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The Buck's Head Inn

In recent years Michael and Alison Crothers have developed this attractive, welcoming place from a pub with bar food and a restaurant, to its present position as a restaurant with bar – and it is probably the most popular destination in the whole Mourne area for anyone who appreciates quality food.

Alison is in charge of the kitchen and sources local produce, especially seafood, including oysters from Dundrum Bay, which might be baked with a garlic & cheddar crust and Kilkeel cod, with mushy peas and chips.

Well-balanced and interesting menus have a pleasing sense of place - aside from the seafood, County Down beef is used for the Sunday roast sirloin and steaks on the dinner menu, lamb is from the Mournes, and the famous butchers McCartneys of Moira supply sausages for the traditional bangers & champ; many tempting dishes are offered, also a short but imaginative vegetarian menu - and the range of styles ensures there is something to please all tastes.

At lunch time there’s a shortish à la carte (often including excellent salads - try the fresh Dublin Bay prawns...) and daily blackboard specials - and they are open for high tea as well as dinner.

Cooking is consistently good (and continues to become more interesting) and service under the direction of the proprietor Michael Crothers, is friendly and efficient.

The atmosphere is always relaxed and each dining space has its own personality and is quite intimate - a dining room at the back (formerly a conservatory) overlooks a walled garden and is particularly pleasant.

This is a fine restaurant, providing an exceptionally comprehensive service: well worth planning a journey around.

Interesting wines are supplied by the highly respected Co Down wine merchant James Nicholson.

Seats 80 (private room, 50); children welcome. L 12-2.30, High Tea 5-6.30, D7-9.30 (Sun to 8.30). Set Sun L £18.50; Set D £28.50, otherwise á la carte. House wine from £11; sc discretionary. Closed Mon off-season (Oct-Apr); 25 Dec. Amex, MasterCard, Visa, Switch.

Directions:

On the main Belfast-Newcastle road, approx 3 miles from Newcastle.