NE1 Reviews: Aveika

We're all about to indulge in turkey-fuelled feasts, mountains of mince pies and hearty pub meals as Christmas rolls in. And trust us, we can't wait to dig in to our festive favourites - but before we all turn into pigs in blankets, we're steering away from the traditional British cuisine.

Cue Aveika. A cool, contemporary Japanese restaurant and late bar on the Quayside. Aveika takes its inspiration from the 'Izakaya', the Japanese concept of informal dining.

East meets west in a colourful clash of style and sophistication, and we're in to devour over social food and drink under the signature crystal chandelier.

The food is 'authentic yet not traditional', a modern interpretation of traditional Japanese cuisine, where the emphasis is on creating a harmony of flavours.

The chefs fuse premium produce with fresh ingredients, showcasing passion, flair and creativity at every stage.

The set menu is great for family and friends gatherings with two courses for £13.95 and three courses for £15.95. Keep your eyes peeled for the Christmas menu and the much-loved festive afternoon tea - where you can select meat, fish or vegetarian dishes accompanied by bottomless prosecco and traditional loose leaf tea for £39.95.

We're in early evening for a feast of the senses. Starting with the salmon nigiri (GF) - balled sushi rice topped with fresh slices of salmon. Served with wasabi and pickled ginger, it's fresh, it's feel-good and it's the perfect appetiser to kick off the feast.

Our dinner date goes for the kumuchi chicken (GF) - a chargrilled chicken skewer marinated in kimchee, chilli and corriander. Subtle spices soak up the fantastic fusion of flavours.

For the main event it's the bestseller - the Aveika chicken katsu. We can see why it's a favourite. A robust chicken breast coated in panko bread crumbs, served with steamed rice and topped with a curry sauce like nothing we've ever tasted before. Think chip shop curry sauce but with added substance, a bit more spice and just something oh-so special that brings the dish together perfectly.

It's the beef and corriander robata (GF) for our pal. A beautiful beef fillet marinated in corriander, sesame, sake and spring onion - served with pickled vegetables and steamed rice.

We didn't delve into desserts on this occassion, but there are plenty of delicious sounding dishes to get stuck into - including a dreamy chocolate torte. We'll be back!

Fancy dining at Aveika this festive season? Their colourful and creative dishes are some of the most Instagrammable in the city. Share your snaps with us at: @NewcastleNE1.

aveika.co.uk