It hasn't taken long for Banyan Bar & Kitchen to put its stamp on Newcastle. Following a glittering launch event a few months ago, the venue has slotted seamlessly into the City's eating & drinking scene - all from its prime location in the heart of the city.
The venue, which occupies the former Jamie’s Italian site, is at the centre of the shopping and socialising hub and offers quality, locally-sourced food alongside an inventive cocktail offering. Banyan is the ninth venue in an independentlyowned portfolio which also boasts successful ventures in Leeds, York and Harrogate whilst this new site is the first of its kind in the North East.
Hugely intrigued by this new concept, I took a few hours out of my working day to meet my son Jack, to assess whether this tree-inspired venue is one bearing fruit. The action is split over two chic, spacious floors with food & drink available on both. We were sat in the main dining area downstairs whilst upstairs (which is also available for private functions) often opens up to accommodate busier weekend trade.
Visitors of Jamie’s will note a stunning refit awash with rich tones of gold, teal and brown and characterised by exposed filament bulbs and a densely interwoven ceiling pattern. Upstairs, a sprawling pink neon tree feature makes for one of the city’s most insta-worthy shots whilst downstairs, large windows afford views across monument and down Grey Street.
Banyan packs style in abundance then, but what of the food? And, the drink?
Well, Banyan offers over 30 cocktails – a heady mix of signature specialities and classic-inspired favourites. Jack chose the latter with a ’64 Old Fashioned whilst I chose a Cuban Culture – Bacardi Cuatro shaken with Aperol, blood orange liqueur, lemon and sugar which brought a daydream of Havana to a drizzly day in the toon.
The kitchen is open from 10am daily with breakfast and brunch options available. Its main menu is a neat selection of starters, sharing platters, sandwiches, steaks, burgers, main plates and a choice of salads & ‘powerbowls’ – for the health-conscious diner.
To kick off, the Banyan platter offers much variety and is a great sharing starter. This included Bang Bang chicken skewers drizzled with satay sauce, fried baby squid, Japanese bread crumbed Brie wedges, crispy duck spring rolls, panko bread crumbed king prawns, beetroot houmous, vegetable crudités, marinated olives and warmed pitta bread. Following on, Jack chose the 10 oz sirloin steak, done well here and served with handmade triple-cooked chips, crispy onions and a peppercorn sauce. I opted for the trademark Banyan skewers, paired with a warmed wrap, sweet chilli sauce and a house salad. Other eye-catching plates included the Thai Red Curry, chicken spirelli, Geordie bangers & mash and the pan-fried chicken schnitzel. Dishes are internationally inspired and are sure to cater to a variety of appetites.
Though replete, we couldn’t leave without sampling a sharing portion of “Geordie S’Mores” as recommended by the venue’s super-friendly restaurant manager Emma. Toasted marshmallows and berry compote provided the filling in a marvellously decadent double chocolate cookie sandwich. We were also pleased to find a home on the menu for Di Meo’s ice cream – Whitley Bay’s “Champion of Champions” award-winning ice cream parlour.
It appears that Banyan offers everything you want from a modern, city-centre bar & kitchen; an eclectic menu, creative cocktails and super service. The Banyan tree has found its Northern roots.
For more information, visit arcinspirations.com/banyan-newcastle