I was stuck for somewhere to eat on a Monday night in Belfast when the seafood bar I’d planned on visiting was closed. Not great news ten years ago, but times have changed and so I wandered towards an area suggested by my promoter and ‘discovered’ Botanical Avenue. I say ‘discovered’ because I also stumbled across a venue I played a few years back that I’d hoped I’d never see again, so I guess I’d been there before. There’s a lot going on there these days, pubs, bistros and restaurants of all sorts. Lee Garden looks new – it’s a big brash chrome and glass place, but don’t let that put you off – the menu is great and the kitchen seems more than able. I had the crispy aromatic duck, salt and pepper squid and bok choy, all were fine to excellent and I enjoyed a pint of Guiness at the famous Crown bar on the way back to my swanky hotel. Belfast is really coming on.
Lee Garden, Belfast