Today we have a guest post from Jaclyn who enjoyed a BARGAIN meal at Branzino in Newburn this summer. Over to Jaclyn......
Earlier this year Branzino, a new Italian restaurant, opened on the banks of the Tyne in Newburn.
Located just off Newburn Bridge, it has taken over the premises of the former Boathouse Pub. This is an ideal venue for people who want to ‘dine on the Tyne’, but without the hustle and bustle of the city centre.
After hearing some positive reviews from other people, I recently visited with my husband and son to see if this new establishment lives up to the hype.
Parking
There is car parking available, but I imagine it can get quite chaotic!
Most cars park on the side of the lane where Branzino is situated, but there is a small, dedicated parking area too. We were lucky enough to grab a space in the parking area, but there were some spaces on the lane too. During peak times it could be difficult to get parked, so bear that in mind.
Ambiance
From the outside it looks like a house, which I suppose has something to do with it previously being known as ‘The Boathouse’. It’s a mere stone’s throw from the River Tyne so offers a great, panoramic view.
Inside it’s quite small and cosy, so not loud like some restaurants can be. This lends itself well to catching up and chatting with family and friends.
I never visited The Boathouse, so I’m not sure how much the interior has changed. But it does look clean and modern, so if nothing else it has been fully re-decorated to look fresh and new.
Our table was right at the front of the building and by a window, so we were able to enjoy views of the Tyne.
They also have outdoor seating areas, which would be fantastic on warm, dry days. Unfortunately, it wasn’t alfresco dining weather when we visited.
Food
Both myself and my husband are vegetarians and we had plenty of dishes to choose from. I’m also quite a picky eater, so was pleasantly surprised to find myself torn between a few different options.
The menu is quite vast, so any meat-eaters should be spoilt for choice. You’ll find an array of pizza, pasta & risotto, a la carte and salads. Your classic Italian menu.
We each ordered something different; I had the penne sorrentina, my husband had the risotto Mediterranean, and our son had a kids margherita pizza.
The pasta and risotto arrived well presented (there’s not much you can do with a kid’s pizza!) and all the portion sizes were ideal – not too much and not too little.
I tried all the food and can honestly say it was delicious! Really tasty and good quality. Both my husband and son agreed, and we all thoroughly enjoyed our meals. We also shared a cheeky side of fries which were extremely moreish!
As we were finishing our meals, a couple sat near us received their desserts. Along with every other diner in the area, we stopped and stared. The portion size and presentation had all our mouths watering.
I couldn’t resist, so I ordered a chocolate fudge cake to finish off my meal. Chocolate fudge cake can be quite heavy, but this one was lovely and light. A perfect-sized slice with just enough vanilla ice cream to satisfy my sweet tooth.
Prices
Here is everything we ordered:
- 2 x glasses of water
- Pint of blackcurrant cordial
- Latte
- Kid’s pizza
- Penne sorrentina
- Risotto Mediterranean
- Skinny fries
- Chocolate fudge cake
- Expresso
All of this came to just under £30!
I was pleasantly surprised when we received the bill. I have paid much more than that for lower quality food before.
Branzino also offer a number of deals for anyone looking for a budget-friendly dining experience.
Lunchtime specials run Monday – Friday from 12 – 4pm, where you can choose from a selected menu and enjoy 2 courses for £7.95 or three courses for £9.95.
If you miss out on the lunchtime specials, then you can grab the early bird specials on weekdays from 4 – 6.30pm. The 2 course option costs £11.95 and the 3 course option will cost you £14.95.
For those just after a main course, they also offer a happy hour on weekdays from 12 - 6.30pm and Saturdays from 12 - 5pm. During these times you can enjoy pasta or pizza (excluding selected dishes) for £6.95 or £4.95 for kids.
Final thoughts
I’ll definitely be visiting Branzino again.
The restaurant has a good vibe, the food is delicious, the staff are friendly and helpful and it’s such good value for money.
I’d highly recommend booking ahead since it gets quite busy, especially if your group is more than 4 people.
Because it’s situated on the banks of the Tyne, you can also enjoy a walk along the riverside. A great way to work up an appetite or burn off those post-meal calories!
Check out their website here for more info or to book.
Bio
Jaclyn also has her own lifestyle blog, Jaclynistic Vibes. Here you’ll find posts about everyday life, tips & hacks, reviews and Jaclyn’s thoughts. You can visit it here.
You can also follow Jaclyn on Instagram here.
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