Please mention ireland-guide.com when enquiring.

Molly's Yard

This atmospheric restaurant on two floors - informal ground floor bistro with a more elegant dining room above - is in the former stables of College Green House and there is nothing clichéd about it , giving an intriguing feeling that this place is a 'find'. Menus have a pleasingly down to earth tone - casual bistro fare downstairs with more 'grown up' versions upstairs.

Barry Smyth, previously of the much-praised restaurant The Oriel of Gilford, in County Down, was head chef during the set-up phase and established a fine reputation for both the cooking and the philosophy of using carefully sourced ingredients, including (and naming) as much local produce as possible.

Current head chef Matthias Llorente worked with him prior to taking over and, judging by the Guide's 2007 visit and consistently good local reports, the transition was effected very smoothly and the original philosophy of food remains in place; menus are kept relatively small with the emphasis on making everything freshly, and the cooking is really delicious.

An interesting drinks list has always been one of the attractions here - including real ales from the renowned Hilden Brewery in Lisburn and Molly's Yard now includes Belfast's first (and Ireland's smallest) micro-brewery.

At the time of the Guide's visit there were plans to introduce a crêperie downstairs, with more focus on fine dining upstairs in the evening.

Outdoor seating for 20; children welcome before 6pm; toilets wheelchair accessible. L Mon-Fri, 12-2.30pm, D Mon-Fri, 5-9.30pm, Sat all day, 12-9.30pm; set D 2/3 course about £20/25; house wine from about £12.50. Closed Sun, 25-26 Dec, 1 Jan, 12-13 Jul. MasterCard, Visa, Switch.

Directions:

Beside Dukes hotel at back of Queen's University