The Silk Road
Winding its way through continents, the Silk Road was an ancient trade route linking East with West. It accelerated the spread of ideas and cultures around the world. No part of this famous route became a more significant cultural melting pot than the stretch that traced its way through Persia and the sun-bleached lands of the Levant.
Refuge & Flavour
Countless towns and traders rose up alongside the Silk Road to service and supply the continuous stream of wealthy merchants and nomads. Most famous of all these establishments were the grand inns (caravanserais) offering shelter and refuge to weary wanderers. Smoke (DOOD in Persian) from the crackling coals would blend with the scent of spices and drift across the plains, luring hungry travellers with the promise of amazing flavours. Once inside, guests would be drawn in by the incredible aromas of sizzling meats, mazeh plates & fresh breads.
They would rest weary feet and congregate with fellow travellers. Around the fires conversations would be sparked, ideas and thoughts exchanged, and friendships made. Parched throats would be sated by sharbats, water delicately flavoured with mint, rose petals or pomegranate. The unique blend of cultures, spices and flavours that came together in ancient Persia and the Levant unleashed a culinary energy that continues to define the flavours and dishes of the region.
DOOD brings the ancient flavours of Persia and the Levant back to life on the Quayside of modern Newcastle. The restaurant is housed in a Grade II listed building once home to a map printing house that produced navigational charts for Newcastle’s maritime industry. Today, DOOD is more than just a restaurant. It's a place where travellers from every part of the world can come together to experience the culinary legacy of the ancient Silk Road. Every nomad that finds us is rewarded with a feast of classic Persian and Levantine dishes cooked over open flames using spices such as saffron, nutmeg and sumac first brought to Europe by ancient traders. To visit DOOD is to open your mind to different cultures and flavours. Our guests break bread with fellow travellers and step into the shoes of the nomads, merchants and adventurers whose journeys have shaped our world.