Best Restaurants in Cramlington

Cramlington's restaurants fall into two groups. Around the town centre, Dudley Lane has two of the longest-standing places to eat in town, a Chinese and an Indian, while Manor Walks has an Italian and a Nando's. Further out, there is an award-winning Indian at the Brockwell Centre in Northburn and a traditional curry house on Front Street in Klondyke. This guide covers six sit-down restaurants, plus a few pubs that are good for a meal. For cafes, pubs and more, see our eat and drink hub.

Restaurant hours change through the year and around holidays, and several of these places open in the evenings only. Please check with each restaurant before you set off, and book ahead for Friday and Saturday nights.

Dhamaka

Dhamaka is an Indian restaurant at the Brockwell Centre on Northumbrian Road, in the Northburn side of town. It describes itself as serving elegant Indian cuisine in a rustic dining atmosphere, and the team behind it has run Indian restaurants across the North East for decades, with a sister restaurant in Morpeth.

It was named Restaurant of the Year at the 2023 Asian Restaurant Awards. The restaurant caters for allergies and intolerances, has dedicated vegan options, and says its chefs will adapt dishes on request. There is a cocktail bar, and a takeaway menu as well as the restaurant menu. Book by phone or through its website.

Best for: The pick for a special-occasion curry, with proper vegan choices.

Lal Qila

Lal Qila on Dudley Lane is one of Cramlington's longest-running restaurants, a traditional Indian with a loyal local following.

It holds the top food hygiene rating of 5. We could not find a website or a confirmed phone number for it, so call in or check its online listings before you go.

Best for: A long-standing local curry house on Dudley Lane.

Mandarin Bay

Also on Dudley Lane, Mandarin Bay is a Chinese restaurant in the Old Parish Hall. As well as Cantonese favourites, the menu takes in Malaysian and Thai dishes, and reviewers mention the duck, honey chilli chicken and Thai green curry most often.

On Friday and Sunday nights it runs an all-you-can-eat menu at a set price: popular starters come from a help-yourself station, while other starters and the mains are cooked to order. The offer has run since October 2023, so check it is still on when you book, which is by phone. It holds a food hygiene rating of 5.

Best for: Friday-night all-you-can-eat, or a banquet for a crowd.

Bay Leaf

Bay Leaf is an Indian restaurant and takeaway on Front Street in Klondyke, on the western side of town. It is an evening restaurant, and it is listed by vegan guide HappyCow for its vegetarian starters and mains, most of which can be made vegan on request.

It holds the top food hygiene rating of 5. Listings give different days and times for opening, so ring before you go.

Best for: A neighbourhood curry house for Klondyke and the west of town.

Sambuca

Sambuca is an Italian restaurant in the Glasshouse on South Mall, at Manor Walks. It is part of the Sambuca restaurant group, and serves freshly cooked Italian classics from lunchtime into the evening.

Its own page lists a children's menu, step-free access and an accessible toilet, and it takes bookings for groups of up to 30 (call for more than 12). It opens from midday every day, closing at 9pm Monday to Thursday, 10pm on Friday and Saturday and 8pm on Sunday.

Best for: A family Italian in the middle of town.

Nando's

Nando's at Manor Walks serves its flame-grilled peri-peri chicken from late morning until 10pm or later every day. It does not take eat-in bookings online, so it is a walk-in option for a quick meal out, and it also offers collection and delivery.

The restaurant has wheelchair access, baby changing, wifi and some outdoor space.

Best for: A reliable walk-in when you have not booked anywhere.

Pubs for a meal

If you would rather eat in a pub, three of Cramlington's pubs serve food all day:

• The Snowy Owl on Blagdon Lane is a large Vintage Inn pub and restaurant with all-day dining, a garden and parking.
• Brockwell Seam, in the same Brockwell Centre as Dhamaka, is a Sizzling Pub serving food daily.
• John the Clerk of Cramlington in the old village is a Wetherspoon that opens at 8am for breakfast and serves food through the day.

Tips for planning a meal out

• Book at weekends: ring ahead for Dhamaka, Mandarin Bay and Bay Leaf, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
• Lunch: the curry houses and Mandarin Bay are mainly evening restaurants. For lunch, Sambuca and Nando's open from midday or earlier, and the pubs above serve food all day.
• Vegan and dietary needs: Dhamaka has dedicated vegan options and Bay Leaf can adapt most vegetarian dishes. Tell any restaurant about allergies when you book.
• Big groups: Sambuca takes groups of up to 30, and Mandarin Bay's all-you-can-eat nights suit a crowd.

For more depth on one cuisine, see our guides to the best Indian restaurants, which also covers Moti Jheel in Klondyke, the best Chinese and Thai food and the best pizza in Cramlington, which includes the family-run Panuccis on Smithy Square.

For a night in instead, see our guides to the best takeaways and best fish and chips in Cramlington. Most of the Indian restaurants above also do takeaway.

Spotted a new restaurant in Cramlington, or a change to one of these? Get in touch and we'll update the guide.