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Thursday 2 August 2007

Lunch with the ladies at The Mourne Seafood Bar

the seal knows...

Review: Restaurant

I went to: Mourne Seafood Bar, Belfast
On the: 26th of July

For: Lunch with my two favourite ladies, "our hen" (sister) and Little Miss Manuel.

I gorged on: Baked Lemon Sole with herb butter, served with herb roast potatoes and crunchy fennel salad. Our hen had Smoked Haddock Fishcake with smoked salmon, creamed leeks, and soft poached egg. LMM had the traditional fish and chips with mushy peas. We shared a basket of bread. We drank bottled water. It was lunchtime, I'm not an animal you know...

And it was: So damn good I could have cried for all the fish that don't make it into this kitchen. My sole was light and so full of flavour, if that makes sense. The potatoes were cooked to perfection and the salad was crunchy as advertised.

The service was: Efficient, quick, accurate, pleasant, but without any love. Where was the love? Manuel needs to be loved.

It cost me: £37 before tip.

I'll be going back: Oh hell yes, I'll be going back over and over again.

And so it gets: 4 out 5. -1 for lack of love.

Other words: Located beside Kelly's Cellars in the centre of Belfast The Mourne Seafood Bar is now one of Belfast's better restaurants, and certainly it's best fish restaurant. And that is a big statement when you consider that Tedford's is such a good restaurant. The difference between the 2 being the lack of formality and more relaxed atmosphere in The Mourne Seafood Bar. The regular menu is supplemented with a daily special menu that on the day we visited had everything from Hot n Sour Broth to Grilled Lobster with Gremolata. The service was fine without being great. It wouldn't have upset you but wouldn't have wowed you either. Lunch took about an hour but could have gone on all afternoon if LMM had let me order the Bloody Oyster Shot (Vodka, tomato juice, Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce over an oyster) mmmm. The food is complimented by a good, well priced wine list, a selection of locally produced beers and ales, and cocktails. There is no covered smoking area but that's okay as you can just nip under the awning of the bar next door. And if you are really lucky you will get have a conversation with a local character/mentalist. Where else would you get that?!

Booking is essential for evenings and if you want lunch you should get there early or expect to wait for a table. And wait you must, because it is so worth it.

baked lemon sole with herb butter
(action shot)

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19 People trying to get Manuel's attention:

Fat Sparrow said...

Damn, now I'm all hungry.

Anonymous said...

all ive got for lunch is a ham sandwich an packet of tayto.

damn you manuel!

Manuel said...

fat sparrow: Pancakes and jam, they take the pain away...

Sheepworrier: See above

FINN said...

excellent review, manuel.

in the future may i suggest you and LMM review the restrooms as well? - for the lavatory contributes to the customer experience as a whole.

i like a restroom with cloth towels and a basket of goodies like lotion, breath mints and takeaway kleenex. i could live in a place like that.

Manuel said...

Finn: Toilet fan eh, not surprised really. It's a fair point and duly noted and will be acted upon.

You see people this blog is a 2 way thing, ask and ye shall get. Don't push it though...

Megan McGurk said...

I will be sure to book a table on my next visit, Manuel. Fresh seafood and I'm there. Also, when we went to Kelly's Cellars we got the love.

Manuel said...

Medbh: I you stay in Kelly's long enough you will get more than love believe me....

Anonymous said...

"...wuld you like a knee-capping along with your side order, sir?"

Donal said...

manuel! love the concept! The story about the guy wanting to smoke in the restaurant was BRILLIANT!

The Little Cheese said...

Just to say you are blatantly linked, ace blog. Reading some of your rants has made me hark back to the days of waitressing while I was training (I had six jobs in total at the time)... the stupidity of some diners never failed to surprise me!

James (UK) said...

Out of interest, what mobile phone did you use to snap the sole "in action"?

Oh, and along with Finn, I'd also be interested in the loos and other amenities, like did they have any Daddies sauce out etc.

Regards

Jenny said...

Boo - it's tomato soup and crackers for me today.

I really only dine out "for the love", so I agree with the deduction of points on your review.

Finn is correct on the reviewing the restrooms.

fofufou said...

I'm going to lower the tone here (as always). You have chubby fingers.
Good day sir!

Sassy Sundry said...

Sounds wonderful.

I'm off to get cheap Vietnamese food now, though.

Manuel said...

Sheepworrier: "Elbows sir? Very good.."

Mood Food: Welcome sir, I hope you brought cake for everyone. Ah Thumb Stubber and the Fatman, happy days. There wouldn't have been a blog without them. Best of luck with your blog, great photos...

Little Cheese: Hello my little Cashel Blue. Welcome. Customers eh, non-stop source of amusement. I had a table of actual rocket scientists tonight, ACTUAL ROCKET SCIENTISTS! Dumb as monkeys...

JamesUK: Toilet fan eh? It was my sisters Nokia 34dg458tj or something like that. Eh no Dadies sauce, poor showing all the same!. You know the French call it SAUCE ANGLAIS, cheeky sods...

Anonymous Boxer: Ok the toilet thing is starting to scare me....

Lord Milky: Maybe the most succinct comment of all....cunt...

Sassy: God I would love some of that...you wanna do a swap?

fofufou said...

Touche good sir! How do you handle cutlery?

Manuel said...

Lord Milky: I have children do it for me...

Anonymous said...

Wow..... seafood. Got it at TGI Fridays.

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