The Wonky Table

The Wonky Table is quirky, cute and charming and I just love it! Everything I have tried from
the menu is delicious and well presented, it is lovely rustic wholesome food with a chic twist! I would particularly recommend ladies night on a Thursday 2 for 1 cocktails (also delicious!) and great value food! I also love their vegetarian evening too, first Wednesday of every month, five courses for £22.95! If you live near Derby or are just visiting for the day don’t go to the Intu centre, go to the other end of town and you’ll find plenty of gorgeous shops and fab independent businesses like this one which we should all be supporting.

The Wonky Table (great name), is a modern restaurant at the bottom end of Sadler Gate in Derby. Having managed to book a table for a Saturday night, we arrived just before 6.30, so we could take advantage of the pre-​theatre menu at a set £13.95 for two courses. The restaurant is not tiny, but only has a room for a handful of wooden tables, and comfy wooden chairs, with romantic candlelit lighting. The décor is modern, with a well-​stocked bar and impressive wine list. The classical music was just at the right level to give the place a good atmosphere. There is a terrace, but as the weather is turning a little chilly, we decided to dine inside.
Menu wise, whilst there was a good selection of starters like soup of the day and a twist on garlic mushrooms, we decided to go for the main and dessert option. A choice of about 7 main courses, I plumped for the 8oz Ribeye steak, with wilted spinach, onion rings and chunky chips. All served with a peppercorn sauce, with the right amount of bite, a good start. My wife went for the fish and chips, with minted peas and tartare suace, which was served on what could only be described as a long thin piece of wood; clearly it is in fashion to have everything individually placed on slate or wood, but it sure makes it tricky to eat! Very tasty though; desserts wise, only four, off the pre-​theatre menu. We had the Blackforest cheesecake, with blueberries, and the white chocolate torte, with walnut praline and a strawberry coulis, that cut through the sickliness of the white chocolate, two wonderful desserts. We finished the meal with a couple of strong flavoursome americanos, and we were so impressed, promptly booked in for one of their once monthly vegetarian evenings.
Great food, helpful but unobtrusive service and a lively, but not loud atmosphere, fantastic!

Fabulous food, shaky but polite service.
Table booked for 8.15pm on Saturday night, you expect to be in the thick of it in this city centre bistro style dining room and sitting in the window is Erm ‘interesting’! The Derby revellers are something to behold!
Nice warm welcome from the staff, good cocktails and artisan beers are on offer and one of our party said they served the best Ameretto Sour!
We had pear & Roquefort salad, pork terrine and haggis fritter on black pudding followed by cannon of pork, Asian duck, grilled seabass and steak Rossini which were served with broccoli, carrots and dauphinois potatoes. The food was very good and appropriately priced.
The wine list was brief and simple but functional and the two choices we made were delicious.
The only disappointment was the service. The servers were polite and friendly but seemed nervous and inexperienced. Several things were spilt onto the table including the wine that the server was struggling to pour into the glasses. We had to ask for the wine to come when the starters were served but this was a small distraction from an otherwise enjoyable visit.
I understand that the food is prepared by chef-​patron and perhaps he/​she needs to spend a little time in the dining room just to sharpen things up a little.
Otherwise don’t miss this if you want to dine in the city! Great job!

I’ve visited the Wonky Table twice now, each occasion mid-​late evening. We’ve visited after eating elsewhere, and have found it a really cool but not trying to be cool place to have a night cap. We’ve found it to be relaxing and the staff are approachable, but not in your face in any way.
It has such a lovely atmosphere, I fear that it could become a victim of it’s own success. Part of the charm is it’s size and intimate atmosphere.
In a way I hope it’s not too popular, but continues to give one of the most easy going light and friendly feeling Bars that are so so so rare!