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REVIEW: The Laundrette brings 'cocktails and carbs' to Newcastle

Newcastle has added an abundance of new additions to its vibrant food and drink scene over the past year. From independent restaurants to the addition of intu Eldon Square’s food court, there are a huge selection of venues to choose from.

The latest spot to add to the ever-growing list is The Laundrette, situated under Vita Student accommodation. Serving up everything from pizza and burgers to steak and accompanied by a unique cocktail menu, the restaurant provides a deluxe offering for those looking to treat themselves.

Part of a chain of 3, The Laundrette Newcastle prides itself on a love for ‘cocktails and carbs’, combined to present a huge choice of both drinks and food.

Seating 90 inside and soon to seat more in an outdoor terrace, the venue typically attracts a 18-40 year old audience in sister restaurants in Chorlton and Manchester.

Keen to try the latest hot spot in the Toon, I visited on a Friday evening for my ‘cocktails and carbs’ fix.

Food

With a huge range of choice on the menu, it wasn’t easy to decide on what to go for. After much deliberating over our first cocktails, we settled on the 8oz fillet steak, truffle seasoning, roasted vine tomatoes and fries.

Now I wouldn’t class myself as a steak snob by any means, however this was one of the best steaks that I’ve ever had in Newcastle. Cooked to perfection, the meat melted in your mouth and there was plenty of it for the price.

The tomato accompaniment provide a great addition and the fries were lovely with the truffle and parmesan, especially when I usually prefer thicker cut chips.

For dessert, because Friday is always a cheat day, we ordered the mixed load fondue share board.

Complete with sticky toffee, chocolate brownie, mini doughnuts, strawberries, toasted marshmallows and chocolate fondue, this is definitely one for those with a sweet tooth. After a meal each and cocktails, we did struggle to finish the whole thing. I definitely think this could be shared by three people, rather than two.

Drink

As an establishment that prides itself on ‘cocktails and carbs’ it would be rude not to dedicate a section to their drinks menu.

As someone who is a self-proclaimed drink connoisseur, I can be very critical when ordering cocktails. Again, with such a huge selection available, we decided to order a different one each round to really appreciate each creation and the effort put in by the bartenders.

The Raspberry Flossi and Big Banana Batida both deserve a special mention, due to their unique flavours and the attention to detail in the appearance.

The signature Laundrette with Love, a twist on the pornstar martini, is also worth a try. Served on a branded wooden board with love hearts, you also get a shot glass of pink prosecco, so it’s Instagrammable as well as flavorful.

Service + Atmosphere

Upon arrival, we were greeted by an extremely friendly hostess who took our coats at the door and seated us. It was then that I noticed how immaculate the place was, from the huge ‘Cocktails and Carbs’ neon sign above the bar, to the leather booths and an open kitchen, the venue oozes style.

With it being a Friday night, I was of course expecting a vibrant atmosphere that was delivered from the moment we sat down. My only gripe would be that, at times, it was quite loud and difficult to hear both my partner and the waitress speaking. That being said, the music was suitably energetic for a weekend, with a live saxophone player that weaved through the tables serenading those that were eating. It’s not often you get free entertainment with your food, so of course we decided to do the most millennial thing we could think of and set up a live stream on Instagram.

The service was impeccable and I was extremely impressed with our waitress Sylvie, who was knowledgeable, polite and friendly. We did get asked how our food was three times by three different people, which wasn’t really necessary, but I appreciated the enthusiasm.

Overall, if you are looking for delicious, well-prepared food and an inventive cocktail menu, you need to visit The Laundrette. Exceeding my expectations both with the quality of the food and how knowledgeable the staff were so soon after opening, it’s always refreshing to visit somewhere with staff that care about their offering.

The entertainment with the live DJ and saxophone player was also a very welcome addition, you’d usually have to pay at least an entry fee for that!

Already been and thinking of becoming a regular? The Laundrette are currently operating a loyalty scheme system, in which you can use a card to claim points for every £1 spent.

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