Local Expert
Sarah Bailie
Sarah is a 26 year old writer from Belfast, Northern Ireland. In her spare time (what little she has…) she loves to travel and unwind with some fine wine, great food and good people. She also likes to…
Sarah is a 26 year old writer from Belfast, Northern Ireland. In her spare time (what little she has…) she loves to travel and unwind with some fine wine, great food and good people. She also likes to relax with a bit of Salsa dancing or a trip to the theatre and is a self-confessed coffee addict.
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Review Articles
I have recently discovered the delights of Molly's Yard on Botanic Avenue. This quaint Irish restaurant is built in former stables and, if you sit outside in the tiny courtyard at night enjoying 'the craic,' you can feel like you have been transported back to a world of cobblestones and homemade entertainment- long before Stella Artois and 'restaurant music.' Molly's has it's own 'micro- brewery, and serves true Irish beer such as Belfast Blonde and Headless Dog.
The menu is small and perfectly formed and the venue is informal, quaint and perfect for a romantic dinner or get together with a small group of friends. All of the ingredients are locally grow and selected for their quality and this is evident in the mouthwatering courses on offer. My personal favourites include the Ham Hock Terrine with Homemade Piccalilly and the Sirloin Steak (which quite literally melts in your mouth) served with dauphinois potatos and sumptious chasseur sauce.
The staff at Molly's are knowledgeable and friendly and will be happy to recommend dishes and tell you about the specials of the day, which often include delights such as Lobster Thermodore.
Molly's is slightly more expensive than most restaurants in Belfast; a meal for 2 including starters and mains will cost around £46- but is worth every penny.
1 College Green Mews, Botanic Ave, tel.0044 28 9032 2600.
Nando's restaurant was just one of the new eateries in the Victoria Square complex which I was excited about trying. I have to say that the experience was not as fantastic as I was expecting due to the hype surrounding it's opening; however, I will definitly be returning and it is well worth a visit.
First of all, be warned, unless you are a fan of chicken, this menu will not appeal to your tastes. Choices include chicken wings, chicken burgers, chicken pittas, chicken salad and well, you guessed it, plain ol' roast chicken. Except, it's not really that plain...it's a delicious flame-roasted portuguese Peri-Peri recipe.
Upon entering Nando's, you will be greeted by some of the friendliest waiting staff in Belfast, several of whom are local and others from as far afield as Spain and America. The menu is simplistic but ideal if you are after a satisfying meal on a budget. Offers include a main course with two side orders for around £8. In Nando's experience differs slightly in that you order your food at a counter, take your drink back to your table, choose your own sauces and cutlery, and then wait to be served.
I really felt like I was on holiday in Spain whilst there with the gorgeous mix of Spanish music, European beer and mouthwatering aromas from the flame-grilled chicken. Our party dined on roast chicken with hot peri peri sauce, a chicken pitta with a mild/sweet sauce and caesar salad. If you are a fan of sweet potato, order this as a side, it was the best I have had! Be warned though, if you are not accustomed to hot food, opt for the mild sauce options- I am a hot food fiend and even my hardened tastebuds tingled with the peri=periness! I had the 1/4 roast chicken and by the end of my meal was wishing I had ordered the other 3 quarters!
The only complaints we had were a late caesar salad and a slight overcharge for a meal- most likely teething problems from the recent opening which will have been resolved by my next visit.
So, if you fancy a meal with influences of mainland Europe while you are in Belfast, Nandos is well worth a taste.
When in Belfast, as well as experiencing the gorgeous local pubs steeped in history, it is worthwhile also checking out some of the new, modern bars, to gain a full understanding of Northern Ireland nightlife and it's people.
One of my favourite places is Bar Bacca, a sumptiously decadent cafe/bar, oozing ethnicity and comfort. Indeed, if you step in here during one candlelit afternoon and sink into one of the plush velvet sofas, you are likely to forget what time of day it is and find yourself stumbling out at 5pm, blinking at the sunset!
The bar is decorated with interesting art and deep morroccon reds and burnt umbers- a stark contrast to the traditional Crown Bar or Fibber Magees, which are barely a stones throw away.
If you are a cocktail fan this is also a great place to go for a grey goose martini, or two...
Victoria Square is finally open and is a testament to how far Belfast has come since the troubles which plagued the city during the 70's and 80's. The complex is a visually stunning shoppers paradise, with a giant House of Fraser spanning 4 floors. Mulberry, Smashbox, Hugo Boss, All Saints, Whistles, Build A Bear Workshop, Hamleys, La Senza, River Island, Creme de la Mer, Dior and Chanel are just a few of the retailers who have set up shop in the 'village within a city.'
Eateries include Nandos, which had a queue of hungry customers a mile long on it's opening night. The complex leads onto one of Belfast's most loved watering holes, The Kitchen Bar, which is an absolute must visit for any tourist in the area.
The original site of the pub dates back to 1859, when the star performers from Belfast's infamous Empire Music Hall, would gather at The Kitchen to toast their performances and gossip. To accompany your pint, choose a delicious traditional meal or snack from the pub menu, all cooked with love and using only the finest local produce. The Paddy Pizza or freshly baked soda bread with melted Coleraine cheddar cheese come highly reccommended!
You are also likely to find some of the best 'craic' and friendliest local people in this bar, so settle down after a hard days shopping and relax into Guinness time...
Here in Northern Ireland we love our food and a lot of our socialising and family lives revolve around dining with others or cooking for family and friends. Here is a list of a few of our favourites to try if you are visiting (I hope none of you are on the Atkins diet though- as you can see, we love our carbs!)
1. Soda Bread
2. A Ulster Fry for breakfast
3. Tayto crisps
4. Irish Stew
5. Dublin Bay Prawns
5. Colcannon
6. Steak & Guinness Pie
7. Glenarm Salmon
8. Potato Farl
9. Wheaten Bread with Jam
10. Irish Coffee (alcoholic)
Exhausted, cold and hungry after completing the last of my Christmas shopping this week, I called into Tony Roma's restaurant in the heart of the city to refuel. There's just something about winter that makes me crave carbs and something about the Irish that makes us love potatos- mashed, baked, roasted, steamed, sautéed or in salads- hardly a meal in our country is served without some sort of variation of our staple food.
Now, Tony Romas is of course an American franchise and I usually go there for their delicious chicken wings, steak or ribs, but on this particular evening I tried their loaded mash for the first time and boy, have I been missing out! Glorious, fluffy mash topped with cooked, crumbled bacon and creamy butter- I could have sent back my steak and feasted soley on a plate of this delcious dish.
If you are in Belfast during the cold winter season, it would be well worth popping in to uncle Tony's for a warm side of mash. The rest of the menu, including the swordfish and merlot mushrooms, is also mouthwateringly wonderful and the waiting staff are superfriendly- perfect for a pre-guinness feast.