Your Sunday roast in Dover just got interesting
Everyone has their own idea of the perfect Sunday roast. Some judge it by the potatoes. Others won’t be happy without a Yorkshire pudding, even if there’s no beef involved. And then there are those who would happily order a plate of cauliflower cheese and gravy and call it lunch.
But while the trimmings inspire plenty of debate, The Nook in Dover is giving people another talking point: what happens when a smokehouse takes on Sunday dinner?
The restaurant on Dover High Street has introduced Sunday roasts, bringing its approach to slow-smoked meat to one of the nation’s favourite meals. If you’re looking for Sunday roasts in Dover and fancy trying something different, this is one for your list.
A Sunday lunch with smokehouse character
The Nook’s Sunday roast launch on 4 October brought brisket, beef short rib, pork belly and smoked turkey to the Sunday table.
It’s a natural fit for a restaurant where low and slow cooking is already central to the food. The smokehouse approach gives familiar Sunday lunch ingredients another dimension, with smoked meats taking their place alongside the roast dinner essentials.
For anyone who enjoys a traditional roast but occasionally fancies a change, that’s an appealing combination. You can still settle in for a comforting Sunday meal, with something different at the centre of the plate.
And if your usual Sunday lunch order is decided before you’ve even opened the menu, this might be a reason to take a second look.
Brisket, pork belly or a bit of everything?
The current Sunday lunch menu at The Nook includes four-hour smoked turkey breast, eight-hour smoked pork belly and 12-hour oak-smoked beef brisket.
There’s also a Caveman smoked beef short rib for those bringing a serious appetite. Struggling to choose? The trio combines brisket, pork belly and turkey on one plate.
A wild mushroom and pistachio nut roast is listed too, giving those who prefer a meat-free main another option. Speak to the team about dietary requirements when booking so they can confirm the appropriate accompaniments.
The real decision is whether to order your favourite or use Sunday lunch as an excuse to try something you wouldn’t normally cook at home.
Yes, the trimmings matter too
A roast needs more than an interesting main ingredient. The supporting cast has an important job to do.
The Nook’s current menu lists roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables, maple-glazed parsnips, cauliflower cheese, a beef dripping Yorkshire pudding, house stuffing and smoky gravy alongside its roast mains. There’s also the option to add a giant pig in blanket.
That should give everyone around the table something to discuss — particularly whoever believes cauliflower cheese is the most important part of Sunday lunch.
For dessert, choices include sticky toffee pudding and white chocolate and winter berries cheesecake. Whether you leave room is entirely between you and your appetite.
Give Sunday lunch a little more time
There’s something particularly satisfying about going out for a roast as the weather gets colder. You can get everyone around a table without having to work backwards from lunchtime to calculate when the oven needs to go on.
No juggling trays. No discovering that the potatoes need another 20 minutes when everything else is ready. And no kitchen full of pans waiting afterwards.
It’s a chance to catch up with family, meet friends or make an occasion of an otherwise quiet Sunday. You don’t need a birthday or an anniversary to put lunch in the diary.
If you’ve been meaning to organise a get-together, a roast is a pretty good place to start.
Christmas is coming to The Nook too
With Christmas approaching, Sunday lunch also offers an introduction to the smokehouse flavours appearing on The Nook’s festive menu.
Its Christmas dining plans include smoked butter-bath turkey breast and 12-hour hickory-smoked brisket, bringing the restaurant’s cooking style into the seasonal celebrations.
Turkey comes with festive accompaniments including pigs in blankets, roast potatoes, hot honey parsnips, bacon-coated sprouts and braised red cabbage. For anyone who would rather skip turkey, the brisket offers another way to enjoy a festive roast.
There are also salmon and wild mushroom and pistachio nut roast options, giving groups a choice beyond the two smoked meat dishes.
It’s worth a look if you’re the person responsible for turning “we should all get together before Christmas” into an actual booking.
Planning a Christmas meal in Dover?
The Nook’s Christmas festive menu is available for groups of eight or more from mid-November, during lunch and evening service.
There’s a choice of two courses for £35 or three courses for £40. Starters include parsnip soup, smoked chicken liver pâté and prawn cocktail, while dessert choices include Christmas pudding, white chocolate cheesecake and warm chocolate brownie.
For colleagues arranging an end-of-year meal, friends coordinating busy diaries or families planning a festive catch-up, now is a sensible time to start choosing a date.
Find The Nook in Dover
You’ll find The Nook at 9 High Street, Dover, Kent, CT16 1DP.
Whether you’re tempted by a smoked brisket Sunday roast or thinking ahead to a Christmas gathering, visit The Nook’s website to explore the menus and book a table.
Your next Sunday lunch could take a little less preparation — and come with a lot more smokehouse flavour.
