A few years back we got to to here as the Belfast telegraph had a promotion on and even though its…read morea fair distance from Belfast we thought we'd take a gamble on it, definitely worth the drive as the food and atmosphere were above expectations with being in the winter and the open fire lit, really nice and cosy. The tables by the entrance are the best but don't be fooled by the small appearance its like Dr who's tardis as the space through the next set of doors there's a massive room for dining or dancing. You have to park in a car park on the opposite side of the road which is a bit inconvenient but its just added character and the food was nice too. We'd love to go back sometime soon .

Found Saltwater Brig by pure chance on a filthy dark winter night while on holiday from Scotland…read more But what a welcome inside! The staff were so friendly and helpful with my disabled Wife. As for the food, we have eaten in a lot of places in a number of countries but this was as good as anything we have come acrooss. And the finishing touch was dining beside the huge log fire on a freezing winter night. It was so good that we went back another couple of times during our week's stay. We are going ti Ireland again shortly on holiday and Saltwater Brig will be our number one priority for another visit. We were back in Ireland for another holiday in November. The Saltwater Brig was top of our agenda for a return visit.......and we weren't disappointed. Once again everything about it was superb - the beautiful location beside Strangford Lough, the cosy surroundings and the welcoming staff (especially Olive who is the friendliest waitress you could meet). Then there is the food. The extensive menu is fantastic and we cannot speak highly enough of its quality, and all very reasonably priced. If you enjoy "a taste of Ulster" put The Saltwater Brig on your MUST VISIT list. We guarantee you will love it.

No.1 has great food No.2 great service food arrived quickly…read more No.3 very chill staff No.4 nice ppl No.5 the food is amazing

I have heard so many good reports about this restaurant and curiousity got the better of me. We…read morewent there on Sunday 1st May. I was very impressed firstly with the decor. Quite traditional with a tasteful modern twist. Staff were very helpful and friendly. We had our 10 month old son, who was being a bit boisterous, so they asked if there was anything they could get him. They brought out a side dish as quickly as they could to ensure he could be fed and settled. I ordered the scrummy prawns and crab claws to start, followed by the tasty duck - delicious fresh ingredients. The music playing was just what I have on my ipod i.e Ben Howard, so whoever choose the playlist has great musical taste!) Lovely homely atmosphere. The bar was understandably very busy and there was a few people waiting for our table, which put me off ordering a sweet. I can understand the demand, but notice of how long we had the table for would have been appreciated. This would not put me off returning to the Bull & Claw for great food, lovely restaurant!

I visited this little gem recently and had the best meal in a chippy I have ever had…read more I have been here a few times before but never had anything other than the standard fish and chips (which were delicious) but this time I thought I would be a bit more adventurous and try the fish of the day - which just happened to be 1/2 a lobster with garlic chips and marie rose sauce.....all I can say is WOW this knocked my socks off! To be able to get this type of fresh produce from a chippy is just amazing, you cannot ask for better - infact it was so fresh that we saw more fresh fish being brought in as we were being served. My boyfriend had the scampi and chips and although this didn't look like much on the plate, it was gorgeous and he also said its the best chippy he has ever had - high praise there believe me lol The staff are friendly and helpful, the seating area is small (there are only 5 tables) but if you are lucky enough to get a seat by the window you can appreciate the scenary while tucking into your chips :) I cannot recommend this place enough!

The Ruddy Duck is one of the best Fish and Chip shops around, here's why;…read more Firstly its proximity to the sea means that it serves only the freshest fish. How do I know it's fresh, well they have a small fishmongers counter next door with iced fish ready to be thrown in the fryer or put under the grill. Secondly; this isn't your regular 'fish and greasy chips in a newspaper' fish and chip shop, this is what I like to call fine dining fast food cuisine - I just came up with that there - I think it will catch on. You can sit inside the cosy shop and watch the chefs do their thing or if it's sunny you can perch yourself outside on the decking and watch the folk of Hibernia Street pass by. Thirdly; The Ruddy Duck also do great lunchtime deals and it's worth the trek to Holywood if you're a City worker and have a particularly long lunch. Try the £5 deal, which includes Cod bites, chips and a soft drink. If you're heading back to the office you might need to nap under your desk for a bit because your belly will be full to the brim with fresh fishy goodness.

The food here is absolutely out of this world. I'd been…read morewanting to try The Boat House for a long time, but since I live in Glengormley it was too far out of the way. I was bought a voucher to stay at The Crawfordsburn Inn, so I jumped at the chance to go to The Boat House for dinner while in that neck of the woods. 100% worth it, and I would go out if my way to visit again.

It's small and understated, sitting in a car park at Bangor marina. When you head in and down…read morestairs it has a very comfortable feeling with hints of the buildings previous form still intact. It's something a little special in Bangor, and sad to say it will be closing soon. Get here before the end of October for a final taste of their tasting menu. The service is warm and friendly and the staff where attentive. The glasses and plates were well chosen and very pretty. It was dimly lit with the music picking up the closer it got to closing time, some interesting tracks to. The whole experience was well put together from start to finish. The tasting menu is five courses, with your starter, fish, meats, and desert. The portions and pacing is perfect to leave you feeling satisfied but not over full. Each of the courses where we'll thought out and had very subtle flavours to begin, building to more powerful tastes near the end. A highlight was the compressed apple for dessert, which gave a strong taste of apple leaving a slightly floral note at the end. Overall a very relaxing and gratifying experience. I'll be sad to see this place go as I'd like more chances to try their food.

Been here a good few tines over the last couple of months and iras become a favourite. As the…read moreweather has been picking up and especially since the clocks changed the brighter evenings have meant the beer garden at the front is superb to sit by the sea. There are screen about the outside of this area to protect from the wind and electric space heaters that help to take the chill off further. The prices are all in the typical area (a bit too much these days) for a bar/food place, but nothing shocking or out of the ordinary. The staff are always friendly and decently paced if not overly chatty and engaging, to be fair it has always been quite busy when we have been in. There is a good range of beers on tap, normal prices all round, again typical of a contemporary bar in this regard. The food though while again typically priced has been a pleasant surprise on eat visit. While the prices mean the the food would need to be of a decent standard each trip has managed to prove to be over and above expectation, so it is always a pleasure to know we're going here, for a pint or a plate.

This was the perfect place for a family reunion! We enjoyed a delicious meal while visiting from…read morethe US. 14 in all! It was a good time. Friendly service and lively ambiance.

Food and service terrific. The staff was great with our grandchildren. Nice variety of food and…read moredrink choices.

Coast is probably the closest place to eat from where I live, apart from my kitchen that is, which…read moreusage has decreased week on week. Anyway, enough about me, back to Coast. Coast is a favourite of many local Holywood residents and trust me these residents know their food. The interior decor is simple yet extremely effective, there seems to be a focus on what they serve rather than what the place looks like, not that it's shabby inside, far from it. It's plush decor stands the test of time. It's not huge inside so if you want to visit I would suggest booking, especially at the weekend. They have recently placed a few tables outside so alfresco dining is now an option. Food wise it's excellent. Being so close to the sea I would suggest opting for seafood and would recommend trying their mussels in white wine and garlic sauce along with fresh ciabatta, for dipping of course. Coast is fully licensed so you can grab a glass of wine to accompany your food - the wine list is pretty extensive. The staff are great, there's a good mix of experienced servers as well as those who are taking up part time roles between their studies but don't worry the service never changes - top class! Can't recommend Coast enough - the bill won't break the bank but you'll feel like it should cost more than it does!

Tried to go last night 14 Mar 2026. Walked around the entire building and into a few wrong places…read more Finally spoke to someone at restaurant next door. This place is permanently closed. Don't waste your time.

Great concept, helpful and friendly staff. Love the products! Best place to get quality souvenirsread more

I will admit it took me an unusually long time to actually try Josh Mac's after it opened. I think…read moreit took me about 2 years before I tried it, despite the fact that it's right on my doorstep. It's not like me! Since my first visit, I have been to Josh Mac's about 5 times so far, and they have been consistently fantastic. Josh Mac's offer a grill, American/fusion type menu, with loads of delicious dishes on offer to suit anyone's taste, such as burgers, pasta, chicken dishes, fish dishes, and a Veggie menu too. Each time I have been I've got something different and it's been just amazing. It's hard to choose, but I'd say my favourite so far was the Piri piri chicken quesadilla. Most of their mains come with two sides, and unusually for me, I struggled to finish this, but it was worth every bite! The braised Cajun rice and coleslaw were the perfect accompaniments. It's a very pleasant experience to sit in Josh Mac's, with great decor and really spacious and airy inside, with massive windows which are great for watching the world go by. I've always been seated quickly any time I have been there and the staff are friendly and efficient. The restaurant (and importantly the bathrooms!) are spotlessly clean. Definitely a must visit!

The food here is delicious. It is always cooked to perfection and you get 2 side orders! What's not…read moreto like about that?! The peppered chicken and burgers would be my personal favourite. The interior is lovely and comfortable with high booth style seating which is very nice adds a touch of privacy which I like. They take reservations or you can just arrive. At the weekend you may have to queue but they have a waiting area which is OK.

Where do I even begin?! This place is...just wow. I'm still in awe. Perfectly lovely staff,…read moreluxurious but very affordable, and the most exquisite food made for a tremendous evening in the fabulous Fontana. Slightly unconvinced at the location of such a restaurant (through an archway, in a door, up a windy staircase, in another door), all initial perceptions flew out the window when we were greated by our server and referred to a lovely little table for two in a bright, airy and somewhat lavish room. It was almost like stepping into Narnia...you would never have guessed that such a lovely restaurant lay at the top of those wooden stairs. Delightful! A very reasonably priced supper menu was thrust our way and both myself and my boyfriend opted for a main course and a dessert, which cost £16.50 each (1 course is £11.50, and 3 courses are £19.50). My Penne Primavera (minus the peas) was delicious, and my other half practically swallowed his Slow Roast Pork Belly whole, it was devoured so quickly! Dessert was inevitable, and the sundae did not disappoint. Vanilla ice-cream and chocolate brownie topped with hot chocolate sauce. Absolutely heavenly! Astonishingly good value too, particularly for such well-sized portions. Fontana has hit the nail on the head, so to speak. Simple food, but used in a creative way and cooked to perfection. I've paid an awful lot more for food which was a great deal inferior, but I was absolutely delighted with every aspect of this superb restaurant.

We didn't mean to go here for lunch. After a bracing walk along the shore we actually thought we'd…read morego to Holywood favourite The Dirty Duck. When we found it fully booked, and hungry threatening to turn into hangry we headed up the high street. Fontana has been one of the classiest joints in Holywood for years and it has been a good while since I've been in. The last time I was in for lunch they had a really reasonable set lunch menu, and I did open my eyes a little at the prices on this one, but we were there. And very hungry! The maître d could not have been nicer, treating us like old friends (who we'd never met) and we settled to make our choices. It was pretty quiet for a Friday and we were the youngest people there by far, but once the food came I didn't really notice anything else. The steak with peppered sauce, truffle mushroom and triple cooked chips was practically flawless and for pudding, the Chocolate Orange Nemesis Cake with raspberry sorbet was one of those dishes worth going back for. OMG. OK, at £70 for two for lunch it is pretty expensive, but by golly it was good. I'll be back...after pay day. ;-)

Went on the recommendation of our b and b host Hargreaves. Fantastic place with a warm fire and…read moregood food.

I was a birthday here last night and it was the first time I'd ever been upstairs. It's perfect for…read morea party as its there to rent out for private functions. It was very spacious I could imagine you could have a good size party here. There is a small dance-floor you can go up and throw your crazy shapes after one to many. If you wanted you could hire a DJ and have plenty of room for his equipment. But my party chose to use a phone and play it through there sound system which was equally as good. The bar is quite small so if it was a full house I could imagine it would take abit of time to get served but nothing major. The staff are very friendly aswell. Downstairs is just a public bar, i would say a crowd ranging from mid twenties up. So maybe not great for a younger crowd. The bar is very small so it can get packed very quick and with not many seats you could end up standing most of the night. Great choice of drinks and cocktails. Would maybe be a great bar to start on and move elsewhere.