The Naked Deli on Chillingham Road Heaton isn’t new to Newcastle, but today was my first visit. It’s been on my list for ages and lots of my friends love it so I had pretty high expectations.

Everything on the menu is freshly prepared in their deli using “unprocessed, whole and natural state foods” and they only ever cook with organic coconut oil (who else is obsessed with organic coconut oil?! SO many uses… I use it as part of my skincare, haircare, tooth & gum care and also cooking!). I’m following the 5:2 intermittent fasting diet, luckily today was not a fast day so I was really looking forward to eating some good healthy (and tasty) food for lunch with my friend, Julie.

We got there just after 1pm so I wasn’t surprised by how busy it was, the lunchtime rush! All tables were taken and there was a long queue of people ordering to take out. This place is popular! I did feel funny in my jeans and t-shirt, at one point we were the only people not in gym clothes (I was wearing trainers though, phew!).

I love the branding – the logo is brilliant, it’s on the napkins, the stamp on the loyalty card and even on stickers underneath the little plant pots hanging up on the wall!

I made my mind up really quickly, I ordered the chicken burger served on a portobello mushroom with sweet potato chips and fig ketchup. I hesitated a bit with the drinks, but went with the wheatgrass smoothie (with spinach, pear, grapefruit and ginger). Julie ordered the beef burger with halloumi, on a rye bun, with sweet potato chips, garlic yoghurt and a cold pressed juice.

The burgers were £8 each, the smoothie was £3.75 and the cold pressed juice was £4. I really enjoyed my food, a mushroom instead of a bun – LOVED this. I’m all about the filling anyway, the bread just gets in the way and I usually leave the top of the bun. My husband says I have mushrooms with everything, he’s exaggerating obviously, but I do love a good juicy mushroom. The chicken was chargrilled and there were 2 fillets in the burger alongside avocado and crispy bacon. The sweet potato chips could have been a bit crispier for my personal preference but I still enjoyed them, especially dipped in the delicious fig ketchup.

I was totally stuffed, but knew I wanted to order one of the naked treats to go. I went with the raw snickers, which I’ve half devoured (accompanied by a mug of lemon, echinacea and ginger tea) whilst writing this post! All naked treats are gluten free, dairy free and refined sugar free… but NOT taste & flavour free may I add. Absolutely delicious. I can’t remember how much this tasty treat was, but on the menu it says ‘from £2’. Well worth it.

I love the Naked Deli’s approach to healthy eating, it’s far from boring and there are loads of tasty sounding options, I can see why they’re so popular. I’ve got my loyalty card and I’ll be back soon – next time for breakfast! I’ve got my eye on an acai bowl or square sausage and eggs.

Have you been to The Naked Deli? If you have, I’d love to hear what you think (and what you order, because I’m nosey).