TOP 16 of the Best Northern Ireland restaurants - The Good Food Guide 2018

Chef Danni Barry is one of an elite group of female Michelin starred chefs in the UK & only the second female chef ever in Ireland to gain a star.

Danni hails from the Mourne country in Northern Ireland. Her cooking career began in 2003 in the then Michelin starred Deanes in Howard Street with chef Michael Deane. Four years later Danni went on her travels to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and mainland Europe, garnering knowledge from the high end restaurants in which she worked along the way. Danni is driven by her passion for only the freshest and most seasonal produce being cooked to perfection. Her style is progressive, honest, flavoursome, light, visual, balanced and modern.

The riverside setting offers an excellent backdrop to this Oscar & Oscar designed 40 seat restaurant, while an intimate mezzanine area provides for more secluded dining. With their fine dining heritage Stephen and Alain aim to provide the same quality of food and attentive service, but in a more relaxed, simple environment. Letting their creative side shine through in the menus and using their skill and expertise to highlight the best of local and seasonal produce.

Combining the two in one of Belfast’s most prominent entry’s Commercial Court, nestled between Hill St. And Donegall St. In the Cathedral Quarter you can find an eclectic little dining room with a great kitchen counter where you can taste an ever changing menu of daily specials alongside some classic European dishes. With a friendly welcome and efficient service our aim is to add to an already vibrant dining scene in the Cathedral Quarter and Belfast.

Il Pirata is Ballyhackamore’s popular Italian Restaurant. It offers simple rustic and Italian food, served up in a spacious and vibrant environment. With its cool, trendy interior, it promises to be very popular with the many visitors who come to Ballyhackamore seeking culinary delights.

James St. South offers a modern dining experience with great food and an exciting wine list in Belfast city centre. Opened in 2003 by chef Niall McKenna, the interiors have been refurbished by Aidan McGrath (McGonigle and McGrath Architects) transforming the restaurant to give a modern, contemporary feel restaurant making it glamorous and unique. The menu served up by Head Chef David Gillmore focuses on classic cooking using the best of locally sourced produce with signature dishes including Strangford Lough Bouillabaise and Organic Lamb...

If you enjoy fresh local seafood at an affordable price then make your way to the Mourne Seafood bar in Dundrum or Belfast. Our seafood restaurants are unique in Ireland as they source all their shellfish from our very own shellfish beds. The Dundrum restaurant is situated in the picturesque village of Dundrum, at the foot of the Mourne Mountains; the seafood bar is only 30 minutes drive from Belfast.

Shu claimed its place as the best restaurant on the Lisburn Road years ago. Opened by chef Brian McCann and the floor staff have always been known the best in the city

The Ginger Bistro was established in the year 2000. Located in the heart of Belfast City Centre, Ginger is now recognised as one of Belfasts finest, multi award winning restaurants.

The Muddlers Club is tucked away between Waring Street & Exchange Place in the historic back streets of Cathedral Quarter and is the first solo venture for local chef, Gareth McCaughey. It’s a modern, bistro-style offering with room for 55 at absolute capacity. The menu favours quality over quantity and there’s an open-plan kitchen and a dedicated cocktail bar.

Nestled in the heart of the Comber countryside, the Schoolhouse boasts 8 luxury guestrooms and the ultimate dining experience created by award-winning chef Will Brown in our Michelin Bib Gourmand, 2 AA Rosette restaurant. With an award-winning kitchen led by Will Brown, the restaurant has a firm reputation for excellent food with a creative flair. His unique style and passion are evident in his dishes, showcasing the best of locally sourced, seasonal produce with a real emphasis on fresh, clean flavours.

The restaurant is Bridgestone Guide recommended and serves quality food with fresh ingredients and an individual touch. The 'Super Salads' are indeed super and other recent favourites have included their smoked fish chowder, coffee & chilli smoked rump steak and the warm salad of goats cheese, puy lentils and walnuts. Most famous for their cinnamon scones

Vanilla is the brainchild of local chef and businessman, Darren Ireland. Having watched his father John and grandfather Tommy carve out successful careers as chefs, Darren was driven from an early age to follow in their footsteps. Since opening in November 2009, Vanilla continues to provide a relaxed dining experience where exceptional food is served by an attentive and dedicated service team.

Chris McGowan is a Northern Ireland native who has returned home after a long stint in the UK where he worked at Richard Corrigan’s London restaurants for 12 years. Prior to that, he was Sous Chef for Pierre Koffmann at La Tante Claire, and spent nearly five years working for Gary Rhodes before that.

Wine and Brine is his first restaurant which he opened with his wife Davina. It’s on the Main Street in Moira in a Georgian-fronted building. The clue is in the name. It showcases pickled, brined and fermented foods using Northern Irish produce with a lot of ingenuity and flair.

With a rich 400 year history, Balloo House tempts you with two very different culinary experiences under the same roof. Casual dining and classic pub grub downstairs and a luxurious upstairs restaurant for weekend and private dining.

The location is superb: on a sandy National Trust beach, with views across to Inishowen. It's an appealingly simple place with wooden tables and classroom-style chairs. Concise menus wisely let local ingredients speak for themselves.

BULL & RAM, a former butcher’s shop in Ballynahinch opened in June of last year, lovingly restoring this beautiful Edwardian building back to its former glory complete with the original meat hanging rail and herringbone oak ceiling. They have just annouced that they will open a new restaurant in Belfast later this year.