Review: Central Park

by Evening Gazette

WE MANAGED to pull off quite a coup on our recent girls’ night out - scoring a table at the bustling Central Park without a reservation.

Three of us managed to get seated with just a ten-minute wait - no mean feat for a Friday night visit to the Middlesbrough branch of the restaurant on Linthorpe Road.

We’d aimed for an early 6pm dinner, but one of us was running late from a week working away and as we arrived at 7.30pm, the place was fast filling up with hungry people.

Working in our favour, though, was the recent expansion which stretches through to a former retail space next door, creating a new bar and seating area and effectively doubling the size of the restaurant. The decor is a cool and contemporary black and white, with shiny floors and a sleek cocktail bar.

After ordering glasses of white wine, we gave the waiter our orders and he led us to our table.

Feeling in a calorie-conscious mood, we all decided to forgo our usual starters. Resistance wasn’t easy, with such tempting treats as the delicious tomato garlic bread and potato skins with various dips etched in our memory from the previous visit.

I ordered Tortellini Bolognese - pasta shells filled with spinach in a deliciously spicy meat sauce, topped with mozzarella cheese and then oven-baked.

One of my friends ordered the same, while the other one went for the Chicken Marashala - chicken breast in breadcrumbs, topped with cheese in a tasty tomato, cream and white wine sauce.

The dishes came with bowls of fresh salad with a tangy dressing and we also ordered saute potatoes separately.

There’s something for everyone on the extensive menu, which has a distinct US-Italian feel. From house specials, which include Pork de la Casa, Chicken Siciliana and steak, to grill dishes, seafood and “Texican”, pizza and pasta.

The buzzing atmosphere of the place lends itself to a very sociable evening - we didn’t stop chatting all night.

For early birds, there’s also a happy hour Monday to Saturday from noon-6pm.

If you want a fun night out with friends or family, then Central Park’s the place.

Central Park: Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough