As the festive season wound down and the year approached its close, we decided to treat ourselves to lunch at one of Belfast’s most celebrated dining establishments: The Muddler’s Club. Located in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter and named after a secret society that met there over 200 years ago, this Michelin-starred restaurant is renowned for its exceptional tasting menu and innovative dishes.

The food scene in Belfast has changed dramatically since I moved away over 20 years ago—a bit of an understatement! Back then, the Cathedral Quarter wasn’t the bustling nightlife destination it is now; in fact, it was more of an area to avoid. But now, the streets are filled with bars and restaurants serving up great food. The Muddler’s Club had been on my list for a long time. Getting a table can be a challenge, but we finally secured one during their lunch service in that gap between Christmas and New Year.

Up an unassuming alleyway just off Waring Street, before seeing the restaurant, you will notice the ‘All Seeing Eye’ artwork watching over the entrance, welcoming you into a secretive yet warm post-industrial room, giving you the sense that a secret society actually used to meet there. An open kitchen provides the opportunity to feel the buzz in the kitchen and to see each course being made. The menu is based on simple and seasonal dishes, with an excellent wine and cocktail menu to enjoy with each course.

Since it was between Christmas and New Year, only the tasting menu was available which is priced at £95 per person. That constraint was good for us, as we’d planned to choose it anyway. We also chose the wine pairing (at £65 each), which was a great decision—each wine was delicious and paired perfectly with each course.

After being seated and having the menu explained to us, we ordered some cocktails, and I went for my favourite – an Old Fashioned. The cocktail arrived at the table with a bit of dramatic flare in the form of skull shaped bottle and lots of smoke, thankfully the table next to us didn’t complain as we almost smoked them out!

While we enjoyed our cocktails, we were served some delicious Guinness and Treacle Wheaten Bread, served warm with butter. It reminded me of the wheaten bread and treacle farls we used to get from the bakery growing up. I commented on how delicious it was, and they offered me more, but having been a glutton already over Christmas, I sadly declined!

Then we moved on to some snacks: a trio of Comte Gougère, Wild Mushroom and Truffle Tartlette, and Smoked Aubergine on a Sesame Seed Cracker. Three bites of deliciousness and a great start to the meal, though I could have eaten another plate of the tartlette, the pastry was delicious and so was the filling! Though, I also do love a Gougère too.

For our starter courses, we enjoyed a beautifully cooked Hand-Dived Scallop with XO Sauce and Shiitake Mushroom, and a Veal Tartare with Celeriac and Black Garlic. Both dishes were tasty; I love scallops but am not usually a huge fan of tartare, but this one was full of flavour and melt-in-the-mouth.

Our main courses were Sea Bream with Curry, Jerusalem Artichoke, and Black Trumpet, and Salt-aged Antrim Beef with Potato and Mushroom. Both were so tender and delicious, and I could have drank the curry sauce!

To finish off our great meal, we enjoyed a light and creamy Pannacotta with tangy yogurt and refreshing grapefruit, which helped to cleanse our palates. This was followed by a luxurious chocolate dessert with refreshing mint and zesty orange.

By the time we were finishing, we were pretty much the last people there as it was the end of the lunch service. However, we weren’t rushed out and completed the meal in a relaxed fashion. The Muddler’s Club definitely deserves its Michelin Star—the food was amazing, the staff were so lovely and helpful, and the restaurant itself was atmospheric, feeling like a really nice neighbourhood bistro. I’m already thinking about how I can work a return visit into my next trip to Belfast!

Have you been to The Muddler’s Club before? What is your favourite Restaurant in Belfast? Let me know in the comments below.