Shilling Newcastle Quayside Review

Offering nose to tail dining and in-house butchery, Shilling has landed on the Newcastle with a bang. As part of a local Durham company expansion, we headed along to support the ‘Durham Massive’. Read on for our Shilling Newcastle Review.

The last time I visited Rumpoli’s in Newcastle was the night my Husband and I got engaged which was, so many years ago – More than I’d like to admit to. As the building has a bit of a special place in my heart it was nice to see the Shilling team have kept it rustic and stripped back to a bare minimum. Scrubbed floors, exposed bricks and statement lighting really make the restaurant have a unique vibe. There’s no dripping opulence like some of it’s neighbours but you feel more at home.

With casual dining downstairs and a more formal dining room upstairs, Shilling opens its doors early to entice you in with hot coffee, tasty cakes and even tastier lunches. The drinks menu is both creative and considered so even popping in for a cocktail or two is a great idea.

We visited at lunchtime on New Years Eve for a relaxed 2 courses, choosing to share a couple of bar snacks in place of starters.

The star of the whole visit had to be the Spiced Pork Samosa + Apple Ketchup (£4.50). The unassuming pastry parcels were light and crispy and packed full of moist spiced pork. With undertones of curry the sweet apple sauce complimented the meat in an exciting twist on the usual pork and apple sauce combo. We could have easily eaten more of these!

The Victoria Shilling Pork + Leek Scotch Egg (£4.50) was again a real winner. The juicy pork surrounded a perfectly cooked boiled egg with a soft yolk, all enveloped in a crisp but not greasy crumb. Nothing like the grey,bland scotch eggs you used to get at school – or maybe that’s just a Durham thing!

The bar snacks were served plain and simple. No frills or frivolity which makes them perfect in my eyes. Saturday afternoons hiding from the shopping masses with great company, great drinks and really solid well produced snacks. Spot on!

The Soup + Sandwich (£7.95) is the now synonymous velvety smooth cauliflower soup with truffle oil and a Butchers Special sandwich which on my visit was big meaty substantial sausages. A generous lunch, I could only manage half of the soup as the sandwich was just so hearty! Definitely a great winter warmer of stylish cosy comfort food.

As if we hadn’t been impressed so far, the Toad in the Hole (£8.95) was incredible. Again the thick and succulent sausages made in house are baked into a light and fluffy Yorkshire pudding and served with creamy soft mashed potatoes. The dark rich gravy is bloody delicious and really should be served up with a portion of chips on that bar snack menu, it’s that good!

For a lunch on the quayside, we found the prices to be pretty reasonable for the quality and will definitely be back to try the fine dining side of the Shilling brand. It’s nice to see a local company expanding and doing well.