Who knows Newscastle really well?

[Northerner]

Please can you suggest a restaurant suitable for lunch for 30 ladies after a hard days shopping, must be 'classy'.

They did want to go to BALTIC but it's booked for a private hire.

I don't do a great deal in Newcastle so I'm not too au fait with what's nice and what's not IYKWIM!

TIA

You need Popsycal or Becca - they both know Newcastle.

Hi northerner, restarants in Ncle are one of my fave subjects, not that i get to sample them much any more!

I'd recommend in city centre/quayside:
Cafe 21 on Queen Street, classic, french, lovely food and great service and wine but not stuffy.

Paradiso, italian/mediterreanen (sp)food, you could ask for the upstairs room and sit by the kitchen or the private dining room. Lovely staff again. Also has a deck area outside so maybe you could have a pre dinner drink here. I love it here and big fave for work lunches. Also above a great bar, Popolo, owned by same people and has big cocktail list. Restaurant not as classy as some of other on this list tho.

The Apartment on Mosley Street - chic, a bit posey, almost footballers wives but classier! You'll probably spot a local celeb there. Great reviews, you'd need to check if they can seat 30 tho.

El Coto on Leazes Park Road, again medit type food and tapas. This is quite new and heard good things about it. Also have a private dining room. Also a courtyard area, agin for pre-dinner drinks.

Out of town a little (a mile or so): Barn @ the Biscuit - ever popular restaurant used be where El Coto is now but now in old biscuit factory converted to contemporary art gallery.

Fisherman's Lodge, Jesmond Dene - Upmarket fish restaurant in the Dene so feels like out in countryside.

At work so will try and post numbers for these later. HTH to start off with.

OOh Zeebee thank you soo much, these sound fantastic. Off to see if they have websites.

Thanks!

Some numbers, all 0191:

Cafe 21 - 222 0755
Paradiso, 1 Market Lane, 221 1240
Barn @ the Biscuit - 230 3338
Fisherman's Lodge 281 3281

There is also Treacle Moon 232 5537, owned by same people as F'man's Lodge and Seaham Hall. Is in thick of action on quayside so be prepared for scantily clad drunk people walking past and providing the caberet!

Oooh, you have me drooling in anticipation for you!

When are you going? Do you live in/nr Ncle?

Thanks Zeebee, thats really kind.

It's not for me unfortunatley I work in event management so it's for our clients. I'm doing a conference in Newcastle at the new Hilton for some doctors, and this is the social programme for their partners.

helllloooooooo

zeebee is obviously more classy than me as i have only heard of a few of these places!!!

Let me think - my more 'cassy' friend is coming over this evening - will ask her

Thanks Popsy!

Ooooh, how nice to be called classy!! . In reality more like champagne aspirations and beer money - and not even that now cos of babysitters!

Whereabouts are you popsycal? In Ncle?

I'm in Newcastle and have hardly been to any of these places!!! Must try harder...

I haven't been to them all either - but would like to!! I work a few doors along from Paradiso so do know it well, yum!

Miranda2 and popsycal - whereabout in Newcastle are you? I'm in gosforth and have one dd aged 19 months.

I don't know much about 'classy' places for conference programmes any more but zeebee's list is spot on - barn at the biscuit would be a good one as it is in an art gallery/shop (not even sure how to describe it!) and is well geared up for classy lunches I'm sure. (its also about 5mins from where I live!)
Another nice place is the fig tree cafe in Jesmond - you'd need to hire the whole place though as its quite small.
zeebee are you new to mumsnet? There's about half a dozen of us around in newcastle, perhaps we're due for a meet again?

hi - i am in benton - well near there...!

shall we start a meet up thread?

Thanks guys. Fig Tree does look lovely elliott. Tried unsuccessfully to go for lunch there last week but will return.
Yes I'm fairly new to posting, tho been lurking for a little while. Guess the next step in my addiction (she gulps) would be a meet up, good idea. Ncle sometimes seems so small we may even know each other or at least have mutual acquaintances!! Fridays are best for me. Over to you experts..........

Northener,

DH and I have just moved from Newcastle (only temporarily!).
DH is a doctor and has been out on many of these 'dos'. He always likes the Fisherman's Lodge (but I've never been ).

We both love Cafe Paradiso - very relaxed and great food and the building itself is gorgeous.

Never been to Treacle Moon but heard great things about it from some very discerning diners!

Have you tried Malmaison? They sometimes will do a special deal for large groups. The hotel is on the Quayside and overlooks the millenium bridge and the Baltic.