Nice restaurant in or near belfast

struggler

Ginger is also excellent

BusyLizzie_3

The Times have an article on good food in Belfast this week:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/real_food/article5968775.ece

SuperMum2008

Dirty Duck in Holywood - you cant beat the view!

Artytarty

SupermMum, I'd amend that to "you cant eat the view"!(nor the food, and I thought I was going to die from salt poisoning!)
Still, we all have good and bad experiences of the same places I guess:)

bingo_bango

I tried the Barking Dog in Malone last week (just across road from theEg).

Food was great, the staff were also great (manager couldn't do enough!) and I found the prices very reasonable. For two starters, two mains and couple of drinks, it was £47. Nice and relaxed atmosphere, and staff knew about the food.

They don't have a website (yet), but are listed if you look on google.

Lobell

Aldens (Ballyhackamore). Zen.

I've had hit and miss experiences of Cayenne in the past but a friend has been several times recently and has reported that it has been very good...apparently Paul Rankin is back cooking in it himself so quality is more reliable now.

jenny-wren

I've heard bad reports about Zen and have to say when I tried it myself I wished I hadn't. Food was mediochre, service terrible and where we were sitting (downstairs) there was a strange aroma filling the air that I can best describe as toilets overdue for a cleaning. Not at all a pleasant experience.

I too am a big fan of the Dirty Duck. Good food and decent sized portions. The only thing that puts me off now is the fact that when I was last there in January they had hiked up most of their prices by about £2 so it's not such good value any more. Still a lovely place to go on a cold wet day when they've got the fires lit though.

belfastgirl23

Actually with Cayenne the last time I went the food was mostly fine it was the service that was the problem. I was astonished because the service had always been excellent before but the waiter this time was so unpleasant it ruined the whole meal for us. Sneery and aggressive to the point that DH insisted on complaining to the manager. He'd normally crawl under the table rather than complain so you can guess how bad it was. Really wouldn't recommend it for a special evening. Sorry.

Francophile

Last time I went to Alden's with a crowd of girls we had a fantastic meal. DH came to collect me but I wasn't ready to leave and he wouldn't come in because it was all womwn in the group. The staff brought him a cup of coffee out to the car. I think that's pretty good service.

SuperMum2008

Artytarty wrote: »

SupermMum, I'd amend that to "you cant eat the view"!(nor the food, and I thought I was going to die from salt poisoning!)
Still, we all have good and bad experiences of the same places I guess:)

Oh dear, thats not good? I must say I ate there about a year ago and it was fantastic....maybe they were having an off night?! (She says, trying to be charitable...)