Keco - Asian Authenticity

The Asian taste invasion continues, with yet another relatively new and very Chinese restaurant in Newcastle. It looks like Stowell street is longer enough to contain the abundance of brilliant Chinese cuisine that's being cooked up in Newcastle, as a new restaurant seems to pops up in the surrounding areas every other week. Keco is a strange one, but being strange doesn't mean it can't be utterly delicious. Situated next to the ever vulgar diarrhoea-mongering Chicken Cottage, Keco has a swath, clean cut finish unlike some of the more rustic siblings in the heart of China Town. This dark but seductive theme, along with it's very central location means it's not a bad place for nice evening meal followed by drinks in town.

Like many of the other Chinese restaurants on and near Stowell street, they feel compelled to offer a weak 'Western menu' (or Westren menu as they like to call it), offering dull sweet and sour generics and pitiful 'curry' <insert meat> dishes. They also have some poorly placed Thai dishes pasted into the menu for further pointlessness. Are there still culinary Neanderthals out there eating this muck? Thankfully, Keco has more than redeemed itself with a particularly strong Traditional menu, which boasts deeply intense flavours and interestingly delicious cuts of meat - indicative of truly authentic Chinese cuisine.

The Fat Spoon's life advice of Chinese restaurants? Always always always opt for the traditional/Chinese menu. There may well be some risk involved, but without that risk you wouldn't have the opportunity to sample something new and brilliant. Keco encompasses the sheer passion of Chinese cuisine in their monstrous hot pots, fiery hot dried beef, oddly-named man and wife offal slices, and their outstandingly rich belly pork dishes. Don't be afraid of dishes served cold. Don't be afraid of dishes with weird names. And definitely don't be afraid of eating offal. The Chinese have mastered these dishes for centuries and Keco can replicate them at a fantastic standard. One of the greatest benefits of living in a multicultural city is having access is to these foreign wonders of taste. The large portions mean the food is very well priced, and although English might not the be the serving staff's first language (or second of third), they are ultra friendly and welcoming. Visit soon and try something that would probably scare your Grandma. 83%

Sausage Emporium - Meaty Goodness All Round

Sausage fest. That's the best way to describe this cheeky new restaurant situated next to the Herb Garden. And it's not like the regular sausage fests that usually entail a diamond strip bar/club, ram packed with Geordie Shore wannabes in low cut t-shirts that would make a Sunderland stripper blush. No, this a wondrous festival of all things sausage based. And they're not at all afraid of getting their meat out.

The creators have produced an adaptable menu that extracts flavours from across the globe and smoothly incorporates them into one of the nations favourites, the humble sausage. It's always encouraging to see restaurants experimenting with produce and The Sausage Emporium has proven it is not at all shy. Moroccan spice, scallops, onion bhajis and Wylam Ale sausages are among some of their interesting concoctions that must be sampled. And for those with a bizarre fear of the sausage, there are plenty of other random, but delicious items on the menu, such as oysters, steak and crab cakes. 

Their flexible menu makes them perfect for lunch or dinner and although their restaurant is very simple, the staff are very attentive and clearly very passionate about their sausage. They even have a sausage dog (he's not on the menu porkers). The food is very fairly priced and they have a fantastic selection of ale. Not to mention a melt in the middle chocolate souffle that will blow your sausage. So what are you waiting for, get some of that sausage down you! 84%

Lane7 - Bowling, Beers and Brilliant Bait

Bowling alleys have long followed a tradition of being cheap, shabby and uninspiring. Thankfully Lane7 is a major outlier in this terrible trend. You will be blown away by the retro yet very clean cut styling throughout the venue. First things first, you are met with a small but stunning bar, that leads on to an open restaurant and a modest but very funky four lanes. Not to worry though, there are another 4 lanes upstairs as well as a decent pool hall and a few ping pong tables. Although small, the range of drinks they offer is excellent and covers all bases; including commercial lines, some local real ales & stouts, a great wine collection and some wondrous "hard shakes". The draught options are available by the half, pint and by the "Growler" - again another very cool feature. But onto the important stuff.....the food. Although relatively simple, the American diner menu offers all of the classics, topped off with a shed load of sheer sexiness. They have blown the few competitors that they have completely out of the water. Highlights include the smoked pork ribs, barbecued lamb belly and smoked chicken liver pate....and they're only the starters! Expect expertly balanced dishes that offer a real taste of American cuisine, fair finer than what you would usually come across. The pricing is fair given the calibre of the venue. A few teething problems exist within the serving and kitchen staff, but that's inevitable when you're brand new. What Lane7 can't be denied of, is their outstanding concept...a true stroke of genius. For now they're getting a solid. 85%