ASK Italian is pretty much your average chain Italian, It is located in Eldon Square Shopping Centre, in Newcastle city centre, it looks fairly pretty with a map of Italy, an open kitchen and a lot of tables.
They are open until 10 pm between Monday and Saturday, although don't expect to be given a table in the evening. On one occasion, I was denied a table at around 9:15 pm due to them closing early, although I did visit for lunch a day or two later during my August 2024 trip so I was able to have a full dining experience.
The staff seemed nice enough, when I was seated I had two tiny sample-sized glasses placed on my table, which were empty, they were taken away when I ordered my food, so I'm not sure the point of the waitress carrying them to and from my table for no reason was.
I ordered the Mushroom Risotto and added chicken, this was not on the menu outside the restaurant but it was on the menu given to me by my waiter and online - so it appears the menu outside is outdated.
The risotto was mostly good, a small portion of the rice was dried out, hard and grainy, but it was mostly quite nice, the chicken was tasty and there was a generous helping of it too. The broth was nice and it was well seasoned.
The prices seem a little high for what it is, my risotto came to £16.95, and while the risotto was nice, I've had a lot better and just expect more for the price. Prices can be more reasonable if you're able to use the Tesco/student offers. ASK Perks is also available which is their version of a loyalty scheme, although I didn't bother using it on this occasion as the only reward that seemed to be available was a tote bag that I have no use for.
I liked being able to pay on the app, so I didn't have to wait for my waiter to get the bill and then the card machine, there is also the option to order on the app but I was unsure if my allergy would be added, and there was no notes section to make the kitchen aware.
3* - Pretty average chain, not particularly authentic but if you're looking for a quick lunch in the city centre it's not a bad choice. read more