Marco Polo has been serving authentic Italian cuisine to the people of Newcastle for more than 50 years, offering a creative menu, quality ingredients and a welcoming atmosphere, all situated in one of the biggest venue capacities in the city.
The restaurant combines classic Italian cooking with a more contemporary approach, and offers a generous menu of crowd-pleasing dishes. The kitchen’s starting point is traditional Italian food, but dishes are elevated with modern combinations and inspired presentation. Ingredients are locally sourced where possible, while cured meats and cheeses are sourced directly from a local Italian supplier.
If you're searching for a restaurant in Newcastle to book a private dinner, Marco Polo offers flexible options for small and medium-sized groups. The restaurant can be divided into four separate rooms across two levels, allowing for a maximum of 75 guests across the whole venue, or smaller parties of 15 to 45 for a private dinner.
Private dining groups can choose from the a la carte menu, or create something bespoke to suit the occasion. Starters might include things like deep-fried calamari with chilli, lemon and olive oil, or wild mushroom crostini with confit garlic, tarragon ricotta and truffle oil.
For mains, pasta is an obvious draw. Options range from spaghetti with pork, beef, mozzarella and rosemary meatballs to a rich beef ragù made with slow-cooked shin, Chianti and sage.
For a more casual dinner, there are a range of pizzas to choose from, including a classic Margherita, or pepperoni with Calabrian chillies, ham and mushroom, to Fiorentina with goat’s cheese, spinach, pine nuts and egg. Guests after something more substantial can opt for chicken Milanese, salmon with asparagus and crushed new potatoes, or Frutti di Mare combining sea bass, calamari, king prawns and mussels with squid-ink tagliolini.
As for desserts, think comforting and familiar, including tiramisu, chocolate and hazelnut cheesecake, Espresso and Baileys panna cotta and sticky toffee pudding.