This pop-up turned permanent venture from chef Ben Arnold was originally only meant to last for three months in 2011. Those three months quickly became 12 before Home found its permanent home in this central location near Belfast’s iconic City Hall, winning Arnold a trophy cabinet of awards along the way.
This is the sort of home that wouldn’t look out of place in a warehouse conversion in New York, all high ceilings, stainless steel, industrial columns and dark wood floors; from the furniture to the art, if you like what you see, it’s probably available to buy.
A couple of dishes on the menu are likely to be much-loved survivors from the pop-up days, such as hot and sour Asian chicken broth and whipped goat’s cheese with candied walnuts. But with an emphasis on ingredients that are fresh, local and seasonal, the menu changes regularly and dishes are created with the best produce available at any time of year, delivered daily to the restaurant.
The menu takes inspiration from all around the world to produce an appealing line-up of bold, full-on flavours. Start your travels in Asia with cauliflower pakora with coriander yoghurt and mango chutney before coming home to Ireland with County Tyrone dry-aged rib-eye steak with red wine shallots, confit garlic butter and fries. Or kick off in Europe with beetroot borscht, sour cream and pickled carrot ahead of a Japanese-style aubergine katsu curry with pickled radish and brown rice.
Desserts are more traditional: sticky toffee pudding and ice cream; coconut rice pudding and whiskey prunes; chocolate cake with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream. Don’t feel guilty for indulging in something sweet– much of Arnold’s savoury cooking uses healthy grains and pulses, while butter and cream is eschewed in favour of locally produced, omega-rich rapeseed oil. Veggie, vegan and gluten-free menus are available, too.