A Visit To The Recently Opened Bear In Hockley, Nottingham
Published On Friday 8 Dec 2023 by Sticky Beak
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The Man and I haven’t been to Nottingham in ages and then, all of a sudden, we find ourselves there several times in the space of a week! Life’s weird sometimes, isn’t it?! Our latest invitation was to BEAR to sample their evening concept ‘Later…at BEAR’, and I’ve got to say it’s a gorgeous venue.
From the pavement, it doesn’t look that big but it’s like the TARDIS inside and goes back a fair way; there’s a bar area at the front and more seating for dining further back. Achingly hip (cos it’s in Hockley, ya know!) BEAR has managed to maintain a cosy, welcoming vibe with the clever use of subdued lighting in the evening and warm tones in the décor. Booths and long banquettes with freestanding tables form the majority of the seating but there are also tables with bar stools at them, too. Rows of lush foliage add a pop of colour, and their height helps diffuse conversation and affords diners privacy: win win.
Later…at BEAR has got a fab menu, not only in terms of dishes, but also the dining flexibility it offers. Nibblers/grazers can tuck into loaded fries, sides, or Taco trays; couples and smaller groups have some superb platters (Winter Treats) to choose from, or there’s the regular sized meals, too, that include Pizzas, Burgers and plates. There really is something for everyone, and that includes children who are welcome to dine here.
With drinks sorted (large glass of Tempranillo for me, £7.50, and a pint of Freedom Lager, £4.60, for The Man), it was time to turn our gaze to the menu. We decided to have the Pulled Beef Taco Tray (£12) as a sharing starter, then I ordered the ‘Baby Got Shak’ Pizza (£11) with a side of Frickles (£5.50) for my main. His Nibs had the ‘Brizzy Brisket’ Burger (£19), upgrading from the standard seasoned fries to loaded ones - he chose the ‘Dirty’ version - for an extra £1.50.
Our table gave us a great view of the open kitchen, and all evening it was a hive of activity – the aromas were intoxicating, let me tell you! It wasn’t long before one of the lovely team members was placing my Frickles and the Taco Tray before us, and we tucked in; can you believe that His Nibs actually nabbed a Frickle to try?! I tell you, nothing is sacred anymore! Thankfully, they’re still not his favourite thing, and one satisfied his curiosity enough for me to be able to chow-down in peace. Personally, I love the contrast between the sharp tang of the Gherkin slices and the rich, fried batter, and the ones here at BEAR were superb; I thought serving them shoestring-style was amazing!
The trio of fully-loaded Taco shells were accompanied by a colourful, crunchy Lemon and Kale ‘slaw and a deep pot of tangy BBQ dipping sauce. Biting into the soft Taco shell, we were rewarded with the most gloriously juicy, slow-cooked Brisket Beef you could wish for! Honestly, it was like velvet in our mouths and we both grinned like loons at its texture. The flavour was to-die-for delicious and filled our mouths with its depth.
However, there was one major obstacle facing us: with 3 Tacos and only 2 of us, who was going to get the third one?! You could cut the atmosphere with a knife, so great was the tension; it was like one of those classic show-downs in a western movie. Fierce though the urge to wrestle His Nibs to the ground and wrap him in a head-lock was, I resisted it and meekly said “shall we play nicely and halve it?”. The Man Bird duly wielded a knife and skilfully cut it into two bits…though I’m sure his half was bigger than mine! In stark contrast to the soft sumptuousness of the meat was the crunchy, cool ‘slaw, which was wonderfully tasty in its own right.
No sooner had we finished the starters than our server was placing my Pizza and His Nibs’ Burger and Fries before us. Chef certainly doesn’t skimp on portions, so if you find yourself Later…at BEAR, take your appetite.
My Pizza was chockful with toppings: house sauce, Mozzarella, Shakshuka ragu, charred Red Peppers, Feta and Coriander, and I couldn’t wait to get stuck in! I hunted for a pizza wheel and, having not found one, assumed that the team had already cut the pizza. No, they hadn’t and, given how loaded (and therefore messy!) the pizza was, I needed assistance. Would you believe that BEAR doesn’t have pizza wheels…say whaaaaaaaaaaaat???!!!! They’ve revived the Fondue trend from the 1970s (Pizza Fondue, £49), but not got pizza cutters; madness, utter madness I say! LOL. I huffed and puffed a bit, before putting on my big-girl pants and using my hands to rip the scrummy dough apart which, I’m pleased to say, is worth the effort and indignity. Creamy Mozzarella and sweet, charred Peppers were zhuzhed beautifully by fragrant Coriander and tangy, salty Feta cheese. The Shakshuka ragu, though, was blimming stonking; if you could fall in actual love with a foodstuff, I’d be a-goner!
Across the table, His Nibs was getting lost in a sea of meat! The Brizzy Burger has got serious cred and, for want of a better phrase, is a seriously meaty beast. As with the Tacos, the Brisket Beef was utterly sublime and moist beyond belief: this morsel would satisfy the most ardent meativores by itself, but partnered with burger patties, it was stratospherically good. Ah, yes, the patties; let’s talk about those minxes, shall we? The pair of smash patties must’ve been at least an inch thick; I kid you not! As abundant as they were, they were also delightfully deep in flavour and texture, and juicy in the mouth.
Adding their tuppence-worth to the flavour party were melty American Cheese, spicy Salsa Verde and crispy Onions, and I thought The Man had morphed into Fred Astaire as he tapped his feet in happiness on the opposite side of the table! Maybe I should pimp him out as an act in’t werkin’ mens – what d’ya reckon?! As if this wasn’t enough gastro-joy, the Loaded fries need their 5 minutes-of-fame and they are very deserving of it. Generous in portion-size, the tasty fries were slathered with moreish secret sauce, unctuous cheese sauce, sharp pickle slices and crunchy, intensely flavoursome Bacon crumb. Nom, nom, and nom!
Throughout our evening, the team looked after us perfectly; service was prompt and friendly, and check-backs were done at each course. The food was incredible, undeniably, but it’s only part of the story isn’t it; the venue and the floor team play a huge part in their customers’ experience, and we couldn’t have asked for more. Thank you BEAR, Hockley, for inviting us along and for giving us such a fantastic time.
Hot Wings happily given to this Nottingham venue…and then some! To book a table ring 0115 697 3655 or visit the website www.bemorebear.co and click on the relevant location – you can book a table online here, too. BEAR Hockley is open 7 days-a-week: Sunday – Wednesday 8am-11pm, Thursday – Saturday 8am-Midnight.
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