Restaurant review: Made in Belfast
Posted: 02 November '09 by Niall
Made in Belfast
After doing some serious food shopping in St. George’s Market on Saturday, Kelly and I dropped in to “Made in Belfast” for a bite to eat. We’d both heard (largely) good reviews about the restaurant – or “resto-lounge” as they dub themselves – and thought it was high-time that we tried it for ourselves.
Stepping inside the doorway was a sensory experience in itself – Julie London was singing in the background, and amidst the mis-matched and haphazardly hung wallpaper, exposed pipe-work, grafitti, sofas, and assorted bric-a-brac, we found ourselves slightly disoriented. It works though – “Made in Belfast” has a relaxed, bohemian vibe that is at odds with the hussle-and-bustle of the city-centre at the end of the street, a small bubble of relaxation.
As much as the decor, I think the waiting staff make or ruin a good first impression – although they were relatively busy, one of the waiting staff came over to us straight away and showed us to our table – a small, painted table and (typically) mismatched seating – a metal-framed chair for Kelly, and plastic patio furniture for me. The staff really did add to the welcoming and relaxed atmosphere – nothing was a hassle, they were attentive, and were more than willing to talk about their personal recommendations for dishes and drinks.
From the fairly impressive day-time menu (which had some really appetising and quirky dishes on there: venison pie with root chips, chicken liver parfait, and fish finger sandwiches to name a few) Kelly chose the Belfast crab on toasted wheaten bread, while I opted for the pint of prawns. The crab was really delicious – lots and lots of sweet white meat held in a crisp lettuce leaf, with a generous dollop of lemon mayonnaise, on a doorstep of wheaten bread. As usual, Kelly gave me a forkful of hers, and I have to admit, I was disappointed I only got one. My prawns were served on thick chopping-block of a wooden tray on which was balanced a pint glass stuffed with rocket leaves, six of the plumpest prawns that I have ever seen, a slice of soft black olive bread, and more of the fresh, zingy lemon mayonnaise. There are times when having to extricate a prawn from it’s shell is just too much like hard work – but not in this case! You’ll find yourself attacking the meaty crustaceans and discarding heads, shells, and serviettes with abandon.
We enjoyed a very leisurely lunch, and never once felt like we were being hurried out of the door, much to the restaurant’s credit.
| Lunch: | |
|---|---|
| Belfast crab on wheaten bread | £6.95 |
| Pint of prawns | £7.95 |
| Sundries: | |
| Glass of pure orange | £1.70 |
| Bottle of peroni | £3.00 |
| Total: | £19.60 |
Our verdict:
A quirky, distinctive restaurant in which you could happily while-away the afternoon – or spend a night enjoying.
MIB isn’t perfect – We ordered a dessert which never materialised, and I thought that the food was slightly over-priced, but nothing that should discourage you from visiting, and is quickly forgotten when you sample the delicious food and feel yourself unwinding. Having said that, the helpings are fairly generous – while both Kelly and I could have eaten more, it was nothing to do with the size of the portions!
There are lots of positive things, however. We’ve already decided to return some evening, and are planning to bring friends from England who are visiting – which speak volumes. A definite “Chilli and Chocolate” recommendation.
Our rating: 3 out of 5
Made in Belfast
Units 1 & 2 Wellington Buildings,
Wellington Street,
Belfast
BT1 6ET
T: +44 (0) 28 90246712
E: emma@madeinbelfastni.com
W: www.madeinbelfastni.com
You can also see Made in Belfast on Google Maps.
Tags: 3 star rating, belfast, belfast restaurant, restaurant, restaurant review, where to eat in belfast
Categories: Northern Ireland > Restaurant Reviews > United Kingdom
