NE1 Reviews: Browns Bar & Brasserie

In the city’s ever-growing foodie scene, there are some restaurants that stand the test of time, remaining just as good as they were when they first arrived, no matter how many years go by. Browns is one of them.

Perfectly-positioned and poised on Grey Street, this well-established bar and brasserie is a guarantee for mouthwatering meals; a place for all-occasion dining, whether it be leisurely weekend brunch, working lunches, celebratory Afternoon Tea or pre-theatre dinner.

Relax while feasting your eyes on a mouthwatering menu, chat with the well-versed waiting staff, or kick-back at the bar, cocktail in hand, and toe-tap to the tinkling coming from the grand piano.

In terms of decor, it’s all a bit France-meets-New York; low-lit lighting, cosy leather booths, a sleek and slinky centre bar with plenty of seating and a buzzy open kitchen.

Fancy a tipple? You’ll find fine wines, champagne and bubbles, beer and cider and a variety of expertly-crafted cocktails.

The food focuses on hearty dishes, seasonal treats and memorable classics. There’s the sophisticated a-la-carte menu for evenings, a small, but exciting lunch and early evening offering (two courses for £10.95, Monday to Friday from 12pm-7pm) and a seasonal specials menu, showcasing some stellar plates, made with some of the best ingredients on offer at the time of your visit.

Our culinary journey begins with whole-baked sourdough (£3.50) - an impressive hunk of a loaf fresh from the oven in all its golden glory. Next up and craving something light and zingy, we opt for the courgette tagliatelle (£9.95). A big, comforting bowl of goodness; al dente pasta mixed with courgette ribbons, grated lemon zest, toasted pumpkin seeds and mint – real fresh wake-you-up flavours. The meat-lover amongst us goes for the 7oz fillet steak (£22.95), finished with baby watercress for some crunch and a pot of thick-cut chips. We add half a plump lobster tail to the mix and suggest you do the same if you’re quite partial to a bit of surf n turf on your plate. The meaty flesh is finger-licking food – a thing of beauty. We also share the super colourful beetroot and avocado salad (£9.95), which you can enjoy as a main if you’d like.

The dessert menu boasts some really sophisticated puds. If we could have them all, we would - but in the end, settle on the creme brûlée (£5.50) and the apple, cherry and almond crumble (£5.95). My oh my, they’re good – two ramekins of perfection. The perfect ending to a faultless dining experience at Browns Bar & Brasserie.

Book a table at Browns here or give them a call on 0191 261 8210 to get in for a nice hearty meal. Don't forget to send us a Tweet if you pop down at @NewcastleNE1 and share all your NE1 Adventures around the Town.