It’s been a couple of years since I last did a restaurant week round up post, and a lot of new restaurants have opened in Newcastle since then. I’ve found over the years that many places do the same menu every time NE1 restaurant week rolls around, but a couple are a bit different this time, or are joining in for the first time. This guide doesn’t cover every restaurant taking part from , just some of my favourites and the new ones.

I think restaurant week is a good opportunity to do one of two things, either try somewhere new to see if it’s somewhere you’d go back to and pay full whack for, or to visit some of the usually more expensive places in Newcastle at a fraction of the cost.

Admittedly I’ve left it a bit late, so you might find that some of these aren’t available at peak times between 7-9pm, but it’s the summer holidays so you might get lucky, many are open for lunch, and I also think ringing up on the day is worth a try, as I know people who book loads but then cancel last minute, so you might get a cancellation.

New additions to Newcastle restaurant week that have been added since my last guide over a year ago, that I’ve been to and would recommend:

Central Oven & Shaker

Wow this menu is huge! Classic cheese or tomato garlic breads to start, or a crispy calamari option which also sounds nice. Then for main take your pick from a huge range of pizzas and pasta. Simple but effective and I really enjoyed my pizza when I was there after the match at the end of the season. Cocktails are also good, and the place has a fun atmosphere.

2 courses £10 and 3 for £15.

Colonel Porters

This place is full of character and I have been back since I was there for the opening a while ago. The food is always typically British and typical pub style but is very nice. There’s chicken wings and baked camembert which I’m sure will be a firm favourite, and for main you can’t go wrong with roast chicken, beef shin stew or risotto.

2 courses £10 and 3 for £15.

Dobson & Parnell

I’ve been to Dobson & Parnell for restaurant week the past two times, and I’m going back again this week. Their menu is the same every time, and includes five starters such as ham hock terrine, smoked salmon and soup, and there’s a good selection of mains too such as roast chicken, black cod and mussels win wine. Oh and a steak option with a small supplement.

This time I really hope I have room for desert too because I’ve got my eye on the strawberry and elderflower Eton Mess.The portions aren’t the biggest, but you leave feeling like you’re full and have ate a really good quality meal.

Fuego

Found in Fenwick’s food hall Fuego is a really nice spot for lunch or an early evening dinner. There’s a good selection on the menu and again you can be sure of the quality. I quite like the sound of the fried hen’s egg with iberico ham to start, followed by any of the mains – pizza fuego, grilled mackerel, or chicken scaloppini.

Jamie’s Italian

It’s been there for ages but I’ve never seen Jamie’s Italian on the Restaurant week line up before. As you’d expect there’s a good big menu that caters for everyone, with only the most wholesome ingredients of course.

2  courses for £10 or 3 for £15.

Marco Pierre White

Despite being a steakhouse, there is no steak on the restaurant week menu at Marco Pierre White. I find this a bit disappointing, but when I went to sample the alternative menu a while back I was actually very pleasantly surprised. The food was really nice, and to be honest the restaurant week menu does sound pretty good. Crispy pork salad or veg soup would be my starters, and then the pan fried salmon or the roasted chicken for main.

2 courses for £15.

Saltwater Fish Company

This is my favourite of the Fenwick’s Food Hall options, (although I’ve not been to Porterhouse yet..), and it’s a seafood lovers dream. It’s so fresh and delicious, and I’d really recommend a visit away from restaurant week because the menu is so much bigger. Despite that there’s lindisfarne oysters, salmon, and cod fritters as starter choices, followed by bream or hake for main, and even haddock fish fingers with mushy peas and tartare sauce.

2 courses for £15

The Hudson

Ooh this menu is also very good, and another one I’d struggle to choose from even during restaurant week. I’d definitely go for the baked camembert to share (or to myself) and depending what I felt like at the time I’d go for either the lasagne, the Hudson burger or the beef fillet. Great choices and it’s a slightly nicer setting than some of the others, with a lounge area by the bar.

2 courses £10 and 3 for £15.

The Laundrette

Cocktails and carbs is the Laundrette‘s motto, and combine that with some good cocktails and a lively atmosphere I really like it here. Some of their cocktails are even part of restaurant week so you can’t say fairer than that, including the Raspberry Flossi and the Absolut Milf.

Starters are pretty basic, and include olives, hummus and flatbread or garlic bread with toppings, but for main there’s plenty to choose from. Truffle mac n cheese, multiple pizzas and multiple burgers, who doesn’t love some good comfort food?

2 courses and a cocktail £15

New additions to Newcastle restaurant week that I’ve not tried yet but would like to:

Antler

This is the new restaurant on the Swan House roundabout, and they’ve not held back for their first restaurant week. The menu is huge and has a definite Austrian feel to it. The Bavarian ham and cheese fritters or the game plate sound good to start, and there’s schnitzel, goulash and bratwurst on the menu for main. Black Forrest gateaux for desert too….!

2 course lunch £10 and 2 course dinner £15.

Nova

I feel live I waited ages for this place to open and then since it has I’ve not had chance to go and try it. I thought it was all seafood, but this restaurant week menu suggests theres more to it than just seafood. As well as mackerel and pollack on the menu there’s also beef cheek and risotto. Definitely on my list to visit soon.

2 courses £10 and 3 for £15.

Porterhouse

I am actively avoiding here for restaurant week, but only because I want my first visit to be the real deal with a proper fillet steak and when I go I will be splashing out. I’ve heard very good things. If you do fancy it for restaurant week starters include Lindisfarne oysters, or crispy shank salad, and mains include a wagyu cheeseburger and grilled iberico pork press. Sounds pretty good.

2 courses for £15.

Simply Greek Tavern

If you have been here before please let me know what it’s like because I had no idea it existed but I love Greek food and the menu has all my favourites. Greek salad with tzatziki, grilled haloumi, chicken and pork souvlaki and gyros?! Sounds amazing.

2 courses for £10 and 3 for £15.

The French Quarter

Another place I’ve been meaning to try since it opened, the French Quarter gets good reports from my mum and dad. I’d be having the mussels to start, and then the chicken and vegetable skewer for main, although the stuffed pepper also sounds pretty good.

2 course lunch £10, 3 course dinner £15.

Newcastle Restaurant week old favourites that you can always rely on:

21

Often voted as the best restaurant in Newcastle this one is a great option for restaurant week, because you can guarantee quality and it’s usually one of the more expensive places to eat. The menu looks delicious – there’s seabass fillets, baked cod, confit of duck and medallions of beef on the menu, as well as a veggie option, and a choice of 5 deserts and 5 starters.

2 courses for £15 is very good for here, available the full week except Saturday night and Sunday

As You Like It

I’ve been to As You Like It for a few restaurant weeks and one of the reasons is because again the menu is pretty big, and its great for groups. I’ve been with the girls a couple of times, and the cocktails are good as well as the food. Tempura prawns would be my go to starter, and mains include a burger, Thai curry, sirloin steak, slow cooked pork belly and Japanese Ramen.

2 courses for £10 or 3 courses for £15.

Aveika

I loooove Aveika, and the food gets better every time I go. Admittedly I prefer the sushi and tapas style, which isn’t available for restaurant week, but I can guarantee that you’ll enjoy all of the dishes on offer. Starter options include rock prawns, salmon nigiri, and Kimuchi chicken, mains include teriyaki salmon, chicken katsu and beef and coriander robata to name a few.

2 courses for £10 or 3 for £15.

Babucho

I’m really pleased to see Babucho have added pasta to their restaurant week menu as it baffled me why they didn’t in the past being an Italian. I do like it here and their classic cocktail offer is great value for money too. My picks of this restaurant week menu are bacon and cheese “Arancini” risotto fritters to start, and either the spicy chicken pasta, slow cooked beef or the roast salmon skewers for main. There’s more on the menu including a vegan option though so check it out.

2 courses for £15.

Bealim House

Not as big a menu as some of the others, but I’d have most things including the prawn cocktail or chicken liver pate to start, and then 100% the garlic and cumin rubbed mackerel, bravas potatoes and aioli because that sounds amazing. I really like Bealim House as a venue, and the gin cocktails with Newcastle gin are spot on. If you aren’t sure if you like gin try the English Country Garden and you won’t look back.

2 courses £10 and 3 for £15.

The Broad Chare

It drives me mad that the Broad Chare only join in restaurant week at lunchtimes, and not in the evening too. It’s one of my favourite places in Newcastle and is an absolute gem of a pub. The food is excellent so if you can make it along at lunchtime you won’t be disappointed. Expect heart pub options including char grilled ox heart, braised lamb, and crumbled hake. The summer pudding and elderflower cream desert sounds incredible too.

2 courses £10, 3 for £15.

Caffe Vivo

This one is a favourite of my mum and dad especially for restaurant week, and its right next door to the Broad Chare for a drink first. It’s a good big menu, including pasta for starter or main, traditional bruschetta, and a fish and chicken main too.

2 courses £10, 3 for £15.

Miller & Carter

One thing is for sure if you visit Miller & Carter for restaurant week you will come out absolutely stuffed, you get so much food. I’ve been a couple of times and the steak is very good, with different cuts available, a full range of sauces and side dishes. If you don’t fancy steak (why are you there its a steak restaurant?!) there is fish, burgers and chicken on the menu too. I find it gets a bit rowdy on restaurant week, but it’s worth the noise and wait for a table.

2 courses for £15.

Piccolino

For a good quality pizza or pasta in this lovely Italian on the quayside you can’t really go wrong for £10. Margarita, calzone, ravioli and risotto are all available so a good one for families or fussy eaters, and I really enjoyed going back here a couple of weeks ago as I hadn’t been for ages. Definitely one that might get overlooked but really shouldn’t.

Pitcher & Piano

I have to mention Pitcher & Piano because unlike the other restaurants taking part, their offer is for breakfast! Who wouldn’t enjoy buttermilk pancakes, poached eggs and avocado, sausage, bacon and potato hash in all sorts of combinations, while sipping orange juice or coffee overlooking the Tyne bridges? Love this offer.

Breakfast for £10 including coffee and fruit juices.

Pleased to Meet You

This one always makes the list because it’s such a good gin bar, and in the summer I love their little outdoor terrace at the back. A good menu across all three courses, included cured spanish ham, courgette, mint and feta salad, followed by chicken, pork or risotto main, and white chocolate pannacotta with strawberries and pistachios. Yum!

2 courses £10, 3 for £15.

Redhouse

There is no messing when it comes to the Redhouse, their famous pies are all part of the offer with mash and gravy. Round it off with homemade jam roly poly or apple crumble this one absolutely wins my heart and stomach.

2 courses for £10.

The Botanist

I do love the Botanist for it’s incredible venue, and the food has significantly improved over the past year. The menu is huge especially the recent summer menu, but they’ve kept it simple for restaurant week. Their famous hanging kebabs in a variety of flavours, and amazing deserts – I can’t recommend the baked cookie enough.

2 courses £10, 3 for £15.

Zaap Thai Street Food

I’ve not been here in a while but I love the casual and vibrant atmosphere of the place. It really is like eating dinner on a street in Bangkok. The menu isn’t the biggest but theres a stir fry and a Thai curry on there.

2 courses for £10.

If you haven’t yet booked up for restaurant week hurry up so you don’t miss out. Full details of all the offers, menus and restaurants taking part including their contact numbers are on the Get Into Newcastle website here.

This post is not sponsored in any way, I just like talking about food.

Other posts you might like:

A Guide to Newcastle’s Quayside

A Gin Masterclass at the Botanist

The best bars and pubs in Newcastle with outdoor terraces

Sundays at the Quayside Market

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