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Tedfords Restaurant

Sailing folk may remember Tedfords as a ship's chandlers - you can almost smell the sisal even now, especially as there are reminders a-plenty of this listed building's venerable maritime past. An informal ground floor restaurant has old charts papered on the walls and numerous other nautical artefacts including ship's lanterns, and bare-topped tables with linen napkins are pleasantly arranged on two levels with a railing around the upper one, allowing staff to move around the tables without disturbing diners too much - although many prefer the more sophisticated dining room upstairs, which is used only at weekends and lends a sense of occasion to a meal here.

There's an appropriate emphasis on things from the sea in dishes like seafood & shellfish chowder (a tasty, rather creamy take on the classic), and a fresh seafood platter with crab mash & buttered asparagus: seafood is the star and accounts for about half of the menu - and Tedfords has a growing reputation for producing some of the best seafood in Belfast.

But there's plenty else to choose from - especially certified Irish angus steaks. Vegetarian are not overlooked, however, and may be offered dishes like a goats cheese beignet with globe artichoke, or main course wild mushroom risotto with asparagus. Good desserts might include a Moorish hazelnut & chocolate parfait with vanilla cream, or there's an Irish cheeseboard, followed by cafetiére coffee. Service is caring, and the food is imaginative and well cooked - good enough to earn a following.

A very reasonably priced wine list includes half a dozen house wines, all under £12.

*The basement lounge area is due for refurbishment early in 2007.

Seats 45. Reservations required. L Tue-Fri, 12-2.30; D Tue-Sat, 5-9.30. Pre-theatre D Tue-Sat, about £19.95 (5-6.30). House wine from about £14; sc discretionary. Toilets wheelchair accessible. Children welcome. Parking in multi-storey carpark next door. Closed Sun-Mon, July fortnight, 1 week Christmas. Amex, MasterCard, Visa, Switch.

Directions:

3 minute walk from Waterfront Hall, next to multi storey car park.