Ever wondered where Sheffield’s top chefs go to get their snap? … No? Well, we’re gonna tell you anyway… This month we caught up with Maria head chef Sam Armitage to get his top shouts on the Steel City’s food and drink scene.
Cheeky Takeaway – Pizza Pronto & Mong Kok
My top two are Pizza Pronto and Mong Kok. Get the thin-stretched pizza base from Pizza Pronto, it’s really good, almost like Neapolitan style. Mong Kok is a Chinese takeaway in Hillsborough. The salt and pepper box is the best quality and value, and the delivery is quite speedy. It’s always hot and fresh.
Date Night Meal – China Red
I’d say China Red. There’s a special pork belly dish that you can only get there. It’s a cold dish of pork belly, cucumber slices, served with a hot raw garlic sauce, and it’s really tasty. I also like the tripe platter from there as well. Really, really good.
Best Value – Kurdistan Charcoal Grill
Kurdistan Charcoal Grill on London Road, the yellow one on the corner opposite Barry’s Bar. It’s the best shawarma in Sheffield. They’ve also got the best bread, the best salad, and the best sauce – their green sauce is amazing – and the £20 Kurdistan special mixed grill feeds two people so it’s great value. For an extra quid, you can even get chips and rice with it. The quality of the meat and seasonings in their kofta is great, and their lentil soup with the sumac (that you get for free at the start of your meal) is so good. I can’t shout out or big up Kurdistan enough.
Underrated Gem – Napoli Centro & Pho Viet
I’d say there are two underrated gems for me. One’s Napoli Centro. I know they’re quite well known already, but I don’t think they are well known enough. Napoli Centro on Glossop Road is by far the best Neapolitan, stone-baked pizza you can get in Sheffield. They do a friarielli which is a white-based pizza with salsiccia (fennel sausage), and cime di rapa (spinachy-broccoli type stuff). Then the other is Pho Viet in the Moor Market. Their Stir-fried pho hasn’t got any broth in it; it’s just like pho but stir-fried and you can get them to put their homemade chilli oil on it. Their Vietnamese spring rolls are also absolutely amazing. If you’ve not tried Pho Viet, get down to the Market and give it a go – you won’t be disappointed.
Out for Lunch – Chinatown
My favourite go-to lunch is dim sum at Chinatown on the bottom of London Road. I know the owner and he’s absolutely lovely. I’d say get the steamed beef short ribs in black pepper sauce, the roast pork puffs, the cheung fun and the steamed sticky rice rolls. Yeah, to be honest, it’s all good! Love the dim sum.
Brunch Break – PBZ & The Chinese Canteen
For brunch, I would say PBZ in New Era Square. My favourite is their congee. I love the preserved pork and the century egg ones. The Chinese Canteen on West Street is another favourite of mine. They handmake their own Cheung fun and they make savoury pancakes – jianbing they’re called.
