Where to eat in Lincoln.
I love eating in Lincoln, and I regularly see posts asking a very reasonable question: where should I eat?
There are many excellent places to eat in Lincoln, and I have not eaten everywhere that could ever be recommended. But this is my list of places I can say with certainty are excellent and unique in one way or another.
This list is exclusively focused on the town centre and the Bailgate, though of course there is a vast and diverse array of incredible food further afield. I rarely get breakfast in Lincoln, so this is just lunch and dinner.
Dinner
No. Thirty8
A place I love for both food and drinks. It has a consistently changing menu of excellent British ingredients and cooking. It is more expensive, but absolutely worth the time for a fancier meal. Plus, it has an excellent front and back garden if you are someone who enjoys al fresco dining, as I do.
The White Horse
A place that will appear on just about everyone’s list, and with good reason. A wonderful building with an excellent garden, leaning more towards gastropub than restaurant. Killer burgers and small plates. I have been eating here since it was Kine, and I will continue to say it is the easiest recommendation for anyone in Lincoln.
Cafe St Paul’s
Another place similar to The White Horse in serving incredible gastropub cooking, but this time in the Bailgate, if that is more your speed. Try to get a seat on the balcony; it is lovely up there.
Lawson’s Bar & Bistro
Classic bistro dishes done with excellent craftsmanship, which seems to tie these first four together: classic British cooking done absolutely masterfully. This is more comparable to No. Thirty8 in being a more formal sit-down restaurant. I went for Mother’s Day and had some of the best pork of my life, full stop.
Slow Rise, Dough Loco, and Liberty Slice Co.
I have clumped these three together as they are the pillars of pizza in the city.
Slow Rise and Dough Loco are by far the best for sourdough. Slow Rise is vegetarian, but absolutely no lesser for it. Dough Loco is very indulgent, very “everything to the max”, especially if you catch them on a deep-dish night.
Liberty Slice Co. is the late-night spot for a slice, and pretty much the undisputed champion of New York-style pizza in Lincoln. It is the closest you can get outside of NYC.
All three have rotating specials and regularly collaborate with other excellent local businesses. All three are worth your time. For a sit-down meal, go to Slow Rise or Dough Loco. Dough Loco is more child-friendly and laid-back, while Slow Rise is slightly more formal, though by no means uptight. Liberty Slice is awesome for a late-night, on-the-go bite, especially as it shuts around 3:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
LincSushi
The best, and pretty much only, place for sushi in Lincoln. Excellent, fresh, and diverse menu. If you feel like sushi, this is the only place you should be considering. Bonus points for very knowledgeable staff; they know their menu well.
Lunch
Lagi House
It saddens me to say this place has flown under so many people’s radar. It is consistently quiet, and I think people are simply unaware of it.
It has an excellent menu of authentic Vietnamese coffee and is the only place for a bánh mì in Lincoln. Thankfully, it is an excellent one. They make the bread fresh, and it is just so decadent with the ham, pâté, and pork. Pure melt-in-your-mouth heaven, and it deserves so much more love than it gets.
Meli Greek
A newer opening that took over what was once the truly terrible Greek 2 Me, which I think is part of the reason it is yet to appear on many people’s lists.
There are a handful of Greek places in Lincoln (Greek Bros, Mama’s Kitchen Pot and Acropolis) and Meli is simply the best on all counts, especially for a gyros. Get the pork. A gyros is a relatively simple thing in premise, but every component here is done perfectly. It should absolutely be in your lunch rotation, along with a freddo cappuccino.
Grillin n Chillin
Neighbouring the vastly popular Nonna Juana, I cannot believe this place does not have a queue out the door. This is a place you just have to eat at to believe.
An unbelievably friendly chef and extremely on-the-ball staff. The portion sizes are extremely generous, and there are absolute flavour explosions in every component of every dish. I love the shawarma so very much. You just have to try it.
Nonna Juana Deli
The Argentina-Spanish champion. If you want a sandwich, you go here. It is as simple as that. They also do some amazing pastries.
Bailgate Deli
All vegan. Much like Slow Rise, it is no lesser than its omnivorous counterparts, and it is a great example of healthy food being truly delicious.
Bailgate Deli is a place I am often very pleased with myself for eating at. Really fresh and truly hearty. Worth the time regardless of whether or not you care about eating healthier.
Conclusion
There are so many more excellent places to eat in the city, but I can say with my whole heart that any one of these places will not only satisfy you, but truly impress you. I reiterate, I have not eaten everywhere and some places I haven’t visited in over five years so can no longer be certain of my recommendations. Please feel free to pulverise me and share all the places I have missed out for one reason or another. Thank you all and I hope this helps! All these places are totally independent so going anywhere on this list you will be supporting local business, how wonderful.