Harden's survey result
Summary
“French-inspired fine dining in a cosy room” – using “high-quality ingredients” and “intricately presented” to showcase “the skills of the chef” – has won a national reputation for this long-running fixture “in one of the well-preserved historic quarters of the city”. The ratings slipped a touch this year, accompanied by a couple of reports from erstwhile local fans who bemoaned staff turnover post-Covid and an experience that was “disappointing” compared with past years. But they are still outweighed by those who say: “We have dined a good few times over the years and the high standards have remained consistent”.
Summary
“The best restaurant in Norwich (which is not intended to damn with faint praise!)”, according to fans of Roger Hickman’s “classy” and long-established dining destination in the city centre (which narrowly edged ahead of nearby Benedicts this year in our annual diners’ poll). All reports applaud the “very assured cooking” – “deeply flavoured with deft presentation and lovely combinations, without a single gimmick or fad”. Service is “willing” (“polite, charming, considerate, good-humoured!”) and “the room itself is elegant, and the napery satisfying”. One gripe – “it would be better to have their more extensive à la carte menu back in the evenings, but I guess the focus on a tasting format is a sign of the times”.
Summary
“A long-term destination in the culinary wastelands of Norfolk, but so good it is worth a trip”, say fans of Roger Hickman’s “lovely” culinary beacon (which dates from 1990 under former owner David Adlard). Reports often compare it favourably with nearby Benedicts, although the latter outscored it by a whisker again this year. Whatever the ranking, all reports rate it well, lauding “superbly executed food, with touches of inventiveness which all hit the spot”. Such gripes as featured in feedback are that it’s pricey or “a bit OTT” in its approach.
Summary
“Top-quality ingredients perfectly cooked and served with a smile” have long been on the menu at this venue – and Roger Hickman cooked here under its previous owner, David Adlard, who opened its doors in 1990. These days it’s in a two-horse race for local bragging rights with nearby Benedicts. The latter had the advantage in this year’s survey, even if fans insist this is “still the best restaurant in Norwich by a country mile”.
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Roger Hickman’s?
79 Upper St. Giles St, Norwich, NR2 1AB
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £30.00 | £35.00 |  |
|
|
| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 60.00 | Dinner only | 5 |
| Menu2 | 85.00 | Dinner only | 7 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £28.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 10.00% |
79 Upper St. Giles St, Norwich, NR2 1AB
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 7 pm‑10 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 7 pm‑10 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 7 pm‑10 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 7 pm‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 7 pm‑10 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
Best British, Modern restaurants nearby
British, Modern restaurant in Norwich
British, Modern restaurant in Caistor St Edmund
British, Modern restaurant in Stoke Holy Cross
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
British, Modern restaurant in Norwich
British, Modern restaurant in Stoke Holy Cross
British, Modern restaurant in Snettisham
