Our new resident fine dining expert and secret restaurant reviewer, F.B Vivant, will be covering the very best of the North East and beyond to bring you hidden gems, applauded eateries, and the best places to grab a drink.
Our recent wedding anniversary fell on a windy and rainy Monday evening. With plans afoot to celebrate at one of our favourite neighbourhood restaurants, Route, at the end of the week, we racked our brains for somewhere easy to go to for a quick drink to raise a glass. We had been to the bars on our doorstep one too many times to feel properly celebratory and with plans for a night in Newcastle on the horizon, we didn’t want to peak too soon.
In recent years, Ouseburn has become a hub of artistry and independent traders, mixing its industrial background with creative minds and the best views of the Tyne. It’s a quirky mix of graffiti, industry, gallery space, an urban farm and cultural establishments like Seven Stories. Newcastle’s cultural quarter, once led by firm favourites The Cluny, The Tyne Bar and The Free Trade Inn, has grown to host a superb range or bars and eateries including Cookhouse, Thali Tray, Brinkburn Brewery and Kiln.
As regular visitors to Cookhouse (lunch on the terrace in summer is a must!) and having previously tried Brinkburn Brewery, we fancied our chances at Kiln. We had always been intrigued by the bold facade but had never made it inside and so took the opportunity on what we thought would be a quiet evening to pop by for a drink. You could be forgiven for thinking that a ‘pottery-café-bar-restaurant’ mix might be at best a bit confused and at worst, maybe a little damp and dusty.
Kiln is none of this and instead offers a warm, inviting and cosy atmosphere which feels very much like an excellent bar, and not at all like a café tacked onto a pottery. We took a seat at the bar, convinced we had walked in for a drink only. In the warm atmosphere and following a glass of new favourite ‘Pulp Fiction’, a Grüner Veltliner from Austria, we were taken by the steady stream of food coming from the kitchen. Despite best efforts, with dinner out planned at the weekend, we succumbed to the ‘just what we fancied’ menu. Our selection included olives with Greek feta and chills, hummus with Egyptian pita, 16h lamb shoulder with hot sauce and cous cous, slow-cooked smoked chicken legs, and za’atar and maple syrup roasted carrots.
We were not disappointed. Perhaps the star of the show, although it was among a real constellation, was the za’atar and maple syrup roasted carrots dish. Restaurants truly show their style, value, and skill when they get vegetables just right. The carrots were among the best we’ve had and held their own when compared with similar dishes from applauded London restaurants. The cocktail menu was extensive and whilst we stuck with the glass of wine on a school night, we could have gladly got stuck into a series of creative and unusual tipples.
‘The Hole in the Cup’, a tequila, lime, pineapple, cucumber, and anise concoction would have won my vote. Throughout, we were taken by the décor and welcoming style. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable and seemed to enjoy being there which can make a real difference anywhere. During our meal and through a glass partition at the end of the building, we watched someone absorbed in making small bowls, headphones in ears and bathed in what felt like quite a soothing violet light. All in all, this is a must visit for anyone with a penchant for good food, interesting cocktails, and an unusual wine list. We plan to hit the outdoor space next and look forward to returning already, perhaps with a plan to actually get that cocktail next time.
