What to expect at the newest of Ponteland restaurants, Bawn
Snacking, sipping and sharing – we visited one of the most social restaurants in Ponteland to eat some New York-style pizza and drink wine.
THE PREMISE
That sharing is caring.
The newest of Ponteland restaurants, Bawn has taken over the former Eleven on the village’s Main Street to create a laidback yet refined space centred around socialising.
The epitome of relaxation inside – with stylish interiors distressed by bold, quirky artwork – Bawn’s menu is a collection of sophisticated small plates and New York-style sourdough pizza, both ideal for social snacking while you make your way through their extensive natural wine list.
As well as aperitifs and a fine selection of red, white and rosé, you’ll also find sweet and sparkling serves on the menu here, as well as a rarer collection of skin contact wines.
THE PIZZA
The ultimate comfort food, cooked with style.
Bawn’s New York-style sourdough pizzas combine simple cooking methods with contemporary flavour combos to create a selection of innovative twists on our favourite classics – all of which, you can taste, have all been cooked with love.
All Bawn pizzas are the same size – around 12 inches – meaning you can choose whether you want to commit to one for yourself or get a few to share with your table.
Beth ordered… Ham and pineapple
Ricotta cream, mozzarella, mortadella, pineapple and pickled chilli
“First of all, pineapple belongs on pizza! Secondly, this was a serious upgrade from any Hawaiian I’ve ever had – the mortadella ham and pickled chilli really added a sense of sophistication to what is sometimes seen as a juvenile choice.”
Becky ordered… Nduja and honey
Tomato and ‘nduja sauce, buffalo mozzarella, honey and spenwood cheese
“The sweetness of the honey complimented the slight kick of the nduja sauce, while the soft sourdough crusts were made for dipping into our extra sides of salsa verde and garlic mayonnaise. The perfect combo of spicy and sweet.”
THE PLATES
Bawn has created everything with socialising in mind.
Their seasonal small plates are designed for sharing, spotlighting only the freshest local produce in innovative dishes you can’t help but say: “oh, you have to try this.”
Right now, think fried gordal olives and lavish charcuterie boards, mussel fritti, ricotta dumplings and cotechino sausage with borlotti beans.
Heck, even the salads are sexy here.
If it’s snacking and sipping over a glass or two of the good stuff that you’re after, there are few better restaurants in Newcastle.
THE WINE
Speaking of sipping, it would be remiss of us not to mention what is arguably the main event here: Bawn’s wine list.
Natural wines are the name of the game at this most select of Ponteland restaurants – meaning all the varieties are made using the simplest, most traditional methods with as few additives as possible.
In other words, it’s all taste and no tack. Plus, there are plenty to choose from.
We shared a bottle of Montepulciano D’Abruzzo Frentano 2021 – an Italian red hailing from vineyards on the Frentano hills in the south of the Abruzzo region, which combined rich flavours of cherry and blackcurrant with smoky oak and dark chocolate notes for a long, juicy finish.
And we’ll be going back to try some of the Sicilian skin contact Valdibella, Ninfa 2021.
THE TAKEAWAY
Perhaps the most singular of Ponteland restaurants, Bawn do the simple things really well.
They’re not about complex tasting menus or sickeningly sweet cocktails. Their raison d’être is to offer social dining options in relaxed surroundings and in this they excel.
We’re struggling to think of any of the other restaurants in Ponteland – or, in fact, any restaurants in Newcastle – which combines quite as laidback an atmosphere with such sophistication in substance.
It’s a real grown-up dining haunt you’ll soon set as your default.
And Bawn’s culinary focus is far from limiting for their customers. Yes, you couldn’t come here every week for a year and always try something new, but their select menu ensures a varied palette to choose from, knowing quality will be delivered every time.
HLN rating: we’ll 100% be back. Soon.
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