Belfast
Bistro Este

Bistro Este

221 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, United Kingdom

Soup • Fish • Meat • Bistro


"Been going here since it opened and always felt it well priced, imaginative food and good ingredients. Last night it could only claim to be one of the three. The flavour of the scallops in my starter was killed stone dead by the spicyness of...the XO sauce which was good in itself, but the scallops belonged nowhere near it. My main of fish cakes and prawns was a disaster due to the poor quality of the ingredients. My hake a grey colour and mushy, not the firm white glistening piece of fish I would expect for a dish. The prawns also soft and mushy, clearly not fresh. The fish cakes were in fact potato croquettes fish in these was nonexistent. My dining partners dish of lamb was dry and as a slo cooked piece of meat one would expect the opposite. I suspect not freshly made for it to eventually dry out like that. His gnocchi hard from being re heated and fried, the element of mint was there but fading. Service was average as our table piled up with empty glasses and an empty water bottle I had to pile them to the side to make it obvious. White and rose wines are chilled to death. Its a rather annoying trait that they swirl ice in each glass to make it cold then pour refrigerated wine into it. A Viognier I ordered was barely recognisable. The rose I suspect oxidised by living a long lonely life in the fridge. It was drinkable though. Trip advisor need to update prices here. Starters are and mains start at for chicken and for veggie option but most with fish and chips Gone is the early bird menu."