Harry's Bar and Grill - Culinary Confusion

Although the name suggests that Harry's is another generic grill house chain, this new kid on the block is in fact a stand alone restaurant. Although it certainly is a rather glamorous bar, describing the restaurant as a grill is a little inaccurate. Pretty much everyone has a grill in their kitchen, it's nothing special. And Harry's definitely isn't a grill house in the traditional meaning of the term. This monster of a venue seems to have popped up from no where, but they have gone to great efforts to make it look visually stunning. And at the cost of £3 million pounds we should hope so! The cocktail menu is excellent and provided the new staff pick up the delivery of them quickly, it will make a fantastic bar. The restaurant itself, however, is very much a mixed bag. Although the Fat Spoon loves a varied and exotic menu, this menu seems to have been put together by over excited posh adolescents on smack. It simply makes no sense. The starters were executed well and displayed their ability to create delicious high level, solid dishes with some great produce. However, based on the standard of the majority of the main dishes is seems the kitchen staff might have necked 10 trebles in between courses. It's inexplicable how they can produce elegant and vibrant foie gras and ducks dishes at the same time as churning out viciously bland burgers and hideously dry lamb dishes. Alongside veal with less flavour than cardboard smeared with wallpaper paste. Yes the novelty of having your food arrive in a clay pot to be smashed open by the waiters at the side of your table is interesting, but not if it results in meat so sterile that a starving pig would turn it's nose up at. The shockingly slow and characterless service only served to promote how poorly assembled this dining experience is, inexcusable. For their worth the menu is also rather over priced. Poor show Harry. 42%

Gourmet Grub - Hangover Heaven

Many of us have been there, some more than others. Many of us are quite possibly there now, or will be soon based on it currently being Christmas party season. Yes, it's the dreaded crippling hangover that makes your brain feel like an old shriveled prune and leaves your stomach in a black-hole-like state. And providing you can face food, there is only one solution that will make it everything OK again and eliminate your feelings of self-loathing and calamity. That is of course a hefty, filthily greasy fry-up. A beautiful mountain of protein, grease and pure magic. And the Gourmet Grub cafe is the place where you can get that fatty fix. You can refill your soul with their signature "Big G" breakfast, which will satisfy even the greediest of animals. Bacon, sausages, toast, eggs, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, black pudding, hash browns and a cup of tea for less than a fiver! Even the stingiest of students cannot reject such an outstanding offer. Not only is Gourmet Grub very inexpensive, but the little Geordie lady that runs the cafe will look after you like you're one of her own. Saint. It isn't just about breakfast here either, they offer some very cost effective lunches in the form of £2.20 meal deals, free cakes on match days and hot daily specials. Brilliance doesn't always have to be extravagant, sometimes its the simplest things that work the best. 76%

The Broad Chare - The Gourmet Gold Standard

Although The Broad Chare describes itself as a proper pub, with proper beer and proper food, it is a far more exhilarating experience than gives itself credit for! The menu hammers you with a variety of contemporary British cuisine, with a few international twists, exhibiting the finest local cuisine. The modest exterior opens up to a very warming pub and rustic upper dining room. For such a relatively small venue the range of real ales, international beers and outstanding wines is amazing. The hybrid pub/restaurant offers a series of bar snacks, pub lunches and exquisite gourmet dining experiences, that all work in harmony with one another. Without a doubt the best scotch eggs in all of Newcastle. Other menu highlights include the rib steak sliders, the fried monkfish cheeks, the pork crackling, the hand-raised pork pies, the Lindisfarne oysters, the duck hash, the mutton masala....actually the entire menu is exceptional. You will require multiple trips to this fine establishment. And that's just the regular menu, they always deliver a number of outstanding specials. The Fat Spoon's favourites include the venison and trotter pie, and the slow-cooked shoulder of lamb. Opting for the lamb is the pinnacle of existence, serving 5-6 humans this ultra-tender, juicy, melt-in-the-mouth, super-flavoursome mountain of meat (served with vegetables and Dauphinoise potatoes) is very reasonably priced. There are many reasons for why The Broad Chare deserves the Fat Spoon's highest rating yet, but you have to go try its wonders yourself, immediately! 96%