Quay Ingredient - Brilliant Breakfast under the Bridge

With the classic greasy spoon trade gradually being extinguished in the city centre (RIP Gourmet Grub) and many more fancy pants breakfast bistros taking their place, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to get a proper big English breakfast, let alone one of high quality; and typically you would have to travel to The Butterfly Cabinet in Heaton to get such a fix. But there’s a cheeky little café on the Quayside that goes by the name of Quay Ingredient that has everything you’d ever want for breakfast, and more.

Despite being a tiny venue, Maggie, hostess at Quay Ingredient will try her best to fit you in somewhere. And even if you do have to wait a little, the outstanding plates offered here are definitely worth the wait. The charm of this place resonates both through their friendly service and encompassing breakfast menu. They offer numerous eggs benedict/Florentine type dishes that are perfectly acceptable choices and delicious of course. But for those people that know what that want in life, the fearless destroyers of food - a fully loaded Quay Ingredient full English is the only thing that will satisfy your lust for pork. And it’s a very well crafted breakfast, a great size and involves some high quality components (particularly good sausages). It doesn’t stop there either, Quay Ingredient has been a purveyor of some brilliant tea well before those Quilliam kids showed up, offering perfectly complimentary brews for your breakfast. They even serve protein shakes for the amino acid junks, proving their constant effort to keep everyone happy.

As well as nailing breakfast, Quay Ingredient also serves up some brilliant sandwiches, cakes, pastries, toasties and coffee…all the kind of things that make greeders happy, and best of all, none of which are served with a that side of snobbery that many high-end cafes make compulsory. So, if you’re looking for that perfect breakfast or lunch fix, delivered by the friendliest café in the city, there is simply only one solution. Forsake that vulgar, soggy, greasy breakfast sandwich with questionable sausage that fat Pam’s greasy spoons is trying to sell you…and get yourself to Quay Ingredient for the real deal. 84%

The Fat Hippo Underground - The Beast Beneath

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%

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%