I mentioned it last week, and here it is! My little Newcastle eats post. Obviously this isn’t by any means an exhaustive list of my favourite places, but just the ones we had time to visit on our Christmas visit. I hope it won’t be so long before I’m back in the “Toon” once again. I’ve missed the Geordie accent – and, ahem, the student lifestyle – but a little relaxed revisit was just what the Doctor ordered. So here are a few recommendations from the city I miss so much.
I went here many times while at University, a good place for coffee and cake, or a hot lunch. I’ve taken my Mum a few times, and it’s really lovely sitting upstairs in Winter with the huge windows steaming up and making the whole place seem quite cosy. Since we left Newcastle, it’s had a little revamp, but the menu is still the same. Sandwiches, paninis, soups and afternoon tea. It’s a pretty extensive sandwich menu, so you’re bound to find something good! I opted for the half soup & half sandwich (because I always have) and enjoyed it very much.
This place is a hidden – maybe not so hidden anymore? – gem. When I was first introduced to the diner (thank you Aggie!), it was quite quiet and hidden up in the children’s section of Fenwicks on the top floor. It’s still hidden up there, but it seems to have become a lot more popular with the lunchtime crowd, making it harder to get one of the more comfortable booths, though there’s still plenty of space on the tables in the middle. We came here so often at university, we were recognised by the staff (embarrassing, maybe). But my traditional order of the Classic Chicken Burger was as good as ever. As was my chocolate milkshake – the king of milkshakes. I have searched far and wide since tasting this milkshake for the first time to see if anything could match it. I’ve never found one – though my sister highly rates Ed’s Diner’s, which I have yet to try – and this means London is a pretty milkshake free place for me, so this was like a little bit of Christmas magic.
This one was new to me, having opened fairly recently but after I was sent a shot of their chocolate shakes – I knew I had to go. Check their Instagram out and tell me you wouldn’t be the same? The cafe is cute and so Instagrammable. Sadly, I wasn’t able to try a shake due to our 11am arrival (even I couldn’t face that for breakfast), but we walked away with 6 very lovely cupcakes to take home to the fam, and boy were they happy about that.
This one sets the scene for my first date with Walsh. I don’t have any photos as we went with all our university friends and I got a little over excited, diving headfirst into my burger. Guilty as charged. However, Walsh and I love this place for its giant portions (you have been warned), and 3 courses for £12. Yup, you heard that right Londoners – this is one meal that will leave you rolling out the door. We usually go for the potato skins to start, a burger each (I prefer the beef to the chicken here), and finish with the chocolate fudge cake because I just can’t resist cake…
I discovered these cupcakes during one of the Christmas markets at uni, and was overjoyed (literally) to find out they were stocked in Fenwick’s. They were (and still are!) the best cupcakes I’ve ever had. I was known for my love of these cupcakes by all my friends – so much so I ended up with 10 to eat on my 21st birthday. I was so looking forward to being reunited with the Rudolph special once again. Unfortunately, these little slices of heaven have now stopped selling in Newcastle City Centre, but I believe they have a cafe in Whitely Bay. If you’re nearby – go go go (and post me one please)!
Do you have any recommendations for Newcastle? I’d love to check them out next time, so let me know! Check out some more ideas for places to go here, with Mother’s Day and my Mum’s birthday coming up – I need all the help I can get!
Caroline
xo