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Finding a great restaurant spot that every member of the family enjoys can sometimes be a challenge, especially if you have some picky eaters. In the North East, we are spoiled for choice with a vast array of top quality cafes and restaurants.

Whether you enjoy evening meals in Michelin star venues, relaxed Sunday lunches or classic family favourite dinners, this region offers endless choices.

The Botanist

Situated in Newcastle on Tyne, The Botanist is part of a restaurant chain found in cities all over the UK. The Newcastle venue is the only one in the whole of the North East and the location is truly fantastic. With stunning views of Grey’s Monument and the city centre, enjoy your meal in the most perfect setting.

This restaurant is also child friendly, with an inventive menu that combines delicious flavours and fun twists that younger ones will love, such as ‘Seaside Jelly and Sandcastle Ice Cream’, and classic chicken burgers, cheeseburgers and chicken goujons to name a few.

Specialising in festive, seasonal menus, fresh flavours and ingredients and famous botanical cocktails, this is a place that offers something for all members of the family.

Zen

Located near Durham Cathedral, Zen prides itself on offering a peaceful Thai and Pan-Asian dining experience in a contemporary setting. The beautiful interior design truly sets the atmosphere and transports you to where the incredible dishes originated.

This restaurant is family friendly and perfect for those who love Asian cuisine.

The County

A classic restaurant and bar located at the top of The Green in Aycliffe Village, The County serves stunning food and locally brewed real ale and a warm, welcoming environment.

A stunning setting to enjoy fantastic Sunday lunches, intimate evening meals, private dining for special occasions or relaxed family time; seasonal menus are available, along with the specials board, vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options and a great children’s menu.

Learn more about what The County has to offer here.

Fat Hippo Durham

Offering a casual dining experience with serious comfort food in a cool space, choose from the extensive customisable burger menu which caters to all dietary specifications.

The drinks menu consists of coffees, teas, milkshakes, beers, in-house lagers, liquor, wine, cocktails and soft drinks, meaning that you are completely spoiled for choice.

Desserts are also truly indulgent and taken seriously here, with a few examples from the menu being the Triple Chocolate Brownie, Toblerone Cheesecake and the Belgian Waffle.

Lastly, the children's menu is sure to keep your little ones happy, offering a fun menu that enables them to design and build their own burger - or if they don't fancy that, chicken fingers and chips are also an option.

Check out their website here or find them on Instagram @fathippofood.

Tomahawk Steakhouse

This restaurant chain originated in the North East but has since expanded to Yorkshire and London, its rapid growth all over the nation is understandable, due to the stunning food and exquisite atmosphere in every venue.

In the North East, the Tomahawk locations include Darlington, Newcastle Quayside, Jesmond and Yarm. Each restaurant establishes the same charming environment and serves consistently delicious food. Offering the finest Himalayan salt dried steaks, Wagyu beef and many other great, locally sourced meat, fish and vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Breakfast, lunch and evening meals can be enjoyed at Tomahawk, accompanied with a perfect wine list.

A children’s menu is available, consisting of a mini steak, cod or chicken goujons and mac ‘n’ cheese to name just a few, along with a mocktail menu that younger diners are sure to enjoy.

Learn more about Tomahawk here.

The Treehouse, Alnwick

'Unique' perfectly describes this venue. The treetop restaurant serves delicious, comforting local food in a magical setting.

Located at The Alnwick Garden in Northumberland, the atmosphere in The Treehouse is unlike any other dining experience in this region. Nestled in the treetops, enjoy a cosy lunch or dinner surrounded by twinkling lights and hand-crafted furniture.

Children’s options are available, as well as lunchtime, evening and also Sunday lunch menus.

The Treehouse is right on the doorstep of Alnwick Castle, so a venture out to explore the history of the North and enjoy the beautiful Alnwick Gardens followed by a comforting dining experience is a perfect idea for a fun-filled family day trip.

The Bay Horse

Located in the rural village of Hurworth, The Bay Horse is set in a magnificent 15th century coaching inn and prides itself on retaining the venue's traditional charm whilst also embracing the modern architecture to offer two different elegant dining areas.

With a wide range of menus and food selections, The Bay Horse can cater for any occasion. Seasonality, the freshest ingredients and interesting flavour pairings are some of this restaurant's top priorities. A children's menu and plant based options are available, and the regular menus consist of stunning dishes ranging from a 24-day matured fillet steak to pan-fried King scallops.

To enjoy delicious food in a formal setting, The Bay Horse is an exquisite choice.

Muse

Offering continental dishes in a smart, classy cafe-bar on the high street of Yarm, Muse serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with menus made up of classic, fresh, flavoursome ingredients. During the warmer months, you can dine in Muse’s ‘alfresco’ setting, observing the scenery of the market town whilst enjoying delicious food; a true European tradition.

This cafe is the sister branch of The Bay Horse, providing equally delicious food in a lighter, more casual atmosphere.

With numerous menus offering light lunches to hearty meals and indulgent desserts, whatever time of day it is, Muse has a vast selection of delicious food for you to choose from.

Cena

Also located on Yarm high street, Cena Trattoria is a beautiful Italian restaurant offering truly amazing food. Their quality of ingredients and overall flavours are exceptional, if you love classic Italian cuisine, this restaurant isn’t to be missed.

Stunning starters, homemade pastas and risottos, authentic pizzas, traditional main courses and perfect Italian desserts are just some of the examples of dishes on Cena’s menu. A couple of our personal favourite choices being the Tuscan herb calamari, chicken and chorizo pizza and the sun-dried tomato chicken Milanese.

An extensive drinks menu is available, including wines, beers, prosecco and cocktails.

Despite not having a children’s menu on the website, Cena can cater to your child’s preferences by serving smaller portions of any dishes, such as margarita pizza, burgers or lasagne.

Pizza Punks

Situated on Grey Street in Newcastle City Centre, Pizza Punks is an artisan woodfired pizza establishment, serving authentic pizzas with a modern twist. You have the choice of over 50 toppings to choose from, all for a fixed price. Every ingredient is of the highest quality, down to the San Franciscan dough which is proofed for 48 hours for maximum flavour.

If you’re too indecisive to create your own pizza with the extensive toppings list, a ‘house specials’ menu is available with all of the classics and staff favourites. A creative children's menu is also available, allowing little ones to choose their pizza exactly how they like it. This includes the pizza, a drink and dessert for a set price of £7.

For a fun, urban twist on pizzas, visit Pizza Punks and enjoy your personalised meal. To learn more, click here.

A message from Homes by Carlton

Hopefully we’ve given you an insight into some of the North East’s family favourite food spots and you have plenty of new places you’d like to visit. All of these locations are within close proximity to our new homes at Middleton Waters, Redmarshall and Thorpe Thewles, meaning you can enjoy consistently delicious local food whenever you fancy.