• Drink
• Food
• Decor
• Service
• Atmosphere

Jay and I went to Belfast the other weekend and went here for our evening meal on a the Saturday. A random pick from looking at the window menus of eateries near to the hotel, we lucked out really. It was pretty early doors as we had to be down the road for the suitably Irish entertainment of a Thin Lizzy tribute band (a review of which shall not be included here but there were many pairs of leather trousers involved), but the place was pretty busy. We ate in the more rustic part of the establishment which must be more of a cafe in the daytime. In fact we only realised there was a resturant proper when using the convienences as you have to walk through it to get to them. I preferred our section as it contained a mixture of diners and those stopping off on the way back from shopping for a swift beverage but was free of the sound of 'chinking' cutlery and restaurant 'rubarb, rubarb noises' and was lit (appeared unpleasantly bright in the main restaurant) appropriately for a romantic anniversary meal. Music was a mixture of LCD Soundsystem and Bob Dylan, which is OK in my book.

Service was excellent, courteous and understated; shared between one young Irish woman and a gentleman of undetermined European origin who I developed a temporary crush for, due to his especially lovely manner. Food was good. I had chicken liver pate, and the kitchen were not stingy with the accompanying toasts, for a change, followed by hake with potato rosti and veg (which was a special) and Jay had a duck spring roll followed by steak. Lovely bottle of Pinot Noir brought the bill to around £80. Good value, and while the cooking was not mind-blowing, everything was lovely and there were no complaints. Apart from me being too full for pudding, which is always a disappointment.

All in all, a top notch lucky find!