If you are of a certain age (ahem!) you’ll remember the former incarnations of 1 Cloth Market. Calling it home now is Newcastle’s Revolucion de Cuba.
Delivering Latin flavour and laid back Cuban vibes, it brightens an unused corner of the infamous Bigg Market.
Whether you are familiar with Cuban cuisine, I can guarantee you’ll be well versed in the odd Mojito or even a Cuba Libre but other than their nifty Happy Hour, Revolucion de Cuba are slinging out tasty morsels morning noon and night.
Starting the day with Cuban inspired Brunch dishes to lunch time Tapas and full meals, there’s something to tickle your fancy throughout the day… or to soak up those rum laden cocktails – your call!
We visited on a stotting hot day and got started on those icy cold cocktails and Guacamole and Tortilla Chips (£3.50). There’s an abundance of seating, from a ground floor terrace to people watch, bar stools, couches and tables inside and a roof terrace to spy on people from up high. Each visit feels like a new place if you change up your locale!
With it being so hot, we decided to waive anything too substantial and went with the Grilled Swordfish (£13.50) in a spicy tomato sauce with garlic and olives. Opting for patatas as a side dish, it felt like a Revolucion de Cuba take on Fish and Chips! Wish a few added dashes of hot sauce to perk up that tomatoe sauce, it was a light and flavourful dish and the potatoes, spinach and peppers kept it filling.
Keeping on the summer vibes, I opted for the Ensalada de Seville (£11). I love a salad packed with “stuff” and this certainly didn’t disappoint! Cajun king prawns were buried in salad leaves and spinach as well as basil, coriander and mint for that really light summery punch. Avocado, orange slices, blackberries and pickled onions topped the salad to add different notes to each bite. The firm prawns were offset by the creamy avocado and the crisp onions.
I may have headed back several times just for that delicious salad, and that’s not something I thought I’d ever be saying – rushing back to a bar for a salad! ha!
Of course we were waxing lyrical how we had kept the food pretty light and healthy… then ruined it by having another round of cocktails and sharing some Churros (£2) with a rum caramel sauce. In our defence we only had one each but it was hard not to order another round as that sauce was moreish!
Heading outside to finish off our drinks, it was like being on holiday, right here in the heart of Newcastle’s Bigg Market. Whilst it might not have reminded us 100% of our time in Havana and Cuba, it is just as bloody close as you can get in the Toon.
If you are a little bit hesitant to try the Cuban Cuisine, there’s definitely dishes and components on the menu that you’ll recognise so make a visit to Revolucion de Cuba for the food!