There are few things that will have me running for the exit faster than big, laminated, idiot-proof menus. Especially those with pictures of the food on them.
Thankfully, Portside doesn't have the latter, or on my first visit many moons ago, I'd have legged it and not come back. Because, menus aside, I really quite like this place. It's a (at times) tremendously busy bar in Duncrue near the docks, an area I've always been attracted to. Big ships and gigantic feats of engineering I suppose.
It hasn't succumbed to the plague of chrome-and-glass wielding interior designers (you'd do well to not get me started on them, the gits) that have destroyed a load of other old bars in Belfast. It's all nice wood and subtle lighting, very pleasing. The staff are great. You'll not find a clueless student-type part-timer manning the bar or floor here... More the type of folk who've seen it all and have a line for everything, and who are very, very good at what they do.
Tell you what, you don't even have to bother with the only thing that irks me - the menus. They have a pretty impressive specials menu every day of the week, written on a blackboard above the bar. That's what I'm talking about! Last time, I opted for slow-cooked beef in red wine and mushroom sauce (sounds awesome, doesn't it? Well, it was. If you're of these mentalists who can't stand meat or mushrooms... I just don't know) with steamed rice. Yum indeed, and reasonable.
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