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Mourne Seafood Bar Belfast

A sandwich board sign will lead you to the Mourne Seafood Bar, which is also a fish shop and owned by Andy Rae previously head chef with Paul Rankin at Roscoff and Cayenne - and business partner Bob McCoubrey, of the original Mourne Seafood Bar in Dundrum, Co Down (see entry), who have their own shellfish beds on Carlingford Lough.

You enter past a well-stocked display of fish (including lobster, oysters etc), through a dark brown painted door which opens onto a long bar with an authentic Belfast feel; a world away from your designer bar concept, the old walls are a mixture of red brick and black areas acting as large blackboards for the menu and cocktail list, floorboards have been roughly painted black, tables are simply set and there's more of the same upstairs for overflow at weekends.

Andy's passion for seafood is evident - starting with the sourcing, he uses less popular local fish rather than trendy imports and, of course, mussels and oysters from Carlingford - everything is home made and the menu, which offers a mix of dishes at varying prices, changes daily according to the catch (a steak option is also offered).

A daily specials board might offer 15 dishes, including potted herrings, seafood casserole or roast hake.

Nice desserts, good coffee to finish and lovely service.

Children welcome; toilets wheelchair accessible. Seats 75 (private room, 30); air conditioning; food served Mon-Sat, 12-9.30pm, Sun, 1-6pm; vegetarian menu, also a la carte; housewine about £12.95. Closed 25-26 Dec, 1 Jan. MasterCard, Visa, Switch.

Directions:

Near Kelly's Bar - turn off Royal Avenue onto Bank Street. 100 yards on left.