Review of SIX

You know how it is, you get talking about having just been out to dinner or are about to go somewhere for dinner and someone suggests you try out such and such a place, they were there last week and it was fabulous or, we always go there, it’s so good, you’ll love it.

Then a week or so later you read about the same place somewhere and remember you were told about it recently. Another week or so goes by and a friend says they are off there and are really looking forward to it and within a couple of days you get further confirmation from another source that you really ought to try it as its fantastic.

The following week another friend says, fancy meeting up for lunch somewhere? Absolutely, got anywhere in mind? I do actually, how about, and its that same place again, so of course you say “yes love to, I’ve heard so much about that place, I’ve been meaning to go for a while and it’ll be great to see you and catch up”.

Well, that’s exactly what happened and how we ended up on Gateshead Quays at SIX for lunch one day recently.

Having never been to the Baltic before I had no idea there was so much going on there and so many people milling around on every one of the 6 floors, all apparently waiting for the lifts.

Three big lifts, one with an out of order sign on it, one seemingly gone missing and the other having to pick up the slack from the other two, being over worked and constantly full, consequently the wait to go up was really quite long with lots of the waiting crowd pushing the call button in the hope that one day a lift would actually arrive!

SIX is on the 6th floor, as far as the lift will go, and we got there in the end. Our friend had tried to book for 12.30 but was told it would have to be 12.15 as they were very busy that day, no problem for us, and even after the long wait we were still in the restaurant by 12.10.

Our friend had not yet arrived but we went to the table anyway in what was a virtually empty restaurant so early on. Open Wednesday to Sunday, Lunch (no lunch on a Sunday, afternoon tea is from noon till 3pm that day) starts at 12 noon through to 2pm when afternoon bookings take over on a Friday & Saturday (we went on a Friday). Prior to these times the restaurant opens for Brunch from 10.00 through to 11.30 then after tea it goes into dinner from 5.30 through till 9pm. So extremely full-on days for their team.

It's a big room with floor to ceiling windows on three sides with magnificent views across the city all round, sadly one can’t see the river from the tables though, which is a shame.

We were shown to our table and asked if we would like drinks and menus were presented. Trying to be sensible, especially as I was driving, I had a zero-alcohol beer, my wife a glass of wine. Up until recently zero beers were not worth the container they came in, but now that’s all changed, they really are quite palatable now, and in many cases are indistinguishable from their alcoholic parents. Within minutes a waitress asked if we were ready to order. What is it these days, why are people so unobservant? There were clearly 3 places set at the table at which only two people were sat, three menus, one at each place setting, the table obviously booked for 3 and yet only 2 people sat at it. How could we possibly be ready to order?

Once our group was complete with pleasantries and cordial exchanges made, we set about perusing the menus, two of them, one the smaller lunch menu, 2 courses £17.50 and 3 for £20, extremely reasonable, and the a la Cate menu which was really quite extensive. Now my wife, as you will know if you have read any of my other reviews, has an intolerance to onions, leeks and celery and a dislike of peppers. This can sometimes become an issue, especially when those you are trying to explain this to do not listen. If any of the allium (onions etc) family, or celery, are cooked in/with something then either removed or pureed through then all is good, if they are left in then she has a problem. Basically, she cannot digest pieces of these vegetables but can easily accommodate them if they are pureed (as long as it is not say a puree of onions but are pureed into a sauce for instance). Their flavour is acceptable it’s just the actual pieces she can’t have. It is fine if they are large or as a garnish as they can be picked out and pushed off to one side. This is always explained wherever we go, prior to our arrival if we make the booking or when we get there if not. She ordered the North Shields Crab, Avocado and Spicy Rice Noodle Salad, Granny Smith Apple & Thai Basil, followed by the Saffron & Salmon Fishcake, Tenderstem Broccoli, Moules Mariniere Sauce. All from the a la carte menu. The waitress popped off to talk to the chef. No sorry you can’t have any of them (not exactly sure why). Okay let’s go for Slow Cooked Beetroots, Fennel Salt, Balsamic Gel, Macadamia Nuts, Horseradish and follow that with Baked King Prawn, Crabmeat Stuffing, Rice Noodles, Coconut & Tamarind Curry Sauce. She made the round trip to the kitchen again, no sorry you can’t have any of those, again not sure why not. Okay let’s have the Smoked Salmon, Caesar Salad Croquettes, Basil Puree & Parmesan, then she would just have the Twice Baked Cheddar Cheese Souffle with Pear, Chicory and Walnut Salad. Sorry no to the Smoked Salmon and Croquettes as something in there is marinated with onions ! 

Okay rather than coming to the restaurant and going away unfed just serve me these last two items and I will take my chances! It had gotten to the point where she was about to walk out rather than sit and watch the other two of us eat and who could blame her.

Surely it does not take someone like me to know that, if there is one item on a dish that the customer can not eat then the dish can be altered slightly/sufficiently to accommodate the dietary requirements without compromising the idea behind that dish, assuming there was one of course, not difficult, and had the waitress listened, and accurately relayed the issue, then this may possibly have been what happened, but then again!