From Berridge to Radford Road

We started on the corner of Berridge and Stanley Road.

Our first stop was the locally famous Adnan’s, where we ordered a classic Indian snack, a vegetable samosa and pakora. When we said we’d be eating in, Adnan warmed them up for us. People flowed in and out, some carrying repurposed Irn-Bru cardboard trays piled high with samosas. He asked if we wanted hot mint sauce on our plate and we nodded hungrily. The samosa was incredible, crisp and oily in all the right ways and the pakora, made from big chunks of vegetables, crumbled as we munched our way through.

Extremely tasty.

Next, we wandered to the unassuming Shahjees, tucked away from the street. Despite its hidden location, the place was buzzing. People had even reserved tables on a Thursday afternoon. It felt like a proper family affair: the wife popping out in a brightly coloured sari, families with newborns, and an older gentleman dozing gently in the corner.

We ordered puri which came with three small curries, each bursting with spice, flavour, texture, and colour. One of the puris was sweet and orange which was not entirely to our taste but still exciting to try such global flavours just a short tram ride from home.

We walked off our meal and eventually found ourselves at a small café on Radford Road, Boavista. From the outside, it wasn’t clear what cuisine was on offer, but stepping inside revealed a sea of blue and white football shirts and the unmistakable energy of Porto fans.

They’d come all the way from northern Portugal, and somehow all the way to Hyson Green, ahead of the Forest vs Porto match (which, for them, ended 2–0). One of the fans even offered us a spare ticket. Zena, who had lived in Porto for a year as a student, struck up a chat about the city.

We ordered a pastel de nata, saving it for later since we were still full from curry. When we finally tried it, it was perfection. Crisp pastry, rich custard, a hint of cinnamon. Possibly the best pastel outside of Portugal.

Spectacular.