The Hillside — Restaurant in Northern Ireland

We went to the hillside today for Sunday lunch. The bar was lovely and welcoming but the restaurant was cold and quiet. After ordering the staff had to come back 5 minutes later to ask what the order was because the couldn’t remember it. 45 minutes after ordering we had to go and ask where our meal was my 4 year old son had received his meal and finished it but the 4 adults hadn’t received their main meals. The staff came nowhere near us and just stood talking to each other and we had to go to the bar to order more drinks which never arrived until we went 15 minutes later to ask for again. The staff didn’t come to ask if we needed anything or to ask if we wanted dessert or coffee. Over 2 hours after we arrived my 4 year old son was so frustrated he got up and went to find staff to order a milkshake and icecream for his desert. 20 minutes after waiting for this the milkshake arrived…. We are home now and still waiting for his icecream that never arrived which the staff the tried to bill us for. We would have all had coffee and deserts if anyone had come near us to ask but left without and over 2 & 1/2 hours after our reservation time. Food was lovely… restaurant staff terrible and the restaurant was very quiet so can’t even say...

Lovely warm welcome with an open fire and always lots of well behaved (most of the time!) dogs to greet you. This is a standout feature of the Hillside and we always love coming in here. As for the restaurant, it can be a bit hit and miss but could depend on what time you go. We've happened to eat here twice in the past couple of months at Saturday lunchtime and have had two completely different experiences. The first would have been a 2 star as the restaurant was virtually empty with food being sent back from another table, ours wasn't hot and portions were meagre. The restaurant was very cold and we wished we had brought thick sweaters. The second visit last week was much better with more generous portions of hot food, and a bit warmer with an electric heater on (why not light the wood burner?) and busier but maybe because the rugby was on. The next time we go, we'll eat at the bar and get the best of both worlds. And a bit of advice, don't set your heart on something on the website menu as it may not be on the one you get...

It’s been several years since we were last visited the Hillside, we are stopping in Hillsborough on a 2 week holiday and were looking forward to popping over for an evening meal. Upon arrival we went straight to the beer garden as it was a pleasant night, all 7 tables were empty of people but full of empty glasses and half eaten meals , we cleared a table ourselves and ordered drinks at the bar. Drinks were expensive and not particularly nice, we sat in the beer garden for 30 minutes and in that time the tables remained uncleared and due to the plates of unfinished food there were numerous wasps flying about. We decided against eating there and ended up going to one of the local takeaways for a very nice meal. Will not be going back anytime soon, will try the other bars in the village for any future meals out.

Earlier in the week we popped in for a drink and were faced with very rude staff, but as there was an event on we gave them the benefit of doubt and tried returning. A bad idea!

A shame as it’s a dog friendly pub in a...