Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in Newcastle and Northumberland

OpenTable

Updated 05 November 2026

Looking for the best overall restaurants in Newcastle and Northumberland? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Solstice

5.0

5 (90)

£41 and over

Global, International

Newcastle upon Tyne

About the restaurant

Nestled in the heart of the historical Newcastle Quayside and hidden behind an unassuming facade,
Solstice by Kenny Atkinson offers a very distinctive dining experience.

As a guest at Solstice, you will not be presented with a menu on arrival.

Your menu has been carefully created by Kenny Atkinson and Head Chef Scott John Hodgson, through a procession of courses which is inspired and led by the British seasons and the very best produce available.

From our open plan kitchen our team of chefs will serve every course and we also finish a lot of our dishes in front of the diner, explaining the produce and passion behind our dishes.

In March 2023, Solstice was awarded a Michelin Star after only 8 months of opening. Solstice is currently rated number 26th at The UK Top 100 National Restaurant Awards 2024.

Please be aware if you would like to contact us then do so via email on admin@solsticencl.com as our phone line in not monitored. Many thanks.

Top review

JACK

Dined on 31 Oct 2026

Excellent experience. Amazing food and great service.

Saltwater Fish Company

4.9

4.9 (1710)

£25 and under

Seafood

Newcastle upon Tyne

About the restaurant

Designed for seafood lovers – Saltwater Fish Company, situated in Fenwick Foodhall, operates as both a Fish Bar and Fishmonger with a ‘we cook what we sell, we sell what we cook’ philosophy. There’s no fuss – just a passion for seafood, simple yet creative cooking and friendly service.

Top review

Emma

Dined 2 days ago

Another amazing visit to this beautiful little restaurant. Super fresh locally sourced ingredients and cooked to perfection as always and the staff are the most attentive I’ve come across without being over bearing.

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Experience

Oyster Sunday – £2 Lindisfarne Oysters (All Day)

Experience

BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU DAY 🍷

The French Quarter

4.9

4.9 (3261)

£26 to £40

French

Newcastle upon Tyne

About the restaurant

The French Quarter is a relaxed neighbourhood restaurant & wine Bar in a community of unique and quirky businesses in Newcastle city Centre. We are a friendly and approachable team of people, with a passion for the good things in life. Born from nostalgia for a traditional style of commerce and a desire to challenge perceptions that French dining is formal or fussy, we work with independent suppliers to offer a regularly changing wine list & tapas style menu. We have created a casual and sociable environment where customers are invited to experience our food, try our wines, shop from our deli and share our love of all things French!

Top review

Tim

Dined 5 days ago

Fantastic food and wine flights for a memorable birthday lunch. Great service and ambiance, high quality bistro food and great value for money. Will definitely be back.

Bouchon Bistrot - Hexham

4.8

4.8 (3212)

£26 to £40

French

Newcastle upon Tyne

About the restaurant

Winner of the Best European Restaurant honour at the North East Restaurant Awards and conveniently situated in the centre of Hexham on Gilesgate, Bouchon Bistrot serves straightforward country style French cuisine, including daily specials in the evening. Born in the Loire Valley and having plenty of experience from working in Michelin starred restaurants throughout France, the owner of Bouchon Bistrot is an expert when it comes to traditional country cooking in France.

Top review

Carol

Dined 5 days ago

As always our lunch was delicious, service was friendly and efficient and the whole experience was a joy. We both had the fixed price menu which is incredible value for such wonderful food. Fish rillettes with tasty garnishes and crusty rolls they make themselves, tender steak with flavourful gravy and perfectly cooked coley for our mains, a side of hot and tasty cauliflower cheese, and a fruit compote that distilled the flavours of autumn with a hint of mulled wine. It takes a lot of time and skill to produce a meal of such a high standard and I don’t know anywhere else that could make such great food at such an affordable price. The calm atmosphere and attractive surroundings add to a lovely experience and the service is always so professional. Thank you, Bouchon, and we’ll be back soon!

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4.8

4.8 (1201)

£26 to £40

Wine Bar

Newcastle upon Tyne

About the restaurant

Part wine bar, part restaurant, a city centre venue with a city centre buzz. St. Vincent is an after-work drinks spot, supper-with-friends place and general 'snack-with-a-glass-or-two' hang out with a big-hearted 'everybody welcome' attitude.

Inspired by the neighbourhood bars we've found on our travels through France and Italy, we offer interesting wines, charcuterie and crowd pleasing plates full of punchy flavours. We're a place where an hour spins into several without anyone noticing.

Open evenings Tuesday to Friday, all day Saturday and close late.

Enough said. Come and find out.

Top review

Rob

Dined 3 days ago

Best customer service in town! Great food, great atmosphere

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Experience

Pedro Lopes Vieira x St. Vincent

Experience

Beaujolais Nouveau Menu

Experience

Whole Suckling Pig for the Table

The Broad Chare

4.8

4.8 (3486)

£26 to £40

British

Newcastle upon Tyne

About the restaurant

We’re big on warmth, low on fussiness: stripped wood floors, high bar stools, painted brickwork and comfy leather banquettes. Sup your pint beside our polished-oak bar or tuck yourself away in the Snug behind the frosted glass partition. You can hear yourself talk, concentrate on the crossword or nod off quietly in the corner.

To help keep everyone safe, our teams will continue to wear face masks and we'd love you to do the same when nentering and moving around the pub and dining room.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding and we look forward to seeing you.

Top review

Anne

Dined 5 days ago

Great menu choices. Food arrived piping hot. Nothing too much trouble for wait staff. Good ambience. Returning diners would definitely eat there again

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Experience

Worker's Lunch

Bellini - Seaburn

4.8

4.8 (43)

£26 to £40

Italian

South Shields

About the restaurant

Bellisimo Italian cuisine, a chic setting and warm and welcoming service are what’s to be found at Bellini, a charming Italian restaurant located on Dovedale Road. As well as being a favourite among Seaburn locals, Bellini is know throughout the city as the place to go for an authentic Italian meal, attracting diners from all over Sunderland with a menu boasting everything from Italian pizzas to hearty pasta dishes and juicy steaks. Whether it's for lunch or dinner, Bellini is always a popular choice, so be sure to book ahead to avoid missing out.

Top review

John

Dined on 31 Oct 2026

Great food and great service…..what’s not to like. Been coming here for years, and we’ll continue to do so.

Vito's Osteria

4.9

4.9 (748)

£26 to £40

Italian

Sunderland

About the restaurant

Vito's Osteria, the restaurant of authentic Italian cuisine, serves food prepared with traditional recipes and fine Italian wine in a relaxed atmosphere.

It is located in a charming converted barn that has been transformed into a dining and entertainment center in the city of Sunderland.

Top review

Dave

Dined 4 days ago

Great place to eat. Food always well presented, hot and tasty. Good value for money. Friendly staff and great ambience.

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4.8

4.8 (5769)

£26 to £40

British

Newcastle upon Tyne

About the restaurant

21’s cooking is big on flavour and short on fuss. We’re talking about a style which embraces the seasons and where the ingredients are king. Expect to find stylish, imaginative dishes – which don’t pander to fads or fashion…………and still have room for pudding. Expect a warm welcome, generous hospitality and service that is both friendly and correct.

A city centre restaurant with a city centre buzz. In the heart of Newcastle's Quayside, 21 has an excitement and warmth all of its own. Smart but not stuffy, sleek but not pretentious, fun but not gimmicky - It's about eating good food in comfortably stylish surroundings.

Menus include Lunch and Early Evening Fixed Price, Five Course Seasonal and à la Carte.

Top review

Pia

Dined 4 days ago

A great place with a friendly atmosphere. Staff are very welcoming and professional and the food was amazing. Will definetly recommend this restaurant to family and friends.

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Popular dish

Cheddar Cheese and Spinach Soufflé

4.8

4.8 (40)

£26 to £40

British

Bedlington

About the restaurant

Fresh, Local, and Seasonal: The Best of Northumberland
At Lairds House, we believe in bringing the best of the North East to your plate. Our menus change with the seasons to ensure we use ingredients at their peak, from Northumbrian lamb to fresh market fish. Known for our generous portions and attentive service, we offer a range of dining options including a popular light lunch menu and indulgent evening mains. Don’t miss our signature Sunday Roast—highly regarded as one of the best in the region—featuring tender meats and all the traditional trimmings.

Top review

Carole

Dined on 1 Nov 2026

Sunday lunch deal good value but portion size far too big for me although hubby cleared his plate! Staff were all pleasant. It was very busy but they coped well and apologised for the delay. The place itself is not very well advertised from the street would be my only criticism. Could do with a better sign outside. Overall a good experience.

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Experience

Christmas Lunch & Sing-a-Long!

Experience

Christmas Lunch & Retro Hits Live!

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