Pizza Parlour, Ballymena

Ive been to this restaurant quite a few times and look forward to it everytime I go. The pizza's are delicious and fantastic value for money. They are so succulent and make your taste buds explode causing you salvate. The one thing I like about the pizza parlour also is that you can take your own alcohol in with you so it saves alot of money as drinks can be quite expensive amd over priced.

The decor is ok but its also quite nice as they light the candles on the table and gives you the romantic feel to go with a nice evening of dining. Its fantastic for work nights out and birthday parties as they have spqce upstairs for functions of various sizes or even if you just want to go out for a romantic meal.

The staff are really friendly and attentive. Overall the pizza parlour is a nice restaurant for a night out so I will give it a 4/5.

Skinners, Holywood

I must say this is the best bakery/cafe about. The food is cooked fresh everday which is what I like to see as there isnt many places I could say that about. The meat used is from the butchers next door so you know the meat is all locally produced. The buns, pastries and sandwiches are gorgeous and go down a treat.

The staff are very friendly, chatty and welcoming and the prices are ok. You can sit in or take out and many local people come everyday to enjoy either an all day breakfast or just a sausage roll or sandwich and a bun to enjoy while on the road.

Personally ive never heard anyone say a bad word about this place and I certainly dont have a bad word to say so therefore I give Skinners a 5/5.

Holywood Pizza Co, Holywood.

  Who doesnt like a nice pizza when you arnt in the mood to cook and fancy summit simple yet moorish. Just a few yet important decisions step one thin crust or deep fill, step two tomatoe or barbecue sauce. Step three and most importantly toppings what mood u feeling in, carnivourous, vegie, bit of the sea, combination of the three or just plain with cheese. Many arguments have been had in the history of man and wife over these choices, not everywhere is like a couple of big chain pizza places where share pizzas can be split in two for both to have their own and save grace.

  Overall not the best pizzeria I have ever had the displeasure to order from however its passable if your ravenous. The toppings are nice however the base is like cardboard because they have been rolled so thin, its as though the same amount of dough is used in all pizzas. The menu is a bit over pricedarnt and the meal deals are great value for a small family, which is a plus.  What would be even better is service with a smile, never been greeted with a friendly face in this establishment.

Overall 2/5

 

Nobel's, Ballymena

  Famous for their Ulster Fry's, there isnt one bad word I could say about this place.  If you want the best ulster fry you have ever tasted, you must come here. When people think of frys they think grease, well not with a Nobles cooked breakfast. To this day it still amazes me when they bring it out with not one drop of grease on the plate without any sacrifice in the traditional flavours of an ulster fry.

Nobel's isnt expensive at all and is great value for money. Last time I was there which wasnt too long ago, a 5 piece fry was 2.95 and a 10 piece fry was 3.95, both come with free tea or coffee. They do sell other food like toasties, sandwiches etc. and overall is still great value for money. Food is brought out in a timely manner, keeping very hungry diners happy.

They now have 2 Nobel's in Ballymena so it obviously shows that everyone loves the place. It has become a bit of an institution in the area and people travel from surrounding towns and villages just for a cooked breakfast. The decor is nice and airy, very modern with cubicles that fit upto 6 people. The staff are very friendly and welcoming which puts you at ease straight away and they cant do enough for you.

I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND Nobel's. You will not be disappointed, therefore I give this cafe a 5/5.

The Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim

  Originally known as The Comfort Hotel, and is rated at 2 star and a definate no go.  I used to frequent this place quite often and the standard of the food was fantastic and the service was fabulous. 

  However since the change in name there has been a noticeable drop in standards both with the food and the service.  I would suspect their has been a change of chef, a very slow one thats food is almost always late to the table. The food is not always fresh, seems as though it is cooked in advance and reheated.  The menu hasn't got a great variety and needs alot of work.

  The grounds and the facilities are lovely for meetings and conferences, and its nice to visit for a coffee.  The service from the staff is horrendous as they totally neglect your custom, dont move about the place with any snap to serve you when they do bother either.  Ive even found myself walking to the bar to order food as a waiter/waitress was nowhere to be seen.  Service with a smile is not a phrase I would use and maybe should be adopted by many staff members.

  Potential to be a nice place to eat as it was in the past with a few changes in staff front and back of house along with the menu. The countryside scenary and the quiet are big plusses but all in all not many positives, therefore
Dunsilly Hotel gets a 1/5.

Dirty Duck, Holywood (pub/restaurant)

  With its prime location overlooking Belfast Lough, the Dirty Duck has all the ingredients for a great place to enjoy food and a few drinks for afters. The main theme to the menu is seafood which makes sense being next to the sea and the shape of the buliding is as though its the Bow of a boat. The restaurant is upstairs above the bar and has gorgeous panoramic views.

  That is where the compliments stop for me, it is very over priced bar food that is very greasy. It was as though bits of the food had been recooked or refried, disappointing as I had been given alot of recommendations.

  The decor is very outdated and could do with a refurb. It's also very small in the bar downstairs and gets really warm amd claustrophobic which doesnt make it too nice when you just want to go in and have a chilled out evening with a beer or two.

I give the Dirty Duck 2/5

Bokhara, Holywood (indian cuisine)

I'm a big fan of Indian cuisine, i was practically brought up on it. I'm the eldest of 3 brothers and the big man test in our family was always spicy food, who could eat the hottest and the most of it without showing any sign of emotion. With age I've explored the menu and tried almost every Indian dish going so i see myself as quite the connoisseur and very well placed to have an opinion on Indian food.

Bokhara was a brilliant experience, on arrival you are greeted with a friendly smile and shown to a table. Complimentary poppadoms and chutneys are brought to the table while you peruse the menu, a range of drinks is on offer or you can bring your own. The decor is cosy and clean, typical of any Indian restaurant that Ive been to with traditional bollywood music creating a calm atmosphere mixed in with beautiful aromas from the kitchen and the food on other customers tables. The food is excellent, spices are clean and fresh on the pallet and the portions are big with great value for money. The service is fantastic the waiting staff always have a happy face, and cant do enough to ensure that you enjoy your experience.  There is no long waits for your food, even when its busy and just the right amount of time between courses. They also offer a takeaway service for those lazy evenings.

If you go  Sunday - Thursday between 5pm and 9pm they do four course meals for £25.00 per couple.

I give Bokhara 4/5