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    The Dirty Duck

    4.4 (39 reviews)
    ModeratePubs
    Closed 12:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    The Dirty Duck Photos

    THE DIRTY DUCK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - The Dirty Duck

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    Reviews With Photos - The Dirty Duck

    Colin W.

    I love the Dirty Duck. Whether you are eating upstairs in the restaurant (Make sure you book as its ALWAYS busy) or down in the bar and soaking up the atmosphere, the food is always amazing and you have great views of Belfast lough with the planes flying in to land and the boats coming in to dock. I was there last night treating my mum to a wee birthday dinner. The menu is varied with a wee bit for everyone whether you like fine dining or good old burgers or sausages and mash. I always go for the seafood as its so fresh and always perfectly cooked. Last night we had the Seafood Sharing platter which is two decent sized spiced Thai fishcakes, Two baby gem lettuce leaves filled with shredded crab and topped with crunchy celery and tomato and a bowl of muscles in a white wine, cream and leak and ham sauce. All amazing, all well seasoned and all worked well together. Plus we shared between 3 and it was perfect in size. For our mains we all got the specials. My mum and I ordered the Plaice with a black pudding crumb, sautéed garlic potato's and fried green beans. Have to say it was amazing, there was a white wine and creamy buttery sauce white brought the whole dish together and the flavours were dancing on my tongue. The other half got the other special which was a sea bass linguine in a pesto style sauce with crab and muscles. It was beautiful as well, fresh tasting and lovely and light. Finally we had our deserts, (See picture) Chocolate whiskey cake with a caramel crumb, sticky toffee pudding and a cheese board. I don't even have to describe these, they tasted as good as they look. The Dirty Duck is always a hit with me and I've never had a bad experience there. The staff are friendly, the food is amazing and reasonably priced and the location is superb. Win, Win, Win!

    Classic fish & chips
    Éda N.

    First of all, thanks Colin for recommending The Dirty Duck! ;) I booked a table for me and my fiance to celebrate our anniversary. I wanted to try a new place, a place not very posh but with something extra. The Dirty Duck seemed to be a perfect spot due to the great location and the panorama. We had a wee walk along the beach before dinner which could have been nice - but of course it started raining! Hail stones at the end of May - welcome to Northern Ireland :))) We were lucky enough to get a table next to the windows, the view was amazing! I know it is nothing special for local people but as someone from a totally landlocked country I like to seize every opportunity just to stare at the sea. Or any kind of "big water" actually. :) I ordered the roast duck breast (medium well) with fondant potato, spring greens, onion puree and shiraz & cherry jus. It was simply perfect. The breast was crispy outside and soft and juicy inside and went really well with all the sides especially the sweet-sourness of the cherries. The Mr went for the battered cod and chips (what else?) and he was satisfied too. For desserts he had the apple crumble which was the best I've ever tasted so far and that's a big word because I am really a fan of apple crumble! I regret not ordering it but going for the cheesecake instead. I was a little bit disappointed as I could not really feel the white chocolate flavour and the slice I got did not look very fresh. I mean I know cheesecakes are obviously not served right from the oven but I wasn't 100% sure it was baked on the day. Anyway, this won't stop me from giving 5 stars because of the mains and the quality of service. Staff is exceptionally friendly and helpful. Another extra "well done" goes for the waiters and waitresses' listening skills. Despite my awful "Hunglish" accent they understood everything for the first time and I never had to repeat anything at all :)))

    It was a hard decision but I finally choose the roast pork belly from the specials menu.
    John B.

    This was my first time in The Dirty Duck and I certainly was not disappointed. The bar/restaurant is set in an idyllic location overlooking to water. We didn't have a table booked but thankfully the waitress was able to accommodate us. Within a few minutes she came back with menus and also made us aware of the specials menu, including the prices. After a long hard decision, I choose the roast pork belly, which came with vegetables, gravy and new potatoes. The presentation was fantastic and it smelt amazing. No word of a lie, It has to be one of the best meals I have never had! I didn't want it to end and when other people were ordering I just wanted to tell them to order the pork! The atmosphere was lovely and perfect for a family dinner for any occasion. The staff where very helpful and informative. One lady in particular, with short blonde hair, from Poland, was amazing. She knew the menu inside out and her communication throughout the restaurant/bar was brilliant. I will certainly be recommending this place to family and friends!

    Crab claws & Portavogie prawns starter
    Nadine C.

    Took dad here today as a wee Father's Day treat and everything was perfect! I'd tried the restaurant for the first time a couple of months ago and was equally impressed as I was today. We dined in the upstairs restaurant (and i agree with the other reviews, you NEED to book in advance). We were given a table by the large windows with the great views over Belfast Lough - really worth requesting this when booking. They had a Summer Menu which had loads of choice, so large it spanned onto the back of an A3 sized menu. Lots of lovely seafood options, as well as other meat dishes, some veggie options and Sunday specials. My parents both opted for the Seafood Chowder to start and loved it. My dad commenting one of the best Chowder's he has ever had. I had the crab claws and Portavogie prawns - absolutely delicious! It comes served with some fresh ciabatta to dip in the lovely surrounding garlic butter. Can't recommend this enough! For mains, my parents tried the Seabass served with feta & thyme gnocchi and I had the Monkfish tails & prawn curry, served with pak choi, coconut & coriander rice. Again, outstanding flavours throughout. The portion sizes are quite large too so we were all completely satisfied by the time we finished our mains. But of course..there's ALWAYS room for a little dessert... We decided to share a few mouthfuls each of the Rhubarb & Ginger crumble, served hot with a large dollop of vanilla ice cream and a little custard to the side. Once again - amazing! The staff offer great friendly service and prices are very reasonable for the excellent food quality. Oh and there is cute nautical decor throughout the building, including the quirky toilet seat art - see images below...

    Seafood Chowder! Unreal!
    Stevie M.

    Being the charming gentleman that I am I took a fine young lady to The Dirty Duck for a quick shandy on Sunday evening. As everyone in Belfast knows Sunday evenings are generally quite tame affairs but The Dirty Duck in Holywood was bouncing or bobbing perhaps is a better description? As soon as we got in from the cold in to the downstairs lounge I was hit with an angelic voice backed up by an acoustic guitar. The downstairs lounge was also pretty busy, 'regulars' propped up the bar and a few large groups of lads sang drunkenly along with the folk singer. But this was better than other bars where the only sound is tumbleweed whistling by! I haven't eaten in The Dirty Duck for years but I've heard good things. As far as a bar goes it has a friendly welcoming atmosphere and the sea views make it a great spot to sip on a Guinness and wind down after a busy week.

    Stacey K.

    The Dirty Duck could possibly be my favourite place to eat. I've been three times now and I couldn't fault a single thing. The restaurant is upstairs but you can also order food in the bar downstairs. I've tried the fish and chips, the seafood chowder, the crab claws and the seafood platter - every single meal was outstanding and the deserts were delicious. (The sticky toffee pudding is like heaven on a plate) The bar/restaurant looks over Hollywood beach and the views are amazing. If your lucky enough you might even get a seat beside an open fire. The staff are great here - nothing seems like too much hassle for them! Don't take my word for it, check it out! You will not be disappointed!

    kclose66@gmail.com
    Kim C.

    When is a pub not a pub? When it's the Dirty Duck on the seafront at Holywood, of course! This has always been a good pub for Guinness, atmosphere, views, open fires in winter, beer garden in summer. On top of all of this (who could want more, really?), the Dirty Duck has increasingly upped in game in the pub front stakes over recent year, moving to definite 'gastro pub' statue a while back, officially recognised by a FATE award. The food is great: the downside? Quite a lot of people know this already! It is still worth a visit, though. Here's what I had last time: Nelty's Nachos (the full buhna of nachos with crème fraiche, guacamole, cheddar cheese. I followed this with Portavogie scampi? Chips? Of course! Big, chunky. Homemade ones that you can balance quite a lot of mayo on! Hubby had slow cooked pork sausages in onion gravy with a bacon chop and creamy champ (great value at £7.50, mine tad pricier at £11.50). Desserts? Dear God no! We were stuffed. The Dirty Duck does have desserts and also a slightly more upmarket, upstairs restaurant (more expensive again, mind you, with some mains around £18). The Dirty Duck is on the slightly expensive side of pub grub, but then again, it's on the more upmarket side too, in terms of quality. Also they have the best beer garden for miles in terms of the view and their live music is free. And let's face it; it's the tightness of your jeans and the calorie-police that will limit your meals there, rather than the price!

    The best place for food in Holywood.
    Paul B.

    Seriously lovely food. I had a steak and my partner had sea bass. Both were completely delicious, fresh and brilliantly cooked. The staff were lovely and friendly. The only negative thing we could say was that we wanted to sit upstairs. We were told it was fully booked and we couldn't sit there. However the restaurant was completely empty. We ate out meal downstairs in the packed bar. I went back up to check and the restaurant was still empty. Dispute this We'll be back!

    Inside The Dirty Duck
    Avril R.

    The Dirty Duck has to be one of the nicest eating establishments that I have ever been to. The name itself makes it an interesting place to visit and the setting , overlooking Belfast lough is spectacular no matter what the weather is like! The pub menu is very good with plenty of choice to appeal to all tastes. The seafood chowder was recommended to me and I heave to say that it was excellent , the sort of cousins that leaves a very satisfying taste that you don't want to spoil! The day we visited the establishment it was cold and stormy and it was so warming to be welcomed by a blazing open fire which added to the relaxing atmosphere. Although it was quite busy there wasn't any long waiting time to be served the staff were friendly and efficient. I certainly look forward to a return trip and maybe when our great British summer eventually comes we will be able to take advantage of the outside area which has splendid views of The Lough!

    Enjoying a plate of nachos and some wine on my last trip to The Dirty Duck...
    Ciara S.

    It's a while since I've been in the Dirty Duck so I'm currently plotting a return. I've only visited 3 times and each time ate downstairs in the bar. On each visit the food has been delectable, with the nachos my favourite dish. It's a warm, cosy, friendly bar and I really want to have a meal in the upstairs restaurant which has amazing views of Belfast Lough. My current plotting involves a full Saturday outing to Dirty Duck for lunch, drinks outside in the beer garden and a Dirty Duck dinner later that evening. Best plan ever! Plus they've great vegetarian options...

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    16 years ago

    Went there for the first time. Good food and service friendly, Great view over Belfast Lough. Bar just OK food FAB. will go again.

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    15 years ago

    bellybuster meals and great pints in a quiet location. good music at the weekend. take a walk, a pint and a plate. you wont be disappointed!

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    The Dirty Duck Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - The Dirty Duck

    We were given a table by the large windows with the great views over Belfast Lough - really worth requesting this when booking.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

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    The Frisky Bear

    The Frisky Bear

    3.7(3 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    This is a relatively new bar opened on the main street which advertises live music through out the…read moreweek. The pub that was here before had a bit of a reputation for attracting a rough and tough crowd but apparently, according to my local Holywood source, those days are gone and welcome to a really nice, friendly and somewhat quirky little bar. Ascend the stairs into a somewhat dark bar with a nice open roof terrace that offers table service! I love that no more in and out to the bar. There is a quiz on a Wednesday with a special local knowledge round in an attempt to beat the iphones! Karaoke on a Thursday and 2 for 1 cocktails with a live acoustic set on a Friday. Saturday is disco night with Sunday providing the end of the weekend chill out. I like the feel to this bar and I think it is the kind of place Holywood needs - I'm a fan of live acoustic music anywhere so I will definitely become a frisky regular - as in a regular to the bar not some kind of weird horny person!!

    Frisky Bear is a strange name for a bar but these days it seems the more obscure the name the more…read morepopular, especially if you put an adjective together with an animals name, like the 'Agitated Cat' for instance. I made that one up but sounds like a bar doesn't it? Anyway back to my review, The Frisky Bear seem to have followed a tried and tested quirky bar formula. Add old bits of clutter like granny lamps, retro toys and mismatched furniture and you've got yourself a hipster hangout. Despite this formula The Frisky Bear isn't quite a hipster hangout. It attracts a mix of older locals and office workers. I visited with the intention of taking part in the free Wednesday night quiz but there were so few people taking apart I ended up leaving early. The guys hosting the quiz were great, really funny and I ended up 'loling' a few times which I rarely do. The bar itself is fully stocked and they do a good selection of 'Dead Rockstar' cocktails served in jam jars. I'd recommend the Amy Winehouse if you like your rum. The bar is located on the second floor and is a bit of a rabbit warren with a hidden games room (pool table and a few slot machines). They show all major sporting events and although it wasn't pulled down last night they have a large projector screen. Overall The Frisky Bear is a jack-of-all-trades - live sport, hipster décor, local bar flies, decent cocktails and live events nearly every night of the week. You're bound to find something you like about the place.

    Photos
    The Frisky Bear
    The Frisky Bear - Friday beer garden madness

    Friday beer garden madness

    The Frisky Bear

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    Johnny The Jig

    Johnny The Jig

    4.0(3 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    ££

    As promised in my previous review of Johnny the Jig I am updating things as I've now tried their…read moregrub. I was actually lured in here yesterday by a sandwich board outside saying 'Buy one get one half price on Burgers' but to my disappointment that deal only starts after 6pm - so don't get caught out. Once inside I didn't want to be 'That guy' who leaves once he finds out a deal isn't available - no one likes 'that guy'. So I stayed and I'm glad I did. The lunch menu isn't too expansive - it consists of a few starters, mussels, wings and chowder and for mains you can pick from 7 pub favourites like fish and chips or burgers. Having convinced my wee brain I was getting a burger before I walked in I went for a Mexican burger - it was priced at £12 which I initially thought was quite steep but once it came out I realised it was well worth the money. The burger was cooked to perfection (we were asked how we'd like it cooked - I opted for pink) and it was topped with spicy beef chili and huge chunks of chorizo - nice and sloppy and full of flavour. It was accompanied by potato cut chips, you know the type that have the skin still on one side for added authenticity. Can't fault the food at all and the staff are excellent - we were seated promptly, offered drinks and our orders were taken as soon as we were ready. A really great lunchtime destination. 5 Stars for food!

    I was absolutely plastered when I went here. Disregard this review but I will go again. Im pretty…read moresure I enjoyed myself though.

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    Johnny The Jig - Busy on a saturday night

    Busy on a saturday night

    Johnny The Jig
    Johnny The Jig

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    The Dirty Duck - pubs - Updated July 2026

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