Originally a coaching stop for the Belfast to Dublin post, The Morning Star is a Belfast hospitality institution.
Run by the McAlister family since the eighties, The Morning Star is more than just a pub and restaurant. With its farm to fork ethos, and strong commitment to championing local farmers, growers, and producers, it prides itself on its reputation for quality food and drink.
We called in try the brand new restaurant menu and we were bowled over by the lengthy list of suppliers on the reverse; beef and lamb from their own family farms, fish from Ewings, pork from Buchanans, and eggs from Fruitvale Farm, to name but a few.
The Morning Star even has its own zero-waste organic kitchen garden for the herbs and veggies, and has become renowned for serving the best steaks in Belfast with many cuts available, from rump and ribeye, to T-bone and Tomahawk.
We started our lunch with a pescatarian dream; a superb Seafood Tower with Baked Oysters, Classic Moules Mariniere, Salt & Pepper Calamari, Deep Fried Whitebait, Lemon & Garlic Aioli, Seaweed Butter, and Guinness Wheaten Bread-perfect for sharing.
This was followed by an extremely tasty Chicken Parmigiana; a Panko crumbed Co Antrim Chicken Schnitzel, smothered in tomato marinara sauce, toasted nduja crumb, grated parmesan, and hand cut paprika chips.
And the Big Boy Bhaji Gourmet Burger, a vegetable and sesame bhaji burger with labneh, red onion chutney, coriander salsa, and pickled chilli, in a vegan brioche bun, was proof that The Morning Star has some amazing meat-free options too.
We finished with a dram of The Morning Star small batch Irish Whiskey, made in collaboration with Shortcross distillery, which is full of warmth, character and heritage-just like the pub itself.
Restaurant website HERE
