The Barking Dog

Good food, great service and the staff are very friendly. Last time I was here (almost 3 years ago) I've been enjoying it so much, this time though it was OK but I was not amazed by the food at all, it was good but definitely did not meet my expectations. The Tapas starters was very nice, our mains was alright, yet again not amazing as expected. Definitely would recommend to pop in for a nice meal as it's one of the best restaurants in Belfast.

Excellent food and good service. Very busy Friday night venue. Staff are very friendly and helpful and can't do enough for you. Lovely cocktail list for a pre-dinner drink, good selection of wine. Shin of Beef Burger was something else, highly recommend it. Desserts were outstanding too. Very good value for money give the quality of food.

I booked The Barking Dog for my anniversary dinner with my husband. Booking a table was super easy and I was able to add in the comments that I needed their gluten free menu. When I arrived, the gluten free menu was there waiting on me, no awkwardness at all! This proved to me that the staff in the Barking Dog read the comments sent in with booking, unlike other restaurants I've been to in Belfast. The staff were amazing the whole night, very attentive and had a laugh with us. The food was outstanding, I cannot recommend it highly enough. From tapas starter, to dessert, everything was perfect. Gorgeous atmosphere to top it all off. 10/10 highly recommend.

The food here is simply other worldly. Two of us had steaks that were wonderfully cooked to medium rare perfection. And I mean perfect. We all talked about how the food, wine, was at another level.. The word 'burger' undersold the quality of the shin beef others enjoyed..I would get on a manchester _ belfast flight just to eat at this place. Bit odd that we turned up at 12 noon for our 12.45 booking and were asked to come back later...but hey ho. All good by 1pm.

What a gem , what a fab restaurant- great service, great staff and fantastic food. I have eaten in many Michelin star restaurants and this could be ranked at that level. The food was exceptional! Good choice of drinks and pleasant atmosphere, would definitely recommend when in Belfast.

The food is amazing, it's my favourite restaurant in Belfast. The sweet potato gnocchi with smoked chicken are amazing, and the same can be said for the sweet potato ravioli (unfortunately only at lunch). The chicken supreme and the sirloin steak are also very good. Among the desserts the apple tart tatin is delicious and the espresso crème brulée is very good. The peanut butter brownie is ok but could be better and surely is not worth the 7.25GBP you pay for it. Unfortunately the menu is always the same with slightly seasonal variations. As an aficionada I'd like to find my favourite dishes together with new ones. On a less pleasant note, I found the portions incredibly smaller: 10 gnocchi as a main is absolutely ridiculous. Having ordered a main and a dessert, we have left still hungry. The bill was extremely pricey: more than 17 pounds for the main with 10 gnocchi and over 7 pound for the dessert ( a slice of brownie and a scoop of ice cream, not a patisserie masterpiece!). We were a bit perplexed

Lovely dinning in restaurant. Friendly staff. The tapas section is recommended . The al carte menu also has variety of options. The dessert option is very tempting and delicious. An unregrettable food service is offered here. Recommended if you are new to Belfast and try out some Irish and Italian dishes.

Food and service here was delicious. For 2 people we split 3 of the tapas, 2 starters and 1 main dish and it was perfect. The chicken dish was incredible.

Party of five in Belfast for the Irish world dance competition what a wonderful evening!! On a Sunday for dinner we could not connect on the phone for reservations and the owner was very accommodating and we got a table within 45 minutes!! We started with toppers which were fabulous and moved on to the Schinberger, roasted chicken, and ravioli all absolutely wonderful!! Where is waitresses were very attentive and do not ever skip the espresso crème brûlée it is to die for!!

Burgers are ubiquitous and far too common in the US, but that doesn't mean it's where you necessarily come across the best. I've had my fair share of memorable burgers from coast to coast in America, but just glancing at a picture of the beef shin burger transports me back across the pond to the Barking Dog. I remember the few days I spent in Belfast fondly and of the many memories, my meal at the Barking Dog was a definite highlight. In a rather quaint and charming neighborhood, I took a nice short stroll from my Airbnb and came across this gem of an establishment and decided I had to check it out. I had a nice beer to start, and it wasn't a Guinness because stouts aren't my thing, but whatever it was I remember it being excellent and local. Undoubtedly you could make this place a regular haunt and there is no shortage of drinks and food options to make this a go-to for a date, celebration, or a quick meal. The staff are welcoming, kind, and helpful and the general atmosphere is chill. The food for me was ethereal - a burger isn't just a burger here and what you get when you bite into the beef shin burger is a little slice of Heaven. Moist and tender are a given but the taste is just so divine with the caramelized onion, cheddar, and horseradish mayo melding into an union of perfection. It's hard not to describe one of the most memorable meals of my life in such hyperbole but the vivid recall I have of this particular place is uncanny and merits all the praise I can heap upon the fine folks that run the place. If timing had worked out, I would have eaten as meals here as I could have but I'll thank my lucky stars for at least giving me one opportunity to eat such a wonderful burger at such a wonderful eatery. A+ and a definite must when visiting Belfast.

The food here was delicious. It is as simple as that. The menu had some great options and everything we tried we loved.

Came to this restaurant with my colleague. We didn't have a reservation, but were seated right away by the hostess. I would recommend making a reservation just in case it gets busy. The ambiance is nice and the atmosphere was quiet and sweet. We started with some tapas, which were the Crispy Halloumi, the Spicy pork rib and the beef short rib. The halloumi was delicious - maybe a little more cheese would make it perfect. My friend loved the pork rib (I don't eat pork), and the beef short ribs had a good flavor but the outside was burnt on all 5 pieces. The interior was delish, but was over cooked. As for the main course, we both ordered the Beef Shin Burger with a side of chunky chips and I replaced it with a side of rocket salad. Well, we both loved our burgers. Absolute perfection! From the bun to the horseradish mayo to the cheese then the burger tomato and caramelized onions; it was fantastic. I will say the beef was a little salty for me but the manager explained it was due the cut of beef going through a long slow roast process. I still would recommend it! What's dinner without dessert! Ordered the sticky toffee pudding and devoured before the waitress could get us a second spoon Enjoyed our experience and would definitely recommend this place for an intimate dinner or a group dinner!

Would highly recommend! Atmosphere was charming and intimate. The service was very friendly and top notch. My dinner entree will go down in history as one of my all time favorites. House made sweet potato gnocchi with chicken. The sauce was absolutely scrumptious. I had the vanilla pear martini which was I credible. Topped off the evening with an apple tartin.

Arrived on a Saturday around 5 pm and we were asked if we had reservations (place must get busy!) we didn't and the waitress let us know if we would be done by 7:30 pm she could give us a spot now before that reservation so we accepted and were seated. The beef ravioli is delightful. The burger is AMAZING! Falls apart in your mouth! Now... the espresso creme brûlée is the BEST creme brûlée my group and I had ever had.. so make sure you get it!

A wonderful find where both the environs and friendly service allows for a relaxed yet opulently tasteful meal, topped off well with a Guinness whilst sitting on wooden school chairs. The menu has a variety of tastes represented, from meat to pasta and tapas in between. We were able to sample three tapas dishes, as well as the shin burger and the sweet potato gnocchi all of which were spectacularly prepared and presented. The special tapas of sweet pork bellies with pickled carrots was especially mentionable, given the subtle tastes noted and the combined textures. But the main meals were no slouch either, and the top off of the sticky toffee pudding worked quite well as the satisfying end of the meal.

I am American. I was invited to Belfast to perform as part of a global conference at Queen's University. My airline misplaced my luggage, so I stopped into The Barking Dog to utilize their WiFi to check the status of my luggage and have a drink and a snack with my collaborator, who has unusual allergies. The menu did not have anything that appealed to us so we decided just to finish our drinks and move on. At no point did anyone communicate that it is illegal to have drinks only and our server ran our check without mentioning any legislative requirements. After paying, someone who I assume was the manager, came up to the table and inspected our receipt. "Uh-huh, just what I thought," was what they said before berating me about how it is illegal to purchase drinks in a restaurant without food. I immediately apologized and explained that I had no idea. I offered to purchase food retroactively and they refused. Following, they proceeded to repeat that I was in a restaurant and not a pub and that my actions were illegal. They coldly denied my multiple attempts at apologizing, while I explained that I am not from the area. This experience was very confusing for me, because the night before I had drinks in a restaurant with no food and it wasn't an issue. Afterward, I asked about this supposed "rule" at multiple restaurants. In each case, I was told that there is no such law and that ordering drinks without food in a restaurant is very common. I have never been treated so poorly in a customer service dynamic and I'm not sure why this happened. I feel targeted and completely mistreated for what seems to be no good reason. To top it off it was my birthday. Complete fail on behalf of whomever this person was. I will say, the rest of the staff was very pleasant and accommodating.

First time to Ireland. Made a 4 hour drive up to Belfast found a nice flat right up the street from barking dog. Our host Ally was so cheerful and sweet. We had a couple of drinks and tapas consisting of crab, pull pork, and sweet potato. I had the chicken with au gratin potatoes and baby carrots. Excellent. Finished with a sticky toffee which was yummy. However, my wife had the apple tartan and edged out my dessert. Everything was just a great experience. My hats off to Ally and to the staff.

Brilliant little setup along Malone Rd. The name is fitting to the entrance and the decor is amicable and lowkey. I would recommend reservations here on weekends. We were fortunate enough to grab a table but it was packed. Service: Great. Girl that attended us was new but she filles every request. I had my parents with me and they are some needy Americans....with many questions about menu. Food came out in a well appropriated manner. Not too long...not too early. Food: What a treat. Starter--The Tapas menu is a great idea. Although I know tapas is small, this tapas was tiny tiny yet tasty nonetheless. Highly reccomend the Sweet Potatoe fritters. Main-- chicken was cooked spectacularly and the sauce was a great compliment. I enjoyed it being paired with Bacon au gratin which made for a great finish. Dessert- Pecan cake, great quality but lacking an ample portion. Price: This is where we downfall. I have lived in Boston, Dublin, Chicago. The chicken price was reasonable but what is not is the cocktails and the dessert. 9 pounds for a cocktail is the same price here as in downtown Boston in many respects and it wasn't anything of quality. Dessert was a bite of a bite and for 7 pounds youd think youd get a wee bit more. Side note: I highly don't appreciate the tipping setup here. Although I live local it seems that while I was using the restroom my parents were paying and the card system had an automatic tip setup where the lowest possible option is 15%. It seemed as if they spotted the Americans and knew they would be able to rake more in....stop this. In all, this is 3.5 stars for me. Worth a visit if $$ is not a concern. Main dishes have great quality.

Was super surprised at how amazing this restaurant was! Decided to go here after a long day of traveling and found that it was the perfect spot! The staff was kind and fun while the food was absolutely delicious!

My favorite place in Belfast to get a sophisticated drink and a hearty meal! Each cocktail on the menu was good enough to try twice, but with so many to choose from, I had to try each one at least once. Yes, I felt good at the end of the night, but who wouldn't when you're swooned with the Sticky Toffee Pudding and a fish that melts in your mouth. My only caveat for those who go is that the appetizers are really appetizers so make sure to order more than one.

Been here for dinner 6 times mainly with work and have not been disappointed. Interesting menu for the seasons and good vegetarian dishes but would be nice to have more options. Was in on Friday the second time for lunch and it was fantastic start to end. We were greeted and seated quickly and with flair. We were there to celebrate getting some good news and with our wine came a complimentary glass of bubbly each as we couldn't celebrate without bubbles :) was a lovely touch and made my day! Will be back again!

Think this is my new fave place. Staff are so Friedan and helpful. The waiter even saw I was trying to Shazam a song that was playing. He must have seen it wasn't working so went a wrote the name of it down for me. Setting is love lovely. Tables are also not too close together. Has lovely outdoor seating. Food is lush. Big portions. Lots of taste. Great place for all ages to eat. Can't wait to return. Though parking can be difficult.

We didn't need a reservation, but it was also a Monday night. We started of with a tapa of Thai ribs. They were excellent. I got the shin burger. Absolutely 0 complaints and cooked perfectly. Everything came together on that burger. No extra sauce needed. My wife got gnocchi. I have to say it was a showstopper. Everything about it was just perfect. If your ever in Belfast, The Barking Dog is a must. Oh yeah, the staff is very nice and willing to chat. Ask for recommendations and they won't steer you wrong.

We've been in the UK for almost three weeks, and this is one of our favorite meals so far. The place was lovely and the servers were wonderful. Both of our meals were fantastic. We had the sweet potato gnocchi with smoked chicken and the Irish chicken and potatoes. They had many more tapas and starters that looked amazing. Make reservations and enjoy.

Best dinner I've had in Ireland -- hands down!! I had the Fish Pie which was unique and very filling. The pastas and salads were also delicious

After seeing the winning 'Shin Burger' from the Burger-off held by Yelp at Harley's Diner in Finaghy, my wife and I had to go and try this beast for ourselves. It was as incredible as I had imagined. The burger was so tender it almost dissolved in my mouth. Cooked perfectly with a side of sweet potato fries. Amazing. The restaurant is a really nicely furnished place, really warm and comfy. A perfect, 'date night' place. Staff are very friendly and helpful. You have to go!!

I was impressed with the atmosphere, from the exposed brick walls to the mismatched furniture and dark lighting. A nice romantic setting for a first date, perhaps. For starters the five of us decided to share a few tapas, opting for 5 dishes for £12. We decided upon the Beef Shortrib (with Pickled Carrot and Spicy Dipping Sauce), 2 x Pan Fried Chorizo Sausage (with Sourdough bread), Crispy Pork Belly Bites, and the Baby Mozzarella (which was accompanied by Sun Dried Tomatoes. Rocket and basil). It was a lovely mix and a nice way to start the meal. For main course, the three birthday ones treated themselves to 10oz Salt Aged Rib eye steak and chips, while Barry picked the Tiger Prawns with Herb Gnocchi and I chose one of the day's specials- a beautiful slow beef ravioli. My brother remarked the steak was one of the nicest he'd tasted- so a big claim from him! For dessert, my sister and I went for the Chocolate Nemesis (a soft goey brownie), while my brother had the Sticky Toffee Pudding. As a chocolate fan, the Nemesis certainly satisfied my sweet tooth and I could have eaten more. Mum went for the homemade apple tart while Barry chose to finish with ice cream. The meal was really enjoyable, from the food, right to the service and the atmosphere. The whole meal (including drinks and a 10% service charge added on) came to £187. A lovely restaurant if you're out celebrating a birthday or anniversary (or, of course, that first date!)

I haven't been to the barking dog in a while and can't for the life of me remember why. This is such a quirky restaurant and the food is great...although I must admit I was full of regret by the end of my meal. I had the ribs for a starter which was very tasty, but you could be given a better portion, and the chicken for a main but as soon as I tasted my friends shin burger knew I had made a mistake! Thankfully there is an easy way to fix this as I will be going back for that burger very soon. If you are in the mood for a drink with your food then I would recommend the barking brew beer but be warned after 3 of these you will start to feel more than tipsy! Great for groups as well as my uncle celebrated his birthday here and Mick the singing waiter made sure everyone knew why we were there!

So my fiancé came across the Barking dog on the Guardian's top restaurants to eat at when in Belfast and we booked a table for dinner. Staff were friendly, we were impressed with our window seats which was a good people watching spot. We both ordered the burgers as the restaurant won the best burger in Belfast award recently. It was delicious!!! We ordered our burgers medium well done and they were juicy. Two burgers + 3 drinks = £44.50! Good value

Just discovered this little gem. I went here with a large group and we were seated at a long wooden table (not ideal for group conversation, but I could spy a few big square tables which would be perfect in the future). I really like the decor, it's quirky, yet modern - lots of wood, mismatched side plates etc, but because there's no soft furnishings it's very very loud. We shared a selection of tapas which were small (as they should be), but delicious. I'd recommend them all, but the pork belly gets a special mention. Next up, the famous beef shin burger. There's a 20 minute wait for this beast, but it's so so worth it. To be perfectly honest, I didn't know what to expect, but what arrived appeared to be a beef burger on the outside, yet once you bit into it, revealed a centre of delicious and tender beef shin. A-maz-ing!

Out of all the places we ate during three weeks in Ireland, the food at this place was the standout. I was with three others and we all unanimously agree this was the best food. We ate here twice in the two days we stayed in Belfast. Recommended by our taxi driver. Our servers were friendly, attentive, and professional. Everything was delicious. Even the salad, which looked relatively simple had such amazing flavor. I ordered the gnocchi both times. Something was different the second time. Still great, but not as good as the first time. Maybe a little less of one ingredient? I forget what the others ordered but we all raved about our meals. I don't think you can go wrong. The drinks were excellent and make sure you save room for dessert! I ordered creme brûlée and was not disappointed. If I ever find myself in Belfast again I will go out of my way to eat here again! Oh, and for the quality of the food, the prices were very reasonable.

Visiting Belfast for the second time ever and missed out last time, glad I got to visit on this trip. Even on my own on a Friday evening, the host found me a table and a friendly welcome. I had the Barking Dog Fish Pie served with minted peas, heavily recommended with a pint of the Barking Brew. Followed by desert from the special menu, a ginger cake and white chocolate cheesecake on a slate, even tempted to visit them again tomorrow. The staff are fantastic and very accommodating, definitely worth a visit when you're in town.

Food was really good, but my wife and I both got food poisoning. I would say it could have been something else, but we were with another couple all week and this was the only meal we ate apart; they never got sick.

The bun was good but the meat lacks taste and was not grilled well on the outside. The meat patty is stuffed with pulled meat which is alright. I like the rucola and the sauce but the bun was falling appart a bit and making it difficult to eat.

The Barking Dog, for me, was memorable for only one reason. Now don't me wrong, it was good memorable, not the kind of horrific memories of horrendous go-karting trips (my Eddie Irvine review will explain all). One of my good friends had decided upon the Barking Dog as the location for her hen party, and that's really the only memorable aspect of that night for me. This was the first ever hen party I had attended and I was the youngest there, with a lot of the girls already married, so I was slightly bewildered by all the wedding chat and the numerous people there who seemed so much older than I, though in reality they were only six or seven years older at the most. We were situated in this cute but eclectic room, which had a chair stuck to the wall and a giant unused fireplace. It was dark and moody, and the seats were wooden and rather uncomfortable, but that's just me being picky. Once all the initial excitement of seeing the hen was over, we all ordered from the set menu. I was slightly dismayed to learn that two courses were £20, which I had been totally unprepared for, especially as a (poor) student. Furthermore, the variety was very limited, with only three or four choices. And I'm a somewhat fussy eater. Hmmm. The first (main) course was tasty, but far too small. I don't like huge portions, but I was pretty hungry after this. The dessert was equally pleasant, but once again, far too small and most certainly not worth the money. Despite having only drunk tap water the entire night, I was asked to pay £25 in order to cover the hen's meal and the alcohol consumed. Admittedly, this was not the restaurants fault, but it just added to my annoyance. I most likely would have had a completely different experience if we hadn't been in such a big group with such a confined menu, but the I think I'll let this Barking Dog lie.

We had a great meal today! We were visiting Belfast and Adam and Shannon took great care of our party of six! The food was out of this world, flavorful and plentiful! We had tapas, the short rib pasta special and their Belfast best burgers! We topped off fantastic dinners with three delicious desserts! I would highly recommend them!

I wanted to love The Barking Dog SO much, I've waited so long to go but sadly I just wasn't overly sold on it with my visit this week. I mean, it wasn't baad, it just didn't blow me away. We were a group of 3: My friends had the Sunday dinner and shin burger - both looked like decent feeds and the meat was cooked to their desired finish. I had the monkfish special at £19 that came with no side and a large bone in the centre of the fish which once removed left the dish very lacking. Although the Monkfish itself was decent I felt the price/ portion wasn't great compared to similar dishes in other restaurants and it wouldn't encourage me to rush back to The Barking Dog again.

They decided to close for a private event on a Friday night without any notice or communication. Complete waste of our time and evening driving around looking for this place, parking, and then having to go somewhere else.

Oh my goodness. Incredible! The atmosphere and interior is beautiful! Then the wine selection was great as were the tapas, mains, and desserts! Be sure to get the short rib tapas and espresso crème brûlée! The brownie was also amazing - perfectly moist and paired with delicious ice cream. Amazing experience here!

Trying to find somewhere to take the in-laws for lunch where they can be happy as extremely picky eaters, and we can be happy as lovers of flavour, The Barking Dog is perfect. We hadn't been in for a while but went in on Sunday and crossed our fingers the menu would suit. Instantly we hit a snag- everything sounded delicious! I had the brisket with a Guinness and mustard mash and practically licked the plate! I still managed to fit in a caramel and apple Tarte Tatin and there was nothing left of that either. I must give a special mention to the waitress, a lovely blonde girl, who was faultless, and also on a Sunday afternoon they have a guy playing music up front. Usually I would fear that this sort of thing would overpower the noise levels, but he was brilliant. We won't be leaving it so long to be back next time!

Great food and great service! The Sunday Roast beef dish was delicious! Fast friendly service. Nice ambiance. Highly recommended

AMAZING. I had the fish & chips... Perfectly fried, came out steaming. Really just the most perfect, golden and bubbly fry I've seen in my life. The quality of the haddock was absurdly high, although the fish of the day varies. The chips were impeccable as well, really a treat. The beer was served in a slightly frosted glass which chilled it to the perfect temperature. My friend had the chicken slider which I tried (had to bargain with a generous chunk of fish... Agonizing) and it was also exquisite. Very moist and flavorful, top notch ingredients. The restraint itself was cosy and classy -- the whole experience was a highlight of our visit to Belfast, it was that good. For fun than Giants Causeway, lol. Prices are right as well! Verdict: YUM :)

I give this place a solid 3.5 stars but I felt bad giving it a 3 so I'm giving it a 4 for the great service and nice people. The menu looks amazing here, the place is comfortable yet trendy with a laid back air that doesn't rush you despite having literally no more tables for the evening until 9. Everyone who serves is smiling and you can tell they just love being there and take pride in their restaurant. That said, the best part of the meal was the menu. In execution, the food is ... Well, a bit lacking. Not that there was anything particularly off with any one thing we ordered ... It just overall wasn't as amazing as the menu and hype that set up our expectations. My husband got their famous burger and well, call me american but I was craving and hoping for a bite of a thick, juice angus or otherwise high quality, somewhat fatty ground beef with a bit of smokey blackening on the outside ... That wasn't what was delivered. The shin burger is slow roasted shin meat for lots of hours (24 hrs+?) so obviously lots of TLC but it's put in the middle of the actual burger. So you get some other beef meats on the outside and each bite is not the same as before. Now I had to decide if I liked this idea. I think I could go with it, except that the idea of a flame broiled burger is so deeply engrained in my head that I gotta say, I had to acknowledge that in my heart, I felt disappointment. If that makes me closed minded, well that's the honest truth of how I felt ... So it is what it is. That said, if I came in expecting, hey what does an Irish burger taste like vs a normal all american burger, well maybe I would have been more open. But I didn't expect such drastic differences when the shin burger was advertised as "best" and award-winning I guess. I got prawns with squid ink pasta. Normally when I go to an Italian place, this dish has more flavor. Not that there was anything wrong with it, just didn't really have much taste. Tasted like prawns and cream and a hint of salt. Was fine. I finished it all. Just nothing to write home about. The tapa starters were a good deal - 3 for 10 or 5 for 15 pounds. We ordered 5 and they were fine. There was an over abundance of fried balls to chose from in the tapa menu though, which I feel is somewhat not that tapa-y but then I might be just getting overly picky. I expect tapas to be artisanal craft pieces that offer a bite or two to each guest. But again, we ate it all, nothing bad to say about any of them. Just nothing great to say either. All in all, it was a good dining experience but not the best food necessarily. Super friendly people. Dessert looked good but we didn't save room for it. Had we still been able to eat some, we might have opted a lighter vanilla ice cream but it was the same price as all the rest of the desserts and that seemed a bit overpriced to us. The carrot cake looked good from across the room.

Probably my favourite restaurant in Belfast. The shin burger is one of the best you'll ever have, pork belly is amazing & they certainly don't skimp upon the alcohol in the cocktails. Great atmosphere, extremely knowledgeable & friendly staff. Can't wait until my next visit.

I am American head and not a stranger to burger. This burger is one of the best burgers I've ever had. The marinade this bad boy for 24 hours. Absolutely delicious.

Absolutely great! Came here for lunch , the burger was phenomenal and so was the service .

The shin burger is in fact amazing. One of the nicest gastropubs I've been in and with lovely staff to boot. So although the shin burger was incredibly tender and delicious, my preference (is it because I'm American? Ahhh) is for a burger to be medium rare and to have a strong smoked or chargrilled flavor. I'm not sure how this preference for a burger of mine was born, but because of the combination of meats in the shin burger, it couldn't be made medium rare -- what it tasted like was an incredibly tender piece of meatloaf on a bun. The fries were lovely and crisp and the pork belly appetizer was excellent as well. Make a reservation on open table. Easy to get there with Uber or a cab. If I'm back in Belfast, I'll be going back.

I found this place because it kept showing up on different food blogs and decided it was time I tried it myself-- I was not disappointed. The Barking Dog is a treat you don't want to miss out on. As soon as my husband and I walked through the door we knew we were in for something special. The place is beautiful, low-lit and so very cosy. I cannot recommend it more for a date or evening out. The Barking Dog tackles gastropub fare with a twist. You'll be able to find classics like Fish Pie, soup and wheaten, battered haddock but prepared with creativity of a real artist. We ordered the Asian ribs for a started and nearly fell off our chairs with delight. So full of flavor and perfectly prepared. A slight zest of soy and sweetly glazed so the slow cook meat was just falling off the bone. We also order the pasta starters-- gnocchi and ravioli. The ravioli comes in a braised short rib jus and is perfect. My mouth is watering just remembering this meal. My husband ordered the gnocchi which is served in a pesto sauce with shrimp. It was glory. Then we both ordered the Barking Dog Burger-- JUST ORDER THIS AND FORGET THE REST. It was massive and so yummy. Was served with a side of chips and has more short rib and cheese stuffed in the middle. It was a treat and even though we didn't meant order so much short rib, we were glad we did. I'm only docking one star from my review as it was a bit challenging to make a reservation through their website online. I ended up having to call in to reserve a table for the weekend-- it was a bit of a hassle as I was scheduling my visit while out of the country and couldn't call until a few days before. Other than that, I can't wait to be back this autumn so I can eat some more of this delicious food!

Incredible meal! Amazing atmosphere. One of the best meals of our entire trip around Ireland!

Being a newly recruited carnivore, I have so far managed to avoid eating burgers, I wasn't a fan of the texture, all just a bit overwhelming. But having am recently attended the Yelp Burger Off with my bf and friend Holly and having tried a few samples of the great burgers Belfast has to offer, I felt it was time to dip my toe into the unknown and try a proper burger, all on my own. And what better place than the winner of the Best Burgers in Belfast, The Barking Dog. We were greeted and shown to our table by an very enthusiastic and friendly waiter. You can tell they are proud of their award as it was the first thing he told us, "we have recently won an award for our signature Shin Burger!" So we had a few of their tapas to start, smoked sausage and fennel, crispy beef in an alioi sauce, and a goats cheese salad. Good value at 3 for £9 and just enough to keep our appetites at bay while we waited for our mains. The bf ordered their main pasta special, spicy sausage in a tomato sauce with penne pasta. I ordered the shin burger with chunky chips and it was really delicious, massive portion, and perfectly cooked. Even though I couldn't finish it (too big!) I think I made the right decision for my first proper burger, I'll definitely be back to try it again. Good value for money and a lovely intimate atmosphere, the place was packed for a Sunday night so I would recommend booking ahead. They had a number of cocktails on offer, unfortunately I didn't get to sample any this time around but I had a glass of their red recommeded by the waiter and it was lovely full bodied and a good accompaniment to my meal.

We found this place on Yelp while on a visit to Belfast, after walking around the Botanic Gardens. It's within walking distance and is totally charming from the front and inside. It is one of the few restaurants I found in Ireland or NI that offers Tapas. I wasn't that hungry and wanted something light. We were lucky to get there early, as it can get very crowded. I made a meal of olives, crab toasts and smoked salmon toasts with a bowl of tomato/basil soup. It was all absolutely delicious. My husband had a huge burger that uses a three day cooking process. He said it was one of the best he's ever had. Kids meals and desserts were also wonderful. Our waiter started chatting with us towards the end of the meal and mentioned the Game of Thrones cast all eat there when they're shooting which impressed us! Visit this place, but make reservations if it's after 6.

Beautiful food, great atmosphere, nice staff. The tapas we chose for a starter was beautiful but could have done with more (but I think that's my greediness!) I had the beef shin burger for mains and it was amazing! So tender and not remotely overcooked. Would definitely recommend it to anyone who is a meat-lover. Enjoyed a cheeky G&T (or two...) as well which washed everything down nicely. All in all I'd go back to the Barking Dog anytime.

Sigh. My visit to The Barking Dog was as special as watching a unicorn being born on the moon. I was tempted to sit outside in their fancy little 'garden' with the fake grass and flower boxes but my friend wanted to go inside. I had no regrets. It was all cosy and candlelit inside. Special! (I was not there on a romantic date type evening, but if I had been...this would have been the perfect spot) I found it hard to decide what to have as the menu was so interesting but in the end I went for a confit of chicken on a warm salad of white beans, fried slices of baby potatoes, chorizo and spinach. It was incredible. A perfect balance of textures and flavours. Carefully and thoughtfully prepared...I could have cried a single tear. We also had a portion of chips which tasted so, so, so good. Real potato, cooked properly and plenty of them. I'm really going to push the boat out here and say... The Barking Dog has restored my faith in Belfast dining. Friendly staff who care about your experience, chefs who love what they do and a laid back, comfortable atmosphere. Well done!

Really really good food! I had 3 tapas which were all extremely delicious. My husband and I ate the gniocci and the steak specialA both fabulous. We also ordered the pineapple tartin and Carmel bread pudding. Omg so good.

Been to this restaurant four times. First and second times I was delighted, third I was disappointed however my fourth time at the Barking Dog was a lovely experience. Tasty food and pleasant service. A full vegetarian menu - I had the gnocchi which was really good. My friend had a duck pasta. Desserts were the sticky toffee pudding and creme brûlée - delicious. Finally a couple of cocktails which were heavenly. It's a little bit pricey but a nice spot - makes for a very enjoyable evening out.

This spot appears to be doomed when it comes to opening restaurants. Paul Rankin failed (Rain city was bloody terrible). The Burger Bank failed, which is a travesty and now The Barking Dog is making its attempt. I used to work very close by and I could see that it was always packed so I decided to try it for myself. Thankfully I wasn't disappointed. I got the burger (yes, I'm 9 but more importantly it had to live up to the Burger Banks Standards and it did), it was fantastic, perfectly cooked and not at all greasy. I really must visit again and get something a little more daring.

Ate here for my birthday with the hubby and the food was beautiful! He had the shin burger and I had the fish...was one of the nicest meals I've ever had the pleasure of having! Restaurant itself was chilled out, welcoming and the staff were all lovely