• About
    • About Us
    • Assessment Process
    • Contact Us
    • Quotes & Testimonials
    • Award Winners »
      • Awards Presented
      • Awards Received
    • Info for Owners »
      • Info for Owners
      • Industry Register/Login
  • Awards
  • Eat
  • Drink
  • Stay
  • Buy
  • Learn
  • Producers
  • 10 of the Best
    • Eat
    • Drink
    • Stay
    • Buy
    • Learn
    • Producers
  • Articles
  • Blog
  • Recipes
    • By Georgina Campbell
  • Special Offers
  • Competitions
  • Shop
    • Recipe Cards
    • Buy Guidebooks
    • Buy Cookbooks
    • GPS POIs for Garmin
    • « Ireland Apps
      • iPhone App
      • Blackberry App
      • Samsung App
      • Nokia App
      • Ireland for Food Lovers App
    • « Cooking Apps
      • iCook - Recipes & Cooking with Neven
      • APPetiser - Recipes & Cooking with Derry Clarke
      • For the Love of Food – Kevin Dundon
  • More+
    • Gardens
    • Golf
    • Self Catering
    • What's On
    • Tourist Attractions
    • Wedding Venues
Ireland Guide
Ireland Guide

- ireland -

Graphics Version | 
Ireland’s Leading Independent Food & Hospitality Guide
  • LOGIN/SIGNUP
    • My Ireland Guide
    • Industry
Home > Eat > OX

Eat

Comments(0) Add Comment

OX

Restaurant

Dislike Like
9 votes (98%)
Print page Send to a friend
Restaurants Offering Consistent Excellence Overall Denotes genuine Irish food culture, ie special Irish food products/companies/producers, and highlights the best places to shop for regional and artisan foods; the selection excludes obvious 'non-Irish' elements regardless of quality, eg ethnic restaurants and specialists in coffee, wine and other drinks, unless relevant to local production or history. Eat & Stay establishments are chosen for their commitment to showcasing local produce and Irish hospitality. Outstanding Location, building or atmosphere The "Best of the Best" - Only the very best establishments across various categories have been chosen for this accolade

OX

A new star was born when this relaxed Lagan-side restaurant opened in 2013 - Stephen Toman and Alain Kerloc'h merge stylish modern ingredients-led food and impeccable service with a laid-back vibe, making this one of the most consistently exciting dining rooms in the country
Open: L Thu-Sat 12pm-2.30pmfrom £35. D Wed-Sat 6pm-9.30pm. Tasting Menu c.£75, matching wines £55, non-alcoholic pairing £40. Vegetarian & vegan menus available. Ox Cave: Wed-Sat from 5.30pm. Hours may vary. Major cards abbreviations

Overlooking the River Lagan opposite Andy Scott's Beacon of Hope sculpture in downtown Belfast, the location of one of Northern Ireland's most exciting restaurants seems appropriate - and owners Alain Kerloc’h (former restaurant manager at Deanes Restaurant) and Stephen Toman (former head chef at James Street South) showed vision and courage when they introduced OX to the city in 2013.


The concept - of simplicity, quality and accessibility, combined with a steadfast focus on seasonal local foods - is strong, original and confident, and it has generated (and sustained) huge excitement. The atmosphere is electric in the restaurant, which is partly down to the sense of anticipation among diners, but it's also that the room just works. The lighting is excellent and, whether in the ground floor restaurant or the first floor dining room (which is especially suitable for groups, although it can be very noisy), it's a wonderful venue when looking out over the river at night.


The main restaurant is a simple, modern room; designed by Oscar & Oscar, it flows into the open kitchen where both front of house and chefs are all kitted out uniformly, a statement of intent, as - in the modern Scandinavian style - dishes coming out of the kitchen are placed on the table by the hand of both waiting staff and chefs, who are equally well versed in the ingredients on the plate and the ideas behind the dishes.


OX describes itself simply as 'A restaurant with seasonal creativity’, and a short à la carte menu probbaly offering just four (extremely reasonably priced) dishes on each course is a model of pared down promise.


The month's Larder of foods in season is the starting point for every dish and meat, fish and other ingredients, including foraged foods, are each afforded equal respect. Two tasting menus are also offered and while one is the OX Menu of the Season, the other, more unusually, is the OX Vegetable Menu and anyone seeking inspiration with vegetables will thrill to the creativity of this kitchen.


While Stephen doesn't list suppliers, some are name checked on dishes and the care taking with sourcing is very evident - as also is the originality of each dish, notably the vegetarian ones which offer a creative and deeply flavoursome combination of non-meat ingredients.


Every dish is equally appealing so choices will be hard to make, but there should be no disappointments here. As would be expected of a man who has worked in the three star restaurant Taillevent (and returns annually to stage at great kitchens in Paris), Stephen Toman's cooking is exquisite, with great attention to detail - and interesting use of textures is a special feature.


Service has been impeccable from the outset too, with seemingly laid-back, yet highly efficient service from Alain Kerloc’h and his team bringing a casual air to proceedings.


Alain Kerloc’h has long been highly respected in the world of wine and (although tasting notes would be welcome) his original and well priced wine list complements the food perfectly. Here too, accessibility and quality go hand in hand, with wines by the glass offered from about £7 - while the classics include just one or two splurge bottles for that day of exceptional celebration...


Beginning with aperitifs that include a locally made kefir as well as craft beer and cider, a very welcome manzanilla and equally welcome 'juice of the day', it just gets more interesting as you work through bubblies and a seasonal selection of about a dozen of what are effectively house wines, all available in a choice of  sizes), to a brilliant collection of 'Artisan wines from interesting places', which is given equal weight with the classics. 


A great team and a wonderful, affordable restaurant - and Belfast diners clearly know how lucky they are to have this gem in their city. Such is the popularity of OX that, in its first year, it became clear that extra space was needed. So, with the help of the original design team, they knocked into the building next door and created the relaxed and atmospheric Ox Cave, where you can not only enjoy an aperitif before going to your table (or linger over a post-prandial glass or two) but also enjoy some exceptional small plates and cheese selections, at certain times. 

Less
Read More
  • Facilities/Features
  • Restaurant/Dining/Pub
  • Location - By a river
  • Location - Town Centre
  • Location - Waterside
  • Contemporary International
  • Atmospheric
  • Attractive Views
  • Buzzy Atmosphere
  • Cool Venue
  • Extensive Wine List
  • Formal
  • Organic Produce used (mainly)
  • Romantic
  • Vegetarian Friendly (always at least 1 starter & 1 main course)
Last Updated: 26-11-2022
Author: Georgina Campbell
Click here if you are the owner or marketing manager
array(13) {
  ["numpages"]=>
  float(2)
  ["firstpage"]=>
  int(1)
  ["lastpage"]=>
  float(2)
  ["pages"]=>
  array(2) {
    [1]=>
    int(0)
    [2]=>
    int(6)
  }
  ["current"]=>
  int(1)
  ["maxpages"]=>
  NULL
  ["prev"]=>
  NULL
  ["next"]=>
  int(6)
  ["remain"]=>
  float(3)
  ["to"]=>
  int(6)
  ["numrows"]=>
  int(9)
  ["from"]=>
  int(1)
  ["limit"]=>
  int(6)
}

Might also like

Eat

Hadskis

Belfast, Co. Antrim

Restaurant

RELOCATED TO WATERMAN HOUSE & re-branded Waterman Restaurant A younger sister to Niall and Joanne McKenna’s 'mothership' restaurant, James St, Hadskis is located in a former foundry in the city centre and it's a tribute to the city's great engineering and manu ...

Read more
Eat

James St.

Belfast, Co. Antrim

Restaurant
For Cooking & Service Well Above Average Previous Georgina Campbell Guides Award Winner The "Best of the Best" - Only the very best establishments across various categories have been chosen for this accolade

Niall McKenna's James St. has developed from two of the best loved Belfast restaurants the fine dining destination restaurant James Street South and its less formal sister, The Bar and Grill at James St. Owned since 2003 by one of Northern Ireland's most highl ...

Read more
Drink & Eat

No. 14 at the Georgian House

Comber, Co. Down

Restaurant
For Cooking & Service Well Above Average Denotes genuine Irish food culture, ie special Irish food products/companies/producers, and highlights the best places to shop for regional and artisan foods; the selection excludes obvious 'non-Irish' elements regardless of quality, eg ethnic restaurants and specialists in coffee, wine and other drinks, unless relevant to local production or history. Eat & Stay establishments are chosen for their commitment to showcasing local produce and Irish hospitality. Outstanding Location, building or atmosphere The "Best of the Best" - Only the very best establishments across various categories have been chosen for this accolade

A lovely listed building on the main square of this charming little town, No. 14 at the Georgian House dates back to 1722 and provides an atmospheric setting for the first solo enterprise by the highly regarded chef Jim Mulholland and his wife Joanne. Well known from hi ...

Read more
Eat

Square Bistro

Lisburn, Co. Antrim

Restaurant
Denotes genuine Irish food culture, ie special Irish food products/companies/producers, and highlights the best places to shop for regional and artisan foods; the selection excludes obvious 'non-Irish' elements regardless of quality, eg ethnic restaurants and specialists in coffee, wine and other drinks, unless relevant to local production or history. Eat & Stay establishments are chosen for their commitment to showcasing local produce and Irish hospitality. Serious About Seafood The "Best of the Best" - Only the very best establishments across various categories have been chosen for this accolade

Opened by chef Stephen Higginson and his wife Cristina in 2006, the Square Bistro has been Lisburn’s most consistently popular restaurant for over a decade. It’s a warm, friendly and atmospheric venue, with a loyal clientèle who keep coming back for t ...

Read more
Buy & Drink & Eat

The Poacher's Pocket

Comber, Co. Down

Pub / Restaurant / Speciality Store
Pub with good food and atmosphere The "Best of the Best" - Only the very best establishments across various categories have been chosen for this accolade

Ronan and Jennie Sweeney (Balloo House, The Parson’s Nose) did it again here, sprinkling their magic over this stylish reinvention of the former Lisbarnett House in Lisbane village. After purchasing the run down pub in 2012 they invested over £1 million in t ...

Read more
Drink & Eat

The Parsons Nose

Hillsborough, Co. Down

Pub / Restaurant
Pub with good food and atmosphere The "Best of the Best" - Only the very best establishments across various categories have been chosen for this accolade

Originally named after its first owner, The Marquis of Downshire, Ronan and Jennie Sweeney's charming 18th century pub is a sister establishment to that great dining pub, Balloo House in Killinchy (a former GCGuides Pub of the Year) and its stylish younger sibling, The P ...

Read more

Contact details

+44 28 9031 4121
EMAIL
PLEASE MENTION IRELANDGUIDE.COM WHEN ENQUIRING

Address

OX
1 Oxford Street, Belfast BT1 3LA
Show me where this establishment is on the map.
Directions About Belfast Trip Planning Tools
City centre on River Lagan - Queen's Bridge end of Oxford Street, across from Beacon of Hope scupture
  • Add to my Favourites +
  • View my Favourites
  • Local Recommendations
  • Hospitality
  • By Distance
    • All
      • Eat
        • Drink
          • Stay
            • Buy
              • Learn
                • Producer
                • By Category
                  • Comments

                  There are currently no comments

                  Leave a comment

                  You must be logged in to leave a comment
                  Not a member? Register for your free membership now!
                  Or leave a comment by logging in with:
                  Sign up with Twitter
                  Georgina Campbell's ireland-guide.com
                  Tweets by @IrelandGuide
                  © Copyright Georgina Campbell Guides 2023
                  • Disclaimer
                  • T & C
                  • Privacy Policy
                  • Site Map
                  • Links
                  • Advertise
                  • Ireland Hotels |
                  • Northern Ireland Hotels |
                  • B&B Ireland |
                  • Accommodation Ireland |
                  • Dublin Airport Hotels |
                  • Dublin Hotels |
                  • Dublin Restaurants |
                  • Belfast Hotels |
                  • Belfast Restaurants |
                  • Cork Hotels |
                  • Cork Restaurants |
                  • Galway Hotels |
                  • Galway Restaurants |
                  • Killarney Hotels |
                  • Killarney Restaurants |
                  • Kilkenny Hotels |
                  • Kilkenny Restaurants |
                  • Limerick Hotels |
                  • Limerick Restaurants |
                  • Sligo Hotels |
                  • Waterford Hotels |
                  • Westport Hotels
                  • My Ireland Guide - Log in
                  • My Favourites
                  • My Itineraries
                  • My Comments
                  • Special Offers
                  • Hire Cars
                  • Ferry Tickets
                  • Competition
                  This website uses cookies to help provide you with a better online experience. By continuing to browse this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Cookie Policy