The French Rooms

Opened in 2013 by experienced host Roy Bolton (originally of the Bushnmills Inn), this little slice of rural France is easy to miss from the street, as it looks like a shop (which it also is) but, once inside, it's unique.

The shop - which sells French kitchen items, more stylish than practical - acts as the reception area for the restaurant, which has two distince eating areas, the Café with modern high backed circular booths, the other a rural French Garden Room and a with a terrace, big provencal stone fireplace and sofas and tables casually placed.

Although mainly a daytime place (Afternoon Tea would be treat here), dinner is served in the Café on several evenings and the Garden Room is available for busy times and for group bookings.

The food is delicious and menus are skilfully designed to complement the French ambience - think Croque Monsieur and croissants in the morning; hors d'oeuvres sharing platters, Toulouse sausage with mash, and baked camembert with crusty French bread during the day; and classics like boeuf Bourguignon in the evening - yet have plenty of familiar fare to please the local palate, including a good 10oz sirloin with all the trimmings.

It's a very pleasing concept, and something completely different for the area - easily the most elegant and stylish restaurant on the Causeway Coast, and affordable too.