NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week: 10 Must-Try Newbies
Check out our round-up of whose new to Restaurant Week this January
New to NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week? Then you’re in good company. This year, we’re lucky enough to have some fantastic restaurants taking part for the first time that you'll definitely want to try out.
From Hawaiian-inspired eats and Bombay street food to mouth-watering Mexican fare, we've rounded up all our Restaurant Week newbies' offers to make booking a breeze. Read on and get booked up!
DOOD, Quayside
DOOD is the latest venture from the same team behind much-loved Newcastle Indian restaurants Dabbawal and Khai Khai and has been delighting diners with its elevated take on Persian and Levantine cuisine since opening in November. See what everyone’s raving about with their £25 Restaurant Week offer which kicks off with hummus and pita to share, a choice of mouthwatering mazeh, kebabs or khoesht for mains and a range of sides. We can guarantee you’re going love it!
EL&N @ Fenwick, Northumberland Street
If brunch and lunch are your kinda thing, then put new Fenwick eatery EL&N on your Restaurant Week hitlist. For their Restaurant Week debut, they’re offering a choice of a brunch dish or sandwich plus a cake for just £15 – think French toast and focaccia sandwiches followed by sweet treats like tiramisu and carrot cake.
FRED’s @ Fenwick, Northumberland Street
EL&N isn’t the only recent addition to Fenwick and we’re happy to report that FRED’s – their new, modern take on a classic tearoom – is also taking part in Restaurant Week for the first time. They’ve got two Restaurant Week offers available – afternoon tea and a glass of prosecco for £20 or a lunch-friendly £15 deal featuring sandwiches, salads and pâtisserie. Opt for the latter and you’ll get to try their signature ‘Supreme Croissants’… and we know you won’t regret it!
Sunshine Restaurant, Gallowgate
It’s not often we get to say that foodies can try authentic Eritrean and Ethiopian cuisine during Restaurant Week but thanks to Sunshine Restaurant – which set up shop on Gallowgate last year – we now can! Their wallet-friendly £15 deal offers a starter, main and a side with tasty dishes including zgni (a hot and spicy lamb stew) and shakla (beef with spiced butter and bird’s chilli) – plus plenty of tempting veggie and vegan options too!
Wagamama, Old Eldon Square
Wagamama has had a Newcastle branch at Old Eldon Square since 2006, but guess what? They’re taking part in Newcastle Restaurant Week for the first time ever this January – hurrah! They’re offering a main, shareable dish and dessert from either their standard menu or plant-based menu for just £25 – perfect if you’re following a vegan or vegetarian diet this Restaurant Week!
Cilantro, Side
A very recent addition to Newcastle’s dining scene, Cilantro – who foodies may know of from their Hexham branch – specialises in tapas infused with Indian and Latino flavours. For their Restaurant Week debut, they’re offering three tapas dishes and rice or naan for just £25 and some tempting dishes are up for grabs – keema nachos, duck lettuce tostada and spinach and paneer quesadilla included.
The Valley Junction, Jesmond Three Sixty
Fans of Indian food will no doubt already know of The Valley Junction but they’ll also be happy to learn that they’re taking part in NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week for the first time this January. A mainstay of the city’s dining scene since opening (in a former train carriage, no less!) back in 1997, their £20 Restaurant Week offer includes a starter, main course and choice of rice or naan bread – perfect for spicing it up a little this January!
Claremont Teahouse, Eldon Place
A haven for lovers of fine tea, Claremont Teahouse opened its doors in early 2023 and – one year later – it’s making its Restaurant Week debut. The teahouse has two £15 Restaurant Week deals – one offering a bagel, hash pops and a sweet treat that’s perfect for breakfast or brunch and another offering soup, a sandwich and a sweet treat that’s ideal for lunchtime dining.
Latif, Clayton Street West
Indian restaurant Latif has been a veteran of Newcastle’s dining scene for over 25 years but 2025 marks its first time taking part in NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week. For just £15 per person, you could enjoy an appetiser of poppadums and pickles, starters like onion bhaji and prawn bhuna on puri and classic curry mains including baltis, kormas and masalas – all that plus a side of rice or naan bread too!
Abajo Bar & Grill, Grey Street
New Grey Street addition Abajo is a basement-level bar and grill boasting good vibes and great food – and they’re one of January Restaurant Week’s newcomers too! They’ve got two amazing £15 deals offering a choice of four tapas dishes or one tapas dish plus a main. With fare like pork belly bites, baked camembert, chorizo smashed burger and meat feast pizza to choose from, we’re certain a meal at this Newcastle newbie will be delicious.
NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week is the ideal time to try a recent addition to Newcastle’s dining scene and we’re certainly tempted by the tasty fare these newcomers are cooking up. So, will you venture somewhere new this Restaurant Week? Let us know how it goes if you do!
Main image: DOOD, Photo by Anna Miller
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