NORTH EAST LIFESTYLE

Dining at Kamal is a sensory experience for your eyes and your tastebuds. Everything is presented to the highest possible standard. When it comes to flavours, the highly skilled chefs use locally sourced ingredients to create authentic dishes (plus spices from a little further afield!). Everything is cooked to order, to ensure maximum freshness and taste, and they are happy to accommodate specific requests or requirements.

This wonderful, multi-award-winning, family-run restaurant is renowned for its authentic Indian and Bangladeshi cooking. Ahar has a whole host of awards and most recently won Bangladeshi Restaurant of the Year at the English Curry Awards. They use traditional cooking techniques and a charcoal tandoor produce consistently distinctive dishes.

Tucked away on Ilfracombe Gardens, Onda is Whitley Bay’s newest gem. This vibrant cafe-deli is effortlessly cool, confident, and already a firm favourite with locals. The café’s name, meaning wave or vibe, perfectly captures its relaxed energy. The menu is built around beautifully crafted sandwiches.With its friendly owners, local ethos, and refined yet unpretentious food, Onda is riding high - a must-visit coastal café.

The Imperial is a delightful family-run restaurant that was established nearly 30 years ago. In that time it has built up an excellent reputation for serving deliciously authentic Cantonese dishes without the fine dining price tag. With a stunning oriental interior and authentic recipes, diners are transported to China in the heart of the North East.

Nestling on the outskirts of the lovely market town of Bellingham is the Riverdale Hall Hotel - a gorgeous, traditional country house hotel that is renowned for serving delicious cuisine in a stylish setting. This Les Routiers Gold Plate award-winning restaurant prides itself on the They lovingly create their own spice blends, and this is what makes their food extra special. The menu is extensive and the chef’s special Keema Chicken Tikka and the Chicken Tikka Malayan come highly recommended.

Housed in a signal box and old train carriage, the multi-award-winning Valley Junction 397 is the most unique Indian Restaurant in Newcastle, and for more than 27 years, they have been proudly serving deliciously authentic Bangladeshi cuisine that is first class.  The team prides itself on the flavour and presentation of its food, with each dish designed to take you on a culinary journey. The Chicken Roshun Kora and Lauri Mangsho come highly recommended.

Liosi’s Sicilian Cafe Bar brings the authentic taste of Sicily to the banks of the River Tyne. This wonderful eatery is a family-run business that has Sicilian culture and food at its heart. Liosi’s food can be enjoyed in the cafe or to take away, or diners can enjoy this authentic food al fresco style whilst taking in the uninterrupted views of the River Tyne. During the winter months they are open Monday to Wednesday 8am-4pm, Thursday to Saturday 8am-7pm and closed on Sunday.

Saathi is a family-run restaurant located in the picturesque market town of Hexham. The emphasis at Saathi is on delivering freshly prepared food that tastes amazing. All the ingredients used are as fresh, but the real shining beacon that sets this restaurant up as one of the best in the region is the spices. The team grind and blend their own spice cocktails for each dish. This unique approach ensures that the spices used in every dish are blended to perfection.

Salparo is a wonderful Greek restaurant that nestles underneath the Tyne Bridge and is set slightly back from Newcastle’s historic Quayside. It draws its inspiration from Greek cuisine and serves a selection of Grecian-inspired small plates. This unique way of dining is a great way to try different flavour combinations and textures from this much-loved region of the world.

Café Spice is an award-winning neighbourhood Indian restaurant that effortlessly blends the vibrant flavours of Indian cuisine with contemporary flair. Their dishes are spiced to perfection and packed with flavour, which keeps guests coming back for more. The popular Thali Night is held on the first Wednesday of every month, and for £16.95, diners can enjoy a choice of meat or vegetarian thali. Plus, happy hour is every night between 5pm and 7pm. The much-awaited new menu is now available.

Dosa Kitchen has always been the go-to destination restaurant for South Indian flavors, and the new menu just raised the bar. Think Chettinad Lamb, Garlic Butter Naan, and the sizzling Sutta Kari selection: seven grilled dishes, each packed with bold, unforgettable flavor. Don’t miss the Nigirli Lamb Chops, Sea Bass Pollichathu, Western Ghats Chicken, Curry Leaf King Prawns or DK’s Paneer Tikka - all stars of the lineup. Of course, the classics are still there.

Lezzet Turkish Restaurant, located in a restored barn just off Front Street in Long Benton, is a warm, welcoming spot where Turkish hospitality shines. Its East-meets-West charm pairs rustic decor with aromas that instantly transport you back to Turkey. The extensive menu honours Turkish culinary tradition with meze, seafood, grills using recipes passed down through the generations. Highlights include Hummus Kavurma with tender lamb and pine nuts, creamy and Garlic Butter King Prawns.

Paros is a family-run restaurant owned by Aldo and Nikos that serves deliciously authentic Greek food. This wonderful restaurant has Greek authenticity at its heart, and it brings the flavours and aromas of the Island of Paros to all its customers. All the dishes on the menu are lovingly created from traditional family recipes and made using only the finest and freshest ingredients.