Chinese and Japanese

The East Ocean Cantonese Restaurant on Borough Road is one of the North East's premier seafood restaurants, and Etsuko near the Cineworld Cinema, is a new Japanese noodle bar that serves up healthy oriental dishes from an open kitchen. The busy Peking Villa Cantonese Restaurant on Linthorpe Road is a bit more traditional, but just as atmospheric, with swirling buffet tables and karaoke evenings if you're lucky enough to visit when it's a special occasion. A real novelty includes the photograph covered walls depicting the happy highlights of previous evenings!

Italian

Enjoy a taste of Sardinia at the self-described 'modern' Sassari Continental Restaurant on Linthorpe Road. The chic surroundings make for a classy evening meal or authentic wake-me-up coffee at breakfast.

Just a bit further up the road, there's more Italian inspired dining at Joe Rigatoni's. The flamboyant staff and always-Saturday-night atmosphere, make this one of Middlesbrough's most popular restaurants. And if your feet can keep walking, head for Fellinis at the top of Linthorpe. The upstairs window-filled bar is a perfect place for a pre-eat drink.

Indian and Other International Cuisine

For a golden curry try Khan Tandori, the Jewel in the Crown, Indi-go or Jamals. Khans is one of Middlesbrough's longest serving Indian restaurants, while Jamals is new on the scene, but fast gaining a local reputation for excellent quality.

For a night out with a Portugese difference, try Nando's. Nando's prides itself on excellent value for money, hospitality and flame-grilled PERi-PERi chicken. Extra Hot PERi-PERi is not recommended for the faint at heart!

Contemporary and Continental

Middlesbrough has some stand-out contemporary restaurants. The Purple Onion has earned a worthy place in the Guide Michelin and numerous reviews in the national press. With fine wines, finely trained chefs, a cellar bar with live music, and a special Boro Matchday menu, the price is slightly above average, but well worth the spare change. Back in Linthorpe, Central Park, is a popular restaurant with an Italian-American flavour. The food is always good, and made better by the lively local banter and birthday celebrations - one of Central Park's specialities. Tavistock Restaurant at the Highfield Hotel on Marton Road, takes its influence from Paris, and has achieved an AA Rosette award for its light international dishes and seafood.

Cafes, Coffee Rooms and Vegetarian

The last couple of years have seen some café bars springing up around the town. Since opening in 2004, Café Sorelle, has gained a remarkable reputation for friendly, open service and fine fresh food, pastries and snacks delivered on the day by local suppliers. Other places to grab a coffee or daytime snack include Nature's World, Bar Zantia, the Hairy Lemon and Lloyds.

Many of the restaurants in Middlesbrough provide vegetarian menus and options. These include The Purple Onion, Etsuko, Tavistock Restaurant, Eliano's Italian Brasserie, Hardwicks, Nando's, Café Sorelle and Sassari.

Take-away

A night out in Middlesbrough wouldn't be complete without a take-out parmo! Middlesbrough has a thriving take-away scene, largely famous for the local take-away delicacy, but also serving up pizzas, burgers, Chinese and Indian. Check out Linthorpe Road for a street full of pizza shops, serving up food until the early hours of the morning. Don't be tempted to try the fish-parmo though; you have been warned!

Fish and chips are also a local favourite. Many local fish and chips shops ship the fish in fresh from nearby ports such as Whitby. Try Cod Almighty and the Coral Bay Fish Bar for melt in the mouth cod and home-cooked tasting chips.

Make Your Own Middlesbrough Parmo!

Parmo is a food dish, a variation of Chicken Parmesan, apparently invented in Middlesbrough! You can enjoy it in restaurants or as a take-away snack.

Whereas Chicken Parmesan is a flattened slab of chicken, pan-fried while coated with breadcrumbs and then grilled with Parmesan cheese, Parmo involves deep-frying the chicken in an egg and breadcrumb batter, then smothering it in Bechamel sauce, before finally grilling with cheese.

Teesside parmesan Recipe (off BBC Tees)

Ingredients:

- Pork or chicken fillet
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- Béchamel sauce
- Parmesan cheese

Method

1. Take the piece of flattened pork or chicken fillet, beat the eggs.
2. Dip fillet into the egg and then the breadcrumbs to coat, then deep fry, brown fillet on both sides.
3. Add béchamel sauce and parmesan cheese and place under the grill.

Useful Links

Restaurant Reviews on Gazette Live

Parmo on Wikipedia

Parmo King - reviews and merchandise

Also look out for Parmo groups on Facebook and Myspace.