I have always thought of Peace and Loaf as the most colourful restaurant in Newcastle, and not becasue its decor is a riot. It’s actually very sleek, airy and beautiful.
Maybe it is because the restaurant which has attracted two AA Rosettes and recognition from the Michelin Guide serves up some of the most eclectic dishes in town, maybe it’s because the restaurant has a backstreet pie shop, or maybe there is just something in the atmosphere. I think it’s probably all three.
It is the vibe that made me fall in love with Peace and Loaf when it opened, and it continues to keep us coming back time and time again. Peace and Loaf has always been a bit punk, completely imaginative and really ‘Geordie’.
Whilst the menu and interior design has evolved over the years, the noticeable buzz, accented with great music and a cool (but not too cool) team, has stayed the same. It’s a real feat of achievement to change quite so much whilst planting firmly in your roots.
We were welcomed with the offer of a 12 or 18 course tasting menu this time. After roughly 3 seconds of deliberation, we chose the latter for the full experience at £85 per head.
It is too cliché to say all courses were stellar, but they really were. We have visited Peace and Loaf once or twice per year since it opened, and I can’t think of a single instance that didn’t feel or taste brilliant and where I haven’t left full of cheer from the buzzy setting. It is just that good.
The top picks for me from the evening were cured trout with local knotweed chimichurri, a lamb and wild leek bao bun, asparagus carbonara and the halibut and chicken pie. Our companions for the evening chose an oyster and ox tail filled crispy potato skin with sweet and sour, bone broth and the simply titled ‘mash, onion and gravy’ as their top dishes. A gariguette and szechuan tart stole my heart as we started to retire for the evening.
Jesmond Road, home to Peace and Loaf, is fast becoming a destination for food and dining lovers. Set among a host of independent cafés and shops, Peace and Loaf is now joined by the The Punchbowl, The Patricia, Birria Bella, Dene’s Deli and the cavernous Rehill’s off licence.
The Punchbowl is worthy of mention in particular and has been a real revelation since it re-opened a
few years ago. What was once a good but unremarkable ‘drinkers pub’ is now a vibrant, eclectic, dog friendly Vermutería with a broad range of great beers, organic wines and really tasty food. It is a great place to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon and our choice for a pre-Peace and Loaf tipple.
Tucked up some steps and down the side of Peace and Loaf is Peace of Pie, Dave Coulson’s speakeasy pie shop. What started during lockdown has become a firm favourite with many, giving those who may not be able to afford the tasting menu, or those who just love pies, a sample from the Chef Patron’s wild imagination. There are often collaborations with Sachins and other local treats with an endlessly surprising menu.
The final word has to be about Dave himself. He’s a real maverick of the food scene in the North East, down to earth and committed to the best. It’s his imagination, fun and humour that gives Peace and Loaf its buzz and really, it’s he and his team that keep people going back time and time again.
