Italians and Sunday roast dinners. Like Romeo and Juliet, or pineapple on pizza, some unlikely combos just… work.
But unlike Romeo and Juliet, this isn’t a flash in the pan romance. Davanti in Tynemouth has become synonymous with the perfect Sunday roast.
If you want to find out for yourself, you have a choice of two Davanti ristorantes in Tynemouth. Our sunny afternoon visit took us to Davanti Classico in the unusual setting of Tynemouth station. (The other is on Front Street).
What’s it like inside?
Based in the Grade-II listed Metro station, eating here took us away from the hustle and bustle of the popular Tynemouth market.
That said, choosing an outdoor seat gave us plenty of opportunity to people watch, with the olive trees that separate the eating area from the market providing the perfect cover. They also gave the place a real Mediterranean feel, and under the canopy of the station, the temperature felt very Italian too. In a good way.
Choose a seat indoors and you’ll find a beautiful rustic setting, with tables surrounding a huge olive tree centrepiece. Who doesn’t love an indoor tree? Lovely.
What’s on the menu?
We thought it best to split this table into two; as it was a Sunday, I went traditional, opting for the roast. Failing to decide between beef and lamb, I ordered both, at £3 extra, while my partner chose the Italian option.
Underneath the roast's distinctive giant Yorkshire pudding sat a relatively faultless bed of meat and roast vegetables. The generous plateful won’t leave you wanting more, and the gravy packs flavour - leave the salt and pepper out of this.
And as for the meat? It won my approval. The beef wasn’t too tough, the lamb beautifully tender.
The Filetto Classico was a fillet of beef topped with a "spicy chorizo and creamy Napoli sauce". With the usual array of pizza and pasta available, this was no easy choice. The tastefully named dish was ordered medium rare and didn’t disappoint, but the sauce really made it. Think a posh tomato and mascarpone with plenty of chorizo for good measure. Maybe the chips were an odd accompaniment, but there were no complaints.
Desserts and drinks
We followed our mains with a warm chocolate brownie and a beautiful mini cheesecake, the latter prompting my fellow reviewer to describe it as "the best dessert I've had in a long time."
I wish I could have been as complimentary about the brownie, but its gooey-to-the-point-of-being-undercooked consistency wasn't my cup of tea. A mocha had to suffice, though their range of wines, beers and ales by the bottle deserve a shout out too.
How's the service?
Good, but perhaps a little slow. On arrival we were greeted with a smile and a basket of bread and dips - hence no need for a starter. Enjoy the setting with a glass of red or a pint of Peroni, because they aren't going to rush you out once you've cleared the desserts.
The value won't let you down, and you'd get change from a tenner if you fancy a pizza or pasta. The Linguine Napoli, with creamy tomato and basil sauce, is the cheapest at just £6.95, while the pizzas hover around the £10 mark - the seafood and garlic pizza is the most expensive at £12.95.
The Sunday At The Station roast dinner comes in at £9.95 and the Filetto Classico, my selection from the more expensive side of the menu, was a heftier £21.95. Our total bill was £62.05, including drinks.
Overall
Davanti is a charming Italian with a great reputation. One day a week it embraces the Sunday roast with minimal fuss and maximum effect, but it is equally good for a casual carbonara and a glass of wine.
So don't be put off by the dreaded multi-culture combo. This isn’t your local Indian boasting that they serve pizza, nor is it that questionable English meals section in Chinese restaurants. Do people seriously order omelettes from a Chinese?
No, this was a beautiful meal in a beautiful setting.
