The Waiting Room

OK food fans answer me this! Do you know which eaterie on Hartlepool's doorstep has been voted for the UK's best Independent restaurant? And which establishment was declared the "Best in the North East" and included in the top 40 of all restaurants in the UK by a national Sunday newspaper. And which did the BBC Good Food Magazine also recommend as a "great restaurant", making reference to "inventive dishes" and "wonderful homely, rustic atmosphere"? The answer to all the above questions is the area's best kept secret - The Waiting Room, in Eaglescliffe. As the name suggests the restaurant is situated at the entrance to Eaglescliffe railway station. And it is easy to hop on the Grand Central Hartlepool to London service which stops at Eaglescliffe for just £3 return, meaning you can leave the car at home and enjoy a drink without having to pay a high taxi fare. My partner and I visited on Valentine's Day and chose from that evening's set menu. (£35 per person). Pre-meal we were presented with a sharing plate of melting mouthfuls - amuse bouche and titillating morsels. To start I chose roast butternut squash and stilton soup with sundried tomato croutons which left me with a warm feeling inside. My partner chose the fresh fig and mozzarella salad which was delicious. For main course my partner chose the Baked mushroom, cashew and applewood smoked plait served with creamed parsnip, and roasties, with a tarragon liquor. This was a delightful dish that tasted fantastic. I chose the puy shepherds pie with rosemary skewers cherry tomatoes, turnip and gravy. This was again a warming and most satisfying dish and the skewers provided a nice touch. For the dessert we enjoyed the Assiette of puddings (for two). A glazed fruit tart, a lemon custard and a chocolate roulade finished off with a sip of bakewell love potion - and a heart shaped biscuit! We both agreed they tasted heavenly. The Waiting Room has a fine selection of drinks. I Chose the Samuel Smith's organic fruit beer and my partner the organic fruit beer.

The restaurant itself has a friendly warmth about it and the staff are warm and intentive without being intrusive. As always the meal and the whole experience was thoroughly excellent - so why not make a visit to the area's best kept secret yourselves?

- Ian Monaghan