NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week: 10 Fine Dining Hotspots to Try
Indulge in fine dining when the city’s biggest foodie fest returns
NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week returns for its January edition and if you’ve ever fancied indulging in some of the city’s finer cuisine then now’s your chance.
From Michelin Guide destinations like 21 and Dobson & Parnell to Khai Khai (who made Gordon Ramsay the best curry of his life!), several of the city’s most raved about restaurants are taking part and offering fine dining deals for just £20 and £25 person. Go on – spoil yourself this Restaurant Week!
Gaucho, Market Street
Craving a juicy steak this Restaurant Week? Look no further than Argentinian steakhouse Gaucho (pictured above) who are offering three courses for just £25. Choose from burrata or beef empanadas to start followed by a choice of chorizo or churrasco steaks or an equally tempting burger. Desserts are just as decadent – chocolate brownie or Basque dulce de leche cheesecake anyone? – and there are vegetarian options too.
Blackfriars, Friars Street
Blackfriars has been a mainstay in Newcastle’s fine dining scene since opening its doors back in 2001, cooking up gutsy British cuisine crafted from locally sourced ingredients. Their £25 Restaurant Week offer gets guests three courses at lunch or two courses at dinner and the chance to savour dishes like North Sea fishcake, potato and truffle pan haggerty and coffee and almond tiramisu.
Dobson & Parnell, Queen Street
The fine dining theme continues at Blackfriars’ sister restaurant Dobson & Parnell where its talented chefs focus on boundary-pushing British and European cuisine. Like Blackfriars, their £25 Restaurant Week deal includes two courses at lunch or three at dinner and offers starters like ham hock terrine, mains like confit pork belly and desserts including vanilla crème brûlée.
21, Pandon
The flagship restaurant of celebrated local chef Terry Laybourne, 21 is one of just a handful of Michelin Guide restaurants in Newcastle. They’ve been involved in Restaurant Week since the very start back in 2012 and their two courses for £25 offer features fine dishes like Northumbrian game and duck liver terrine, slow-cooked pork belly with Basque black pudding and Yorkshire rhubarb and ginger sorbet.
Hotel du Vin & Bistro, City Road
Book a table at Hotel du Vin & Bistro this Restaurant Week to enjoy classic French cuisine with a modern British twist in a gorgeous dining room fit for fans of fine dining. With their 2 courses for £20 and three for £25 deal – plus a menu featuring dishes like chicken liver parfait, confit duck leg and warm sticky figgy pudding – a delightfully high-end meal is guaranteed.
Khai Khai, Queen Street
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay once called Khai Khai’s Old Delhi butter chicken the best curry he’d ever had, so you know a stellar dining experience is guaranteed at this local favourite. This Restaurant Week, £25 gets you a sharing pre-starter, a starter and a main served with a choice of basmati rice, plain naan or garlic naan. Naturally, the menu includes Gordon’s favourite so order the Old Delhi butter chicken and see what the fuss is about!
DOOD, Quayside
From the same people behind Khai Khai, DOOD opened its doors on Newcastle’s Quayside in November 2024 and is a Restaurant Week newcomer. Its fine Persian and Levantine cuisine is already proving a hit and during Restaurant Week they’ll be dishing up hummus and pita to share plus a choice of mazeh, kebabs or khoresht and sides for just £25 per person – think pita crusted calamari, succulent chicken kebab and Persian jewelled rice.
The French Quarter, Westgate Road
If Gallic gastronomy gets your taste buds tingling, then The French Quarter is a must on your Restaurant Week hitlist. Choose from two courses for £20 or three for £25 and dine on fine French dishes like smoked mackerel pâté, bourguignon de champignons and délice de chocolat.
Mantra Thai, Forth Banks
Fine dining gets a Thai twist at Forth Banks hotspot Mantra Thai who have a two-course early dining or two-course dinner offer going this Restaurant Week for just £20 and £25, respectively. Choose from starters like grilled pork skewers and crispy fried tofu before enjoying mains including Thai-style beef in oyster sauce and lamb massaman curry – all served with a side of jasmine rice.
The Broad Chare, Broad Chare
Don’t let The Broad Chare’s “proper pub food” stance fool you: like its fellow 21 Hospitality restaurant above, it’s a Michelin Guide-approved destination serving some of the finest fare in town. What’s more, their lunchtime Restaurant Week deal offers two courses for £15 or three for £20 meaning dishes like green split pea and oxtail broth, steamed ChalkStream trout and whisky marmalade sponge pudding are yours for the taking.
One of the best things about NE1 Restaurant Week is all the tasty savings diners make and fine dining cuisine for no more than £20 or £25 a head is all too tempting to pass up – so get those tables booked!
Main image: Gaucho
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