Friday, September 3, 2010

Molly’s… Belfast’s best restaurant, without a shadow of a doubt

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Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 5:21
This news item was posted in Restaurant Reviews category and has 13 Comments so far.

Yes, my impatient friends. I was at Molly’s Yard on Friday night with the good lady.
I’ve been away for a few days, hence the delay in posting my review.
I think it would easy for me to sum up Molly’s in one word and leave the review at that, but it deserves better.
First up, the voice who took my call to book at the last minute was very polite, and informative and we managed to sneak a table downstairs in the small bar area (if you’re looking to book, probably best to do as far in advance as possible).
Downstairs is a quaint little area, big enough to take about 16 people (not sure about upstairs, I was too full to venture anywhere else).
The staff were as helpful and friendly as any I’ve come across and the food was simply magnificent.
I know I haven’t sampled dinner in every restaurant in Belfast, but Molly’s is Belfast’s best restaurant. Sin é.
I started with the special for the day – onion soup, which was everything it should have been. After deciding she didn’t want any starters, the good lady changed her mind at the last minute – she was starving so a bit of bread would do as a starter.
Be warned anyone who orders a side order of bread, there’s enough to keep a small family from starving for a month… accompanied by garlic, chilli and the restaurant’s own Pesto dip. The triumphantly thick and hearty bread made from Molly’s chocolate stout stood out (I even took some home with me for breakfast).
For mains, my pregnant lady stuck to steak, which was perfectly cooked and the waiter made sure to tell her to let him know if it wasn’t cooked to her liking.
I went for the special of the day which was a fillet of Gurnard with Langoustines in a broth.
What was given to me is up there as one of the top three main courses I’ve ever eaten… the other two coming from Gordon Ramsey’s NY restaurant and Caruso’s in Italy.
The broth had a bit of Pesto in it (I think) and was full of red peppers, wonderful mushrooms (what type I don’t know), courgettes and more.
I’ve never thought of doing this before, but I was tempted to visit the bathroom, throw up what I’d eaten and order it again… it was that tasty.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), I heard a waiter saying they were out of the fish special.
So I opted for just finishing with dessert. She had a warmed chocolate brownie with cream and ice cream, I had the lavender posset. It was nice to be told that the accompanyment to the posset was out of season so they’d be using berry compote instead. Shows that the restaurant is more interested in what’s in season that keeping to the menu. Top marks.
My only complaint was that I ate half the brownie as well as my own dessert, and half a bread basket as well as my starter and on leaving I felt like I may just explode. But I can hardly sue Molly’s for forcing me to eat delightful and wonderful food, can I?
Accompanying the meal was a delicious bottle of Argentinian Alamos Chardonnay. The meal cost £70 in total for the two of us, and was worth every single penny. The restaurant does either a two-course dinner for £20 or a three-course for £25.
As far as I can see there’s no website for Molly’s so here’s their number in case you’re hungry after reading this – +44 (0)28 9032 2600.
And, for anyone interested, if I was summing up Molly’s in just one word, choose your own from marvellous, sensational, outstanding, spectacular or use your own word to replace fandabbydosy.

Rating (a new addition to my reviews, five stars being best)
Atmosphere *****
Food *****
Waiting Staff *****
Value for money *****
Overall *****

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13 Responses to “Molly’s… Belfast’s best restaurant, without a shadow of a doubt”

  1. Manuel said on Thursday, October 11, 2007, 18:01

    I am delighted for you! I love Molly’s Yard, everything about it is fantastic. It’s one a few restaurants that I would like to work in. My girlfriends sister has that luck job though so I will make sure she sees this review…..

  2. Michael McGlade said on Tuesday, October 16, 2007, 14:46

    John,

    Can’t believe you didn’t plug that web design company that you’ve been working with ;-) There goes your commission! Molly’s sounds great can’t wait to give it a go. The Kings Head still seems to be upholding the standards also. I held a christening party there back h in March and I have to say that the service, food and environment was 100%.

  3. John Ferris said on Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 1:40

    I’m waiting on Mammoth opening up your offices and competing with Deane’s Deli before I give you a plug…

  4. Anonymous said on Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 7:06

    All this talk of food is making me hungry!!!!!
    Have you been to Tedfords yet John or will you not lower yourself to go too close to the lagan????

    The belfast Spy

  5. John Ferris said on Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 7:09

    Belfast Spy, I’ve been very much looking forward to Tedford’s, but the wife is pregnant and doesn’t like looking at seafood at the minute so I’ll have to wait until the New Year to get there. But Tedford’s is next on my list of restaurants I’m licking my lips at the prospect of eating in.

  6. Lily said on Tuesday, November 6, 2007, 20:10

    Just discovered this website. Seems to be the best re serious reviews and culinery critique. Excellent. Tried Molly’s Yard on your recommendation and was not disappointed!! So good and so laid back about being good! Manuel..since you seem interested – when I was there this week I saw they are looking for full time staf…?

  7. John Ferris said on Wednesday, November 7, 2007, 2:07

    Dear Molly’s Yard. Please give Manuel a job. It’ll keep him busy.

  8. John Ferris said on Wednesday, November 7, 2007, 3:57

    By the way, thanks Lily. For anyone interested in my policy on reviews it’s simple. Contrary to popular belief, the Belfast Media Group accounts department does not give me a big cheque every week to go out and enjoy myself in restaurants all over town! All restaurant reviews are carried out using my own money (no free invites are taken up), so maybe that’s the secret. It’s my money, so if a restaurant is crap, I’ll say that. Alternatively, it’s also good to be able to applaud some of our local restaurants that are standing out with excellent food and service.
    If anyone ever sees me slipping on those standards, be sure to give me a good boot in the arse.

  9. Anonymous said on Tuesday, March 18, 2008, 17:29

    Unfortunately I think that Molly’s Yard may have lost some of it’s lustre. I found the food very good but over priced. The staff were friendly enough but the decor is getting a bit tatty around the edges.

  10. John Ferris said on Wednesday, March 19, 2008, 2:14

    I don’t think the food was ever cheap in Molly’s. And as for the decor, strangely both times I’ve been there I’ve been situated downstairs so I haven’t even seen what it looks like up in the main room!

  11. Anonymous said on Friday, June 20, 2008, 4:33

    Tried this place last week for the first time. The food was stunning.
    Celeriac and Pesto soup – Phenomenal and that chocolate stout bread is something else. Sirloin steak and Mushroom Dauphinoise Potatoes – Perfect. Hot Chocolate Brownie with Ice Cream – the stuff of dreams.

  12. John Ferris said on Monday, June 23, 2008, 1:42

    Thanks for reminding me of how nice it is…must go back now!

  13. | Food and Drink said on Tuesday, August 18, 2009, 10:28

    [...] little less than two years ago in this review, I called Molly’s “Belfast’s best restaurant, without a shadow of a doubt”. It [...]

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