The dining and bar trade is often riddled with lame gimmicks these days that only ever endeavour to offer you less of the good stuff for more of your cash. Naan bread's on sticks, cocktails in tea pots and meat starved burritos to mention but a few. However, there is a particularly unique restaurant experience that most people in Newcastle have heard of but oddly very few have had the bottle to go ahead and seize it. Of course that doesn't include the ever cuisine crazed Fat Spoon. That is the The Valley's "A Passage to India" service that takes you from Newcastle to their beautifully archaic converted-ticket office restaurant in Corbridge. Along with it's two sister restaurants (The Valley Junction 397 and The Valley Connection 301), the family has been awarded with multiple awards over the years including last year's Good Curry Guide 'Best in the North East'. It isn't quite the Fat Spoon's #1, but it's definitely up there, the curry train experience being of particular interest. At £32-37 per head some may argue it is a little pricey, but when you account for all that is included you will quickly realise it is a great deal. A very charming waiter will greet you under the big clock of central station before you board the regular train to Corbridge (ticket price included), he will then offer you a drinks of your choice (not so included, but sufficient banter will provide you plenty). The excellent service continues in the restaurant, and there's little chance of delay for food as you can select your dishes during the train ride. The food is both delicious and plentiful... even the most seasoned of curry munchers will struggle to finish everything they are offered; and no dish is off limits, so go wild. There's reasonable flexibility in terms of your return train, whether you chose to sample the brilliant local pubs, or contently sit in the restaurant as you struggle to breath having eaten a grotesque amount of great food. What's more, with this being an Indian restaurant of outstanding calibre you're not likely to be spending much of the next day clutching on to the Andrex. All the delights of Indian cuisine, without hideous Indian trains or gastrointestinal infections. Winner. 88%
Newcastle's premier burger house now has a city centre brother, bringing the chief of beef burgers to the masses - opening up their world of monstrous delights to every man, woman and child out there and not just the students of Jesmond. This hippo is a little more up market than it's student-loving sibling, although it also looks like 80s Dutch sex dungeon...but this is brilliantly dirty food after all. The concept hasn't changed, beastly succulent burgers accompanied with a variety of interesting topping choices that literally ooze personality and character are on offer here. But what's key here is that it isn't the same menu offered in a new location. They've done exactly what the Fat Spoon has hankering for, a new menu that will push the boundaries of your comfort zone. Whilst the original Fat Hippo was an adventurous creature that frolicked with new flavours, the Underground is completely rabid and out of control, but in a delicious way of course. Candied bacon, cronuts, rib meat and peanut butter are just a few of the highly interesting augmentations they've made to the classic beef burger. Bacon jam is sheer smut, but fantastic on literally any vessel. And like the original venue, the service is chirpy and fun; and the food is great value for money. The starters and desserts are simple but pleasant, completely overshadowed by the extravagant burger selection. OK the Undergound is still pretty rough around the edges, the door to the mens toilet needed to be fish-hooked open by a waitress with a fork to gain access. But if its a unique, fresh and enlightening burger you're after, then the new Fat Hippo Underground has what you need to stop you turning into a raging beast. 90%
There are only a few things out there that make the Fat Spoon very angry. Such atrocities include over priced coffee shops, alcohol-free beer and smelly people in restaurants. But what really makes the Fat Spoon froth at the mouth with rage is crap pizzas. These spongy, bland and lifeless faux Italian dishes are served up in many of the generic restaurant chains in Newcastle. Even some of the independent places think its acceptable to overlook what should be a vibrant and delicious main, often concentrating on their main meat courses. Worst of all, people are buying these compilations of weak bread, baseless tomato puree and skeptical mozzarella. Stop it! Don't encourage these jokers, because thankfully The Herb Garden has the solution for this abomination of the Italian classic. Although a little off the beaten track this visually stunning walk-in restaurant will certainly surprise you....burning the image of freshness on to the back of your retina. The main dining area features an actual herb garden used to lift their pizzas to a heavenly level of flavour vibrancy. Multiple pizza stoves means they can churn out perfectly thin pizzas that even Mario's mam could argue with; married with the finest Italian meats, golden mozzarella and of course ultra-fresh herbs. Freshness of course being imperative for maximum flavour when it comes to herbs. And for those with some sort of weird affliction to pizzas they do offer a range of meaty specials, their carnivore platter and steak board being if particular interest. The food and drink is reasonably priced and the service is great. Fall in love with pizza again. 84%
