Oro at The Pumphouse in County Durham

I have a chicken vindaloo every time I visit it an Indian restaurant and this was the worst I’ve had in a longtime. It was hard to eat the chicken as it was extremely chewy also there was very little sauce with the curry. This restaurant is very poor and does not live up to its reviews!

Visitamos con la oferta de 3 platos a través de Groupon y fue una comida estupenda para el precio.

Poco después de una noche especial a la ceremonia de graduación, así que todo el mundo estaba en un poco alto. Menú y carta de vinos muy interesante. Hicieron una comida especial y al mismo tiempo dieron una buena relación calidad-precio. Especialmente atento con el "sin alcohol" para la "seca" de la miembro de junio fiesta

Este restaurante tiene un ambiente increíble y excelente comida. Mi marido, que ha trabajado y viajado mucho en Italia, dice que la comida es tan buena como auténticos platos italianos. Todo el personal era muy amable y la comida era deliciosa y bien servido.

Came here for a family meal after graduation. The food was fantastic, the service was good and overall I couldn't fault it. Fantastic place to go for a lovely special meal!

Reservé a última hora a un sábado por la noche para un grupo de 3, ya que el restaurante estaba cerca de donde nos alojábamos.

Después de una caminata informal en la tarde, visitamos este restaurante italiano, con una bonita decoración, ambiente tranquilo y una ubicación no muy lejos del centro de la ciudad de Durham. Llegamos antes de la hora de apertura (6:00) y, en realidad, media hora antes de la hora de nuestra mesa reservada (6:30). Así que nos sentamos fuera esperando. Un tiempo después, el propietario salió a darnos la bienvenida en el restaurante, nos permite comenzar la cena inmediatamente. Esta fue también una inmediata principio de servicio increíblemente bueno.

Hemos viajado por el mundo, alojado en algunos de los mejores hoteles y he tenido la suerte de haber comido algunos platos de la mejor cocina.

Tuvimos una comida agradable última noche si nuestro aniversario de boda. Gracias por la cálida bienvenida, la comida increíble y la recomendación o de vino y comida. Intenté algo diferente, la salsa de queso con el filete y fue encantador. Gracias al propietario para recomendarlo a mí. No puedo esperar para volver a comer en su restaurante.

Estábamos buscando un lugar agradable para ir de una comida italiana con amigos y habíamos oído sobre este lugar y decidí probarlo.

Another fabulous meal and service. Could not fault food and an excellent wine choice made by Marco complimented it very well. Thank you

Having been to this restaurant several times, I cannot say anything bad about it. The food is always excellent, the owner and staff are so friendly and helpful. Will be going back soon!

We arrived an hour too early and the staff were welcoming and accommodated this. The meal was good and the service was pleasant. An enjoyable lunch. If near Durham a good choice for a meal with the bonus of easy parking

Once again an exceptional experience at Oro. From the welcome to the farewell every aspect was spot on. The tempura fish starter was crisp & moist. The fillet steak with the peppercorn sauce was beautifully cooked as were the accompanying vegetables. As for the desert it was to die for, all washed down with a fantastic red wine. cibo e servizio fantastico ringrazio Arrivederci a presto

Delicious pasta in a beautiful setting with lovely, welcoming staff and a very good wine list. Nice atmosphere, interesting menu and homemade food. We will be back!

If you are looking for somewhere special to go for a romantic/celebratory evening meal then Oro is definitely the place. The ambience and decor is lovely. The food is delicious, not the typical chain-Italian fare. It does very nice meat and pasta dishes and I would say the price is very reasonable for the quality. The staff are super attentive and friendly. I couldn't recommend Oro more highly, it is lovely every time!

Never visited before but from the initial welcome was simply blown away. Nothing was too much trouble and from the Manager to our Italian waitress we were made to feel like kings and our young daughter was entertained simply by a smile and the staff being interested. Food maybe a little more expensive than your typical Italian restaurant but this is not a typical Italian restaurant. All staff are Italian and unlike many restaurants who have no clue what Aperol even is we were very impressed. I took the Brushetta which was really excellent and then the Crab freshly caught and was plentiful. We both avoided the desert simply as we were both full. If you want to impress somebody take them there we will definitely be back.

We were 3 for a birthday meal at Oro, Saturday 4th Feb, where we have previously had good meals, but this was the worst meal we have ever had anywhere, anytime.My sister and I were taking my partner for his 70th birthday. We made our order , no starters, one medallions of beef, two lamb cutlets with vegetables, a bottle of wine.The order came and the cutlets were cold, the plates were cold the veg were cold.We sent the lamb back, my partner was reluctant to send his back out of embarrassment. The lamb came back after 10 minutes and was just the same. The waiter was upset and said he would get the meal re-cooked.The replacement meal arrived after my partner had finished his beef. It was the original cutlets with a couple of extra ones added.We ordered 2 ice creams with coffee and liqueur. They came, the ice cream would have fitted a desert spoon.I went into the kitchen with the embarrassed waiter and told the chef/cook what I thought.We got the bill, with no deductions for the dreadful meal, of £110.We will never go back to Oro, it has lost it's way completely and is totally pretentious.

Took advantage of voucher offer at £44 for 4 person, 2 course lunch with prosecco, excellent value. We had arrived quite early but were warmly welcomed and sat in the small bar area to enjoy our drinks before being shown to our table. 3 soups and a mushroom starter all thoroughly enjoyed. Mains were the vegetable tagliatelle, pork and the tortellini. Apart from the tortellini being a bit on the bland/tasteless side the rest of the meal was enjoyed. Only one of our party had dessert and this was just vanilla ice cream which we were not charged full price for. It was a completely unrushed and relaxing experience enjoyed by our party, staff were very friendly and attentive. Having now been here we are looking forward to returning soon. Thank you.

This place is a hidden gem. Just outside the city in an old pump house by the river. We had the £22 lunch for 2. A glass of Preseco, starters and mains. The starters, bruchetta which was ok and smoked mackerel which was very nice. The mains , cod on a bed of mixed veg was excellent, the loin of pork with veg was excellent. The portion size were perfect. The wine list is short the bottle we had at £16.50 was good value. We'll definitely be back.

It was one of the worst experiences of our life. Can't comment on the food as we did not even get to that part. We ordered a main and a starter since it was just two of us, instead of being asked to order two mains, we were told to leave the restuarant by the owner himself. He was impolite and not courteous at all. Will not recmmend to anyone and give it 0 rating.

Had the pleasure of visiting this delightful restaurant tucked away in the trees in Durham for lunch with friends.We were greeted by a delightful front of house lady and gentleman and then were handed over to Giovanni, who was wonderful.The atmosphere was charming and hinted immediately of fine dining.The menu looked fabulous and the prices were more than reasonable, amazing actually both food and drinks.The quality of the food was absolutely excellent.Everyone thoroughly enjoyed every morsel eaten, though one member of the group had to turn down a dessert because the Beef Tortellini was substantial ( not a complaint)The service was faultless, friendly and relaxed.We can not wait to return ,next time we will go for dinner.Thank you to all at Oro at The Pump House for a deliciously, delightful experience.

The fried fish starter was overcooked and had to be sent back. A second attempt was barely better, Both inedible.The main course of pasta with lobster: the lobster was very small and therefore had very little meat so the main meal was disappointing.The bread and butter pannatone was microwaved and overcooked so instead of a sily texture it had the consistency of stale bread.My daughter wanted just ice cream without the liqueur and flavourings and was still charged the full price.

This was our first time visiting this restaurant.First of all the positives, very nice building and setting, very friendly and welcoming staff. I had a nice beer and a nice glass of wine.The food however was a massive let down. We started with a trio of bruchetta which was really bland and tasteless, lacking those fresh tastey flavours of Italy. 1 of the trio was mushrooms with a bit of cheese and the other slices of pepper with cheese, the ingredients just didn't taste of any quality. At £7 this was an expensive bruchetta too.For mains my wife had spinach and ricotta tortellini in tomatoe sauce. Again bland, stodgy and very thick pasta. I had the beef medallions in cognac and juniper sauce. The beef was very tastey but the sauce again was bland and lacking flavour. There was a tiny bit of cold red cabbage but nothing else for £18. I ordered fries too at an extra £2.50 but these turned out to be frozen chips, very poor.On paying I mentioned some issues and they admitted they have had issues with suppliers with ingredients and had to buy some supermarket products which certainly showed in the food quality. They removed the chips from the bill which was helpful but unfortunately we won't return as the quality of food was really lacking for the price.

This was our 3rd visit to Oro, very excited as both other occasions have been excellent (see previous reviews)All I can say is this place has gone down hill, and I'm talking only about the food, it was very poor indeed against usual standards. Out of 6 of us, not one person said they enjoyed any aspect and were disappointed. The lowlight was the duck starter, a trio of cold, tastesless and poor duck, it resembled and tastes like poor chicken!Anyway, you win some you lose some, we won't be back for a long time

Voucher bought as a gift for early evening and didn't know what to expect. Really pleasantly surprised. A fixed menu with lots of variety but the quality of the food was exceptional. The service was second to none. So friendly and so attentive. We would definitely go back and would recommend to any new patrons. This is definitely more upmarket but at the same time you are made so so welcome and the food is just so,lush! Thanks for a lovely early evening.

My family arranged the evening due my imminent 70th birthday. Wow! What a wonderful evening, my word of the night was "overwhelming" The welcome , the service and the food was exceptional. Thank you to the family members who were with me to make the evening so special, and a huge thank you to Marco and his wife, and staff for their care and attention. Lovely venue, and actually look forward to returning, especially when the weather permits us to enjoy the external area, which I think will be scenic ( can't be sure as it was dark when e visited)

I surprised my husband with a meal here for our anniversary and the experience was delightful. I booked the table online and happened to mention that we were coming in for a special occasion, and we're promptly greeted with a congratulations! This was totally unexpected.We ordered our meal and were directed to a private table upstairs. Once the food arrived we could not have been happier. Portions were not too large, but it was still a decent sized meal. And the taste, oh my! It was clearly freshly made. I have not had pasta that delicious in such a long time. Also make sure to leave room for dessert and order the tiramisu. It's advertised as the best you'll ever taste, and this is not an exaggeration.The staff too were attentive but not overbearing. I genuinely felt welcomed and not just another customer of which to make money off. Upon arriving home, my husband has not stopped commenting on how thrilled he was with our evening out. If you're looking for a special evening, Oro should not be overlooked. Thank you to the entire team at Oro for making a special occasion so memorable.

We visited this place for the first time the month previous and booked to come back on new years eve as a treat. Having had over 10 visits to Italy and eating in some of the finest places in the Uk, along with a number of Michelin rated establishments i know something special when i coke across it. This place has got it right!, from the location and building itself, the way its done out and the very relaxed atmosphere created by all of the staff and the owner its quite a special place and every single thing you want is catered for. our taxi was booked for 11.30 on NYE and we were welcomed to stay longer, the owner even arranged for another taxi to come for us after midnight.We were welcomed by the staff on entry, gave the option of going straight to our table (the same table as our last visit) or to sit and have a drink before going to our table (we chose the later). we picked the buffalo mozzarella with tomato, basil and olive oil for starter and the bruscetta for my partner. My buffalo mozzarella was absolutely out of this world, certainly not tasted anything like this in the uk, simplicity is something i take from Italy and this was simply amazing, bursting with taste. then for main i opted for fillet steak, medium rare and it was cooked to perfection and the vegetables were really nice also, then onto the lobster spaghetti, now this was something special, again its something reminiscent of sitting in marina grande overlooking the bay of Naples, absolutely outstanding. the dessert was tiramisu and then an almond based cake, both of which served with a shot glass of amaretto poured over the top, speechless.i could go on and describe more but wont, the food was outstanding, the staff were absolutely first class and we both were made to feel so relaxed and came away knowing a lot about each of the staff personally, where they were from etc etc, nothing is ever a problem at Oro and we will continue to come back. congrats to the owners and staff, you have created a very special place here and i will not hesitate to recommend for people who appreciate good food and service. i have paid double in other places and received half the service and taste.

We celebrated a family birthday with a group of eleven. This was an ideal environment in a beautiful setting in woodland near the river - we had a large comfortable table, an exceptionally warm and friendly welcome and excellent service from start to finish. The ambience was perfect for us (some of us have difficulty hearing in other restaurants) with a good balance between a convivial atmosphere and an intimate setting. We ate from the Christmas menu which provided plenty of options for all ages, and the restaurant were happy to accommodate individual needs. All in all, a wonderful and memorable occasion and we would certainly return.

My husband and I visited Oro for the first time for a quiet dinner. We were greeted at the door and all the staff were extremely polite, courteous but also friendly. The food was wonderful. I opted to order from the special Christmas menu (2 courses for £24, 3 courses for £28) while my husband ordered a la carte. We tried prawn and salmon cocktail and duck for starters followed by roast lamb and a fillet steak. I rarely order dessert but couldn't resist a cake made with almonds, macaroons and a shot of amaretto to pour over the top. Oro is not cheap but definitely worth the money. It is a cut above all of the other Italian restaurants in the area. Not a pizza in sight. Don't come here if you are looking for garlic bread and spaghetti bolognaise! Check out the menu online; its a little more sophisticated!

Our first choice was closed for lunch, so we ended at Oro. Thankfully it is set out of busy Durham City Centre at a picturesque woodland location.Our Italian host was exceptionally welcoming and described the menu in detail.The food was good, the setting lovely and the service spot on.

Visited 10-12-16 , golden wedding celebration, although the restaurant was very busy service and food was superb with a nice atmosphere , well done to Marco and the team.Dr and Mrs Mackenzie

We spent the night here and from start to finish we had such a special night. Set back in some lovely private grounds we were welcomed by two members of staff who welcomes us in and took our coats and then straight to the table, lovely warm welcome and made to feel at ease. The place itself is unique, done out lovely and very romantic (certainly helped by the person with me)The menu was nice with a lot of variety and very authentic, I opted for the tempura of fish which was so tasty and then for main I had pasta parcels filled with clams and prawns in a salmon and balsamic reduction. It was out of this world, very nice indeed. My partner had cod for a main sat Ina bed of vegetables and again, that both looked and tasted great. We then shared a tiramisu which was particularly nice. Staff were great, we were not rushed or over questioned and they even managed to get us a taxi after missing our planned taxi.We will certainly visit again and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to others. Special little place with great attention to detail, very well put together menu and staff that know how to put you at easeA happy pair of customers :)

Went here for a family birthday occasion. We were all pleased with the meal and the restaurant in general. The Christmas menu had just started and some tried from that. I tried the prawn and salmon cocktail and the cod for the main course and was pleased with both. The deserts were well portioned and attractively served as well. The only negative made by anyone at our table was that they thought the crab spaghetti should have more crab in it. The restaurant wasn't packed but had enough there to give it some atmosphere it was probably the perfect amount of people so you could get the staffs attention easily. A lovely setting, building and meal.

Visited here on 18/11 and I had not been here since I visited it as the Pump House. Quickly seated by the divine Jade and drinks order taken, Drinks carried to the restaurant and unusually coats taken ( 11/10 ) . The meal ( Three course for less the £ 20 ) was very good and all freshly prepared. All was very good until there was a mix up with the bill. The sweets were added twice and my guest Linda spotted it. All amicably resolved. Would I go again...110% !!

The choice of decent restaurants in Durham is a small one. We were hopeful we could add Oro to the list, but sadly not. Just on the edge of Durham and on the river this is a lovely building, with attentive staff. The menu is a typical "what English people think and Italian restaurant should sell". All mozzarella and tomato and bruschetta and the disaster my missus was served. A heap of cold duck that had no flavour, on top of a handful of salad leaves with a nondescript sauce. At £7.95 it was a pi**take. My mixed bruschetta was no better. Three barely toasted pieces of bread and I swear that was peppers from a jar. No basil in sight and barely a hint of garlic. £7.25?!!! A steal. Of my money. This set the tone for the evening. The wine list was a mix, not all Italian, and starting at £16.95, with two whites and two reds by the glass. Cheap plonk, and not worth buying more than one. The pasta dishes were an improvement although mine was swimming in oil, and the missus said hers was over salty. At £16 a course I expect them to be good, and they were certainly ok. Not good enough for a return visit, but they picked up the meal, and saved this review from a 1 star. I really wanted to like this place, I did, but this is definitely no A Cena (Richmond, Surrey) or Vasco e Pierros Pavilion (Soho, London). If anyone knows a decent proper Italian in the North East tell me now.

A little on the expensive side, ideal for one of those special occasions. Well worth it in the end..

We went as a group to celebrate the children's grandfather's 80th birthday.The staff,the atmosphere and above all the food was excellent We were a group of 12 with some children- the menu catered for us allThe staff went out of their way to make us feel welcome and to celebrate grandad's birthday.The wine list was very good but slightly on the expensive side.A great night was had by all

Went Tuesday evening, meal was lovely in pleasant setting . Will try a visit for midday meal to see the area in daylight. We were the only couple dinning which was a pity but was assured they are busy at weekends.

Friendly welcome, delicious food, excellent venue.Choice of a la carte and very reasonable lunch menu (2 prices for 2 or 3 courses). Strongly recommended!

Rather a disappointing experience, we had booked for 1.15. I was told the soup was root vegetable but was served mushroom It tasted ok so didn't make a fuss. No gap between courses.We ordered a second coffee which was served - then we were told they were closing - the host stood around waiting for us to leave. Not a good experience we were looking forward to a leisurely lunch. I noted later they closed at 2.30 at lunchtime - perhaps when we booked our host should have pointed this out - not taken the booking and rushed us!

There was absolutely no atmosphere and only two other people having lunch when we arrived for our 1.15 pm reservation! Not a good sign. The starters were poor. Two of the party had soup to start with which, although tasty, was more like mushroom than the vegetable it was supposed to be. I had duck which was cold and piled up artistically on a shred of lettuce with the only flavour supplied by bit of balsamicThe main courses were better but nothing special. Two of the party asked for, and were served, another coffee but to top it off a few minutes later we were asked to leave because they were closing! We won't be going back!

We decided to have lunch at this rather nice Italian restaurant formerly known as the Pump House so we reserved a table for two and it was a very pleasurable experience.The food was lovely,& the waiting staff were very attentive and do you know what,as far as Italian restaurants go I would say that this is a cut above the norm for Italian devote,has a nice cost feeling about it.Priced were not to bad either.Will go again and try the evening menus.

Siamo stati in luglio in questa piacevolissima cittadina inglese e siamo stati a cena in questo risptorante. Devo dire da italiano che ho mangiato bene e all'italiana veramente. Non come in quei ristoranti che si spacciano per cucina italiana. Da consigliare. Complimenti a tutto il personale di cucina e di sala.

Absolute treat! Was a little apprehensive on arrival knowing nothing about the place. Fantastic location. Food was out of this world... well seasoned. Staff couldn't be better. Brilliant job well done x

we had a groupon for the pump house, it was 2 course plus prosecco for 2.we said we were both driving later could we have 2 soft drinks instead,we have done this before with the groupon. we had our meal which was nice, got and left. as we got to the car the manager called us back he said we had to pay for the 2 soft drinks we had. i said that we did not have the wine witch i thought we had sorted out earlier. when i went back to the till there was a bill for £6 for 1 pint of coke, 1 pint of orange and water.this is to warn people if they r driving do not have a drink just let the prosecco sit in the table to go to waste that seems the way to do it

After searching online for decent restaurants in or around Durham City I came across Oro at the Pumphouse.Having walked past the restaurant on many occasions, each time promising to visit, I thought it time to give it a try as a treat for my wife's birthday and booked easily online via the restaurant website. On arrival we parked in the ample free car pro (unlike in the City where it costs everywhere) and were welcomed by the very friendly owners and immediately offered an aperitif in the lounge / bar area.On consideration of the extensive a la carte and lunch time menu's we opted for the lunch time menu of three courses (which I would heartily recommend) with us both enjoying starters of Grilled Goats cheese Bruschetta, myself the Supreme of Chicken and my wife the Pork Loin as our main course accompanied by fresh crunchy vegetables and to end our meal an "Italian Mess" as desert (beautifully laced with Limoncello).The food was very well cooked and presented and tasted delicious. The staff couldn't be more welcoming and helpful in terms of recommendations and general hospitality and the environment was very clean and relaxing.In all, a very enjoyable dining experience which I would recommend and we look forward to revisiting at some stage in the near future.

Another perfecto evening at one of our favourite restaurants ... from being greeted warmly upon arrival the whole experience was faultless... ambiance... service ... the friendly and very efficient staff and the food !!

Oro is excellent traditional Italian food at its best,curtious and friendly staff never been disappointed.must go if you are in Durham

Bravo Groupon, Bravo! We bought a voucher for Oro on Groupon and I personally feel like I've robbed them. Lovely little place inside and out. There's a nice little courtyard to sit out on a lovely sunny afternoon and inside has the feel of a late 15th century building with a modern twist. The food is without doubt exceptional, à la carte menu but defiantly not à la carte portions. We will be returning to order from the evening menu soon. There was only one waiter working and there were a few people dining so he was ran off his feet, though he did very well to be attentive and very pleasant to everyone there. Hats off Padre Giovanni.

I visited the restaurant for dinner and from the moment we walked in the service was first class, drinks were expertly made and the candle lit setting oozed romance. The waiting staff have a basic knowledge of wine but lack death and the wine is somewhat over priced, the Prosecco, at £7.50 a glass is overpriced. It's £8 a bottle in M&S... I paid £27 for my bottle of white wine, it's retail price is £7.50! I can't help but feel cheated here... The synchronization of the front of house and kitchen is second to non, we wait no time for all courses...excellent!Attention has been paid the menu, ensuring its lay out matches that of the cuisine however they are not produced daily. I had the steak! It was first class and more! Sold well by the waiter, cooked to perfection and locally sourced. The accompaniments however lacked flavor on the plate as did the outdated side plate of steamed vegetables. Dose the chef taste what he is serving? If these small issues of detail where rectified this restaurant could have untold potential and be full on a paid day weekend. Please go! It is good food. You will be looked after without question. Just a bit overpriced and lacking ATD in places.

Visited on a lunchtime with a voucher which was a gift. Service was excellent and food was very good, particularly the mains of cod and pork, the latter was the tastiest pork I've had. Will return for dinner sometime soon to try the evening menu.

Visited.d yesterday evening staff very helpful as our table was to be upstairs and both of us have trouble walking they very quickly found us table downstairs. Food excellent and imaginative. Will certainly revisit.

Forever the optimist I'm hoping we just chose badly. We had purchased a voucher on line for a 3 course meal for 2. Obviously this marketing strategy is to entice diners through the door then impress them enough to make return visits. Sadly, the food didn't quite impress enough. The starters (fish cake and salad) were bland and the main (pork and chicken) were both over cooked. Desserts were nice but simple. The presentation was lovely,the staff were great and the setting is beautiful. Would I go back? I so want it to be good; I may just give it one more chance.

Fabulous food, excellent service, beautiful setting, highly recommend it for any occasion, the staff could not be more helpful

Enjoyed the night. Pleasant surroundings. Reasonable service. Very attentive on a rival and keen to take drinks order. Enjoyed the food but menu doesn't seem to change very often

We have eaten here a number of times over the past 18 months and have enjoyed it every time. The staff are welcoming and friendly, the food is excellent, the wine list also excellent. The best Italian restaurant in the area.

Visited here a few nights ago, the starter was very nice it was well presented with ample bread for the amount of pate served. Main course I chose cod, this to was well presented and tasty, desserts are slightly overpriced in my opinion and were on the small side. The staff found it very hard to understand that we wanted to wait for dessert, after trying numerous occasions we decided just to go with flow. On a whole we felt very rushed and the whole meal from start to finish was took an hour. We would visit again but I wouldn't rush back.

Visited this restaurant with friends for a tea time catch up.Service, staff, meal very good. No rush to eat or leave.Staff cannot do enough to welcome you and make sure all is to your satisfaction.Thank you to the waiter and waitresses. You really do a great job.

We came for a special birthday at Oro, the service was dedicated and personal to us, and very attentive without being overbearing. The decor could do with updating (mainly the flooring), but the food was high quality and delicious, we were really impressed

We had friends staying with us from Norfolk for a few days and decided to have a meal out for the last evening.Looked on TripAdvisor for something different to where we had been before and found that Oro had had excellent reviews recently. We weren't disappointed. The venue just outside Durham is delightful, the staff were very attentive but not excessively 'in your face'. All our meals were excellent and beautifully presented. Would definitely take other friends or family here when they visit.

Our first visit. We arrived early and where greeted as if we where long lost friend. Waitress was very efficient, polite and respectful. No rush to turn the tables over. Old fashioned etiquette. The plates where not cleared away until the last person had finished their course. Nothing was too much trouble.We had a Groupon voucher and this did not change the level of service. 1st CLASS.

Me and Carol went to this restaurant on Wednesday 3rd August 2016.it was a special treat for me and it was a lovely surprise. The staff/management made us very welcome.We were shown to our table by a lovely waitress who promptly gave us the menu, it was a very difficult task to choose our food as the food all looked very inviting. We settled on the chicken supreme with a delicious cream and mushroom sauce.I asked if I could video the restaurant and was told yes, hope you enjoy the video as much as we enjoyed the food . Tried to put the video but dont know how to do it , go and see for yourself.

Excellent restaurant. Tasty food, good value, prompt and friendly service, nice setting. Pleasant walk along river from city. Grilled vegetable starter and profiterole dessert both reported very tasty by members of party; red wine from the Veneto was excellent for the money.

Beautiful setting, friendly staff, comfortable seating. There were 33 of us for dinner, including 6 children, so we had a variety of different meals and everything was good. The chocolate truffle was out of this world!

Staying in Durham for a week for the first time, returning from a day out in sunny Sunderland, a few miles from our accommodation, we decided to ignore the sat nav and see where we might end up to eat our evening meal. So glad we did just that as we saw signs for The Pump House with fork and knife below the name. It wasn't long before we found this jewel (the actual restaurant being called Oro at the Pump House). Pure gold indeed. We didn't have a booking and they were busy with birthday celebrations amongst other parties but being only two, they managed to fit us in. The food was exquisite and the service very attentive. I'd recommend booking to avoid disappointment. I certainly hope to revisit when I come to Durham and the surrounding area again. But I would so love a wine glass the size of the one on their reception counter. Won't post a picture as it'll only spoil the fun. Enjoy

Beautiful food in beautiful surroundings; made even better by hot day, enabling us to take a table al fresco. Absolutely fabulous!

Made a last minute booking for the early bird menu for my birthday didn't want to splurge as going to Edinburgh the next day so booked a table for 6.30...I got a phone call asking if I was using a voucher! said I was not..don't know what that was about....We arrived to be greeted very nicely and seated outside as it was a warm night in lovely surroundings... I ordered a glass of prosseco hubby ordered a lime/lemonade and a bottle of still water... We chose the fishcake and pate for starters both very nice the fishcake was a good size but there was not much toast with the pate....mains were stuffed pork with veg and hubby had the fish on a tomatoey bed both quite nice...I had a desert and a candle was lit in it and everyone invited to sing Happy Birthday...nice touch ...wouldn't say I was came away full to the brim but it was all very nice...the bill came to under £60

Beautiful restaurant a truly lovely location. Cannot fault the food, delicious flavour, presented with flair. The staff also were really friendly and attentive.

beautiful old building in lovely grounds leading up to it, Look forward to returning, food wine and staff fantastic , nothing seemed a problem.

A lovely summer's evening, good company, attentive but unobtrusive service and most importantly great food. A hidden gem in our beautiful city

Myself and my husband came here for our second wedding anniversary,since we got married in italy we thought it would be nice to come here.The staff are lovely & friendly and wished us happy anniversary which was a nice touch,i had the bruschetta & hubby had mozzerella which we both enjoyed,my brushchetta was as tasty as in Italy! i then had the fillet of beef with peppercorn sauce & he had the sirloin which was really nice,washed down with my favourite tipple-prossecco,if we had more time it would have been nice to sit outside,a bit on the expensive side but worth it for a treat,thanks.

We have previously eaten here and felt it was not as good as previously. The hosts are lovely, really friendly and knowledgable. We had soup which was nice but not special and came without brad ,just a few croutons .For £6.95 I felt some home baked speciality rolls would have been better. The main courses were fine ,no complaints but they were small and not anything out of the ordinary . Two of the four of us had a dessert ,mine was tiramisu which was overwhelmed by the amount of amaretto in it. There were two coffees and four starters and four main meals. While we all had an aperitif ,we did not have a bottle of wine just two glasses and I felt a bill of almost £170 was excessive for the meal we had eaten.

We recently visited as part of a groupon deal and really enjoyed it. The surroundings are beautiful and the restaurant is tastefully decorated. The staff are very attentive and couldn't do enough for you. The food was excellent, really really nice. They also had an extensive wine list. The only negative is that they don't have draft beers only bottled which some of the party weren't happy with but I think this is the case at many Italian restaurants. I would definitely eat here again and I've recommended it to others.

Just had lunch at Oro's! The staff were very friendly and efficient, the meal excellent, all credit to the chef!An experience we will definitely repeat.Thank you all!

We had an excellent meal. Children very well catered for. Friendly accommodating staff. I would come again and may sample the fish cakes next time !

This was our second visit to Oro's. The service is impeccable, the restaurant is lovely and the atmosphere is just right. Not noisy and over crowded, you can actually hear each other in conversation. Marco was so nice, recommending fantastic wine and food to try. The rest of the staff are very welcoming and take time to chat with you, nothing feels rushed or hurried. The food is outstanding. We eat out quite a lot and haven't found a restaurant that we would go to time and time again, until now. Try this place, you won't be disappointed!The birthday profiterole was a lovely touch too. We will definitely be back!

Accoglienza famigliare e nello stesso tempo molto profesionale.Dopo aver consumato l'aperitivo al Bar mi hanno fatto accomodarein Ristorante ambiente molto particolare e romantico peccato che in questa occasione stia viaggiando da solo.Dopo aver degustato il tutto,consigliatomi da Giovanni un vero professionista un antipastino della casa poi tagliolini al crab e devo dire che oltre ad essere stati ottimi mi devo anche complimentare per l'abbondanza del crab che era gigantesco (I tagliolini erano serviti dentro il carapace del crab ).Come dessert mi sono lasciato tentare da questa novita cioe dal Panettone rivisitato con della crema inglese e altri ingredienti che non sono riuscito a farmi dire dallo chef di cucina Nicola. Per finire un bel espresso al Bar con una buona grappa offertami dal Manager Marco rassicurandolo che al ritorno del mio viaggio sarei ritornato a degustare altri piatti di questo Ristorante che raccomando vivamente.

Lovely surroundings, lovely food and very attentive service. We will be going back without a shadow of a doubt.

We saw this restaurant advertised online & thought we'd pop in & try the lunch menu. The restaurant is set in tranquil surroundings with outdoor setting area if required. The inside is authentic Italian decor with a great range of drinks. Staff & owners couldn't do enough to help, which made us feel special despite the fact we were using a discounted voucher. Myself & my partner arrived early but were welcomed inside even though the restaurant wasn't open. The lunch menu was varied & had lots of choices. We both chose the breaded mushroom with pate starter & the chicken main meal. I can honestly say that despite been well travelled I have not had a nicer meal home or abroad. I even devoured the Ameretto dessert & don't usually eat sweet things. Overall opion: Excellent value for money, perfect food & friendly, tranquil atmosphere. We will be back :)

This place is a little special and bordering on fine dining. I have visited twice before and this was the third occasion. Each visit has been at least six months apart and yet the standard of service and quality of food was the same on each visit. High end prices but still good value for money as the food is exceptional as is the venue with beautifully laid tables and no musac to annoy, this place is good for romantic evenings or a special occasion visit. I have only visited in the evening but am told that the lunch menu is also excellent so will be having lunch there as soon as I can arrange it. There is a large seating area outside covered in grape vines and reminds me very much of the restaurants I have visited in Italy. The service is impeccable, the tables beautiful, the food excellent and the ambience sets the scene. A very find restaurant to visit for high quality Italian style European food.

I've been to Oro twice now and it blows my mind every time, I took my partner for a romantic meal and in my impatient nature arrived early was offered our meal earlier than we should of. The food as always was amazing and my partner had just returned from Italy, so was well versed in Italian food as goes often on holiday and agreed that it is the best Italian food we'd ever had outside of Italy n the service was amazing. Thanks to the owners n staff your amazing people and its an amazing restaurant and will be again

What a great find, can't believe we have missed out on this gem for three years.Fantastic, authentic Italian food!The mozzarella is amazing and the food in general is top quality.Great friendly service, yes the girl doesn't speak much English but I wouldn't like to go to her country and wait on a table and try my best.I am sure she will get better with time, like a fine wine.All staff were lovely and the food was delightful.Highchair perfect for our little boy.No complaints and we will be back!

We decided to give Oro a try having read all the good reviews and yes they have a lovely venue but we felt the service was incredibly lacking a very nice waitress but very lacking in her English made it hard to get what we needed, the other waiter also very nice seemed very flustered and sorry but dripping in sweat is never a good look !!! We had to re ask a couple of times for our water and my side of potato didn't turn up until I had nearly finished we were told it wasn't on the order but as the owner took the order and recommend them to me I was surprised he hadn't put them on, also if I say I've had enough wine I really don't feel trying to top up my glass is right and one of our party like myself said no to a dessert only for one to turn up we should have said we didn't want it but by then we had had enough really. All around us other diners seemed to be getting much better service. Food was average except for my husbands starter of duck that was full of grissel and hard bits not enjoyable at all. Think we were just unlucky with our experience.

This restaurant has a lovely setting - so close to the city but surrounded by trees and a pleasant sitting out area although the weather was too poor to use it this time. Good kerb appeal and a nice old building.The welcome was friendly and the décor is pleasant. Music was Frank Sinatra which suits us fine. We chose from the fixed price menu. I had soup which for my taste could have done with more seasoning but that's a personal thing and my husband had the smoked coley with sweet potato, fennel and mint. I had the coley dish for main and again would have liked more mint but it was enjoyable. Husband had the pork and really enjoyed it. For dessert he had the bread and butter pudding and I had the best chocolate icecream I have ever had. Hope that's on the menu when we return.We will certainly be having lunch there again in the near future and this place could be our regular haunt if this is their regular standard. Hope the sun is shining next time.

We went for a celebration of a friend's visit from Nigeria- keen to show Durham off. The restaurant was in the lovely old Pump House, sensitively decorated. We opted for the set meal, but it was the poorest Italian meal we had ever had- flavourless, and poor quality. When we complained, we were promised a call the next day from the owner- two weeks on I am still waiting for the call. What a waste of a beautiful venue to serve an apology for Italian food.

Super food and service.Authentic Italian restaurant.Lovely unusual building, it was a Victorian pump house.

an empty ,but free car park was a bit worrying,but that was short lived.our welcome from the host was excellent.we were offered pre - drinks but preferred to sit at our table.upstairs in the gallery plenty of room and tables set beautifully.menu explained and the rest was just perfect.water wine, food and service very professional.by now diners were pouring in and the buzz around the place became obvious people were happy and content as we were.well done oro you did us proud and we are desperate for good places to eat in durham,

We are a group of friends who eat out regularly together in local establishments.This was our first visit to ORO although some had eaten there as The Pump House.The restaurant was very quiet with probably only about 8 other diners. There was a limited choice menu at £18.95 or full a la carte menu. we chose from fixed which had a good range of dishes. Two of us had the spinach soufflé which was very disappointing. It seemed to totally lack seasoning and was undercooked so quite raw in the middle. I really should have complained at the time and I regret that I didn't. I had the pork for main which was tasty and the vegetables were well cooked but the normal carrots cauliflower etc. The leek and potato again lacked seasoning.The panettone bread and butter pudding was good and the coffee nice and strong.Overall I think I was quite disappointed and I didn't get anything distinctly Italian about the meal. Service was good and pleasant enough atmosphere.

We have eaten at Oro four or five times now and every time we have had a great time. The food is fantastic, the service friendly and helpful, with a great choice of wines and good advice when choosing. Marco (manager/owner) makes a great effort to ensure all his customers are having a good time, and moves between the tables to chat with guests.Some great music sets the perfect atmosphere.We have eaten in Italy many times and Oro feels truly authentic - food and hospitality.

The last time we visited this restaurant was years ago when it was called The Pump House. Four of us had the set lunch menu which was excellent value for money. Two had souffle, one Coley and one soup. Main courses consisted of two pork and one chicken, served with individual vegetables all nicely cooked. The one pasta main was laced with lots of ham, mushrooms and cream. Great service too and it was good to sample tasty Italian beers other than the usual Peroni, Birra Moretti etc. Not your usual Italian, well worth a visit.

My girlfriend and I visited here a couple of weeks ago. The whole experience was excellent. The restaurant is located outside of town but is definitely worth a visit, there is also plenty parking space if driving.The food and service was top-notch and could not be faulted. The atmosphere and look of the place was also very good.My only complaint would be the price of soft drinks! As I was driving I decided to have a ginger beer, it was not until I got home I realised I had been charged £3.50 for the small can! I could have got a Grey Goose for £3.40!As I said though, everything else was first class and I would definitely visit again.

Visited for a family members birthday last summer. Incredible looking venue from outside and incredible food. Still don't believe just how great the Tiramisu was!

Next to Houghall college, just off the main road and a few minutes from the city centre. Make the journey, it's worth it. Plus parking is not a problem. We were perfectly greeted on arrival and enjoyed pre dinner cocktails in a separate bar area whilst parousing a menu, just as you would find at a quality restaurant in Italy. We were then seated in the fabulous restaurant, which is in an old pump house. For me I started with beef carpaccio which was first class. Next spaghetti with lobster. Amazing especially as it contained the meat of a whole lobster. The others enjoyed tiramisu for dessert, which was reported as delicious. I enjoyed the cheese which was excellent. Our main host was the charming Marco, backed up by great servers. Not the cheapest restaurant around. But you get what you pay for. And here it's worth it.

We went for lunch for my Mum's 80th. very obliging staff and excellent fixed menu. Very attractive dining room and location just outside the city centre. Taxi ride or 15 min walk from centre.

Last night my wife and I made our first visit to Oro at The Pumphouse. I'd been years ago under its previous ownership. When I saw it was under different ownership, with an Italian theme I was keen to try it. We were not disappointed. From the booking to the bill the experience was incredible. The welcome on arrival, we were a bit early, was warm and friendly and put us at ease. The menu choice was great, something for every taste and mood. The service from Giovanni was attentive and informed, it really made the evening a great success. We will be back soon to try some of the other delights on the menu. Thank you to all the staff for a wonderful experience.

Paid my first visit to Oro last night and it certainly won't be my last. The food was delicious and the service by Giovanni was outstanding. He was very knowledgable about the menu and was helpful in helping Mr H to chooses his wine. The starter of sea food platter in tempura looked as good as it tasted followed by a rack of lamb that was cooked to perfection as well as being beautifully presented. All in all a wonderfully memorable night out with my husband in a beautiful restaurant. If you're looking for perfection them Oro is the place to go. Thanks to all your wonderful team.

Excellent yet again. Food exceptional, service is professional and knowledgeable. This is our favourite restaurant in Durham and we would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a high-end Italian meal. Thank you for a fantastic evening Marco and Giovanni.

First impressions were excellent, lovely location and the service was fantastic from start to finish. However the food was a let down, duck starter was slimy and bland and the steak with mozzarella was overcooked and tough. Best part of the meal was the vegetable side order. Would maybe give it another go for Sunday lunch.