Diners' Choice: Best Service restaurants in Newcastle and Northumberland

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

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

Saltwater Fish Company

4.9

4.9 (1494)

£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

Joanna

Dined 6 days ago

Always fabulous food and drink. Service is amazing and atmosphere wonderful

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Experience

Oyster Happy Hour

The French Quarter

4.8

4.8 (2667)

£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

Nahidah

Dined 2 days ago

Exceptionally good food, great service and very reasonably priced.

Vercelli Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (548)

£25 and under

Italian

Hexham

About the restaurant

Vercelli Restaurant is a family run Italian Restaurant situated in the centre of Hexham, a busy market town in Northumberland. The family, all from around the Hexham area, have worked hard over the last 8 years to modernise the cocktail bar and restaurant. All the family are involved in the business, with the aim of providing a memorable experience.

Sue, Front of House Manager, enjoys working alongside the enthusiastic team who have built a relationship with their returning customers and welcoming new, with an aim to make your experience relaxing and memorable throughout.

Executive chef, Jordan, and Head chef, Scott, source the finest Italian provisions to produce high quality Italian dishes with a modern twist.

At the front of the restaurant is a small, modern cocktail bar which hosts live music nights regularly but can be enjoyed for a bite to eat or a drink any night of the week.

Top review

Anne

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

Lovely meal which was served efficiently and quickly even though the place was busy. Staff were very efficient and friendly. We visit very regularly and have always found it to be perfect.

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Experience

Bottomless Lunch

Elkwater Bar & Bistro

4.8

4.8 (130)

£26 to £40

Bistro

Ponteland

About the restaurant

WALK-IN GUESTS WELCOME, WE ALWAYS KEEP SOME TABLES FREE. Call 01661 679600 or email enquiries@elkwater.co.uk to check availability.

Elkwater Bar, Bistro and Lifestyle Store in Darras Hall, Northumberland. A beautiful venue, offering delicious French/Canadian inspired relaxed dining, from breakfasts through to lunch and evening meals with live music, cocktails, draught beers and fine wines.

Top review

Deborah

Dined 6 days ago

Very nice brunch, lots of choice, and really tasty food

Bertram's

4.6

4.6 (132)

£25 and under

British

Amble

About the restaurant

Our focus is on delivering delicious local Northumbrian produce in a warm and welcoming environment. Our day menu (which operates on a walk-in basis only) is full of local favourites. Whether you are looking for a hearty breakfast, a light lunch or just some delicious coffee and cake we have something for everyone.

Transitioning into our evening bistro service from 5.30pm onwards, we present a refined yet flavourful menu. Our chefs select trusted local suppliers renowned for procuring the finest quality ingredients, which they craft into irresistible dishes for your enjoyment. Complemented by an extensive wine selection, our offerings provide the ideal blend for a laid-back evening of exquisite dining.

Situated in the heart of Warkworth and only a stone’s through from the village’s historic castle, we are ideally located for people’s exploring Warkworth and beyond.

Top review

Mark

Dined 5 days ago

A most enjoyable meal in a very pleasant environment

Vito's Osteria

4.9

4.9 (149)

£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

Ashley

Dined 2 days ago

Food was best Italian food we have had in years ! Staff very attentive, and a lovely touch that the owner actually came out and introduced himself and asked if everything was OK, lovely attention to detail will be back 😊

Peace and Loaf Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (2625)

£41 and over

British

Newcastle upon Tyne

About the restaurant

Headed up by Chef / Owner Dave Coulson, Peace & Loaf is a restaurant unlike any other in the region. Dave has an unrivalled reputation and passion for creating flavoursome and innovative dishes, which shows with the diverse menu and delicately decorated food on offer. Highlighting the importance of using only the freshest, locally sourced produce, Peace & Loaf will offer exciting, seasonal menus that will incorporate Dave’s signature dishes. Heavily inspired by traditional British cuisine with Dave’s own inventive flare, the meticulously crafted dishes will excite and intrigue even the most discerning of palates.

Top review

Terry

Dined 7 days ago

As always, delicious food, great atmosphere and helpful informative staff. Thanks Dave and team for a great evening.

Café 21 Fenwick

4.5

4.5 (420)

£25 and under

Café

Newcastle upon Tyne

About the restaurant

A home from home where hospitality comes first. Café 21 is a sociable and effortlessly stylish space, serving crafted comforts, lunch bites and sweet treats. This breakfast, lunch and early evening venue is the place for a mid-shopping trip lunch, business meeting, afternoon tea, or a quiet cup of the good stuff. A place where ‘me time’ matters.

Booking is not required however we do take reservations from 2:00 onwards for Afternoon Tea.
Our last booking is at 4:45pm Monday to Saturday and 3:45 on Sunday.

Top review

Peter

Dined on Jun 26, 2025

Nice meal at cafe21 ,good varied menu,served by friendly and efficient staff who looked after our needs 100% nothing was too much trouble and the food was cooked to perfection. Everything was good value and presentation was excellent. Staff were very helpful as always and nothing fazed them even even trouble paying with my gift card which they sorted without any trouble

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Experience

Champagne Afternoon Tea

Experience

Classic Afternoon Tea

Experience

Sunday Lunch

Six Baltic

4.7

4.7 (1169)

£41 and over

Contemporary British

Newcastle upon Tyne

About the restaurant

Refined modern British cuisine meets unparalleled panoramic views of the Newcastle cityscape in BALTIC’s stylish quayside rooftop restaurant.

Menus are inspired by the very best seasonal, local artisan ingredients, whilst a carefully curated wine list draws from both new and old worlds.

The sleek, elegant dining room, complete with a chef’s table, offers an indulgent six course tasting experience. More casual small plates and sharing dishes are served in the opulent viewing box.

SIX’s stunning centrepiece bar serves innovative cocktails and both draught and bottled beers, with an emphasis on local breweries and distilleries.

Top review

Ali

Dined 5 days ago

We were celebrating my husbands birthday and eating at a strange time as we were going to a concert later. The service was exceptional and the food the best I’ve tasted for a long time . A super experience

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Taste of SIX (6 courses)

4.8

4.8 (5406)

£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

Sarah

Dined 2 days ago

Great set menu, very friendly staff and nice table. Quality of menu and food is excellent.

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Popular dish

Cheddar Cheese and Spinach Soufflé

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