I tried the Newcastle restaurant that United stars past and present can't get enough of

I visited DOOD on Newcastle's Quayside with my friend following the women's Tyne-Wear derby at St James' Park, in which Newcastle were 1-0 winners and having heard how it's become a popular calling point for an array of different football heroes past and present.

DOOD is located on the Quayside, in the famous building that used to be Chart House. And it is a restaurant loved by United players and legends, with Fabian Schar, Matt Targett, Joe Willock and Alan Shearer at a celebrity bash which helped launch the restaurant when it opened in November 2024 and many others calling in since,

I had booked a table in advance, expecting it to be busy following the match, but when my friend and I arrived, late, it was relatively quiet. I got a taste as to how the service would be as when I spoke to a staff member on the phone telling them we would be about 10 minutes late, they were nothing but polite and courteous.

We arrived at the restaurant, with the entrance being one of the most characterful I have walked through. We were greeted by a member of staff who showed us to our table and took our drinks order. I had an Almaza beer, a smooth, Lebanese brewed beverage. My friend opted for a Karma Cola.

The décor of the restaurant is extremely authentic and the traditional Persian music was playing softly in the background. Loud enough to hear and enjoy it, but not loud enough that it distracted you from conversations with friends and family.

We browsed the all-day menu, picked our starters and mains and chatted about the game we had just watched. After about 10 minutes, our starters came. I went for the black chickpea hummus and Persian bread, my friend the Harissa chicken wings.

I had never had black chickpea hummus, and to be honest didn't realise that was exactly what it was. But when I say this is the nicest hummus I have ever had, I certainly mean it. It was so smooth and flavoursome. It was that nice I was putting a mini mountain on a piece of bread every time I had some. I scooped up the remaining hummus on a small piece of bread, and shovelled it in my mouth. The waiter came over to clear the plates and asked how everything was. I could only mumble "mhmm", as my mouth was still full.

The waiter was shocked and laughed: "You didn't just put all that in your mouth? I watched you from over there but didn't think you put it all in!". I replied saying how good it was and how I couldn't get enough of it. He laughed, patted me on the back and took our plates away.

While we were waiting for our mains, the waiter came back to chat to us as he had noticed my Scouse accent. He then asked: "Are you from Birkenhead?". That is not a question you want to ask a Scouser. He then laughed straight after and proceeded to have a chat with my friend and I while we waited for our mains.

The other members of staff were just as attentive, regularly checking if we needed anymore drinks and asking how the food was.

The mains came. I paid £18 for my main and was very disappointed with what I got for it. Five pieces of chicken, a small piece of flatbread and some salad. No rice, no chips. We had to get them extra.

The chicken itself was very nice and well seasoned, but for £18, especially for the portion I got, I was expecting it to be some of the nicest chicken I had ever tasted. But sadly, it wasn't.

And I didn't feel the price of the meal for two people accuratley reflected the amount of food we got. Granted the portion of rice was a large size, but everything else was a little on the small side.

Nearly £60 for two people for two drinks (one non-alcoholic), two starters, two mains (though one was also a starter), rice and chips.

And that is the only aspect that let the wonderful experience I had at DOOD down.

Scores:

Service - 5/5

Atmosphere - 4/5

Value for money - 3/5

Food quality - 4/5

DOOD, 63 Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3DE