Please mention ireland-guide.com when enquiring.

Bourbon

Behind an unassuming entrance lies an amazingly theatrical interior: totally at home alongside neighbouring buildings like the Crown Liquor Saloon and the Grand Opera House, it features pillars, palms, ornate plaster work and wrought iron, chandeliers and statues - everything, in short, to convey sumptuousness.

Not to everybody's taste, to be sure, but it works, and this 'taste of New Orleans' is one of Belfast's most popular restaurants. But don't expect pristine white linen, silver and crystal: what you actually get is bare table tops, the ubiquitous black rubber place mats, and paper napkins.

So it should come as no surprise that menus are modern, written in a no-nonsense style and offering a wide range of mainly international contemporary crowd pleasers: starters of spicy chicken wings and an extensive selection of main courses includes half a dozen poultry dishes, pizzas and pasta, and steaks various ways, and homemade burgers. But vegetarians do get some choice from the pizza and pasta ranges, and there will be several main course fish dishes.

Helpful staff, competent cooking and an amazing atmosphere make this a place worth visiting.

Open daily; air con. L Mon-Fri 12-2.3; D Mon-Sat 5-10 (to 11pm Fri/Sat); Express L about £7.50; early D 5-6.45pm Mon-Sun, about £13.95; set 3 course meal about £25. House wine £14.50. Closed Sat & Sun L; 25-26 Dec. MasterCard, Visa, Switch

Directions:

City centre.