Substantial scran but needs a tweak
WINTER may have arrived, but I find a brisk Sunday stroll in the sunshine is still the best way to keep warm on these chilly December mornings.
After a nice amble along the Gateshead Quays, I found myself famished – as per usual – and directing She Who Must Be Fed towards a Sunday scrannery venue.
Our final destination was a new one on me as far as Sunday grub is concerned, but The Schooner in Gateshead has always been a reliable stop-off for a good pint of real ale.
Located just behind Gateshead International Stadium and overlooking the south side of the Tyne, this pub is the right type of ‘old-fashioned boozer.’
Having gotten ourselves in from the cold and having settled down with a pint of Rivet Catcher – which is always a satisfying glass of ale – and having bought Mrs Eats a large glass of red, we ordered our starters. She Who Must Be Fed opted for the ham and smoked cheese croquettes (£3.95), which were served with a tomato and habanero chutney, and she commented that they were crispy on outside, but tasty and fluffy on the inside. My pate (£3.95), meanwhile, was certainly flavoursome and it was chunky and rustic. On the main course, and there were five ‘main events’ to choose from; traditional Sunday lunches accompanied by either beef, lamb, pork or turkey; or the vegetarian offering of a nut and cranberry roast.
There are also sandwiches (£4.95) – in which you can have any of the meats.
Mrs Eats had a few issues ordering her main, I’m afraid. Deciding she fancied the veggie option, she was disappointed to learn that they had run out of the nut and cranberry roast – so she ordered turkey. Yet she was served pork (£8.45) and, although she was offered the chance to change to an alternative, she was so hungry she just cracked on regardless.
I had no such issues when ordering my lamb (£9.45), which was plentiful and extremely tender. The pork was also nice – and, had the main courses consisted of meat alone, they would have been winning dishes.
Unfortunately, some of the accompaniments let the roasts down. The gravy was well made, the Yorkshires were nice and the roast potatoes decent enough, but the turnip was far too salty, while the mash was lumpy. The rest of the veg, too, was just a little bit on the sad side.
The portions were absolutely huge, mind, and The Schooner certainly offers value for money.
Given that we were able to add a dessert in order to take advantage of the three courses for £13.95 deal, we ploughed on – even though our stomachs objected due to the sheer volume of food they had already consumed.
With She Who Must Be Fed ordering the After Eight Cheesecake (£3.95), I went for a nice traditional ginger sponge with custard (£3.95).
The cheesecake was a satisfying texture, and the minty flavour was refreshing; though the decision to serve it with caramel was, as Mrs Eats stressed, a slightly confused one.
As for my ginger sponge, well that was the highlight of the meal. Beyond generous in size, the warm, comforting dessert was light in structure but spicy in taste. As far as traditional sponges go, this was one of the best I’ve had in a long while.
Our Sunday lunch was far from flawless, but the food was certainly hearty and wholesome. With a few tweaks here and there, The Schooner would be on to a real winner with their scran – just like they are with their ales.