Sweet Afton — Restaurant in Belfast

We (2 couples) had drinks (approx 5) and food on the terrace outside here on the 2/7/21. Where do I begin, there were plenty staff working here! The picnic table we sat at was loose (hand tight) and each time someone got up or down it went up and down like a seesaw much to the amusement of one of the waiting staff. After waiting for 10 or so minutes one of us had to get up and approach a staff member to ask if they could take a drinks order and this became the standard procedure for the rest of the evening. It actually got to the point where the people at the other tables around us were in the same situation, having to leave their table and intercept a staff member to request service, we were all having a great laugh about it, one guy even suggested dropping a glass might be the only way of actually getting some to come to the table. We twice saw people take a table and after waiting for to long get up and leave again. When an order did get to the table the staff never cleared the empty glasses or food containers. There was a carpet of cigarette butts under our feet, the tables were sticky. The front of house manager a guy dressed in a crumpled shirt and sloppy jeans, twirling a Bic pen with a permanently stressed, angry, I hate my job expression would occasionally come to the door rub his forehead and look out over everything without ever actually looking at any table or customer and never once seemed to notice the state of the place or actually lead/manage his staff by example or otherwise. After getting our food (which was actually very good) we needed more napkins and after a brief effort at trying to catch a waiters eye I decided to just get them myself, I put on my face mask and went into the restaurant bar counter and asked a cocktail barman for some napkins, he had a quick look all around him and then picked up an industrial sized roll of blue paper towel spun off a big fistfull and said "here that's all I've got" incredible! I then followed one of the waiting staff to the back bar area and helped myself to a few napkins. This place is in a busy location with many hotels all around and it get the foot fall either way so it probably does ok without making any...

What an awful experience. Arrived in town for 7-10 days. It was mid afternoon on Friday. I wanted to catch some of the Ryder Cup matches and everyone said, “go to Franklins” so I headed that way when I dropped off my bags.

Arrived and asked if I could sit at the bar and watch the tournament and have a late lunch. I was walked into a “open-room” behind the bar. Confused, I asked why I was sitting alone and couldn’t sit with others on the side or in front of the bar. You will be fine I was told. If I wanted to sit in a room alone, I would have stayed at my apartment 😳. I ordered a pint. Waited over 10 minutes while there were 5 people behind the bar. Everyone else was getting drinks. I agreed to myself at 15 minutes (4pm) I would just leave. The beer arrived. I was asked if I wanted to order food. Thinking it took that long for a drink and lots of commotion at the bar (as they had lost their internet signal - can’t make this up) I said no. Then she mentioned this was a “eating” table. I re asked, why can’t I sit at the side bar and have a bite and beer (with 8-10 open stools & 3 others eating and trying to watch the matches). I shook my head and asked for my bill. After waiting while she sat two tables and delivered food to 2 tables, I walked to the bar to pay. Still, not TV signal. Paid and then watched a local women walk to the bar with serious purpose. She lit the bartender up. Stating she had been waiting over 20 minutes for her glass of wine!!!!! Stating all her friends had finished their cocktails and all she asked for was a glass of wine. Questioning loud enough for everyone to hear…”why the hell does this bar NOT have a wine opener!!!!!!!” She also clearly stated, she wanted to be compensated. All this while the manager stood and watched the bar tender take this.

I knew then. This wasn’t a place I wanted to drink or eat at or support. Poorly run. There were over 8 visible employees working, less than 40 people in the place. 1/3...

Great spot that was recommended last minute by one of the staff of the Europa when we told him what kind of place we were looking for.

We were looking for a comfortable rustic bar with a good atmosphere (not too quiet as we had a couple of 10 year olds in the group) and with really good quality food and drinks.

This was exactly what we were looking for, atmosphere was perfect, music playing but not too loud at all, staff were brilliant, unbelievably attentive and really quick with drinks orders and any requests we had, service was definitely 5 stars for us on this particular experience.

Quite a strong menu, there was a lot of stuff I wanted to order, basically I would have eaten anything off the menu which is always good, not too experienced with prices in Belfast City centre but for the quality of the food and service we got I was pretty satisfied, I got the duck breast which was perfectly cooked and a really high quality meal, so that was another 5 stars from me.

I went for the Peroni draft beer option, really gorgeous pint, a bottle of white wine was ordered for the table and apparently that was gorgeous too, the seating and lighting and all round atmosphere was fantastic, just really relaxed and definitely the kind of place I could have easily spent a few hours in, definitely another time without the kids lol.

Toilets were spotless clean, although the men’s toilets were out of use due to a fresh paint job but had a look in and saw a good spacious clean area with plenty of cubicles and the likes, accessible bathroom was available for men at the time.

So all in all had a great experience at Sweet Afton and will definitely be returning and highly recommend to anyone heading to Belfast city with or...