Molly Browns in Newtownards has a great reputation as a comfortable and welcoming restaurant / bar providing fresh home-cooked food, quality drinks and great live entertainment.
Molly Browns was the first place in Northern Ireland to introduce Black Rock Grills. The food is cooked on a volcanic rock heated at 440 degrees right in front of your eyes with the local 10oz Sirloin being a firm favourite. You will find almost everything on the menu is home-cooked from their freshly baked wheaten bread to their ever famous Chicken Goujons or lasagne.
Be sure to keep an eye out for their 2 courses for £10 running from 12-9 Mon-Fri and 12-6 on a Saturday. Kids under 12 also eat for free every Saturday and Sunday 12-6 and 12-8 respectively. Sundays are all about families and the roast dinners at Molly’s are perfect for quality family time, so why not book and enjoy the classic favourite roast beef .It is sure to warm the heart on a cold day.
If you are a movie lover, they do a fantastic meal and movie offer including a main course and your cinema ticket in to Movieland Ards for just £10.95, Mon-Thurs 5-9pm. Enjoy their Cocktail Happy Hour with all cocktails only £3.50 from Sun-Fri 5-10pm. An ever-popular venue for sport lovers, Molly Browns show all live sporting action from the hustle and bustle of the Rugby World Cup to the action-packed Barclays Premier League.
If you are looking for somewhere to hold a special occasion such as birthdays, engagement parties or a corporate event, hire their comfortable Live Lounge with all-inclusive packages starting from £295 including a DJ, room hire and finger food for 40 people. They also do cater for tailored packages to suit your needs. If music is your thing then Molly Browns provide the best live music in town every Friday and Saturday night with local bands playing all your favourite hits throughout the night.
Serving food Monday to Saturday 12-9pm, Sunday 12-8pm
Kids: Monday to Saturday 12-9pm, Sunday 12-8pm
Three generations of McKees have run this thriving business. More than a farm shop and restaurant, it’s a destination. The restaurant can seat up to 130 hungry people, but you won’t be hungry by the time you leave. There are just far too many goodies on the menu.
Isn’t it great when you can see the food being prepared in the kitchen? And don’t you just love places where they rear their own chickens? Those eggs go into bestsellers like the barnstacker breakfast and the famous cakes and puddings.
We love our bread here, it’s true, but who wouldn’t walk over hot coals for freshly baked soda? Sausage rolls are lifted onto another level when they’re homemade.
This is good honest food like sandwiches that are filled to the brim with County Down ham and smoked salmon and pies, burgers and lasagne. From farm to fork, quite literally.
The clue is in the name. French chef proprietor Franck makes sure you mange very well at his place. He’s a pastry chef, so you just know those Portuguese custard tarts and tarte tatins are going to be amazing. Sweets are far from the only string to his bow.
Breakfast of Eggs Benedict, a hearty Ulster fry or French Toast with bacon & maple syrup? What about a bavette steak with homemade chunky chips for lunch, or fishcakes made with the local catch?
There’s always a choice of at least 5 salads on the deli counter. Vegetarian options are a cut above with offerings like stuffed aubergines.
The menu might be globe-trotting but the ingredients haven’t done many air-miles. The monthly bistro nights go down a storm and it’s bring your own.
Catch them selling their fine food at artisan markets around the place too. Bon appetit!
Award-winning chef, Davey Cardwell is back in his own kitchen
at last. He was Head Chef of the Quays in Portavogie and while there it was named AA Seafood Restaurant of the Year. When the opportunity came up to get his own place in Kircubbin, Davey and his partner Leigh jumped at the chance.
This cosy place is a café by day and a restaurant by night. Breakfasts are superb. They even have a Slimmers cooked breakfast. Free tea and coffee top-ups. For lunch, think pies, lasagne, wraps, burgers and baguettes and plenty more. Daily specials too.
The weekend evening menu changes according to the fisherman’s catch but expect to see Dover Sole, locally caught scallops, Strangford mussels, Portavogie prawns and freshly caught lobster. It’s not all about fish, though. You can nosh on on Northern Irish Grass Fed Sirloin of Beef and Saddleback Honey Glazed Pork Cutlets and Mount Stewart game dishes. Weekend booking essential.
If you like Hillmount garden centre in Castlereagh, you’ll just love their new place in Bangor. They’ve transformed a furniture showroom on the Belfast Road. After you’ve browsed the gift shop, garden centre and BBQ zone, you’ll be ready for some sustenance at the aptly named Gardeners Rest.
The Mercer family have been in this business since 1940 so they know what customers like. They want friendly service, great
food and drink and plenty of good quality local ingredients on the menu. They buy from Down Wholesale, AFS, Lynas Foods, Rodgers Meats and Ashers. The ice-cream is from Riada and the hams are from Givans. Tuck into sweet treats from Cotton Cookies and Cakery Bakery.
You don’t have to be green-fingered to eat here, though. The food and service speak for themselves.
The café is open for breakfast, morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea.
Mon-Sat 9-6. Sun 12-5.
They’re big on fish at this seaside restaurant. The daily catch is always on the menu. Kilkeel whiting was on the day we were there. Head chef Brendan Baxter has joined them from Daniel Clifford’s two Michelin- starred restaurant, Midsummer House. He has cooked at the Brit Awards and now he’s doing his thing in Warrenpoint.
His new signature dish is a goodie. It’s Silverhill duck cooked 3 ways. The duck breast is seared; the leg is confited and then there’s caramelised onion gnocchi, crisp duck egg, served with carrot and lemon puree, baby vegetables and a rosemary jus. Mmmmmmmmmm
The owners are a husband and wife team who wanted to create a funky wine bar atmosphere and they’ve certainly succeeded. Although they’ve only been open for a year, Fusion is already a firm favourite with locals and visitors.
Leave the car at home or at the hotel if you can. They have a super duper wine list, they serve beers from the Hilden brewery in Lisburn and the cocktails are ALL fantastic.
