The Smuggler's Table — Restaurant in Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

Unfortunately I am giving the lowest mark as they really didn’t deal professionally at all with our issue. The place is welcoming and the waitresses were charming. We both started with a seafood chowder which was pleasant. However, our main course dish was not edible as the halibut was so overcooked, far too dry and rubbery. We both felt exactly the same way and were not prepared to eat an expensive dish that was inedible. We therefore returned the dish and the waitress came back to ask if we wanted something else instead and we ordered a separate dish. A few minutes later, another waitress came and said that the chef is adamant that it is the right way to cook fish, that halibut is a meaty fish and that if we wanted to order something else, we would have to pay for it. Alternatively, they could give us back our (overcooked) halibut. We declined, paid and left. Sadly, the chef never came to our table to discuss the issue and I find it astonishing that an experienced chef would deal with unsatisfied customers in this way and that he wouldn't recognise when a piece of fish is not cooked the right way. I would like to point out that throughout all this, the waitresses were very courteous and apologetic. However, we will know where not to...

Excellent wine, french, dry, chablis style but not the price tag. Delicious goats cheese and beetroot salad starter, the food was warm and full of flavour, the walnuts sweet and a good addition to the meal. Main course lamb, pink and full of flavour, vegetables well cooked and simply served but this made the flavour stand out. Moist and balanced flavours, a really good meal. Attractively served with care. Dessert apple crumble cream and custard, tart apple crumbly crumble! very little sugar which made the apple tart and delicious. Cheese and biscuit good assortment of three cheeses and crisp biscuits with seedless grapes. everything was room temp rather than fridge cold. On top of all of this I left my hand bag and Julie ( front of house) remembered where we were staying and appeared carrying my bag with keys in it to let us into accommodation, just as we were heading back!!. Totally above and beyond the service but what a decent lady. A great experience from a restaurant that deserves to be successful and supported by the...

Having read the reviews we couldn't wait to try for ourselves. How disappointing. My husband ordered scampi but they were definitely not fried in tempura batter for they should have been light and crispy but were very oily and hadn't been drained. My choice for the main course was chicken pieces in an overspiced 'home-made' tomato sauce served with chorizo, and pasta. Deciding to refresh the palate a little, I then chose vanilla ice cream with a ball of raspberry sorbet, minus a wafer biscuit which would have been nice! I did ask the young lady serving if there were any wafers and received an abrupt 'no' to which she then disappeared towards the kitchen only to return when it was time to pay. We guess it must have been the head chef's day off today!

We will not be returning nor would we recommend this...