St Mary’s Restaurant in Morpeth | Food Review

DISCLAIMER: MEAL WAS GIFTED BUT OPINION, THOUGHTS, AND PHOTOS ARE MY OWN.

St. Mary’s Restaurant in Morpeth is truly a hidden gem located in the heart of Northumberland. And as soon as you step inside, you are transported to a cozy and elegant dining space.

I dined at the restaurant whilst I was staying at St Mary’s Inn, and the interior is traditional elements with exposed brick walls and wooden beams, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The restaurant boasts a seasonal menu that changes regularly, offering flavours from Northumberland’s local produce. The chefs use locally sourced ingredients, including fresh seafood from the nearby coast and game from the surrounding countryside, to create dishes that are both delicious and sustainable.

The menu at St Mary’s Restaurant is a fusion of traditional British cuisine with a contemporary twist, with dishes such as pan-seared scallops with black pudding and celeriac puree, and slow-cooked lamb shank with root vegetables and red wine jus. St Mary’s Restaurant offers a special and memorable dining experience that proudly celebrates the region’s rich culinary heritage.

A Cozy and Rustic Atmosphere of St Mary’s Inn

St Mary’s Restaurant is situated within their Inn, so once we were dressed and ready, we popped through for our 7pm reservation and were immediately struck by its charming countryside ambiance.

The dimly lit dining room was just perfect. Featuring a log fire, rustic decor, and beautifully presented dishes. While I couldn’t remember if the fireplace was purely decorative, the overall atmosphere was cozy and inviting.

The restaurant was busy but the vibe was laid-back and relaxed, with no signs of staff rushing about. The efficient service made us feel welcome, and we could have easily  sat there chatting all night.

Perfect Starters

Our first of three courses started with some delicious starters. I opted for the crispy king prawns, served with a tangy mango salsa and a sweet and spicy sriracha sauce. The spicy kick of the sriracha sauce perfectly complemented the sweet and juicy prawns.

James went for the coronation chicken terrine, which came with a homemade pear chutney and toasted sourdough. Despite only ever eating roast chicken at home, he surprised me with his adventurous choice when we dine out!!

Exploring The Menu

Do you ever find yourself stuck in the dilemma of choosing between familiar dishes like fish and chips or grilled steak, or gamble and try something new?

I was tempted by the classic and traditional but this time I ordered the baked herb crusted skrei cod, served with a smoked haddock fishcake, spinach, buerre blanc, and caperberries.

The herb crust and buerre blanc sauce had a sweetness that was balanced out by the salted sourness of the caperberries, creating a perfect combo of flavours that complemented the meaty fish beautifully.

James ordered the ox cheeks with caramelised onion and seasonal vegetables. He seemed quite pleased with his choice, likely because it was a welcome break from his usual chicken dinner routine…

To Order Dessert or Not to Order Dessert

Obviously this was not a time to track of my calorie intake as I’ve been doing recently, especially since I had already surpassed it by mid-day! By the time dessert arrived, I had fully embraced the mentality of indulging without any guilt. Why not, I thought. I’ll just work it off tomorrow by taking a relaxing bath and watching Netflix…

When it comes to dessert, I really fancied the dark chocolate brownie with a side of white chocolate ice cream. The ice cream is what sold it to me. The brownie was rich and decadent, with just the right amount of sweetness. Paired with the smooth and creamy ice cream, it was the perfect end to an already great experience.

We also got a chocolate torte which was nice, but the brownies won hands down.

The melt-in-your-mouth dark chocolate brownie went really well with the single scoop of white chocolate ice cream. Definitely got the stamp of approval.

Breakfast for Champions

Breakfast was just as dreamy.

There buffet was a choice of cereal, toast, fresh fruit, juices, yoghurt, and granola – alongside the breakfast menu where you could order the likes of full english, pancakes, eggs benedict and french toast.

It has been a while since I had french toast and I’ve been craving it for a while, so eggy fried bread with roast plums and sticky syrup it was!

This perfectly rounds up my St Mary’s stay. I practically skipped all the way home, I felt that happy, content and full!

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