Ristorante Il Grifone - Newcastle

I read the reviews and was hesitant to eat here. I 'm glad I didn 't let them put me off. The risotto and pollo were wonderful. I really enjoyed it and will return the next time I am in town. Thanks for a great last meal in Newcastle.

Il Grifone is a sub par italian restuarant that exceedingly rests on the luarels (and prices) on a great view and instantaneous atmosphere provided by the water. The venue itself is fit out in a clinical contemporary fashion that doesn't really speak to its italian foundation. The service is cold and illusive and the menu drab in comparison to other italian restuarants. The food is bland and limited. They go for the safe italian dishes, but do not execute them well. The Gnocci and Rissoto are overpriced and dull. Each member of our table was unimpressed by the overpriced and lack lustre performance of the food on the pallette.

I've eaten here 3 times. The king prawns are excellent. The lunch calamari is so-so. I once ordered bread with my meal but it was dry and stale tasting.

I was so disappointed with the dish that I ordered. I got the seafood marinara and the marinara sauce was watery but very salty. The seafood was also overcooked. The pasta texture and cook was also not very pleasant. The overall dish was so salty and unappetizing that I asked the waiter if I could trade it for something else. She took my plate and said she 'd see what she could do. She came back and put the same dish back down and said that the chef would not let me switch and that was how it was supposed to taste. Terrible customer service! Regardless if this pasta is supposed to taste watery and salty, I was not happy and did not enjoy it. I left the plate full and did not eat anymore.

A t first we found the name a bit wierd for an italian restaurant But loved the ambience and views from the restaurant. The waitress was very caring. The Bruschetta was tasty and the risotto was devine. But the spagetti was a bit of let down as Gary and George (masterchef) would say sauce which tied the dish together was missing.....