EDDY’S LAST

WALKING up towards the Half Moon in Ryton, the line of cars outside the pub suggested that walking in off the street for your Sunday lunch may be a bit of a struggle.

But Mrs Eats and I tend to have the luck of grabbing a table against all odds – in truth there wasn’t a need to panic.

The bar, separate to the dining area, was lightly sprinkled with folk enjoying a mid-afternoon pint, while the dining room was only half full.

Sitting down with a warm smile from the staff, we took about ordering our food. At three courses for £12.95 (one for £8.95 or two for £10.95), some might be forgiven for not expecting too much.

Reasonably priced reasonable food, right? equals

Not so, this was more than a canny Sunday roast.

We kicked off with potatoes skins to try, bypassing the options of vegetable soup or pate.

The skins were crispy, and plentiful, accompanied by a garlic dip, setting you up nicely for the mains.

The mains were traditional; chicken, beef, pork or lamb. Unfortunately for Mrs Eats, the lamb wasn’t available, so she had to go for the chicken, while I went for the

beef. They arrived out in good time accompanied by a selection of vegetables, a massive homemade Yorkshire pudding, roasts and mash. The chicken was succulent, and the stuffing it was plated up with what was needed. The beef was tender, and lashed with thick gravy, which made digging into the Yorkshire pudding even better. The roasts were crispy, although a couple more were needed! The portions though in general were good, and barely left room for pudding – barely. But the territory with the job pretty much states you have to try a pudding, and try we did. From a fine selection of lemon cheesecake, banoffee pie, apple crumble, chocolate sponge, and sticky toffee pudding, we decided to share a slice of chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream.

Usually when the idea to share food is proposed, I will do my best to dissuade Mrs Eats because a ‘spoonful or two’ never stops there, but thank goodness we decided to share. The slice of cake would have put one person into a food coma; was it homemade? I don’t reckon so but nevertheless it was delicious – rich, sweet, and everything you want in a pudding.

In a village where the community are breathing a new lease of life into the pub scene – the Lane Head has just opened, and the Ye Olde Cross will soon – it’s great to see The Half Moon setting the bar for a friendly, reasonably priced, and well-cooked Sunday roast.

Eddy Eats samples the fare at the Half Moon in Ryton Rating: What Eddy said: Rating: 16/20 What Eddy said:

Telephone: Rating: What Eddy said: A rather pricey three courses but the quality of the food justified the cost. THE BLUE BELLS West Hartlepool Road, Newton Bewley, Hartlepool. TS22 5PQ Tel: 01740 644 84616/20

Rather on the steep side for the Eatses but it provided top-notch food along with some interesting history lessons. BEERONOMY Hood Street, Newcastle NE1 6JQ Tel: 0191 260 2454

THE TAP & KITCHEN Wylam Brewery, Palace of Arts, Exhibition Park, Newcastle, NE2 4PZ 0191 650 0651 15/20

Rating: 18/20 What Eddy said: There is an exciting new haunt on the crowded Newcastle pub scene – and on this evidence it is here to stay.

Rating: 15/20 What Eddy said: Great value and a carvery which will leave you too stuffed for pud.

THE DORSET ARMS Dorset Avenue, Wallsend NE28 8DX Tel: 0191 209 9754