Midrange
Montaz
39-41 market street tel +44 01353 669930 (http://www.montaz.co.uk). a fantastic indian and bangladeshi restaurant, serving excellent food in a nicely refurbished building previously the stagecoach. has tuesday specials for â£10.95, which are excellent value.
Pizza Express
43 high street, tel +44 01353 665999, (http://www.pizzaexpress.c...). the ely branch of this reliable pizza chain. pizzas â£6-â£8. average meal for two â£20 with a drink. vouchers all over the place on the internet so you could get a bargain.
Prezzo
12-14 high street, tel +44 01353 659832, (http://www.prezzoplc.co.uk/). italian style pizza, pasta and chicken. opened in december 2006, with views across to the cathedral. pizzas â£6-â£8. average meal for two â£20 with a drink. lots of space over two floors. quaint views of the collapsed northern wing of the cathedral and maybe a couple of local baddies drinking on the grass below. stone them with your bread heels.
The Cutter Inn
42 annesdale, tel +44 01353 662713, (http://www.thecutterinn.co.uk/). a riverside pub which was refurbished in 2006. traditional pub food, bar snacks & daily specials board. very overpriced sadly, with food which comes nowhere near what you're paying for. true quality is one minute away at the boathouse. seriously, their â£8.95 'thai red curry' tastes like vaguely spicy tomato soup and is confusingly served with a naan bread and mango chutney. clueless. plus points? it's quite clean, the gents are nice, there's water next to it.
Top end
The Old Fire Engine
200 m from the cathedral, tel +44 01353 662582, (http://www.theoldfireengi...). a relaxed restaurant for lunch, dinner as well as morning coffee and afternoon tea. there is a homely sitting room and an art gallery upstairs and the garden is lovely in good weather. the main courses at lunch cost approximately â£15 and are generally very good. they also offer second helpings!
The Boathouse
5-5a annesdale, tel +44 01353 664388 (http://www.cambscuisine.c...). nice riverside location in a converted boathouse, with some outdoor seating. the building is nothing special architecturally, but the food is great. main courses are about â£10 at lunch, â£15 in the evening. set 3-course menu at lunch and possibly dinner for â£16 is very good value.
Peacocks Tearoom
65 waterside, ely near the river, tel +44 01353 661100, (http://www.peacockstearoo...). winner of the uk tea councilâs top tea place 2007. afternoon tea is â£12 per person, including a choice of 40 teas, finger sandwiches, scones with jam and cake.
The Hereward
45 market street, tel +44 01353 772050. a large pub. advertises cheap food. only allows people aged 18 or over. hit the headlines when they banned an 82 year old for wearing a hat indoors, so that they can record any trouble on cctv (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/h...).