Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough in the English country of South Yorkshire, located at a distance of 250 miles from Edinburgh, with real character, bursting with energy and ideas. Sheffield is situated at the foot of the Pennine highlands at a point where streams- the Sheaf, Porter, Rivelin and Loxley, running in deep valleys converge to form the River Don. It’s a city of creative spirit and unconventional beauty nestled within seven hills. Expect awesome venues, legendary delegate experiences, friendly people and culinary delights, against a backdrop of northern cool. Sheffield boasts independent microbreweries and a diverse range of pubs, cafes and bars. There is also a thriving live music scene and a calendar of events and exhibitions to suit every taste. Whether one’s more of a food and groove person or a food and food person, they’d be hard-pressed to find a corner in Sheffield that doesn’t serve good food.
Some of the best places to get Ukrainian food in Sheffield are:
- Mriya:
Mriya is a Ukrainian Neo Bistro which tells about Ukraine through the language of taste and hospitality. Mriya’s cuisine is a symbiosis of Ukrainian gastronomic heritage, classic dishes and the innovative ideas of the prominent Ukrainian chef, culinary diplomat and TV presenter Yurii Kovryzhenko. The menu includes the most famous Ukrainian dishes such as Borsch and Chicken Kyiv, homemade fermented vegetables and fruits according to ancient Ukrainian recipes. They offer an a la carte menu, Ukrainian wines, beer, cider and homemade vodka infusions. The interior design created by Ukrainian architects shows art and furniture by Ukrainian artists and designers. There is an outdoor sitting area in a magnificent backyard. Mriya means “dream” in Ukrainian. Visit Mriya to live the Ukrainian Dream.
Ph. No.: 2030894640.
- Albina:
Restaurant Albina is a one-of-a-kind culinary establishment with a menu inspired by Ukrainian traditional and flavoursome cooking. Their authentic recipes of classics are served in a rustic manner so that the customers get the full experience, each dish reflecting the restaurant’s passion for high-quality food. The restaurant opened back in 2007 as one of the first Ukrainian restaurants and has since hosted the most exciting events. If one enjoys hearty food, flavoursome drinks and an authentic Ukrainian atmosphere this is where one needs to be.
Ph. No.: 20 7474 0244.
- Café Kalyna’:
Kalyna is the Ukrainian name for the vibrant red berries of the guelder rose, which are a symbol of hope and patriotism in the country. The berries are the subject of many folk tunes, including a marching song that went viral on Instagram earlier this year; it has since been sampled by Pink Floyd. And they garland the hand-painted panels around the front door of Café Kalyna, a Ukrainian café in Nether Edge, Sheffield. The café is the brainchild of Sally Mastin, a Sheffield native who has run independent businesses in the area since 2013. She is host to two Ukrainian students but was looking for more ways to support the people affected by the war before they had even arrived. At Café Kalyna there are shifts for Ukrainian speakers with any level of English. And in return, the employees contribute to this tiny capsule of their culture.
Sasha, one of Café Kalyna’s chefs, can often be heard singing along to the Ukrainian folk songs that pepper the playlist. Sasha and Nina are generally found in the kitchen, often jovially bickering with the others about the correct way of making borscht (‘they all have an opinion – there are potato battles’, Sally jokes). This passion for the way the food is made is one of the connections at the heart of a team who otherwise are only linked by their nationality and their shared experience. Anastasia explains that varenyky – half-moon-shaped dumplings stuffed with potato and fried onions – are a favourite meal from home. At the same time, Sasha recommends trying the shuba salad, which is made with layers of beetroot, carrot, potato, egg and pickled herring. The slices of honey cake are understandably popular, with their slivers of almost caramel-rich sponge cake layered into a perfect stack with plenty of smooth, buttery icing.
The business is still being fine-tuned and relies on donations support to balance the books. There are English lessons and CV-writing workshops available for refugees, but Sally hopes to also add Ukrainian lessons for host families to the schedule, and perhaps evening events that showcase the cuisine. But offering a regular menu to Ukrainians who’ve just arrived in Sheffield has always been a matter of pride to the whole team. Some customers are moved by the music or are reminded of childhood by their slice of cake. Many arrive as strangers but leave as friends. As Sally puts it, ‘We get a lot of emotion.’
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