8 menus we’re trying this Durham Restaurant Week 2023
As a swathe of Durham restaurants, cafés, bars and pubs prepare to slash their prices for one week only, we spotlight the eateries on our to-visit list.
Durham Restaurant Week 2023 came back with a bang yesterday and runs until Saturday 4th February.
Some of the best restaurants in Durham – as well as bars, cafés and pubs – will be offering great deals throughout the week, from half-price mains to special set menus.
Here, we shortlist the Durham restaurants we’ll be visiting…
FAT HIPPO
36 Saddler Street, DH1 3NU
Offer: a starter and a main for £15
Serving up what are arguably the best burgers in the city from their quirky Durham restaurant on the cobbles of Saddler Street, Fat Hippo really is the people’s champion.
Everything from their epic burger fillings and plant-based patties to their dirty waffle fries and naughty shakes is a thing of beauty for your belly.
Check out the full Fat Hippo menu
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OLD TOM’S GIN BAR
Offer: two drinks and an artisan cheese and charcuterie board for £20
Set in a Tudor building full of character, charm and curiosities, Old Tom’s Gin Bar has fast become a staple for locals and visitors to Durham’s drinking scene.
It’s not just the décor that’s quirky, either – you’ll find plenty of weird and wonderful gin creations here, too. Think gin sourced from the Black Forest of Germany infused with 47 botanicals, and the exotic Elephant Gin with notes of raisins, ginger, marzipan and piney juniper.
Check out the full Old Tom’s Gin Bar menu
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RADISSON BLU
Framwellgate Waterside, DH1 5TA
Offer: two courses for £20 (with a glass of house wine, £25)
Overlooking the river right in the city centre, what is arguably one of the most attractive restaurants in Durham is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion.
As stylish as it is sophisticated, Collage Restaurant within Radisson Blu hotel prides itself on serving classic, British brasserie-style cuisine with a creative twist. You can expect all your favourites – from steaks to fish dishes, pasta and burgers – with all the lavish trimmings.
Check out the full Radisson Blu menu
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GUSSTO MEDITERRANEO
32 Silver Street, DH1 3RD
Offer: 3 tapas and a drink for £15
Taking inspiration from flavours that begin in the Catalan North and end in the most southern tip of the Spanish Mediterranean, the tapas you’ll find on offer at Gussto Mediterraneo are as authentic as they come.
Plus, if you’re planning a date with that special someone then of all the Durham restaurants, this one will earn you extra brownie points; romantic, candlelit setting backing onto the river – what more could you ask for?
Check out the full Gussto Mediterraneo menu
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TEALICIOUS TEA ROOMS
88 Elvet Bridge, DH1 3AG
Offer: afternoon tea for £20; cream tea (for two) for £10
This quaint tearoom in the heart of the city offers a relaxing oasis from the hustle and bustle. And let’s be honest – have any of us worked out a better way to kick back than with a cuppa and some cake?
Not that you’ll find any old cake in Tealicious Tea Rooms, mind. Baked fresh by their talented team, these culinary creations are light, moist, flavoursome and sinfully moreish. Their decadent afternoon tea is a certified crowd-pleaser; you can even go for a Ploughman’s version if you’re more savoury than sweet.
Check out the full Tealicious Tea Rooms menu
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MARCO PIERRE WHITE
9 Old Elvet, DH1 3HL
Offer: two courses for £15; three courses for £20
Marco Pierre White’s Steakhouse Bar & Grill needs no introduction. ‘The first celebrity chef’ now has a string of restaurants to his name across the country, such is the popularity of his signature cuisine.
The steaks here are, of course, the main draw, although any one of the timeless English and French classics on the menu will go down delightfully. Just bear in mind that the Durham Restaurant Week deal is only on lunchtime dining (12.30pm – 3pm).
Check out the full Marco Pierre White menu
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TORTILLA
37–38 Silver Street, DH1 3RD
Offer: a beer and a burrito for £10
Tortilla have recently rolled onto the Durham restaurants scene and have brought with them the freshest burritos, tacos and nachos, along with plenty of ice-cold beer and frozen margaritas.
Everything here is made from scratch using fresh, quality ingredients – meaning you get to choose exactly what’s inside. For those looking for a plant-based pick, Tortilla have just launched a vegan chipotle mayo and it is banging.
Check out the full Tortilla menu
BOOK NOW
PIZZA PUNKS
Offer: 50% off pizza and pasta
Non-conformist artisans Pizza Punks burst onto the North East foodie scene a few years ago, bringing their unforgettable sourdough pizza – which you can fully customise yourself – with them.
These days, they’re a culinary stalwart. While the name of their game is pizza (quite literally), we wouldn’t sniff at their pasta offering, either. The combo makes these punks one of the best Italian restaurants Durham has to offer.
Check out the full Pizza Punks menu
BOOK NOWBrowse the full list of restaurants taking part in Durham Restaurant Week 2023 by following this link
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