Buca di Beppo
An Italian restaurant which attracts big groups hungry enough to work their way through the giant portions on offer. The spaghetti with meatballs come highly recommended.

Address: Cobalt Business Park, West Allotment | Telephone: 0844 980 8030 |

Tenji Japanese Buffet
With its low-slung lantern lampshades, polished wooden floors and huge arty Japanese prints, there's no denying Tenji looks the part. Naturally, it's sushi that is the big draw and on Mondays through to Thursdays Tenji has an all-you-can-eat lunch for £9.90 that goes down a treat.

Address: Barrack Road | Telephone: 0191 230 3888 |

Barluga
The award-winning bohemian decor makes Barluga stand out from the crowd, but there's more than good looks to this gastropub. Situated opposite the Theatre Royal, it's the perfect stopping-off point for the theatre crowd. The oysters are the house speciality.

Address: 35 Grey Street | Telephone: 0191 230 2306 |

Akbars
This is one of the new breed of ultra-modern curry establishments in Newcastle offering great food in contemporary surroundings. If you like your food a bit different, the rabbit tikka will be right up your street, but there's also all the popular dishes you'd expect, like balti, dansak and vindaloo.

Address: Unit 1, City Quadrant, Westmorland Road, | Telephone: 0191 232 3234 |