The Best Restaurants in Birtley, Greater London, United Kingdom (2025)

Visited on a Fri night and it was at capacity at 20 covers which seems to be the case most nights. They have specific times as restaurant is so small and ask you not to come early as there's no where to wait.It's not the best location and was a little cold but the food and service were superb. Nice to have open kitchen where you can see everything happening. Started with honey roast salmon and this fabulous garlic foccacia (?) and had to share the bread with hubby as his scallops didn't come with any. I was annoyed he ate half but he was very pleased as it was gorgeous! His main of pork tender and tasty as was my sea bass with prawns . I like the idea of being able to pick the 2 sides so we tried the roast sprouts (I'm one of those people who love them ) roast carrot, cauliflower cheese and of course chips for him 😀. Cleared plates. I was driving so we didn't have a bottle of wine but he had glass of merlot out of the extensive wine list. They had a good menu with an extra one for vegetarian and vegan which means our friends will be happy 👍. They also do Sunday lunch and tapas nights so I'll definitely be back and not drive this time.

Great local venture. They work some magic making all the food in such a small space. It’s hard to get a table as they are doing really well. Would like to try the tapas night. Came for the Sunday lunch set menu (3 courses £27.50). The French onion soup and roast beef were nice. I wasn’t a big fan of the stuffed pork (bit dense)or the crispy prawns (lost the prawns). Desserts were fine. The place smelt badly of grease.

Absolutely fantastic. Outstanding Sunday lunch, the flavours and quality were spectacular, I had the roast beef dinner and my husband had the lamb. The Yorkshire puddings were the size of our heads, and the beef and lamb cooked to perfection. The desserts, chocolate fondant and an apple tart tatin were scrumptious. I cannot recommend highly enough. Service was wonderful, lovely staff. All in all a fabulous place and I can't wait to come back

Beautiful Sunday lunches - we had roast chicken and roast beef Sunday dinners. Both beautifully cooked and presented. Black pudding bhaji starter was really tasty, as were the cheesecake and chocolate desserts! 10/10 ... worth a visit!

Went on a Sunday and had the best roast I have ever had. Restaurant was very busy and buzzing when we first arrived. Service was great, staff were friendly and food arrived promptly.

Food and drink is excellent! The staff are all very attentive and friendly. It's a very warm and friendly atmosphere. We've been here loads of times and will definitely be back. 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ all the way!

What a find this was. We came to the local area for a couple of nights and after a bit of tripadvising we decided on this Italian. We never booked as it was a last minute decision but it was not a problem. We were greeted by a very friendly waitress and were shown to a table straight away. The waitresses and the gentlemen (believe he was the manager/owner) who served us were very efficient and extremely friendly. Food was fantastic, really tasty and great portion sizes. It was nice to come somewhere where we felt we were getting our moneys worth! Strongly recommend the pizzas and the garlic bread! If we come back to the area we will mostly likely be returning. Thank you!

Fast , friendly service, food was so good! I'm a vegi so sometimes the options are bland but I got the mushroom pasta and is was unreal, thank you 😊

We had Sunday club with the lads at this fine establishment. Turned up at 1.30pm and left at 7pm..super Sunday football, beers and amazing food. What's there not yo like or enjoy. Honestly the staff where so accommodating and friendly providing us with a 5 star service...the food..well pictures or words will not give justice to how enense the food was. Honestly best Indians I've been too.. If you are ever in the north east you have 0 excuse not to try this place.

Had a dine in with family and friends. Grilling is fabulous. Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian options are plenty. Grills are served on iron hot plate like a sizzler. Curries and nan are good too. Definitely recommended for grills and family dine out.

As I was in the area anyway, I popped in for a mixi. The place is done up with the same decor as their pubs in the Midlands, so felt like home! The service was very friendly and welcoming. The food was decent but lacked a little something compared to their other places. Mainly in terms of spice. Still very good, but just not quite top-tier. Beer choices were decent as always, and the usual vast menu catering for vegetarians is there too.

Glad I live within walking distance of this place. Always made to feel welcome, food great, staff great, and very reasonable prices. What you don't eat on the night you can take home and have the next day when it tastes just as good. Well worth a visit!

Visited for a spot of lunch with work colleagues. Whilst the lunch menu seemed small the choices were very good. Not tonnes of meat options but maybe that's just my preference 😁 Gypsy Hill on draught was welcomed. I had the eggs Benedict which was a relatively good sized portion but was very very well presented and tasted great. Very impressed. Highly recommend. Also they have outdoor seating which looks great to sit and watch the world go by.

Food was nice, but staff were better. Particularly, Ash was extremely helpful and he gave us advice on different flavours of the desserts, which was our highlight: peach and olive oil cake with *pistachio ice cream* (we don’t like coconut)

Overall the food were good but the portion was small considering the price. I had the fried chicken with potato pie, it tasted fantastic and I love the sauce. However it’s around £16 for just one piece of chicken and one potato pie with two eggs. Honestly I’m not full after this meal and have to go near by shops for snacks🥲 Plus the size of cappuccino was also bit crazy compared to other brunch in London…..

Diana was unbelievable. We were celebrating our friend’s citizenship and Diana made the whole experience so special. I’ve never been here before and will definitely be coming back and looking up the other locations! Amazing amazing

Lovely staff. Very friendly and the food is amazing. Lovely and fresh. Specials night is Thursday and Sunday. You can sit in to eat or take away to enjoy at home.

New Years Eve - family of 4. Great service and lovely, fresh food. As a returning customer recently I don't honestly know why we went elsewhere. £150 for poppadoms, 4 starters, 4 mains and 4 cobra.

By far THE BEAT Indian cusine in the north east. The friendliest staff who remember you when you haven’t visited for a while. The food is SO tasty and huge different varieties of curries. 11/10 you will not be disappointed!

Nice little place, been here quite a few times now. Food is good, service is good, very pleasant. A little pricey, but these places always are.

Wonderful experience, friendly and professional staff👍 Highly recommended! Both the food and the drinks were great. We had the beef Tartare , Lubina , nectarina .. they were all exceptional. Thanks Charles & Sofia 💕🍺for your great service!

Amazing 🤩 the food we ordered was perfect for two - portions are smaller and great for sharing - they timed the service well and it was a lovely atmosphere. Seating is only bar / counter so doesn’t really work for large groups BUT THE FOOD 😍 the sea bass was amazing and the mix between fresh and warm foods was lovely. Highly recommend

Food: - Every dish I had here was top notch. - Had the Fig Fashioned, which was a really solid twist on an Old Fashioned. - Started with both the breads, Afghan Khobz and Pain d'epi, alongside the Kapia Brulee - the breads were fresh and individually special in their own way, but the Kapia Brulee was the star of the show (it's a sweet yet somewhat savoury dip that goes really well with the breads). - Tried the Navelina Crudo, which was a Yellow Tail Crudo with Orange/Olives - first time trying a Crudo, and it was genuinely brilliant, but might be an acquired taste. -The Atlas Raclette was a good main, with potatoes in a strong and rich cheese, but it was the weakest of the three mains we tried. - The Merguez Shakshukit was amazing, with well spiced meat that went well with the breads (yes, we got extra). - The Barbary Chicken was superb, with a load of different spices giving it a lot of flavour. - Had the Hashcake to finish which I think is a must-try if you have space! Service: - Great service, with our waitress explaining every dish in amazing detail, helping us get exactly what we'd love. Atmosphere: - Intimate restaurant with a very very small space - staff do really well to serve everyone in such a tight space. - Great lighting and ambience. - Might be a bit too small, but I get the attraction.

Beautiful! Very unique and a lovely range in flavours here. We ordered about 8 dishes, in the style small plates and with each new plate we were so impressed and excited; though the sea-bass left some desire. I really recommend the experience! I should warn you the venue is small and intimate!

Absolutely brilliant! Lovely food in a great setting. Had a three course meal and each dish was carefully presented, perfectly cooked and flavours worked well together. First visit here, but definitely not the last.

I live in london. Been to many posh:nice places. But the steak and beau chips with the Korean greens was the best ever. And I'm not exaggerating . Really lovely. Savoured every mouthful . The staff are totally top notch. Especially the young fella. Great chat with him... keep on keep going. You're lucky you lot to have the wonderful place... Jon

Went for lunch after hearing good things about this place. A great atmosphere with a lovely log burner roaring at one end. The staff were excellent and found us a table straight away. I ordered a pint of Stella which was delicious. For food I opted for The Full Forge which is a full English but posher. It was excellent with everything cooked to perfection. The poached eggs were awesome. Very reasonable prices for high quality food. Will definitely be going back soon.

I was in town for a few weeks and visited this restaurant. I was so impressed I had to visit again before leaving. Not only that, but I visited several other restaurants in Newcastle and Gateshead Quayside, which were in similar or higher price brackets, but none of them were quite as well-rounded as The Forge. The decor is rustic and low-key, but well finished. There is no pretentiousness, which makes for a warm, enjoyable atmosphere. The front of house staff are all friendly and attentive, even when being rushed off their feet serving a full house inside and out. The food is excellent. From the perfectly cooked scotch egg starter to the fish, lamb, or steak mains, down to the absolutely delicious desserts. The standout was the Cornish hake dish. We even took a 3 and 5-year-old on the first visit, and they produced some simple off-menu children's dishes which the kids both loved. Despite visiting only a few weeks apart, there were quite a few changes to the menu, which keeps it seasonal and exciting. I have paid more in other places in the North East for worse service, atmosphere, and cookery. The Forge is an absolute gem and despite being well above the average price for a restaurant in Washington, you absolutely get what you pay for, and it is worth every penny.

We've used this pub on and off for years, so we are familiar with the place. In the last few years, it has adopted a Bistro style that works well. Drinks in the garden are enjoyable, as is the occasional meal. Last year (2023), we enjoyed our first Xmas lunch at the Biddick, which was enjoyed by our family group, so we returned for 2024. It was even better, especially the food. There was a full selection chosen with no disappointment evident. When coupled with great service, it made our festive day complete. Excellent occasion from a team that tries so hard to please, and they succeeded. An easy five stars.

Third time here and can't find any faults. We had the Sunday lunch. The food was served quickly, it was delicious and there was plenty of it. The staff were polite and friendly, and the restaurant was bright and welcoming. Don't think I'd go anywhere else xxx

First visit here, the restaurant itself is lovely - really cosy and tastefully decorated. The food was great, portions generous and all the staff were incredibly friendly but never overbearing. Will be recommending to friends and family. Looking forward to our next visit.

The food was absolutely delicious.The staff were really friendly and helpful. We booked for 6.30pm and happy hour had just finished but they allowed us to still get the happy hour deal. My son couldn't finish all of his food so they very kindly put it in a take away carton for him. The restaurant was clean and had a great atmosphere. I can't fault anything as me and my son had such a lovely time. We would definitely recommend visiting. Thank you to all the staff. Rating *****plus

Had a lovely meal here tonight, took our one year old and we was worried he was being too loud, the owner told us not to worry and that they are a child friendly restaurant.. food was amazing ! Best lasagna I’ve ever had. Garlic mushrooms to start were lovely too and my husband had a prawn pasta dish which he loved.

Fantastic Italian restaurant with a beautiful decor and an atmosphere to match. The food was outstanding in every way, so tasty and perfect portion sizes. The staff were very nice and professional and I enjoyed it there very much. Definitely recommend and I will be back 💯😋

What a fantastic restaurant! I'm visiting my parents fron down south, and we came here with a party of 11 for a family meal. The food was delicious and plentiful. One thing g to be aware of, the 'nibbles' on the menu are sharing size - I got some potato skins as a side, and it turned out to be the size of a main! So a perfect size for a couple of people to share. The service was excellent throughout. The staff are brilliant. Well worth a visit!

This was my favorite meal during my visit to London and in my top meals I’ve ever enjoyed. Everything was excellent! First of all, our server was so helpful in explaining the menu and recommending options. The food was all around stellar. We ordered many things: hummus, labneh, Moroccan cigars, carrots, grilled halloumi, pata negra, and hash cake. When I say it was some of the best food I’ve ever eaten, I’m not exaggerating. Sitting at the bar while the chefs work was exciting and fun. I will recommend this place to anyone going to London! The

An excellent restaurant serving the best of North African and Mediterranean cuisine. The venue is very intimate with seats around a bar (of sorts) surrounding the chefs and staff as they work their magic. Some highlights were the lamb, the taramasalata style dip and the bread (Jerusalem bagel and naan).

Out server Vanessa was so sweet and ensured we got plenty of food and drinks. Per the Chef, try the Pata Negra, and the octopus. We couldn't have been happier with the decision to follow his recommendation. Highly recommend this place. Try this place out if you can get a reservation.

The Barbary is a great place to enjoy a meal with a friend. The staff are very attentive and explained the menu thoroughly. The food was amazing and the chef explained the preparation of each dish, answering all our questions. The wine selection is fun, too, with lots of interesting choices. Would recommend going a few times so you can try everything!