I like the cheeky Chef Jamie Oliver and I also like his Italian sidekick and mentor Gennaro Contaldo.
My wife on the other hand not only likes them. She loves them.
We also like their Italian Restaurants which serve up some very tasty dishes indeed.
Whenever we visit different cities throughout the UK we invariably look to see if they have a Jamie’s Italian.
We recently ventured just 40 miles up the A1(M) to see a show at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle, and having sampled their hospitality some months ago, we decided to treat ourselves to a pre-show Dinner once again at their Newcastle Restaurant.
Newcastle on a Saturday night is a lively place at any time of the year, and this particular Saturday night, five weeks before Christmas, was livelier than ever.
The ground floor Bar was packed. I believe the more modern expression is heaving. Despite the fact that the local football team were losing heavily, the Christmas spirit was more evident inside and out with a seasonal market in full swing around the historic Grey’s Monument.
After one swift drink in the noisy bar, we were directed to the slightly quieter first floor restaurant where we were greeted by a pretty Romanian waitress who was clearly well trained and drilled in the ways of Jamie’s.
We started our meal with the iconic Antipasti and Nibbles on a wooden board, followed by delicious sizzling Sirloin Steaks with thinly cut french fries and a mushroom sauce.
As a Gold Club member, the chain offers you a number of freebies and incentives to eat at the restaurants on a regular basis.
On this occasion we were offered 30% off the price of the main course or alternatively a free bottle of Prossecco, and as it was my birthday a week earlier I was offered a free and generous slice of Chocolate Brownie, topped with a scoop of delicious vanilla ice cream, and a Happy Birthday greeting written expertly around my plate.
Not to be left out, my wife decided to join me in this chocolate treat.
As a result of the different incentives,a £20 gift card from Father’s Day and other freebies, and despite the added cost of two generous glasses of house wine, our final bill was only £53!
It may be some time before I return to Newcastle for a night out, but rest assured if I’m looking for a tasty meal at a reasonable price, I will look no further than Jamie’s Italian Restaurant.
