Afternoon Tea at Sage Gateshead

Liu Dining

➤ 5-7 The Close, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Piatti • Asian • Vegan • Chinese • Vegetarian

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"So, the woman and I just ran from swindon, wiltshire to eat here. we were here this time in the last year and were amazed at the quality of food and service. this year our waitress did not believe that we drove 291 miles here. I can assure them that we did this. also not specifically to visit the restaurant, but it would not be a complete weekend without meal here. we would like to go to a meal here. such friendly staff and good food. we'll be back next year. many thanks for a wonderful experience again."

Beirut Lounge Newcastle

➤ 5 Heaton Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne I-NE6 1SA, United Kingdom, Newcastle upon Tyne

Piatti • Vegan • Lebanese • Vegetarian • Mediterranean

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"I had the lamb and hummus, both of which were cooked to perfection—juicy and delicate. The fresh juices were also great; I highly recommend the mango juice, and the lemon mint drink was just right. Typically, I find hummus to be too bitter for my liking, but here it was creamy and flavorful. I also recommend trying the mixed cold mezze and the meat dishes. Overall, a fantastic experience!"

Liosi's Sicilian Cafe

➤ Swordfish House, NE4 7YD, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Piatti • Cafe • Meat • Pasta • Coffee

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"I recently visited Liosis Cafe Bar for breakfast with my grandparents, hoping for a delightful morning of catching up. Unfortunately, our experience left much to be desired. The main issues centered around the quality of the full English breakfast. The plate arrived cold, and the bacon was notably anaemic. The sausages were of poor quality, and the poached eggs were disappointingly hard and overcooked. At a price point of £10 per breakfast, the overall quality fell short of expectations, leaving me feeling quite upset. While the coffee and juice were acceptable, the lack of attention to detail in the preparation of the main course overshadowed any positives. Additionally, our table wasn't checked on throughout the meal, denying us the opportunity to address our concerns with the staff and give them a chance to rectify the issues. In summary, my visit to Liosis Cafe Bar for breakfast was marred by subpar food quality and a lack of attentive service. For the price paid, I expected a more enjoyable experience. I hope that these points can serve as constructive feedback for improvement."

Gingerino's Kitchen

➤ The Tower, Stepney Road, NE2 1AP, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Piatti • Pizza • Lunch • Italian • Kitchen

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"The place seems unprofessionally run. The staff all look like they could do with a bath. No overalls are worn and their clothes are all of the type that many would wear to lounge around the house in . Several have longer hair and beards but don’t wear any kitchen p.p.e. The decor is shabby and I wondered what kind of hygiene rating they would have. Although not busy, the staff seemed to be disorganised, falling over eachother and lacking in training. They seemed to handle the food in an inexperienced, clumsy fashion. The only tool I saw being used was a pizza peel for taking the pizza in and out of the oven. On all other occasions the food was handled. I didn’t notice any hand washing or alcohol gel in evidence. The menu is quite limited and uninspiring. 2 of the 6 pizza choices include chicken which Italians would argue is definite no no! All pizzas are reheated to order which eliminates the possibility of customisation. I don’t believe the restaurant would stand out in many European countries, as pizza in general is of a much higher standard than that in the UK. In spite of the above, The basic pizza is excellent in taste (even though it is all re-heated). And for this reason it is worth a visit. Compared to other uk pizza restaurants which are typically serving absolute garbage, the food is way out in front. If you can tolerate the negatives I’m sure you won’t be disappointed with the pizza. However with a bit of effort, this place could be transformed into something truly amazing."

The Maven

➤ The Vermont Hotel Castle GarthTyne and Wear NE1 1RQ, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Piatti • Beer • Wine • Bars • Steak

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"This restaurant should be so much busier! It is great value compared to the chain restaurants in town. The decor is stylish, the staff are very friendly, the menu is great. I had duck breast with duck scotch egg and fondant potato, with side dishes of red cabbage (deliciously sweet and tart at the same time) and carrots with savoy cabbage, beans and broccoli. The scotch egg was so good, perfectly seasoned, runny vivid yolk. The duck breast wasn’t too rare or over cooked, so good. Then chocolate fudge cake with black cherries and ice cream, good combination! The fudge cake could have been a bit richer, gooey-er, but the cherries, sauce and ice cream made it 9/10. Generous cheese board too, no stingy slithers of cheese. Good plum chutney. About £90 for 2 courses for 2 with 2 drinks each."