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Dalchini, the Hindi word for cinnamon, conjures up the exotic scent of Indian spices and this engaging Indian restaurant at Alnwick has a similar lingering effect on diners and thrives on repeat business.

Tastefully done up in pleasant colours, the restaurant has comfortable high-backed chairs that provide contemporary elegance. Its customised furniture, crockery and cutlery add a classy touch, while the extensive carte presents traditional Indian fare as well as some British dishes, along with an attractive bar menu.

You could begin a meal with chicken or lamb tikka roasted in a tandoor with garlic mushrooms, or feast on seafood in a sweet and sour sauce. If you prefer something milder, then the prawn masala with cream and aromatic spices is a good bet. Their lamb tikka marinated in yoghurt and a bouquet of spices and cooked in a clay oven and topped with almonds is also well worth a try.

A special Malayan curry, a combination of pineapple and bananas is a vegetarian's delight, as is the mixed vegetables simmered in a sauce made from ginger, garlic and fresh coriander leaves. The food is carefully selected and lovingly cooked. Shab, Dalchini's proprietor, takes great pride in their signature dishes like stuffed peppers and seafood specials, and the warm service the restaurant is now synonymous with.

Located on Bridge Street in the Northumberland market town of Morpeth, The Black Door Dining Room is a new dimension in enjoyment and relaxation in this wonderful venue. The interior features a beautiful and intimate space consisting of 12 dressed tables, wooden floors and elegant design. The venue offers its guests a wonderfully relaxing environment and excellent service and the staff are knowledgeable and friendly.

As for the food, you are in for a treat; Chef David Kennedy has produced a menu full of traditional dishes, great British classics with a delightful contemporary twist using the produce from the local suppliers. If you are looking for light bites then order potted salmon with pickled beetroot and bitter leaves, or pork terrine with apple chutney and croutons. Seared black bream with braised beans, chorizo, and wilted spinach is an excellent filling option. Vanilla pannacotta and sticky toffee pudding are among other options to satisfy the sweeter tooth.

A pleasant Georgian coaching inn with brasserie and lofty first-floor dining room. The fare is imaginative and generally succeeds. Tuesday nights specialise in fish. Try the Dover sole terrine with pear and ginger marmalade or perhaps the baked sea bream with orange butter sauce.

From the fairly brief carte menu it is possible to have some dishes as first or main courses. Particularly good are pink calf's liver and provencale fish soup.

A kind wine list of about thirty plus are generally below the £20 mark and four house wines are below £10.

Located on the busy Priestpopple in the heart of the Northumberland market town of Hexham, Royal Spice is an authentic, family-run Indian restaurant that serves a rich menu of traditional Indian dishes in stylish surroundings. Combining the established flavours of the sub-continent with a modern twist, the restaurant serves up a varied menu that has been subtly flavoured and spiced to suit contemporary palates.
 
The a la carte menu includes a number of traditional starters of chicken and lamb, with a number of vegetarian options also available. Mains comprise tandoori dishes, various curries and gravies that are accompanied by a range of flavoured rice and a variety of Indian breads. There are also unusual specialities of hash'o'bash duck and achar chicken which guests can also savour. The dining experience is enhanced by rich Indian music, and the restaurant is available for private hire and regularly hosts large gatherings for special occasions.
 
The drinks menu includes a range of wines, cold beers and soft drinks to perfectly accompany any meal.