We’re very proud of our tradition of great independent home bakeries and the Windsor is a prime example. It’s been churning out soft loaves and sticky buns to its loyal customers since 1957.
In the café, the food is all good and wholesome. It’s all prepared on site and is open for breakfast, morning coffee, lunch and lazy afternoon teas.
The menu changes daily but they also do soup, stew, curry, paninis and toasties. If it ain’t broke….
This being a bakery as well as a café, there’s always the option of a delicious sweet treat to enjoy with a generous pot of tea. We do love our tea and buns, don’t we?
The service is old-school friendly but they’re bang up to date with their Wi-Fi. You can take away ready to eat meals and celebration cakes are a speciality.
They completely refurbished this place during 2009-10 and it’s now one of the top places to eat on the Ards Peninsula. This is a true village pub where you can cosy up to the turf fire during winter, or relax in the beer garden in summer.
Meat and game are their specialities, and with such fantastic produce on their doorstep, it’s a no-brainer. The local village butcher provides the burgers which are served with a homemade relish.
They don’t ignore the water though. Strangford Lough mussels and Irish Sea prawns arrive daily from the nearby fishing ports. We love how the mussels are done in a broth. And how cool does Rockin Goose Ale Battered Cod sound?
You might be lucky to get one of the private snugs to yourselves. Then no one will see you devouring a Guinness hazelnut and chocolate brownie… Or a huge bowl of Will Taylor’s Glastry Farm ice-cream?
A beautiful Victorian building was lovingly restored to create this gorgeous boutique hotel and bistro overlooking Bangor’s picturesque Marina.
The menu is packed full of mouth watering dishes celebrating the best of local. You won’t get just any old fish and chips – theirs is salt-water cured haddock cooked in a local ale batter with breadcrumbs.
From Walter Ewing’s fish to their own home grown Kitchen Garden herbs, the artisan goats’ cheese from Leggygowan and a range of dishes made using Bangor’s own Keen nut butters, provenance is king. So committed to supporting local, they’re now selling products such as Broighter Gold oil and Abernethy butter to customers from the hotel reception.
Also worth a mention are the vegetarian dishes. There are four brilliant choices including arancini and blue cheese soufflé. Simple, London-esque dessert names (Pear / Chocolate / Lemon) give dishes real standout. Top marks all round.
PS Make sure you try their extensive gin, cocktail and local beers & ales lists.
Want to dine in the village which is home to the Queen of England’s official residence in Northern Ireland? They treat you like royalty at the Parson’s Nose and the food is definitely five star. One of our top chefs Danny Millar is responsible for the food offering. This is a gastro pub which you will want to visit again and again.
The in-house Belfast Black wheaten bread served with Abernethy Butter will whet your appetite for the likes of Rademon estate pigeon and some of the best steak we’ve ever tasted. It was a struggle to fit in the buttermilk onion rings and triple-cooked chips. Portion sizes are so generous, you’ll be hard pushed to
do three courses, but do try. How could anyone resist chocolate cherry cake?
The décor is totally in keeping with the Georgian building but feels modern too. Top marks for supplying local brews. Check out the Heavenly Menu deal for the best value. We’re having the crispy pork belly with roast apples, but first the potted Lissara duck with rhubarb and ginger chutney.
We don’t know about you but to us, food always tastes better when served in an original thatched cottage. When that cottage also houses an arty gallery near the shores of Strangford Lough, well, what more can we say? Plenty, actually.
Whether you go on a sunny Saturday, or snuggle up in front of the turf fire on a cold, wet Wednesday, you’ll be so glad you popped in. We just love the restored bog oak beams. They make everything on site from soups and scrummy salads to gorgeous gateaux.
We’re extremely partial to the cinnamon scones. It’s open for breakfast right through to afternoon tea. The local ladies love it and it’s just £8.50. If you’re thinking of dinner, you can take some home with you. Our favourites are the steak and Guinness and fish pies.
We also love the new takeout vegetarian menu. Those salads go really well with that Beetroot and Goats Cheese tart.
At The Slieve Donard Resort And Spa
A magnificent oak-panelled room with an ornate fireplace with a view of the stunning Mourne Mountains are a great start to what will be a memorable meal at this iconic hotel.
As with all of the Hastings Hotels, they strive to use the best local produce and to do it justice in the cooking. They avoid artificial preservatives and flavourings in the kitchen. We’re sure you’ll notice the difference.
The Oak’s menu changes regularly, but expect interesting takes on classic starters like Pan Seared Strangford Lough Scallops, or Ham Hock Terrine with Sourdough bread. The mains will leave you in a quandry – do you go for the Roast County Down Spring Lamb Rump? Or the Kilkeel Pan Fried Hake? Or maybe the Leggygowan Farm Goat Cheese and Mixed Vegetable Tart? Decisions, Decisions.
If you’ve any room left after all that, be sure to try the Chocolate Pavé with Orange and dressed with Gran Marnier, or the Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Strawberries and White Chocolate. We’re hungry now, are you?
6.30-9pm daily,
12.30-2.30pm Sunday Lunch.
