Most excellent pasta cafe in the middle of a roundabout in central Newcastle. We came for lunch on a Saturday shortly after they opened, tempted by the allure of fresh pasta and homemade sauces. Indeed, they did not disappoint.
Water is served in carafes with cucumber and lemon, very refreshing. We shared a San Pellegrino and waited only a few minutes before our plates of pappardelle arrived - my husband's with braised beef shin ragu and mine with guanciale (cured pork cheek cubes) and a tomato white wine chili sauce. The pasta was bright yellow and looked like an egg yolk base. It was clearly homemade and went brilliantly with the sauces, which coated and stuck to each bite. The pappardelle was huge - big, wide, flat pasta - bigger than I've usually had it. I had to cut off pieces of it rather then swirling strands around the fork or slurping it, but the taste was still great. My husband's sauce was rich and meaty, and mine was spicy and flavorful. We both felt it was just what we wanted, and at only £5-6 pounds for a filling portion, we got a tremendous bargain. We also got a side of pork and fennel meatballs for £2 - it was a small portion, but a small price too, so we didn't mind! We popped the savory, fennel-y bites into our mouths. The atmosphere is sunny and streamlined.
You pay such a low price here for such high-quality food, I don't even understand how they can get away with it. It's an incredible bargain. We both remarked that we intend to come often, and to bring out-of-town guests. We love fresh pasta, and there aren't many places in town where you can get it, and surely none as gourmet yet affordable as this. Not to be missed! read more