Please mention ireland-guide.com when enquiring.

Cayenne

After almost two decades as pioneers of Northern Ireland's food scene, Paul and Jeanne Rankin's flagship restaurant continues to offer Belfast diners a great mix of interesting and fashionable food in a cool urban atmosphere.

Longstanding former head chef Danny Millar has recently handed over the reigns to Winston Mathews, who now has the kitchen running sweetly - and, as his eclectic menus demonstrate, the Rankins' influence is still very much alive and well too.

Friendly, smartly uniformed staff are quick to settle arriving guests in and offer menus that are likely to feature many of the Cayenne signature dishes - the ever-popular salt'n'chilli squid with Napa slaw, chilli jam and aioli, for example, or perhaps a more European tone in a delectable combination of pan seared foie gras with toasted brioche, caramelised peach, ginger and five spice jus - but nothing stands still here. and even the most popular dishes are under constant review.

There are a few dishes with a broadly international/Mediterranean tone Fresh tagliatelle of Strangford lobster with a lobster and basil cream, perhaps - but Asian flavours are dominant throughout the savoury sections of the menu, bringing a new dimension to local ingredients: loin of Irish lamb comes with black mustard seeds, garlic purée and boulangére potatoes and a mustard miso sauce, for example, and marinated pork belly is served with Shanghai noodles, Asian vegetables and a black bean sauce.

A separate vegetarian menu is offered too although a conservative example, delicious) steamed asparagus with poached free range egg and lemon butter is typical.

Excellent desserts too - fresh strawberries set in Lemon cello jelly with buttermilk ice cream and milk crisp, for example, makes a refreshing end to a most enjoyable meal.

The cooking here can be really exciting, and is generally backed efficiently up by smart, well-trained young staff who work tirelessly to ensure guests receive first class service. A very good wine list, organised by grape variety and style, offers a wide choice in both range and price, and includes a good choice of wines by the glass and half bottles, and also some fine wines; extensive drinks menu too.

Seats 120 (private room, 16). Reservations advised; children welcome. No smoking area; air conditioning; Toilets Wheelchair Accessible. L Mon-Fri 12-2.15, Set 2/3 course L from £12/15.50. Set 2/3 course D £15.50/10.50. D Sun- Fri 5- 'late', Sat 6- late. A la carte & Vegetarian Menu. House wine from £17 sc discretionary (except 10% recommended on parties of 6+). Closed L Sat & Sun, 25-26 Dec, 1 Jan, 12 July. Amex, Diners, MasterCard, Visa, Switch.

Directions:

5 mins from Europa Hotel at top of Great Victoria St.