The Bridge Tavern - Give us a Brew Love

Many entrepreneurs in the hospitality trade are greedy pigs. They literally want it all, a fully functioning restaurant that doubles up as a trendy bar, cool coffee house, night club and occasionally a brothel. And generally these places are more confused than the British political system; are occupied by the filth of society and are ultimately doomed to fail. But occasionally they succeed, with the right ingredients of classy styling, quality food and a superior interest in Newcastle's more refined (i.e. not trebles) drinking culture. Town Wall's new sibling is an example of such a place that is more than just a gastro pub. They've taken all of the thrills of the Town Wall - pub food done really well, a very healthy selection of ales and a lively active evening drinking venue, then given it an irresponsible dose of steroids. As well as an on-site microbrewery in collaboration with the Wylam Brewery, that is not only functional but also a very visual attractive. The monstrous variety of ales on tap is probably the only thing that will stop you from climbing into one of the brewing tanks.

The menu holds some small quirks but is largely made up of classic pub food....done excellently, without a whiff of ponce. And best of all, their dishes come only as fat boy portions, always a winner with the Fat Spoon. Aside from the beastly fish and chip that'll have a bite of you if you're not careful; and the Mixed grill for two (hundred) they do also offer some interesting sharing platters and Broad Chare-esque bar snacks. The prices are fair across the board and you can expect some friendly service here. But predominantly, this place is likely to become a nature reserve for real ale drinkers. A place that they can they to find shelter, warmth and great pub food. A place they can sample a huge variety of local and not so local beers. A place they drink without fear of chavs or undergraduate students vulgarly chinning Carling or skittles. 

Although a very friendly and welcoming pub during the day, the Bridge Tavern does have a great 'trendy-pub' type of atmosphere in the evening, just like the Town wall. The great food and microbrewery features given it quite an edge over other 'regular' gastro pubs....which means this place should definitely be on your list of places to try soon. 83%

Sohe - Asian Amalgamation

Not all of Newcastle's culinary action resides in the city centre, a number of fantastic fine dining experiences have started to set up shop a little further out. And many of them, like Sohe, can be found in Jesmond, however there is something quite special about Sohe. It has dared to go in a direction that many others have tried but generally monumentally failed to achieve, Asian fusion. Fusion cuisine can be dirty word in cuisine. It's often an excuse to cut corners, utilise cheaper ingredients or just force flavours together that would rather have a fight. No, melting blue cheese on to my lamb tagine is not cooking innovation, it's vulgar and despicable. However, the creators of Sohe's elaborate menu know exactly what they're doing.

Their very successfully accomplished classic Thai, Indonesian and Malaysian dishes are delivered with contemporary class on par with many of Newcastle's heavy hitters. Yet they achieve this without deviating from the originals too heavily, keeping the hardcore Nasi Goreng and beef rendang fans very happy. Dishes that refined looking, that even your grandma would be keen to tuck in, but should she linger in the spicy sauces too long, she'll be hit in the dentures with a fist full of Asian amazement. They don't stop at savoury either, with the fusion incorporation extended to some fantastic desserts.

The restaurant itself is even more alluring and quite possibly the sexiest restaurant of Newcastle. They have combined a huge variety of decor components that should be visually offensive and burn your eye balls out of your skull. But somehow they've achieved another element fusion here, an explosion of vibrancy that creates an exciting dining atmosphere as well as a elegantly lively bar area. The service is very good and although the menu is a little pricey, they do offer diners club discounts. They even have a Vietnamese coffee machine that looks like R2D2 after it won the Euromillions. 91%

Dabbawal - Street Food Sensation

Unfortunately due to the grossly vast number of generic "Indian" restaurants that have populated this country since the 80's the majority of people think Indian cuisine is solely based on meat in sauce, dry old rice and a bit of limp bread. Wrong. Indian food is highly diverse and should be vibrant, fresh and certainly not just in the form of dog food like dishes. Thankfully there are a handful of properly Indian restaurant in Newcastle that are striving to smash this backward tradition. Rasa on the Quayside has covered Keralan cuisine like an absolute boss, whereas Dabbawal has taken a different approach and produced a perfectly mixed menu that encompasses the cuisine of various regions of India. India is all about real, none-pretencious food. And Dabbawal has used the street food theme to express how interesting and different the cuisine really can be. Food that can be both highly energetic in terms of flavours and spice as well as elegant and perfectly well balanced. Their menu depicts how they're also no scared of incorporating new elements into classic dishes such as their brilliant Duck Nilgiri and Punjabi Chicken Lollipops. But they haven't neglected true street food favourites like their chaats, Railway Lamb Curry and Gol Guppa. The restaurant is just as fresh and well presented as their menu and dishes. You can also expect friendly and knowledgeable service alongside a good wine menu. Indian food is all about brutally delicious flavours, if you don't like your spice then maybe you should stick to parmos and cheesy chips. The only downside to Dabbawal is that it's a little on the expensive side and portions sizes aren't massive. However if you're ready to hoy that feeble chicken tikka massala in the bin and try something that's both authentically Indian and hugely flavoursome, then Dabbawal have the spice sensations you need. Food quality is very good to, so don't worry about the heat smashing your back doors in/out. 89%

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%

The Valley - All Aboard the Curry Train

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% 

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%

The Herb Garden - Fresh Thrills

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%