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Original poster

Where to eat in Belfast?

27 replies

OwlMother · 04/09/2023 19:28

I am heading to Belfast next weekend with DS (17). We are there for one night but our rerun flight is late in the evening so we will need to eat out for two evening meals.

We are staying in south Belfast nearish to the botanics. I used to like in Belfat but that was 20 years ago so while I can find my way around ok, I have no idea where to go to eat!

I'd rather avoid big chains, otherwise open to suggestions, not crazily expensive but willing to splash out a bit. Any advice would be really welcome. Areas would preferably be between the city centre and the botanics, Lisburn road etc too. Happy to be in the city centre but not too far north given where we are staying. We will be walking everywhere so not too far!

OP posts:
Blogdog · 04/09/2023 19:52

Had a fantastic meal in Deane’s EIPIC a year or so ago.

continentallentil · 04/09/2023 21:13

Cheap

Bunson burger

Pizza at the sunflower

Coppi

Yardbird

John Long fish and chips

Medium

Mourne Seafood Bar

Nu Delhi

Howard St

hope st

holohans

Posher

Deanes at Queens

OX

Muddlers

Ginger

the Ulster fry wraps in St George’s are also good if you are round there for breakfast.

have fun

Reallynotoverreacting · 04/09/2023 21:22

The chubby cherub
Scalinis (which is up in botanic avenue and really lovely)
Coppi
Fratellis

These are all Italians, below are other restaurants that I would recommend

Flame
Zen (amazing Japanese and Asian fusion)
Dumpling library
Trade market and common market are huge areas that offer an abundance of street food, really recommend these areas (trade market is close to botanic and my favourite of the two)
Darcy's is also close to botanic and a hidden gem for traditional Irish food
Pizza in the empire is good, also on botanic
There are a huge amount of amazing restaurants on the Lisburn road as well, so many to choose from.

Have fun!!

Theacademicswife · 04/09/2023 21:24

Ryan's bar 116-118 Lisburn Road
Villa Italia, University Road
Scalini Botanic Avenue
Acton and Sons, Brunswick Street, town centre behind the Crown Bar
Maggie Mays, Botanic

Neverinamonthofsundays · 04/09/2023 23:29

I always giggle when I see Ryans bar mentioned cos i hated the place! The food is wetherspoons stuff and the lighting is desperate and the service... well I wouldnt be leaving a tip anyway.

Zen as mentioned above is amaze but you need to book. Take a table downstairs as upstairs is only good for groups but do go and use the toilets up there as its like something from a music video.

The Jaharna is an amazing Indian that does proper indian food and the ambiance is great.

confusedlots · 04/09/2023 23:32

Oh there are so many choices!

What sort of thing are you looking for? Deanes at Queens is lovely if you're looking something a bit more sophisticated.

Ginger is one of my personal favourites, the food is amazing and really friendly staff.

Mourne seafood is a great seafood restaurant and Zen is superb for Asian food.

And if you're looking for nice pizza then Little Wing is a great casual family friendly pizza restaurant

Neverinamonthofsundays · 04/09/2023 23:32

Also Villa Italia and Fratellis although they say they are Italian are the worst Italian places I have eaten in. Think overcooked pasta and the prices they charge for it is madness. If you want a decent but cheap Italian the Marconis in Victoria square is good but if you want a cheap and good buffet I would book Cosmo right next door to it and upper level of the shopping centre. Food is great and its cheap and all you can eat!

Neverinamonthofsundays · 04/09/2023 23:33

Also if you are looking for a more high end place then Shu is really good. Blu bar is great for food too but sadly lacks ambience but the one staff member is amazing.

confusedlots · 04/09/2023 23:35

Oh and if you're there when St George's market is open, then it's a must for breakfast/brunch!

AuntieSoap · 04/09/2023 23:35

Are you going for the Queens open day? I went with DD to the summer one and we ate in Darcy's. House Belfast is also worth a visit.
FWIW, DD loved Queens, and Belfast.

TheLastPictureShow · 04/09/2023 23:39

Jumon on Fountain Street is amazing - fantastic food, cool atmosphere, great staff. It’s Asian fusion. Book in advance!

Original poster
OwlMother · 05/09/2023 09:16

Brilliant suggestions, thanks everyone! Ds will eat anything so this gives us a lot of options. I do like the sound of the food markets.

We are going to the open day at Queens. I actually met DH at queens twenty odd years ago so it will be a bit nostalgic. DH has a lot of family in NI and there are loads of relations at Queens currently.

My only concern is that when we were at Queens there were so many local students that went home at the weekend, it meant that there was virtually no one around from Friday to Monday. Kind of felt like it negatively impacted the whole uni experience. Is it still the case that a lot of students vanish at the weekend or was this more a sign of the times (late '90s!)?

OP posts:
hopeishere · 05/09/2023 09:22

Lots of food suggestions (mostly).

Re QUB yes it still is very much empty at the weekends!

Original poster
OwlMother · 05/09/2023 09:30

Fab, thanks for confirming. I had feared that it would still be the case. Such a shame as otherwise it would be a real contender.

OP posts:
ReadingIsFundamental · 05/09/2023 09:31

Kamakura sushi and ramen on Donegall Pass is really good and very friendly staff. Lunch bento boxes are great value. I also like Sakura on Botanic Avenue.

Ginza Kitchen on Lisburn Road is delicious and they’ve been offering 3 starters & 2 cocktails for £28 recently - really good value.

Stran-wiches in Stranmillis have the best sandwiches imaginable.

Enjoy your stay, I hope you get some delicious food.

felisha54 · 05/09/2023 12:30

I do think many students still do go home at weekends but there will be a crowd that doesn't and there are more international students attending. If your dc stays in halls there will be more going on.

confusedlots · 05/09/2023 15:47

OwlMother · 05/09/2023 09:30

Fab, thanks for confirming. I had feared that it would still be the case. Such a shame as otherwise it would be a real contender.

Yeah lots do go home at the weekends, but lots of their parents live in or near Belfast, it's not a big place! So they still meet up/go out with their uni friends at weekends and maybe spend a night at home. So it's definitely not the case that everyone clears off at the weekends. It's also becoming more popular with GB students than it would have been years ago, so they're obviously around too.

TooBigForMyBoots · 05/09/2023 15:50

La Taqueria is amazing if you like Mexican food and margaritas.

Original poster
OwlMother · 05/09/2023 19:14

Mexican also sounds good! Spoilt for choice.

It'd be interesting to get an idea of halls occupancy at the weekends, I'll try asking at the open day. I know all DHs relatives at Queens tend to head home on Fridays and when I was in halls (many moons ago!) out of a building of about 150 there were usually only about 20 people around, pretty miserable. My floor of 14 only ever had two of us there. I'm sure it's better than that now but would be keen for him to get the full uni experience with social weekends etc.

OP posts:
London1305f · 05/09/2023 21:51

My niece from london graduated from queens last year and absolutely loved her time there. Yes, there were a lot of students who went home at the weekends, but there were quite a few GB and international students who stayed weekends, so she was never lonely. She also got invited back home for the weekend sometimes with more local friends that she had made.

Original poster
OwlMother · 06/09/2023 06:30

That's really good to hear- thank you for that. I'm aware my 20 year old experience is really colouring my view. Hopefully open day gets rid of all the doubts because Belfast would be an amazing place to study.

OP posts:
braid · 10/09/2023 09:51

Hi Op, hope you enjoyed QUB open day. I was there with my DD and during lunch we got chatting to our waitress who was a student and from the Rep of Ireland. She said her rent is a third of what she would pay as a student in Dublin and she was sure more students would be coming North because of such pressures. All to the good I thought if more Irish, GB and international students are studying there.

Original poster
OwlMother · 10/09/2023 21:48

Hi there
We did have a really good visit. Ate at Jumon (amazing!) and La Taqueria. Ds was really taken with Queens, Belfast was really shown at its best.

However we spoke to two different hall's administrators, both said occupancy at the weekend is really low. They do try and make sure you're not the only non NI student in a flat but can't guarantee it. Also spoke to w couple of students who echoed the fact that the only students around at the weekend tend to be from the republic or ROUK. So not huge numbers.

Really frustratingly it's likely to mean ds discounts Queens, no one we spoke to made it sound like much went on at the weekend and it's a long time to kill on your own.

OP posts:
AuntieSoap · 11/09/2023 00:02

Agh, my DD loved it too, but she's in two minds for the same reason. I wonder if there are ways to mitigate that, like a visit home 2-3 times per term, plus you going out to visit a couple of times. Do you think he'll apply anyway?

hopeishere · 11/09/2023 11:37

Is your DS into sport? The PEC is fantastic and if he joined a team they might be more likely to be about at weekends for training / matches. Or he could get a part time job at weekends.