Made in Belfast 2

Right from the off I’ll say that if half stars were allowed I would actually probably give this place 4.5 stars, but since you can’t I’m going to be generous and round up rather than down.
We first gave this restaurant a try back at the end of March when it was called Hooligan. By the time we returned a couple of weeks later it had been renamed as Made in Belfast Cathedral Quarter and the eccentric decoration scaled back a little, which was a shame (I kinda liked the craziness of all the clutter). However regardless of the name or the décor, I have yet to have a bad meal there (and I’ve been four times in the last few months). In fact I would go so far as to say that it’s my current favourite restaurant in Belfast.
It’s a nice, chilled out kind of restaurant. You can merrily sit and chat while you’re enjoying your meal (and a cocktail or two if you’re so inclined — the White Russian is far too drinkable!) and no-​one will bother you. Yet when we’ve asked for the bill they’ve always been efficient in getting us sorted and ready to go. The décor is still pretty cool too — there’s always something to look at if there’s a lull in conversation, from the colourful paper chains in the window to the punch bags hanging from the ceiling by the toilets. The toilets themselves are even worth a visit — the concept of unisex toilets might make some feel a little uneasy, but rest assured that what you’re walking into is essentially three separate bathrooms with a shared sink — and plenty of interesting decoration on the walls, if you can make it out through the low lighting.
The food is wonderful too. So far I’ve tried a steak pie (which was on the Hooligan menu rather than the MIBCQ one, although they have something similar), the Greek stifado stew and the falafel. My favourite was the stifado — so good I’ve had it twice in fact. Absolutely stuffed full of tender meat and so very rich with the flavours of cinnamon, tomato and feta in every bite — yum. The pie was pretty darn good too — the right mix of filling and pastry for me (i.e. lots of the former and not too much of the latter). The falafel dish was huge and very tasty. I don’t quite know what the dressing was on the accompanying salad but I couldn’t get enough of it. Their chips are perhaps one of the better items on the menu too. I’m very fussy about my chips (no frozen oven chips for me thanks!) but these are made fresh and cooked to perfection: golden on the outside, soft and fluffy in the middle — kind of little little rectangular roast potatoes! I also like the quirkiness of having food served up in small metal tubs with the accompanying chips served in a mug, all balanced on a big wooden chopping board.
My other half’s first meal here, a fish finger sandwich of all things, still haunts his dreams until this day — the best meal he’s ever eaten by all accounts, or at least in Belfast. Formerly on Hooligan’s dinner menu it now appears on Made In Belfast’s lunch menu. He’s since sampled it again in their Wellington Street restaurant one lunchtime and although he has declared that it wasn’t quite the same as the original at Hooligan, it was certainly still delicious. Hubby dearest did however have one bad dining experience at MIBCQ — he ordered the chickpea curry and I must say it was a measly portion and he also said it tasted burnt. I thought it just tasted of a weird mix of spices but either way it was pretty sub-​par. However the other three of us there that night had wonderful meals so I’m guessing it was maybe just an unfortunate one-​off.
So, with all this wonderfulness, where does it lose a hypothetical half star for me? Well, I will say that the portion sizes have been scaled back somewhat recently and the prices have gone up a little if anything but on balance you still get a good feed for a good price, especially when compared to some of the other trendy restaurants in the Cathedral Quarter. Not sure the tiny little dessert I got last time was entirely worth the price though, as delicious as all four bites of it were. Also the seating, as funky as it may be to have all mismatched Ikea-​esque chairs throughout the restaurant, can be a little uncomfortable if you wind up sitting on one of the more spindly metal or wooden chairs for an hour or two, and actually even the bench seating around the edge leaves you feeling a little like you’re balancing on a perch.
That said I will undoubtedly return — it’s good food for a decent price in interesting surroundings, and that’s not something you often find these days. I just hope their portions don’t get any smaller and their prices don’t get any larger, as I think that would take away some of its appeal for me. Oh, and get some more comfortable chairs, or at least let me sit on the sofas by the window next time!

Hidden on Talbot Street, as if it was a secret and nobody is allowed to find it, Made in Belfast 2 is as interesting as its big sister store in town. Filled with strange objects and kooky designs on the walls, it really does give you something to talk about. The food is of an incredible high standard like the other store, and the service is of an equally high quality.
I was initially excited by the prospect of a Made in Belfast 2, excited to see how the uniqueness of the initial place would be developed into a new restaurant. However, honestly I was disappointed. Both are too similar and thus the unique selling point of both of them is slightly lost. Made in Belfast was a 1 in million restaurant. Now made in Belfast 2 is a 2 in a million restaurant, which really doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Ive always been a great fan of made in Belfast so was pleasantly surprised to be walking down Talbot Street passes Talbot 27 and to spot another Made in Belfast restaurant hidden away here! It is amazing! The décor is as awesome as the other restaurant and just as quirky! Think of a 60’s teenagers bedroom and you might get a picture of what this place is like. It has fairy lights, a leopard print wall, ladles as a border, newspaper covering chairs, cushions, candles and pallets made into tables! Its so über cool! I popped in for a hot chocolate which came in a quirky mug with a fine china saucer, so quirky and cool and the hot choc was great! They also serve food in here and if its anything like what they serve on the other place (and it looked like it was) then I’m sure its totally awesome and delish! The staff were great and it had a really relaxing laid back vibe which I loved, I felt like I could sit there all day and was told I was more than welcome to! lol. Loved this place and will definitely be calling back for some food and wine very soon! 5 star!