Welcome to The Small Canteen
The Small Canteen, nestled on Starbeck Avenue in Newcastle upon Tyne, offers an intimate dining experience bursting with flavor. Despite its compact space, the canteen makes a substantial impact with its thoughtfully curated menu, featuring options for meat, fish, and vegetarian diners. Each dish showcases the chefs' skill, delivering comforting yet refined flavors. Highlights include the succulent octopus and potted rabbit, whose freshness and taste delight the palate. The exceptional wine selection adds to the value, often surpassing pricier alternatives. With its cozy ambiance and friendly service, The Small Canteen is a must-visit for food enthusiasts seeking a unique and memorable meal.
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17 Starbeck Ave, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1RH, United Kingdom17 Starbeck Ave, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1RH, United Kingdom Hotline: +44 7816 524826
Welcome to The Small Canteen, a hidden gem nestled at 17 Starbeck Ave in Newcastle upon Tyne. This cozy eatery is more than just a restaurant; it's an experience that melds comfort with culinary excellence. With a focus on fresh and flavoursome dishes, each plate is a testament to the team's passion for food.
As you step inside, the charming atmosphere greets you, inviting you to relax and soak in the vibe. The intimate space, while small, creates a sense of warmth and community. You might catch a glimpse of Chef Sam, whose enthusiasm for cooking matches the vibrancy of the dishes he serves. It's this personal touch that so many guests have praised, as noted by R Edge, who emphasizes the delightful interaction with the staff, enhancing the overall dining experience.
The menu at The Small Canteen is a well-curated selection that showcases local ingredients and international inspiration. Each dish is thoughtfully designed to balance both nostalgia and refinement, ensuring there's something for everyone. Diners have raved about the variety of options, from the sublime fresh octopus to hearty vegetarian dishes. Mark Flaherty describes the potted rabbit starter as "superb," illustrating the attention to detail that goes into every creation.
Wine lovers will appreciate the thoughtfully selected wine list, featuring incredible value offerings like the Catanga Tempranillo and Cuvee Des Galets Red. Whether you're enjoying a carafe with friends or a quiet glass to complement your meal, the quality of the wines rivals those found at higher price points—and many customers can't help but sing their praises.
Every element at The Small Canteen reflects a commitment to excellence. By combining simple yet innovative dishes with friendly, knowledgeable service, it's clear why guests like Simon Preston have been blown away by their dining adventure. The value for money is exceptional, and the comforting atmosphere creates a desire to return.
In a world where dining experiences can often be overwhelming, The Small Canteen stands out by offering a concentrated menu that packs a punch with robust flavours and impeccable execution. As Annabelle Fletcher happily notes, this is a place where beautiful food and lovely conversations thrive.
If you're looking for a place that embodies creativity in a compact setting, make your way to The Small Canteen. But don't forget to reach out via text for reservations; their responsiveness is just one more reason to love this delightful hideaway.
Super tiny place with a super big impact! Embrace the small space, which is cosy and great for watching the world go by if you get a window seat. We had a carafe of wine which was great value, especially as the wine was also delicious and better than some wines I’ve paid twice the price for by the bottle elsewhere. The food was all amazing! Hearty yet light, nostalgic yet refined. Great prices too. There was a meat, fish and veggie option for starters and mains, so all bases covered. The fish was so fresh. Desert was so yummy too. The waitress was really friendly and we had a good chat with Chef Sam at the end of the night (and end of his service) - such a passionate and generous man! We only wish we lived nearby as we’d be here all the time. Don’t miss this place! TIP- It only has social media accounts and if you can’t reach them on the phone to book, just send a text - they were super responsive and got us booked no problem when we text.
Haven’t been so excited by a dining experience for ages - love how they’ve made this tiny space work so beautifully. The menu and wine list are perfectly short and on point, food is (brilliantly) simply done but conceals so much effort and skill to create such lovely flavours and textures. Incredible value for money. Congratulations to them on creating something really unique and special.
Tiny little place but HUGE on flavour. Octopus was absolutely sublime. Will be back for sure
Excellent, food cocktails and service. Potted rabbit starter was superb.
Beautiful food, lovely atmosphere and lovely chatty staff. Amazing value for money considering the standard and taste of the food. Can’t wait to go back :)
I liked it. They do a few seatings a night and are very popular, so book in advance. The menu changes frequently, and they use local seasonal produce and prices are reasonable. You may end up sharing a table with strangers which can be a nice experience. The menu is quite small but it’s all packed full of flavour. The homemade biscuits with the potted crab, the sauce for the duck and the panna cotta were highlights, but the monkfish was the absolute star. Definitely the nicest monkfish I’ve ever had.
Service was delightful, as was the food and the vibe. Elegant yet understated, hearty and unpretentious. This restaurant really deserves all the praise it gets. Thank you for a lovely night! We'll see you again soon.
As always a fantastic meal at the small canteen. The complimentary bread and 3 dips to start is such a lovely touch. Wine was great but the food was spectacular. We ordered the tart, the crab ravioli in broth, the pork and polenta mash and the octopus. The pork just melted in your mouth and the caramelised shallot just gave that sweet hit. Shout out to the quince! An unexpected delight