Adriano's, High Street, Gosforth

Nov 21 2010 Sunday Sun

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REGULAR readers of this column will know that Mrs Eats and I love nothing more than working up a huge appetite before we embark on our Sunday scran.

Tucking into delicious slabs of meat accompanied by a well-earned pint is a fine reward following a stomp.

Normally, She-Who-Must-Be-Fed can’t get beyond 2pm without feeling faint if there’s no grub on the go.

But on this particular day we had risen late after a lively Saturday evening out and had tucked into a colossal full English breakfast.

So we decided on a long trudge over Newcastle’s Town Moor to blow away the cobwebs, ending up hungry and on Gosforth High Street at around 4pm.

We decided to try Adriano’s restaurant which was offering a main course for £8.95, two courses for £10.95, or three courses for £12.95.

Adriano’s is hidden behind the Co-op and the decor inside the restaurant is very light and airy. Mrs Eats rather liked it.

There is a glass atrium in the middle of the main dining area and at the reception area there are wooden dressers and furniture from Italy, wooden floors and, further in, two massive olive trees imported from Sardinia.

We were seated under the atrium by the cheery staff.

And so to the grub. While we made our choice we were served some delicious bread and dipping oils.

There was a choice of five starters.

Mrs Eats had the crostone ai funghi – button mushrooms and onions cooked in creamy white wine sauce served on toasted bread.

It was a very substantial dish, with a mound of mushrooms, and her toasted bread had a good garlic kick.

I tucked into my paté which also came with toasted bread and was served with cranberry sauce.

The paté was also very good indeed and the sauce complemented it well, as did the toasted bread.

Once the starters were out of the way, we moved on to the serious business of picking a main dish. There were three roasts on offer including chicken, beef or lamb. There was also a fish of the day or wood-roasted Sardinian suckling pig at £8 extra.

I opted for the beef with all the trimmings while Mrs Eats chose the chicken. Neither of us were disappointed.

The beef itself, in plentiful quantity and very tender, was spot on, as was the middling-to-thick gravy.

Mrs Eats said her chicken dinner was just as excellent.

It tasted beautiful. Luckily, I managed to grab a bit before she had shifted the lot.

The dinners came with roast potatoes, Yorkshires, and colourful side dish of veg medley; turnip, sweet roasted parsnips, carrots, mash and sprouts.

Mrs Eats remarked that the veg was quite firm and not mushy as tends to be the way in some places.

She enjoyed it so much she hardly said a word while she tucked in.

And to top it all, there was a splendidly crispy Yorkshire pud – all washed down (in my case) with a delicious pint.

Plates cleared and positive feedback sent back to the kitchen, it was time to take a look at the dessert menu.

Come pudding time, we decided to share a creamy pannacotta which came with blueberries, raspberries and mint leaves with berry coulis. It was decadent.

Bellies full, we left Adriano’s pleased to have found somewhere which offers delicious food at reasonable prices.

All in all, our trip was a very pleasant one.

Rating: 17/20