IT was a case of back to college for lunch – and this particular eaterie more than makes the grade.
The Greenhouse Brasserie at Gateshead Quays has been getting top marks from diners since it opened a couple of years ago.
It’s a stylish restaurant on Gateshead College's Baltic Campus, a few minutes walk from Baltic, The Sage Gateshead and the riverside.
First things first, forget any ideas of mass-catering refectories and students queueing up with their trays.
The brasserie is a lovely space within the main college building with attractive glass frontage. It's light and bright, with a modern, uncluttered feel. Floor-to-ceiling windows – and partial glass ceiling – offer views across the Tyne and of the Gateshead riverside being developed as we speak. A few potted palms soften the space, and there's an attractive focal-point curved bar and semi-open kitchen.
Although it's owned by the college, it is run as a commercial venture and is open to the public.
The restaurant, with brilliantly named professional head chef Mike Beveridge at the kitchen helm, does also employ a limited number of catering students on placements.
We liked the relaxed feel. It was cheery and comfortable, not too formal, and with tasteful festive touches – a big Christmas tree in the corner, festooned in twinkly lights, black tinsel jazzing up the bar, and a Christmassy soundtrack was playing.
We were lunching and there was a fair few college staff also dining and a few tables of students too. As well as serving breakfasts and takeaway lunches, a 30-minute express menu is available ('order, pay, eat and go for £4.95') and Christmas lunch menu, £12 per person for two courses and three courses for £16.
The restaurant is not open in the evenings or at weekends. Opening times may alter with all the redevelopment taking place but Mike Beveridge was explaining there isn't the footfall in evenings.
The restaurant is closed too from December 20 until January 3.
Staff were an asset, we found, smartly turned out, attentive and extremely polite and jolly.
My husband and I opted for the Christmas lunch as we sipped house white of South African Kleinkloof chenin blanc, Western Cape, a light fruity wine, £3.75 for 125ml, and Fentimans rose lemonade, £2.50.
Delicious home-baked breads kicked us off – knotted and sesame and poppy seed topped white bun, which we dipped in oil and balsamic vinegar.
My starter of twice-baked spiced avocado was a good hot dish perfect for warding off winter chills, consisting of half an avocado filled with chicken breast and avocado chunks and pineapple in a light curry mayonnaise, with salad garnish. The creamy avocado and chicken enfolded in mildly spiced sauce was a delight, a comfort food dish, and substantial too.
Roast red pepper soup with pesto drizzle and cream swirl garnish was also delicious. It was smooth, thick, with rich, intense flavours of tomato and red pepper. It, too, was a hearty bowlful.
Top marks for starters but the mains were more mixed.
I opted for supreme of chicken, a large chicken breast served with mulled cranberries and port wine jus. The waitress did warn me this was a sweet dish, checking I was fine with that.
The chicken was moist, the portion again huge, but the cranberry jus lacked any punch and was a tad on the watery side. I sadly could not detect any alcoholic flavouring at all. It came with roasties, fantastic roast parsnips (crispy and so sweet), and a large bowl of veg, which we shared; sprouts (on the soft side), boiled potatoes and carrot batons.
Across the table, hubby went all traditional with his choice of roast turkey with all the trimmings. Three large thick slices of turkey breast filled half the plate, this moist and juicy, roasties, pork faggot (not seen on menus much these days, but deemed very tasty) and slab of pork and apricot stuffing, beautifully seasoned, and pigs in blankets, the bacon disappointingly undercooked, though, and a wrapper to bland, anaemic sausages.
We shared a Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. It was hot, very rich and fruity with alcoholic kick, but not over-sweet, the moat of brandy sauce, smooth, lump-free and with an alcoholic warmth.
We liked this hidden gem of a restaurant. My other half, who works in Gateshead, didn't even know of its existence and vowed to spread the word back at work.
Address: Greenhouse Brasserie, Gateshead College's Baltic Campus, Quarryfield Rd, Baltic Business Quarter, Gateshead NE8 3BE. www.greenhousebrasserie. com Tel: 0191 490 2414.
Open: Mon 8am-2.30pm, Tue-Thu 8am - 4pm and Fri 8am-3pm, closed Sat and Sun. The restaurant is closed from Dec 20-Jan 3.
First impressions: Inside the college with striking glass frontage. Light and bright, interesting views across the river.
Welcome: Warmly greeted by smartly turned out staff, who were polished and smiley.
Style, design and furnishings: Simple, modern, bright interior. Floor-to-ceiling windows, red seats, potted palms.
Cuisine: Modern British
Service: Very good. Staff polite and attentive.
Value: Good. Christmas lunch, £12 for two courses, £16 three courses. Express menu and takeaway sandwiches available.
Disabled facilities: Accessible
