The Small Canteen in Newcastle upon Tyne

Excellent, food cocktails and service. Potted rabbit starter was superb.

Comida excepcional en un entorno verdaderamente hogareño pero peculiar. Un menú perfectamente seleccionado donde quieres probar cada plato, así que definitivamente necesitas volver. El propietario es un anfitrión perfecto.

Fantastic late lunch for my husband and I. They open at 3pm and we booked for 4pm. We had breakfast around 10ish so we were hungry when we arrived. The trio of dips and bread were delicious and welcome. We ran out of bread so I used my pinky to get the last bit of tapenade 😬 For starters we ordered the crab tart ( very generous portion) and the potted rabbit with prunes. Both were tasty. My husband’s rabbit came with 2 pieces of toast but probably only needed one to go with the portion size of the rabbit. He felt the sweetness of the prunes complimented the potted rabbit perfectly. The crab tart was very well made and the pastry was perfect. For mains we both chose the advertised Bream but it was explained that the Bream wasn’t so good at present and so they had change the fish to Gurnard. I’ve had Gurnard many times at home and this was very well cooked! Very fresh! It was came with an abundance of Samphire, Shrimp, juicy fat Mussels and delicious tasting potatoes. The potatoes tasted to us like Jersey Royals. The creamy Dill and Parsley sauce was asking for bread at the end to dunk as there was plenty left. We were way too full though. After finding our pudding belly we managed to share a Rhubarb Panna Cotta. Again well made and fresh. We shared a litre of Viognier and some table water. The wine was delicious but could have done with being slightly more chilled. We’re here now late the same day expecting to have wanted some supper but nope we’re both still full. Service was great, food superb and value for money was amazing. The bill came to £99 including service charge for 2 adults.

Comida increíble, servicio profesional innovador, amable. Cocina increíblemente creativa en un entorno único. La relación calidad-precio es una ventaja.

Una verdadera delicia dirigir un negocio como este requiere una verdadera dedicación a tu pasión y alegría de principio a fin, una experiencia verdaderamente memorable y he comido en algunos lugares bastante increíbles antes.

Lovely small restaurant, amazing food with generous portion sizes 10/10

Very pleasant evening. Food (Bream) very good, service excellent, great vibe. Recommend. Nick

La cantina pequeña -de hecho, es pequeña- probablemente maneja alrededor de 12 cubiertas como máximo. Reservado con bastante poca antelación - y dado un tiempo muy temprano. Tenía que entender por qué tan claramente el lugar funciona en dos sesiones. ¿Por qué una reserva antes de las 6 pm cuando la comida no será servida hasta después de las 630 . Cuando llegue pan y chapuzones (tapanade etc) en la mesa y el agua ya en su lugar (por lo que parece que alguien ha comenzado a cenar! ). Si la llegada temprana es para ordenar bebidas y tomar pedidos - tampoco tomar mucho tiempo (12 cubiertas y menú limitado para elegir) Muy apretado en el interior - hasta el punto de que algunas personas que llegaron más tarde tuvieron que mover a otros huéspedes para llegar a sentarse. Aparentemente el lugar comparte un inodoro con otro lugar (no exploré esto! ) Menú de tiza (como sugirió un crítico para que se pueda cambiar regularmente), pero parece que no cambia tan regularmente. La comida estaba bien - buena cocina casera - probablemente un poco soso. La tarta de cangrejo estaba bien, el suflé de guisantes no podía elegir el guisante - sabroso queso derretido (¡a quién no le gusta el queso derretido! ) Tanto la red decente cocinado (pollo alimentado con maíz y besugo) nada muy inspirador, y pudines pannacotta / pastel de chocolate de almendras fino. No hay posibilidad de un café como no se sirve - y desea despejar para la segunda sesión que es presumiblemente alrededor de las 8 pm. Probablemente un poco más caro para lo que obtienes - pero el problema principal era muy poco inspirador. Co - por cierto habló con un colega de trabajo después de que había estado a principios de la semana su primer comentario fue que la comida era simplemente sosa. En general un concepto interesante, pero no uno que me apresuraré a volver también

I was really lucky to get a reservation just four hours before our seating. On the way there, we noticed a huge amount of hype—locals seemed incredibly proud of this small canteen, and I was admittedly very excited. Looking at Instagram, the food and presentation looked insane, and when we arrived, the atmosphere was unmatched. It’s a really cozy and cute spot. That said, there were a few issues. The service was a bit slow, and the waiter kept bringing me the wrong drink, which made ordering frustrating. The food itself was OK. The chicken was slightly cold with wet skin, and the crab tart was pretty poor. The lasagna, however, was decent. Overall, you won’t find anything here but homely cooking. I definitely agree that this restaurant is special, and the food is good, but it wasn’t amazing or, in my opinion, deserving of the hype. Maybe it was just a bad day, but I left unimpressed. It’s taken me a few weeks to think this review over I really want to love this meal but admittedly I can’t sorry guys amazing place and presentation tho

Delicious good and excellent service. Highly recommend.

Fui aquí por segunda vez y estaba igualmente delicioso que el primero. Tarta de cangrejo realmente hermosa, cerdo en macetas con ciruelas pasas encurtidas, mejilla de buey tierna derretida con polenta y cavolo nero y un pastel de chocolate y almendras con cuajada de naranja sangre. Muy buen vino y a un precio razonable también. El camarero era genial y tiene un ambiente encantador. ¡Volverá!

Went here for the second time and it was equally delicious as the first. Really beautiful crab tart, potted pork with pickled prunes, meltingly tender ox cheek with polenta and cavolo nero and a chocolate and almond cake with blood orange curd. Very good and reasonably priced wine too. The waiter was great and it's got a lovely ambience. Will return!

Muy buena comida, sin pretensiones. fabuloso producto, simplemente preparado y bien presentado. Simplemente me encantó la vibra! Porciones generosas, así que ve con apetito. Relación calidad-precio excepcional, podría cobrar más! Definitivamente volveré.

Esta fue nuestra tercera visita y simplemente mejora! El amable personal servicial y Sam el propietario es genial para decirle cómo se cocina la comida y las maravillosas hierbas e ingredientes que utiliza, haciendo que los sabores se unan. Este lugar es absolutamente increíble para una reunión, ya que tiene un ambiente encantador y son capaces de hablar entre sí sin ruido de fondo, por lo que es genial para ponerse al día con amigos y familiares. Tarta de cangrejo, carne de res y un pastel de almendras de chocolate con crema de naranja sanguinolenta... . Todos estaban deliciosos y cocinados a la perfección... gracias de nuevo por hacer que nuestra noche se sienta tan especial

Our 3rd visit and it just keeps getting better each time! Small, cozy, intimate and dinning at its best! Quality tasty food and truly amazing on everything you want when you eat out! We love coming here it’s a memorable experience and each of the courses are truly amazing… thank you!

Beautiful food, lovely atmosphere and lovely chatty staff. Amazing value for money considering the standard and taste of the food. Can’t wait to go back :)

This place is amazing. Down to earth but exquisite food, warm and friendly staff, and incredible value.

Excellent staff and atmosphere with good fresh food. I would have liked things seasond abit more, but everything is really solid and good quality. Small well-made menu with perfect portions. The skate was particularly good and the Panna cota. Highly reccomend this, especially for date night.

Food is definitely above average as advertised by Jay Rayner & others. However our experience as well as other subsequent diners is dominated by being reminded time after time that you need to LEAVE before your allotted dining time. We felt bad for our server as the instruction to keep reminding us was clearly coming from the owner who wants to keep Swiss timing but doesn't appear to have the courage to enforce his rules directly. Suggestion to restaurant: why not make the dining windows clear right from booking or even from entry. Your neighbours at Mascalzone actually do a good job at making this clear right up front. Fortunately plenty of other options in Sandyford, Jesmond & NCL that offer great food & good service at the same time.

Visitado para la cena por nuestro aniversario. La pequeña cantina es una experiencia gastronómica peculiar. Es pequeño, pero los sabores y la pasión son enormes! Tuvimos una comida fabulosa y sin duda volveremos. Espera una experiencia íntima muy cerca de otros comensales. Espera excelente comida.

Possibly one, if not the best meal I have had in many years. Sometimes something's are just perfect at the right time . This is how I would describe the small canteen. This is not a restaurant for everyone, but for those you are missing the point. This is a restaurant about great food at good value. We are "foodies" whi cook really well. But sometimes some places raise the bar higher than you can go.

As always a fantastic meal at the small canteen. The complimentary bread and 3 dips to start is such a lovely touch. Wine was great but the food was spectacular. We ordered the tart, the crab ravioli in broth, the pork and polenta mash and the octopus. The pork just melted in your mouth and the caramelised shallot just gave that sweet hit. Shout out to the quince! An unexpected delight

Tiny little place but HUGE on flavour. Octopus was absolutely sublime. Will be back for sure

No puedo entender las malas críticas de los comensales recientes. Sabíamos que era un lugar pequeño (la pista está en el nombre) y nunca nos sentimos apretujados, a pesar de que estaba lleno. El servicio era relajado y amable. Tenía el conejo, las mejillas de buey y el pastel de polenta. Todo excelente. Entre nosotros teníamos casi todos los alimentos en el menú y todos estaban bien preparados y sabrosos. Buena relación calidad-precio en unos 60 £ por 3 platos, incluyendo un cóctel, vino y servicio.

Service was delightful, as was the food and the vibe. Elegant yet understated, hearty and unpretentious. This restaurant really deserves all the praise it gets. Thank you for a lovely night! We'll see you again soon.

A tiny restaurant with a tiny menu, and a lovely time all round

Haven’t been so excited by a dining experience for ages - love how they’ve made this tiny space work so beautifully. The menu and wine list are perfectly short and on point, food is (brilliantly) simply done but conceals so much effort and skill to create such lovely flavours and textures. Incredible value for money. Congratulations to them on creating something really unique and special.

Honestamente no malgastes tu dinero. Fui a la pequeña cantina por recomendación. En primer lugar es muy pequeño hasta el punto en que estábamos hacinados en un asiento extremo que estaba justo al lado del mostrador y en el camino del camarero. Pequeño pero apretado. La comida era horrible. Pedimos el caldo de cangrejo que era solo un poco de pasta flotando en líquido insípido con una garra de cangrejo sin carne. La principal son £ 18 cada uno que nos saltamos y fuimos directamente al desierto. El pastel estaba seco y el helado de pistacho nada especial. Un par de botellas muy pequeñas de limonada a 4 libras cada una. Factura total £ 45. Si hubiéramos tenido la red eléctrica y una botella de vino habría sido más de £ 100. No te importa pagar esa cantidad por buena comida, pero la pequeña cantina definitivamente no vale la pena. También hacía mucho frío en el interior, hasta el punto de que estábamos temblando, y el lugar se veía asqueroso. Suelo sucio y área de preparación de comida. Vete a otra parte. Si usted está en la zona, entonces recomiendo encarecidamente Flint en Heaton.

Este lugar vino recomendado y el concepto parecía muy bueno. Sin embargo, sentimos que fue una verdadera decepción. El restaurante es pequeño y acogedor, pero hacía mucho frío. Estaba emocionada ya que el caldo de cangrejo estaba en los entrantes, era soso y solo un poco de pasta flotando en el agua. Mis amigos tomaron las croquetas de pato y dijeron que eso era lo más destacado. Mi plato fuerte de nuevo fue realmente soso. Mejora en el entrante, pero era un trozo de cordero, luego calabaza al vapor y brócoli de tallo tierno. Tenía una salsa con cebada en la que también era insípida. Mis amigos consiguieron el queso y el hinojo gratinado que era hinojo en rodajas en salsa de queso, sin patatas en rodajas. Tenían la garrafa roja que decían que era buena. No nos dieron un pud ya que cuando nos pidieron que miráramos el menú nos dijeron que fuéramos rápidos ya que la sesión estaba a punto de terminar. El camarero carecía de conocimientos y el menú era un defraude. Definitivamente no volvería. .

We have been long term fans of Small Canteen, visiting regularly. We asked Sam if it would be possible to hire out Small Canteen in the afternoon to celebrate our Civil Partnership with a small group of close friends and family. Sam was great to plan this with and flexible with menu choices. We had amazing food, some superb canapés and champagne when guests arrived, before sitting down for lunch. Our menu was; Pork Terrine with fig chutney Twice baked Montgomery cheddar swede soufflé Confit Duck Leg with chard and blackberries Hake with crab broth and Palourde clams Honey and pistachio iced parfait with PX raisins Colton Basset cheese with tea loaf and brandy All were fantastic. The space worked perfectly for us, our guests absolutely loved it. A perfect way to celebrate our special occasion. Sam was a great host and we can’t thank him enough.

Brilliant little restaurant, big portions

¡El 80 cumpleaños de mi marido y dónde mejor celebrarlo que esta alegría de un restaurante! La recomendación de comer allí vino de una pareja joven encantadora que conocimos en The Palmerston en Edimburgo en Valentines Evening. ¡Qué razón tenían! Tres generaciones de nuestra familia se unieron a nosotros para 4 platos de comida increíble. ¡Los adolescentes exigentes comieron mousse de cangrejo seguido de pulpo y les encantó todo! ¡Desde el magnífico pan de masa madre con 3 pequeños untables a través de arancini, pato confitado hasta un final de pannacotta con frambuesas, todo fue una cocina excepcional! Las alergias alimentarias de nuestra hija fueron cuidadosamente consideradas y se dieron opciones. ¡Ojalá no estuviera a 200 millas de casa! Volveremos y lo recomiendo encarecidamente. Gracias Sam por darnos una noche tan especial!

Starter (potted crab) was great. Based on the starter alone, this would be a 5* review. But. The main (roast cod & prosciutto with lentils) was disappointing. Lukewarm cod, overpowered with raw, woody rosemary. The prosciutto was hard, tough and overwhelmed the cod with saltiness. The lentils themselves were good, but the mint sauce dressing was better suited to a lamb roast than to the dish as a whole. Literally none of the flavours worked together. The braised shallots had not been drained properly, leaving the plate swimming in grey water.

Absolutely amazing. The food was delicious, and beautifully presented. Service was incredible and the atmosphere to match. We had expected to spend a fortune and were absolutely stunned with our bill coming to less than £90 for two starters, two mains, a dessert and a large carafe of wine. We will absolutely be back!!

Escuché grandes cosas. Podría haber adivinado por el nombre pero muy apretado en el interior, tenía que trepar por encima de otros huéspedes para salir. Muy por encima de otros huéspedes, grupo ruidoso a nuestro lado significaba que nos costaba escucharnos hablar. Menú escrito en pizarra encantadora idea para que pueda actualizarse a diario. Pedí una cerveza - no disponible a pesar de que era la primera sesión de la noche. Comida vegetariana muy rica pero con verdadera falta de profundidad de sabor. No recomendaría si quieres una velada íntima con un ser querido.

I've updated this cos my previous review was not complete. Superb food in a totally unique environment. Had a great time.

A really nice place. Excellent food and cocktails, with fantastic service. Our group had multiple dietary requirements that can make it difficult, but they couldn't have been more accomodating for us. It was very much appreciated.

I liked it. They do a few seatings a night and are very popular, so book in advance. The menu changes frequently, and they use local seasonal produce and prices are reasonable. You may end up sharing a table with strangers which can be a nice experience. The menu is quite small but it’s all packed full of flavour. The homemade biscuits with the potted crab, the sauce for the duck and the panna cotta were highlights, but the monkfish was the absolute star. Definitely the nicest monkfish I’ve ever had.

Didn’t know anything about it until I went with friends tonight! Amazing food

Closed without motivation or indication of working hours. Still open on Google maps.

I love this place. The food is delicious and the plates are finished at the front of the restaurant so you can see it if you want to. An absolute gem, reasonably priced, that is my absolute go to for a nice meal out in Newcastle.

Pequeño restaurante pero de grandes sabores, que delicia es este lugar. Porciones abundantes de comida deliciosa bañada con una jarra de vino muy razonable. Absolutamente fabuloso. Podría necesitar una silla más fuerte.

Loveeeeed this place. Took my dad here who was visiting Newcastle and was not disappointed. Intimate and friendly atmosphere, awesome service and absolutely banging food. 100% recommend.

Fantastic food, perfect wine list.

Dinner at the Small Canteen last night. Food was absolutely delicious, especially the monkfish and clams. Service was fab, portions were massive and it was very cheap considering the quality of the cooking. Will definitely return but agree with Jay Rayner that you could charge more and cut your portion sizes!

Favourite restaurant in Newcastle.

Our entirely amazing experience at The Small Canteen is one that we will be talking about for a long time. One of the most exciting things is that everything it is, not least the surprisingly reasonable prices, means that we will be able to go again. If you have ever watched programmes like ‘Masterchef’ and wondered whether the food really does taste different from what you usually eat, or have read a newspaper review and felt curious, but worried that you might feel a bit out of place in that kind of a restaurant (even if you could afford it), then this is the place for you. At first I thought the smallness of the building might be a problem but it’s part of what makes it wonderful. It’s perfectly possible to eat your meal without chatting to other diners, if you choose, but we loved sharing our reactions to the fabulous food with other people. So much happiness in a tiny space. We found ourselves discussing dips, sauces and mash in the same way that we usually discuss paintings, or theatre, or a particularly beautiful building, because they were works of art. I was also completely in awe of how the space is organised, and used. Such skill. It’s an understatement to say that everything tasted great. I’m not quite sure how to do it justice, except to say that the talent, and love, behind it was evident in every mouthful. I was a bit worried, before we went, that the not very large menu would leave me without options (I’m a bit picky) but I ate things I wouldn’t usually, loved them all and I can’t tell you what a relief it was not to have to wade through a list of fifty different dishes before deciding on something. I’m hesitating to describe it as good value because that makes it sound too much like a slightly underwhelming chain restaurant and it bears no resemblance to that. I think what I will say is that, if going means that you have to save up, or travel a long way, or wait a while for a table booking, then it will be worth it. (I’m posting a photo of my roasted cod main because the sauce was one of the best things I have ever eaten.)

Had dinner there last night. Excellent restaurant hosted by Sam and staff. Restaurant is small (hence the name) but delightful. Amongst great food we had arancini potted crab pork belly and cod. Very good and well priced wines and v relaxed atmosphere. A v good reason to move to Sandyford

On a day trip from Edinburgh I was looking for a fantastic dinner and I was not disappointed. From the food to the top notch service and value for money, this might have been one of the best meals I’ve had in the UK. I made a booking almost a week in advance by texting the number on their instagram. When we arrived on a Friday evening, my partner and I were greeted warmly, seated promptly and presented with warm bread and homemade dips. We shared the ox cheek croquettes to start and ordered half a litre of rosé (for £10!) For the main I had the pork belly and he had the cod. We shared the cherry sorbet and chocolate mousse dessert. Everything was fantastic from start to finish and we were well attended to. To cap it off, the bill was just £35 each - incredible value for the delicious meal. Set in a residential neighborhood, the cosy vibe of The Small Canteen makes you feel like you’re dining in a friend’s kitchen - a friend who can really cook. We were saddened to hear that two groups had cancelled last minute and we had the small restaurant to ourselves. Folks of Newcastle - go support this gem of a restaurant!

Beyond brilliant. Menu on the wall - everything we tried was delicious, from bread, to starter to mains. (We didn’t have room for desserts but they too looked fantastic). It’s tiny - just the chef and the waitress and about 15 customers but that makes for a very friendly and convivial atmosphere. For food of this quality it’s amazing value. Great house wine too. Would definitely recommend - and you need to book well ahead: by phone or text.

Easily one of the best meals I have had in Newcastle

Don’t miss this absolute gem if visiting Newcastle or live nearby. The food is truly amazing, incredibly good value and despite a small menu caters for a variety of tastes. Just wish we lived closer so we could sample everything on offer! The intimate space of this tiny venue creates a cozy but very comfortable atmosphere and the quality of the dishes, drinks and service is outstanding. Establishments of this standard are a rare find these days so find an opportunity to visit this very unique place!

Starters were a solid 10. Potted crab and ox cheek croquettes. Mains sadly were massively underseasoned. Pork and the cod. Not the end of the world but the night peaked at the starters. Just not a lot of flavour at all in the mains. Dessert was great. Choc mousse and cherry sorbet. Would go back after a menu change.

Lovely atmosphere and great food with generous portions! One of the best restaurants in the North East - we will definitely be back.

Lovely experience in a place that lives up to its name. Really great food from a small menu and would recommend to anyone!

Went out with my girlfriend for dinner and had an amazing time. The food was flavourful and delicious, I loved the potted pork. Service was great and overall very well priced, definitely a hidden gem and a must-visit.

Oh my life! What a place! My husband and I cannot stop talking about it ☺️ food was hearty and so delicious and the bill was bonkers…totally blew me away! 👏

The older man that worked there was very rude and didn’t treat his staff very nicely, wouldn’t recommend going as felt very uncomfortable.

Super tiny place with a super big impact! Embrace the small space, which is cosy and great for watching the world go by if you get a window seat. We had a carafe of wine which was great value, especially as the wine was also delicious and better than some wines I’ve paid twice the price for by the bottle elsewhere. The food was all amazing! Hearty yet light, nostalgic yet refined. Great prices too. There was a meat, fish and veggie option for starters and mains, so all bases covered. The fish was so fresh. Desert was so yummy too. The waitress was really friendly and we had a good chat with Chef Sam at the end of the night (and end of his service) - such a passionate and generous man! We only wish we lived nearby as we’d be here all the time. Don’t miss this place! TIP- It only has social media accounts and if you can’t reach them on the phone to book, just send a text - they were super responsive and got us booked no problem when we text.

Quality food served in a cool and quirky canteen. Hospitable hosts. Excellent portion size, fantastic value. Long may it continue.

Fabulous food, not expensive but utterly delicious. I had the saffron and pea arancini to start, my wife and I then had cod with spring vegetables to follow. We finished with chocolate mousse and a rhubarb cake with ice cream. We had a half litre of rose and paid less than £80 - which is great vale for the quality of the cookery. Go while you can, because this is brilliant.

Went in a group of 4 so tried everything on the menu between us and everything was absolutely delicious (especially the mutton with chard and ox cheek croquettes). Really good value wine and cocktails too

An incredible and unique place. Tremendous food very generously presented

The restaurant offers excellent food and service. However, the owner's treatment of the staff is concerning. Unlike any other workplace I've experienced, the owner frequently criticizes the staff, undermining their abilities. The absence of a booking system places excessive responsibility on the employees to maintain operations efficiently. Any questions or errors are swiftly dismissed in a hostile manner by the owner, contributing to a toxic work environment. Although the culinary quality is outstanding, the business struggles to meet the demands of new customers. Staff members consistently go above and beyond their expected duties, only to face persistent belittlement and bullying from the owner and chef. While the food is commendable, potential patrons should be aware of these internal issues.

Excellent food in a quirky setting that seats a total of 15 diners at any one time. 5 sit at the window and 10 at tables. The daily menu on the blackboard has 2 options for each course and the food is finalised and plated in the kitchen which is in within the 8x4m total area. Tasty bread and tricolour of dips waiting for us on arrival along with a carafe of water. Generous helpings and we shared a starter (pork pot) and dessert (chocolate mousse) with a main each (braised beef and cod on a bed of beans) and left stuffed. Each dish was plated with great care and attention to detail and consistency. Lovely flavours and textures made this a most enjoyable dining experience. We will be back (and Sam is currently working on an online booking system which will make finding a slot easier).

We went for dinner approx 9 months ago and it was great , service was fantastic. But this time service was poor, food quality was not as good as previously, probably wouldn't go back. Increase the price and maintain the standard

Small is beautiful. Unfussy, generous, delicious.

Soooo good, great food, wonderful service. Amazing what three people achieve in such a small space, really wish I lived in Newcastle!!

I had a problem with my food the other day and I asked to speak to the manager. Sam came over and he was incredibly rude and disrespectful and didn’t resolve the issue at all. He kept speaking over me and raising his voice which is no way to speak to a customer . I will not be returning to this establishment ever again!! I cannot believe I was spoken to like that!

There is a wedge of raisin and apple cake with the lightest, most acutely judged waft of saffron. It is both homely and accomplished; the thing your favourite auntie, the one who knows how to bake, gets out when you come round because she is pleased to see you. It comes with mascarpone ice-cream. Or there’s the panna cotta, set in a glass tumbler. A slab of seedy nut brittle sticks out of it.

Excellent 10/10 for service, food atmosphere loved it best hearty food in Newcastle- the blood orange steamed pud was historic we will be back -Thanks

Quality of food was excellent and service friendly and fast

Small but perfectly formed . The food was absolutely outstanding as were the cocktails . Reasonably priced wine also . Will deffo return and recommend!

You wouldn’t just stumble over this place, you’d go because you know it’s there. It’s literally a one man band with a chef who puts his all into everything. It’s very small and the menu changes frequently. Food portions are very generous so go when hungry! I loved the food and enjoyed every course. Home made black cherry sorbet was wow! In fact all of the food was. A great place to go and eat and simply enjoy great very affordable food. Will definitely be going back

Great little restaurant. The menu is small but easily has sufficient variety for a range of tastes. Food was excellent, especially duck croquettes, celeriac soup, cod and the beef shin lasagne. Prices are more than reasonable for the quality and quantity. Book early and make sure you're hungry before you go. Highly recommended

Small, unfussy, relatively inexpensive and bloody marvellous. Warning: it really is tiny. Literally room for four or perhaps five covers. But if you can get a reservation, you won't regret it. The "menu" changes daily, and is simply written on what looks like a DIY blackboard. The night we went, I had duck croquettes to start and a beef shin lasagne. Both were magnificent - and magnificently unfussy. Dessert was an indulgent, dark slice of something chcolate and pistachio -related. Bliss. You want coffee? It's back to the early 1990s and a cafetiere. You want the loo? It's outside and next door. But if you want a fantastic meal at (given the quality of the food) an absurdly reasonable price, this (very).small canteen is for you.

Small, unfussy, relatively inexpensive and bloody marvellous. Warning: it really is tiny. Literally room for four or perhaps five covers. But if you can get a reservation, you won't regret it. The "menu" changes daily, and is simply written on what looks like a DIY blackboard. The night we went, I had duck croquettes to start and a beef shin lasagne. Both were magnificent - and magnificently unfussy. Dessert was an indulgent, dark slice of something chcolate and pistachio -related. Bliss. You want coffee? It's back to the early 1990s and a cafetiere. You want the loo? It's outside and next door. But if you want a fantastic meal at (given the quality of the food) an absurdly reasonable price, this (very).small canteen is for you.

A really special experience with outstanding food 😍 well worth a visit 😋

Food and service are great and well worth a visit. It is very small, would be ideal for a large group and you could have the whole place to yourselves.

It is small. Jay Rayner never tries the veggie options. So all the meaty fishy dishes were excellent, and the desserts, say companions. The Stilton fritters and grape almond salad was fab. Actually would have been a good main. But why oh why do people think squash and pasta or rice is a good combo? It's the quiche of the era. The lasagne sheets were excellent, the bechamel was rich but tasteless and the huge chunks of squash were unwelcome. I couldn't taste either herbs or spices so it was bland. Spicy broccoli was a good touch. The staff are lovely and the place is funky.

Exceptional food, service and atmosphere. The whole team couldn't have been more welcoming. We loved the food, from the complementary bread and dips to the starter, main (with side included in the price) and pudding. Fresh, exciting, yet simple everything was delicious! We can't wait to come back again!

This is easily one of the best restaurants in Newcastle. The food is all cooked by a single chef who tends to everything with the utmost care. The prices are incredibly reasonable, including the price of wine. The menu changes regularly with everything being cooked expertly with a really personal touch. I had amazing smoked haddock croquettes to start (£8) and confit duck (£19) as a main. Both were five-star dishes. My partner and I shared a bottle of Prosecco which was £22, which is so reasonable for a restaurant of this quality. I've paid a lot more for a lot less! I will definitely be returning.

An amazing find . I loved the branded crockery !! The food was amazing and service so friendly . It is small so obviously you hear snippets of other conversations but that’s part of the charm . For the amazing food and uniqueness definitely recommend !

A lucky find for us! Weirdly not visible on Google maps unless you are searching. We were lucky enough to get an early walk in on a Saturday night, I’d advise booking! We were quickly settled in with delicious bread and dips and icy water. The menu is small, but why have lots of things when you can cook a couple of things to perfection? Both of us were pretty silent after our dishes arrived apart from the occasional contented noise. We both had braised beef with horseradish mash, wilted spinach and the most amazing shallots! My partner had a plum crumble tart and I had a cheese course. Both were excellent We really enjoyed the whole small canteen experience with friendly attentive service

This is THE spot to eat in Newcastle. I bring all my friends, visitors, and family here. Time and time again, I am/we are served the highest quality food in Newcastle. The attention to flavour profiles and presentation will struggle to be matched. We are consistently left laughing out of shere delight at each mouthful. The cosy and personal setting within a small venue provide an experience that is difficult to find anywhere else. An opportunity to speak to the owner and chef as he prepares each course is a small detail that adds a lot to the value of this establishment. The menu is regularly adapted, I leave one evening hoping to eat the same again the at next opportunity - yet are met with a whole new palate that delivers on par with the last. I am learning about my own appreciation of food alongside a talented chef who is exploring their abilities to deliver it. If you don’t know, get to know.

Recommend having 1 of everything and sharing it all. Chef is unreal, service was class and was attentive when needed. The food was unreal and I couldn’t have prepared myself for the food that was going to be made. A friend that I went with recommended you and I’m so happy I experienced it. Everything was top quality. From the service, garnishing and display of the food to its taste. Absolutely ridiculous flavours. Would recommend to anyone ever

This is THE spot to eat in Newcastle. I bring all my friends, visitors, and family here. Time and time again, I am/we are served the highest quality food in Newcastle. The attention to flavour profiles and presentation will struggle to be matched. We are consistently left laughing out of shere delight at each mouthful. The cosy and personal setting within a small venue provide an experience that is difficult to find anywhere else. An opportunity to speak to the owner and chef as he prepares each course is a small detail that adds a lot to the value of this establishment. The menu is regularly adapted, I leave one evening hoping to eat the same again the at next opportunity - yet are met with a whole new palate that delivers on par with the last. I am learning about my own appreciation of food alongside a talented chef who is exploring their abilities to deliver it. If you don’t know, get to know.

Banging meals all round no complaints I think the scran was amazing starter main dessert get your fill appreciate the duckin scran

This is one of the best places you could eat in Newcastle. The menu is small but better for being so. Every dish is delicious. The service is great and the atmosphere intimate. You must go!

once you manage to open the dodgy entrance door, it’s all good, a warm friendly welcome with a smile and you can already sense that it will be good. on the table already waiting was a glass of water, bread and 3 sauces, tapenade, aioli and a salsa verde. the menu is small but perfectly fine, ideal for the people like myself who struggle to make decisions, they also have reasonably priced, open house wines which is something always like. I presume the menu changes daily or perhaps every other day so it’s all fresh and not microwaved stuff from the freezer. I had the ham and duck terrine which was very tasty, nice with the peppercorns and warm prunes and a little salad. main was mutton, very tender, a fabulous sauce that I’d very happy to make myself and serve it my guests. had to order some more bread as it was so yum, “fare la scarpetta” as they say in Italy. It’s all cooking from the heart, proper soul food which is sadly hard to find. great food, excellent service. 10/10.

charming little restaurant. once you manage to open the dodgy entrance door, it’s all good, a warm friendly welcome with a smile and you can already sense that it will be good. on the table already waiting was a glass of water, bread and 3 sauces, tapenade, aioli and a salsa verde. the menu is small but perfectly fine, ideal for the people like myself who struggle in making decisions, a decent, reasonably priced open house wine. I presume the menu changes daily or perhaps every other day so it’s all fresh and not microwaved stuff from the freezer. I had a ham and duck terrine which was very tasty, nice with the peppercorns and warm prunes and a little salad. main was mutton, very tender, a fabulous sauce that I’d very happy to make myself and serve it my guests. had to order some more bread as it was so yum, “fare la scarpetta” as they say in italy. It’s all cooking from the heart, proper soul food which is hard to find. great food, excellent service. 10/10.

Good atmosphere and a friendly environment to enjoy great food with friends. Would recommend to anyone.

The best tea in Newcastle. A hidden gem, that won’t break your wallet.

Cannot begin to say how lovely this place is! Almost before we sat down we were served iced water, bread, salsa verde and alioli - delicious! The menu is small, which is fine by me. Sadly, the fish dish main was not on tonight, but we all had amazing food. The best bit was the dessert. I had panna cotta with blackberries and the most delicious seeded tuile - sublime… and then a black cherry martini to finish, to die for! Can’t rate this place high enough!

The Small Canteen is, surprise, small. And the menu is also pretty small, with a choice of 3 starters, 2 mains and 3 desserts. But definitely do not think about being put off by any of that. The menu is clever and all of the food tasted fantastic

Understandably limited choice but all 4 of us agreed everything we ate and drank was excellent-highly recommend this place

We went for an early meal at this restaurant, one Wednesday evening. I had to try three times to get a booking because it is so popular. When we arrived we were welcomed and asked to sit on stools at the higher table along the window. We ordered some drinks and almost immediately we were served bread, houmous and olive tapenade. The drinks arrived fairly quickly, a Blood Orange Negroni, which was apparently delicious and a “designer” beer which was also very nice. We normally just have one course so we decided to miss out the starters. There was a choice of three mains and my wife ordered the fish dish, and I ordered the meat dish. (the other dish is obviously vegetarian). We ordered half a litre of white wine to go with the main courses and it was delicious and extremely good value at £9. We finished our appetisers, and before the mains came two delicious home-made cheesy biscuits with a creamy cheesy dip arrived. I had chicken supreme on the bed of vegetables with a stuffed boned chicken leg . My wife had sea bream on a bed of samphire with shrimps and new potatoes. Both dishes were absolutely delicious and really quite substantial. The atmosphere was really nice. We were the first in, but by the time we left there were nine or 10 people there and because the place is so small, it was really buzzy. One slight tiny gripe would be that, at the age of 67, I would have preferred to have sat at a table rather than up on the high stools (we were first in so it made it even more difficult to understand). However this will not stop us from definitely coming back.

Edited review….. the food was very good and thoroughly enjoyable. I was shocked to see 0 stars in the chronicle but the owner has said to me that the hot water had gone off that day and that is why it has to be reinspected which I totally believe as this is not a dirty place but a very clean and new establishment.

An excellent informal evening with well prepared and executed dishes. Ox cheeks that melted in the mouthwash accompanied by an unctuous gravy and salty spinach for our mains. This was bracketed by a smoked mackerel pate that hit the tastebuds and to finish spiced rhubarb and walnut cake and muscavado ice cream. Great value for money two very happy diners looked after by Vincent serving us he's a super guy thanks.

Excellent, always excellent. Best restaurant in Newcastle by a mile. The fact this place only has 5 star reviews says a lot. It’s small, it’s modest, the service is great, the food is fresh and different every visit, and the pricing is spot on.