I have only done Michelin dining in London, so it was time to branch out, and I went as far as practically possible to Newcastle’s House of Tides. Was it any good? Time to find out…
Ideal for:
Post payday treat for yourself and then some drinks in town.
Celebrating those extra special occasions with a fancy meal.
When you want a romantic, dinner date for a partner.
Ambience & Décor
Set within a beautifully restored Grade I listed converted house situated near the River Tyne, House of Tides was not only aptly named, but the décor inside was befitting of the 16th Century it came from – exposed dark wooden beams, matching dark wood flooring and classical-looking furniture. The above dining room was on the first floor, ground floor had a welcome bar area with flagstone flooring, exposed brickwork, dark leather settees, chairs and tabletops matching the décor upstairs and beams. For a Michelin restaurant, this was a more casual setting, but the vibe was fitting of a Michelin star place. Was a lovely venue.
Service
The waitresses that served us were of the standard expected of Michelin dining and were incredibly accommodating, whilst telling us what was on the plate, and the sequence to eat the constituent parts to maximise flavour.
Food
For the main event, it was effectively a six-course tasting menu with titbits to start and an optional cheese selection. We went the whole nine yards. Taking each course in turn, the titbits to start, were a warm Gougère (baked savoury choux bun mixed with cheese) and Sourdough with Cultured Butter. Both delicious and a great way to neutralise the palate before the main dishes.
The Cured mackerel with apple gel, buttermilk and dill (see left) was meant to resemble a ceviche but I think there was too much buttermilk for me, thus the textures were off-putting. The apple was lost but the dill was punchy, creating imbalance.
The Jersey royal potatoes with white asparagus, mint puree and wild garlic gels were not only aesthetically brilliant but tasted divine. My favourite course.
I was also impressed with the monkfish with mussels and sea herbs, butter sauce and chive oil (see right) because the fish was cooked beautifully, and it was a rare fish dish that packed plenty of flavour. The surprise of the night
Heading back on land, the Yorkshire lamb with broccoli, kohlrabi, marjoram, and lamb jus (see below) was tender with a variety of flavour tones co-mingling to tingle all aspects of the palate. Again, presentation was amazing, but wanted the lamb from
Northumberland personally given the local vibe House of Tides embodies.
Peach tart with almond and lemon verbena with green tea sorbet (see below) was something only such places pull off. It was a perfect combination of tanginess, earthiness, and freshness. Along with the potatoes, the other culinary triumph. Very unique.
For me, the Dark chocolate with lime and basil (see above) was a bit too tart for me. Chocolate lovers may not appreciate the severe tang and bitterness. We also had a cheeseboard on top just to try and this was a lovely way to finish.
Overall, House of Tides was a culinary triumph that made me fall in love with fish dishes again, and just showcased the immense talent outside of London. Tthe setting, service, and scrumptious dishes, coupled with the good value made this a winner. Some dishes didn’t hit the mark with me if I am nit-picking, as you expect perfection at these places, but a solid A rating.
Photos of House of Tides and more can be found on Instagram here.
Final grade: A
Final comment: Cracking Michelin-starred dining experience outside of London.
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