The Blue Garden Flat

Its full name, ‘mrDeanes Bistro, Bar and Social’, paints a perfect picture of this spacious addition to Michael Deane’s ever-evolving Belfast empire. Grab a cocktail at the bar before taking your seat in a restaurant that’s bursting with vitality. The eminently appealing menu offers well-executed takes on dishes from all over the world, be it Gaeng Phed red curry or ‘entrecôte au poivre’. There's a palpable generosity to the place too, with the food and wine both offering great value for money.

‘I eat’ is a smart, buzzing and well-run brasserie in the heart of the city, with rustic-meets-faux-industrial styling and seats at the long kitchen counter for those who want to get in on the action. The great value sharing dishes take an international outlook, with traditional Spanish tapas getting a good showing – from pan con tomate to pil pil prawns – and the Bertha oven used for dishes like hanger steak with chimichurri. Don't over-order, as you'll need to save room for the terrific orange, almond and olive oil sponge.

Bright colours, greenery and local art decorate this spacious, upbeat restaurant with a semi-industrial touch. The cooking focuses on semi-rustic versions of British and Mediterranean dishes, packing in plenty of punchy flavours and top-quality produce – such as in the terrific fish casserole. As an added bonus, it all comes with a sensible price tag – especially considering the prime city centre location. The friendly team make the whole experience enjoyable, from the warm welcome to the fond farewell.

Tucked away on the first floor, there's a subtle retro look to this friendly restaurant a little outside the city centre. The chefs don't try to reinvent the wheel but instead focus on using quality local produce in well-executed versions of tried-and-tested dishes, available from a concise à la carte, a well-priced midweek set menu and some specials chalked up on the blackboard. Beef is a feature, with the likes of flat iron steak and Tournedos Rossini, but the kitchen is equally adept at fish cookery in dishes such as cod with chorizo, white beans and chive cream sauce.

A cheery team help add to the vibrant buzz at this long-standing modern bistro. It’s a simple place, with exposed brick walls, a high ceiling and warehouse-style windows – and the classic brasserie menus suit it perfectly. The cooking is unfussy and generous, with the grill dishes always a hit; the succulent steaks are cooked on the Josper, served on boards and come with a choice of sauces – go for the tomahawk or Chateaubriand if you fancy sharing. Keep an eye out for their great value set menu.

Behind an unassuming façade is this buzzy, industrial-style restaurant, where powerful music plays and a super-friendly team bring the dishes as and when they’re ready. The core of the sharing-inclined menu is flavours from around Asia, so expect to enjoy the likes of tiger prawn Panang curry, tempura broccoli or tuna sashimi. Occasional Mediterranean influences appear too, in interesting dishes like cured cod with Iberian chorizo, truffled ponzu and fennel. There are plenty of Asian-influenced cocktails on hand to accompany, along with a lively atmosphere.

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