Secco Ristorante Salentino

For centuries, family owned enterprises have been characterized by a passion for the business and decisive leadership; they can usually credit their longevity to being very customer centric and also uncompromising in terms of quality. The De Giorgi family leave nothing to chance as the owners of Secco Ristorante Salentino. Ever since they took over from their father Mario, siblings Cristina, Aldo and Joseph have continued to maintain the same standards that have brought this splash of relaxed sophistication and European joie de vivre to great success in Newcastle.

Enjoy a light snack at the Alvinos bar next door or head up to the café bar on the first floor for some authentic Italian fare. The terrace area is for those who wish to soak up the sun on a pleasant day. The adjoining blue room is a more intimate bar where diners can unwind with a cocktail. On the floor above, Ristorante Salentino exudes elegance with its specially commissioned artwork, dark wood furniture and classy lighting.

The restaurant's name is a dead giveaway to the type of cuisine on offer there, as the town of Salento in Italy, where the family originates from, is a treasure trove of gastronomic delights. The owners seek to reflect the food of their ancestry with dishes that blend rustic and fresh flavours. Begin with deep fried cod fritters with olive oil and garlic mayonnaise; poached and sautéed ox tongue with salsa verde and pickled caper berries, and fresh artichoke hearts with Parmesan shavings.

No Italian menu would be complete without its pizza and pasta, so try the cipolle with caramelised onion, mozzarella, tomato fondue, provolone and gaeta olives. Traditionalists could plump for the margherita with tomato, mozzarella, fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil.

The main course of corn-fed chicken stuffed with bread crumbs is accompanied by Pecorino cheese and sage with pea and parsley risotto. You could also try the grilled cutlet of ewe's milk cheese with porcini mushrooms and caramelised fennel dressed with vincotto, and shoulder of Northumbrian lamb with mint, fennel, scallions, sun dried tomato and garlic. For desserts, drool over the sight of panforte with chocolate ice cream or a special crostata of dark chocolate tart with prune and almond ice cream.

Located in a city well known for its architectural marvels and a vibrant nightlife, Secco Ristorante Salentino can be termed as a diner's haven where you could treat yourself to some warm Italian hospitality and culinary excellence in surroundings that induce a feeling of escape and indulgence; a sample of what to expect can be found on their Website.