Vesuvio in Darlington

Прекрасное местоположение вблизи от центра города, уютный интерьер и удобные места для посадки, хороший выбор и качество напитков, отличный отдых в вечернее время под живую музыку- все музыканты, которых довелось услышать здесь, молоды, высокопрофессиональны и талантливы. Спасибо за прекрасно проведенное здесь время. Так держать!

Vesuvio has served up some excellent food in the past, but the kitchen has been closed for renovation for some time. The good news is that the kitchen is open again with a new team and my recent visit proved that it is right back on Darlington's culinary map.

We often pop into Vesuvio after shopping in the town. Really relaxed atmosphere- it’s a little bit of Italy in Darlo. Haven’t tried any food here but great selection of beers and fine wines and my wife’s favourite Aperol Spritz. Thursday night a duo band play some really good music. A great place to chill!

OMG the food here was always phenomenal... sooo gutted that the guys who ran this through the towel in and closed it down. If they ever decide to open their own place, we'll certainly be regulars...…

The food was delicious, best I’ve had for a while. There was nine of us in our party and everyone really enjoyed what they had. I had the cheese soufflé and the lamb. The soufflé was very tasty and the lamb was beautifully cooked, very tender, melted in your mouth. Will certainly go back.

Went for a meal on Saturday evening. Nath knocks up some great food and sells it at a very reasonable price. If you aren’t in to your wines, the bar also have a good selection of gins and continental beers.

Called in this evening for a quick glass of wine and ended up staying for some food.

Called in tonight by chance. Very pleasant wine bar, well decorated and a great place for a drink and a chat. Seems to appeal to the over 40s which suited us. Would definitely try again and recommend

Had a wine tasting session and it was fantastic. The food served was different and so tasty. I will definitely call again.

Been twice to the restaurant and both times it was fantastic. We were well looked after my staff and the food was of the highest quality. Can't recommend it enough.

Good was lovely and made fresh to order and could be tailored to taste. Really good wine and fin selection too for pre and post dinner drinks. Very friendly 😊

Una parada en boxes fabuloso. No podría decidir que vino, así el personal del bar nos dio algunas muestras y nos instalamos en la Sauvignon Blanc. Como entrante antes de la cena compartimos un soufflé de queso como los chefs eran en el bar y cantando es alabanzas. Llegó con profundidad que era frito kale perfecto. Volveré. Y pronto.

Esta fue nuestra 2ª visita a este bar de vinos habíamos visitado hace unos dos años y disfrutamos de un buen vino de calidad. Entramos en una noche bastante escalofriante algunos a mitad de semana. Todos los asientos que tipo de taburete de bar y el más cómodo. Era una preciosa COMPOTA DE G&T; ordenados y cerveza de barril tanto a un precio razonable. Por desgracia en la noche en cuestión tanto la parte delantera y puerta del bar estaban abiertas creando un proyecto de derecho viejo y no había nada de ambiente acogedor. Nos fuimos después de una bebida

Tuvimos una cena maravillosa anoche con mi amigo, ya que salir de una vez al mes y probar diferentes lugares. El vino como siempre era precioso y la comida sublime, tenía los huevos de salmón escocés entrante sabroso y realmente mi amigo tenía de remolacha y queso de cabra, delicioso. Tanto nuestros platos principales eran deliciosos y sin espacio para el postre. Volveremos, todo el personal era amable y servicial, muy recomendable!

Tenía una muy buena comida con una botella de Rioja elegido de brillante la pared abajo. El nivel de la comida más a menudo asociado con un lugar cargado en vez de este lujoso lugar relajado. Ojalá ellos bien para el futuro.

Pequeño y encantador ambiente wine bar genial. Buena selección de vinos y cervezas y ginebras botella. Hoteles Preferentes de abajo para arriba como mucho más acogedor. Conocedor personal amable bien merece una visita.

Teníamos las heladas, que era magnífico Sauvignon de bolsillo! Fue una magia al azar, pero era punt. El propietario, Paul se presentó, cap. Si estás en Darlo y quieres un gran ambiente, los mejores vinos y amable bienvenida debería verlo. 5 Estrellas todo el camino! ! ! !

Been frequenting Vesuvio since it opened, not only is the decor and atmosphere amazing but the range of wines and gins on offer is second to none! Couple that with staff and owners who always go the extra mile to make it a great evening you simply can't go wrong! Last time we were here the owners ordered lots of starter hot plates from the local Indian and just distributed them around the patrons, thats kind of what makes this place special, real down to earth guys who love their place and want people to have a great night..Always my first place to take anyone visiting Darlington and then always the first place they want to go back to!

This is a great place to go on an Autumn evening. We've visited a couple of times on a Sunday when they have live music.

Popped in for a glass of wine but ended up getting a bottle....always a pleasure drinking in here as you never had bad wine. It was busy down stairs so we decided to sit upsatirs. We were the only ones there but the music was really good it was kinda cool having the place to yourself. The owners Mum popped up and offered us some home made quiche...kinda made you feel special and it was delicious. Such a warm a friendly place to visit.

My friend works abroad, but whenever he comes home and graces Darlington with his presence, this is always the first place we go. I can't claim to know much, if anything, about wine. My Nana's quote of "I either like it or I don't, and if I don't, I still drink it" has always stood me in good stead. However, at Vesuvio, the staff always wait patiently while I read the descriptions of the wine on the chalkboard above the bar (and usually end up choosing a large pinot grigot). The atmosphere is always lovely, and the music is great. They even had a Nick Cave song playing last time we were there. If I was rich, and cared less than I do about my liver, I would drink here every night.

Been coming here for a number of years. Always spot on with their selection of gins - always well presented in convivial and cosy surroundings. Beer selection pretty good too - and a great atmosphere.

We just popped in here for a drink on the way for a meal on a mid-week night. Wanted to check it out, as we'd never been in before. There were about three guys sat at the bar who continued to talk loudly and swear after we walked in. There were no other customers, as it was mid-week and early. The barman was pleasant enough but we felt really awkward ordering with these guys throwing things to each other and swearing in front of us. We got the feeling they either knew the bar man, or worse, was the owner!We sat down for our drink (stools around barrels), which wasn't particularly comfortable. We had drinks relatively quickly and headed out.We did notice they had a great selection of wines. Could be lovely I guess but from our experience it just felt a bit 'rough'!Plenty of other paces in town, so know to give it a miss in the future.

This one of my favourite bars in town. It has an awesome list of gins and wines. Lager to for the guys. The atmosphere is very relaxed. Its a must for a visit whenever we venture into town on a Saturday evening.

Went for a late drink service was good great selection of wine about £14 a bottle of red Lager was a type never tried before was excellent

Just purely by accident I stumbled across this place. Best stumble ever. Now, I have reviewed thousands of hotels, bars etc but seriously this is a must visit! The variety of beers, wines and spirits is amazing. The atmosphere is calm cool and relaxing. The staff are all very knowledgeable about the different wines, beers and spirits. I have never been made so welcome in any establishment. I have rated this place 5 star only because 5 is the maximum if the maxim was 10 it would be 10. Massive well done to the management you should replicate this all over the UK. Special thanks to Dave your a top man. If I am in Darlington again I will see you again. Big thank you and keep up the great work. All the best.

I've been on quite a few occasions. It's lovely to find somewhere that is not full of people on rowdy nights out. Each time I've found the staff to be rather frosty though, which is a shame. Lovely wines on offer, although pricier than other establishments, you get what you pay for. I have eaten bar snacks in here, which were lovely. I was very out off by the fact a lady was sitting up at the bar with her friend, and her dog was sitting on one of the bar stools. I don't want to sit on those after a dogs bottom has been on them and I just found that to be inappropriate. The staff clearly didn't mind. I'd urge people to try the place though, as it is nice, but a variable experience each time.

The last time I went for food the chef's upstairs had gone to great lengths to make me something that with my dietary requirements I could not only eat but love! - Something not all places would have done! Absolutely delicious great service and the bar staff are wonderful too!

Adore this place, the wine bar is for me at least the best in town and a must go for wine lovers like myself. The good food is a great addition as well

Excellent wine bar and wine shop offering a wide range of beautiful wines. Location is perfect set back from the hussle and bussle of Darlington. From entry you greeted to a warm and cozy bar, with choice of seating of stools around barrels or couches and also a selection of seating upstairs. The wine menu is superb, offering a wide selection of wines across all price ranges. However I do recommend asking the staff their recommendations as they will find you something perfect to suit your taste. By far the best bar in Darlington ..

This is a lovely little wine bar tucked away in Houndgate. It offers a great range of wines and gins and is an ideal location for couples who just want to sit have a quiet drink. We have been a number of times now and on each occasion have found the staff behind the bar to be totally uninterested to the point of being offhand. Come on guys try being just a little more customer friendly.

Amazing choice of Gins and Wine! The food is beautiful and we have now made this our local! The staff are attentive and try their best to cater to everyone. Even those with dietary requirements. I would recommend this bar/restaurant in a heart beat!

Came into this place whilst in a night out with friends. I am not familiar with pubs in Darlington but when I entered Vesuvio it was like finding a little diamond. The atmosphere was great and the choice of gin they had on offer made me want to stay in there all evening. I will certainly be coming back for drinks and hopefully next time I can sample some food too.

We really wanted to like our meal, but got off to a very bad start with a cold room, with no one else in it. We helped to put the radiator on (using pliers) and things got a bit warmer. Mackerel pate very disappointing, crocquets greasy, Calves liver full of strange chewy bits, beef stew served in huge casserole dishes half full with roast potatoes. Wine we wanted unavailable, but we were offered three alternatives. And then it all came to a grinding halt., no offer of a pudding, cheese, coffee, or anything else. We had to call through to the kitchen for our bill. It was a family outing with greedy people who were very disappointed as we had heard good things about the restaurant.

A very good place to visit if you like a good 'gin'. They offer over 30 different varieties! I aim to sample them all eventually!! Lovely atmosphere with an eclectic mix of clientele. They offer music events, quiz evening, wine and food tastings. Something for everyone!

I was introduced to Vesuvio by a friend last night. Fairly small but great atmosphere. Has a fantastic selection of wines, beers and a huge list of gins which were carefully prepared by the bar staff. I will definitely be back.

Ventured here with some friends for nye and wasn't disappointed..was fairly busy and livelyStaff were very helpful and also busyGood selection of drinks and excellent atmosphere Will visit again

I came here for a qucik meal and i will be back again and again! The steak was lovely! YUM ! (i had it rare)

I know the brothers personally and although that would compell me to right a more positive i do not exaggerate when i say i love this place ! The wines and beers are always changing, i try something new everytime im here and the atomosphere is always great. i dont see how any body can say any different.

Raw duck, over cooked beef and cold sides. Duck was sent out twice and hadn't been rested either time with blood seeping into the beans. High hopes for this restaurant but will definitely not be returning.

We called in for a late lunch on Saturday as it serves til 4pm. I had Prawn Cassoulet with fresh bread which was really spicy which I love. My husband had a really garlicky steak sandwich and French fries, the steak melted in your mouth. Food was delicious, we had a couple of drinks and a bottle of Sauvignon and it was £40. Good value, always enjoy going here.

This was the second time that we have visited since Paul left and were wary that his missing influence might affect the experience. Whilst things are slightly different we have been pleasantly surprised by Carl's passion and competence and both meals have been very good. We will be back especially as there are plenty of good wines to chose from and Carl has promised some interesting sea food menus (if ordered in advance) :p

We often pop in to Vesuvio when we are in darlington for drinks. Great choice of wine, extensive gin list (my favourite part) and great beers! The staff here are truly fabulous, full of knowledge & nothing is of trouble to them. We've been meaning to eat here for a long time & we finally did on Saturday lunch time. The food quality is great & portions generous. It's definitely my favourite place to visit in darlington.

Went to Vesuvio for an anniversary celebration. Meal was superb with the best fillet steak and sauce I have ever tasted. Great atmosphere and first class service, but not too expensive. Five star*****

The chef takes an amazing pride in his creations and the lads behind the bar have a passion and understanding for fine wines. This combination can only result in a fantastic experience.

Wow! What a great place. Superb selection of quality wines, craft beers and spirits.Plus the staff are so friendly and knowledgable about the drinks and can give advice.Just a great quality place to relax and enjoy a nice informal relaxed atmosphere.

I heard about this restaurant,so went to look at the menu. They have foie gras! Disgusting! How cruel to have this on the menu. Will not be eating there!

I was looking forward to our visit here, having heard good reports,but whilst looking at the menu to place our order I saw they offered foie gras. I will NEVER eat at a restaurant that offers this 'delicacy' so - after some hard talking and persuasion with my friends - we left. No restaurant should serve foie gras and I (and now my friends) will NEVER eat there, unless they remove it from the menu.

I am actually a partner in an Italian restaurant and to be quite honest was not impressed, the food was over seasoned, I drank two bottles of water that night I was so thirsty, I was also not impressed by the lack of vegan food available on the menu. Staff were dashing around and because the restaurant was busy could not be attentive to our needs. Sorry guys, will not be going again.

I've been wanting to try this wine bar for so long and finally got here. In regards to wines by the glass I wasn't actually that impressed. I fancied a Rioja but they didn't have any but offered me a glass from valdepenas which was quite expensive and would have cost me about €2 for the bottle in spain. However I did like the atmosphere of the place and I think one of their wine tasting evenings would be good fun. There were also a few people having food which looked particularly nice but the chairs are not particularly comfy so it's not a great place to sit and eat which is a shame.

the staff were unfriendly and at points quite rude, the service was slow and the food overpriced in my opinion for the quality

I've rated this establishment a few times and always report "as I see"..........Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous.....had the calves liver tonight, cooked pink, with an onion and tarragon compote.....just superb, and the mashed potato was to die for.....!!!!!!What more can I say......just superb AAA+

Good to see Paul the chef back at vesuvio!! For my starter I chose his eggs meurette barthazar, which is poached eggs in bourguignon sauce with bacon and caramelised onion is absolutely out of this world, one of the nicest starters I have ever had!! I was told by the bar staff to try the calves liver, fried with fresh tarragon and onions, which was very nice! Had no room at all for dessert, the portions are a great size! Vesuvio is just an amazing place in general, the atmosphere in the bar is amazing, the staff are all very friendly and polite, and they all have amazing knowledge when it comes to beers and wine, especially the owner of the place, Darren. The shelves in the shop are always full of wine of every kind imaginable, whatever your taste or fancy. Finished off my evening with a glass of lost angel Chardonnay whilst making the most of the free wifi! Would recommend Vesuvio wine bar to anyone!

An impressive range of wines including one of my favourites 2009 Botham Merrill Willis Cab Sav! Despite ordering a Hendricks gin I was recommended a Brockmans which was a step up again in quality, taste & botanicals.Food wise I was pleasantly suprised with 2 starters : a delightful eggs meurette barthazar : poached egg in bourguigon sauce & caramelised onion accompanied by the King Prawns with garlic, saffron and chorizo cream. No room for desert so an espresso did the trick with an Almanac digestive.

Fantastic venue, great atmosphere, great music, fantastic range of drinks and delicious wine. Loved this little gem.

We had a family trip to Vesuvio as we'd heard the wonderful Paul (the amazing French chef) had returned. We turned up for lunch and were greeted with kisses and hellos from Paul. The warm welcome was followed by nibbles - bread, olives, oil, balsamic and some lovely flavoured sea salt - while we ordered. I had the burger with Camembert and tarragon sauce. It comes with gorgeous potatoes (no bun which I loved) and green beans and extra sauce, I'm pleased to say. It was absolutely divine. My family had the meatloaf which they raved about and my hubby had boeuf bourgignon and said it was seriously good. My 18 month old had a bit of everything (see photos).I couldn't resist dessert - ice cream and chantilly floating in espresso. Yum! My family shared the cheese board which was unreal - 5 big chunks of speciality cheese with an interesting and very tasty selection of chutneys and crackers. I think this place is the best kept secret. It is absolutely fantastic. Gloriously authentically French - just like a laid back French bistro.

Beautiful food and beautiful vibes!. Thank you for such good service and wonderful meals. Will definitely be back! Bravo Vesuvio (:

Nice rustic feel, food choice excellent, prepared and cooked on the premises, nice bar down stairs, restaurant upstairs, fairly small so reservations advised. The staff are very friendly and efficient, the owner Paul is very conscientious and passionate about his the freshness of his authentic french food and his wine selection. Very knowledgable. A thoroughly enjoyable meal.

Had a wonderful lunch last Friday re-acquainting ourselves with the lovely food served by their returned French chef, Paul. Very interesting new menu, which includes one of my favourite starters - Oeufs Meurettes..(poached egg atop large french bread crouton served in rich red wine gravy! ) .just gorgeous. My better-half dug into Beef fillet carpaccio - best he had tasted, both went off menu for the lunchtime special - main, roast pork accompanied by sautéed potatoes and beans. So tasty and tender. All of which was accompanied by a fab. Merlot for me and sauvignon bl. for B-H......The guys at Vesuvio serve up the most fab selection of wines, too. Sadly, no room for desserts. Service was excellent - the relaxed atmosphere 'just the ticket' Very reasonably priced, too. Cannot recommend enough!

Had lunch here yesterday - utterly delicious. Music not too loud any more, so my friend and I could hear each other! So wonderful to see Paul, the French chef, back in charge.Will be going again soon, many thanks Paul.

I love this place , Great Wine , Great food and lovely staff ..... However they have just struck gold ... They now sell Menabrea Italian draught larger . You have to get yourself there to try it. Well done guys .....

This was my 2nd visit to this unusual Resturant . Originally almost a secret unlicensed eatery available to those in the know. It's now available to those who find it lol. Above a wine bar/ merchant in a back street, this venue is operated by a French chef who's passion for developing tasty , authentic 5star dishes is immediately apparent as he talks you through the menu of his creations. There's no fancy , fussy furniture and place settings, it's an eclectic mix of various styles that gives a totally relaxed feel and allows you to concentrate on the reason to be there, the food! Music is as eclectic as the room setting and ads to all. The prices for the quality are just ridiculously low . Get there quick before it's booked solid and charging London prices

Just had a wonderful lunch at Vesuvio. So pleased Paul is back as this is the only restaurant serving real French food in Darlington.....just like having lunch in France. If you want good food and great wine you needn't look any further than here.

We were in Darlo for a week on a work trip. We had a couple of nights eating out in Newcastle and another couple in Darlington. We went to Vesuvio for the Boss's birthday and our final night and wow did we save the best for the last!! Fantastic, friendly and welcoming service. Mouthwatering food, enjoyed with great wine, followed by Rhubarb Gin that disappointingly I forgot to buy a bottle of before I left. But it gives me an reason to go back, not that I need one. Would recommend to anyone looking for Scrumptious food in a great atmosphere.

This little gem of a place is amazing the food is amazing the atmosphere is amazing just a wonderfull place to have a drink lovely people my favourite place in the town

Found myself in Darlington with some work colleagues recently during my birthday. This led to much contemplation as to what to do to celebrate another year's passing. Following recommendation from a local we booked in here for an evening meal for the six of us - and were not disappointed!We were greeted with copious amounts of fresh bread. Service was polite and at tentative at all times. There menu itself offered a good choice of food types. The specials were innovative - the pork loin with a strawberry and apple sauce was samples and was truly scrumptious.Desert was a very generously proportioned cheeseboard. Between the three of us sharing it we tried but failed in our quest to demolish it. Our hosts were most welcoming throughout. So much so that we enjoyed a conversation with them before departure. It was really nice to be able to personally thank the chef for his food that evening. I look forward to visiting again - certainly a reason to return to Darlo.

The food and atmosphere were lovely back as it was before he went. Lovely wine ... no need to say more :)

What an experience and that is exactly it, its not just a fantastic meal. I have never been served authentic French cuisine quite like this in the UK, and in such an unassuming and welcoming place. Absolutely outstanding attention to every aspect of our evening, I have never seen anyone so knowledgeable and passionate about food and really take genuine pleasure in others enjoyment. If you are in Darlington dine here!

My wife set this up and I didn't know what to expect. The room upstairs was crammed with a good humoured crowd who appreciated the laidback yet knowledgeable way in which the wines were presented. The selection of the wines and the immaculately matched food was done with such obvious enthusiasm that the whole experience was thoroughly enjoyable, and we immediately signed up for the next tasting. Bring on the fizz!

Amazing from start to finish!Wines were out of this world, staff were passionate and extremely knowledgable and the food divine!Will definitely be back!!

We've just had a fantastic afternoon in vesuvio, of soviet wine tasting and food. I can't recommend enough the service, effort and knowledge. A really enjoyable afternoon where you're able to relax, enjoy some glasses of wine, hear about the history of the wine and have some lovely food to accompany the wine. Highly recommended - we'll definitely be doing it again! And welcome back Paul!

Haven't eaten here for a while due to various changes, but, decided to try again tonight!!!!Menu is back to classic French again.... HURRAH !!!!!!We had scrambled eggs with black truffle.... beautiful, followed by veal marrow in their bones with the most AMAZING fresh parsley salad.....ohhhhh how gorgeous that was!!!!!This place is busy, busy, busy.....so if you want to enjoy this fabulous food I would suggest you book, book, book!!!!!Vesuvio will be number 1 in Darlington in the not too distant future.FANTASTIC ❤️❤️❤️

Paul is back and the food is always brilliant!!!! So glad. If you want French food in Darlington or the north of England I can't think of a better place!!!

great food and atmosphere.quirky when you get in there as all the furniture is mix and match, but don't be put off.would def return, the fish dishes are to die for !!

My husband and I returned to Vesuvio tonight to celebrate Paul's return and to sample yet again the fantastic menu that he so lovingly creates.The asparagus was sublime, the eggs Balthazar was a total experience that Heston Blumental would struggle to surpass!! Never in my life have I eaten a red poached egg!, the meat and cheese sharing platter was a fantastic course to round off a wonderful relaxing, calm and mellow end to the week . Welcome home Paul x

Never been compelled to write a tripadvisor review before but felt the need after what was a shocking experience.Ate here a few weeks ago now and decided to give the place a go having read good reports on here a while ago. On arrival was shocked at the lack of atmosphere. The service was painfully slow considering how the place was not even remotely busy. As a table of four we waited what must of been an hour for any food and the meals were served what seemed very random.We were out celebrating an occasion as a family and for the privilege of the cold and small portions we were served were charged the prices of a top quality restaurant. Which was what we expected on arrival but the complete opposite of what we received both in the service and the food.As a side note the wine we had seemed ok but not enjoyable either due to everything else being basically terrible. The bar down stairs was relatively busy and had a bit of atmosphere but that is all this place is good for and to even call it a restaurant is an insult. So many better options in the area and can only mark this down as a lesson learnt.

The wine and beers, and the staff, are really excellent. The food was once amazing but the meal we ate here, since the loss of the chef, was one of the worst I have ever experienced. Just 3 tables booked (on what would normally be a busy night) and it was really bad. Very slow service (waited over 60 mins for a main) and when it turned up the chips were saturated in oil and cold, as was the burger. It had to be sent back and then cancelled as waiting would have meant not eating together. My partner asked for the white fish of the day which turned up in the form of goujons (smart fishfingers) with the same cold chips. Table next to us had to wait for the 4th meal of 4 to arrive and they complained about cold food too. It was like a child cooking at primary school and you being expected to eat what was given to you out of sheer good manners. Not going to eat here again. Such a massive shame as it used to be excellent. Hopefully a proper chef will be hired soon to rescue the restaurant.

OK food at a good price. Great choice of wine and cheerful staff. Pleasant surroudings loverly evening with friends

This venue is great! I was introduced to gin and rose lemonade here (G&R) amazing drink. Staff very friendly and always a buzz about the place. A regular Saturday teatime haunt!!

excellent service, wine by the glass is really high standard and the selection of bottles is very good. small , intimate and friendly.

I visited Vesuvio as I was staying in a lovely hotel in the same road. Having travelled extensively in Italy, I was surprised to find such a wonderful selection of Italian wines. Darren, the owner, is very approachable and knowledgeable and gave me a great insight into the wines from the Friuli. I infact had an excellent glass or two of Sauvignon from a winery called Zof. My wife, who is a bubbles lover, had a stunning glass of Prosecco Millesimato from Iris Vigneti. We had a really delicious meal, which included lobster and veal, beautifully cooked by Paul. I see there is a new chef and look forward to trying his cuisine when I next visit. A definite must for those visiting Darlington!

Okay, so this place is rated one of the best places to dine in Darlington. The previous chef certainly had a fantastic reputation, however, the new chef certainly needs to up his game.Yes the menu/blackboard was limited (5 mains in total), but there was something for everyone I guess, although nothing I would usually pick.My prawn starter was alright, but just alright! For my main course, where they got £21 from for a average sized fillet steak with peppercorn sauce, a bit of rocket and about 4/5 crushed new potatoes, i'll never know. Don't get me wrong, it was alright (again, just alright!), but looks nothing like some of the meals displayed on here. It just seemed to lack that wow factor. To be honest, all the meals brought to our table looked overpriced for what they were.I cant knock the service, staff or atmosphere, we had a great evening, but until the I hear the food has improved and matches their price tags, I won't be returning to eat. On the plus side, the bar downstairs is a great little place!

I visited vesuvio twice this week, once on the monday where i was told that food was not served but the bigh rating here made me returnto try it. I'm glad I did. While the menu optioms are limited, they arrived well presented and portioned, and the flavours were amazing. The waiter was somewhat new and inexperienced but honest and did not lrt Vesuvio down. Good job.

Great food on second attempt (no food Sunday or Monday). The Filet steak was really nice. All the dishes were well presented. The service could do with some refinement. The wine bar downstairs comes across as a bit of a locals haunt and is isn't particularly welcoming at first. Once inside and upstairs in the restaurant the ambience in actually very nice. What a difference a decent chef makes - please listen Darlington restaurnnteers !

Dinner for 8. Asked to pre order from emailed menu as new chef/menu just starting. Choices very limited and prices high. Arrived to find table not clean or fully laid. Drinks finally ordered though sparkling water took a long time to come after being asked for on more than one occasion. Starters arrived - v small portions though the pâté very good. Main courses arrived haphazardly. Steak size v v small and accompanying chips only warm and far to regular in size to be anything but supermarket bought oven chips. At a total of £75 per couple this was an expensive meal for two very average courses that were very meagre in portion size.

This was my first visit, my wife having been there with friends before. On entering it comes across as a very lively and busy wine bar, which downstairs it is, a fantastic selection of beers and wines. The restaurant is upstairs and is decorated with a mix of old, new, modern, art deco, the furniture is as mixed as the decor and pictures which just adds to the ambience of the place.We did not have starters however the selection was very good, I had Filet of Beef - Rare, my wife had Loin of lamb, both were SUPERB cooked as near to perfection as could be possible, the accompanying potatoes and vegetables tasted like the potatoes and vegetables they were meant to be and were again cooked to perfection. We shared the cheeseboard for 2 to finish off our meal, a selection of 5 cheeses, which the chef came out personally to describe them to us.All in all this is a superb restaurant, eclectic, funky, chic, classy, vibrant and great value.

We stumbled across this delightful gem of a restaurant and to our surprise discovered a very attentative knowledgable owner Paul, who advised us on wines, food etc. the meal was fantastic thoroughly recommended to all

This is not your usual "swedish decor" place, all bleached pine,stripped floors and androgynous staff, it's got character.It's above the wine bar of the same name, good start!Try a gin and tonic - off this planet.The food is based on french cuisine, with tapas for interest. Cooking is excellent, range of dishes varies with what's in season or available.We've been for lunch twice.Don't plan to work in the afternoon. The patron, Peter, will help,guide,organize, and above all ,make your visit memorable.

Came here for lunch with my brother and ordered a couple of the platters, one meat, one cheese and a couple of gin and tonics. Everything on the plate was amazing and there was plenty of it. The pickles and chutneys complimented everything on the plate and the food had a rustic charm and tasted amazing.The drinks really sold it for me, it felt like the bar tenders could take for hours about what they sold they were very passionate and knowledgable and it really was one of the best gin and tonics I've had.The bars atmosphere and decor really take you to a different place so much so it becomes a bit of a surprise to look out of the window and see a Darlo street. I always feel like I'm on holiday whenever I'm in there.It's just a great place for food, drinks and people who are passionate about what they do.Cheers!

I visited this place a couple of months ago and was impressed by the atmosphere which I felt was cozy, unique and different from other places locally. I wanted to gather a few friends together and this was the natural choice to have the evening. The Owner was excellent and tailored the sort of night that I wanted at a reasonable cost. He arranged a wide variety of nibbles and although drinks there may usually be at the middle to top end of the town centre prices, i found that the final bar bill was fair. I would recommend this place for all types of groups. Well worth a visit.

We were led to this after being bought a spa break nearby and searched on Trip Advisor for a good independent place to eat on Darlington. What a delight. Hidden upstairs above the wine bar is the cosiest setting with a host who certainly has fine food skills. We were told the menu may be short as it was just after Christmas, but if we followed his suggestions the meal would be good. Paul, the owner, was right. The meal was delicious. Drink is waited on by the bar downstairs. It's homely, pleasing and a real gem to which we will definitely return. Service is slow but provided with care.

Booked this restaurant on the strength of the Tripadvisor reviews. Went on a Saturday night with family. The owner manager is very friendly and came over to let us know the specials. We had steak, pork and veal served with beans and potatoes. The steak was nice but just came with a salad, the side veg were bland and all the dishes were luke warm. We were very disappointed. We had a nice bottle of wine but there wasn't a wine list so had to go on a recommendation and didn't know what other wines we could of chosen. Very disappointed also with pudding. I couldn't tell the difference between my home made lemon meringue pie and one bought in frozen. The lighting in the restaurant is very bright, not somewhere to go for a romantic meal and my biggest gripe is the fact that all the customers from the wine bar have to come upstairs and walk through the restaurant to get to the loos, not pleasant at all.

I had heard some great reviews of this restaurant, so was really excited to try it out for myself. Having only ever been in for wine in the bar area on previous occasions.This is a very understated restaurant from the outside in. But don't let this put you off if you are like me and love a chic or sophisticated restaurant.We went straight up to our table, but noticed the bar was as usual bustling with people drinking wine, and just as a wine bar is a popular venue in the Town.The service was really good, everyone was so attentive. I was very impressed with the knowledge the waitress had on all the dishes and was able to answer any questions we had on them. The menu is not extensive, but you will want everything on there lolWe shared a Lobster cocktail, and the Lobster was so smooth and tender, absolutely delicious. I went for the Veal cutlet for my main course, which was huge and superbly cooked and this came in mushroom and tarragon sauce. It was delightful.as were the perfectly seasoned vegetables to accompany the main course.The Owner makes a lovely habit of personally checking the food is to your liking and that everything is parfait. Which i think is a wonderful touch.All the staff we so polite and helpful and even though we were the last people left no one rushed us out of the door.Look forward to a re-visit shortly. Thank you for a fantastic evening.

Thank goodness for Tripadvisor, otherwise I would never have even known this restaurant existed. Tucked away above a wine merchant's shop on Houndgate, the intimate restaurant is all about mis-matched chairs and tables, quality food and drink, and passionate staff. The menu is not huge (but that's just as well as it was difficult enough to choose anyway) but the food is expertly and passionately prepared and the charismatic owner(?) even scolded me for not pouring enough sauce over my meat, hot-footing it over from the other side of the room to drizzle more on. I expect this place thrives on word of mouth - I would certainly recommend it to anyone I know, and if I'm ever in Darlington again I'll certainly be back.

This is my favorite restaurant in Darlington. Very simple menu, but all items in that is just amazing. It is a nice cosy place with very friendly staff. The chef is very attentive and gets the food done the way you want it. The ambiance of the wine bar downstairs is also just amazing. Love to go there again and again.

Small place, big atmosphere. Just in for a drink and a good choice of varied drinks. Prices not too bad and good service. I'll be back to try the food next time

Tried Vesuvio on recommendation from colleagues and really glad we did!There is a bar downstairs with friendly staff who are happy to recommend any of the specialist gins or wines (and there's a lot of gins and wines to choose from!). The small restaurant upstairs is lovely, the Chef is clearly passionate about what he does and he is happy to talk you through the menu, specials and make recommendations. The food was absolutely delicious, all 3 of us had something different and all enjoyed our meals. We were brought bread and oils and homemade pate to nibble on whilst we waited. The pate was lovely. We only wish we had room for dessert but we saved ourselves for more of the gins!!The only negative for me was the restuarant is a bit too bright but that is a personal niggle and wouldn't put me off going again! If you like wine, gin and lovely food then I think you will enjoy it here!

This place is very interesting. The establishment is split into two floors; the bottom is a quaint and cosy wine bar/shop, and the top is a restaurant. The restaurant is a large characterful room decked with big wooden tables and chairs. There aren't many tables, maybe 6 or 7, so it is fairly atmospheric. Interestingly, on all the times we've visited, as a group when on business in town, we've been waited on by the same man. He must be the owner or manager as he is incredibly attentive, giving recommendations and even asking us not to take items that he did not consider to be up to scratch. Amazingly, the same man cooked and, as he was cooking, checked in with us to ask us exactly how we would like the food, for example 'can I add a little cream to your sauce?' The menu has a restricted choice of mans, perhaps 8-10, including daily fish and vegetation specials, but the food is absolutely outstanding. The ingredients are first class, well combined and it is clear that a lot of attention has gone into making them special. In my opinion, the outstanding quality of the meals more than makes up for the slightly restricted choices; better a small selection of excellent dishes than a large selection of rubbish. The mains are French inspired (the waiter/owner/manager is also clearly French) so you can expect meat or fish with vegetables. There are other options, however, such as lighter meals and a Tapas menu. As expected for a restaurant joined to a wine bar, the wine selection is excellent, and there are many offers. If you are struggling to choose, the waiter/owner/manager is more than happy to choose a ‘nice’ one out for you. All of this and it isn't even that expensive: circa £15 for a main, £4.50 for a dessert and around £6 for each Tapas dish. You really can't go wrong with that. This place really couldn't get any further away from industrialised chain restaurants if it tried. To top it off, the owner/manager/waiter is personal and friendly, and always recognises us and greets us warmly. For all these reasons, whenever we're in Darlington, we always try and go here. I've had the Spanish style omelette (a huge omelette full of vegetables), beef stew, Salmon and pasta dish - all were first class, especially the Salmon. I cannot recommend this place highly enough!

Great little place, best selection of wines and spirits I have even seen. Amazing staff, very helpful and easy to talk to

Tucked away on Hounds Gate in Darlington, there is a wonderful tiny Wine Shop & Restaurant. An amazing little gem. Fantastic knowledge of their wines and speciality Gin's, makes for an interesting evening. They all take their time to describe what is on offer and will make a suggestion for you if you are not sure. Upstairs they serve beautifully presented food, and as you would expect their knowledge of the menu is also excellent.Definitely recommend for couples or a small gathering...great atmosphere, wonderful service and products. We'll be back