Newcastle
Brunel's

Brunel's

32 Downs Rd, Newcastle, Northern Ireland, BT33 0AG, United Kingdom

Kebab • Pizza • European • Fast Food


"My experience at this restaurant on a Monday lunchtime was for a special occasion. The vegan menu was unusual and interesting. We started with the beetroot starter, which was delicious and very light. The fermented barley starter had a peculiar taste, but it was a more substantial and warm option. For my main, I had the stuffed leek, which was artistic, tasty, and very light. The pudding was not as described but was still very tasty - sorbet on crunchy crumbs. We also shared a side order of vegetables, as sides were recommended for more of a tasting menu experience. However, the side orders were not listed on the menu, so we were unsure of the extra cost. The menu could benefit from being more clear about this and possibly offering bread at the start or including vegetables and potatoes with the main course. We found ourselves feeling hungry throughout the meal, and the expensive glass of wine made us hesitant to order multiple side dishes. While we appreciate the craftsmanship and effort put into the menu and dishes, we suggest ordering a few side dishes and not considering less than three courses if you dine here. Although we had to go elsewhere for coffee and a vegan sweet to feel satisfied, we did appreciate that the dishes were plant-based rather than just vegan. Overall, we would revisit this restaurant to support their venture, but we advise being prepared with side dishes and not arriving too hungry."

Birch

Birch

51 Central Promenade, Newcastle, Northern Ireland, BT33 0HH, United Kingdom

Cafés • Seafood • European • Fast Food


"Firstly, one star off already for not being fully vegan. (Naughty 5 star reviews on here for somewhere that serves animal secretions). We 've been wanting to try Birch for a while. It 's always good to support local businesses. So we decided to pop in for breakfast. Reading all the other reviews, the menu must have changed. It was one menu for all day (no separate breakfast/lunch menu). It all sounded very wholesome and 'artisan ' , but here 's the issue. Sometimes, as a vegan, you just want a good tofu scramble or some mushrooms on toast. It wouldn 't hurt to add simpler items onto the menu alongside the hand whipped essence of kimchi. It would make more sense to make the base menu fully Vegan and then if people insist on having animal products on their food, that can be added as extra. Nothing was clearly marked Vegan on the menu (aside from the traybakes), so I wasn 't sure which were safe to eat. Having to constantly ask 'Is this vegan? ' in a cafe catering for vegans is not ideal. I didn 't feel safe enough in my choices (I am Autistic and having no clarity on the menu was confusing for me). There was also no drinks menu on display, so again, ordering a drink involved an overwhelming exchange of information. Why not just print out a drinks menu and attach to the food one? The cafe was quite loud and bright (again as a ND person this was difficult) and tables were close to each other so I could hear the ins and outs of a strangers conversation (I know they are working with the space they have but one of the tables for two could be taken away and the rest spaced out more). I felt unable to relax and just wanted to make the visit as quick as possible. The biggest thing for me, though, was the cost. For breakfast type meals (toast, granola etc) it was ridiculous. Posh beans on toast for £10! I walked away disappointed that I essentially had hummus on toast (something I can have at home) and felt like I 'd been robbed for it. The sourdough and the hummus were however both tasty. I wanted to highlight in this review how businesses need to realise that not every customer is Neurotypical, we live in a world that makes everything so exhausting and riddled with discomfort. Simple changes like more space, clearer menus and quieter music can make a world of difference. I still cannot get over £10 for beans on toast! I don 't think I would visit again, my bank account couldn 't take it."

Social

Social

6, Newcastle ST5 1PT, United Kingdom

Pizza • Coffee • Ice Cream • International


"I am leaving another review. As sadly I can't get anyone on the phone as the number is dead. To be clear. I ordered at the bar and on the menu it said could you please give your table number. So I said to the waitress as I ordered my drink..we are table 13. She snapped back at me with attitude about how she was the only one in there and couldnt give table service. I replied I wasn't asking for table service. It just said on the menu to say which table we were on. I then waited for my drinks and most definitely said please and thank you. But I was snapped and she was argumentative in her tone. As for the cherry bakewell. We both love that cocktail. But I was served something that was tastless it tasted more like a weak cordial with soda. I didn't expect any kind of show or cocktail experience. I know where I was drinking and what I was drinking. . But I refuse to believe you can make a proper CB cocktail in 20 seconds It was awful. Also if I was so rude!? I would have surely kicked up a fuss. The service from my arrival was snappy the drink was the worst I have been served in a bar in year's. Plus if the staff didn't have attitude they should have still said sorry. Not saying no worries. The experience was.just the worst and although the cherry bakewell cocktails we had were nearly £8 more in the capella lounge at least the staff were friendly and the drink as as it should be. I suppose I shouldn't be shocked that you take the staff side and it's just easier to say I was rude. I was 100 percent snapped at and still said please and thank you. But the service and drink was so shocking I didn't complain. We just left. So that says something about the atmosphere your staff create in your absence and the quality of the drinks. I would suggest you ask the girl who made our drinks to make you one and then go and have one down the road and tell me I am wrong. But ultimately your reply and trying to belittle me by suggesting I might not know what a cherry bakewell might taste like and I was rude is not actually a surprise. It must of course be me and not your staff. But never mind. We always come in for drinks before the cinema and sometimes after. Normally however I am with the children so we don't drink cocktails or your version of. But we won’t anymore and judging by how empty the place was we can't be the only ones enjoying high level of customer service."