Dining Date 10/29/25: I was in the UK in October for Halloween and, looking for a spot for dinner with three friends, we ended up at Dobson & Parnell and were pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is beautiful, warm, inviting, and atmospheric, exactly what you want for a late week dinner out. It was such a treat to find a place open at 9p on a Thursday that was still serving, and serving really good food.
We started with three appetizers: the meat and cheese board was a winner and a generous selection, perfectly balanced flavors, lovely cheeses and charcuterie that set the tone for the meal. It had liver pate with pomegranate seeds that had amazing texture and flavor. We also tried a lovely bruschetta (fresh, garlicky, and crisp) and a bowl of creamy, well-seasoned mushroom soup that was hearty.
For entrées, we had four different dishes among us: first, the classic steak with peppercorn sauce, cooked just right and tender, with bold flavor. Another friend ordered the pan-seared sea bass, which was light, flaky, and paired beautifully with a lemon-butter sauce (it was so good). I had the lamb shank, slow-cooked and meltingly tender, with rich, savory gravy and a side of buttery mashed potatoes. The fourth entrée was a vegetarian risotto, creamy, with nice depth and a vibrant mix of seasonal vegetables. All four meals came out beautifully presented and tasted fresh and satisfying as I taste tested all of them.
Overall, Dobson & Parnell turned out to be a pleasant surprise along our travels where we were eating a lot of junk food. Great atmosphere, unexpected late night hours, and most importantly, reliably delicious food. If I'm ever back in Newcastle and looking for dinner late, I'll definitely be heading there again. Not cheap, but not expensive either. Try to get there for their Prix Fixe option if you can - we were too late. read more