Found on the ground floor of the heritage-listed Eagle Works building in the bustling Kelham Island area, Domo brings a much-welcomed dash of Sardinian spritz to Sheffield.
Since opening in the summer of 2019, Domo restaurant has become a huge hit – not least because of its 5-7pm aperitivo buffet where punters have been snacking on pizza, bruschetta and olives whilst washing down post-work pints of Menabrea and Aperol Spritz. Its sunbathed courtyard is perfect for alfresco drinking and dining, whereas inside you’ll find a spacious restaurant and bar area designed in an attractive rustic fashion, adorned with Sardinian masks, handwoven baskets and Mediterranean-style plants.
Owners Sarah Elliott and partner Raffaelle Busceddu had both worked in the restaurant business for a while, but decided to branch out and launch their own venue. Raffaelle’s uncle co-owns Rocca ‘Ja, a restaurant in Castelsardo – an idyllic little village on the coast of Sardinia – and some of that inspiration has travelled directly to Sheffield. Once the doors to Domo swung open in 2019, the family came over to help run the place and install some truly traditional Sardinian character.
Even before tucking into the food from one of Domo’s inspired menus, it hits just how impressive a place it is. There’s the hustle and bustle of a family-run kitchen in one corner – frenetic, passionate and fervent. It’s quite something to see that manifest into a plate of hearty food, served with a smile and a ‘’buon appetito’’, of course. The word Domo means home, and it’s clear to see that Sarah and Raffaelle have brought their version of home to Kelham Island, with that unique blend of incredible home cooked-style food served up in an atmosphere akin to a family meal at nonna’s place.
If the traditional and welcoming feel is the entrée, then the extensive menu at Domo is – quite literally –the pièce de résistance. It is comprehensive and reflects the wide-ranging flavours enjoyed in authentic Sardinian cuisine. Divided into two sections, ‘from the land’ and ‘from the sea’, you can see the importance of sticking to tradition with key influences taken from a number of the region’s areas.
Sarah and Rafaelle’s own words sum up this gorgeous restaurant perfectly. “We want you to experience the real Sardinian way of life. Whether you need coffee on the go, lunch with colleagues, after work drinks, feasts with the family, or cocktails at the weekend we serve up Sardinian tradition all day long. In Castelsardo our door is always open when there’s food on the table. We welcome you to our restaurant like we would our home.”
Read about more of Sheffield’s finest independent businesses in ‘The Little Book of Sheffield’, available to purchase online here.