ONE of the coast’s most popular gastro pubs is turning its back on taste trends, such as sprouting seeds and spiralisers, in favour of traditional pub grub.
The Sandpiper, Farringdon Road, Cullercoats, plans to build on its growing reputation as a food venue by going back to basics with classic dishes, cooked well.
Under the leadership of head chef Dan Duggan and manager Miles Clayton, the Sandpiper has unveiled a menu which puts the focus squarely on family favourites, such as fish finger sandwiches, sausage and mash and steak and ale pie.
“That’s because these are the meals people want to eat,” said Dan, who formerly worked under renowned chef Tom Kitchin at Edinburgh’s Michelin-starred The Kitchin.
“Of course there’s a market for smears of puréed vegetables and home smoked cod cheeks, but our customers want familiar dishes, made from the best ingredients and freshly cooked.”
Among the tried and tested options are Scotch eggs – hand made and served with HP sauce – gammon steaks with chips and a fried egg and North Sea fish and chips, with customers also able to opt for wraps, salads, burgers, bar snacks and starters.
Favourites such as soup of the day, scampi and cheeseburgers are also on offer, along with 8oz rump steak with a peppercorn or Diane sauce and side dishes, such as champ mash, onion rings and seasonal fresh vegetables.
“A lot of these dishes fell out of favour for a while because the quality wasn’t there,” said Dan, who joined the Sandpiper from Newcastle’s Blackfriars Restaurant.
“But, if you use the best ingredients, then there’s nothing can beat them.
“It’s about serving our customers dishes they would like to eat, not just ones that we would like to cook,” he added.
“So we’re not re-inventing the wheel – we’re simply putting a new tyre on it.”
The Sandpiper is open from 12 noon until 11 pm from Sunday to Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday. Food is served from 12 noon until 9pm from Monday to Saturday and until 4pm on Sundays.
For information, or to make a reservation, call 0191 253 5050 or visit www.thesandpiperbar.co.uk.