Ireland Guide
Belfast
Restaurants
1 Alden's 229 Upper Newtownards Rd 
028/9065 0079 Opening time: Closed Sat lunch and Sun all dayThis East Belfast outpost, a mile or so out towards Stormont, is well worth the trek for its top-quality fish and seafood menus; prices for a two-course meal start from around £20 plus wine.
2 Archana 53 Dublin Rd 028/9032 3713 Possibly Belfast's finest Indian restaurant, serving spicy, good-value curries and balti dishes and plenty of vegetarian options.
3 Beatrice Kennedy 44 University Rd 028/9020 2290 Opening time: Closed MonServes a cosmopolitan menu, largely focused on seafood and poultry, at around £25 per head with an early-bird two-course special for £12.95 (5–7pm).
4 Cayenne 7 Ascot House, Shaftesbury Square 028/9033 1532 Founder of the acclaimed Roscoff (see below), Paul Rankin's club-meets-bistro offers everything from oysters to the best of modern Irish cuisine, heightened by adroit use of spices; expect to pay around £25 plus wine.
5 
Deane's 34–40 Howard St 028/9033 1134 Opening time: Closed SunThe North's only Michelin-starred restaurant is an elegant venue for stunning modern Irish cuisine with a strong French influence, but expect to pay at least £30 plus wine for two courses. There's also a brasserie here with a more affordable menu. Owner Michael Deane has also recently opened Deane's at Queen's, 36–40 College Gardens ( 028/9038 2111), which offers a more limited range of meals (some may baulk at paying £11 for fish and chips); again it's closed on Sun.
6 Istana 127 Great Victoria St 028/9032 2311 Very amenable restaurant serving a delicious range of good-value Malaysian specialities.
7 Mourne Seafood Bar 34–36 Bank St 028/9024 8544 Opening time: Closed Sun & Mon eveningsCracking new place for all piscivores, serving everything from shellfish and oysters to exotic dishes incorporating hake or monkfish. Reasonably priced too, and there's even an on-site fishmonger's if you fancy cooking your own.
8 Nick's Warehouse 35 Hill St 028/9043 9690 Opening time: Closed SunChic, pricey and cosmopolitan restaurant upstairs and an atmospheric wine bar and less expensive menu downstairs.
9 Roscoff 7 Linenhall St 028/9031 1150 Opening time: Closed SunThe flagship of Paul Rankin's culinary operations serves a wonderful range of French-inspired food and has the ambience to match; from around £30 plus wine for a two-course meal.
10 Speranza 16–19 Shaftesbury Square 028/9023 0213 Massive, reasonably priced pizza and pasta specialist in plush modern surroundings.
11 Tedford's 5 Donegall Quay 028/9043 4000 Opening time: Closed Mon & Tues lunch and Sun all dayAnother great place for fresh seafood, including lobster and king scallops, as well as an enticing range of meat dishes; expect to pay around £30 plus wine for two courses though there's also a theatre menu (£18.95), in keeping with its handiness for the Waterfront Hall.