The Best Tables to Book for a Celebration in the North East
Go big and book a spot at one of the best restaurants in the North East
TERRA at Rockliffe Hall
Hurworth on Tees, Darlington DL2 2DU
01325 729999
rockliffehall.com
Formerly running Raby Hunt, two Michelin star-chef James Close has moved on to working at Rockliffe Hall and this summer he's running a pop-up restaurant, TERRA. With a focus on great ingredients, exciting flavours, interesting wine, and a relaxed vibe, TERRA is a table you’ll want to be at this summer.
St Vincent
Broad Chare, Newcastle NE1 3DQ
0191 232 1331
stvincentnewcastle.co.uk
Part restaurant, part wine bar, this popular city centre haunt is open Tuesday to Friday evening (and all day Saturday until late) and takes inspiration from the neighbourhood bars of France and Italy. A fun place to hang out, expect simple food done well, including hand-crafted charcuterie and dishes influenced by French and Italian cuisine such as truffle macaroni cheese, grilled monkfish and chargrilled lamb chops with salsa verde. As you’d expect, the wine list here is excellent, sourced from small, independent producers.
Osters
125 Gosforth High Street, Newcastle NE3 1HA
0191 825 0240
osters.co.uk
The perfect option for a relaxed evening, this new spot on Gosforth’s high street is quickly making a name for itself as a relaxed restaurant that offers simple yet refined cooking. From the owners of Lovage in Jesmond, the Osters menu prioritises local, seasonal and foraged produce, and the à la carte menu includes a selection of seasonal cocktails and small bites too. Read more about our recent visit here.
Pine
Vallum Farm, Military Road, East Wallhouses NE18 0LL
01434 671202
restaurantpine.co.uk
Coming top of the list for many local foodies, the debut restaurant of husband and wife Cal and Siân Byerley offers an intimate space for fine dining, prepared in a bespoke open-plan kitchen. One for real foodies, the tasting menu here highlights the very best locally-foraged ingredients and homegrown produce from their onsite kitchen garden, and can be enhanced with carefully paired wine flights. With a seasonal menu that can change on a daily basis, it’s no wonder this restaurant holds both a Michelin star and a Michelin green star (for dedication to sustainability).
Origin
Friarage Street, Northallerton DL6 1DP
01609 775900
originsocial.co.uk
With an AA Rosette for culinary excellence, there is a strong focus here on provenance and quality. Origin offers authentic dishes from across the Mediterranean and the food here is designed to be shared (perfect for a celebratory get together with friends), so we recommend ordering two or three dishes each to enjoy the full scope of what’s on offer. There’s also a great bar downstairs stocked with local and international craft beers and ciders.
Rebel
150 Heaton Park Road, Newcastle NE6 5NR
0191 691 2720
restaurantrebel.co.uk
Recently celebrating its two-year anniversary, Rebel successfully achieved a spot in the Michelin Guide within its first few months of opening. Since then, the restaurant has solidified itself as a must-visit destination for foodies in Newcastle, with a playful approach to traditional fine dining. Rebel is focused on using the best local produce, offering a unique wine selection and championing local suppliers, serving small plates, a five-course, and 10-course tasting menu.
The Rabbit Hole
17 Hallgarth Street, Durham DH1 3AT
0191 386 5556
therabbitholedurham.co.uk
A hidden gem in Durham city centre, this fun and vibrant 1920s Shanghai-inspired speakeasy offers deliciously different pan-Asian dishes and perfectly-paired cocktails, wines and beers. Tucked into a quiet residential street, this is an easy one to miss but worth finding. We recommend a selection of small plates, particularly the short beef rib and the honey and walnut shrimp. The dim sum is perfect for sharing too.
Sonnet Restaurant
41 Bondgate Without, Alnwick NE66 1PR
01665 517628
sonnet.restaurant
Sonnet is new to Northumberland’s food scene for 2024, and offers an impressive 14-course tasting menu which is focused on high quality, locally-sourced ingredients and emphasises simplicity above all. The menu here is seasonal and they also have a hand-picked selection of wines chosen specifically to complement the menu. Want a cocktail to celebrate? Don’t worry, they’ve got you covered.
Solstice
5–7 Side, Newcastle NE1 3JE
0191 2221722
solsticencl.com
Perfect for a more intimate celebration, this fine-dining space was awarded a Michelin star after only eight months and boasts a carefully crafted menu from head chef Kenny Atkinson (also of House of Tides). It offers a single tasting menu consisting of between 15 and 18 servings, from snacks and savoury dishes through to desserts and petit fours.
Six
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, South Shore Road, Gateshead NE8 3BA
07922 427019
sixbaltic.com
Recently awarded two AA Rosettes, Six has undergone something of a rebirth in recent months and now offers a carefully-curated fine dining experience for its guests. Sleek and modern, besides offering contemporary British dishes, expect unparalleled views of Newcastle’s Quayside through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Faru
29 Silver Street, Durham DH1 3RD
0191 380 5451
faru.co.uk
Open Wednesday to Saturday, the debut restaurant of Jake and Laura Siddle (who both previously worked at Kenny Atkinson’s Michelin-starred restaurant House of Tides) is a great place to eat in the heart of Durham. Faru offers a 10-course and a five-course tasting menu made with local produce and the menu begins with a selection of snacks, followed by carefully prepared dishes. For a more indulgent experience enjoy a wine flight alongside.
The Cellar Door
Saddler Street, Durham DH1 3NU
0191 383 1856
thecellardoordurham.co.uk
Offering a bespoke menu for the graduation season, The Cellar Door is easy to miss but well worth seeking out. The menu is inspired by European cuisine using local, seasonal ingredients where possible and changes monthly, so there’s always something new to try: think soy-glazed short rib with bone marrow panna cotta and crispy onions, wild garlic arancini with seaweed caviar and truffle, and Amalfi lemon posset with Earl Grey ice cream.
Cloisters Restaurant and Bar
Matfen Hall, Matfen Village, Northumberland NE20 0RH
01661 886500
matfenhall.com
Offering all-day dining, the new Cloisters Restaurant at Matfen Hall offers fine dining surrounded by the unique architecture of their courtyard and mezzanine area (with stunning views of the Great Hall’s stained-glass windows). The menu is filled with simple ingredients cooked well, with dishes including pan-fried salmon supreme with dill caper butter, lamb rump with minted new potatoes, and baked beetroot with feta and watercress.
Hinnies
East Parade, Whitley Bay NE26 1AP
0191 447 0500
hinnies.co.uk
Right on Whitley Bay’s seafront, this warm and relaxed, family-friendly restaurant offers hearty, rustic food where everything is made from scratch using local, seasonal ingredients, and draws on classic Northern cuisine with dishes like North Shields fish and clam chowder, pan haggerty with poached egg and mustard cream, and traditional singin’ hinnies with fruit jam and Chantilly cream.
Forge at Middleton Lodge
Kenton Lane, Middleton Tyas, Richmond DL10 6NJ
01325 377977
middletonlodge.co.uk
Boasting a Michelin green star for its dedication to sustainability, Forge at Middleton Lodge offers an elevated tasting experience from head chef Jake Jones using ingredients grown on the estate or sourced locally. Whether you opt for the six-course or 10-course tasting menu, you won’t be disappointed, and there’s a carefully-curated wine list to browse as well.
