Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Northern Ireland

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in Northern Ireland? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Bank Square Brasserie

4.8

4.8 (366)

£25 and under

International

Belfast

About the restaurant

Bank Square Brasserie is a place where you can appreciate high quality food and service in a casual atmosphere. Anchored in the city centre of Belfast we celebrate local produces and resources to provide a unique experience, from our drinks list to the flavours on the plate.

Top review

Cathy

Dined 4 days ago

A great spot for tasty food and good service. Well worth a visit

Saga Kitchen & Cellar

4.8

4.8 (55)

£26 to £40

Modern European

Belfast

About the restaurant

Welcome to Saga.

Defined as a long story of heroic achievement, Saga embodies the continuation of our culinary journey from the success of Blank restaurant. With the same dedicated team, values, and passion driving us forward, Saga is more than just a dining experience – it's a celebration of good food and wine for good people without pretence.

We are always be open for walk-ins, but if you know you're planning on coming it's always best to book.

Prefer to speak with us directly? Our reservations team will be delighted to assist you. Simply call us at 028 9040 6399 Thursday-Friday from 4-9pm, Saturday from 12-9pm and Sunday 1-8pm.

Indulge in the Saga experience – where every meal is a chapter in your own culinary journey.

Top review

laura

Dined 7 days ago

The food was beautiful and everything was cooked to perfection. The restaurant was lovely and relaxing and the staff were very friendly and helpful. We will be back to try more of the menu but I will find it hard not to choose the carpaccio Wagu or Venison again! My only complaint was I needed a bucketful more of the artichoke purée!

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Experience

Meat up Thursday £80 for 2

3Cs Social Club

4.7

4.7 (366)

£25 and under

European

Belfast

About the restaurant

Winners of the NI hospitality awards 2 years in a row🏆🏆

**ANY PARTYS OVER 4 CONTACT RESTAURANT DIRECTLY OR THROUGH OUR FACEBOOK**

Belfast city centre newest restaurant @ the 3c's here to serve everyone with food of the highest quality at the lowest price, and offers that makes all other establishments blush. Cheapest pints in Belfast city centre (if not Belfast), best offers anywhere. 3 bottles of WKD, Smirnoff ice, Coors, Bud, Corona, Peroni only £8.00 pints from £3.90. Why not sit outside in our new beer garden that sits 150 people and let us look after you hand and foot. cocktails, beers, great staff you will not be disappointed. Belfast's best kept secret has been let out.

Top review

Shirley

Dined today

Food brilliant staff very good had a great time would definitely recommend

James St.

4.6

4.6 (359)

£26 to £40

Steakhouse

Belfast

About the restaurant

James St is a casual and contemporary, brick-walled restaurant specialising in chargrilled and aged steaks. The charcoal grill plays centre stage, cooking not just some of the best steaks and prime cuts Northern Ireland has to offer but also fresh whole fish, pork and vegetables.

With a larger, more established bar area, a large range of wines are available alongside a considered spirit list and an extensive whisky offering. Locally produced beer, cider and gins take pride of place on the drinks menu.

Owned by Niall McKenna since 2003 the revamped James St. will offer locals and tourists a great dining experience in a Belfast city centre.

The restaurant team is headed up by Ryan Stringer as Executive Head Chef & Paul Vaughan as Operations Manager

Bookings may be seated on stools at the bar.

Top review

Brian

Dined on Dec 4, 2024

This was the first time we had visited James st and the experience was fantastic. Food was amazing and service was second to none thanks for the great experience.

Taylor & Clay

4.6

4.6 (903)

£26 to £40

Steakhouse

Belfast

About the restaurant

Bullitt hotel's award-winning restaurant Taylor & Clay Grill, boasts an open kitchen built around an incredible bespoke Asador wood-fired grill. Head chef Saul O’Reilly’s talented team cook the best local meat, fresh seafood and vegetables over roaring flames using charcoal and ash wood sourced from sustainable local forests.

Why not enjoy after-dinner drinks in the lobby or move upstairs for cocktails and city views in Babel, the hotel's incredible rooftop bar and garden.

Top review

Conor

Dined 3 days ago

We celebrated my graduation dinner here with family and could not have been happier. Food was first class, service was quick and the staff could not have been more helpful. I will definitely be back.

Yardbird Belfast

4.6

4.6 (642)

£25 and under

Rotisserie Chicken

Belfast

About the restaurant

Yardbird is our rotisserie chicken restaurant upstairs above The Dirty Onion. Our menu is small but our flavours are big. Ok, we do chicken, but our chicken is famous!

Our local free-to-roam chicken is marinated for 24 hours in lemon, buttermilk, and paprika. It is then dry-rubbed, cooked and blast-chilled to keep it juicy and finally roasted on the spit. Ribs and wings are also available, as are a choice of sides and homemade desserts. Hungry yet?

We prepare all our food in-house and service is fast!

This is a booking for Yardbird the restaurant, The Dirty Onion bar operates on a first come first serve basis.

Top review

Jane

Dined 3 days ago

First time in Yardbird and really enjoyed Graby loaded fries. Staff were friendly and attentive. We’ll be back!

Fontana

4.6

4.6 (475)

£26 to £40

Contemporary European

Holywood

About the restaurant

Simple Food, Cooked Well, Enjoyed By All.
Fontana is a favorite in the neighborhood. Always serving the best of fresh local ingredients in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, Fontana is that perfect place for lunch, dinner or Sunday brunch.

Top review

Claire

Dined 1 day ago

Absolutely delicious meal, excellent service and so accommodating when we were in a hurry to get to a concert as well. 10/10!

Henry's

4.4

4.4 (759)

£25 and under

Irish

Belfast

About the restaurant

A licensed premises for over 100 years and steeped in Belfast history, Henry’s is the regeneration of a old favourite. Named after Henry Joy McCracken, Henry’s has been created to keep alive an old spot from the past, amongst the ever expanding and wonderful new. Join us for tipple, tales and some grub from the entries.

For any bookings after 7.30pm, please contact us via email at hello@henrysbelfast.com and our team will be happy to help!

Top review

ANGIE

Dined on Dec 11, 2024

Great service and good food. Staff very friendly and efficient

The Cloth Ear

4.4

4.4 (982)

£26 to £40

Irish

Belfast

About the restaurant

The Cloth Ear provides patrons with a pleasing twist on the quintessential Irish Pub. We are nestled in the oldest quarter of Belfast and we’ve woven a rich seam of our wonderful Victorian heritage into what is ultimately a thoroughly modern experience. At The Cloth Ear the welcome is warm and the atmosphere convivial. We invite you to join us as we celebrate the gentle art of conversation.
Our drinks list combines classic creations and innovative ideas. From punch bowls to hoptails and wine by the keg, we’ve carefully crafted an eclectic array of drinks to quench your thirst, tickle your tastebuds and get the conversation flowing.

We are story tellers and we look forward to hearing your story too.
No shaggy dogs, no braggarts, no windbags. Just tall tales,

All Tables reservations are for dining unfortunately we do not take drinks only bookings.

Top review

John

Dined on Dec 10, 2024

Leanne was very good and looked after us well. we had fish and chips and it was very good

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Popular dish

Fish and Chips

The Hillside

4.3

4.3 (808)

£25 and under

Gastro Pub

Hillsborough

About the restaurant

The Hillside is a charming, rustic pub situated in the historic Georgian village of Hillsborough, County Down, only 15 minutes drive from Belfast city centre. The Hillside first opened its doors to patrons in 1752 and has been enjoying a busy trade ever since thanks to our excellent food and drinks selection and our friendly, welcoming service. We are renowned for our roaring open fires in the winter and our pretty cobble stoned beer garden in the summer.

Top review

Stephen

Dined 4 days ago

Great Christmas dinner.

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