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The Hide chain of cafés, bars, and grills pleases customers very effectively in the north east, and west Yorkshire. Their delicious, varied cuisine, contemporary interiors, informal yet attentive service, and relaxing atmospheres appeal to most people visiting a Hide.

Situated in the Gate Leisure Arcade, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Raw Hide is a funky bar and restaurant that serves an exciting range of food throughout the day, complemented by a bar that offers a selection of tempting drinks.

Linger on tapas ranging from simple chorizo sausages with pan-fried new potatoes, and chilli and garlic king prawns, to spicy meatballs in a tomato and basil sauce, and pan-fried thyme and rosemary chicken. Starters take in aromatic duck pancakes, and fresh soup with crusty bread.

Among mains, an 8oz char-grilled grilled rump steak vies for attention with chicken breast salad, chunky chips, and béarnaise sauce, and lamb burger with goats' cheese, tomato relish, and chips. The oriental duck pizza with plum sauce, spring onion, cucumber, and coriander is another expertly created dish.

Good music and special events make visits all the more enjoyable.

Located in one of Britain's biggest commercial art gallery in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, David Kennedy's Food Social is owned by award-winning chef David Kennedy, formerly of Black Door fame. It's contemporary and spacious inside with luxury leather sofas, artwork and sculptures, and the menu concentrates on beautifully presented, fresh, local produce.

Diners could choose from a tapas menu, an a la carte, set lunch and early week special, all of which change regularly. Each dish is presented in an exquisite manner, so expect to find dishes like tartlet of poached smoked haddock, free-range egg and Hollandaise sauce, rump of Northumbrian lamb with couscous salad and hummus dressing, and sticky toffee pudding with hot toffee sauce.

One of the most respected restaurant names in Newcastle is Marco Polo, acquired by new owners towards the end of 2005, and now once again a brand leader for Italian cuisine in this thriving and vibrant part of the UK economy. The changes generally seem to be welcomed by the Geordie world, who for many years have regarded Marco Polo as a small but highly robust piece of Italy in their midst.

Gone is what one refreshingly candid fan described as the 'spit and sawdust' feel, to be replaced by that much abused phrase, an air of sophistication, with ample use made of strong colours, notably red, dark wood, and trendy lighting The overall effect is certainly more of the times in which we live, and the food is as good as ever, so who's going to be fussy about the décor?

Perhaps one of the charms about Italian cooking is its predictability. Not that everything is always the same, but there is a delightful consistency that is only broken by something completely different. The famed antipasti, a selection of Italian meats, cheese and vegetables is a sort of tone setter that reassures, and fires up the tastebuds. There can be few more Italian dishes than a Caesar salad, though sad to see anchovies are not included. Quite essential in my view, but then I felt the same about Bombay duck before it disappeared from the menus of most self respecting Indian restaurants.

Not everyone is aware that Newcastle has its own Chinatown, and in some ways very elegant it is, with the bright, clean colours, carpets with no apparent expense spared, and discreet lighting.

You need to be a real enthusiast to distinguish between the many dishes of the Cantonese cuisine. Here at The Dragon House there is a wide choice, based on a traditional format, with little flourishes and additions that make for even more interesting eating. The pork and oyster hotpot springs to mind.

Most Chinese restaurants do well with their special lunches. These two, sometimes three course events are invariably good value, quickly served and satisfying. To those cynics who ask if I have considered why, I would only say there is absolutely nothing wrong with eating what was not served the night before provided the rules of hygiene have been observed. Many of our mothers did it all the time and can anyone say we are the worse for it? Deafened by your silence I rest my case and trot off down to The Dragon House to enjoy my three course lunch for £5.50. I might even celebrate with a bottle of chilled Chinese beer.