Variety aplenty at Sheffield's newest vegan and vegetarian specialist restaurant

Matt and Nick Burgess are the faces behind V.or.V, located in the heart of Kelham Island.

it is a coffee house by day and a restaurant by night, reflective of the change in menus and ambience.

Matt said: “We wanted to market a place for everyone - not having to alienate people.”

The brothers have spent 10 years in the hospitality trade in various sports bars and pubs throughout the city but they decided just over two years ago that they ‘wanted to do something completely different’.

He added: “We wanted change - a different outlook on hospitality. To do something for ourselves.

After travelling in Australia, it ‘opened our eyes’, Matt said.

He said: “We wanted to create something niche and also give our lifestyles some consideration.”

It has been four years of ‘working hard and saving money’ for Matt and Nick, but V.or.V has now had its trial run which was followed by a ‘roaring trade’ the next day.

Unfortunately, the restaurant had a technical glitch on its third day of opening, meaning it had to close for a short time, but the team was back ‘stronger than ever’ a couple of days later.

Booking a table online was no problem for myself and a friend on a Thursday evening - it was also the first night that V.or.V was offering its evening menu. The restaurant still smelled new walking through the doors but that was soon overtaken by the pleasant aromas coming from the kitchen.

With a simple interior decor and relaxed vibe, it is a perfect place to catch up with a friend.

From the drinks to the furniture, to the uniforms that the staff wear, all have ecological and economical ethos in mind.

Matt and Nick look closely at how their suppliers make their products and are keen on staying local and using recycled or biodegradable materials where they can.

After studying the menu - which considers gluten free and low alcohol options too - we were ready to order and decided to share haggis bon bons as a starter.

With neither of us fans of the meat version of haggis, we thought it would be an interesting choice and were not disappointed.

Priced at £5.50, four bon bons are presented on a bed of smoked tomato chutney alongside some fennel.

We both liked the wave of heat that came with each bite of a bon bon and are now haggis lovers - V.or.V style ones, that is.

For mains, we opted for the celeriac schnitzel, £11.50, and the half smoked aubergine, £10.50, with a side of okra fries, £4.25.

The portions were rather generous and full of flavour, presentation was on point and it certainly left our stomachs full. We couldn’t leave without trying a dessert though, so we opted to share the toasted banana bread, £5.50, topped with a mango and coconut ice cream and accompanied by a seed brittle - a delicious end.

Being neither vegans or vegetarians, we were pleasantly surprised by the variety on offer.

As well as good service and tasty food, the staff are really friendly - a lot of thought has gone into this business and it is sure to be a welcome addition to the Sheffield food scene.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

V. or. V, Wharncliffe Works, Green Lane, Sheffield

Call 0114 272 4370