Sabatini Ristorante

Sabatini is a chic, traditional Italian restaurant in a prime location on King Street, just off the Quayside. Just around the corner from Vujon, Rasa and Pan Haggerty, this is one of the smartest addresses in town. At 8pm on Friday the restaurant was perfectly lively while still able to accommodate our party of three. This 18 year-old restaurant has recently undergone extensive refurbishment. The dining room is long and narrow, with a wall of windows to one side and a wall of mirrors to the other, which make it feel deceptively big. Add in handsome dark furniture and pretty lamps along the walls and it’s a bit like eating in a very posh dining car – an effect I rather enjoyed. There seemed to be tons of staff (was this was another trick of the mirrors?), who were all friendly and efficient.

The menu has everything you would expect from an Italian with pizza and pasta menus, as well as a good selection of meat and fish dishes. I was sorely tempted by the Filleto di Branzino Al Gondoliere (fillet of seabass with tiger prawns, chives, chilli butter and saffron potatoes, £15.50) but in the end was ruled by my purse and opted for pizza. The Via Veneto was an excellent choice. Topped with mozzarella, tomato, chicken, caramelised red onion, garlic herb butter and crispy pancetta, the sweet onions, salty pancetta and mellow kick from the garlic made a tasty combination. I thought this a good price at £8.95, although all pizza and pasta is just £6.50-£7.95 during happy hour, which is 12-6.30pm daily. In these stylish surroundings, that surely represents fantastic value for money.

Finishing off with a sharp espresso and a brisk walk beneath the twinkling lights of the Quayside, we paused for a collective ‘ahh’ by the Millennium Bridge, and headed home happy.

Sabatini Ristorante, 25 King Street, Quayside, Newcastle 0191 261 4415 www.sabatinis.co.uk