This is Newcastle's BEST restaurant, bar none - with a surprise 'otherworldly' dish

I’ve done this job long enough now to know good food when I eat it. And it’s fair to say, what I was offered at SIX was hands down the best I’ve ever eaten in our beautiful city.

I don’t say that lightly. However, I must add a caveat, I’ve not eaten at the city’s amazing Michelin star venues - shout out Kenny Atkinson (we’re always open for an invite!). But having done a whole host of the best, including Broad Chare on the other side of the Tyne and the likes of Lovage and Nest, this was just that tiny bit better. Close, but SIX wins out for this one small detail - they made the seemingly mundane, become absolutely otherworldly

Dinner in the clouds

Since its opening, SIX, at the top of the Baltic flour mills on the Gateshead banks of the Tyne, has always had something special about it. I first went around five years ago.

And on return, the splendour of the entry to the rooftop dining experience remains unblemished. As the seemingly endless elevator rises higher and higher, gazing through the window panes laddering your way towards the clouds, the true glory of the Tyne opens out. On a sunny day, there’s nothing more beautiful.

Spin 180 degrees and the dining area awaits. And it’s changed, well from five years ago, anyway. I may be telling a slight fib here, although there’s an interesting tale to it.

I was invited to the launch party after the menu changes and came prepared, empty-stomached, for what was set to be on offer. Not reading the small print, I’d missed the fact it was canapes and drinks only, not the menu offering I’d hoped for. Chippy tea it was that night for myself and my fellow diner, my dad, who by now is becoming a regular NewcastleWorld plus one.

This time, myself and my old man, were not to be left hungry - in fact, quite the opposite. On arrival we were treated to some English fizz, which came with two starter-like offerings.

First up was a ‘selection of snacks’. There was a cheesy number, a minted lamb croquette and and a beautifully delicate fish canape. All were the perfect hint at what was to come, while the second course was a bread course to end all bread enjoyment for me for life.

A Japanese milk bread mini-loaf came with cute wooden knife and the garliciest of garlic butters, with fresh wild garlic flowers on the top. WOW. My tastebuds were alive after this one.

Contrasts galore - wild to wonderful

From the wild and robust of course two to something a whole lot more delicate for dish three.

This was a thing of pure beauty. Fine strings of Dorset crab garnished with heritage tomatoes, fermented red pepper and a punch of almond in their too.

The nut packed a crunch, the crab was as silken as you’d expect while the veg and sauce that surrounded it tied everything together on the palate.

As good as this was, it was course four, however, that really blew my mind. Who knew something so mundane and everyday could be pimped up to be easily one of the top dishes I’ve ever tasted.

Who knew chicken could be THIS good?

Chicken is just chicken right? It’s everyone’s usual ‘turn to’. You’ve got it in the freezer, you stick it in a curry, it’s in your favourite fast food offerings. Chicken is plain and simple, it does a job.

This was no normal chicken dish. This was sent from the GODS!

Sourdough herb-fed chicken with einkorn and sweetcorn porridge with wild garlic. Yes, more garlic, but this time it was subtle. Porridge for a main, yes but not that kind. This was laced with all kinds of flavour and texture, kohlrabi kicking in from nowhere with the grains and corn.

And the chicken itself - UNBELIEVABLE. This was no run of the mill piece of meat, you could taste all the love and care that had gone into it, not only from farm and source, but also the wonderfully talented kitchen from which it was served.

To finish things up came two dessert dishes - the first a wonderfully rich and decadent dark chocolate cremeux with cherry, more almonds and vanilla gelato. Think chocolate mouse on steroids. The second was a handmade selection of petit fours, which just added that final sweet flourish on what was a wonderful evening.

The drink flowed - SIX were amazing hosts, NewcastleWorld’s best to date - and food was worthy of its place in the clouds of Tyneside. Reviews started on this platform nearly three years ago - and I challenge any city restaurant to try and beat SIX, as I think I could go three more and not get anywhere close.

TASTE: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

SERVICE: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

VIBE: ⭐⭐⭐

RETURNABILITY ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐