Sometimes the best discoveries are the ones you’ve been putting off. After hearing rave reviews about Isabel’s in Burton, I finally made it through the doors for lunch on a Saturday afternoon, and I’m glad I did.
Opened by Stretton born DJ and record producer Nathan Dawe, Isabel’s (named after his late grandmother) has been generating buzz since it launched in Dec 2022. My daughter, wife and friends had already visited for coffees and cocktails, returning with glowing reports. We’d even featured it in our first edition of the Burton Echo as a place to go in Burton. In fact, when I’d popped in the day after Sonic Boom to drop off copies of the paper, the manager mentioned that Nathan had been pleased we’d listed them first, taking it as a sign we thought they were the best. I didn’t have the heart to admit that, as editor, I’d never actually been, and the inclusion was based purely on feedback and our deputy editor Ingrid’s recommendation.
It was time to put that right.
Walking in without a booking on a Saturday, I braced myself for the usual “have you booked?!?” greeting that so many restaurants seem to favour these days. Instead, the manager on duty was welcoming and accommodating. When I quietly asked if we could have the table in the back corner, she offered us the booth, set for four. It’s a small thing, but so many places try to cram couples near windows or squeeze you in wherever suits them, regardless of available space. This was a great start.
The seating layout throughout is generous. There’s plenty of room between tables, so you don’t feel like you’re being forced to share dinner conversation with strangers at the next table. The interior has a Bill’s or Cosy Club vibe, even a touch of The Ivy about it. The matt black exposed ceiling and bar area work particularly well, giving the space a contemporary but comfortable feel.
We were handed menus and a polite, friendly waitress ran through the specials of the day before giving us time to browse. We opted for Isabel’s ‘£10 Express Lunch’ Signature Wrap, which included a bottle of Prosecco for a very fair £30. The drinks arrived promptly, followed by our food in impressively quick time.
We both chose the halloumi wraps with fries, which were really good. Simple, well executed, and satisfying. To finish, we shared a warm cookie stack, and I had a flat white.
It might seem like an odd detail to mention, but the toilets were unisex, clean, well decorated and had piped music playing. It’s often an afterthought in many venues, but here it felt like part of the overall experience.
Overall, I’d highly recommend Isabel’s. It lived up to everything I’d been told, but the real surprise was how well spaced and thoughtfully decorated it is. The pricing is fair, and the staff are excellent.
I’ll admit, I’d expected it to be noisy, crammed, and staffed by people with slightly too much confidence. That wasn’t the case at all. I’m sure it gets lively in the evenings, but on a Saturday afternoon it was chill and cool, exactly what we wanted.
It’s worth noting that I made no mention of being from the Echo during our visit. This was simply lunch, judged on its own merits. And on those merits, Isabel’s more than delivers.
Visit Isabel’s for more information. Please note this is not a paid advertorial.
