STREET FOOD The Gourmet Boys

As we know all too well, the guarantee of summer sunshine in our fair isle can be somewhat hit and miss, so Al Fresco dining isn’t always on the cards. But, we do have some fabulous culinary venues with incredible views to enjoy come rain or shine! Here are some of our favourites.

Established in 2021, Shanty Bites and Brews situated in the old lifeboat shelter in Portrush is an absolute must for any visitors to the North Coast looking for a brilliant foodie experience in stunning surroundings with gorgeous sea views. We started with some delicious sharing plates; a Bread Selection with herb oil, romesco, Chimichurri, & fig confit, a wonderful platter of fresh Fritto Misto, and some smoky, charred Padron Peppers.

Our mains included a Kilkeel Coley with patatas bravas, Lemon and Coriander Marinated Monkfish with lobster rice, Chimichurri Chicken, an enormous, golden Fish & Chips, and a delicately marbled Ribeye Steak with peppered sauce.

Accompanied by delightful tunes courtesy of the talented Oonagh Clark, and with a spectacular sunset behind her, what an idyllic way to spend a summer’s evening enjoying fine food and wine.

AC Hotels by Marriott Belfast

AC Hotels by Marriott opened its only NI venue in April 2018 and with the addition of the Jean-Christophe Novelli Restaurant, the hotel quickly became a popular choice for dining whilst enjoying unrivalled views of Belfast’s Titanic Quarter and the River Lagan. That fantastic view is being celebrated even more with the opening of The Terrace, a gorgeous outdoor space serving a varied menu with a selection of tapas, Mediterranean inspired dishes and traditional Irish classics, as well as an extensive cocktail and wine menu, making it the perfect spot for an al fresco catch-up with friends and family. We were invited down to try the new space, and couldn’t believe our luck. Bathed in sunshine, glass of chilled white wine in hand, a bowl of olives and some smoked almonds to nibble on, we could have been quayside at any Mediterranean port! We sampled lots of delicious dishes from The Terrace menu; herby bruschetta, focaccia with houmous, tapenade, and roasted tomato dip, crispy squid, patatas bravas, and an authentic artisan Formaggi Caprini Pizza, with a marinara base, crumbled goats cheese, caramelised red onion, and confit garlic. And the new Terrace Cocktail list is superb, with a variety of traditional favourites and new inventions, especially the “1847”, a tribute to the Harbour Commission, and two of our go-to classics, “Penicillin”, and “Corpse Reviver No.2”. What better way to spend a lazy summer lunchtime, than enjoying great food & drink, and excellent company, all in this luxurious new outdoor space right in the city centre.

The Mariner

A Bar & Restaurant in the heart of Newcastle, with superb sea views from the first floor Bistro, ‘The View’ at The Mariner has a great menu celebrating seasonal local produce. We were shown to our window seat with panoramic views of Newcastle’s expansive shoreline, and while we decided what to choose for our meal, we had a couple of great aperitifs; “The Dead Rabbit”-a whiskey cocktail with apricot, lemon, honey & bitters, and “Kraken Punch” with rum, Campari, lime & pineapple. To start, we had a portion of beautifully meaty mussels in a creamy cider & apple sauce with homemade bread to mop up the juices, and some perfectly pan roasted scallops with apple purée, confit apple, and foraged sea greens.

The main courses of pan-fried hake with broccoli and potatoes, in a light wine sauce, and the pan-seared chicken with fondant potatoes, pickled mushrooms & an absolutely incredible black truffle purée, were both inventive and comfortingly satisfying.

And speaking of comfort food, the dessert of Toffee Apple Crumble with Salted Caramel Ice Cream and Sauce Anglais was a lovely, warm bowl of fruity, caramelised deliciousness. A thoroughly enjoyable evening of quality cuisine, great service and some of the best sea views from any Newcastle restaurant.

The Nines

The Nines……whether it’s the “lucky number 9”, endowed with the gift to serve others and to create an easy and relaxed atmosphere, or that “nine in the evening” feeling, watching the sun set spectacularly over the Lough, or simply an opportunity to get “dressed to the nines” and enjoy a night of fabulous food, scintillating service, and quality cocktails, The Nines Restaurant & Boutique Hotel in Bangor is an absolute delight. Launched in April, as part of the first phase of development of the iconic Bangor building, a full refurbishment of the ground floor has taken place resulting in a new, contemporary bar area with an intimate yet relaxed restaurant, and a terrace offering beautiful sea views. While we perused the menu, we sipped a couple of terrific cocktails; a warm and spicy Margarita Picante, and a Bergamotto-a gorgeous fragrant creation perfect for lovers of a gin martini. We were also impressed with the rather excellent wine list. To begin, we shared a smoky Baba Ganoush with zaatar, mint and a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds, with triangles of Lebanese bread to scoop up this heavenly aubergine dip. And the Meze of creamy Buratta with heirloom tomatoes, pesto, and sourdough crostini is a delightful sharing dish. In fact, all of the Meze dishes are great value, and perfect to share; we also loved the Charred Greens with miso and dukkah, and the Falafel Crumble with shawarma roasted baby carrots on a bed of labneh with coriander. But the Fish of the Day, a beautifully cooked sole on the bone with samphire, golden raisins, almonds and capers served with crushed potatoes, was simply superb. To finish, the “70% Chocolate”, a bittersweet dark chocolate tart with salted caramel and vanilla ice cream was another outstanding dish.

Killeavy Castle

Killeavy Castle’s contemporary fine dining restaurant, with awe inspiring views of the surrounding farmlands, offers a four-course or seven-course Tasting Menu; a culinary experience showcasing a passion for using the freshest, seasonal ingredients, sourced from the onsite working Farm, Walled Garden, and carefully selected local suppliers. Our incredible tasting menu featured seven exceptional dishes designed around the bounty of the Ring Of Gullion; from foraged ingredients to artisan suppliers, from historic slate to fallen timber, from gifts from neighbouring orchards to an homage to the swirling mystique of the misty mountain in the final fabulously dramatic dish. The menu was a triumph.

Fivemiletown Goat’s Cheese Victoria Sponge with Kombucha, was followed by a cornucopia of delightful flavours and textures; beetroot, mushroom, Kilkeel crab, salt baked carrot with Killowen whiskey, poached cod, lobster, “The Peacock Egg” championing our favourite NearyNógs chocolate, and that incredible petit fours finalé….. utterly sublime! As local author Michael J Murphy wrote, “ The spirit of the mountain breathed out of the clay, I turned, and hours of labour went by without knowledge of toil.” An inspired and enchanting food experience.

The New Quays

When you’re in the mood for some simple, fresh, well prepared seafood at reasonable prices, then head down the peninsula to The New Quays Restaurant in Portavogie. We were meeting some friends for Sunday lunch, and as we had eaten here before quite recently, we knew we were in for a treat. The New Quays’ menu focuses on locally sourced seafood, and is constantly changing to reflect the daily catch. We thoroughly enjoyed the Sharing Platter which included golden battered cod goujons, Thai-style fish cakes, smoked salmon, prawn cocktail on homemade wheaten, and mussels in a creamy shallot and garlic sauce, with lots of crusty bread. The Baked Brie is a generous wedge of warm, oozing cheese served with a fruity chutney, the crispy-skinned Seabass fillets accompanied by asparagus, broccoli, green beans and cauliflower were beautifully cooked, and the Scampi and Chips is an absolute classic.

Desserts also come highly recommended, so make sure you leave some room to enjoy traditional favourites such as the tangy Citrus Lemon Tart, Jim’s special Tiramisu with a hint of orange and a side of Affogato, Salted Caramel Chocolate Brownies with ice cream, and a rich Chocolate Profiterole Cheesecakesheer indulgence on a plate! And to make it just perfect, when the clouds cleared and the sun came out, the views from the restaurant across the Irish Sea were stunning. A lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Follow

@thegourmetboys on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok & LinkedIn

Email – hello@thegourmetboys.com

If you have any requests for restaurant recommendations send us a message and we’ll get right back to you.

The New Quays

Belfast’s Original Alternative Shopping Experience Specialising in...

. Festival Clothing .

. Smoking Paraphernalia .

. Equality Products .

. Hippy Clothing .

. Incense .

. Body Jewellery .

. Goth/Punk Clothing .

. Band T-Shirts .