Restaurant Hoppin'

So with Sunderland's Restaurant Week quickly approaching, I was lucky enough to be invited to a Safari Supper to have a taste of what is on offer.

We started at Café Purple and seated in a booth, which if you're heading out with a group, this is a lovely little intimate section. We were served us up with a big range of their cocktails. If you're a cocktail kinda gal, this place is for you! The staff were really lovely and talked us through each drink as we all tasted. They had really got experimental with the drinks menu and they range from your iconic cosmopolitan to a Sour Cherry Cola Bottle which is new to the menu & the Eden Gardens (hints of elderflower, gin & cucumber.)
 

 

 



Raspberry Love Heart

 

 

 

I have to hold my hands up and say that my favourite was the Frozen Passion Fruit Daiquiri. Basically an adult slushy (if you close your eyes, you could almost be on a beach somewhere with this one.)

 

 

 

 

 

Still taking in the array of drinks, we were then surprised with what I can only describe as one of the best cheese boards I've ever seen. I mean, just take a moment.

 

 

 

 

With a selection of dipping cheeses, crackers, olives, sliced vegetables and grapes besides the usual range of cheeses what more could you want. These are more so available for corporate events and meetings but I'm sure if you wanted to order one they wouldn't hesitate to oblige. We really were spoilt for choice...

 

 

 

 Then we headed to the next venue for our selection of starters at Port Of Call. Port Of Call is right next door which was great if you wanted to check out the cocktails and then head for food! They served us up with a selection of bitesize treats including salmon, pastrami and cream cheese pieces and ever a mini cheeseburger, in amongst 2 clusters of mussels. They are known for their seafood, meat based dishes & rum drinks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The mussels were 2 different flavours which were a tomato based one and a creamy based one. I loved the creamy flavour and think these would be lovely to share as a starter.

 

 

These guys also brought a selection of cocktails and this one was hands down my ultimate favourite and who couldn't love this in that pretty glass?! This is the Gingerbread Martini and I would totally order this just for pure Instagram photogenic bragging rights but it was seriously delicious.

 

 

 

 

 

Espresso Martini Hazelnut

 

 

On for more starters at Scavi & Ray // The Funky Indian. This venue was a little walk from Port Of Call but really not too far! Scavi & Ray is a Prosecco Bar so if you're heading out with your girls, this could be the perfect venue. The upstairs of this place is the bar and the downstairs is The Funky Indian. Such a clever idea to merge 2 experiences into one venue. We were greeted with a glass of prosecco and then talked through the menu.

 

 

 

 

The Funky Indian is a tapas style Indian kitchen so there is a big selection of dishes on offer and some are available to order as a full dish (look for the plate icon on the menu.) Prawns, lean meats, beef all feature on the menu as they are inspired by cooking from all regions of India. This is a great way to get a taste of many dishes without having to order a full meal. Each dish is £4.20 or £16 for 4.

 

 

 

 



Masala Fries - they certainly hold a kick for your spice lovers

 

 

I think their deep fried cauliflower was greatly loved by all of us. I am a veg lover so this really spoke to me, but for those not keen on cauliflower even gave this the thumbs up! I'm not a huge fan of Indian food but they do serve up some lovely food. If you're looking for a fusion of flavours, I think The Funky Indian are playful with their dishes not afraid to offer something unique.

 

 

 

 

On for the main! Angleos serves up delicious Italian food so I was excited for this one. It's been a while since I've had Italian food so I had high expectations and they didn't disappoint. Traditional Italian food is what was on offer and I was excited.

 

 

 

 

The first thing we were served with was a sausage and broccoli based pasta. The sausage is homemade in their kitchen and the broccoli is shipped in specifically as it only grows in Naples. A true testament to passionate cooking, when only the original ingredients will do!

 

 

 

 

That dish was nice but I really fell in love with this truffle and mushroom dish. The pasta was cooked al dente which I really don't mind and the truffle sauce was to die for. I could have ate a lot more of this! For lovers of creamy based dishes, you really would enjoy this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next dish to taste was this steak on a bed of salad with parmesan. I really don't eat steak unless its slow cooked but I did enjoy this. It was cooked perfectly and drizzled in balsamic. Just enough to spike your taste buds combined with the parmesean, tomatoes, meat and salad.

 

 



Margherita pizza - moreish but I would normally order a more adventurous topping

 

 

Last but totally not least.... Sweet Tooth Delivery. I heard cake and I was very happy. The perfect end to the evening. This place is seriously cool. They serve up a host of cakes, ice creams, lemonades, milkshakes (the list really goes on...)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After drooling over the cabinets longer than I should have, I settled for a slice of red velvet to go and a watermelon and lemon frozen lemonade. Firstly, the frozen lemonade tasted exactly like watermelon. So yummy! Secondly, the red velvet was moist, a generous portion (so much so I shared this with someone) and the cream frosting had me savouring every bite. Totally recommend this place if you live in Sunderland.... Now which way is the gym?? (They also have a branch in Durham if that's closer to anyone reading.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Now, time to do some excersize as this really was a food filled evening! So if you're looking to head out for Sunderland Resturant Week, check out what deals are on offer as I feel like we discovered some hidden gems in this city.

 

 

Until next time...

 

The Original Redhead

 

X