When the sun is shining, there’s nothing better than going for a leisurely weekend brunch and finding a new favourite. Kiln in Newcastle has been high on my list for a while, so I was excited to visit and try the new brunch menu.
Kiln is a fabulous all-day cafe, bar and restaurant set in a former car garage in the heart of Ouseburn. This picturesque valley by the Quayside was named one of the “coolest neighbourhoods in the world right now” by TimeOut. It’s characterised by its post-industrial, repurposed buildings containing artisan bakeries, craft breweries, independent shops and art galleries. The area is lively and creative but still feels peaceful by the waterside.
Kiln has a cool yet welcoming feel with cosy booths, Scandi-style wooden tables and ink blue walls adorned with colourful risograph art prints. It’s also dog-friendly and has a lovely outdoor terrace for summer dining.
What really makes Kiln stand out from the rest is the pottery studio, where you can watch South Korean potter Jun Rhee at work. Jun’s exquisite ceramics are in high demand locally and he has also created tableware for Michelin-starred chefs and TV shows such as BBC Master Chef and BBC Great British Menu. You can enjoy these fantastic plates, bowls and cups during your meal and buy some new ones to take home.
At Kiln, everything from the bread to the sauces is prepared in-house daily using the finest local ingredients. The brunch and dinner menus have Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences and there’s plenty of choice for vegetarians and vegans.
We started with some cooling drinks – a zesty and refreshing Homemade lemonade and an aromatic Hibiscus and pomegranate spritz with torn fresh mint and lots of ice.
Everything on the brunch menu sounded tempting, but I couldn’t resist trying the Flat iron steak with fried egg, salsa verde and sourdough. The perfectly seared steak (from local hero Charlotte’s Butchery) was exceptionally tender, well-seasoned and generously sized. It was well complemented by the runny fried egg and vibrant, punchy salsa verde. I also liked how the sourdough had been lightly toasted and rubbed with sea salt and olive oil – a small detail that makes all the difference.
Just as satisfying was the Sea bass fillet open sandwich with cherry tomatoes and garlic aioli. The fish looked magnificent and was ever so fresh with a bold, smokey flavour and crispy skin. Oozing roasted tomatoes brightened the flavours and there was a touch of richness from the oily garlic aioli. The fired Egyptian sourdough pita was also deliciously fluffy and lightly charred on the edges.
We saw some beautifully-presented dishes coming out of the kitchen and will definitely return to try the Shakshuka with Greek feta and focaccia, Scrambled eggs with asparagus, Kale with chilli oil and fried eggs and Home-made Kiln granola.
Of course, we couldn’t resist ending with something sweet, so we chose a dessert from the menu and an enormous slice of cake from the counter. Chocolate mousse had a velvety, whipped texture and I was amazed to find it was both vegan and gluten free. It was served with some tangy orange segments and crushed toasted hazelnuts.
We were somewhat defeated by the mountainous vegan Chocolate cake, which had the most indulgent buttercream frosting and a light texture. The desserts were washed down with a strong, rich-roasted Flat white using beans from St. Martin’s Coffee Roasters and a fragrant Jasmine loose-leaf tea.
Kiln is a real local gem with incredible food, a soulful vibe, reasonable prices and of course, fantastic pottery. The team behind Kiln is soon to open Patina, a sister restaurant in Edinburgh, and I can’t wait to see what exciting things they’ve come up with.
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