Belfast, British, Modern Restaurant Guide

The flagship destination in the city-centre restaurant complex opened by pioneering Belfast chef Michael Deane 25 years ago, Eipic now has rising head chef Alex Greene at the helm, turning out “exceptional” and stylish cuisine – “I’ve eaten half a dozen Michelin star meals this year and Eipic edges it for me – better value for money, and you can dip in and out of the matching wines rather than having £90 added to the bill for taking all the pairings”. Sceptics can find it “a bit uptight and textbook, even if the food is well-cooked” – “you get into Eipic (and indeed go to the toilet) by walking through another Deanes restaurant, and each time I did so I wanted to stay there instead!”

2021 Review: Solidly good marks last year for Niall and Joanne McKenna’s “understated and classy” venue, which last year incorporated its neighbouring ‘bar and grill’ and fine dining operations into a single more brasserie-style set-up, complete with cocktail bar: many of the dishes, including steaks, come from the charcoal grill.

2021 Review: Marty Murphy’s well-liked, industrially styled brasserie (est 2013, and recently revamped, adding to its appeal) may not gain any particular raves, but is a decidedly “decent” spot by all accounts – and, even on a “very busy Saturday night, it still produces good solid cooking”.