Route is a modern bistro and casual dining restaurant in Newcastle serving simple yet well-executed seasonal British food, along with an inventive wine list and inspiring cocktails. The restaurant is only open for dinner throughout the week, as well as lunch on Saturdays, with the aim of providing the best possible experience it can. In fact, it’s managed to earn itself a Bib Gourmand from the Michelin Guide thanks to its delicious food and reasonable price tag.
The main dining room is rustic yet eclectic in style, from its industrial exposed pipes that line the ceilings to wooden chairs and tables and bright green velvet banquet seating that runs along the length of one wall. Free-form shelves allow Route to showcase some of its fantastic wines, while trailing foliage, exposed light bulbs and painted, unplastered walls feel simultaneously unfussy yet on-trend.
Route’s seasonal British menu changes regularly with the seasons so don’t get too attached to anything you might eat here. However, examples of dishes that have graced the menu in the past include pot roast beetroot with blood orange, shaved fennel, salted yogurt and mint, warm lightly-smoked sea bass with beurre blanc, soft herb salad and asparagus and Simonburn lamb leg steak with green sauce, wilted wild garlic and artichoke. To finish, choose from things like rum poached pineapple with white chocolate, coconut panna cotta and passionfruit, or Yorkshire rhubarb baked Alaska, citrus sponge, lemon curd and vanilla ice cream.
The 70-strong wine list includes an inspiring and inviting collection of organic, bio-dynamic and natural wines, while its cocktail menu features plenty of classic and never-seen-before creations. Guests are sure to discover something exciting from Route’s drinks menu.
While the restaurant is not open to the public on Sundays, it does accept private bookings for groups of between 15 and 40 guests.