Newcastle Upon Tyne Restaurant Guide

Behind “an unassuming but smart exterior”, Kenny & Abbie Atkinson’s much-accoladed venue was Newcastle’s highest-rated last year. Set on the Quayside in a Grade I listed sixteenth-century town house, you enter through the “lovely bar”, and climb to the upstairs restaurant, which is warm and vibrant, with “extremely helpful staff”. In the evening, the offering is a ten-course tasting menu (for £95) which is almost universally rated as exceptional in its quality.

“Still setting the standard for Newcastle restaurants” – Terry Laybourne’s “first class” brasserie remains the city’s most-mentioned venue, as it has been for most years in various locations since 1988. “Caring and friendly staff” provide “creative” food and it’s recommended for just about any occasion.

“Still going strong after all these years”; for “real Italian food” (the “usual suspects” plus “some interesting Sardinian specialities”) you “can’t beat” brothers Roberto & Walter Pani’s recently refurbed “old favourite”, launched in the mid nineties.

“A real star amongst Newcastle’s growing stable of good eateries” – ex-architect Anna Hedworth’s casual, all-day haunt has moved from its original home in a Byker shipping container to a bricks-and-mortar building thanks to a Kickstarter campaign. Serving up accomplished all-day fare and now also dinner: “excellent cocktails to start are followed by great food based on local and seasonal ingredients”.

A “brilliant traditional Italian”, in Jesmond, whose “fabulous” ambience, “cheap but great quality food” and “consistently good service” ensure that, even decades on, it’s usually packed to the gills.

The “excellent Persian food” at this “friendly” Jesmond spot wins high ratings for “one of the cheapest restaurants in Newcastle for cooking of high quality”. A more central branch near the station has closed down.

Dave Coulson’s “grown up” seven-year-old in Jesmond is one of the city’s best-known and best-liked addresses: “a very pleasant venture with some surprising dishes” either from the à la carte, competitively-priced prix fixe (two courses for £25) or the “fantastic seasonal tasting menu” (£80 – must be ordered in advance).

“On the coast road through Jesmond not far out of Newcastle’s centre”, and hiding behind a “shop-front style façade that doesn’t really do it justice”, Nick Grieve’s bistro proves to be a “cosy” and “romantic” spot, with “lots of care taken to source and present quite excellent dishes”. “Brilliant Sunday lunch” too – “hooray!”