The Imperial Restaurant in Gateshead

Hidden gem of a restaurant. The set menus are fantastic value for fresh, tasty and great portions of food. We love coming as a family for our get together celebrations eating multiple bowls of prawn crackers!! However the real standout are the staff. Tonight they were busy , but this didn’t stop the friendly human service. Thank you team imperial!

Food was delicious would definitely visit again

All food was spot on and staff was all so nice 😊

Lovely food. However the prices have increased quite a bit recently & it’s now abit too pricey

Cant fault this restaurant, food is delicious and 3 course lunch excellent. £9,70 , value for money.

Good friendly service. Good food

Excellent restaurant great food plus beers and wines, if you have not visited the Imperial you will not be disappointed

We eat here quite regularly. The staff are great, the food is good and it is reasonably priced. The only downside is it's on the first floor accessed via a steep staircase which will be difficult to climb if you have mobility issues.

First time we have been back for a while, honezt it's not as good as it was quiet Thursday night and the service was slow. Soup was Luke warm at best, the pancakes for the duck were like tacos food was nice just not as good as it was.

Great staff and food, very busy, apparently you have to book.

Been holding off coming here, don’t know why, but I’m glad I did dine here and it won’t be my last. We opted for the £23 set meal which included so much food (duck, prawns, chicken ), the list is endless and to be honest the amount of food there for 3 would have easily fed 5, so go hungry! Can’t fault the service. Food (apart from one dish which was tepid, still ate it without sending it back) was plentiful, tasty and hot. If you have mobility issues, you’ll struggle, no access for wheelchair users. Family friendly and a lovely busy environment. Suggest you book!!

We would like to thank the lovely staff for excellent service we had last night, great food too. !!! Had a really nice night here. We would particularly like to say thank you to our waiter (should have asked his name). He was very attentive and professional and helpful with the menu, lovely manners and took a photo for us !! The food was really good. We chose the Royal Banquet for 2 (twice, as there was 4 of us) We had prawn crackers and drinks served quickly, followed by chicken and sweetcorn soup, then crispy duck and pancakes with crispy seaweed, all delicious !!! 😋 Mains followed: 3 dishes with gorgeous young chow rice. We chose Imperial special curry, Chicken in blackbean sauce and sizzling steak in Cantonese sauce. My son and his girlfriend chose similar, but had the sweet n sour Chicken as one of their choices. We all said how tasty all dishes were. The restaurant was very busy, but the service never faltered. Will be back soon. !!! Thank you 😊 x

It's been a long time since our last visit, but, the food and service was just as good as we remembered. Had 1/4 duck with pancakes, then sweet n sour chicken, beef in ginger and spring onion, and 3 meats chow mein, with fried rice, all shared between us (3). Couldn't finish everything so was asked if we wanted it boxed up. Yes please! The staff are very good as well as the food being excellent!! And that's why it started to fill up quite quickly. We won't leave it so long next time.

Amazing food had the banquet for 2 great service everyone really friendly

Been here dozens of times over the years and I can’t recall ever having a disappointing meal. On our last visit we had the Cantonese spare ribs which were to die for followed by the house special curry with egg fried rice which was delicious. You get lots of fresh prawn crackers on arrival which went down a treat. The atmosphere is very good although it was fairly quiet on our visit. Manager is a lovely, friendly guy who makes sure that everyone is happy with their experience. Beer and wine are reasonably priced and we are always offered a free liqueur at the end of the meal. Had a sambucca which was the perfect end to a very good night. Would highly recommend a visit if you haven’t been before.

Been here a few times over the years , consistently high standards.

Terrific place. My favourite restaurant in the north - east. Has a vegan menu, delicious food, inexpensive, pleasant staff.

10 out of 10 if you like Chinese food then you won't be disappointed

Just love this Chinese restaurant, the food is lovely, the waiting staff couldnt have been more attentive or efficient, the venue is clean and the decor authentic. The only down side is the mountain of stairs to get to it, very steep and not so easy for anyone with mobility issues. Certainly no wheelchair access.

Always rated this restaurant as top in the area but today, I was really disappointed, the chicken was cut in large pieces and of a rubbery consistency, not sure if processed but definitely different.

Rice forgotten from order, had to ask for it again. Was brought quickly but seemed a bit stale, didn’t think anything of it at the time.. 4 hours later violently throwing up all night and with a fever, wishing I’d shared the banquet with everyone else.

Very busy and weren’t able to get in until 9am, although this wasn’t an issue for us. It was quieter from 9. We ordered the £23.50 banquet. To start, the chicken and sweetcorn soup had very little chicken in it and was not hot. Next, the duck and pancakes and seaweed was lovely, good portion size for two people but the pancakes were a bit brown. Prawn crackers were fresh, very crispy. Next course, Sweet and sour chicken, black bean chicken and sizzling beef were very nice and quantity was fair. We took some home with us. Finished with orange slices which were fresh. Pros: - appetisers and en tres were good - good price - the variety for the buffet option was very good Cons: - diet cokes were flat - service was slow, cleaning up rather than focussing on guests who were still in the restaurant (2 large tables and 1 small table) - we never got our bill brought over so had to get up and go pay on leaving - soup had very little chicken in it and was like warm - staff were very quiet and not very welcoming. No rapport built or any conversation - when serving some of the dishes, like the rice with the mains, it was a slap in the bowl and be done with it approach. Overall, would give benefit of the doubt and go again.

Thanks for such a lovely lunch. Very welcoming environment delicious food, with such a wide variety of choice. I couldn’t recommend this restaurant more . A must visit for gorgeous Chinese food.

Had a great meal it was really busy and a wedensday night and only 3 staff but it was a fantastic service everything from the amazing friendly staff to the food was absouloutly great super friendly staff even with busy pressure nothing was a problem totally a great eat with exceptional staff

Been coming here since it opened, great place, friendly staff and great food! Update from 03/03/2024, still joying it.

Really good food and really nice staff. Quite busy even on a Tuesday night

Saturday Afternoon Special, Food was Hot and delicious, service was great and very polite, Clean restaurant.

One of the best Chinese restaurants I’ve been to. Highly recommend.

Excellent food and helpful staff. Rather noisy as tables of groups are quite close together. But still a great restaurant to eat at.

First visit since having to eat gluten free and the standard of knowledge shared by the waitress was phenomenal. She was professional, kind and friendly. The food was excellent as usual.

We had booked a table for 7 pm on a Thursday. The restaurant was around 30% capacity on our arrival. We were warmly greeted and shown to our spacious round table with a Lazy Susan. The menu was large, in addition to several set menus, there was also a vast array of appetisers, Soup, Chicken, Beef, Pork, Duck and many other dishes. With drinks served and orders placed, our three different soup dishes arrived in good time. The soups were hot, well portioned and full of flavour. Next to arrive, the three different appetisers, again hot, and very well portioned, with Lazy Susan facilitating the sharing experience of the very tasty appetisers. The main course, again three different very well-portioned dishes was a delight on the taste buds. About our meal and the service we received, there is simply nothing to complain about. The staff were pleasant and attentive ensuring all elements of our meal arrived in good time. The price was very reasonable. We will certainly be making another visit to the restaurant which is for us a 60-mile round trip. The only negative, it’s a first-floor restaurant with no lift so access is via flights of stairs helping you to work up a good appetite.

No sparkling wine available, starter choice was told would take to long, dessert I chose again told would be a long wait, but I wasn't in a hurry, but I should have listened as it was over done and hard to eat (toffee apple). Wouldn't recommend to anyone.

Great food, friendly staff, will go back

Fabulous food, great service 100% would recommend.

I was visiting family who live in the area. Been to the Imperial numerous times over the years. I'm always impressed. The service is good and the selection of food is amazing. We went for one of the banquet set menus. Asked to replace one dish with another. No problems and very accommodating. Definately be back next time we are up.

I've always booked big table here but found staff in atmosphere amongst staff very poor tonight It was special occasion my daughter birthday but found staff miserable and abrupt it made us all feel uncomfortable very disappointed with service

This is a great Chinese restaurant, the food is amazing, the service is outstanding and the cost is great value for money.

An excellent restaurant up a steep flight of steps. The restais very well maintained and very pleasant to enjoy a lovely lunch. Service was very fast for everything being cooked fresh so I can only complement the efficiency of the kitchen as well.

Food and service was good it was very busy so was a little slow but that is to be expected with such a good venue. The food was amazing.

Great food and brilliant staff. Nothing to fault

Stopped here on a whim as we were passing and just wanted a meal. However I was really impressed. The food tasted fantastic and was prepared extremely well. I would highly recommend the Imperial if you're gluten-intolerant or coeliac. Most of the menu can be made gluten-free. It was nice to have such a wide variety of food to choose from. Best Chinese meal I've had for a long time. Visited again 12mo later - still great!

Went as was told had a fully GF menu. Did not disappoint, lovely food, lovely, fast and polite service and a nice atmosphere too. Would 100% recommend. Especially if coeliac.

This place has made me so happy having not eaten Chinese food for such a long time. A hugely rare treat for me to go out and be able to eat Chinese food that tastes incredible but also feel so safe. Staff are amazing and really knowledgeable. If you are in the north east you have to visit here....and if you're not in the north east you have to visit here :)

Always a good night..very welcoming staff and a top selection of food

Lovely restaurant and very nice staff. Food was amazing and very reasonably priced. Highly recommended

Fantastic food, very reasonably priced, only dropped a star for service as ordered takeaway at 6 for 7.45 (Wednesday night) and wasn't ready till 8

Exellent resturant. My only complaint is that sometimes not all dishes are availible. Otherwise great. Super even.

Great value for lunch, have changed in 20 years - well, assist from the decor. Always a pleasure going back and the staff are very friendly.

Currently writing this on a stomach that feels like it will explode but too the point the food here is amazing with massive portion ,hence the stomach explosion, a wide variety of eats I highly recommend the emporers banquet

Excellent food. Their 3 course lunch & early bird evening deals are very good value. Very pleasant service. Well worth a visit.

Possibly the best Chinese restaurant in Gateshead. Try the Imperial duck....

Delish food , fantastic service very friendly and great value for money. Menu is extensive difficult to decide what to eat 🤪🤪

Came back after having not been for roughly 12 years with my family after a long period of travel and living abroad. I’ve always loved this spot and if they carry on like they have in the period between visits, I don’t see that changing. Thanks for a fantastic meal.

Gorgeous! We had a royal banquet for 6 and the food was incredible. We had two little ones with us and they were so well looked after. Service was fantastic. We wanted for nothing. Can’t wait to go back

Great food and really good staff.

Rank... rare chicken grissel on pork chips had more fat in them like just out of frier to package n cold at door ad pass sorry

Fantastic dining experience, the staff are attentive and friendly, food is 1st class, Danny and Claire run a great business

My stepdaughter's 21st birthday celebrations were a huge success. We all thoroughly enjoyed the meal and the staff were all fantastic. We'll definitely be back 👍

I go with my family regularly. Food is excellent. Never had a bad meal. Staff are very friendly.

Staff attentive without being intrusive, despite the restaurant being very busy the food came promptly, we had a much needed break between courses, it was hot and delicious, we left feeling very full and satisfied, will definitely return again

Brilliant, has been since I visited in the 90's.

We visited here on Saturday lunch as an early birthday treat for my son. We decided to go for the executive lunch with a few extras on the side. The food was lovely and the staff were very attentive.

I had a lovely time at the imperial with my partner. We ordered a banquet and this was very good value for money.

I can't praise this establishment enough. The food is second to none. Service impecable. The staff couldn't do enough for my friend and myself on the visit. We had salt and chilli prawns and crispy won tons for starters. We shared a Main Course which was lemon chicken with rice. There was more than enough. The drinks were fairly priced as in wine. We have been to restaurants where they have charged £30 for a bottle you can buy in Tesco for £5. We look forward to going back next month for our birthdays.

Right where to start with this awful restaurant… awful service and awful food! Duck was suppose to be for 4 but would of feed 1 small kid and pancakes where hard like prawn crackers! And the sauce was like marmite AND DONT GET ME STARTED ON THE DRY AS STICKS CHICKEN and to top the night off the lady with the blond hair after she got her payment was actually awful and walked away and said thanks really sarcastically I DO NOT RECCOMEND GOING HERE! If you do you will end up with CR*P FOOD SUPPOSE TO BE 5* wouldn’t even rate it half a star never mind any!! never mind everyone else got fortune cookies and mints we just got a really awful waiter with blond hair in a pony tail! Have you ever heard of service with a smile’ Good Day

Excellent! The staff were very knowledgeable and friendly, we can highly recommend gluten free menu.

Fantastic food good value always fab night out

Brilliant night with more than enough wonderful food to go round, can't wait to get back

Great restaurant , highly recommend

Fabulous, 5 star service, food was excellent and the staff were top notch. Will definitely return soon x

we used to go here all the time never been for a few years ,omg its so not the same we went last week 7 people itwas horrible chicken tasted like it had been cooked and used again ,the curry was thick and tasteless ,the soup was like wall paper paste would never go back

Ordered the food, not sure what came out of the kitchen but I did not check until I got home. Shame as I had heard good things about the place.

As tremendous as ever, I've been going for 30 ish years.

great lunchtime special cost £54 for 6 but very disappointed that 6 x 500ml glasses of coke cos t £3.90 each £23.60 for 6 ie 3 litres of draught coke £23.40. So the driver and the children are being ripped off

Best banana fritters ever Food is lovely 10yrs since last been in and hardly changed . But food is excellent quality and value

Food tremendous staff excellent and on a lunch time great value for money

Had an amazing meal last night at the Imperial Chinese restaurant in Low Fell full gluten free menu we had an amazing seafood soup followed by shredded duck with lettuce leaves instead of pancakes which really worked well. Main course we had king prawn with double mushroom, beef in black bean sauce and house special curry which my wife was thrilled with because she had craved Chinese curry for years and was never able to eat because of the sauce always containing gluten we were both very impressed in the whole meal and will definitely be going back and would definitely recommend to any one wanting quality gluten free Chinese food

Not as good today. Waited a long time for food & quality was not it's usual standard

We all had a brilliant night,the food was beautiful and we were looked after throughout by the staff. Recommend the imperial to everyone.

Food cold when we picked it up and wasn’t great at all for the price total waste of money very disappointing

I like the imperial a lot, lunchtime special very good value, visited in July my bill for 3 people £24.40, today charged £6.60 for 2 lime and sodas, we had 3 specials charged £8.90 for two of them and £12.50 for the other, silly of me not to check the bill before I paid

The owner is a lovely gentleman who made the restaurant feel more homely. Service is fine otherwise, but they aren't very attentive to drinks. The banquet menus are quite good value. We went for the Royal banquet with some additions: - I don't understand why chicken and sweetcorn soup is a thing. - the ribs were OK but the sauce lacked depth. - the salt and chilli prawns were juicy and fresh. - the cantonese style beef was tangy and sweet, which doesn't work taste wise. Five thumbs down. - the crispy duck was dry - everything else lacked flavour so wasn't notable. All in all it's really good value for money, but very average.

Really enjoyed it..Food was lovely, service was good ,prices were fair ,

Took a family of ten for my birthday. Service was fab, everything was perfect, food, service and welcoming staff.

Food was out of this world! Keep doing great guys.

Sadly not as good as it used to be, but food is still good. Quick service and reasonably priced menu.

Great value and good food. No complaints

Loved it .Excellent food. Great service. Good prices.

Friendly staff and really nice food.

Delicious fresh food , excellent friendly staff , good prices .

Cushty bait like would defo reccomend

Food was excellent and staff very friendly

Well what can i say about this place. First impressions when entering the restaurant was that the decor was modern and fresh, something you don’t always see in a lot of Chinese restaurants, so it was off to a great start straight away. We were all quickly seated (4 adults 2 children). Pre booked for lunch in a sunday. Crayons and paper bought over for the kids straight away and didn’t need to ask for a high chair for our 3 year old. Drink orders taken promptly, and had a lovely bowl of prawn crackers bought over to us for free. This was quickly replaced when it was empty. Started arrived quickly we opted for the chicken soup, super tasty. Mains were lovely and hot too. Kids loved the chicken chow mein! That was a great sign! Desserts good too, adults had the banana fritter and kids the ice cream. At 7.50 each for the lunch menu this was an absolute steal. A great first visit, can’t wait to be back and try the evening menu.

Went on Saturday 18th june for a birthday celebration. We had a lovely time food was plentiful with good portions and very tasty. The staff were great and had no objections to us bringing cake and balloons. Will definately return

Had a lovely evening , great atmosphere & great food

Food was fantastic and staff were great.

Amazing service and food at a very reasonable price

Been looking around for a Chinese restaurant since our go to place closed a while ago wasn’t disappointed lovely place with lovely staff food very plentiful and tasty would recommend to anyone looking for Chinese food at very reasonable prices

I must have been here around 50 times and I've never had a bad meal. Always fantastic, speedy and efficient service providing delicious food.

We visited on 21st April 2022, we ordered the special lunch for 2, 2 chicken and sweetcorn soup, chicken curry and chicken Cantonese, both with boiled rice, however you can have egg fried rice, and we had ice creams, the food is out of this world, friendly staff and management and lovely decor, this place is totally recommended