12 Best Restaurants in The Northeast, England

This upmarket yet great-value Indian restaurant in a colorful, stylishly updated space has been a Newcastle favorite since it opened in 1983, and it's easy to see why. Head chef Kulmeet Arora, better known as Bob, serves up freshly prepared Punjabi cuisine using the finest ground herbs and spices. Meat eaters will savor delicious dishes like garlic chili king prawns, medium-spicy murgh makhani (butter chicken), and delicious machi Kashmiri (monkfish and cashew curry), while vegetarians will enjoy the selection of channa (chickpea), daal (lentil) and paneer (cheese) based dishes.

For a fresh seafood lunch, nothing beats this no-frills trailer just south of Bamburgh. Freshly caught langoustines, lobsters, scallops, monkfish, king prawns, crabs, and squid are grilled on-site and served with fries or bread and garlic butter. For a quick and easy snack, choose between the Fishy Fries, slathered in a delicious smoked haddock and cheese sauce, and the scallop and bacon roll.

The treetop location may sound gimmicky, but the effect at this extraordinary restaurant is quite magical and unexpectedly romantic, especially when the place is lit up at night. Here, an enormous complex of buildings spreads out over more than 5,900 square feet, with a roaring log fire at its center and furniture made from fallen branches; the kitchen serves excellent, good-value Modern British fare. You might find Craster kipper pate on toasted ciabatta on the menu, or North Shields mussels with pale ale and garlic cream. There's also the odd international influence, like the tofu katsu curry with Asian salad. The Potting Shed bar, part of the treehouse complex, is a great option for pre-dinner drinks. You don't need to purchase a ticket to Alnwick Garden to dine here. 

A Newcastle classic, this sleek, modern bistro is a local favorite for romantic dinners as the crisp white table linens and bright-hued, mix-and-match light fixtures lend it an upmarket but quirky look. The menu focuses on contemporary, flavorful versions of classic British food using local ingredients, from Lindisfarne oysters (served with shallot vinegar and lemon as sashimi or as crispy tempura) to Northumbrian roe deer venison (served as medallions with cherries, walnuts, and pistachios). There are good-value fixed-price options as well as an à la carte menu. 

Ignore the dad-joke pun—this is a really good, modern, vegetarian- and celiac-friendly café. Mismatched, shabby-chic furniture fills the cozy dining room, where you can enjoy delicious, fresh scones, cakes, tasty panini and wraps, and some egg dishes. It's easily missed, so look out for the salmon-colored door at the corner of Saddler Street and Owengate.

A nicely old-fashioned air pervades this 17th-century building, now a café and tearoom, on the main square. Drop in for a tasty breakfast or a lunch with options such as sandwiches, salads, and hot mains—or just have a slice of cake. It also has a pleasant little housewares and gift shop attached.

Located near Corbridge Roman Town, the best deli for miles around is filled with all manner of local produce, as well as specialty foods from small-time artisans across Europe. The lovely café upstairs serves delicious breakfasts, soups, and sandwiches.

The draw at this burger joint popular with students and tourists alike is a good choice of delicious beef, chicken, and vegan burgers, served alongside fries, onion rings, and—a rarity in the United Kingdom—tater tots. Wash down the grease with an excellent, Fat Hippo–branded lager or IPA (made at Allendale Brewery in nearby Hexham), and save space for an ice cream–covered waffle or brownie to finish. Kids get a build-your-own burger, side, and drink for a bargain £7.50.

This pretty stone-built pub-hotel is one of the region's best (and best value) dining options. The delicately flavored and beautifully presented dishes, from cured sea trout with cucumber salsa to lamb rump with potato terrine and wild garlic, would seem more at home in a fine-dining restaurant than a village pub if it weren't for the remarkably low prices. A three-course lunch will set you back just £28. More regular pub dishes, like fish-and-chips and beef burgers, are also available, and also far better than you'd expect for the prices. Too full to move? Book yourself into one of the seven well-appointed rooms upstairs.

The snug bar and restaurant of this remote, peaceful, 17th-century pub make an excellent place to dine. Fine local meat goes into its famous savory pies—take your pick from the likes of wild boar and duckling—while the unfussy menu also features such staples as fish-and-chips, Whitby scampi, and lasagna with garlic bread. Two cottages are available for rent. The inn is 3½ miles east of Greenhead on the B6318.

Aside from the punny name, this fine restaurant, in the upscale suburb of Jesmond, hits all the right notes, with chef Dave Coulson serving up delicious, flavor-packed, and beautifully presented dishes. Choose from a selection of seasonal, multicourse tasting menus (including vegetarian options) that make the most of fresh local produce; the four-course lunch offers incredible value at just £25. The interior is colorful and airy, and the waitstaff is friendly and attentive—in fact, you might struggle to catch your breath between servings of bread, drinks, endless amuse bouches, and regular courses.

This colorful and inviting restaurant, where diners are "shaded" indoors by a faux cherry blossom tree, mainly serves Thai food, but the eclectic menu is also scattered with Japanese, Chinese, and Indonesian dishes. A rather dizzying culinary trip around Asia can take you from Thai green curry to sizzling Mongolian lamb to Japanese teriyaki beef. There are also some less familiar dishes like cod fillet wrapped in banana leaves and served with chili and lime. This place is a local favorite, so make reservations if you're coming on a weekend.