Cafe 21

The first of Terry Laybourne’s family of restaurants, Café 21 – the former 21 Queen Street – moved to Trinity Gardens on Newcastle’s Quayside in 2007 after 19 successful years (and the region’s first Michelin star) in Queen Street. Sleek and modern, full of light and space, the new building suits the restaurant’s menu of stylish, bistro dishes served with flair.

As ‘Gold Winner’ of the Taste of North East England Awards 2008, not surprisingly the kitchen’s emphasis is on creating simple, imaginative dishes where there’s a real respect for the ingredients. The cooking is never artful or fussy, just a classic, bistro style with a true element of craft and a few contemporary twists to add a little free spirit.

Smart but not stuffy, sleek but not pretentious, fun but not gimmicky, this is a buzzy city centre restaurant which never loses sight of putting the food first.