Rumpolis
17 Sandhill
Quayside
Newcastle
Tel: (0191) 232 6969
 The family came to stay last weekend. How did I entertain the clan? No, not by forcing them to watch Eurovision (they escaped that delight). Instead we indulged in a spot of mini golf up in Tynemouth, a walk along the Newcastle-Gateshead quaysides, a trip to The Sage and a jaunt over the Blinking Eye. And after a jam-packed day, there was no question about it - our bellies were rumbling big time. There were five of us, three adults, two teenagers. And the latter had only one thing on their minds - pizza! Finding a pizza place open during a late Sunday afternoon is not that easy a task, and after a couple of false starts I decided to take them to a place we adults had ventured before. Rumpolis, on Newcastle Quayside. I've never had a bad meal there and a little birdie had told me the place was boasting a new menu. An ideal opportunity, then, to check it out. I'm glad to say little has changed at Rumpolis, and truth be told, the menu doesn't seem to have altered that extensively, boasting a fine array of pizza, pasta, meat and fish dishes, plus an extensive vegetarian range. Add to those the specials board, and it would take an extremely fussy (not to mention cantankerous) person not to find something here to their liking. Oldest teen had the biggest smile on his face. He's veggie, and often complains at the lack of choice on menus. First up, though, was the garlic bread, one plain (£2.50) and one with cheese and tomato (£2.95). They took a while to arrive, despite the place being relatively quiet, but when they did appear, they were soon scoffed down. We didn't have to wait long for the main courses, though. I had chosen the penne al forno (£6.25) and, a first for me at Rumpolis, was a tad disappointed. The menu said it was pasta with minced beef and cheese, but I had to search for the beef and, in the end, left most of the dish. Maybe just a bad day. All other dishes, though, were spot on. The veggie one decided to have spaghetti Napoli (in tomato and basil sauce, £5.95). The sauce wasn't too runny, which helped him keep most of it going down his throat rather than on his clothes. And he finished every last drop. His brother opted for tagliatelle al pollo (£5.95), a plate packed with pasta, chicken and mushrooms, and his face lit up as he remarked on the richness of the dish. He ended up leaving some, though, only because it was so filling. His stepdad opted for the tuna steak (£11.75), which also came with a rich, but non-heavy, sauce, while their mum decided the specials board was more appealing, plumping for Italian sausage on a red onion mash (£10.50). The lengthy sausage spiraled over the tasty mash, and she too couldn't finish the dish, again simply as it was so filling. We washed the meals down with some glasses of house white and red and diet colas, with the bill coming to £70. As ever, the staff were pleasant and, as ever, I could only stare in admiration as they rushed up and down the stairs to fetch and take away the meals. How fit do you have to be to work at Rumpolis? Rumpolis is certainly one of the better cheaper/middle market Italian restaurants on Tyneside. Apart form my little moan about main course, there were no complaints whatsoever. I'll certainly be coming back. One gripe in about 15 visits - well, says it all. | 
