriander mayo, both of which added an element of freshness to the stodgy nature of the batter and balanced out the dish.
Alongside the tacos, there are also plenty of other options to pick from, including a range of sandwiches, burgers and an extensive brunch menu which is served all the way until 3pm. Plus, there’s a selection of fully-vegan milkshakes made with ice cream and soy milk, all of which can be made alcoholic at your request.
Located on the outskirts of town, Prickly Pear could easily be missed by the untrained eye, but it’s definitely worth the five minute walk from Victoria Centre, and is one that I’ll be recommending to all my plant-based and non-plant-based friends alike. Lizzy O’Riordan
127 Mansfield Rd, Nottingham, NG1 3FQ
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