Buba is the latest restaurant to open in St Anne’s Square, in the centre of Belfast’s buzzing Cathedral Quarter. Owned by husband and wife team, Tony and Andrea O’Neill, who own and operate the popular Italian inspired restaurant/cichetti bar Coppi, also in the Square.
The style of their new baby, Buba, is a fun and vibrant open plan eatery serving food inspired and influenced by the rich flavours of the modern day Eastern Mediterranean including Greece, Turkey and North Africa.
The menu is comprised of lots of small plate dishes, designed to share, and to give you a sample of all of the rich culinary traditions, exotic produce, flavoursome spices and cooking techniques this region is known for.
Think NIBBLES of Baba Ganoush & Harissa salsa & Almonds, BITES of Duck Cigars, Cinamon, Raisin & Capers, FLATBREADS of BBQ Chicken, Chilli Hummus, Chermoula & Yoghurt and MUNCHIES of Baked Garlic Prawns, Za’atar & Coriander. Not forgetting SIDES of Persian Style Potato Hash, Pomegranate, Mint & Yoghurt and of course SWEETS including Rum Buba, Goslings syrup & Vanilla cream. Our vegan friends will be delighted too with thirteen tasty dishes, not including sides and sweets, dedicated to them.
Executive Chef, Jonny Philips and Head Chef, Gerard Doran, have been working on these dishes, plus lots more over the last few months, perfecting every delectable mouthful. Matching such robust flavours with drinks to blow your socks off was the job of Manger, Paul McGuigan, who has devised a fun and interesting cocktail list including House Cocktail, When I Grow Up…..a perfectly blended mix of Poitin, Benedictine, Green Chartreuse, Fresh Passion Fruit, Lemon. Vanilla and Cinnamon; definitely not for the faint hearted!
The design of Buba was a collaboration between the owners and Orla Maguire of Oscar & Oscar. A warm, vibrant colour palate of burnt orange, teal and copper sets the tone. Seating is a mix of comfortable and plush banquette seating around the perimeter with large central tables perfect for getting to know your dining companions that little bit better. You can even dine right in front of the kitchen on high fixed stools, the perfect seat to watch the chefs at work, and play!
Heating, music and lighting is extremely important to set the scene for the perfect dining experience, and this has been well thought of with funky playlists and even funkier lighting with the centre piece of twenty multi coloured origami paper lanterns giving the interior that wow factor.
Buba will be serving food from 4pm – midnight on Friday and Saturdays, and from 4pm – 10pm Sunday to Thursday. So keep an eye out on social media @BubaBelfast to keep up to date with competitions, special offers, events and other fun stuff! We look forward to welcoming you to Buba!
