Blackbird Inn Reviews Summary

Category: Gastropub

Address: North Rd, Ponteland, Newcastle upon Tyne NE20 9UH, United Kingdom

Phone: +441661822684

Rating: 4.4
based on 121 reviews.

Food Quality

Pros:

  • "Food was very good and fresh."
  • "Had the tempura cod loin with gnocchi and mushroom sauce absolutely gorgeous followed by apple crumble and ice cream - delicious."
  • "The food is amazing - totally recommend the salmon with new potatoes and green beans."
  • "Generous delicious food attentive but not fussy service."
  • "Delicious food and good gluten free or vegetarian options for starters and main."
  • "Beer battered haddock, hand cut chips and mushy peas- superb! The fish was sublime, best fish I've had in last 5 years easily."
  • "The food here was amazing!"

Cons:

  • "Food is OK but personally think there's too many menu changes and while above average is expensive for pub food."
  • "Food good if a little expensive wish we had noted bar menu beforehand or had been told by staff."
  • "Roast potatoes was not crispy skins and fluffy insides.but semi hard inside as if they be rewarmed. Yorkshire puddings was soggy soft not crisp."
  • "Food cold, Sunday dinners not nice. Burnt Yorkshires and Cauliflour Cheese. Veg undercooked."
  • "Child's meal however was poor. Chicken nuggets were processed Chicken so spongey and tasteless, infact tasted more like fish as they were obviously from the same fryer."
  • "Can't remember the name of dish but consisted of very thin chicked cooked to death in a leather like batter."
  • "Husband Vegetables was like warm beef dry no gravy over it and tastless and like cardboard!!!!."

Service

Pros:

  • "The service from the manager and the waiter was exemplary."
  • "The service was excellent. Young lad brought the food and I couldn't praise him enough."
  • "Very well mannered staff and the food was so delicious."
  • "Service was outstanding, cannot fault it."
  • "Staff are nice and pleasant and a credit to the establishment."
  • "Service as always very friendly and attentive even our trainee waitress was really good all served in a warm, beautiful atmospheric restaurant."
  • "Staff were very friendly and happy to chat."

Cons:

  • "So phoned on Thursday to book lunch for 2 for sunday...All sorted ...so we turn up and find they have no record of our booking."
  • "Only downside we were sat for 15 mins before someone came to take drinks order."
  • "Could not get a waiter before, they was busy talking to each other."
  • "Rude staff, can't go and have a casual pint as all seats are reserved for food and the place is full of dogs so there is a massive lack of hygiene."
  • "However a bit let down slightly by a somewhat abrupt rude waiter and pretty slow service."
  • "Then when we arrived the same man was rude yet again when we asked for a table."
  • "Waited and waited nobody came and asked if we wanted a drink."

Atmosphere

Pros:

  • "Best atmosphere in a pub at Christmas time."
  • "The bar is very cosy and traditional like a county pub should be."
  • "A marvellous place for a bit of food which was outstanding by the way terrific atomsphere even though it was only 5 o'clock."
  • "The atmosphere is great with an easy going vibe."
  • "The atmosphere was extremely warm and welcoming."
  • "This is a really cosy pub with a good atmosphere, the restaurant is lovely with gluten and dairy free menus as well as the main menu."
  • "Superb atmosphere."

Cons:

  • "Beer garden was OK, but road noise was a big of a issue."
  • "The place was extremely hot inside!"
  • "Restaurant bar area was little bit noisy and may put some people off."
  • "We were meant to have a meal for our friend's birthday she'd booked a table in advance we travelled from Whitburn it was a Friday night at 7.30 the place was jumping to then be told they didn't have our booking never again."
  • "Weren't allowed to put any photos on the wall and told to remove decorative foil confetti."
  • "This is more of a restaurant rather than a pub now sadly. It used to be a beautiful, friendly and cosy pub for the community, full of atmosphere an locals, its got history stretching back centuries, but it is now unwelcoming and quite pretentious."
  • "Great atmosphere in the bar area and lots of lovely gin to choose from, unfortunately our visit was let down badly with very poor food."

Value

Pros:

  • "Booked on line to entertain 3 cousins. 2 course Sunday lunch with drinks. Good value and standard of food and service."
  • "With food, mains, some puds, drinks and a tip the bill came to £25 a head. I can recommend the Haddock and Chips."
  • "The food was all of such a delicious standard that the value shines through."
  • "Great value food."
  • "The food was lovely and reasonable given Ponteland is quite a well to do area."
  • "Really nice pub/restaurant with delicious food at a good price."
  • "Just had a perfect steak and chips for a very good price."

Cons:

  • "Food good if a little expensive wish we had noted bar menu beforehand or had been told by staff."
  • "Menus on Google maps are out of date prices are much higher now."
  • "Nice pub, good atmosphere and a good selection of beers.. Food let it down in that it is after all a pub, not a high end restaurant. So pub food is relatively expensive EG £10+ so a meal out with the kids is going to set you back £50-60."
  • "A tad expensive for the kids..no drink included either."
  • "Over priced area due to house prices being able to afford On a budget don't think of visiting I do not have a budget Great price compared to London for my budget Cheaper for food in our capital!"
  • "Bill at the end was not overly expensive but the menu is not cheap."
  • "The ‘side’ of fries with the burger was quite pitiful & definitely not enough to be classed as a side."

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