Tommy Suth

My grandson chose Gusto's for dinner. It was a pleasant walk alongside the Quayside to get to the restaurant. The bridges of Newcastle upon Tyne are so iconic. The Sage has always impressed with its size and shape. We had booked a table. We arrived a little early, this wasn't a problem. We were soon seated and our drinks order was taken. I can only describe the speed of service as leisurely. The drinks finally arrived after enquiring after them. Our food order was taken. Again the service was leisurely. The food did not disappoint. I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination. Food to me, if it looks appetising and it tastes as I believe it should, that is sufficient for me. The food was very tasty indeed. We were informed at the end of our meal, that a party of 26 were being catered for. Why should my experience be downgraded via leisurely service, because the restaurant is busy. It definitely had an effect on our meal. Maybe a word before we ordered would have been appropriate.

At home or abroad, it is sometimes advisable to check out cafes etc away from the main attraction. In this case the main attraction was Prince's Street in Edinburgh. Eteaket was a couple of hundred yards away. It was for us a great find. We both love tea, so this cafe was a no brainer for us. Knowledgeable staff were quite happy to answer our questions. We were informed by the staff that they did have some problems. The service was perfectly acceptable all the same. We chose toasted sourdough sandwiches and a tea which we hadn't sampled before. Both were a success. The cafe has a welcoming ambience. Well worth the walk. Well done.