SGM Reviews: 808 Bar and Kitchen, Tapas, pizza, bao buns and cocktails

New: Sunderland Global Media are proud to present Amy Nicholls (who runs the North East Eats blog!) as our new food reviewer and critic, who will be writing a monthly column on local restaurants and eateries. For her first assignment, she visited 808 Bar and Kitchen on the corner of John Street as part of the local restaurant week.

Restaurant week is back in Sunderland and this modern restaurant has made a lasting impression. This unassuming building is easy to miss but once inside you’re in for a treat. 

Walking up the stairs, you are met with a modern, neon sign “Welcome to the Good Life” and the friendly welcome and modern decor makes you feel instantaneously comfortable. The restaurant is spacious, the servers attentive and the window booths offer a relaxing, roomy space to enjoy your night. 

The cocktail list is extensive, ranging from the classic to the curious and, in addition to a vast array of beers, cider, wine and Prosecco, they even offer gin and cocktail trees to enjoy with friends and family, alongside their delicious food.  

Tapas has always been a firm favourite of mine as it offers the opportunity to sample a range of food when you just can’t quite decide what you want. Excluding restaurant week, in which tapas are cheaper, they currently offer a tapas deal in which you can get 4 tapas dishes and 2 drinks for £24.  

With good pricing and ample choice, I sampled lots of dishes, ranging from satay prawns to beef croquettes, katsu fish bites and patatas bravas and all the dishes were surprisingly filling and super yummy; however, the stand out dish was the super soft bao buns filled with crispy honey chilli chicken, served with a side salad and fresh, homemade chips. These are a must try!  

Overall, 808 Bar and Kitchen has a lovely, relaxed, modern vibe and the food, service and extensive drinks list mean it is a place I am looking forward to returning to; I anticipate sampling their fresh Neapolitan pizzas, more bao buns and, of course, more mouth-watering cocktails.