Review: Dinner With A Tiny Critic At Sachins restaurant in Newcastle

DISCLAIMER: This is a collaborative post with Sachins restaurant. All opinions are my own.

H and I used to dine out in style. It was quiet, relaxed, calm and romantic. Now surviving eating out with a small child can be a chore. Now we usually dine “off-peak” with our little partner in crime. Gone are the days of dinner-dates at 8pm because H and I now go out only when we know a restaurant isn’t busy. This is for fear of little meltdowns eating out with a small child.

Child-Friendly Restaurant

That said, we were invited out to experience Sachins in Newcastle recently – a child-friendly Punjabi and Indian establishment with parking – and certainly a notch up on our usual weekend fish and chip joint down by the sea.

On arrival we were a little worried about ordering a table for 2.5, but it was clear as soon as we were seated that Sachins’ restaurant owner Bob Arora didn’t mind having children around. In fact, there was a booster-seat with little C’s name on it.

H and I were even treated to the ‘candle-lit’ experience at just after 7pm that we usually reserve for date night. Now normally we feed little C first because the last thing we want is to have a cranky, hungry child at the dining table.

Our waiter didn’t disappoint. He knew only too well the urgency of the situation and served up a bowl of poppadoms almost immediately. While I had brought plenty of distractions in the form of toys with me, little C was far more interested in the friendly waiter, who certainly put fun on the menu for him. While Sachins doesn’t have sippy-cup approved (baby-changing) amenities, our host could not have done more to cater for little C.

Ambience and food

Both the ambience and food was great. Housed in what used to be a corner pub, Sachins is a touch off the beaten track, tucked away among the high rises behind Newcastle Central Stationin what is the burgeoning Stephenson Quarter.

The restaurant itself is quite plush and, with its low ceilings and low lighting, is pleasingly intimate. It’s on three levels, though, with the main restaurant area up a short flight of steps and a further level above that accessed via a curved open staircase, so this might cause a problem for someone with a mobility impairment.

Overall, the combination of the cosy atmosphere and the delicious food made for a memorable dining experience.

Vibrantly Spicy Cuisine

Sachins specialises in vibrantly spicy cuisine which has been a hit in the city for the past 30 years. There were so many exciting dishes on the menu, it was hard to decide … especially since time was tight! My Tandoori Mushroom (£5.95) was really satisfying. The dish was full of spicy flavour and served with red peppers. H’s Seekh Kebab (£5.95) packed some surprising heat and was neatly served on a bed of salad and chargrilled onions.

A Taste Sensation

Next I ordered a Peshawari Nan (£2.95) and H opted for a Garlic Nan (£2.95). We both ordered the Mushroom Pulao rice (£3.50) to go with our main dishes – the Chingri Makhani (£12.95) which was comforting, having been tossed in butter and cooked with tomatoes and fresh yoghurt. It provided a real delicious diversity of Punjabi spices.

Needing A Nap

Little C made quick work of the pickle tray by sopping it up with scraps of poppadom, before eating a bowl full of basmati rice.  It was a clear winner and he certainly needed a nap after that. Toddlers don’t have much patience and for the sake of other patrons, we kept our visit to an hour.

We also wiped down the booster seat and picked up the poppadoms from the floor! We are glad we got to dine out as a family somewhere that doesn’t just serve chips and chicken nuggets. H and I got to have an actual conversation. We are already salivating for an encore of eating out with a small child.

Thank you Sachins!

Rating: 5/5

Where is Sachins in Newcastle upon Tyne?

Sachins is located at Newcastle Forth Banks, NE1 3SG, in Newcastle upon Tyne. You can find it in the emerging Stephenson Quarter, tucked behind the high-rise buildings near Newcastle Central Station. The venue itself occupies a space that was formerly a corner pub. For further details, visit Sachins’ website or call 0191 232 4660. 

For more food reviews, check out this blog post on our trip to the Imperial Chinese restaurant in Low Fell, Gateshead.