WonderBar Sunday dinner: Generous portions, homemade food & great cocktails in Newcastle

By Ania Askwith

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Wonderbar, The Gate, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 5TG

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As a millennial, I have a warm nostalgic feeling about this place as we’ve spent many nights out at The Gate and Beyond bar was one of our favourites at the time. The arrival of WonderBar has transformed this into a totally different venue, but one thing that hasn’t changed is its great vibe.

Sunday Lunch at WonderBar

We have heard that it is a great spot for live music, darts, and a night out, but recently WonderBar has come on our radar for their Sunday lunch. And trying their Sunday roast was a game-changer. It’s wholesome, delicious, and just what you need to round off your weekend. Not to mention the portion size – more on that soon!

A recent arrival of a new head chef, Chris Kidd, meant a brand-new menu launch, and it seems that they have taken their food offering to the next level. Something I really like is that all of their food is homemade. From the rich gravy to the indulgent desserts, everything has been crafted in-house.

So with such a tempting menu, we opted for the full 3 courses (in the name of research, of course).

Starters

• Crispy Beef: Crispy, shredded beef in sweet chilli sauce. A huge portion which could easily be a main course; it smelt gorgeous, was super tasty, and melted in your mouth. It is not your usual takeaway-style crispy beef – the strips of meat were chunky, with the crispiest batter.

• Tiger Prawns: Beer battered Tiger Prawns with Bloody Mary dipping sauce; This had me at Bloody Mary and it was beautiful – super tender prawns inside lovely crispy batter. My happy food – simply delicious.

We actually couldn’t believe that both of those were £4.99 each – absolutely unreal value.

Mains

And this only set the scene for what was to come – the mains. Or should I say THE MAINS. The Sunday dinner came on a plate the size of a charcuterie board – it was huge. And it was full with gorgeous, steamy hot slow-cooked rump of beef, mash, crispy roast potatoes, carrot and swede mash, cauliflower cheese, mixed greens, and gravy. The size was impressive but not as impressive as the taste. Everything was just stunning, and I have helped myself to some of Ryan’s mash, which was buttery soft.

And then there was my Fish & Chips; I opted for this as the menu said it was cooked in brown ale batter, which is something I’ve not had before. It was a hit! Together with the homemade chips, peas, and tartar sauce, it was a feast.

Again, the price of £12.99 for each main course felt like a bargain. I couldn’t believe all this delicious food cost as much as a cocktail in some Newcastle bars, it’s just crazy!

Desserts

So even we were stuffed, we couldn’t skip desserts. We opted for:

• Mango & Passionfruit Iced Cheesecake: a silky cheesecake infused with tangy flavours. The chilled texture made it feel light and satisfying. If you like fruity desserts – you’d like this.
• Chocolate Brownie & Ice Cream was my pick; and it was pure comfort food. A warm, rich chocolate brownie with a perfectly gooey centre, topped with a scoop of velvety ice cream. The contrast between the warm brownie and the cold ice cream is always a winning combo for me; a classic done just right.

I’m very particular about my Sunday roasts, as I am sure most people are – it’s such a classic that it has to be done just right, but I couldn’t fault this one. The portions were huge, the flavours were perfectly balanced, the ingredients were fresh.

Drinks

In our clubbing days, we’d often come here for drinks, so I felt it was fitting to try their cocktail menu too!

I went for the Flash Gordon; I am not a gin fan but I am a huge Freddie fan so I chose this drink purely because of the name (as in the movie – iykyk), although I know that this is more a nod to Toon’s own Gordon! Even though it was gin-based, I was surprised how much I liked it. Sweet but not overpoweringly so, it was quite fruity and refreshing.

Although he’s a NUFC fan, Ryan skipped their Toon-themed menu and went for a classic margarita, which was also lovely.

A relaxed vibe

What sets WonderBar apart is how it combines top-tier food with a laid-back, fun vibe. The staff are friendly and very attentive (I am not sure how they manage a full shift carrying those heavy plates of food – it must be a workout!) the service is quick, and the setting is really chilled (although I imagine it may be a bit more lively on match days).

WonderBar really is a perfect spot to enjoy your Sunday dinner. We will definitely be back, not just for the dinners, but we still have to try their smash burgers and small plates.

Location

WonderBar is located at The Gate, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 5TG. The closest metro station is Newcastle Central Station and there is a 24/7 car park at The Gate.

Tips for Visiting

• Prepare for the portion sizes: I normally use the word ‘generous’ when the portions are larger than usual, but the Sunday dinners here are actually huge. So come hungry.
• Stay for the fun: you can make it a full day out with interactive darts or live music – so check their website for the details.
• Stag & Hen Do: planning a group celebration like a stag or hen do? WonderBar is the perfect spot.
• Live sports: they have a great area set up for match days and I can imagine the atmosphere would be great.

Best For: Sunday roast, Newcastle dining, cocktails in town, game day venue, great value dining.

Website

For more details and event schedule, visit WonderBar’s website here.

Reviews WonderBar is celebrated for its vibrant atmosphere and delicious food, with consistently high 4.5/5 stars from over 1,000 Google Reviews and 4.4/5 stars from over 500 TripAdvisor reviews.

Enjoyed this post? If you love discovering things to do, places to go, and the best spots to eat and drink in the North East and beyond, be sure to follow my blog for more reviews, recommendations, travel tips, and hidden gems. And for a closer look at my day-to-day experiences, follow me on Instagram@ania.askwith for behind-the-scenes content and even more discoveries! Let’s explore together!

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