Eight of us rolled in for dinner on a last minute, unplanned visit, and it has been a long while…read moresince we've been. The menu choices hadn't changed very much but the prices have sure increased by 20% 30% in most cases and I'm cynical enough to think that it's not wholly justifiable. I do understand some costs have risen but suspect some price gouging too. We had a range of food: beef and chicken burgers, steaks and a vegetarian. Now pasta and vegetables have not risen 30%. Nor have spuds. The food was excellent, with one annoying exception - the baked Alaska. It was far too granular sugar loaded, the ice cream was mean and poor tasting, there was very little raspberry coulis, the sponge wasn't spongy and still worse it had frozen sliced strawberries within. Clearly the dessert was in the freezer to go to the hot oven in its iron skillet and it woulda worked but for the science. Baked Alaska works as the meringue insulates the ice cream to keep it frozen while the outside browns. So the frozen sliced strawberries benefit from the insulation and also stay frozen. Just stop putting strawberries into a dessert to be pre frozen and add to the dessert post cooking. I won't knock a star for this as it's easily remedied. The service was tip top and the servers were real attentive. One of the attractions of places like this was that you got a bargain so you also went more often but those days are gone and now with prices coming much closer to the top notch places like Fitzpatricks while the food offerings aren't commensurately better just more money it's more likely that folks will go there so price gouging can be counter productive.

A group of us came here for a pre-booked meal one Saturday…read more One server came and took our drinks, followed soon after by another to take the food. This seemed efficient and fairly up-to-speed. Everything was going ok until the food started to arrive out. Cutlery was thrown in the middle of our very long table in a pile. They must have been thinking "help yourselves, because you're not worth us giving table service?". I'd trust this wouldn't happen with tables of 4 or 2, so if you're a larger group, forget about expecting the basics of table service. Grab them yourselves. Food arrived out and very few of us were wowed. I had seafood tagliatelle which consisted of tiny chunks of salmon, a few prawns and 2 crab claws - over-drowned in a thick, sickening creamy sauce. That's what ruined it for me. At just shy of £16 I would have been expecting a)everything to be perfectly cooked in the dish and rationed accordingly, and b) to at least have mussels and maybe even a few clams or a substitute seafood. A friend remarked that his salt & chilli squid was like something from Iceland and the accompanying sauce was horrible. Dessert time, and the menu came framed in an oversized box frame?! Don't get it. A lot of ordered desserts and/or drinks. Again, spoons fired in the middle of the table. They were nice. Drinks never arrived for a lot of us, I reordered mine and then a second one was about to come out (I told the waiter that I wasn't ordering a second, I just never got the first.) They tried to charge for both on the bill which says to me the staff aren't communicating effectively and aren't amending the bills correctly. Overall we were unimpressed and have definitely ruled out going back for any other staff night out we might have. Christmas isn't too far away!

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.

I'm just going to reiterate everything everyone has ever said to me about this deli - it is…read moreawesome! Clean, fresh, warm and welcoming with a huge choice, a good sized portion and a very decent price. The shop itself reminds me of a French deli with all the gorgeous cheeses on display and the shelves which are home to dips, spreads and chutneys! Seriously this is my kind of place! I once had a white chocolate cheesecake in here many moons ago and the image and taste are well engraved in my memory - it looked like something out of a magazine and the taste was thick, creamy yet melting and amazing. I sound like a freak but I will never forget it - haven't tasted one like it since. I can't rave about this place and the food enough - just go, you'll love it!

This is the ultimate deli experience in Belfast! I love the food here and it's so fresh and I love…read morethe fact that even the bread is homemade! This makes for a very exciting smell upon entering here in the morning! Fresh baked bread...nothing better! I come here for lunch whenever I'm in the area and sometimes when I'm not! They offer a huge range of delicious fillings and will literally put together any combination you can think up! They're not afraid to give you plenty and the prices a re great too! I'm told they also cater for functions and although have never experienced this side of the business if the food here is anything to go by it'll be a win win combination!!

Definitely my idea of a great delicatessen with a fantastic selection of meats, cheeses, jars of…read moredelicacies, fresh olives, fish, pates, salads and everything else that you hope to find to complete a gourmet feast for a special treat. Among other things there is high quality bacon and locally produced smoked salmon. All sortsof specialised ingredients are likely to be here with things you don't find often such as the Canadian Clover Crest honey which I bought. The only trouble for me is that Arcadia is so far away up the traffic laden Lisburn Road though the longish opening hours are helpful. Mind you, perhaps it is just as well as I'd be overspending far too much.

Arcadia is quite possibly one of the best finds I have had the pleasure of discovering while…read morewriting my reviews. I'm not up on my deli / speciality foods, nor do I know my Perches from my Pollocks (apparently types of fish...yeah, I didn't know that either) but even I realised the extent of Arcadia's wonderfulness. Plus they sell American sweets. No longer was I interested in the Snappers or the Sea Breams (yep, more fish), the Gruyere or the Gouda (cheese this time)...I eyes were solely fixed on the sweetie selection. Picking up a packet of peanut butter M&Ms (I don't like peanut butter, nor do I like M&Ms), the feeling of the novelty of purchasing something that is so highly sought after over here overcame me. And so, they were bought for the grand price of £1.49. My sister, on the other hand, eyes popping out of her head, was visibly distressed by the varied and unusual choice of confectionery which lay before her. Well, Willy Wonka was the lucky man this particular day, and she selected a packet of 'Wonka Nerds'. And now I am officially going to immigrate to the USA. Ohhh, these are good. These are really, really good. Tiny drops of wild cherry and watermelon explode with flavour the moment you pop them in your mouth and start chewing. It's been nice knowing you all...I'll see you on the other side. (Of the ocean).

This is an award winning, meat packed, scrumptious, clean and fresh butchers that i would recommend…read moreto anyone who wants a decent cut of cow hide for a decent price! Very popular among the local residents and very much a family run business. This butchers offers hot food from its deli counter during the day, unusual bottled drinks, cheeses, sauces, meats as well as great bargain hampers for family feasts. The butchers has won many awards of excellence such as The Bridgestone and The Guild awards. The master butcher, Nigel McCreery, boasts a family history of more than fifty years in the trade - and the skills certainly show in the well run establishment and the tasty produce. I noticed a bargain hamper for families which is something I have never seen before. A chicken, steak, mince, burgers, eggs and more all for just £20.00 - no wonder this place is always busy and has been going so long.

"People who love to eat are always the best people." -Julia Child (1912-2004)…read more One of the stops on our Belfast food tour, Sawers was a tremendous hit. Crowded at lunchtime on a weekday, we managed to nab a table when another couple finished their meal. It's super busy and inside, it's full of gourmet delights. Anyone who thinks Northern Ireland doesn't have good good needs to come here. Smoked salmon on toasted bread, hard Irish cheese, crunchy baguette, sliced turkey, even chilli sauce and something called "black butter." Oh, and wine. You can't have a midday snack without wine, right? Much/most of the food here is quite local (the wine is Spanish) and the staff are helpful. Check the "sandwich board" out front for specials. The Spanish Board for £25 would be my choice! [Review 1893 of 2024 - 871 in United Kingdom - 22915 overall]

Found this gem while strolling the streets of downtown Belfast. This place has it all! A great…read moreselection of various packaged food, a deli that makes fresh sandwiches, pastries, fresh cheeses to cut and an olive bar. Browsing the store, I saw that it's separated into sections. An Italian section with lots of varieties of pastas and sauces. Cookies from Italy and limoncello! There is a very small Mexican section, which in my opinion was pretty darn good for being in Ireland! They had tortillas, various dry chilies and hot sauces. Lots of cookies, candies, jams and jelly's and a very large tea selection. The cheese case and deli were loaded with so many choices, it was hard to choose! You can order food and eat at tables that are just outside the front of the store. A definite recommend but if you're a foodie, be prepared to be dazzled!

Tasty! I had the club sandwich (gluten free bread) with a ginger ale for lunch. There was lots of…read moremeat and lettuce. Fries in the side. It was full of flavor and reasonably priced. The place has a good feel about it. Rustic and clean. Professional staff.

Food was brilliant and the service was good too, everyone except a lady with short silver/purple…read morehair she was very rude. I was about to finish my water and leave to go eat somewhere else but someone else ended up serving me thank god. If I wasn't greeted by her rudeness I would of 100% gave this 5stars. I can only give my opinion on the food I ate which was excellent

This place is massive and has a lot of produce on sale for really good prices…read more I called in recently to buy onions and mushrooms for a curry. The guy who served me was singing at the top of his voice so I started chatting to him about what else I could put in a curry. He suggested peppers, garlic and sweetcorn. I listened to his suggestions but didn't bother but I will tell you if I needed any more vegetables or fruit or herbs I wouldn't have needed to go anywhere else. Lots of fresh produce, very centrally located on the Ormeau Road and a massive airy space. I actually thought as I was leaving that they could expand into a deli or open a dessert section as the place is so big - maybe the could open a curry counter? Yer man was still singing when I left. Very friendly place.

A pretty massive green grocers and one with a truely lovely vibe when you walk in. I like to try…read moreand eat a little bit healthy while eating locla produce and trying to avoid the bigger chains as much as possible. As long as the local stores aren't stupidly expensive then I think its an obligation to try and support local businesses as much as possible. With this in mind I try and call in here after work to pick up my fruit and veg and have always found the staff friendly and helpful, always serving me in a polite way with a smile on their face. The prices are pretty standard and certainly not prohibitive if you want to shop locally. I like its old school vibe and would certainly recommend anyone who is up on the Ormeau Road to pop in and try to support a locally owned, sourced, provided and staffed shop.

My biggest pet hate ever happened in this Spar today. I went to the counter with a drink costing…read moreunder £1 and they told me they didn't accept card for purchases under £5, even though they had contactless installed, which meant the transaction would have been quicker than paying with cash. So I then had to go outside use the on site ATM and withdraw £20 (they didn't have any tenners) for a 98p drink! Surely it's time to accept card for all sales? The shop itself is actually quite good, it's in the heart of student Belfast so it stocks all the essentials, party snacks, energy drinks, pot noodles, ready made sandwiches. It also has a coffee machine and as mentioned an ATM on site! Losing a few stars for their ridiculous card rule!

As far as convenience stores go this Spar is actually pretty good. It has a great deli counter…read moreselling a range of cooked breakfast items, freshly made sandwiches, wraps and salads. Additionally they have a coffee machine and stock freshly baked croissants, pastries and cakes. There are a lot of other items too - magazines, stationary, prepackaged sandwiches, fruit, ready meals, bread, confectionary, household cleaning products, painkillers, deodorants and shower gels etc. Much better laid out than a lot of similar shops and the prices are reasonable, plus there's an ATM outside. Only one drawback exists - this Spar is located near Queen's University and in a main student residential area, hence it's swamped with customers during uni term time. Can be extremely busy, especially around midday.

If you are up on the Ormeay road working or shopping, or just dandering about you will need to get…read morea bite to eat at some stage. You have plenty of options if you want to call into a trendy café or bistro to pick up a sandwich or have a bit of a lunch date. If you want to pop into one of the parks on the road and eat a sandwich of a bagutette outside you can't really go wrong with popping into this Mace and grabbing a bit to eat. It has a pretty nice wee deli that you can pick up a sandwich to go from at a pretty good price. Its not the cheapest but its certainly an ok budget option. The staff are friendly and the rest of the shop is well stocled and you will be able to pick up most things for the household if you need a pint of milk or a loaf of bread. You probably can't do the weekly shop here but its a pretty good emergency option. There is usually OK parking on the Ormeau road and if you're stuck you can jump on the bus at one of the many stops along this busy road.

This was my closest Mace for some time, while I was waiting for the Sunnyside Street Mace to open…read more(see my other, enraged, review), and although it's the usual run of the mill corner shop it's not too bad to nip into to buy something for tea if I can't be bothered going to Dunnes down the road. It has the faults of other corner stores - it can be overpriced and understocked, but generally it's well enough filled and there are at least Mace own brand items like washing up liquid or kitchen roll if you're a bit stuck for cash. And come on, it's washing up liquid, for pete's sake, how much different can it be? I don't like the way the minimum charge on a debit card is a tenner (again, see my other Mace review), although to be honest the tangoed, false-eyelashed, false-nailed snooty staff member I asked about that could have made it up, she was certainly unimpressed when I asked. I'm quite fond of the newly opened deli in here though and have chatted to the owner a few times while waiting for my piled sandwich to be made up. And his mum is great, knowing that 'A little bit of mayo please' means just that, rather than squeezing a huge dollop out of the bottle for each slice of bread. Deli men, please. Most ladies are on a diet, and even if they're not, err on the side of caution and assume they don't want the fat content of their sandwich doubled just by the dressing. But don't suggest they're fat. Dear god, never suggest they're fat.