By FB Vivant, Portfolio North’s Secret Diner
We finally visited Geisha in Jesmond, and what a treat. I am not quite sure how we have managed to let this place pass us by quite so easily. It is one of those places that has always been on our list, but for one reason or another, it hadn’t happened. Well one joyous Thursday night it did, and we will definitely be back.
Geisha is a bit of a local celebrity favourite and it’s certainly attracting a young and stylish set, but it doesn’t feel exclusively so. There was a real mix of people when we visited including an after work crowd, a bunch of lads who were on the cocktails, couples and families. There was a good atmosphere, and the staff were really friendly and helpful.
The decor at Geisha is stunning and incredibly instagrammable (should you be so way inclined) but doesn’t come with the flourish of plastic neon flowers with a fine layer of dust that has become a bit
of a ‘thing’ in other places that are trying to reach the same standard. The setting is industrial, but it’s offset with a giant cherry blossom tree and what feels like a sky full of flame coloured lanterns. The music was good too – lively but not so much so that we felt we were eating in a nightclub. It’s a fine line but Geisha manages to stay on the right side of it.
We started our evening with cocktails; they always signal the kind of night you’re in for and give away a hint of the quality that might be expected. Too juicy, too icy and too diluted and you know you might not be going to get your money’s worth out of the food either. The Asian inspired cocktails at Geisha were the complete opposite, with well-chosen, thoughtful ingredients to make long and short drinks that tasted like they were meant to.
We tried a Szechuan Healing, a warming and moreish blend of Japanese whisky, peppercorns, lime, hibiscus and ginger and The China Club which was among the strongest cocktails I’ve ever tried. It’s a really drinkable, though not for the faint hearted, blend of whisky, Earl Grey Tea, rum and chocolate bitters. What a way to start a meal!
Assuming each plate would be relatively small given the reasonable prices, we slightly over-ordered, but everything was demolished regardless. We ordered duck pancakes, salt and chilli squid, soft shell crab, Bau buns, salmon skewers, XO fried rice and salt and pepper fries to share between three.
Everything was really well done, really tasty and a bit addictive, in the way that good Asian food often is with its fine balance of heat, salt and sweet, but it was the XO fried rice that stole my heart. It was a real treasure trove of Char Siu pork, prawn, duck and an amazing and quite unusual Chinese sausage, all of which were generously included, and we weren’t left hunting around a mound of rice to find the good stuff – we have all been there.
Whatever menu option you go for at Geisha, we would recommend one of those to share, or to have as a main. Whilst a shining star, it shouldn’t overshadow the other dishes too much which were each fresh, well-seasoned, well-presented and modern. Despite having ordered a lot, none of us left with that heavy, feeling that makes you want to lie down for the rest of the evening.
It has just been announced that Geisha has received what would seem to be deserved investment and will soon open another two restaurants which will coincide in the Casa Antonio building in Benton. There will be another Geisha Asia and curiously, a Geisha Italia. We are already looking forward to trying the new venue, particularly to see how they turn their hand to Italian cuisine.
This place is definitely worth a visit for any number of reasons and any number of nights out.
