The Arch, Tynemouth, North Tyneside

Nov 18 2007 by Eddy Eats, Sunday Sun

IT may seem like Mrs Eats and I have the best job in the world, but let me assure you, it isn’t easy at times.

Every week we have the same mini crisis in the House of Eats . . . where shall we go today?

After years of sampling the good, the bad and sometimes the downright ugly eateries dotted around the North of England, sometimes it’s hard to remember where we’ve already been.

So it’s always a relief when you uncover somewhere new. There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of spotting a new purveyor of Sunday lunch and rushing in to sample its wares, in the hope that it is going to taste as good as it smells.

Last week we had been stuck for ideas on where to go, so being a nice day, we decided to head to the coast. We knew a wander through Tynemouth, North Tyneside, would reveal somewhere we hadn’t been before, and decided to take pot luck.

It didn’t take long. Not halfway along the bustling high street we were greeted by a display board featuring images of a delicious-looking Sunday lunch . . . we had found our food.

It may be a restaurant and not a pub, but The Arch is a fine setting for a Sunday feast.

A former Indian restaurant — me and the missus had slurped down many a late night curry on these very premises during our younger days after nights on the pop — the place has been transformed into a stunning and elegant yet not overpriced spot to eat.

Three courses were on offer, but we decided to skip starters and go straight onto mains, ordering a bottle of house red to help wash it down.

The staff instantly earned brownie points when we were offered a choice of two house reds, and just moments after it was delivered to our table and poured, along with crusty, seeded bread rolls and fresh butter, the food landed.

Predictably, I’d gone for the beef, while She Who Must Be Fed had plumped for the lamb, both priced at £8.95 each.

Two large square plates were placed in front of us, with big, thick slices of meat nestled on top of tasty-looking roast potatoes. Mine was dressed with fantastic thick gravy while Mrs Eats had requested hers to come without.

The plate was balanced with a huge Yorkshire pudding, and a massive dish of winter veg for us to share was also delivered to the table.

There was definitely more than enough for two, and between us we spooned on copious amounts of carrots, cabbage, bright green broccoli and my personal favourite . . . mashed swede.

To say that this was a great Sunday lunch would be an understatement. It was perhaps one of the tastiest I’ve ever had and while not the largest, it was big enough to satisfy.

There was a tiny bit of room left for dessert, so I went for home made chocolate sponge with chocolate sauce and custard, while Mrs Eats managed to force down a cheesecake, priced at £3.95 each.

We both agreed the desserts were as fine as the main courses, and judging by the number of other clean plates which we spotted being carried back to the kitchen, everyone else was of the same opinion.

In fact, it was so good, I would recommend booking . . . once everyone realises how good The Arch is, I imagine it will be packing them in week after week.

• The Arch is located at 68 Front Street, Tynemouth, North Tyneside. Head into Tynemouth and Front Street is the main street through the centre. The restaurant is located about halfway along.

* * * * *

Character - 5
Quality - 5
Service - 5
Value - 4
Telephone: 0191 - 2577959
Food served: Noon to 3.15pm.
Drinks: Bottle of house red £11.50, bottle of still water £3, Glass of house wine £3.25, fresh orange £1.50, Bottled lager £3.50.
Car Park - No
Kids allowed - Yes
Real Ale on tap - No
Wine by the Bottle - Yes
Credit Cards - Yes
Vegetarian Food - Yes
Disabled Toilets - No