"Exceptional in every way"
Came here recently for lunch on a trip to Belfast with my fiancé to celebrate our anniversary. He is a chef and a big foodie fan so it was an ideal opportunity to try a Michelin star restaurant. I knew the menu options as per the website but all three options were explained to us clearly upon being seated, there is a £30pp lunch menu, and a £45 or £70pp tasting menu option also available with wine pairing options (you can have a ‘shot’ £6 or glass of wine £9 per course, a ‘shot’ being just a slightly less measure), loved the option of the ‘shot’, something I’ve never seen before. We went for the £70 tasting menu and my fiancé did the wine pairing having both glasses and shots depending on the course. The wine is explained prior to each course by an exceptional sommelier, who’s passion and enthusiasm for wine clearly comes across. Every course was unbelievably delicious, and not as small as I’ve had in previous tasting menus. The steak tartar dish comes smoked, and as the clear cloche is removed the smoke evaporates around you, the added theatre is fantastic! I was assured all of the wine was amazing too. My foodie fiancé was in his element asking loads of questions all of which were happily and knowledgeably answered. My personal favourite was the chocolate dessert, with banana ice cream and coconut foam...my mouth is watering writing this and thinking about it! As mentioned above, the sommelier was great, but so too were the male waiter and female waitress who ran all the food and who explained each course. The decor is elegant and classy and I loved the little stool offered to women for their handbags, a lovely touch. I also loved the keep your own menu handed to you at the end. Yes it is expensive, this lunch trip set us back £235 (including 10% service charge which is well deserved), but as this was a special occasion my fiancé and I agreed it was worth every penny, and the menu was sufficient enough that we didn’t have to eat again for the rest of the day. We have ate in the Ox before, another Michelin star restaurant in Belfast, and although it was fabulous too, we both agreed this place tips the scale. I couldn’t recommend enough.