dAt bAr - American Food with Elegance?!!

Who'd have thought it... Apparently American food doesn't have to been grotesque, greasy and covered in dubious cheese. Someone tell those very mediocre American diners of Newcastle that they can hang up their bbq sauce covered aprons and turn the fryers off.....they know who they are. dAt bAr is yet another new kid on the block, brilliantly located near Monument. And in the fight or die scenario that all new restaurants and bars are faced with in their opening months, dAt bAr comes into the ring with more fight than a smackhead radgie on match day, with horns. They've done everything right, combined a smooth but vibrant atmosphere with great food and an exemplary selection of local and not so local beer. The perfect place for a man date or to treat a lady or to take your mam next Sunday....it's that accommodating. The starters are interesting and worldly inspired...a fresh outlook that definitely trumps the done to death fried calamari and potato skins that you'd usually find in a bar-restaurant. The American influence comes in with the mains...super succulent steak, burgers and pulled pork, as well as innovative sourdough pizzas. The menu looks and sounds fun, which really complements the funky vibe at dAt bAr. Interesting quirks like their beef being sourced from "The Fat Butcher" (possibly a relative of the Fat Spoon) and their mix-and-match charcuterie Berkel Boards will make any visit to this joint truly enjoyable. And the pizzas are there to give those funny vegetarian-types plenty of choice...how considerate! Some of the staff are newbies (so may be a little awkward) and the beer prices aren't exactly student friendly but at least there's LOTS of it! Definitely worth a visit soon! 87%