Flat Iron has officially opened on Grey Street, bringing its relaxed steak restaurant concept to Newcastle. Here’s what we thought of the food, interiors and those little extras.

Red House sits on Newcastle’s Quayside in a Grade II listed building and leans fully into its identity as a traditional public house. Exposed wooden beams, low ceilings and open fires set the tone immediately. It feels historic because it is. We visited on a weekday evening for dinner. The focus here is pie and mash, real ale and a setting that encourages you to settle in rather than move on quickly. It’s connected internally to its sister pub, Bob Trollops, so you can shift

There is no menu at Sanco. No ordering, no decisions to make, no scanning a list of toppings while everyone else waits. You sit down, switch on a small light at your table, and the pizzas start arriving. I visited with friends on a busy evening, and the concept worked immediately. Slices arrived in steady rounds, each one different from the last. When you’ve had enough, you switch the light off. It sounds simple, but in practice, it completely changes the rhythm of the meal.

The first time I visited Pique in Gosforth, I only meant to have a quick drink, a glass of wine on a Saturday night. After a couple of glasses, I couldn’t resist trying their oysters, and that made me want to return to sample more dishes.