General Havelock Inn — Restaurant in England

Don't be put off by the exterior, which doesn't suggest you'll get anything more than standard pub fare - inside the building itself is a revelation and is both considerably larger and lighter than one might expect. The bar area is tastefully sleek and modern whilst the separate restaurant at the rear has a more historical theme with an extremely high ceiling and so feels very open and airy - the perfect place to enjoy food selected from.a genuinely bistro menu, prepared and cooked to perfection with great attention to detail. In summer there's also.the option of dining al fresco on the south-facing terrace (a real suntrap) at the back of the building which looks out over the Tyne along a picturesque riverbank that slopes gently down to the water's edge. If so inclined one could even safely have a quick.paddle! Just...

I'm really sorry to post a review like this, but it has to be said, especially with the amount of 5 star reviews. The food wasn't anything special, nor was the ambiance and lighting. As for the food, the prawn cocktail starter was served in a beer glass with half a bottle of cocktail sauce over it, too much in my opinion. The chips served with the main courses were undercooked(fried). The steak and beer battered cod were ok. The desserts were disappointing, old cheese served on a regular diner plate instead of on a wooden board, sticky toffee pudding with no sticky sauce, Cappuccino with a large cup of brown sugar with which you can bake a cake. Depending on your dining preferences, this could be OK for you. To be honest I wouldn't go here if I knew...

The menu might look like basic pub food, but the presentation and taste are far beyond your basic pub grub. Soup of the day was a delicious borscht with a dollop of sour cream and fresh bread rolls on the side. My chicken pie was similarly very well done (and not just a pastry lid either!) and with veg cooked to perfection. My husband's frittata was also very tasty. We accompanied our meal with local ales (on tap) and enjoyed the fabulous river view from the terrace while we ate. Lunch at the Havelock was a great end to a morning spent walking around the beautiful area, and we'll...