Staff are very friendly. Unusual to for staff to see you out and ask you to call again…read more Fresh clean cut environment. Decent wee menu of savoury and sweet food. This place is quite like Established and the likes but cheaper. Stays open last some nights. Has outdoor seating.

Recently heard this had open on the Ormeau Road and decided to try it for Sunday breakfast as were…read morein Belfast. When we arrived it was busy, we were told to take a menu, sit and order at the bar. Some people came in and I think were used to waiting to be seated so in order to get a seat just walk in and work away. Very busy with families and couples and service was fast. I got poached egg and bacon on sourdough, which included two of each items. The egg was fab - the yolk was so yellow and just right its the best I've had in a long time, it was really tasty. The cappuccino was also smooth and went down well. Himself had the same breakfast finished by a tea which was an authentic tea leaf cuppa. It's also a help yourself to water over at the side and they have some infused with lemon and mint which is refreshing. Not an extensive breakfast menu but I often think the smaller the menu the better quality of the good. They also do matcha lattes. Good atmosphere and buzz about the place in pleasant fresh surrounding. Also the seat was really comfy and there were numerous sockets for phones and laptops so you could come in and work away while grazing. Large outside area for seating as well.

My previous review which was 4 star was based on the fact that although the 438 Coffee Bake serve…read moreexcellent coffee and food they used to have very limited vegetarian options. I'm happy to report that this has now changed and they have a new menu with lots of vegetarian dishes, including: Vegetarian breakfasts Soups Omelettes Baked potatoes Ciabattas Sandwiches Their own-baked breads, cakes, pastries and tray bakes are scrumptious and their daily specials delicious. Free wifi, homely atmosphere, some of the best coffee you'll find anywhere and warmly welcoming staff mean this is one of the best little cafes in Belfast. Deserving of a full 5 star rating.

Fab wee unplanned stop for brunch...great variety on menu. I opted for the French toast with added…read moreblack pudding. French toast was light and fluffy and so tasty. Great coffee here too. Will definitely be back

I decided to re-review General Merchants 361 when I had a chance to eat in it. To date I've visited…read morethree times. First visit was for a glass of wine. Second visit was also for a glass of wine which weirdly I was told by staff I couldn't order without also ordering food, so I left and went elsewhere, but found this strange as it wasn't the case on my previous visit. My third visit was today, Saturday 7 May 2016, for breakfast. Service today was a bit of a let down. On arrival a waiter showed me to a table which was filthy. No problem with that as he wiped both table and seats down (crumbs everywhere) but left everything soaking. Thus I had to dry off the chair myself with a tissue which I thought poor. I ordered a 'Brisbane Breakfast' which was one slice of sourdough bread topped with mashed avacado and two poached eggs. There was supposedly vegemite, feta and mint in it but I didn't really get those flavours coming through. Initially it tasted a bit bland so I added salt and black pepper which helped enhance the flavour. A nice enough dish once seasoned but nothing special and extremely extortionate at a cost of £8.50. I've had similar and more flavourful elsewhere for much less money. Additionally I ordered a large Americano (£2.40) and was horrified at the tiny cup of coffee I received. It was only when I paid my bill at the end of my breakfast that I realised they'd served me a small Americano (£2.20) in error. So in total my coffee and breakfast cost £10.70 which it really wasn't worth. Ultimately not a very enjoyable or relaxing visit. As well as feeling the food was grossly overpriced I found General Merchants to be uncomfortably packed with people and thus noisy and cramped. Waiting staff didn't bother to ask if my food was okay either while I was at my table nor when I went to the counter to pay for my meal. Overall very disappointing as I was happy to see this cafe open on Ormeau Road and initially loved the look of the menu, decor and ambience. However sadly it doesn't live up to my expectations and I now think of General Merchants as more style over substance. I won't be rushing back.

I liked it, I didn't love though!…read more After popping in for a spot of breakfast this morning I've spent all day weighing up the star rating To award GM. On the plus side it's hipster, looks lovely and the service is spectacular! But on the negative it's very expensive. My malt loaf toast with butter and a mini pot of jam set me back £2! But it came on a nice wooden board and was well presented - I think these days we're paying for that as much as the food itself! As mentioned the service is something special. As soon as I entered I was approached by a chap who was all too happy to help. He even guided me to a plug and brought me some bottled water while I browsed the menu! I got a nice seat by the open windows and watched the world go by! It was a lovely scenic setting for my morning coffee, which as it happens was fantastic. The rating would definitely be five stars if it was a little more affordable!

Fabulous café right on Ormeau Road. Great selection of coffees, pastries, paninis and scones plus…read morethey do a pretty good breakfast. Nicely decorated, lovely friendly staff and nice atmosphere. Parking can sometimes be difficult unless you're lucky enough to get right outside (I never am!) But you can usually squeeze in to one of the side streets. Well worth a visit

Great venue for a breakfast or brunch. Impressed at their latest menus as I had stopped calling in…read morehere previously as I wasn't drawn to anything. Boy has that changed...I'd like one of everything ;) so far we have sampled waffles for the sweeter tooth, goats cheese dish and on last visit the eggs benedict with smoked salmon with a portion of black pudding ( cos I love it and I was reassured it wasn't random- someone earlier had ordered exactly this! ). One of those meals you don't want to end. Along side this their coffee is good! Win win. Only downside - some tables are very close to another. Which only bothers you if your neighbour talks loudly through the entirety of their meal. Wouldn't stop me going again. If you haven't been go!

Visited 387 Ormeau Road yesterday and had the nicest sausage roll and oat milk latte I've ever…read moretried. Love that everything on offer is vegan and reasonably priced with a wealth of options to choose from e.g. filled wraps, bagels, salads, stews, soups, cakes and tray bakes. It's also heaven to have a choice of plant-based milks for coffee i.e. oat, almond or soy - such an improvement on offerings found at other Belfast cafes. My food was delicious and coffee flawless. In this, the age of excess hipster cafes, unfortunately it's still difficult to find good coffee, but thankfully 387 offers exceptional coffee. Additionally, this place doubles up as a health food shop with shelves, a freezer and a cooler brimming with goodies. After enjoying my coffee and food I did a mini grocery shop stocking up on vegan cheese, tofurkey slices, sausages, burgers, soups and chilli mayo. A lovely, relaxed spot with friendly, helpful staff and outside seating for sunny days. Decor is natural, focused on muted grey shades, wooden furniture, soft lighting and green plants. Everything about this cafe is synonymous with ease, relaxation and quality. I'm very glad 387 has arrived on the Belfast food scene and hope it flourishes. I will definitely be back.

We came here 3 times in a row during our stay in Belfast. We are from LA so vegan food is very…read moreaccesible and diverse there, but 387 Ormeau Road did not disappoint at all. We got to try the bagels, the sausage roll, the breakfast burrito, the mocha lattes, the soup, and strew! ALL amazing! And the staff made our visits that much more accommodating! Best place for vegan food in Belfast! Cheers from LA

Loved it! After checking out Brewbot and sampling a few of their stronger beverages we suddenly…read morecame over all light headed, not sure what happened, but we knew that some hearty grub might help quash the feeling so we headed on to the Ormeau Road where there's plenty of choice. Ambrosia was the first place we walked past and we didn't bother walking any further. Italian food was just what we needed and guess what, it was BYO too! Only £3 corkage per bottle of wine! Ok so less about me and more about Ambrosia; the decor was traditional with prints of Venice and the hills of Naples on the walls. The huge glass front of the building shines light in on the restaurant giving it that clean natural feeling. The waiters were authentic Italians, distinguished chaps, smartly dressed. I did a mini fist pump when I saw them as I then knew Ambrosia was a family business and the food was bound to be good. I wasn't wrong! We went for the Spaghetti Carbonara (we added chicken for £2) and a Vesuvio Pizza (Pepperoni, Jalepenos and chillis). The portions were huge and we decided to share our dishes having half pizza and half pasta, this didn't feel at all out of the ordinary as it would in a posher Italian and not an eyebrow was raised. The Carbonara was full and flavoursome and I didn't even need to add any extra seasoning. Compliments to the chef! The Pizza was doughy and a drenched in toppings - just the way the Italians like it! Ambrosia was amazing - we will definitely be back! BYO is a massive bonus too - a great place to start a night out!

I previously reviewed this place as 4 stars but each time I visit Ambrosia it keeps getting better…read moreand better so I'm upping them to 5 stars. Ambrosia is a lovely little Italian. So far I've had starters of breads, breadsticks, olive oil with luscious balsamic, tapenade, sundried tomatoes and olives. Mains of Spinach and Ricotta Tortellini in a cream white wine sauce, veggie Giardiniera pizza and tonight the amazing Vegetable Calzone. Desserts are luscious too, especially the absolutely delicious tiramisu. It's BYOB wine or beer which is always great and the service is amazing. Staff are lovely and the vibe here is relaxed. Plus Ambrosia serve the best coffee I've had in a very long time. This is an excellent restaurant - I will be back for more evening meals, lunches and desserts!

I really have to update my previous review and give this place 5 stars. It's still mega noisy -…read morekids squawking, tills beeping, chatter, shopping trolleys rattling etc, so definitely don't stop here if you want some peace and quiet. However it's a supermarket cafe, so all the noise is to be expected. As a Sainsbury's cafe the food is great - I'm maybe biased as I think Sainsbury's are the best UK supermarket and I love their food. There's a full range of hot main meals, children's menu, scones, cakes, coffees and drinks on offer. Even better there are great vegetarian options and each meals calorie content is displayed clearly on the menu. The coffee's good, staff are helpful and it's a great place to rest weary legs during shopping trips. Best place to stop in Forestside Shopping Centre for rest and refuelling. I popped in today before picking up my weekly groceries and had a delicious open top mushroom pie with mash potato, peas and gravy. Delicious. This and a bottle of water only set me back about £5 and 700 calories, plus saved me cooking a Sunday dinner. Brilliant!

We sometimes go into to this sainsburys cafe in forestside to get a cup of coffee or something to…read moreeat. Its a good cafe with lots of seating also baby high chairs and a choice of newspapers to read. Theres a good range of dishes on the menu including beef lasagne, cottage pie and mash , baked potatoes and lots more, theres also curry on the menu and a few vegetarian options like mushroom and spinach pot pie with mash, theres something for everyone there's kids meals and kids snack even baby food puree pouches. Theres a fridge counter with fresh sandwiches, juices and cakes and treats. This cafe also have deals on a board which is displayed as you come in with the latest offer. There's a wide range of teas and coffees also hot soup and bread. Good cafe with friendly staff.

I called into this new wee cafe along the Saintfield road. Its at the Inn Shops at the bottom of…read moreNewton Park and I noticed it driving past a few days ago. Its advertised as a guilt free treat place. Externally it is fronted with nice wooden boards re-enforcing that natural good feeling and its very eye catching. I met my mum for and we went in. Internally its a great wee spot, big windows so full of natural light and furniture built from reclaimed wood and pallet's. The fixtures are great two with industrial steel light shades. The overall feel is a nice and comfortable place to chill and enjoy food and a cuppa. There are plenty of veggie options and all the food looked gorgeous, a quiche with tomato, red pepper and goats cheese stood out but in the end I went for a beautiful looking wrap filled with fajita chicken, mozzarella and salad. The wrap was green and i think it may have been flavoured with kale. The wrap was very very good and it really hit the spot. It came with a decent bit of side salad. I also got a berry smoothie shake with protein, which was fruity, fresh and delicious. Overall I have to say thoroughly enjoyable fresh and flavourful food. This is a great wee spot and i'll be back (the breakfast menu looks immense!) I'd say there will be a few more good reviews to follow, definitely a place I can see Ciara S enjoying and frequenting in the future!

Called in today while passing and got myself a watermelon matcha iced tea that I had seen…read moreadvertised on Goodness Rocks facebook page and couldn't stop thinking about. Very refreshing exactly what was needed after over indulging at last nights yelp event - although matcha has an acquired taste I would recommend and get again. took all my power not to get a raspberry ruffle protein ball, which i can vouch are grrreat! I like the design & atmosphere here and enjoy the food choices available - tip: designed for a clean/ healthy diner!

Went in here on Saturday morning just after 11 and got a table as ones were leaving. Small spot and…read morebustling on a Saturday which is a good sign. Simple brunch menu and have to say was really tasty and efficient and all home cooked. I had wheaten bread with poached egg and Ballymaloe relish, the bread was from French Village and lovely and the eggs had runny yolks which I love. They do fresh smoothies and don't appear to fry anything as there was a choice of poached or scrambled on the menu. They also have soya and almond milk, (unsweetened almond milk) I was delighted as not many do this. The other half had a grill and nothing was greasy or left a grease mark on the plate and nothing was left on the plate. This consisted of toast, poached eggs (runny yolks) large mushroom and bacon. Was simple and effective although the table was very small for everything.  Nice and friendly place with friendly efficient service and also reasonable compared to other places.

Oh what to do when you've got a day all on your own and all to yourself? Arrange a lazy, self…read moreindulgent, cafe surfing, kindle reading, treat day - that's what! Hence I ended up in Soul Food Cafe. It's extra busy, extra noisy and filled with all sorts of people and chattering kids. Cosy, warm, welcoming with table service and free wifi. Soul Food Cafe is homely and lovely with quaint art hanging on the walls. On my visit today I had broccoli soup and a ciabatta roll filled with hummus, onion marmalade, roast peppers and salad leaves. It was heavenly, proper warming comfort food on a miserable, rainy November day. The Americano coffee is pretty good and there are quite a few vegetarian options on the menu too. Thank you Colin W and Brian H for the excellent recommendation! I noticed they had a chalkboard sign up declaring their first floor BYO bistro is open Fridays and Saturdays and you can phone 028 9064 6464 to book. I'm returning - and very, very soon. Soul food indeed.

Went in here today with my friend and ordered a California sandwich which is chicken, avocado,…read morespinach and garlic aioli in garlic focaccia bread. Was a really nice sandwich came toasted and with a side salad, the avocado went will with the chicken and garlic aioli , I never tasted avocado and chicken before in a sandwich together but it works. The interior of 5a is quite cosy but has a small seating area inside, a small seating area outside too. 5a sell sandwiches, wraps, sodas, traybakes, breakfast bagels, croissants , tea and coffee. I then got a chocolate brownie and a small coffee to take out. The brownie was moist in the middle and had a salted caramel glaze on top, was one of the nicest brownies I have tasted and was quite big. Good wee cafe, I didnt know was there until my friend introduced me too the cafe, I will be back again.

Fantastic little coffee shop, its too easy to miss it. I think it belongs in a better location…read more There's a good feel about it and its a relaxing shop to sit in or sit outside. The coffee tasted really good and the selection of buns was good. Definitely a good coffee shop.