Best Restaurants in South Shields

South Shields punches well above its weight when it comes to eating out. The town has two distinct food scenes — the South Asian restaurants of Ocean Road and the seafood spots along the coast — and both are worth travelling for. Here is our guide to the best restaurants in town.

The Seafront

Colmans Seafood Temple

Colmans Seafood Temple on Sea Road is the flagship of the Colmans family empire — a fish restaurant, cocktail bar, and oyster bar rolled into one, with panoramic windows overlooking the coast. The fish and chips are excellent, but the menu extends well beyond the fryer: think whole lobster, seafood platters, and daily specials from the North Shields fish quay.

Best for: Five generations of the Colman family serving fish on the South Shields seafront — the Seafood Temple is the fine-dining sibling.

Colmans Fish and Chips

The original Colmans Fish and Chips at 176–186 Ocean Road has been a South Shields institution for generations. It is a proper chippy — no pretension, just consistently excellent fish and chips in generous portions. The queues at peak times tell you everything you need to know.

Best for: The chippy that built the Colmans name — still one of the best fish and chip shops in the North East.

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Ocean Road

Ocean Road is South Shields' famous "curry mile" — a stretch of South Asian restaurants, cafes, and takeaways that gives the town a character quite unlike anywhere else in the region. Here are the standout venues.

Cafe India

Cafe India at 200 Ocean Road has been a fixture since 2001. It holds a 5-star food hygiene rating and consistently strong reviews for its generous portions, tandoori dishes, and welcoming atmosphere. Google reviewers give it 4.7 out of 5 — and that score is earned over thousands of meals.

Best for: Established since 2001 and still going strong — generous portions, top-notch tandoori, and a 5-star hygiene rating.

Spice Garden

Spice Garden at 202 Ocean Road sits right next door to Cafe India and won the Curry House of the Year award in 2016. The menu covers the full range of North Indian and Bangladeshi dishes, with a particularly strong reputation for its balti and biryani dishes.

Best for: Award-winning curries at 202 Ocean Road — the 2016 Curry House of the Year winner.

Zeera Indian Cuisine

Zeera Indian Cuisine is an award-winning restaurant on Ocean Road that presents authentic Indian cooking in an elegant dining room. A Good Food Award winner in 2025, Zeera is rated the eighth-best restaurant in all of South Shields on Tripadvisor, with reviewers calling it "by far the best Indian restaurant in South Shields". The vegetarian options are particularly well regarded.

Best for: Good Food Award winner with an elegant dining room — the upmarket choice on Ocean Road.

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Beyond the Curry Mile

Italianish

Italianish at 118 Ocean Road is the top-rated restaurant on Ocean Road according to Tripadvisor, with over 730 positive reviews. Despite the name, it serves both Spanish and Italian dishes — think tapas boards alongside pasta and risotto. It proves that Ocean Road is about far more than curry.

Best for: Over 730 positive Tripadvisor reviews — the highest-rated restaurant on Ocean Road, serving Spanish and Italian dishes.

The Riverview Bar and Kitchen

The Riverview at 3 Mill Dam occupies a handsome spot in the historic Mill Dam conservation area, overlooking the river. The menu leans towards pub-quality mains — steaks, burgers, and seafood — with a drinks list to match. It is a good choice for a relaxed evening meal away from the seafront bustle.

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Where to Start

If you are new to South Shields, start with Colmans on the seafront and one of the Ocean Road restaurants on the same evening — Cafe India for reliable classics, Zeera for something more refined, or Italianish if you want to sidestep curry entirely. Ocean Road rewards repeat visits — there is always somewhere new to try.

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Looking for more? See our guides to pubs and coffee shops in South Shields.