NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week's Best Italian Bites

Gusto, Quayside

Popular Quayside restaurant Gusto is serving up some delicious Italian treats this Restaurant Week – from red pesto and mozzarella arancini to Jerusalem artichoke and truffle ravioli , plus decadent desserts like bombolini (aka ‘Italian doughnuts’) – with a fantastic two courses for £20 or three for £25 deal.

I Scream for Pizza, Quayside 

For something a little more casual on the Quayside, head to I Scream for Pizza. The vibey little joint has a trio of deals priced at £15, £20 and £25 that all include their signature pizzas and various tasty add-ons including dips, garlic knots, chicken wings, milkshakes or sundaes depending on which offer you choose. It’s a great option for family dining during Restaurant Week too with plenty to please younger diners!

Babucho, Side

This Restaurant Week, Babucho – the popular New York-style brasserie on Side – is showcasing a whole new side to its menu with a fantastic two courses for £20 and three for £25 deal. There’s lots of Italian treats to enjoy too with the likes of truffle mushroom arancini fritters, meatball calzone and panna cotta with peaches and Chantilly cream – delizioso!

Marco Polo, Dean Street

Long-running restaurant Marco Polo has been delighting local diners for more than fifty years, so you can rest assured you’re in for a delicious Italian meal at this Dean Street mainstay. Go for two courses at £15 or three for £20 and enjoy tempting fare like smoked salmon crostini, seafood risotto (with tiger prawns, mussels and calamari) and raspberry panna cotta.

Zucchini Pasta Bar, 55 Degrees North, Pilgrim Street

As its name suggests, Zucchini Pasta Bar is heaven for pasta lovers. For Restaurant Week, they’re cooking up the likes of ham hock taglierini, a classic carbonara and the vegan-friendly ‘Spaghetti Midnight’ and with a two dishes for £15 or three for £20, you can throw starters like crispy chicken Caesar salad and desserts including tiramisu into the mix too.

Gino D’Acampo Restaurant Quayside, Close

With a two courses for £20 or three for £25 deal and a gorgeous riverfront terrace to dine on, the Quayside branch of Gino D’Acampo is perfect for summertime dining this Restaurant Week. Choose from classic Italian starters like bruschetta, mouthwatering mains like the trofie al salmone affumicato pasta and desserts like gelato in a range of flavours including pistachio, vanilla and honeycomb.

Twenty Twenty, Bigg Market

Bigg Market pizza hotspot has a brilliant deal going on this Restaurant Week and it’s certainly making our mouths water! For just £15 per person, you can feast on delicious small plates like dough petals and honey chorizo followed by one of their legendary pizzas – including the cheese fest that is the It Ain’t Easy Being Cheesy and The Italian Job topped with salami, ‘nduja, pepperoni, pancetta and rocket.

ASK Italian, Grey’s Quarter, Eldon Square

ASK Italian is one of a handful Eldon Square eateries taking part in Restaurant Week this summer and their offer gets diners two courses for £20 or three for £25. Treat yourself to the likes of classic calamari, slow-cooked beef pappardelle and Sicilian lemon tart for the ultimate Italian feast.

Prima, Side

Boasting a prime location in the shadow of the Tyne Bridge, Prima has a duo of great Restaurant Week deals offering two courses for £20 or three for £25 and delicious dishes like mushroom and spinach pizza, spicy nduja pasta and dark truffle chocolate tart. Each of their deals includes a house drink too – salute!

Fuego, Fenwick, Northumberland Street

Fenwick favourite Fuego is giving lovers of Italian cuisine a great deal this Restaurant Week with a pizza and dessert deal for £15. Pizza options include the ‘Fuego’ (spicy Italian sausage, ‘nduja, chilli, rocket) and the ‘Vegetariana’ (olives, mushrooms, red onion, Padrón peppers, courgette ribbons, rosso sauce), while their desserts include burnt Basque cheesecake and baklava – not that Italian, but still very tempting!

Zizzi, Grey Street

Say ciao to a delicious Italian meal at Grey Street restaurant Zizzi and an amazing Restaurant Week deal offering three courses for just £20. Tuck into the likes of garlic and pork meatballs, crispy prosciutto carbonara and gelato, And, with options like roasted aubergine “meatballs” and lentil ragu, Zizzi is great for vegetarian and vegan Restaurant Week diners too!

Lui’s, King Street

You’ll be whisked away to the warmer climes of Italy in an instance with King Street restaurant Lui’s temping Restaurant Week menu. Get two courses for £20 or three for £25 and dine on the likes of spicy arancini with ‘nduja sausage and mozzarella, spaghetti scoglio (with mussel, king prawn, tiger prawns, squid, chilli and fresh tomato) and a classic tiramisu.

Central Oven + Shaker, Neville Street

If it’s pizza and pasta you’re craving and a wallet-friendly deal you’re on the look out for, then you can’t go wrong with a trip to Central Oven + Shaker this Restaurant Week. Their £15 two-course menu features the likes of vodka rigatoni and a meaty ‘nduja and mascarpone pizza – plus mouthwatering starters like Tuscan prawns and panko-crusted lasagne bites!

Uno’s Trattoria, Sandhill

Warm and welcoming, Uno’s Trattoria is all about traditional Italian cuisine and they’ve been serving it from their Sandhill space since 1989 – which speaks pretty well of their food! This Restaurant Week, get two courses for £20 and enjoy mouthwatering mains like Italian Tuscan sausage ragu and linguine with clams and mussels, teamed with starters like focaccia flatbread or desserts like sticky toffee pudding.

St. Vincent, Broad Chare

Broad Chare favourite St. Vincent is loved for its France and Italy-inspired menu and there are plenty of Italian-leaning treats to enjoy there this Restaurant Week with their two courses for £20 or three for £25 deal – including sea bass carpaccio, rotolo di zucca (a pasta and squash roll with ricotta and sage brown butter) and hazelnut praline semifreddo.

Pizza Punks, Grey Street

Alternatively, why not get a slice of the Restaurant Week action at Pizza Punks with a starter, pizza and drink for only £20? Starters include the likes of mac ‘n’ cheese and chicken wings, followed by any of Pizza Punks’ classic or ‘create your own’ pizzas and you can wash it all down with a choice of beer, wine, a cocktail or soft drink too!

From pizza and pasta mains to classic starters and desserts, NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week is the perfect time to indulge in delicious Italian food. And, if you’re looking more even more global cuisines to try, check out our Dine Around the World with Newcastle Restaurant Week article!

NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week, in association with Tyne and Wear Metro, takes place from Monday 4^th August 2025 to Sunday 10^th August 2025. For more information visit: www.getintonewcastle.co.uk/ne1-events/restaurant-week.

Main image: Gusto

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