Deanes at Queens – Belfast

From the outside, Deanes at Queens could easily be mistaken for a 1950s university faculty building, which feels fitting, given its location just off University Road, a stone’s throw from Queen’s University. At first glance, it’s not the most striking structure above ground level. But a second look reveals neatly manicured lawns, thoughtfully positioned trees, and a purpose-built glass extension offering diners the option of an al fresco experience, even when the weather doesn’t quite cooperate.

Step inside, however, and any sense of dullness disappears. The interior is stylish and contemporary, a well-balanced mix of urban industrial elements and refined touches. Warm lighting spills over neatly arranged tables and booths, while a slatted wooden ceiling adds texture and warmth. A sleek bar runs along one side of the space, anchoring the room with a sense of purpose and flow.

Our reservation was for Mother’s Day at 16:00, and unsurprisingly, the place was bustling. We were asked to take a seat at the bar while they prepared our table, understandable given how lively the restaurant was, with staff darting about and every table filled. It took around 5 to 10 minutes before we were seated, which wasn’t ideal considering we’d booked in advance, but not the end of the world either.

The Mother’s Day theme was clear, with plenty of families and children adding to the atmosphere. Despite the rush, the place carried itself well, trendy, upbeat, and full of energy. All in all, it had a great vibe and set the tone for an enjoyable afternoon of good food and people-watching.

As it was a Sunday we were limited to the Sunday menu to choose from, we had a late lunch so decided to skip on individual starters and instead get the section of homemade sourdough and stout wheaten bread to share. I’m not a sourdough person however it was very pleasant, as for the stout bread, that was the consistence of a malt loaf and was very tasty with a bit of butter.

For mains I chose the Turkey & ham, roasties, cranberry, chipolatas, cabbage & roast gravy. When the plate arrived, I was greeted with potatoes done two ways. First, there was a single potato, halved, apparently my entire roastie allocation. They were decent enough as roasties go, but one potato split in two just didn’t quite cut it. Then came a generous helping of mashed potato, which was a surprise addition since it wasn’t mentioned on the menu, surprise addition aside it was very good mash potato, I’m not sure what was in it but my 16 month old thoroughly enjoyed it too and it sent her a bit loopy.

The chipolatas were delicious, if a little on the small side, and again, only two. But the real standout was the turkey. Honestly, after 30-odd years of Christmas dinners, I can say this was hands down the best turkey I’ve ever had (apologies to my dad). It was perfectly cooked, tender and juicy, with a rich stuffing in the centre. The warm, savoury gravy tied it all together beautifully.

For desert I went for the pavlova, spring berries, chocolate & mango coulis. Now, when I say I love pavlova, I really mean it. It’s easily one of my favourite desserts, so I tend to be a fairly tough critic when it comes to reviewing them. The meringue was spot on. Crisp on the outside with that perfect chewy centre, exactly as it should be. The cream on top was rich and delicious, and the coulis was thick, sharp and added a lovely contrast of flavour.

Unfortunately, that’s where the praise ends. I wasn’t a fan of the chocolate sauce drizzled on top. It introduced too many competing flavours to an already vibrant dish. And I especially didn’t like the nuts (almonds, I think) scattered over it. They added a texture that felt out of place and unnecessary. For me, those additions took away from what could have been a near-perfect dessert.

The Sunday menu was a slightly reduced version of the regular offering, with five options each for starter, main and dessert. It’s definitely geared towards meat eaters, as there didn’t appear to be any vegetarian or vegan options available, at least none that I could see. So that’s something to bear in mind when visiting.

That said, with starters and desserts priced around the £10 mark and mains coming in under £25, I think what we got was very good value for money.

Much like Goldilocks and her porridge, the service at Deanes was not too much, not too little, but just right. Despite it being Mother’s Day and clearly a very busy service, none of that showed when it came to how we were looked after. Each time a member of staff came to the table, they took the time to engage with us, especially with our 16-month-old, and then quietly disappeared until the food arrived.

Even though it was a busy day and they could have done with turning the table around quickly, we never felt rushed. The staff struck the perfect balance between attentiveness and giving us space. They were a real credit to the place.

Final Rating