I tried Gusto's Valentine's Day menu and had a romantic night in Newcastle

To celebrate the big day, me and my partner went to Gusto on the Quayside to try their exclusive Valentine's Day sharing menu and it didn't disappoint.

Now, I'm not normally a romantic person. Valentine's Day normally passes us by without so much as a bouquet of flowers or box of chocolates.

But I might be a convert.

With rose petals and hearts scattered around the restaurant, Gusto provided the perfect setting for a Valentine's night in Newcastle.

First we started with a specialty drink and shared their Strawberry Rose Carafe. It was a perfect low alcohol option which had the nostalgic taste of pink lemonade. For food, we started with the Antipasti Sharing Board which was the perfect taster of some of Italy's best. Parma ham, burrata, breads and olives is the best way to start any meal.

For mains, you're given the choice between sharing a Seafood Risotto, made up of lobster bisque, fresh crab meat, prawns, seabass, scallops, and smoked salmon, or Chateaubriand with cacio e pepe butter, truffle mash, tenderstem broccoli, winter greens.

After much deliberation we opted for the beef and were instantly gratified by our choice. The meat was tender and delicious on a bed of garlicky winter veg, but I think the real star of the show was the truffle mashed potato.

And finally, with full bellies, for dessert we shared the Biscoff and Chocolate Dough Petals with Madagascan vanilla Italian gelato. Now this pud isn't for the faint-hearted. Our waitress said she saw a man eat an entire serving by himself and I'm still worried about him 12 hours later. Comprised of chocolate plaited dough with vanilla ice cream, it was a decadent dessert and one I couldn't manage much off. But the taste I did have was lovely and the ice cream was especially good.

Overall the food was incredible and served as a delicious backdrop to a lovely evening. But for some, it doesn't have to end there.

Diners who order any dish off the Valentine's Day menu will be given the chance to enter a competition where thirteen lucky diners will receive a £50 Gusto Italian voucher, and one winner will receive an overnight spa break for two, including drinks and dinner. To enter, guests can simply write their details on a padlock and hang it from Gusto’s iconic olive tree in the restaurant. On 18th February, a padlock from each restaurant will be chosen at random and entered into this prize draw. The special Valentine's Day menu runs until 18th February so there is still time to get booked up.