Pulse Cafe Bar

The Old Fire Station Stables
Labour in Vain Yard
Guildhall Hill
Norwich NR2 1JD

Telephone: 01603 765 562

OPENING TIMES
Mondays - Saturdays = 10am to 11pm

Fully Vegetarian

International

Vegan

Organic

Rachalulabelle (Norwich) wrote on 23 September 2008

I have eaten at Pulse loads of times and would have to say it is unpredicable! Having read the reviews below I could agree with both the good and bad - usually the food, portion sizes and service is fantastic but sometimes they are a bit iffy. I think my main complaint would be that they don't tell you if something is off or missing and just serve the dish without it - e.g. no sour cream, raspberries etc when advertised. I've been given limp sliced bread, incredibly small portions and bland meals but more often than not it is brill and I've just booked a table of 10 for the Acoustic Jam night....

Paisley (Restaurant Connection) wrote on 13 May 2008

I work in Pulse as a waitress. I have tried a number of the dishes on the menu and have found them all to be of excellent standard. I am vegan and find it very difficult to eat out in Norwich. The menu is varied and appeals not only to vegans and vegetarians. All the staff are really friendly and we try our best to please everybody, even at busy lunchtimes when the restaurant is full. To anyone who hasn't tried our food, please come in! We have a new summer menu and it is awesome.

John (Suffolk) wrote on 6 April 2008

The staff behind the bar area seemed helpful enough, the restaurant was a bit stark, well lit to say the least. The food was a bit of a disappointment, I personally like plenty of seasoning with my food but I consider the meals were over-seasoned. There was bread in plenty, good quality, but as I wrote on the card "a bowl of balsamic/virgin oil" wouldn't hurt. The staff tried in vain.
My sister-law's mushroom buriyani looked as though it had been dumped on the plate, it reminded me of school food from the 50's, to say it was stodgy is an understatement, just no presentation. If others have enjoyed the experience, that's fine. My son was with us, he has been before, he was disappointed.
I hope things can improve to reach some level of consistency.

Sarah Passingham (Norwich) wrote on 15 October 2007

OK, so sometimes we get things wrong, or maybe things change. Anyway, having decided I wouldn't eat at this restaurant again (see previous review), I was persuaded to accompany a friend last week and found the whole experience to be quite different. Quality food, very calm ambience, friendly and efficient staff and value for money - crucially, decent portions. There, I can't say fairer than that. I shall be taking my veggie daughter for a welcome-home meal when she visits us next week. Long may this turnaround continue.

Katharine (Norwich) wrote on 14 October 2007

I have been to this restuarant a few times. The food is fresh and good quality, the pricing is reasonable. The staff really have let this place down, on my last visit I did not recieve the meal I had ordered and when I let the waitress no she seemed annoyed, so not to let my partners food go cold I ate the meal I was presented with. However on the bill I was charged for the meal I actually ordered which was a greater cost. When I pointed this out I received no apology and left to feel like a annoyance. Its such a shame because Norwich is limited in veggie cafes now the Treehouse has shut down!

Anne Whittaker (Norwich) wrote on 31 July 2007

I have eaten here three times and always been pleased with both food and service. My most recent visit, six of us including 2 smallish children, was very enjoyable and the service outstanding. It was a busy lunchtime, but staff were friendly and went to a lot of trouble to ensure we were happy or explained when something was not possible - like taking the herbs out the pizza for small grandson! My vegan daughter in law was delighted with the range of dishes available to her. The atmosphere is very relaxed and welcoming - would recommend Pulse as a place to eat for everyone, not just veggies!

Kim Edwards (Norwich) wrote on 28 February 2007

I've been here a few times with my teenage son and we've always had a wonderful meal. We're both vegetarian (myself over 20 years and my son his whole life) and found the menu original and interesting, and the portions enough even to satisfy a huge teenage appetite. Last time we went I had a dish with sweet potatoes and rocket which was probably the nicest thing I've eaten all year. Also fantastic to find chocolate cake I could eat (I'm wheat-intolerant). Yes, sometimes the service can be a bit slow, but it's always friendly. I've recommended this to non-vegetarian friends and they've liked it too. Good value, and nice surroundings.

Tony (Norwich) wrote on 22 January 2007

I wouldn't recommend this restaurant. After the closing of the wonderful 'Treehouse' in Norwich last summer, my partner and I set out in mourning to find another speak-easy, nutritious, friendly and tasty veggie restaurant. The Pulse at best was nutritious. The food was totally bland with 'thrifty' portions. After our bland meals we finished with Baileys coffee. Both came curdled. Pointing it out to the curt waitress led to them unapologetically being replaced, leaving US embarrassed! The final straw was nearly leaving the cafe and noticing we'd be charged for both coffees. Pros - location is great. A lovely internal decor and affordable prices. Cons - Bland food, Small portions and unfriendly unprofessional staff. Such potential, but overall we're disappointed.

A Badter (Norwich) wrote on 3 December 2006

We had a great experience here and I will definitely go back - the staff were lovely to us, really helpful and obliging to all our needs, and the food was great. Lots of different flavoured dishes, and some great desserts. And really reasonably priced. Thoroughly recommended!

David Thrower (Suffolk) wrote on 21 November 2006

We have used this restaurant three times now, tying it in with avisitto the theatre. The staff have always been very pleasant, the foodvery good, and the atmosphere friendly. Only one small criticism,fit a decent stay to the door at the bottom of the stairs - we got alittle cold. That's the whingeing done. Recommended. We'll beback!

Sarah Passingham (Norwich) wrote on 18 September 2006

I have tried this restaurant four or five times and always beendisappointed. I really want to like it; I like the menu, I love thebuilding, the chairs are seriously comfortable, the tables a littlesmall but the actual experience of eating here is always a letdown. The wait is too long, the food is bland and unexciting,ocassionally downright horrible, and often tepid, the portionsare mean. They often put the food in front of you (eventually)and forget the cutlery. There are not enough members of staffand there is always a queue to pay and you are ignored whilethey prepare coffees or serve at the bar. Agh! It is a frustratingplace to eat and I'm not going to again. Never, never order thechickpea burger with avocado, tomato and onion rings. Itsounds great but today's was so iffy I didn't have to pay for it.

Eva Martin (Norwich) wrote on 1 April 2006

Miserable staff. They looked disappointed to see us when we arrived and seemed to be serving us begrudgingly. Food was pleasant but I would have hoped for something a little different, instead of the usually food you get everywhere else but with the meat left out. My friend tells me the owners also run two other restaurants in Norwich and they're not vegetarians. I think it shows. The prices are perhaps what you would expect to pay for this kind of food (pizzas, nachos, wraps, salads, etc) and it's all served on big white plates, which helps to set the scene. The interior brick walls are wonderful and the tables and chairs outside are a nice touch. I might go again. Perhaps they were just having an off day.

Joe Griffin (Norwich) wrote on 15 March 2006

As Norwich only has one other vegetarian restaurant, I was looking forward to having an alternative. Unfortunately, out of the 4 times I've had food at Pulse, only once have I received what I asked for. My "vegan" enchiladas have arrived once covered with cheese, and once with sour cream (which I ate having been told it was vegan creme fraiche). One of the times, the waiter strode into the kitchen and shouted at the (not very English-speaking) chef: "VEGAN!! CHEESE - DAIRY!!". It was really embarrassing for both me and the poor chef. Oh, and then another table asked what nuts were in the rissole. Waiter asks chef. Chef doesn't understand. Waiter: "WHAT! NUTS! IN! RISSOLE!" I was disappointed to find Coca-Cola products on the menu, and to hear that none (or few) of the chefs are vegetarian. I was hoping for another "veggie-aware" establishment; more wholefood and less Coca-Cola perhaps? I feel I should add some positives - the food is fairly cheap, they have a DJ sometimes who plays good music... and erm... it's somewhere else to get vegan food. I guess it should be ok if you aren't vegan or have other dietary requirements, as long as you're not expecting (and I quote from initial promotional material) "the best vegetarian restaurant in Norwich". I know a place round the corner that wins hands-down.

Ian Bostle (Norwich) wrote on 19 February 2006

Hello Veggies. I can personally recommend this restaurant. Good selection of dishes which are prepared in a open kitchen, welcoming, efficient staff. Friendly clientele, organic wines, homemade cakes & bread in a contemporary setting. All in all a welcome addition to eating out in Norwich.