” After 15 years, Dorman’s and the Opera is temporarily closing it’s doors while it gets a massive refurbishment. Please check our web site http://dormansopera.com/ and our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/dormansbar1 to keep up to date with all the news in this exciting time. Dorman’s will be re-opening it’s doors Summer 2014, the restaurant however will not be open until Spring 2015
Archives: Directory
Bushtown Hotel
You know you’re going to be a happy diner when a place’s motto is “Laughter is brightest where food is best.” The kitchen team at the Bushtown Hotel use prime ingredients like 28 day aged steaks and fish caught in the Atlantic. The emphasis is on local suppliers where possible; Magilligan Vegetables, Aghadowey Potatoes, Cherry Valley Duck. That doesn’t mean they’re afraid to experiment, though!
There are foods from around the world on their menu alongside good old Ulster favourites like beer battered cod and pan-seared lamb cutlets. You can choose to eat in the rustic former Stables or the more formal Bays Restaurant. Neither will disappoint. At this place, they cook from the heart.
What is particularly good about this place is the kids and teenybopper menu. One of your five a day is free (costs nothing) and teenagers can also avail of our special inbetweeners menu aged 7-14 with delicious mini platters or goats cheese bruschetta.
Naturally North Coast Best Hotel Restaurant Winner!
Brown’s Restaurant
Don’t you just love restaurants that are also champagne lounges? Chef Ian Orr counts Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna and Coldplay among his fans, so you can see where the VIP vibe comes from.
You too will feel like one of the glitterati in this uber-sophisticated place. Brown’s has a clutch of awards and once you visit, you’ll see why. The décor is super funky, channelling the Art Deco style of the Roaring Twenties.
The food is sublime. Ian has worked at the River Café in London and in Shanks with the late great Robbie Millar. Who wouldn’t love his ravioli stuffed with Portavogie prawns, lemon and ginger followed by 24 hour cooked shoulder of Lough Erne lamb? Both of these courses cost less than £22 and at dinner time too! Such good value for money. Even better is the early bird option which even runs on Saturdays.
Note to self. Must go to one of Ian’s Saturday afternoon cookery demonstrations followed by a three course meal.
Yellow Door Deli
We have Simon Dougan to thank for this gem in Portadown. You can buy his bread and scones all over Northern Ireland, but if you’re in town, don’t miss a visit to the deli to try some of the vast range of fresh food prepared on site. It’s a real community café with customers coming from all arts and parts.
The décor is so cute. We love the lamps made from teacups and saucers and the boards telling you about seasonal produce.
Naturally the artisan breads make great sandwiches. They smoke and cure their own meat, fish and game. Last time we were there we pigged out on Tuscan bean stew and mojito cheesecake , but there’s no point telling you to have that since their menu changes daily.
Top marks too, for growing their own herbs, soft fruits, salad leaves and vegetables. Almost everything else comes from local suppliers.
And we guarantee you’ll leave with at least one loaf and a jar of something yummy from the shelves.
The Planters
They’ve won so many awards for this place; it would take a whole page to list them. The latest include Best Family Friendly and Best Tourism/Visitor pub at the Pub of the Year awards. They were also finalists in the food category. Speaking of which, the grub here is very good indeed.
The restaurant is spread over two floors and Executive Chef Conrad Newal has sparkled lots of fairy dust over the menus.
Our favourites are the Portavogie scampi and the pulled pork on ciabatta. Top marks too for a bigger than usual vegetarian menu. Mushroom stroganoff and Peppered vegetable pie. Yummy.
We absolutely have to mention the burnt coconut cream and banoffee crumble pie. You’ll end up asking for one of each!
They’re big into supporting local farmers and growers, so the food miles are as low as they can be. Prices are as small as the portions are big.
Just go!
Old Barn Steakhouse
It hasn’t been around for very long, but it’s already firmly established as a must-visit venue in Armagh. The Old Barn is all about good, honest, traditional food in relaxing and comfortable surroundings. Everything’s locally sourced, including that all important meat, so you can be sure you’re eating the highest quality ingredients.
The chef owner, James Nicholson is a multi-award winning chef and a local man. Those gongs include the World Culinary Olympics, Seafood Chef of the Year and Ulster Tatler Chef of the Year 2012. He’s worked with Neven Maguire, Ainsley Harriot and Paul Rankin among others, now he’s out on his own.
His menus may focus on prime steaks, but the seafood, chicken and veggie options are yummy too. We were particularly impressed by the pan-fried lamb’s liver with smoked bacon, champ, onions and gravy. Offally good. And did we mention the in-house desserts? Banoffee, profiteroles, pavlova…oh my! Try the Sunday carvery or check out the early bird menu from Tuesday to Sunday 5-7pm. You’ll be glad you did.