Ian's Home Bakery — Restaurant in Northern Ireland

Little proper caff in Rosetta, been around forever and familiar to those "in the know". Where does one go if one has just moved to the area and forgotten to pack the fridge? Craving something fresh, hot and delicious, we popped into Ian's. Signs were good as we checked out the array of traditional baked treats such as pancakes, fresh cream chocolate éclairs, sausage rolls and my absolute fave, chocolate fresh cream Swiss roll. I asked them to save me one of these indulgent delights and add it to my bill at the end. No problem. Tucked away at the back of Ian's are eight or nine dining tables, nearly always busy. We grabbed a pew and the hymnsheet. As hoped, the menu offers good-looking fried breakfasts, pies and chips, sandwiches, all kinds of coffee, and tea in a teapot. One young waitress was attending to the whole place, with expert ease. So after some reflection, we ordered what we really wanted (and hardly ever get) which was chips and beans. The chips arrived hot and fresh, neither too skinny or too chunky, but just right. Plenty of salt and vinegar enhanced their delicious flavour and crunch. Beans made a perfect pairing. We have to say, we have eaten many chips in our time, but few as tasty and fresh as those in Ian's. It's the sort of place where most things are made to order, yet they would never put a sign up saying, "everything made to order". Modest and first class at the same time, you get a generous pile of these excellent potato treats for £5. We'll be back, again and again. The bill, for chips, beans, a pot of tea and a fresh cream Swiss roll to take home to our fridgeless new abode, was £12...

Very very disappointed. Nice food but lack of customer facilities let the business badly down. My 90 year old mother in law and I called in for a hot drink and a bun. She suffers from urinal tract problems and needed to use the bathroom urgently after finishing her tea.

The staff refused despite me explaining her disability and asking them did they want her to urinate on the floor? They stated the owner does not allow customers to use the staff toilets as people would have to pass through the bakery kitchen to get there and that the council would close them down if they caught staff allowing the public to use the bathroom.

Considering it was an emergency I stated that this would not the case. She had to use the opticians next door and I phoned Belfast Council who stated that it was up to the owner whether the toilets could be used (their recommendation is not to let the general public use them for additional hygiene protection). BUT there was no way the business would be closed for doing so and certainly not in an emergency as described.

To ban the public from walking through the preparation room makes no sense as the shop staff are subject to all the germs and bacteria from customers. The staff are not wearing any Protective wear when entering the “clean” area and are not prevented from using the bathroom.

I can fully understand the owner not wanting a parade of the public using the toilet but I would have thought some common sense should prevail when dealing with the disabled or elderly!

We...

Absolutely manic at lunch time and unfortunately they’re limited in seating space. Tables, menus and the rubber mat thing (whatever it was for) could have been cleaner. Food selection is great. Staff are really helpful and friendly in letting us know a table was going to be free in a minute before we were about to leave and in making sure that table was ours when someone walked in ahead of us. Couldn’t fault them. Food we...