Coleraine

[rockyracoon]

We're off to Ireland in August and will be spending a night in Coleraine, can anyone suggest a decent family restaurant.

Thanks :-)

[237SJ]

I know you probably want personal experiences and I don`t want to sound like a smartarse but did you know Tripadvisor have a restaurant section now? I`ve found some good places to eat on there (discovered my local curry house on there that I would probably never have thought to go into before Tripadvisor)

[rockyracoon]

Lol, 237 I do look on Tripadvisor but as you said I want personal recommendations if possible, Tripadvisor can be quite wrong sometimes.

[ichkeria]

To be honest Coleraine is a bit of a dead loss for decent restaurants. It's too close to the seaside resorts of Portrush and Portstewart. There used to be the Salmon Leap, but it closed several years ago. However the Lodge Hotel http://www.thelodgehotel.com/ is OK.

[rockyracoon]

Thanks Ich, we're driving so will have transport so could go out for dinner, what's good at the seaside?

[ichkeria]

rocky,
With transport your best bet might be to go inland to for, example the Brown Trout http://www.browntroutinn.com/ It is many years since I was there but it's a safe bet for a good meal in a nice location I'd say.

In Portrush the Spinnaker is one place I've been and really liked
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g209952-d2207723-Reviews-The_Spinnaker-Portrush_County_Antrim_Northern_Ireland.html

Another place I know: The Harbour Bar and Ramore Restaurant in Portrush
http://www.ramorerestaurant.com/harbour-bar.htm
which I see is billing itself as N. Ireland's oldest pub

Portstewart is a nicer town, imho, but I don't personally know any decent restaurants there - there's the Anchor but I remember it mainly for a lock-in many years ago (!)
Shenanigans http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g209963-d1723197-Reviews-Shenanigans-Portstewart_County_Londonderry_Northern_Ireland.html
is very popular, but I've never actually been. Others may be able to recommend it personally.
Obviously there are lots of other places but it's a few years since I was there.
HTH a bit

[rockyracoon]

Thanks for that Ick, it helps a lot. :D

[Connemmara]

this is probably no good to you rocky - but I believe there is a brilliant Chinese eat-in opened up in Coleraine about 3 years now but it has got great reviews (ie for your dinner). Sorry I can't remember the name - but I googled it some time ago - it looked massive and modern. Have a nice time in Ireland. Con

[rockyracoon]

Thanks Conn, I'll have a look out for it :)

[Psybbo]

The Watermargin is a lovely Chinese restaurant in Coleraine
By far the most popular restaurant in the triangle is the Ramore Wine Bar
You could also look at 55degrees North and a new one between Portrush and Portstewart called The Tides, lovely situation looking out over the Atlantic with outdoor seating

[ichkeria]

There's the Water Margin, a large Chinese restaurant aptly named as it's situated on the banks of the Bann. Quite large. Never been there although it seems to get good reviews .
http://www.watermargincoleraine.co.uk/

That and others listed here:
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?safe=images&ie=UTF-8&q=chinese+restaurants+in+coleraine&;fb=1&gl=uk&hq=chinese+restaurants&hnear=0x48601557891517bd:0xa047e722d79b876b,Coleraine&ei=uILdUa7ULouyhAfV84C4Cw&ved=0CMMBELYD&iwloc=cids:6639977536812673367

[Connemmara]

there ya go Rocky - Water Margin - that is what I am probably talking about. Looks really lovely. Meantime Rocky am pondering here my best friend is married to a Coleraine guy - will suss this out for you as in hotels - cos you do have a few more weeks. Con

[ichkeria]

...and we'll be in Coleraine in August too with any luck.
In fact, I really fancy going back to the Spinnaker :-)

The Water Margin has been around for years Connemmara, so it might not be the one you mean. It's in a nice setting certainly.

[Psybbo]

Thanks, ichkeria, I've been to all the others but never thought of the Spinnaker, so must give it a try

[Connemmara]

I haven't been in Coleraine I was going to say years but I have never been to it - but believe has great shopping. There is a little place outside of it about 5 miles called Benone - worth seeing for the views.

[Connemmara]

Ich - Rocky has a lot of nice things on offer to him. The place I was thinking of looked very very big and maybe too modern. Water Margin would do it for me.

[rockyracoon]

Great stuff, spoilt for choice now lol.

Thanks all :)

[Psybbo]

To confuse you even more Rocky, The Bushmills Inn (in Bushmills) is lovely and a great breakfast can be had in the Copper Kettle, closeby.

[rockyracoon]

Lol, thanks Psybbo. We're staying in the Premier Inn after an afternoon at The Giants Causeway (£8 each to get in!!!!) then off to Belfast the next day for the Titanc Museum. There were good reviews for the Premier Inn restaurant but I'm not a lover of those kinds of places, I always feel the food isn't freshly made.

[Psybbo]

http://www.freewebs.com/giantscausewayrailway/
You might like a look at this site as I think the carpark at the Causeway charges per head in car
http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Giants-Causeway-Antrim-Northern-Ireland-Bushmills-P2800

[rockyracoon]

Ah, thanks for that Psybbo, it was mentioned to me over the weekend. So if you walk up you pay nothing, but if you park the car you pay per head?