Set in one of Newcastle’s oldest buildings, Chart House is a new restaurant and bar with stunning views over the River Tyne, and food to match.
I’m told, being just slightly too young to remember, that Flynn’s bar on the Newcastle Quayside was notorious in the 80s. Known as being the place to go for a boozy night out, serving drinks in test tubes, and guaranteed to leave you wondering how you got home the next morning.
But the building which once housed the party-goers’ hotspot has now been transformed into a stunning, serine restaurant and bar.
Read more: Look inside the fancy new restaurant on site of 'notorious' 80s venue
Inspired by the building it occupies, Chart House has a maritime theme with a ‘spice route inspired’ menu and subtle design touches including rope and huge printed maps like the ones made in the very same building and sold to seafarers in decades gone by.
The building is set over four levels, with two floors providing stunning views out over the Newcastle Quayside, a cosy mezzanine and entrance lobby. An open kitchen greets you when you enter, which strangely is as far away as possible from the dining area on the top floor. At least the wait staff will get their steps in.
Instead of offering the normal selection of starters and mains Chart House offers small plates and large plates. You might choose to eat tapas-style and go for small plates or have a small plate to start followed by a large plate.
I chose two small plates - seared tiger prawns (£11) and ras el hanout (a Morrocan spice mix) spiced lamb meatballs (£10) – and one large – Thai spiced seabass (£22).
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I will say that Chart House probably isn’t the place to go if you’re not very adventurous with your food. The menu is quite limited at just eight small plates and seven large plates, with some unusual ingredients. I literally had no idea what one of the menu items, ‘Labneh Three Ways’, even meant, or that ‘Labneh’ was a word. If you like chips you’re also probably in the wrong place, as ‘Roasted Sliced Potatoes’ is as close as you’ll get.
Having sat watching the view over the Quayside my food arrived.
I was immediately impressed by the presentation - I’m a sucker for a fancy plate or some rocket plonked on top of my meal to make it more exciting. The food looked great and I couldn’t wait to get stuck in.
The seabass was the highlight of my feast. A huge piece of fish served on some sort of leaf thing but with a lovely side salad.
The meatballs were nicely spiced and the prawns, while not my favourite seafood (I’d go for scallops over prawns any day) were cooked perfectly and served with a lovely ‘ouzo’ salad.
The food certainly matched the spice theme and with beautiful views over the Tyne, even though it was raining, I can see Chart House being a perfect treat location.
That said I do think they could do with some slightly more ‘normal’, for want of a better word, menu items. I know some of my family and friends, who certainly aren’t fussy, would have struggled choosing something which stood out to them and when you’re paying a premium price you don’t want to be risking it on something you might like.
I left Chart House feeling very satisfied with my meal. The food and setting were both stunning and I’ll probably visit again in the future.
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