This is my favorite restaurant that I've been to in Belfast or any other town, city or country for that matter! It must be experienced if you live here or even if you are visiting. I must warn you though, it becomes like a drug - many foreign friends and relatives of mine crave a "Four Seasons fix" when they come back here!
The food is to die for (excuse the cliché). I recommend you bring about 4-5 people at least to experience a good range of dishes. The starter platter is a great way to begin (which incidentally will serve about 4-5 people). In that you get pork spare ribs, sweet and sour chicken pieces, chicken skewers, deep fried shrimps and the absolute gem in this crown - the most beautiful deep fried squid in a light, crispy batter. Squid is very hard to do but this is the freshest and most succulent I have ever had. It's very easy for squid to be like pieces of rubber, but it's certainly not the case here. This wonderful platter is served upon a bed of crispy lettuce leaves.
There is a great range of main courses, all as good as the next. The Four Seasons can be a victim of it's own success in the sense that you love what you had last time and you never get round to ordering anything new, but anything I have had has been done to perfection so you are guaranteed a great dish no matter what you order.
Great traditional favorites of mine are sweet and sour chicken with a perfect blend of sweet and sour (not sickly sweet and overly sticky or throat cuttingly acidic that many Chinese restaurants can be guilty of), twice cooked beef done in a beautiful light batter and black bean sauce, duck (in quarter, half or full portions) served with a rich dark soy based sauce.
If you have a big party they do a great steamed turbot that melts in the mouth and if the budget stretches, Dover sole. You'll need to ask about the availability of these fishes though. Other recommendations are the monkfish hotpot - a hearty dish almost like a stew containing battered monkfish, pork pieces, chunky vegetables in a light sauce. We would always tend to get a portion of steamed pack choi which is a very nice compliment to the meal too.
The Sun Kee on Donegal Pass was easily the best Chinese restaurant in Belfast but when it closed some of it's staff went to The Four Seasons and others to The Maccau on Ormeau Road (another very good Chinese restaurant). The staff in Four Seasons are so friendly, courteous and attentive but not intrusive (i.e. they won't run to fill your glass every time you take a sip). My family have gotten to know them now and I notice they have this relationship with many more people too - a testament to how good a place it is when people return constantly. The chefs quite obviously got lost on their way to God's kitchen and are now working here.
A bar is available serving a decent range of wines, beers (Chinese and Western) and soft drinks. I cannot be sure about spirits as I have never ordered them. Aromatic Chinese tea is usually complimentary at the end of the meal if I remember correctly as is a platter of sliced oranges. A nice refreshing way to end a flawless dining experience.
I hope I have not over-hyped this place, but we have never had one bad experience or even slightly under-par dish there once and neither has any friends or relatives (in fact it becomes a running joke in my circle). The price is tremendous value for the quality of food you get (roughly £15-20 per head excluding drinks). Quantity is never an issue and the staff are very flexible and honest with you, quite often recommending slightly under and stating it's never a problem to order more during the meal. Any time we've ordered another dish or side dish it has always arrived within 5 minutes so it's not sitting there at the end on it's own!
It is so consistent and I cannot say that about a lot of Chinese restaurants in my own personal experience. Highly recommended! read more
