The leafy suburb of Low Fell has become one of Tyneside's most desirable places to live. An abundance of pubs, bars and restaurants have sprung up in recent years, making it a vibrant community to be part of.
We decided to go for a Sunday stroll around the stunning Saltwell Park before making the short walk to the Bonny Comet for a roast dinner. We had little knowledge of the restaurant beforehand, basing our decision purely from good reviews online which left my partner and I excited to try it out.
We were welcomed on a busy Sunday by a waitress who seated us at the back of the restaurant. The dining area is very elegant and it's obvious the owner is a fan of plants - with dozens scattered around the room.
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We were both impressed by the international cuisine on offer with the menu leaving our mouths watering as we pondered what to select.
The Bonny Comet has a number of 'nibbles' priced between £3.75 and £8 including Cumbre oysters, cod cheeks and bacon & Brown Ale croquettes. We opted for the latter but were told they had ran out, much to our disappointment.
A number of small plates were tantalising including the half N’djua Scotch egg, piccalilli & garlic aioli (£6) and the scallop served with black pudding, crackling, apple & celeriac (£11.50), however we were then offered an off the menu dish of barbecue spare ribs served with sliced carrot and peanuts (£8) which we couldn't say no to.
And my word - what a treat they were. The pork simply fell off the bone and was so succulent and was complemented by the tangy barbecue sauce. The crunch from the carrot and peanuts gave added texture in a well-rounded dish that is worthy of a place on the menu full-time.
We did share the starter, which was an obvious masterstroke when the plates came out for the main course.
The plates were jam packed full of colour leaving me not even knowing where to begin. The rolled rare breed of pork belly was moist with a rich flavour which was delightful alongside the sausage meat and chestnut stuffing - an accompaniment I love at home but not often found at restaurants.
The Sunday lunches were all served with roasted seasonal vegetables, roast potatoes, bashed carrot & swede, tender stem broccoli and cabbage as well as a giant fluffy Yorkshire pudding.
The pork was also served with crackling and the dish was finished off with a rich gravy - and plenty of it!
Meanwhile my partner decided to go for the North Yorkshire leg of lamb (£15) - which she said was beautifully tender and packed with flavour. Enticed by the option of extras on offer, she even got a side dish of the stuffing for us to "share".
As usual, we were stuffed after the mains, but after a little break we were tempted in by the choices for dessert. Chocolate fudge cake, lemon posset, apple and cinnamon crumble and sticky toffee pudding is a solid menu, all coming in at £7.50.
However, yet again, I was thwarted by the lack of my desired choice. This time it was the turn of the lemon posset which they had ran out of. I do tend to love a light and fruity dessert, and that would have fit the bill.
Instead, I was offered a lemon Crème Brûlée served with crumbled biscuit on the top. My love for lemons made me, again, choose off menu - but this time it wasn't as successful. I did feel the custard lacked that citrus kick which you expect with a lemon dessert and found myself eating what was more of a custard with a hardened caramelised layer.
My partner wanted to mix things up from her many sticky toffee puddings of late and went for the chocolate fudge cake which was served with ice cream. It's sometimes a risky choice and she's been stuck with a lot of microwaved frazzled, burning hot desserts in the past.
But this one had a light and fluffy chocolate sponge, with a thick oozing chocolatey fudge sauce - which contrasted the chill of the accompanying ice cream perfectly.
The Bonny Comet is a modern bistro at the heart of Low Fell - an area which is increasingly vibrant with more pubs, bars and restaurants popping up.
Open five days a week, it brings service throughout the day with breakfast, lunch and dinner with those menus also providing a range of seasonal dishes. This time we got a soft drink but I'd be interested in returning to sample their cocktails and real ales while enjoying themed nights such as Live Music Sundays.
The overall bill came to £63 which was a fair reflection for the food we ate. The starter and main in particular were extremely impressive, I can't help but wonder what might have been when it comes to the lemon posset.
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