2024 Restaurants
Here we are at the start of another banquet season with the Order of Gentlemen. We will take you along with us as we journey across the eating establishments of good old Teesside. What follows is an impartial account of each visit from our perspective, the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!
If you enjoy going out for a meal with your loved one, or even with somebody else's loved one and think, where shall we eat tonight? The Order of Gentlemen have probably already been there and we can help you out with your decision making.
April 2024
Venue: Capaccios - Stockton on Tees
Chosen by: The Club in memory of Stan Wells
To commemorate a difficult year without Stan we chose April as his month. It seemed appropriate that ‘his’ choice would be Capaccios as it was always one of his favorite venue’s.
We met in the Storytellers for pre-drinks and then made the short walk to Capaccios once the nights full compliment had convened.
Previously we were sat near the door (which never went down well) but this time we were seated in the main Restaurant and the ambiance of the evening was lifted immediately. The meal started with a round of Kronenberg for the non-drivers and the unlucky chauffeur’s settled for Heineken 0%. The selection of drinks was limited and a few Club members highlighted this fact but the service was quick and very friendly, the menu choice was varied and certainly ticked every box regarding value for money.
A popular starter was funghetti crustone (mushrooms on toast to you), other popular starters were the fish cakes, roast hog and black pudding and sticky chicken wings. Sully stuck with the soup, tomato this time.
After another round of drinks, the main meals arrived. Chicken parmesan proved very popular, both zagaroff and fricassee accounted for half of the selections. If being ultra critical the fricassee was a bit hard in places which spoilt the meal. Other main course meals were the roman chicken, sea bass fillets and the fajitas.
The pace of the meal flowed nicely and we were well looked after. A few of the group with a sweet tooth selected a desert, the dark fruit crumble, the banoffee pie and the stand out success was the eton mess.
The dining experience was very enjoyable, a fitting tribute to a popular man who is missed and loved.
This venue will certainly be in the trophy hunt come November.
Italian ££
March 2024
Venue: Blue Bells Inn - Newton Bewley
Chosen by: Mark Macdonald
The majority of the Club met in the Merlin for predrinks, nice to get back to the old routine. That was except for Knowla as no one knew where he was?? Oh and Tim couldn’t make it either as he was driving a wagon somewhere!!
I must admit that walking into the ‘Blue Bells Inn’ felt like I was coming home, we were all looking forward to an excellent evening.
The non drivers were very happy with the choice of Coors or Staropramen, the service was quick, friendly and welcoming. We all had starters and they arrived in no time at all. The antipasto was a very popular selection, other starters were the salt and pepper chicken (very tasty) the BBQ pork belly and the strips of beef rump.
Another round of drinks preceded the main courses, the grill selection was well presented and the ribeye steaks with mac and cheese and the sirloin steaks were cooked to perfection. The size of the portions defeating one or two. Other main meals were the rack of lamb (exceptional) and the Spanish cod loin with chorizo crust and prawns.
A couple of seasoned veterans even managed a desert of cheesecake, (sharing the salted caramel and the Biscoff)
As a dining experience it was up there with the best, the ambiance was inviting and if value for money is top of your list you will have to go a long way to beat the ‘Blue Bells.’
We thank Matthew and his excellent staff for helping make it another special evening.
Who knows how the voting will go in November?
British Pub ££-£££
February 2024
Venue: The Kings Head Inn - Newton under Roseberry
Chosen by: Chris Knowlson
As we had a longer journey than usual the normal pre-drinks in the Merlin were given a rain check. The drive to the chosen venue was very pleasant and the scenery was breathtaking, did I mention that it was a longer journey than usual!!
We all arrived in good time and entered the Pub where we were escorted to our table. A new menu was being launched the next day so we had the remnants of the old menu with a restricted choice.
The drinks selection was good and most of the ‘non drivers’ were very happy with the Staropramen.
No one ordered a starter as the option was either soup or not soup. Even Sully, our resident soup expert stayed away from the starter.
Regarding the ordering, that was done at the bar and as there were nine of us the ordering was done on behalf of many and open to misinterpretation!
We had 3 garlic bread for the table and that arrived promptly and was very tasty.
The choice of main meals chosen were; pie of the week, a chicken and mushroom pie, which could not have had any more chicken in it if you tried, is it fair to complain I only saw three pieces of mushroom??
Others chose the parmo (ok), the pepperoni pizza (a bit soggy), traditional fish and chips (nice), then we move on to the bone of contention ; the butter chicken. One meal arrived without any rice and when this was pointed out a heated discussion occurred about ‘ordering’ and ‘wrong ordering’. Rice was eventually added to the meal but looked more like a ‘dollop’ than a ‘serving’.
A cloud descended on to the rest of the meal, although the sticky toffee pudding was well received.
Is the King’s Head a contender for the Order of Gentlemen Trophy? It is a little pricey and our menu choice was limited so that remains to be seen??
British pub ££
January 2024
Venue: Oak Tree - Middleton St George
Chosen by: John Flynn
Well, what a start to the new Banquet season as the Order of Gentlemen expanded their culinary catchment sphere to deepest, darkest Darlington (actually Middleton St George).
We met at the Oak Tree and the dining area was snug and inviting, it oozed with an ambiance that welcomed and captured you. We were made to feel at home and in no time at all the none drivers were sampling the Moretti (always a firm Club favorite) the drivers put their thumbs up to the Heineken Zero which was on draft and went down a treat.
The varied selection of starters were well presented and very tasty, crispy fried potato skins, skewers of belly pork and tempura king prawns. Three chose the lamb chops and were not disappointed, ‘Sully’ had the carrot and coriander soup although he wasn’t convinced, he thought it was Aubergine!!!
After another Moretti, the main meals arrived. Tandoori chicken skewers, steak and ale pie, lamb shank, gammon steak, katsu chicken, ribeye steak and pork belly accounted for most of the menu, all were cooked to perfection. From the sea, the sea bass was outstanding.
A couple of seasoned veterans sampled deserts while the rest of us had another Moretti.
As a dining experience it was exceptional. Service, value for money and cleanliness were second to none.
We would like to thank Chris and his excellent team for their friendliness and going above and beyond, especially in repairing Simon’s glasses. He still managed to break them again later but has since replaced them with a pair from Poundland.
This is only January but I suspect the Oak Tree will be in the Trophy hunt as the dark winter nights draw in.
British Pub ££-£££
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