Molly’s Yard

1. Some of the best food I’ve ever had, truly. I got the salmon/smoked haddock special, my fiancé got the lamb burger, and we split a seafood chowder to start. The seafood chowder had ENORMOUS chunks of fresh, delicious salmon. The wine list is pretty good for Ireland and features Romanian wine in particular. Loved every bite!

2. The service at the restaurant was great, but food-wise we didn’t have equally good dishes. My order, which was a specialty of Colby fish with salmon cake was tasty (although it missed a bit more sides), but the other order, the burger of the house, didn’t match the expectations – buns were stale (at least a day old), and the taste wasn’t so good. We also ordered diet Coke which was stale as well (as if it was poured from an old tape), but the waitress didn’t charge it at all and we appreciated it as a gesture of professionalism. All in all, we believe the place has potential, but doesn’t match up to the expectations we had about it once we entered.

3. We expected a bit more from our meal. While the food was nice, we weren’t thrilled. We booked based on the menu we saw online, but unfortunately, the dishes didn’t match what was advertised, and the prices had all increased. It’s disappointing because if we had known the actual menu, we would have chosen a different restaurant.

   The portion sizes have significantly decreased. We ordered the chicken supreme, which was decent, but the cauliflower sauce was a bit watery and didn’t complement the dish well. The much-touted butternut squash gnocchi? There were only three, and calling them gnocchi is generous—they bore little resemblance to the real thing. The plate also included just three pieces of carrot and a slice of zucchini, which left us quite shocked.

   For dessert, we tried the cheesecake tiramisu, but it was a letdown. The coffee on the ladyfingers was overly bitter and overwhelmed the other flavors. Given that we left still hungry, the bill felt excessive for what we received. Overall, it wasn’t worth it.

4. Molly’s Yard is a wee restaurant that id off the beaten path in the student area of Belfast (Botanic). You may not notice it as you walk by but it is a lovely spot to go to.

   The restaurant is medium size, has a downstairs, upstairs and outdoor seating that is fully covered. It had a lovely vibe and you can see the kitchen which is a plus. The food was fantastic – I had a lovely Gnocci but was made differently to what I have had before.

   They serve local beers as well as the standards. Service was good, staff were lovely and friendly.

   Pros:
   – clean, lovely atmosphere
   – speedy service, lovely food
   – friendly staff and welcoming
   – excellent prices for quality of food

   Cons:
   – limited seating so book in advance
   – not overly wheelchair accessible
   – warm downstairs in Summer but windows are there

   Overall, this is a lovely spot to attend with friends, family or a first date. Would definitely recommend it.

5. Great location, tucked away behind the university and botanical garden. Great simple menu, not cheap by any means so we stuck to the hummus and 3 starters, the cauliflower wings were great sticky sweet and chilli hot, the blue cheese beetroot salad which was fresh and light and my celery apple soup which didn’t work for me just too light in taste and reminded me of baby apple pudding. Definitely worth a visit and definitely going to be going back ourselves. All served by brilliant staff.

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