Great North Museum Hancock, first floor cafe

I've had company this week so it's been a bit of a week for eating and drinking out.  So, before I talk about the featured eatery, let me just list the other places I've been:  Morrisons in South Shields; Head of Steam railway museum cafe, Darlington;  The Gallery cafe, Wilkinsons in Newcastle and last but by no means least - Pepi and Libby's cafe in Elswick Road.  This was nearly this week's choice but tea and a Kit Kat does not do justice to their menu of English, Filipino and Oriental food so I will report later, building on my early positive impressions.

So, the Hancock, latte and cake for two,what could be simpler?  We arrived at the first floor entrance eventually, having walked up the wrong staircase and needing to cross the upstairs gallery admiring the many and varied stuffed animals on display as we went.  We ignored the 'please wait to be seated' sign and strolled in as no one was there to actually seat us.  Our crime remained undiscovered until we tried to order at the counter where a table number was required.  I bagged a table and waited while it was cleaned and food arrived etc.  Maybe half term week was a mistake on our part as it was very busy and noisy.  Most people appeared to be ordering drinks and snacks, although the menu boasted main meals and wine.  Pricey, we thought, for a small cafe where the plates are swiped from under your nose as soon as you have finished.

In short, our opinion was that the first floor cafe had a identity crisis.  Was it only for light refreshments?  No, surely that was the street cafe downstairs?  Was it a quieter atmosphere for a light lunch of a reasonable standard?  Then why offer snacks?  You really wouldn't choose to go there for a £7 steak sandwich and wine, well not in half term anyway.

Tasty Jack's, Newgate Centre

I spotted this one after I had been to Mark Toney's and had added it to the hit list.  Today was the day!  I briefly toyed with the idea of Coffee Bean in Old Eldon Square, but that it shelved for another time.
So,   TJs - wooden floors, tables, the ubiquitous sofas if you must, books to read, music that is just a little different.  It feels homely, slightly reminiscent of upstairs at the Boston Tea Party in Exeter, for those who have been.  I chose a danish pastry and tea (£2 offer) having been kindly warned that the muffins might be a bit stale.  The breakfasts looked good too but I couldn't justify.
I had the place to myself - seems like the times of day that I am out coffee-shopping the rest of the world is doing other things.  Then a friend came and joined me for a second cup.  It's one to recommend, handy for town, not corporate.  You feel your money is going to real people not shareholders.

Dog and Cat cafe, Roker seafront

OK, I played away but it was worth it!  Imagine drinking lovely strong tea and munching a bacon sandwich sitting in the sun overlooking sea and sand - in February!  Near perfect!

Mark Toney's, Grainger Street

Wasn't too sure where to head for this week so decided to wander the town centre and see what turned up.  And what turned up in the time available was Grainger Street.  I've been in Kaffecinos loads of times so couldn't credibly use that one (nice though it is), which left me heading across the road to Mark Toneys.  I have to say I was expecting functional, possibly a little down at heel, but it was none of these.  It was more like a slightly over the top granny's lounge.  A bit chintzy, plenty of artificial flowers, 60s/70s music going.  NO sofas - imagine that!  everywhere has sofas now!  But Mark Toneys has escaped the madness and you have to sit up at the table and eat properly just the way I like it.
I ordered tea and a cheese scone (two lots of butter - yay!) and settled down in a corner behind the artificial flowers where I could admire the dark wood, ceramic tiles and carpeted floor unobserved.  The menu looked good too and the place is open till 8pm, so if you're in town after 5 and all that this may be the place to head.
There are several seating options:  introverts like me can head past the counter, down a couple of steps to rows of tables at the back, leaving the raised platform with its brass rails opposite the counter to the extroverts.  Not sure?  then settle for the tables alongside the counter.  Deranged?  then you can choose to carry your food down a scary flight of stairs to the windowless basement where you can enjoy the claustrophobia and watch everyone coming in and out of the toilets.  There's no waitress service downstairs according to  a notice on the counter - I didn't mention the waitress service?  I didn't get it, maybe it's for full meals only or for the aged and infirm.
What else?  Teatime specials!  I didn't notice that until it was too late or I might have opted for the buy a large coffee, get a free cake routine.  Loyalty cards!  Advertised, but again I wasn't offered.  All day breakfasts!  I could have done with one of those.  You know what?  I think I'm going to have to...

Lisa's coffee shop and takeaway, Leazes Park Road

You'll be pleased to know I do review my own blogs from time to time and have already noticed a disturbng tendency to say that I will revisit all the places I have visited so far (2012's resolution?).  I had resolved not to say this again.  But that was before I went to Lisa's.  It's on the corner of Leazes Park Road, opposite Barker and Stonehouse and near the Strawberry.  And really, (I know, I know) it's such a find that I will be going there again and probably again.

I've had my eye on it for a while but coffee drinking friends tend to the conservative and will only go to certain well-tried establishments.  So it was with a sense of rightness that I crossed the car park and entered, not just a tea shop, I tell you, but a different world.  You slide through the door into a light and airy room that must have been the sitting room in the good old Georgian days when the house was built.  There are even the original wooden window shutters and original woodwork everywhere, all beautifully painted and the whole place glows!  Yes I did like it.  It's tiny, of course, but that just fostered the illusion that I was actually taking tea in the drawing room while reading Jane Austen's latest and waiting for Colin Firth to turn up dripping wet.  We can all dream...
Lisa, or her representative on earth, chatted nicely while serving me with my mug of tea and slice of tiffin.  It was great and the rest of the menu looked good too, though I couldn't see the cakes to make an informed judgement.  Definitely the right tearoom at the right time!  Full of light and sunniness and tea and tiffin and wafted off to Eldon Square to sign my life away to Virgin media.  Couldn't have been better.

Whistles Tea Room

When I first moved here all those years ago, someone recommended this cafe just off Northumberland Street to me, and I never went.  Well, I did try once but had left it too late in the afternoon so I slogged up three flights of stairs to find it closed!  Now, I felt was the moment to try again!

This time I took the lift, partly because my car park ticket was in danger of running out and in no time I was whisked from street level to a slightly claustrophobic landing.  A helpful lady pointed me in the right direction and finally I had made it to Whistles!  First impressions:  small room, tables slightly closely packed.  Approaching counter - oooh nice cakes!  Staff were friendly too.  I waited only a short while for my pot of tea (two good cups-worth I'm pleased to report) and what I can only describe as a slab of Victoria sponge and a very nice tasting slab at that.

Nice mix of people, some older ladies gathering steam for the next round of sale shopping; some university staff letting off steam about their colleagues;  then a long-lost friend of one of the old ladies walked in by chance and we all had a trip down memory lane.  More puzzling, people seemed to be emerging from the other side of the counter - where had they been?

It wasn't until I got up to pay (only £3.05, bargain considering the size of the cake) that I noticed the other half of the cafe, reached via an open passage round the till.  Here were more tables, this time with a view over Haymarket Metro and the top of Northumberland Street.  How lovely to spend it just watching the world go by oblivious to your presence! 

Back at street level and dashing for the car park, I glanced back up at the windows.  The rounded brickwork of the building had a slightly twenties look to it, sleek and polished.  We should look up more, beyond the corporate shopfronts to the individual designs above.  So, Whistles was worth it.  Another one that I could happily revisit - maybe for chocolate cake next time...

The Sandwich Box Cafe, Walker

Little bit of serendipity (I think!) in this visit.  I had planned to go elsewhere but life intervened and I really thought I wouldn't be able to go anywhere this week.  Then I found myself in Scrogg Road...and there was the cafe. 

Didn't get off to a very good start as I nearly knocked someone over then I open the door.  You have to queue in the doorway to be served, basically.  I think they could improve the layout there a little.  Inside it was wooden floors and pine tables and chairs.   Nice and clean.  My first instinct was to go for a cheese savoury sandwich and a cup of tea.  Then I spotted the coffee and cake for £1.80 deal, and as I'm on a bit of an economy drive thought I would go for that.  The chocolate cake was obviously bought in but that didn't detract from its deliciousness - nice and moist, loads of icing.  The coffee was too strong for my taste (it usually is) and there was no sugar on the table, you have to state how much you want when ordering and they put it in for you.I have to confess I didn't understand the waitress when she said this.  Not often I can't understand a Geordie these days, but she was a bit too staccato for my ears.

There was only myself and one other person eating in, all the rest were takeaways, but the staff seem to have a good local following which is always a good recommendation.  Would I go back?  Yes, if I was in the area I would know it was clean the food good, but I think it would be cheese savoury and a cup of tea for me next time.