Newcastle's Critically-Acclaimed Restaurants

Whether I'm planning a weekend away or a long holiday, I always intend to eat out in style - at least once or twice! Although many great destinations in the UK offer great food, recently, I had found out that  in Newcastle there are some truly fantastic restaurants - so much so that I really did feel the craving. Many of these have received a fair amount of critical acclaim, and it's these I'll be focusing on for the purposes of this post.

Cafe 21

Where: Trinity Gardens, Quayside

Once upon a time, this lovely restaurant was located at 21 Queen Street, from where it takes its name.
After spending 19 years there, it moved to its new home on the Quayside with its sleek, modern decor that creates a fantastically swish, upmarket atmosphere.

What I most like about this restaurant is that while it's a very sophisticated setting, it offers very honest, fuss-free food, aiming to bring out the best in the ingredients. Here, you'll eat classic bistro fare - though lots of dishes do have a unique contemporary twist.

To give you a taste of what you can expect, starters include a cheddar cheese and spinach souffle, and mains like fish stews, pan-roasted cod and roasted duck breast are available. My favorite course, dessert, gives you a choice of creme brulee, hot raspberry souffle, Tanzanian chocolate mousse and more.

It's also worth bearing in mind that this restaurant snapped up a Gold Award at the Taste of North East England Awards 2008.

Blackfriars Restaurant and Banquet Hall

Where: Friars Street

It's not every day you can say that you've eaten in the oldest dining room in England, but that's exactly what you can do if you eat at Blackfriars Restaurant. Located in a friary that dates all the way

back to 1239, this eatery makes the very best use of its setting by offering medieval banquets as well as an a la carte menu filled with British classics.

What's more, it's won a host of awards for its culinary prowess, including a Taste of England award in both 2013 and 2012. The dishes here are made with locally sourced food (often from the nearby farms) and include treats like beetroot risotto, Durham pork fillet and Cumbrian stuffed chicken breast. Sweet-toothed individuals like myself can look forward to some really classic desserts - as well as traditional dishes with a twist - like dark chocolate fondant, sticky toffee pudding and cherry bakewell cheesecake.

Just as a quick tip, this restaurant is open for lunch and dinner every day, with the exception of Sundays when there's no evening service.

Jesmond Dene House Restaurant

Where: Jesmond Dene Road

My final suggestion is in one of Newcastle'shotels; the Jesmond Dene House Restaurant is easily one of the finest in the city, and it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. And don't worry, you don't need to

be a guest at the hotel in order to eat here.

Boasting three AA Rosettes, it's one of the top places to eat in Newcastle. I think one of the best things about this restaurant is that it has a strong focus on fresh, local food and even uses produce sourced from the hotel garden. So, you can expect to enjoy some incredible flavours.

Alongside the three main meals, afternoon tea is also available here, as well as an excellent tasting menu. The dinner menu, meanwhile, features treats such as garden pea soup, seared hand-dived Scottish scallops, fillet of beef and chocolate gateau.
As a traveler, we always try to select great places not only to enjoy the food but also to avoid stomach problems travelers face from time to time. Selecting great restaurants is important and usually is it advisable to go by recommendation.