We had an enjoyable evening at La Mona Lisa when my 8yr old nephew received a Learning Hero award…read moreat school. We had a selection of pizzas, lasagnas, garlic bread style pizza and desserts. The pizza was some of the best we have had with a thin crispy crust, fresh toppings and plenty of flavor. They will also drizzle or soak it in garlic butter upon request. My nephew suggested we try it soaked in the garlic butter and he was right. It was delicious. The ambience is old style Italian and the service was top notch. Efficient and friendly describes it best. There is plenty of seating upstairs and down but I would still recommend reservations at this little gem as it was packed when we were there. Especially, if you are visiting during busier Times such as summer or TT week. One last note, the owner is a kind, friendly, happy man who does a precious 'magic' for the children at the end of their meal if they eat everything. All around a great experience.

I really enjoyed my meal at La Mona Lisa but didn't feel it should have been listed as a top-5…read morerestaurant on the Isle of Man. It was good and reasonably priced, but the food was not life changing. Started with very good garlic bread, which was served like a pizza crust with an excellent almost spicy tomato based dipping sauce, strongly recommend. The antipasto was also a nice starter, with many olives (I don't olives but a friend said there texture was too tough), peppers, salami, ham and artichokes. I had chicken parmesan over spaghetti. The chicken was good and the sauce was relatively complex but the chicken was not flattened as I like in many good parms. The restaurant was also very hot, which made it a little less than perfect. Overall, a restaurant I would go back but not overly memorable.

We opted to try this restaurant more out of nostalgia than any other reason. (We loved the previous…read moreitalian-La Lanterna). We were very pleasantly surprised indeed. The small team of friendly staff were vibrant and enthusiastic, and couldn't do enough to help.They had a great product knowledge (one of our party being coeliac) and were only too happy to prepare special meals for us. Gluten free pasta with chilli king prawn was exceptional and the veal was certainly one of the best meals out I've had-tender, flavoursome and served with fantastic little potatoes. The young lady (Laura I think) gave us a very warm welcome and continued to wait on us hand and foot with great humour, despite the restaurant being nearly full! Even the chef came out to serve meals and chat to a few tables with her, a very nice touch we felt. We have rebooked for next week, with friends, and can't wait to sample more of the delicious menu. A very well done to the team.

I hate stodgy Pizza and this was a refreshing change nice and thin the oven as per Cheffy does seem…read moreto make a difference. I nipped in for lunch and service was very quick. They now do takeaway which is even better as I can then phone and grab when on the run.

We had a wonderful vegan and gluten free meal specially prepared for us by the owners. I was…read moredelighted with the fantastic tomato sauce that was definitely created on premises using fresh tomatoes, as good as it gets. The owner herself waited on us, was certain to warn me that their malt vinegar contains gluten, and generally watched out for me because I have celiac disease. A great place to stop along the A75 between Dumfries and Stranraer near Kirkcudbright.

We don't get to go here as often as we'd like, but that only helps to make it more of a treat. Its…read moresuch a lovely spot. The decor is quirky (without trying too hard as sometimes places that try to be quirky can be) and ambiance is lovely. whether you are seated in the backroom which is the cosiest I think, or one of the front areas, where you get a lovely view of the bay, it is a pleasure just to sit here. The staff are always friendly and pretty fast and so great to engage with, but I think one of the stars of going here is the food and coffee. The menu is inventive and will have something to please everyone, and so delicious for the most part. I tend to gravitate towards a favourite that they do... eggs in purgatory... but anything Ive tried has been great!

Wow. This place is a hidden gem…read more I only went for breakfast but they also do a bed and breakfast service. The customer service is next to none. The guy that welcomed us is eccentric and so friendly. The front door was opened before we even reached it and we where very warmly Welcomed and led into the dining room to sit at a table with an amazing view. The food was great and the you had plenty to choose from off the menu. I would probably go for the French toast next time as it looked awesome. Staff continually ask do you want coffee refills. They have a wee shop out the back selling gifts. Parking is on street and easy. A great place to go for breakfast and walk along the sea front. It's like being in another world. So good to be away from the pace of city life. Can't wait to go back.

This is a great little cafe in Lockerbie, I've been in it for brunch/ lunch a few times now and it…read morealways seems very popular. It does get quite crowded at lunchtimes though. They're open until 4pm most days, but will also open in the evenings for private functions. The front part of the shop has more 'standard' seating, although the window seat do have some cushioned benches. There's more seating with some larger tables through the back though. The menu is more extensive than you might imagine and has lots of veggie and gluten-free options. You can have a basic soup and sandwich combo, or something something a bit more filling like a baked potato. Great salad choices too Breakfast and brunch choices vary from the usual egg combos (my favourite being the Royal scrambled with smoked salmon), through basic toast or scones, to a French selection based around brioche, which is a nice change from the norm. The coffee is pretty darn fine too!

We love this cafe. Delicious food, and serving a diversity of needs. Delicious sandwiches good for…read morecarnivores and omnivores. And vegan options (delicious 3-salad plate), gluten-free bread and vegan butter that are delicious. Staff super friendly and efficient. Lovely sweets. Great coffee. :) nice relaxed happy atmosphere.

A fantastic eatery with healthy options and great atmosphere…read more The service was quick and the waitress was pleasant. I was there on a day that wasn't too busy as I had heard that it gets quite crowded.

Tomorrow is Monday and I'm starting a healthy eating plan so this weekend is one of pure indulgence…read moreand I'm determined to enjoy every last minute of it. Therefore my trusty sister and partner in crime Caroline S and I decided to get takeaway for supper. We tried new delivery company Deliveroo and found they currently don't deliver to our area. This is a bit ridiculous as we're relatively central. I can't see Deliveroo prospering in Belfast if their delivery zone is so restricted. Apparently they currently only deliver to BT1 which is literally just the city centre! After much deliberation and debate we ruled out pizza, Chinese, Thai and Indian food and decided on chip shop food for supper. So John Dory's it was. Having been let down by Deliveroo we resorted to the trusty Just Eat app to order. All was quick, easy and efficient. As two vegetarians what we could order from John Dory's menu was limited as even their pasties are not vegetarian. Thus they lose a full star for lack of vegetarian options. We ordered a chip, a cheesy chip, onion rings, battered mushrooms, a tub of mayo and a tub of garlic mayo. Our order arrived quickly enough within 30 minutes, which was less than the 45 minutes we had been told it would take. It was hearty, unhealthy grub which really hit the spot and did not disappoint. I loved the chips but thought the onion ring and mushroom batter a tad too soggy instead of crispy. All the same everything was tasty, flavoursome and delicious and I would get food from John Dory's again.

This is honestly one of the best chippys I've been to and that's saying something! Personally I…read moreordered the scampi and it was so fresh. Would definitely recommend.

I have never sat in and eaten at Camphill so unfortunately I can not comment on the food their café…read moreproduces. One thing I do know is that Holywood is full of competing Café's so Camphill must be doing something right to have stood the test of time. I go to Camphill if I am looking for special ingredients for a meal. Their organic selection is second to none. If you are in to specialty food or have specific dietary requirements then pay Camphill a visit. If they haven't got what you're looking for in stock they will certainly tell you where you can source it. The staff are knowledgeable about all things organic. There's a real rustic feel about the store, spuds are freshly picked and still muddy and carrots still have their greenery sprouting from the top. You feel like you're shopping directly from the farm - no packaging and no middleman means you're getting the best local produce available.

I just noticed that Robbie B is raving about Camphill in Holywood and I agree with a lot of what he…read moresays. The staff are nice and it is sunny in Holywood (sometimes!) The cafe is nice and charitable and they do sell organic and vegetarian foods - all things I love but I have one complaint that is maybe very personal. When I was a child I got nits! dirty little head lice nesting down in my barnet and I remember my mum took me to a health food store to buy some natural remedy for head lice. All I remember from that trip was the overwhelming smell of herbs and spices and homeopathic remedies - that smell still makes me gag. That is the smell you have to sit in when you eat in this cafe. I sound terrible but that is my personal experience - I walked in looking for a diet coke, as soon as I spotted the fridge stocked with organic Scottish milkshakes and pure organic grape juice I knew i was in the wrong place. I did love the authentic old boxes inside which prunes and dates and walnuts are stored, there is a nice feeling to the place and it obviously goes down well with the local set as the place was heaving - unfortunately because of that dreadful smell I was too.

For just over a year now the Smugglers Table or 'The Smugs' as it seems to have become known to us…read morehas been the go to place of choice, even more so than the Chinese takeaway offerings that had been our takeout of choice for so long. We've sat in a few times hear and never been disappointed with what we've had, it's a pretty good all round menu and the place since it has been refurbished is great, warm, welcoming and just all round pleasant to be in with staff that really make you feel like a valued customer. For me though, as good as the sit-in experience is, I think of it for its takeaway option. There is a small door at the side that you can go to pick up your phoned in orders, or to go to to actually place your order and wait. I would recommend phoning ahead as the standing room is pretty limited (think clothes shop changing booth size) for waiting. They also do delivery but I usually go down to pick it up through nothing other than personal preference as the delivery times have been reasonable any time I've used it. Prices are good, although at the weekend I ordered from the meal deal section, (chicken burger and chips) and had to pay extra for mayo, lettuce and tomato, to me they are integral parts of the chicken burger experience!!!! But hey, if this is the only real gripe, the Smugs is doing pretty well by any scurvy sea dogs standards!!

Note that The Tea Junction has many more reviews than most other restaurants in Douglas. All the…read morehype is well-deserved. Charming space that takes tea seriously (but they don't take themselves too seriously - what a refreshing combination!). I don't appreciate tea as I could, but I do appreciate delightful atmosphere, good service and delicious food. This is a great example of what this Texan thinks a tea shop should be.

On a day stop on our cruise, we find ourselves exploring the Isle of Man. With a Yelp notification…read morethat we are nearby, we walk over to Tea Junction. What a jewel of a find! In one of the few places that serve a tea from a loose product, the selections here are many and the quality is obviously high. Our lunch was excellent, sandwiches, cakes, and scones. What a find, a treasure for sure.