The word ‘pancakes’ comprises a vast variety of fluffy and sugary delights – crêpes, scotch pancakes, drop scones and poffertjes are only a few that come to mind – but finding the best of these can be a bit of a challenge.
In Newcastle, there are a number of restaurants that serve simple pancakes. Take Frankie and Benny’s in Eldon Square, for example, which charges an unreasonable price for their average quality buttermilk pancakes with a few rashers of bacon, an egg and some syrup. When I think of pancakes, I want to find the places that serve up the real stuff, not chain restaurants! Newcastle actually has a few hidden gems.
La Petite Crêperie
La Petite Crêperie is one of my favourite lunchtime spots to grab a pancake in Newcastle. It’s located in the heart of Grainger Market and serves up a range of sweet and savoury crêpes which are sure to get your tongue tingling. This small unit is an authentic and traditional provider of crêpes. The staff are all French-speaking, friendly and ready for a good debate about who does the best crêpes: the French or the English?… (It’s the French if you were wondering). My favourite crêpes include traditional lemon and sugar, French ham and Emmental cheese and sweet Lotus Biscoff spread. They’re a great deal, at under £5 a piece, with generous fillings and a wrap to take-out.
Crêpe Affaire
Second on my list is Crêpe Affaire, a restaurant that I first tried in Haarlem, Holland. This particular pancake shop has just opened in the newly refurbished food court in Eldon Square, it’s new, it’s clean, and it’s not too far from campus. Their menu includes a range of options: sweet crêpes, savoury pancakes, breakfast pancakes and mini pancakes amongst other things. The best thing about this place is their attention to detail in every meal. Their Apple Crumble pancake comes not simply with apple and crumble, buts its adorned with cinnamon, sultanas and butterscotch sauce. The savoury Goat Deluxe, is not a boring goats cheese pancake – it’s made up of two kinds of cheese, onion confit, spinach and red onion. If you want to treat yourself to a fancy pancake, then this is the place for you.
Dutch Pancake Stall
As you may, or may not, be aware, Newcastle Upon Tyne is a familiar face for international food markets and Christmas fairs. If you’re waiting for a truly seasonal and authentic international pancake, then I would wait for Newcastle’s Christmas market where Dutch pancakes and poffertjes flow in abundance. The Dutch Pancake Stall, which appears outside of Grey’s Monument, is the perfect place to go for cheap but flavoursome miniature fluffy pancakes dusted with icing sugar and swirled with Nutella. My favourite seasonal treat.
Quay Ingredient
My final top spot for pancakes in Newcastle is Quay Ingredient, an independently run coffee house at the Quayside. You’ll find this little gem tucked away beneath the Tyne Bridge, but once you’ve found it you’re in for a winner. Quay Ingredient does the best breakfast pancakes in the city. Simple cinnamon, American style and coming in again at less than £5!