The summer incarnation of Newcastle’s much-loved Restaurant Week is nearly upon us (it runs from August 8th to 14th) and while much of the focus is on fantastic meals in the evening, don’t forget that lunchtimes are a great opportunity to take advantage of the dozens of offers available. Many of the participating restaurants are either open from lunchtime onwards or are offering specific lunchtime deals so you can fit even more great dining into the seven days. So why not forego the disappointing supermarket sandwich sat at your desk and get along to one of these suggested destinations instead?
Cote Brasserie – Grainger Street
In a prime location on the corner of Market Street and Grainger Street, the Newcastle branch of this renowned chain of French restaurants is offering a remarkable four courses for £20 from midday each day. So you can treat yourself with hors d’oeuvres, a starter (the salmon rillettes look great), a main (try the roasted squash) and a dessert, without breaking the bank.
https://www.getintonewcastle.co.uk/offers/cote-brasserie/4-courses-20
Blackfriars has an almost legendary status as a destination restaurant in Newcastle and was one of the first to become involved in Restaurant Week. And they’re offering a tremendous lunchtime deal: from 12pm-2.30pm next Monday to Friday you can get three courses for £20, from a selection that includes dishes from pan-roasted cod to a Summer Berry Eton Mess.
https://www.getintonewcastle.co.uk/offers/blackfriars-restaurant/20-offers-4
El Coto has been serving some of the finest tapas in town for nearly twenty years and has a fantastic atmosphere as well, the ideal place to hide from real life for an hour while you take advantage of their Restaurant Week offer of 3 tapas plates for £10. The offer is valid from midday every day and runs the gamut of fine tapas dishes including Ternera a la Mesonera (home-made beef stew), Boquerones con Tomate Aliñado (unsalted anchovies in a delicious dressing) and Albóndigas en Salsa Española (home-made lamb meatballs).
https://www.getintonewcastle.co.uk/offers/el-coto/10-offer-40
The Newcastle branch of Lola Jeans has a well-deserved reputation as a party and events venue but its food is pretty great so this is a Restaurant Week offer not to be missed. From midday every day, £15 will get you two courses, and £20 three courses from a lively global menu that features such tempting dishes as Cheeseburger Gyozas, Cauliflower Buffalo Bites and Baja Fish Tacos.
https://www.getintonewcastle.co.uk/offers/lola-jeans-newcastle/2-courses-15-3-courses-20-21
Umai Mi – Grey’s Quarter, Intu Eldon Square
Serving up top notch pan-Asian delights in the heart of Eldon Square for a few years now, Umai Mi is open for Restaurant Week diners from midday every day. With two courses for £15 and three for £20, their mouth-watering menu has everything from sushi dishes (maki rolls, nigiri) to poke bowls, rice dishes and hot plates. The Beef Shin Ramen Noodles looks particularly tasty.
https://www.getintonewcastle.co.uk/offers/umai-mi/2-courses-15-3-courses-20-32
One of the longest-serving restaurants in the city and a temple of Punjabi cuisine, Sachins is offering a lunchtime deal of two courses for £15 from midday to 1.30pm (closed Sunday). With starters like Channa Goshat Tikka and Masala Prawns and mains including Lamb Railway Curry and Roadside Chicken Curry (a hugely popular roadside café dish) this one is hard to beat.
https://www.getintonewcastle.co.uk/offers/sachins/2-courses-15-278
Part of the hugely successful chain of Caribbean restaurants, Newcastle’s branch of Turtle Bay is right next to The Gate. Opening from 10am every day, this lively and fun restaurant is offering a starter and main for just £15 for Restaurant Week. So whether you’re ordering Curry Goat Hash from the Soul Food menu or Jerk Salmon from the Jerk Pit, there’s something for everyone.
https://www.getintonewcastle.co.uk/offers/turtle-bay/2-courses-15-273
One of the hottest pizza joints in town, I Scream For Pizza has a couple of very appealing Restaurant Week lunchtime offers available in its desirable Quayside location. For £10 you can pick any slice from its excellent selection (the spicy Buffalo Soldier is a favourite), a small ‘I Scream Sundae’ or ‘I Scream Cone’, a dip and Soft Drink.
https://www.getintonewcastle.co.uk/offers/i-scream-for-pizza/10-and-20-offers
The Broad Chare is the platonic ideal of the gastropub, where the pub element is just as important as the food but the food is remarkable. Their Restaurant Week offer is a two-course lunch for £15 or three courses for £20 from a selection of top-quality dishes including chilled beetroot soup, grilled mackerel, lamb suet pudding and rhubarb and raspberry crumble sundae.
https://www.getintonewcastle.co.uk/offers/broad-chare/2-courses-15-3-courses-20-19
This is just a small selection from the dozens of offers available to intrepid Restaurant Week diners, check the website for a full list of participants. And to take advantage of the offer, just click the relevant Get Into Newcastle link and follow the instructions.
