One of our most pleasant surprises during our visit to Belfast was the impressive Northern Ireland food.
Following the advice of Paul, the executive lounge attendant at the Hilton Belfast, we sought out the Bar & Grill at James Street South for our first dinner in the city. It was a Sunday night and we did not have a reservation, but asked if we could dine at the bar.
The James Street South is not a traditional bar or grill, but offers a diverse, seasonal menu featuring fresh Northern Irish produce in a relaxed atmosphere. We enjoyed the delicious food, the friendly and knowledgeable service, the local beer and the extensive list of wines by the glass, so much that we returned for a second dinner later during our stay in Belfast.
During our first visit, Mr. Jones started with a local Belfast beer.
With the bartender’s encouragement, I enjoyed a glass of the Allo white wine from Portugal. Later in the meal, I had a glass of the Umani Ronchi Montepulciano from Italy. Both glasses paired very well with my giant portion of squash risotto with 7 seeds, one of the richest, most-flavorful risottos I have ever enjoyed. Meanwhile, Mr. Jones enjoyed his roasted lamb shoulder, one of the Sunday night specials. This was young, tender, perfectly-prepared lamb, served with mash and a hearty plate of vegetables. (We had no problems sleeping through our first night in Europe after this dinner.)
On Tuesday evening, after we had worked up a major appetite climbing on the Giant’s Causeway and Crossing the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge during a day on the Northern Ireland coast, we decided to visit the Bar + Grill again.
Mr. Jones started with the Prawn Cocktail.
I ordered the soup of the day, which was parsnip. Parsnips have never tasted so creamy and delicious.
Mr. Jones ordered the tagliatelle with scallops, parsley + lemon, but when the entrees arrived, we switched. The green bits in this dish were bitter, which I enjoyed with the just-seared scallops.
The dundrum white crab + chili linguine was full of crab, complemented with a little kick of spice.
When our waitress inquired about dessert, we insisted that we were too full. She said, “We have a special martini for those who are too full for dessert.” How could we resist this? It was dessert!
The Bar + Grill at James Street South is popular, and was one of our top two favorite dining experiences in Belfast. While known for its beef, we highly recommend the seafood and pasta dishes. Be sure to make a reservation.
What is your favorite dinner spot in Belfast? Please share in comments below.
Check out these other posts on food finds during our travels:
- Presidential Dim Sum in San Francisco
- A Romantic Dinner on Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach at Azure
- Eating Our Way Through San Telmo With Buenos Aires Food Tours
- A Delightful Dinner at Ristorante Gallo Nero in Antwerp, Belgium
- The Master Chef’s Table on Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam
- Dining at Ristorante Guido in Rimini, Italy
Follow us on Twitter or interact with us on Facebook
Or, check out our boards on Pinterest and/or our photos on Instagram.