Find out what we thought of this smart restaurant nestled in Derby County's Pride Park Stadium
By Stuart Costen, Love Derby Editor
When an email pops into your inbox asking you to try lunch at The Yard in Derby County’s Pride Park stadium, it’s very hard to say no, so along we went one Sunday lunchtime.
As The Yard is part of the stadium, you are able to make use of the ample parking. However, this will not be the case on match days so please check the fixtures before you go.
Upon walking in you are greeted with a large open restaurant space. The muted brown and green colour palette add to the calm and relaxed atmosphere. The Yard feels like a place to not only have a good meal but to bring your laptop out the office or have a drink with friends. We noted a large pizza oven, a standard for any eatery who wants to serve pizza’s. There was also a good mix of different seating options.
We were shown to a large round booth which sat within, what I can only describe as, a giant birdcage (see pic). Plush green fake plants hung off the wooden slatted wall giving the space a fresh outside/inside vibe.
The friendly waitress came and took our orders.
For starters I would have the Torn Buffalo Mozzarella w Salted Inca Tomatoes, Roquette And Balsamic. I enjoy this type of dish as it’s light and the perfect precursor to a big meal. There was a great mix of tomatoes and I would’ve preferred a little more Mozzarella on the dish, but as a tomato lover I was quite happy.
My dining partner had the Piquillo Pepper Arancini w Italian Salad and Basil Oil, which was sweet and tangy but refreshing. The Arancini worked well with salad with just the right amount of oil, and a light dusting of Parmesan gave the meal a delightful zing.
As we sat eating our starters we watched a couple of burgers come out to the adjoining table. We got a slight hint of food envy but it didn’t last as when our mains came we were very pleased.
I am a traditionalist so I am more than happy to have a roast on a Sunday, and a Sunday without a roast feels like it’s missing a key ingredient.
We both went for the roast beef and it came out well presented with a generous portion of meat which was succulent and cooked perfectly. The large Yorkshire pudding was crunchy and the gravy was thick and tasty, so much so we asked for extra of which they kindly obliged and as the key ingredient, it’s important to get it right. The veg came with radish and asparagus which was an interesting choice but went well, and of course there was some lovely stuffing.
For pudding we would indulge in the chocolate Chocolate Sable Dome. It was soft and sweet, creamy with a nice texture and came with a good fruit selection.
I was impressed by The Yard, from the friendly greeting to the impressive food offering. If you fancy heading out the city for some good grub in a modern restaurant, The Yard is well worth the trip.
Find out more or book your table here.