Shu Restaurant

After a busy day in Belfast, I looked forward to sitting down to a delicious meal. Shu Restaurant did not disappoint. The French-influenced cuisine highlighted local, seasonal ingredients. We were seated quickly for dinner and just as we were settled, the waiter brought water and bread with butter. I couldn’t get enough Irish butter during my visit, so I had two pieces of bread with plenty of the rich, creamy butter. At drink service, I ordered a glass of Pinot Noir.

To start, I had the cured salmon tartare with pickled cucumber, radish, crème fraîche and horseradish. The acidity of the cucumber paired nicely with the salty salmon and rich crème fraîche. For my main dish, I had the braised blade of beef with parsley purée, potato croquette, red wine and thyme. The potato was flavorful, but since the delicate layers were stacked in an odd shape, it was hard to successfully pierce a bite with my fork. The beef was the standout of the dish, and rightly so. It was succulent without being overindulgent. The table ordered potato and veg — a must in Ireland — so I enjoyed a spoonful of each on the side with my beef.

For dessert, I had chocolate fondant with yogurt ice cream and salted rosemary and fennel caramel. I was intrigued by the caramel and really enjoyed the unusual flavor. In no rush to leave, I ended my meal with an Irish coffee.

Shu Restaurant

253 Lisburn Rd.

Belfast, BT9 7EN

Ireland

tel 028 9038 1655