Molly's Yard...

Remember this question from a few weeks ago from regular reader/worrier of sheep Mr Sheepworrier?

"Quick question to all - is it ridiculously cheesy to ask a restaurant for roses (or whatever) to be set on a table before arrival if it isn't an anniversary / proposal etc?"

Mr Sheepworrier

Well here's what happened.....

We walked in through the quaint sunlit courtyard, which I'm assuming Molly's takes its name from, into the downstairs bistro style dining area. Looking around sheepishly (see what I did there? I'm funny, me) we were greeted by the very same waitress who took the reservation. I thought this was a lovely personal touch though I'm sure she obviously recognised me as the famed food critic, philanthropist and general worrier of sheep that I so obviously am (either that or it was a slow night and she had memorised the bookings... I prefer to believe the 1st scenario).

Anyway, we were led upstairs to a slightly more formal dining area and seated at a table beside a window, a bit apart from the other diners. All settled, we chose a bottle of Chilean red and settled in for what was to be a brilliant dining experience.

Writing this a good 2 weeks after the event, I cant remember the details of the food, though I do recall the sea bass was gorgeous, while the very beautiful lady who (for reasons best known to herself) decided to accompany me, chose the equally exquisite salmon on a bed of something lovely. The menu wasn't exactly brimming with choice (What? No tacos? - Manuel), but we both thought the quality more than made-up for quantity, while the portions were well presented and measured.

However, it wasn't the food that impressed me most, rather it was the staff who were congenial and chatty when we wanted them to be, yet knew when we wanted to be left alone to enjoy each others company. The atmosphere was friendly and most importantly unpretentious there's little that riles me more than a sense of snobbery whether from waiters (Hardly - Manuel), bar staff (I'm looking at you Apartment & Vaudeville staff!) or the general unwashed masses, and I am delighted to say I didn't encounter even a smidgen of aloofness. (I'll give you aloofness matey - Manuel)

We ordered our desserts, finished our vino and chatted away till our hearts, livers and stomachs were content without once feeling rushed or pressured that we were taking up a table.

All-in-all, the food was top-notch without being too fussy (and very reasonably priced for 2 courses upstairs), the atmosphere was welcoming and relaxed, the staff were professional yet entirely natural and approachable, and I managed to squeeze another date out've the beautiful lady who I was assured had a lovely time.

I would certainly recommend Molly's Yard as a destination for couples, much more so than the 'flashy' resaurants around Belfast which seem to specialise in serving sales people on company nights out. Twats.

But what about the flowers?

Ah, the flowers... after much deliberation and an actual visit to a flower shop, I decided it was too formal and probably quite scary for a 1st 'proper' date, so they are being kept in my armoury for such times as they are needed. But many thanks to WDF readers for their advice, counselling and general piss-taking.(Ha! - Manuel)

By Sheepworrier.

WDF's Two @ 8...

I phoned 11 restaurants looking for a table for two at 8pm on Saturday night.
Crikey, there's very little left!

These two have tables available at 8pm
(well they did at 3pm on Thursday)

Enjoy...

Jude's 451 Ormeau Road Belfast, BT7 028 9064 6844

Porterhouse 245 Lisburn Rd Belfast, BT9 028 90382211

and

Roscoff 7-11 Linenhall Street Belfast BT20 28 9031 1150 has 2 available 7.45pm

Here's the rest if you fancy something early or late.

Deanes - 028 90331134 6pm only
Ginger Bistro - 028 90244421 6pm only
Molly's Yard - 6pm only 028 90322600 (Sheepworrier's review coming soon)
Tedfords - 028 90434000 6.30pm only
Drennans - 028 90204556 6pm only
Shu - 028 90381655 2 sittings 7 and 9.30pm, availability at 9.30pm
Aldens - 028 90650079 6 or 9.30pm

Mourne Seafood Bar - 028 90248544 6pm only

Rumbled

I've been watching a lot of Frasier

My plan for a very long lie in this morning was thrown into disarray by having left my mobile phone at work. What a right royal fuck up. I am doomed to walk this earth in a semi permanent daze with slower reactions than a person enjoying the slumber of a coma. Oh how I wish for coma. Just a short one all the same. Twelve hours would be nice.

I had to retrieve my phone from work as I had lunch plans that needed to be confirmed. Plus I don't want my phone falling into the wrong hands. Chefs would take no time to read, analyse, and use against you the contents of your text message folder. Plus there would be no way they could stop themselves sending rude messages to selected contacts. Misplacing my phone did mean that I didn't have to reply to LMM's 30 pre bed text messages. I love her but texting batters my brain.


Phone retrieved I headed to the Mourne Seafood Bar for lunch with East Belfast's answer to Oliver Reed. Well, Oliver Reed meets Nikki Sixx via Will Oldham. He has a lot of free time these days as he is now a full time musician. This also meant I was buying lunch. It also means he has no idea of time and other such protocols that keep society from falling apart.

He was late.

Only by ten minutes but it does beat the full half hour he kept me waiting the last time we met for lunch. I have a problem with time keeping. I'm pretty anal about it and have the patience of a man dangling by his sack waiting for someone to cut him down. That is to say I have no patience.

The food was just perfect. I had the Langoustine Risotto (remember that's Ris-ot-oh not Ris-oh-to). It was silky smooth and just perfect with a beautiful hint of Thai spices in the background. Magnificent. The boy who writes backwards had the chowder. I'm a huge great big fan of their chowder and sometimes I sneak in on my split shift and nail a bowl before heading back to work. It's warming, creamy, substantial and just perfect for a day like today. Much like me you'll find. I don't come with bread though.


But the food wasn't the highlight of the visit. If you can cast your minds back to August when I first reviewed The Mourne Seafood Bar I said that,

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

Well like any good waiter the woman that took our order and looked after us was listening as we were talking about WellDoneFillet. She probably also spotted the badges as I gave The Boy Who Writes Backwards his. As she cleared our plates away she asked which of us was responsible for WellDoneFillet. Now I could have lied. I could have said we were just fans. I could have said I had just got the badges in the post this morning (thus pushing sales a bit further - nudge nudge). I could have. But I didn't. My face and baldy head were glowing red. I looked like a Chupa Chup lolly. There was no chance of denying it. So I ponied up.

My mind was racing back to what I had posted. I knew fine rightly what I had said. But before I could stutter out any explanation she said she liked the blog and all that. Phew.....she did mention my "lack of love" comment. Crikey. What size of tip was I gonna have to leave to get out of this intact?!

I had been rumbled. Badges would save the day. Good job I carry a sack load with me. So with a combination of cash and badges I was able to leave without getting my ass served to me with a side of fries. Their chips are gorgeous by the way.

But as we left they formed a line up and offered to hug me goodbye.

TAKE THAT FAT BOY!

It could have been sarcasm, but I chose to take it as genuine love for Manuel. So in answer to my question of August the second 2007, "Where was the love?" the love is indeed at Mourne Seafood Bar.

I now rank Mourne Seafood Bar as my favorite restaurant in the city. It was always a toss up between there and Ginger.

For anyone that cares, my top 3 Belfast Restaurants are Mourne Seafood Bar, Ginger & Molly's Yard in that order. Hey where else do they offer to hug you goodbye? Now that's love........