Neatly tucked on the corner of Division Street, one of Sheffield’s busiest hotspots, Gatsby has been fuelling locals with experimental cocktails and comfort food for over a decade - something we can all get behind. Home to kitchen residents Shy Boy Cantina, this place had us munching through plates of Mexican-inspired goodness and sipping unique drinks from the bar when we headed over.
Gatsby Sheffield's menu is brought to you by Shy Guy Cantina.
Despite being a small space, made up of an L-shaped main area, Gatsby still uses every nook and cranny - meaning it's the perfect date night spot if you can bag the right table. Complementing the stripped-back decor, walls here are scattered with artwork that highlights a selection of Northern phrases, like the tongue-in-cheek phrase ‘owt owt’ to hone in on the restaurant's Yorkshire roots. The gorgeous outside area is a plant haven drenched in florals and purple paint - oh, and it features a massive elephant statue too. While made for summer days, it being March and all, we were seated inside at the prime window seat that looks over the main street; ideal for people watching and two seconds from the bar - score.
Going for the classic sharesies between two, our main carb-focus for lunch was the butternut squash and blue cheese burrito (£9.50). Paired with flavourful fillings of red rice, turtle beans, crema, pico de gallo, coriander, Monterey jack cheese and avocado, this was wrapped tightly in branded tinfoil. Alongside was a handful of tortilla chips boasting additional salsa and cilantro toppings. We dipped these in our side of creamed corn (£3.50), a subtle blend of spicy veg, Manchego cheese, jalapenos and, you guessed it, more herb-covered pico de gallo. Although relatively bland alone, it went well with all the other flavours going on.
There are sumptuous spreads aplenty here.
My favourite item? The Korean fried cauli wings (£4.50). Drowning in gochujang sauce and scattered with spring onions, radish and sesame seeds, this was absolutely delicious - and fully vegan. There was so much flavour, while not being overbearing. Sticky sweet sauces like this can often become either too intense or lose their pow after a couple of bites, but this side stayed mouthwatering throughout. In fact, it was so moreish I even opted for the Korean fried cauliflower taco (2 for £8.50) as my main. These six inch beauties were bursting with deep-fried veg, alongside the same sauce and toppings combo as the 'wings'.
Finally, we nabbed a portion of fries (£3) to taste test Gatsby's selection of interesting sauces. Covered in ‘secret salt’, these were a great additional snack and allowed us to try the tequila BBQ (£1) too. You’ve heard of whiskey or Bourbon-laced dips, but there was something so subtle about this alternative that provided an almost sour flavour to balance out any sweetness - delicious.
Wash your Mexican meal down with signature sips.
We then finished our Thursday lunch with cocktails. Feeling rather lavish already, we demonstrated a lot of self-restraint and chose one each. While classics were plentiful, I naturally opted for something unique to Gatsby from their 'gold' section: the Pale Rider (£9.50). A blend of Ketel One citroen vodka, apricot, lemon, passionfruit, apple and pineapple, it was difficult not to drink this all in one. A long cocktail served with plenty of ice and a pineapple wedge, it was a very refreshing end to my meal.
My guest went for a more Mexican-inspired concoction that's designed to be paired with the food, landing on the Penicilina (£10). A play on the classic penicillin cocktail, this one was made of Tapatio Reposado, Cazcabel honey, lime, agave and ginger - switching the traditional scotch for tequila and having lime in place of lemon. Although I'm not a huge fan of a tequila-based drink, this was very palatable and used the other ingredients to balance the bold spirit base.
The DesignMyNight Digest
Gatsby is a must-visit if you’re looking to nurse a hangover, or simply crave some delicious comfort food. Although, the unique and thoughtful cocktail menu alone is enough to warrant a trip here. There are also plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, meaning there’s no need to stress about dietary requirements when you need somewhere for a group catchup.
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💰 The damage: Around £50 for two, plus service charge. 📍 The location: 73-75 Division Street, S1 4GE. 👌 Perfect for: Hair of the dog and Mexican comfort food. ⭐ Need to know: Gatsby is also home to a hip hop bottomless brunch every Saturday. |
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