21 Newcastle

Have enjoyed visits to 21 in Newcastle for many years - good menu, well executed dishes, consistent, friendly and comfortable results in a very enjoyable dining experience.

We've visited here twice; one dinner and one lunch - and this review is a kind of composite of both. Its a comfortable place in a side-street near the quayside and is typically quite busy- even on a wet Monday lunchtime the place was busy before 1pm. Best to book then unless you want to walk-in early as we did. Service is friendly and efficient and our damp coats and a couple of bags were whisked away whilst we were guided to our table. Service was friendly and timely throughout. At our first visit, we were both effusive about the food- nicely conceived dishes, very well cooked and presented. Yesterday at lunch not so much and what we had was decent not spectacular. Which brings up the question of whether the food we ate yesterday had been prepared and cooked by the same chef/team as we'd have got say last Friday night? Certainly the beurre blanc served with my cod needed more flavour , and the leeks with our starter needed a fraction more cooking. In fact I quite often avoid restaurants on a Monday in the belief that its often "chefs day off" and sometimes the second-team is just that. But as I say it was a second visit and there is no doubt that what we ate first time, a year or two ago, was better; so we know they can cook well here . Further I think it's fair to say that a poll of our friends in the Newcastle area would find Café 21 at the top of the places they recommend. So we'll certainly go again, though maybe a la carte early evening might win out over a set lunch at Monday noon.

Last evening was the first time I had visited this lovely restaurant. We were made to feel very welcome and the food was exceptional. I will definitely return on another special occasion. Thank you for making this a wonderful visit to remember.