Italian

Enjoy a taste of Sardinia at modern Sassari Continental Restaurant on Linthorpe Road. The chic surroundings make for a fine 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.

Chinese and Japanese

The East Ocean Cantonese Restaurant on Borough Road is one of the North East's premier seafood restaurants.  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. For some yummy take-out try Oodles Noodles bar and cafe on Linthorpe Road.

Indian and Other International Cuisine

For flavourful Asian food Jamal's on Corporation road cooks Fine Indian food to your taste with care or try the vibrant atmosphere of Akbar's Restaurant who bring their award-winning ways to Middlesbrough after thriving in Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Bradford and York.

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. 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 Best Western Hotel on Marton Road, takes its influence from Paris serving 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. Great 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 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.

Related Video

Useful Links

Restaurant Reviews on Gazette Live

Parmo on Wikipedia