One of the most vibrant restaurants that we have visited in Newcastle, Cafe 21 is set quaintly in Newcastle's Quayside. The vibrant almost 'buzzing' atmosphere was the first thing that we experienced on our visit. We hadn't expected the restaurant to be as busy as it was and were pleasantly surprised. It really felt as though it could have been a Friday or Saturday night!
The furnishings are wonderfully simple, from the black plush leather seating in the restaurant to the very polished floorboards. It's chic, if there was a restaurant equivalent to the 'Little black dress' then the Cafe 21 would be it.
“The Cafe 21 is truly one of Newcastle's hidden gems! Well worth a visit!”
We wanted to find out what all the fuss was about for ourselves. Right from the outset the staff made us both feel welcome. I opted for the soup of the day as my starter, this being the Cauliflower soup. My partner had the Seared sea scallops with tempura and spiced raisins. Both starter dishes were tantalising previews of what was to come. The 8oz Steak au Poivre was certainly a hearty main course along with its side dish of buttery mash. The peppercorns added pungent and salty flavours to the steak.
Something a little lighter, I opted for the Fish cakes with buttered spinach, parsley crème and chips. We finished our meal off with a Pinot Noir, Jaime Hunter, Marlborough New Zealand 2010. The broad flavours of this red wine complemented our meal beautifully.
The service and the decadent menu were excellent for this stylish inner city eatery. Everything about our evening at the Cafe 21 was superb, making this restaurant one to recommend.
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The Bill: £53 per head
