hungri-ness: Newcastle Restaurant Week - 21/01/2013

Lets face it, January is a pretty depressing month for most people. Christmas and New Year have passed by in a flash again, we've gained a few extra pounds from excessive eating and drinking with friends and family, New Years resolutions have already gone out of the window, it's cold, it's dark by 4 o'clock and worst of all everyone's bank accounts are looking pretty dire.

Thank God for NE1 giving us Newcastle Restaurant Week! The opportunity to dine out for seven days at 41 of Newcastle's restaurants for a fraction of the usual cost. Who could say no to that? I managed to squeeze in three lunches.

Vujon

I've been to Vujon once before and was impressed by the fact it wasn't just a bog standard Indian restaurant hence why I decided I'd like to go back again.

Poppodoms with chatnis and pickle.

Mahi Salmon Tikka - Chunks of salmon marinated in yoghurt, garlic, home-made spices and grilled in tandoor, served with mint chutney (which there wasn't any of).

Achari Gosht - an Indian delicacy diced lamb cooked in ground spices, tomato, onion and chilli pickle.

Vegetable pilau rice.

Garlic and coriander naan.

2 courses cost £15 and that included the poppodoms, rice and nann bread. It was great Indian food. However, the service and atmosphere let the food down. I booked a table for 1.30pm (the website says lunch is served till 2pm) and as soon as we'd sat down we were told we'd have to order quickly as the kitchen was closing. We hadn't even finished our poppodoms by the time the starters arrived, our starter plates were swiped away as soon as we'd finished chewing and the waiter watched over us the whole time we were eating like some sort of vulture. We were made to feel like we had to rush our food rather than enjoy it. It didn't help that there was only one other table in the restaurant. We paid the bill and hadn't even made it to the front door before the waiter was putting his coat on to leave himself!

Caffe Vivo

I'd never been to Caffe Vivo before so I was looking forward to feasting on some authentic Italian food. I'd heard great things about the food and it didn't disappoint.

Prosecco with Limoncello and an Aperitivo Vivo (prosecco with blood orange and campari).

Sicilian caponata with chick pea fritters.

Escalope Milanese with spaghetti pomodoro.

Tutti frutti semi freddo.

Three courses cost just £15 and each one was enjoyed in a thoroughly relaxing atmosphere. Why bother going to Italian chains like Zizzi, Carluccio's and Pizza Express when you can eat fresh, delicious Italian food at Caffe Vivo. I can't wait to go back and try the A la Carte menu.

The Broad Chare

I've been to The Broad Chare a number of times, mainly for their incredible bar snacks. If you haven't tried their scotch egg you NEED to. They also do a cracking Sunday lunch. They've just come 46th in the Top 50 Gastropub Awards so it's well worth paying them a visit if you haven't already.