Yard — Restaurant in Norwich

A Delightful Dining Experience at Yard - Authentic Italian Cuisine.

Last week, I had the pleasure of dining at Yard, an Italian pasta restaurant nestled in the heart of the city. From the moment I walked in, I was captivated by the warm and inviting atmosphere, beautifully designed interior, and friendly staff. The experience was nothing short of delightful, with the vegan carbonara being the highlight of my meal.

Upon being seated, I was immediately struck by the vibrant decor and cozy ambiance. The soft lighting, rustic wooden furniture, and tasteful artwork adorning the walls created a relaxed and charming atmosphere that set the stage for an enjoyable evening.

The menu at Yard offers a fantastic selection of Italian classics, with a special focus on pasta dishes. What sets Yard apart is their dedication to accommodating dietary preferences and restrictions, featuring a range of vegan and gluten-free options. As a vegan, I was thrilled to see the variety and creativity in their plant-based offerings.

I decided to try their vegan carbonara, and it was simply outstanding. The spaghetti was cooked to perfection - al dente, just as it should be. The sauce was rich and creamy. The dish was topped with smoky, crispy tofu bacon that added a wonderful depth of flavor and texture. The result was a plate of pure culinary delight that exceeded all my expectations.

The service at Yard was impeccable, with attentive and knowledgeable staff who were more than happy to provide recommendations and answer any questions about the menu. Their passion for Italian cuisine and commitment to creating a memorable dining experience for their guests were evident throughout the evening.

In conclusion, Yard is a must-visit for anyone seeking an authentic Italian pasta experience with a touch of modern innovation. The charming atmosphere, delectable food, and exceptional service make Yard a standout choice for a memorable night out. I can't wait to return and try more of their delicious vegan creations, and I highly recommend the vegan carbonara to both vegans and...

My partner and I go here quite frequently and have normally found it great, but recently it has gone downhill - we visited today (1st August) and I got the sausage rigatoni which was a stupidly small portion. I don’t expect a huge pile but I could see the white of the plate between the pieces of pasta, and there was only one noticeable bit of sausage. We weren’t informed of any stock issues so when we first started ordering we were very disappointed when a lot was out of stock without being told before ordering. My partner got the bucatini cacio e pepe which was too salty to enjoy. Most of all I’m disappointed with how much I paid. My main was £10 for a disgustingly small serving - considering it was meant to be my partner’s birthday meal, it was very disappointing. In addition to this, the music was too loud to hear each other speak, and the staff were very abrupt and rude when it came to checking if we were okay, and did not seem to care when I made it clear I was unhappy with my food. I normally don’t leave reviews like this but I am genuinely insulted that your staff thought this was acceptable.

Also, we noticed your staff did not check if we have any allergy requirements; luckily we don’t have anything serious but coming from a family of serious allergies it would concern me if I brought my parents here and they were not made aware of any allergens.

A friend of ours joined us and he was also struggling with the noise I mentioned earlier. He suffers from anxiety attacks and therefore unexpected loud music made him very uncomfortable; he had to leave before we had finished due to becoming overloaded by the noise.

My final issue was the food taking an hour to turn up. I understand kitchens are busy and stressful environments, however on a Monday I would expect a restaurant to be prepared for a gradual...

Delicious pasta, vibey, slightly inadequate toilets. Eaten here a few times and would highly recommend. Short menu consisting of starters (basically buratta with different garnishes or olives), side salads and a selection of very delicious pasta dishes, which is the whole point of this place.

The pasta is always very precisely cooked and the sauces are well-judged and tasty! Last visit I had rigatoni with big slices of porcini and a light creamy sauce - lush. The "peas" in the "buratta with peas" seem to consist of two sprigs of pea shoots - a very minor quibble unless you're a big pea fan. There's not much variation in price in the short wine list which starts at £25. Cheapest bottle of red was an absolute stunner, so that's all good.

You can't book here, but you can leave your number, head off for a drink nearby and they'll call you when your table is ready. For a table for 2 on a Saturday night, the wait is generally a comfortable 1 pint, so unless you are utterly starving and need to eat immediately, it actually works out better than needing to book in advance. For bigger tables, I'd imagine there might be more of a wait though? The staff are all nice young artsy types who know their job well enough.

Honestly, the only real criticism I have of Yard is something they probably can't do much about - the inadequate toilet situation. There's only two (unisex) stalls at the back of the courtyard and there's usually a small queue which probably sucks if it's raining or if you're on a romantic table for two in the courtyard and you don't find a queue of toilet people sexy. I haven't experienced either of these scenarios personally, though.

Overall, I cannot recommend Yard highly enough. Very likely the best pasta in Norwich, and it never lets me down. But I do make a mental note to pop to the...