Waterman Restaurant

The Waterman provides a superb, high-end dining experience in Belfast. The absolute standout is the steak, which is flawlessly cooked, tender, and easily one of the best in the city. The drink menu is equally impressive, serving up lovely cocktails that are expertly mixed and perfectly balanced.

Visited in Feb and we were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food vs the cost. Such beautiful produce cooked perfectly and at very reasonable prices. The calamari on a regu starter was especially incredible!

< Stepping into Waterman, you immediately get a sense that you're in for a delicious food that truly stole the show, as a charmingly chaotic service. From the moment our plates arrived, it was clear the kitchen at Waterman knew its stuff. Each dish was a vibrant explosion of flavors, perfectly cooked and beautifully presented. Seriously, the food here is a must-try. Now, about the service. If you're looking for military precision and seamless execution, this might not be your spot. There was a definite buzz, a charmingly uncoordinated dance of servers, and perhaps a slight delay here and there. However, it was delivered with such genuine warmth and earnest effort that it added to the restaurant's unique character rather than detracting from the meal. It felt less like inefficiency and more like a bustling, passionate family kitchen where everyone is doing their best to ensure you're fed well, even if they occasionally trip over each other's feet. Ultimately, Waterman offers an unforgettable dining experience. Come for the truly outstanding food, which alone is worth the trip. Stay for the lively, slightly unpredictable atmosphere that makes for a memorable story and a distinctly Dublin welcome. Highly recommended.

Went for a lunch with my 11 year old. Food were sublime. We had froed courgette with ricotta, pastrami crusted salmon, beef tartare, cod, armagh cheese, and sticky toffee madeleine. Everything were really delicious and aptly portioned. Although we selected from ala carte menu, they also provided 2 course and 3 course menu with a good price. There were good selection of drinks as well. Service was great - the server was really attentive and happy to explain the menu to us and pointed out which menu that does not suit our dietary restrictions. She regularly checked on us to make sure everything was going great for us. Overall atmosphere felt homey and welcoming - an overall awesome place to have our meal.

This is my favourite restaurant in Belfast for a special meal. Food is so fresh and flavours perfectly balanced. Wine selection also excellent. Don’t skip the bread - this is so light and fluffy, it might be my favourite part of the meal every time.

Came to Waterman restaurant for dinner with coworkers at one of their private dining spaces. It was a great experience. Food was tasty, service was top notch and their private dining space truly is perfect for large groups without feeling any less intimate. My starter was the comber potato & wild garlic soup, followed by a great tyrone 10oz sirloin with chimichurri butter. Beef was tender even if a tad more cooked than I would have liked, but it didn’t make it tough or dry. For dessert I had the rhubarb eton mess which was great, even for someone who doesn’t love rhubarb. All very enjoyable.

I came out very satisfied. It’s fancy enough that it could feel like a nice date or special treat. The food was all very good. A bit eclectic maybe. Our dish selection might not have been the best. There were some things we chose that were deli-like which can make it hard to really appreciate the cooking and prep that goes into a dish. The main courses were pricey but faultless cooking on the venison and potatoes. Great puddings as well!

My family and I were aware that there was a dining time limit, which we completely understand and respect. However, the overall pace of service was very slow — it took a considerable amount of time for our food to be served. As a result, although we were seated well within the allotted time, we were only just starting our desserts when we were handed the bill and soon after, asked to leave. We had barely begun eating our desserts when one staff member told us we needed to vacate the table. While we were still eating, another member of staff came over and repeated the same message, stating that the next guests were waiting. We found this approach quite discourteous, especially as we were still in the middle of our meal and the delay was due to slow service, not us exceeding the time limit. We believe that if time limits are strictly enforced, the restaurant should ensure that food is served in a timely manner to allow guests to enjoy their meals properly. Communication and service should also be handled more professionally in such situations.