Things To Do

Eating Veggie/Vegan this January? NE1 Restaurant Week has you covered

Last updated: 16/01/2020

Food and Drink

Getting involved with Veganuary? Worried you won’t be able to partake in a bit of NE1 Restaurant Week? I was, too...

We asked local foodie and top blogger, Scran on the Tyne, to give us the lowdown on how NE1 Restaurant Week shapes up for anyone giving meat a miss this January, as well as offering her own top tips for where to check out and what they're offering. Check it out below!

Having signed myself up for a Veggie January (sorry, but I’m not giving up cheese) this year, I found myself wondering whether I’d be able to take advantage of the many amazing offers available this coming NE1 Restaurant Week. I shouldn’t have worried - I’m pleased to report that tonnes of our fine eateries are doing their bit, too, providing a range of veggie and vegan-friendly options within their Restaurant Week deals.

So, with that in mind, I wanted to share my personal top picks for herbivores this January across the city, for anyone already on a veggie/vegan journey, or if you’re just keen to reduce your meat consumption a little this month.

There’s lots of amazing stuff on offer if you know where to go…

Tyneside Bar Café

First up, it’s extra props to the good folk at Tyneside Cinema’s Bar Café for putting on an almost-entirely vegan menu of delicious small plates. It’s fantastic to see a city centre venue offering so many plant-based dishes, so whether you’re die-hard or just trying it out, you can tuck in with family and friends.

There’s truly something for everyone, ranging from a vegan shepherd’s pie to tempura-battered tofu, along with a nutrient-packed barley, chickpea and aubergine casserole. They have a wide range of wines, beers and spirits and a great, welcoming atmosphere, plus, January is always great for films (#AwardSeason) if you fancy catching one after your vegan-friendly dinner!

Their offer: Two dishes for £10, Three for £15, evenings only.

Click here to view their menu!

Zucchini Pasta Bar

One of my favourite places to eat in town, full stop. Zucchini Pasta Bar, based on the 55 Degrees roundabout, is all about fresh, golden, hand-made pasta. I’m fairly obsessed with their signature dish, the 6-hour beef shin ragu with pappardelle and would always, always recommend this if you eat meat, but if you don’t then there’s something at Zucchini for you, too.

For vegans / veggies, there’s a mushroom, basil and goat’s cheese crostini to start, along with a divine sounding dish featuring Trofie (a small, twisted thin pasta originating from Northern Italy), served with a vegan pesto of walnut, basil, green beans, rocket and lemon. For veggies still partial to cheese, there’s also a Bucatini dish boasting pecorino, parmesan and black pepper.

If you’re into dessert and still happen to eat dairy, I must do my duty as a foodie and recommend their frankly to-die-for Black Cherry Tiramisu. You won’t regret it.

The offer: The restaurant is offering two courses for £10 and 3 for £15 - all times inclusive.

Click here to view their menu!

Horticulture

As the name suggests, the gang at Horticulture know their plants and you’ll find no bigger evidence than on their ‘From the Earth’ section of their extensive menu.

For their first NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week since opening in late 2019, the new kid on the (Pilgrim Street) block has provided us with two menus to take advantage of: A Brunch menu offering two dishes for £10, along with their Evening menu, offering 4 small plates for £15, which is pretty incredible value.

The ‘From the Earth’ menu boasts a range of delicious plant-based dishes, such as Vegetable Shawarma with fresh flatbread, a Sweet Potato Curry (served with renowned specialist grower Ken Holland’s butternut squash) and a Slow-cooked Bean Goulash.

Brunch-wise there are 5 dishes to choose from, with their now famous ‘Shloumi’ at an additional £2 supplement. It’s worth it (but not suitable for vegans - just veggies).

The offer: 2 for £10 (brunch) or 4 plates for £15 (evening). Brunch available Mon-Fri 8 am till 3 pm, Sat 10 am till 3 pm and Sun 10 am till 5 pm. Evening menu available Monday through to Saturday, 3 pm till 10 pm.

Click here to view their menu!

Kaltur (High Bridge/Dean Street)

Spanish food aficionados Kaltur are also getting in on the vegan-friendly action, with a range of plant-based dishes across their Restaurant Week offering.

Kaltur is one of my favourite places to eat out in the city, especially for a date night, thanks to their huge selection of wines and amazing tapas dishes. I personally prefer the new spot on Dean Street as it’s more spacious, but the High Bridge restaurant is also lovely if a little more of a squeeze!

All of the tapas dishes on the Restaurant Week menu are vegetarian-friendly, with switches made to cater to vegans also. There’s 1 dish on the main course menu, too, alongside their good old meat and fish dishes. The beauty of tapas is the casual approach to dining, so it’s fantastic to see Kaltur embracing more plant-based dishes so it’s way more inclusive.

Race you to the kitchen seats - the best in the house, if you ask me (everything to do with the fact the chefs often slip you some free samples while they’re cooking!).

The offer: 3 courses for £15, available Mon-Fri and Sunday all day, and until 6 pm on Saturday.

Click here to view their menu!

Dobson and Parnell

One of the most visually stunning restaurants in Newcastle, in my opinion, the Quayside’s Dobson and Parnell has been up there as one of my favourites since it opened a few years back.

Part of the Hooked On group of restaurants, which also includes Blackfriars, Dobson and Parnell is all about high-quality, vibrant and imaginative dishes using locally-sourced produce.

For this year’s Restaurant Week, there are a number of vegan, veggie and gluten-free options available, including a winter-warming celeriac soup with kale and walnut pesto and mustard oil to start, with a root vegetable gratin for main, served with whipped tofu and mushroom ketchup.

There are also two veggie-friendly desserts and one vegan; the decadent-sounding malted chocolate mousse with coffee syrup and a malted chocolate crumb. If you’re not partaking in Dry January this year, check out their impressive list of wines, too.

The offer: 3 courses for £15 at Lunch, or 2 courses for £15 at Dinner. Offer valid 12 pm - 2 pm Tuesday to Saturday and 5.30 pm till 9.30 pm Tuesday to Friday.

So there you have it - my five top picks for a veggie/vegan-friendly meal this Newcastle Restaurant Week. There are plenty more where that came from, so be sure to check the main directory to see if your favourite spots are offering plant-based dishes.

Click here to view their menu!