I found Newcastle’s best Sunday dinner and it doesn’t cost as much as you’d expect

I don’t write this lightly, but I think I’ve found my favourite Sunday dinner in the region. I know that’s quite the claim to be made but here I am.

For the best part of the last decade I’ve had the pleasure, for the most part, of being able to review eateries and searching out the best Sunday lunches. I’ve found some contenders down the years – but now I’m putting forward a new name for the title – Cafe 21 in Fenwick.

It’s not somewhere I’d been until a few months ago, but now it’s a regular thing. The staff firstly, are fantastic, friendly and attentive. As a father with a little toddler, how restaurant staff are with my little girl is a new metric to how I rate places, and the staff at Cafe 21 are brilliant in every way – simply waving back to my daughter whose favourite thing to do is to wave at anyone and everyone, really makes a difference.

Their effort could been seen in agreeing to get some toast for my little one (yes, we’re at that fussy stage) and trust me, not every place goes that extra mile. As for the adult food – it’s absolutely belter.

I’d recommend trying out the main menu which is available on Sundays, but as for the traditional roast – it’s a simple choice between corn fed chicken or rump beef – although there is a fish option and veggie too.

The Sunday lunch menu is a fixed price of two courses for £24 or three for £28.50.

In the battle for Sunday roasts, giving the setting and the quality (more of this in a moment) I think this is very reasonably priced.

As it was, we skipped starters and went straight for mains with my wife opting for the chicken, and myself the beef.

I rarely opt for a chicken option as I think it’s one of those meats you should be able to cook at home to a high quality – but it is typically my wife’s go to (which probably tells you all you need to know about my cooking skills) and having tucked in to sample myself, I can see why.

It was a hefty breast and wing, with a wonderful season skin. The chicken was succulent, moist and juicy.

My beef which you can choose to be either pink or well done, I opted for the former, was dished up with three rounded slices and simply fell apart as soon as you stuck a fork into it. There was a smoky taste that accompanied and it just topped off a deliciously cooked bit of meat.

Each came with mash – so creamy and fresh, roasts that were golden and crispy on the outside and perfectly fluffy on the inside. There was also cabbage, carrots and runners beans, and a 10/10 Yorkshire pudding all covered with a gravy which was out of this world, again a small hint of smokiness to it.

I’m often guilty of not clearing my plate, but there was nothing left here, and then I finished off what my wife couldn’t!

Even after all that I still had room for desert. The recommendation from our waitress was the burnt basque cheesecake – as this is always my pick of puddings, who was I to ignore this advice?

It was a really hefty slice! And it was a delight. A creamy vanilla filling with a lovely burnt surface. I’ve had this type of cheesecake before and the top previously had been overpowering and put me off but no such issue here. A little hint of burn, but you’re just taken down a wonderful path thanks to that wonderful filling.

It rounded off a wonderful afternoon. Chuck in a large wine (£10.25), a fresh orange juice (£4.75) and an orange cordial (£1 – city centre, that is a rarity) and the bill came to £68.29 with the service charge included.

When you put everything together, the setting and ambience of the restaurant, the friendly staff and the great quality of food plus the reasonably price of it all – Cafe 21 for me is up there for one of the best places to visit in the city centre.

Scores:

Service – 5/5

Atmosphere – 4/5

Value for money- 5/5

Food quality – 5/5

Cafe 21, First Floor, French Salon, Fenwick Northumberland Street, Newcastle

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