Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Waddington St., Flass Vale, Durham.
&
0191/370-9999.
www.finbarrsrestaurant.co.uk. Reservations
recommended. Main courses £11-£25. AE, DC, MC, V. Mon-Fri 7-9:30am, noon-2:30pm, and 6-9:30pm;
Sat 7-10:30am, noon-2:30pm, and 6-9:30pm; Sun 7:30-10:30am and noon-9pm.
Riverside at the Swan
BRITISH Low-beamed ceilings, candles, joyful
staff, and the smell of fabulously good local cooking will lure you into this award-
winning restaurant overlooked by Barnard Castle, attracting food lovers from hun-
dreds of miles away. Its Sunday lunches—both traditional and more experimental,
and including kids' portions—are extremely popular with locals, while the chargrilled
steaks from local farms are a big draw throughout the week, and the twice-cooked
beef is a revelation. But you'll also find the irresistible likes of seared filet of sea bass
with fresh leek tagliatelle, steamed Shetland mussels, crayfish and crab risotto, and
savory Yorkshire blue cheese bread-and-butter pudding with thick-cut chips, sticky
onion relish, and crisp dressed salad leaves.
Bridge End, Barnard Castle.
&
01833/637577.
www.riverside-restaurant.co.uk. Reservations recom-
mended. Main courses £15-£21. MC, V. Tues-Sat noon-2pm (by reservation only Tues-Thurs) and
6-9:30pm; Sun noon-2pm.
MODERATE
The Church Mouse
BRITISH/PUB FOOD Handy for Beamish, the Living
Museum of the North (p. 658) this welcoming traditional pub in a former mining
village has won awards for its cask-conditioned real ales but shouldn't be overlooked
for its culinary offerings: Mediterranean-inspired sharing platters; Sunday roasts;
“country pub classics” including beef, mushroom, and ale pie; and a great kids' menu,
with main courses (averaging £4.50) including tomato
strozzapreti
(egg pasta tossed
with a tomato garlic sauce), or rump steak with onion rings, plum tomato, peas, and
chips. In winter there's a cozy log fire to warm your limbs, and in summer a garden
where kids can stretch theirs. The interior melds original features such as beams and
flagstone floors with dashes of low-key contemporary chic. Note that there's a Trav-
elodge next door.
Waldridge, Chester-le-Street.
&
0191/3892628.
www.vintageinn.co.uk. Main courses £6.95-£16. MC, V.
Mon-Sat noon-10pm, Sun noon-9:30pm.
INEXPENSIVE
The award-winning Undercroft restaurant at Durham Cathedral (p. 656) serves good
cakes, scones, soups, sandwiches, salads, and main courses.
La Spaghettata
ITALIAN The lines trailing down the stairs and out the
door of this homey restaurant on the street leading up to Durham Cathedral testify
to its superiority over the city's many other Italian restaurants in atmosphere, pricing,
and portion size, though because it gets so busy, service can suffer. A favorite with
Durham's students—perhaps for the penne with vodka, or the kitsch decor with its
gaudy
trompe l'oeil
murals and plastic tablecloths—it's a great spot for a lively meal
with kids, with meal deals keeping bills low. In addition to good pizzas and pasta
dishes, there are intriguing main courses such as chicken breast with pesto and lime,
or grilled salmon with chili, coriander, cherry tomatoes, ginger and scallions.
66 Saddler St., Durham.
&
0191/383-9290.
www.fabiosdurham.com/spag. Reservations recom-
mended. Main courses £5.10-£13. MC, V. Mon-Thurs 5:30-10:30pm, Fri-Sun 11:30am-2pm and 5:30-
10:30pm.
Penny's Tea Rooms
LUNCH/SNACKS/AFTERNOON TEA This long-stand-
ing tearoom and restaurant is popular with locals and visitors for everything from tea
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