It may only be a small street leading into Darlington’s town centre, but  Duke Street certainly isn’t short of places to eat and drink. From cafes and restaurants, takeaways, bars and even places for something a bit more special, there’s something for everyone.

After a Halloween evening when we thought the trick-or-treaters had done their rounds and the doorbell had stopped ringing, my husband and I didn’t fancy staying in and cooking tea for fear the last few sweets would be claimed by a rogue witch, so we decided to pay Hideaway on Duke Street a visit.

We had been to Hideaway previously, but we were left slightly disappointed by our choice of pizza, and after watching popular food influencer and competitive eater Beard Meats Food take on their ‘Darlo vs Dough’ challenge and instantly getting food envy, we put on our shoes and coats and headed down the road to see if it would be second time lucky.

One of the newer offerings on Duke Street, opening in 2022, Hideaway offers ‘giant’ pizzas, beers and more in a rustic and trendy bar. Wooden tables, warm lighting and cheerful and pizza-themed décor create the perfect atmosphere for a laid-back night with friends or a relaxing family meal.

(Image: Hideaway Bar & Pizzeria) (Image: Hideaway Bar & Pizzeria)

The menu is a treat for pizza enthusiasts, featuring an impressive variety of classic and creative options. From the traditional Margherita with its beautifully balanced tomato sauce and mozzarella to more adventurous toppings Should a’ gone next door (a nod to Indian restaurant Star of Bengal).

Vegan and vegetarian options are plentiful, and the staff is happy to accommodate dietary needs. If you're not in the mood for pizza, you could try one of Hideaway’s Pizzadogs- a unique creation combining a footlong sausage with pizza dough, tomato sauce and cheese. There’s also a huge variety of sides and flavoursome fries if you fancy something extra.

We opted for the Bundle for Two, an 18-inch pizza, two dips and fries or a side for £26. We chose the chipotle chicken fries with the bundle and then because we’re both greedy and I had just been for a run, we added a side of chilli cheese bites.

(Image: The Northern Echo)

The pizzas are the star of the show, and when I say giant pizzas, I mean GIANT. Hideaway’s pizzas are made to a standard 18 inches, making them bigger than 2, 12-inch pizzas, and each slice is cut into six slices which are bigger than your head!

We went for one of their signature offerings- The Meatpacker- which combines pepperoni, ground sausage, beef, bacon and bacon jam, with the usual cheese and tomato topping. You may be thinking ‘a pizza is just a pizza’, but you’d be wrong. The pizza itself is a cut above your average frozen or takeaway pizza. The crusts were the ideal balance of being both chewy and crispy, although by the time I got to my last slice, the crust had cooled down, making them difficult to finish and I did leave one. The topping could have just been your average meat feast pizza, but the bacon jam elevates and compliments the rest of the meats perfectly.

The chilli cheese bites were the dream companion to such a meaty delight. The cheese was molten hot, creating the perfect Instagrammable cheese pull and the flecks of green chilli provided a subtle amount of heat to cut through the meat and cheese.

The chipotle chicken fries came with pieces of fried chicken, spring onion and chipotle mayo, a winning combination any day of the week. Our only complaint would be that the fries at the bottom ended up being slightly soggy by the time we’d waded through the rest of the food- but that could have just been down to our greediness.

Feeling full to burst, and a mixture of pride and shame for the amount of food we had eaten, we decided that we would skip pudding and head home.

Our bill for the bundle, an extra side and a pint of Beavertown and a Coke Zero came to £42.00, a very decent value considering the amount of food we had just put away could have fed a small family!

And it isn’t just the pizza that impressed me, on what was a very quiet night, the staff created a great atmosphere. They were chatty and friendly and you could see they enjoyed their jobs. Perhaps they have the same passion for pizza as I do!

We gave them a second chance and they certainly impressed! With Christmas approaching and meals and drinks with friends and family on the horizon, I am eagerly waiting for the next time I can suggest a visit to Hideaway.

The Details:

Hideaway Bar and Pizzeria

26 Duke St, Darlington DL3 7AQ

Phone: 07946 099023

Socials: @hideawaydarlo

 

Ratings:

Food quality: 8

Service: 8

Value for money: 9

Surroundings: 8