EATING OUT IN BRECKLAND Norfolk

Yes, we have all types of cuisine on offer in Breckland. But the best ones are the establishments which offer good food, cooked to order, from locally sourced ingredients. We have plenty of pubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels which offer just that. Look out for the local independent businesses because they are more likely to buy locally and use fresh, not frozen.

Attleborough Town is lovely peaceful and is the first town we can point you to for some great establishments for wonderful food and drink and great places to eat in Attleborough.  The Courtyard Tearooms is both a great meeting place and also have some great food from excellent buffets and lunches to takeaway sandwiches and is wheelchair friendly.  For choice and of equal standing, Connaught’s Coffee House and Cafe is another lovely cafe that has some tasty fare, and it serves many different dishes from breakfasts to healthy salads and the cheese scones are to die for.   For historical surroundings and restaurant dining and pub food, you will be sure to enjoy The Griffin Hotel a former coaching inn where food is served daily.  For fish and chips to eat in or take out and some great takeaway food, from kebabs to pizza, you must visit The Goldstar Cafe and takeaway, where you will also find that they provide children’s meals.  Others you can also visit and who also provide lovely food and drink include: The Mulberry Tree Restaurant and B&B – The White Lodge Pub and Restaurant both of whom are known for great food, welcoming atmosphere and good service.

Dereham Town is situated in the heart of Breckland and Norfolk and is a market town where some lovely food and drink can be found which are great places to eat and drink in Dereham.  The Old Eagle Cafe provides an electric atmosphere with an European twist!  As one reviewer commented “Tasty food and plenty of it..” We definitely recommend you pay a visit to enjoy this lovely cafe.  Then there is Coco’s Cafe and Coffee Shop which has an apt saying of ‘Eat – Drink – Love’ and that sums up this lovely cafe in a nutshell – serving delicious food from breakfasts to dinners and of course tea and scones, and another gem of Dereham.  Tall Orders Coffee Shop is another cafe with a renowned great welcome and friendly service.  Many locals and visitors use this quaint cafe as a meeting place and the food and drink served is all fresh and made to order.  Now for highly recommended takeaway food, specially fish and chips, there are some great tasty food to be found at The Perfect Catch – Mariners Plaice and The Railway Tavern which also has live music and bands.  For a day out and magnificent scenery and to explore – there is The Mid Norfolk Railway which offers something different and exciting from afternoons teas and fish and chips to weddings and biker nights.  The Kings Head Hotel and restaurant is well known for its excellent food and drink, and people come from miles around for its Sunday carvery – outside there is a great area for the kids.

Swaffham Town is steeped in History and has an outdoor market on Saturdays.  For food and drink there are a variety of choices to suit everyones palate which are great places to eat in Swaffham.  Shelly’s Bistro is a restaurant that has had rave reviews from visitors and locals alike, specially during Covid 19, where Shelly’s takeaway service was immensely popular.  Shelly’s has a great varied choice from vegetarian to homemade specials and you will be sure of a great welcome.   For something to inspire you – Rasputin’s Russian Restaurant provides fine Russian food and a menu of fresh flavours which can be topped off with fine Moldovian wine.  The decor is highly contemporary and is splashed with traditional oil paintings and babushka dolls -a place worth a visit for the difference.  Now if its light lunches, scones and afternoon cream teas you fancy? then look no further than The Market Cross Cafe and Bar.  Situated in the center of Swaffham – the Market Cross has become a most popular visit location for locals and visitors alike.  Now for a great Sunday carvery you can’t go wrong with The Station Bar and they can cater for groups and coach party’s.  The Station Pub has a beer garden for hot day’s and a log fire for the colder ones. For traditional fish and chips you must visit the award winning Mother Hubbard’s fish and chip shop.  Mother Hubbard’s take pride in all they serve and use local ingredients and suppliers to be the local takeaway in all they do.

Thetford Town is the largest of the Breckland main towns and is also steeped in history as the local museum can show you.  In and around Thetford there are some tantalising eateries and some great places to eat in Thetford.  First we can point you to Cheers Restaurant and Steak House, where you can have their famous steak on a hot stone!  Cheers’ objective is to make every visit an exciting one and to serve good quality food.  The Norfolk Terrier Pub is your traditional pub, where there is usually a carvery to be had specially on Sunday when people come from all around for Sunday’s carvery.  The Norfolk Terrier is also a geat place for entertainments including live music, karaoke live football, quiz nights and even clairvoyant evenings – so plenty to do and take part in.  For a Michelin famous restaurant where gluten gree, vegan and vegetarian can be catered for, there is The Mulberry Restaurant where they provide the freshest of ingredients in the excellent food served.  The Mulberry also has special events that have included Italian Night, Tapas Night and Venetian Cuisine to name a few – so well worth a visit.  We all love visiting a Garden Centre and Thetford has its own and who have a fantastic eatery in The Lime Kiln Kitchen.  The Lime Kiln Kitchen are a cafe, coffee shop and tearooms all rolled up into one that serve restaurant quality food.  The decor ranges fron Colonial to Victoria with a hint of Art Deco!  With oversized sofas and excellent interior and exterior seating the experience, coupled with the fine food and service, will make you want to come back again and again.  

Watton Town is smaller than the other towns but still has a weekly market and its local museum will give you excellent information on Watton’s history.  There are some lovely places to eat in Watton including The King’s Arms which is a main pub in Watton and serves a variety of traditional food prepared fresh by their talented chefs.  The Pub is dog and child friendly and is popular with families.  In the evening you can usually find there is entertainment from live music and bands to quiz nights and bingo.  The Willow House Inn and restaurant is a 16th C grade II listed building that has old wooden beams and large fire places for a great atmosphere.  The is a large selection of great food including bar food, buffets and a Sunday lunch menu.  For a great shopping experience and a vintage Tearooms and cafe, there’s Watton Antiques where all sort of collectables can be found and you can have a snack and drink after.  For tasty fish and chips there is Little Gary’s Plaice where reviews say ‘the best fish and chips they have had in years….’  So pop down when you fancy a great takeaway.  Also worth a mention and only a short drive away is Broom Hall Country Hotel at Saham Toney, which has a magnificent restaurant set in outstanding scenic coutryside.  Also if you fancy a massage, beauty treatment, a swim or a decadent place to stay – you can’t go wrong here.   

If you are travelling further afield we have listed some great places to eat, visit and also stay at.  The Gin Trap near Hunstanton serves magnificent food and has both B&B and self catering accommodation.  The Birdcage in Norwich is a great artsy type of place that regularly has live music and their food comes highly recommended from fish and chips to cakes.  Don’t forget to ask about The Cat called Maraud!  Now for a wonderful place to visit and shop for lovely smells when in Norfolk, and also for some great food and drink, you must visit Norfolk Lavender where their tearoom and restaurant are open daily to the public.  Hamptons at the Barn of Bawdeswell is a little gem of a tearoom, cafe and restaurant all rolled into one.  Serving breakfasts, lunches and evening dining this place has outstanding food and drink that people come from miles around to sample.  For many more lovely places to eat just click the link below and explore to find your favourite.