Best Local Restaurant
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The Small Canteen

Tyne & Wear, Newcastle upon Tyne - Modern British - Restaurant - ££

Delightfully homely, generous bistro in the Newcastle suburbs

Overall Rating: Good

Uniqueness:Does the establishment stand out in the context of the local area? Good

Deliciousness:How delicious is the food? Very Good

Warmth:How warm is the service and the hospitality in general? Good

Strength of recommendation:How enthusiastically and widely would you recommend the establishment? Very Good

It may be small, with just four tables and a counter across the window of an unprepossessing building, but the Small Canteen has a big heart. ‘A warm welcome is always on the cards,’ notes one regular. The concise menu is squashed and smudged onto a blackboard in Sam Betts’ ever-so-slightly chaotic ship, which is run with immense verve and generosity. Start with good chewy bread plus dips of mayo, salsa verde and romesco. After that, a glistening slab of confit chicken terrine comes with pickled prunes, baked gnocchi are richly endowed with Gorgonzola, kale and hazelnuts, pork cutlet is served with chard and squash, and skate wing gets the traditional treatment with brown butter, capers, shrimps and tenderstem broccoli. Everything here is rich, abundant and delicious. It seems that the chef is unfamiliar with the concept of portion control: starters are the size of a main course and mains are too good to refuse. Tables are so closely packed you get to know your neig...

It may be small, with just four tables and a counter across the window of an unprepossessing building, but the Small Canteen has a big heart. ‘A warm welcome is always on the cards,’ notes one regular. The concise menu is squashed and smudged onto a blackboard in Sam Betts’ ever-so-slightly chaotic ship, which is run with immense verve and generosity.

Start with good chewy bread plus dips of mayo, salsa verde and romesco. After that, a glistening slab of confit chicken terrine comes with pickled prunes, baked gnocchi are richly endowed with Gorgonzola, kale and hazelnuts, pork cutlet is served with chard and squash, and skate wing gets the traditional treatment with brown butter, capers, shrimps and tenderstem broccoli. Everything here is rich, abundant and delicious. It seems that the chef is unfamiliar with the concept of portion control: starters are the size of a main course and mains are too good to refuse.

Tables are so closely packed you get to know your neighbours, who may also provide good reports of the saffron, raisin and apple cake with honey and mascarpone ice cream or a fabulous three-parter involving chocolate mousse, blackcurrant sorbet and honeycomb. We don’t know how Betts manages to pull off such an ‘adorably priced’ menu, but we are very glad he does – especially when the blackboard also lists cocktails, juices and organic lemonade. Organic wines come in at £7 for a 500ml carafe of Tempranillo or Odes à la Gascogne, and there are regional craft beers too, with names like Redcastle Crusader, First Chop and Love Lane Baltic.

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F Collins

20 April 2026

The space feels like dining in an old friend’s house, it’s an amazingly intimate experience with excellent food served with very few staff. Everything feels considered and just in the right place.

J Glenister

14 April 2026

With about 20 seats The Small Canteen delivers an experience that rivals the very best in the country in my opinion. At the heart of its success is Chef-Owner Sam, whose ever-evolving menu is a masterclass in creativity ...
With about 20 seats The Small Canteen delivers an experience that rivals the very best in the country in my opinion. At the heart of its success is Chef-Owner Sam, whose ever-evolving menu is a masterclass in creativity and restraint. Offering three starters, three mains, and three desserts, each dish is crafted with extraordinary attention to detail and most importantly delivers on quality and flavour! This focused approach allows every dish I have had there to be thoughtful, seasonal and execu...
With about 20 seats The Small Canteen delivers an experience that rivals the very best in the country in my opinion. At the heart of its success is Chef-Owner Sam, whose ever-evolving menu is a masterclass in creativity and restraint. Offering three starters, three mains, and three desserts, each dish is crafted with extraordinary attention to detail and most importantly delivers on quality and flavour! This focused approach allows every dish I have had there to be thoughtful, seasonal and executed to perfection. The food is not only unique, but consistently fantastic. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance: intimate yet lively. Customers feel part of something special — often sat close enough to compare choices with strangers and chat about the dishes, yet relaxed enough to fully enjoy the experience. This is matched by service that is attentive without being intrusive and warm without being overbearing. The team creates a genuine sense of welcome that keeps me returning time and again whenever I am in Newcastle. As a solo traveller this is really important to me. In every sense, this is a restaurant that embodies excellence — driven by talent in Sam, defined by care from him and the rest of his team, and loved by the Newcastle/Jesmond community.
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E Brown

4 April 2026

The Small Canteen is small but perfectly formed. You almost feel you are in someone's home - it's cosy, personal and a great dining experience. The delicious menu gives a regularly changing choice of three starters, main...
The Small Canteen is small but perfectly formed. You almost feel you are in someone's home - it's cosy, personal and a great dining experience. The delicious menu gives a regularly changing choice of three starters, mains and deserts - all carefully prepared and cooked by Sam Betts, the chef and owner, in his tiny kitchen. A great selection of wines and beers are on offer too! We've been several times and always make it our first choice of restaurant in Newcastle when we visit. Book early to ens...
The Small Canteen is small but perfectly formed. You almost feel you are in someone's home - it's cosy, personal and a great dining experience. The delicious menu gives a regularly changing choice of three starters, mains and deserts - all carefully prepared and cooked by Sam Betts, the chef and owner, in his tiny kitchen. A great selection of wines and beers are on offer too! We've been several times and always make it our first choice of restaurant in Newcastle when we visit. Book early to ensure a table!
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VENUE DETAILS

17 Starbeck Avenue
Newcastle upon Tyne
Tyne & Wear
NE2 1RHGB

07816 524826

OTHER INFORMATION

Counter seating, Family friendly

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