Authentic Italian pizza. Belgian waffles covered in sweet and savoury toppings. Freshly fried fish and chips. Delicious, vegetarian Indian dishes. Indulgent afternoon tea. Refreshing, artisanal gelato. Have we made you hungry yet?
Well, you’re in luck. All of these cuisines are available right here in the City of Stories. And best of all, they’re all family-friendly! With tasty meals for all ages and a warm, welcoming atmosphere for everyone, Norwich is the place to be for good food. Read on for our top picks for family-friendly places to eat!
Of course, we have to start with The Waffle House – it’s been serving up delicious dishes since 1978! For families visiting Norwich, you cannot miss out on a visit to this city-wide favourite, even Hollywood star Hugh Jackman has made this restaurant his regular haunt in visits to Norwich!
Choose between sweet and savoury waffle house classics, from bang-bang chicken to rich dark Belgian chocolate mousse (which has been on the menu for years!). Or start your day right with their breakfast menu, featuring full English breakfasts and sweeter options like blueberry, maple, and pecan waffles. There’s no wrong choice, and they’re all so tasty. Plus, there’s a separate childrens menu, and plenty of alternatives for those with dietary requirements!
The Waffle House is a perfect destination in Norwich for a good family meal!
For true, authentic Italian food, look no further than Saporita in the Norwich Lanes. This quaint restaurant offers light meals, including their locally renowned pizza, paninis, focaccia, and much more. Everything tastes so fresh, which is down to their totally natural, handmade cooking process. The family will love it. After all, everyone likes pizza.
As a small, family-run business, Saporita have done incredibly well to bring an Italian restaurant atmosphere to Norwich. You have to experience it for yourself. Walk through the door and feel transported to Italy, from the décor and music to the unbelievably good food. You’ll find yourself taking the back again and again.
Saporita serve deliciously authentic Italian in this quaint restaurant!
Who doesn’t love a good fish and chips for lunch or dinner? An institution of Norwich and one of the city’s finest chippys, Grosvenor Fish Bar is the place to head. It’s got all the classics, and an entire wall filled with unique dishes we’re almost certain you’ll have never tried anywhere else! It’s one of the best family places to eat.
There’s also an underground seating area, which looks incredible, and is perfect for the family to rest their feet while enjoying a piping hot, fresh meal. You’d be mad to miss out on a trip to Grosvenor.
If the family can’t all settle on one place to eat we’ve got you covered – they don’t have to at Yalm. In this indoor food hall, based in the Royal Arcade, you can find award-winning chefs in a huge range of creative kitchens. They’re all open kitchens too, creating a lively feeling around Yalm!
There’s no need to book or wait to be seated, simply find yourself a table, scan the QR code, and choose from Italian, North African, Japanese, Steakhouse dishes, and delicious desserts. So, everyone can order exactly what they want, when they want it.
When you visit Norwich, you’re never far from something creative and unique, like The Assembly House’s brand-new Peter Pan afternoon tea! Inside this gorgeous Georgian gem, designed in 1754, you can settle down under elegant chandeliers and towering paintings while you tuck into their official Disney afternoon tea.
Tuck into dainty finger sandwiches, savoury favourites like Parmesan and Pistachio Pirate Hat Biscuits, Assembly House scones, then the best bit – the cakes. Peter Pan Macarons, Neverland Cupcakes, Captain Hook and Tick Tock Croc’s Trifle, and look out for Captain Hook’s treasure chest at the end of your tea! It’s an unbelievable experience for the family, with tea costing £29.50 per adult, and £18 per child under-12.
Even better, this afternoon tea is in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity. So, for every afternoon tea sold, 50p will be donated by The Assembly House to this fantastic charity.
The Assembly House’s Peter Pan afternoon tea is truly magical and a must-try!
Where better to take your family for a meal than the very place they treat you like family themselves? That’s the philosophy at Namaste Village, and trust us, it translates into their food. In this beautiful restaurant, you’ll find only vegetarian and vegan dishes, which carry complex, deep flavours. Plus, whether you like to pour on the spice or keep it clear of your food, you can choose just how hot you like it here!
Take your pick from their vast menu or go for something different and ask for their recommendations. No matter what you get, we’re sure you’ll love every bite. And for the meat eaters, you won’t miss it.
Giggling Squid is a great choice for a family meal. In fact, this Thai restaurant is built around the country’s mealtime tradition of sharing and enjoying food together. That means you can choose from their Thai tapas menu and order several small plates. Then, get to tasting more new and unique flavours than you would with just one dish! It’s the perfect way to discover something new.
Or if you’re set on having something of your own, you can choose between delicious dishes like their curries, noodles and stir fries, salads, and signature dishes such as soft shell pranee prawns, thai melting beef, drunken ribs, and much more!
Last, but definitely not least, you absolutely must make a visit to Café Gelato this summer. It is perfect on those warmer days. In this Italian café, you can enjoy authentic, artisan gelato. For those who have never had gelato before, it’s similar to ice cream, but fluffier, tastier, and traditionally Italian.
Everything to come out of Café Gelato is exclusively made from fresh ingredients, like local milk, Norfolk strawberries, Sicilian pistachio, and the finest chocolate. Plus, there’s no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives! It’s the most refreshing cold treat you’ll ever have.
Here, you can find a different assortment of gelatos and vegan/dairy-free sorbets to choose from on a daily basis, from indulgent flavours like Nutella, to fresh flavours like peach! Stick to one flavour or go wild and mix and match across your number of scoops. No matter what, you’ll love it.
What flavours will you choose at Café Gelato?
There you have it, some of the finest family restaurants around the City of Stories! Of course, there is tonnes more to discover, our city has so many incredible eateries. So, if you’re looking for more, be sure to check out our ‘Eat & Drink’ page!
