Grand Café in Belfast

Food was lovely but the service was extremely slow. This was around 2pm om a weekday and there was only 3 other tables all with 2 people on each, in a place that has around 20/25 other tables. It wasn't that the food took a long time to be cooked but just to even get our order taken. We were given no drink menu and had to ask for one when they asked what we wanted to drink. When we received our food no one came to check how it was. After when we had finished our food, which was lovely (especially the leek soup), our plates were left to the side of 20 minutes before they were taken away. Then a further 5 mins to be asked if we'd like to see dessert menu etc. This was despite there being loads of staff on, enough actually for each table. Disappointing service for the price you pay.

Lovely room, bright and modern. But portions are small, and £4.20 for a coffee or tea is too much.

Last couple of times the food has taken a long time to appear, even though the cafe was not busy. The food was also cold. On both occasions.

One of the best breakfasts I’ve had. Lovely staff. Great food. Perfectly cooked eggs.

The staff are very friendly, they really make a difference in the area.

It took us a long time to attend. Very good breakfast.

Tasty food but tiny portions even the coffee cups are almost espresso sized. Was charged £4 for an extra slice of toast after Shakshuka only came with a half slice, maybe I should have asked where the other half went.

Excellent food. Great service. Molly was very helpful and attentive. Lovely surroundings and very central to Belfast City centre.

Woeful food, slow service , no atmosphere, astronomical prices..avoid I cant really do justice to how poor this place is, but I'll give it a go. Our party in for lunch had 2 people order soup, 2 sandwiches with 2 kids meals, there was about 40 minutes between the soups being delivered and the other food, so one group were finished their lunch while the other hadnt started. The kids meal was especially poor, its pretty hard to mess up goujons but what was delivered was a stringy, dusty, overcooked pitiful offering that if I'd have cooked in my own oven I'd have binned. While the £17 fish finger sandwich was a burger and there was one small piece of fish drowned in tartar sauce. Waiters had to be reminded about ice creams, brought 1 tea when we ordered 2. They were at least very nice which is the only redeeming feature of the place. Almost £80 lighter after 2 sandwiches, 2 soups,2 kids meals and a few hot drinks (no alcohol) I couldnt have helped but think I'd have been better going literally anywhere else in Belfast

Ranks with one of the worst experiences I have ever for Sunday lunch. Totally overpriced, no atmosphere and great disappointment

Nipped in here for a late lunch with my mother as she used to love coming here with my grandmother. We were seated quickly and our order was taken fast. However, my (hot) food came out faster than my mother's scone, tea and our drinks. We had 3 different waiters come to ask if everything was ok and each time we have to let them know what we were waiting on. No apologies on any of the times and all of them hurried over to the kitchen area. 1 waiter in particular was quite abrupt and just said "its coming" and wondered off to another table. While we waited 30 mintues for the scone (which was the wrong one) and our drinks we noticed how unclean everything seemed. We arrived after the lunch rush and there was approximately 4 members of wait staff wondering around. There was one table which didn't get cleaned away until we were getting ready to leave, and it was only done by a new waitress who seemed to have just started her shift and she seemed quite confused why her colleagues hadn't cleaned it way or reset any of the tables. There were squished pieces of food and crumbs all over the floor and dust on any surface that wasn't a table. I understand that going around with a mop or vaccum at this time wouldn't be possible - but you would expect any side-work for staff to include running a broom or dustpan and brush around to keep things looking presentable.

Super disappointed in what ended up being a lack lustre Christmas brunch. Arrived around 11.00 and it took around 30 mins to get a table - we were happy to wait for a low table rather than the high bar style stools however staff seemed totally confused. We asked for the menu while we waited and were brought a wine list then the table we were told we could have and were in the process of being directed over to was given away by another staff member. When finally seated it took 15 mins and a request from us to get the breakfast menu and some cutlery. Staff were not rude but didn’t seem to grasp their role, the manager was clearly stressed even though the cage was only around 25-30% capacity. We ordered food and a mini Prosecco - the glass arrived wet from the dishwasher and the food took around 20 mins to arrive. We decided to head elsewhere and struggled to initially get the bill but when we did the waiter couldn’t operate the card machine. On a positive note the breakfast bap was lovely and surroundings nice but the service was nowhere near the standard you would expect from a five star hotel. Very disappointing for Belfast's flagship 5 star. I have American colleagues planning a trip to Belfast with this hotel on their shortlist - after our experience I can guarantee the American market would leave very underwhelmed.

Sunday morning visit for breakfast. It wasn’t very busy but the service was chaotic. I dread to think what the service is like when it is busy for Sunday lunch. Cutlery arrived after the food, coffees a little later. Had to ask twice for butter for the toast. And then found a hair in the smoked salmon after eating half of it. The cost was removed from the bill. Had to ask twice for the bill and there was some delay in getting it. Staff were pleasant but the whole experience was very disappointing.

We had a lovely evening meal in the Grand Cafe Belfast. While the menus options were limited the food was delicious and served promptly.

Nice modern restaurant serving exceptional breakfast. Friendly service and value for money for a 4 star hotel

We stayed at The Grand Central Hotel (separate review) on returning from our evening out, and we decided to have a drink in the residents' bar. Upon going into the hotel, we were told that the first floor bar was closed and we could get a drink in Cafe. We had to put payment on our room, not a bother. But the dust on the shelves was unbelievable 😳, they display lovely pottery, etc, but the dust on them also was disgraceful, as I said in other review, they need to look at their house keeping 😔 😟

Best avocado toast in NI. If you don't like it spicy, you have to the staff before to not be surprised. The atmosphere was lovely and food better

Booked for Sunday lunch today with my family. I should have worn my stretchy pants! Food was amazing. Starters mains and desserts were fantastic. Staff were lovely and bo one rushed us, plenty of time to sit and enjoy the experience. There also was a lady singing which really added to the atmosphere. We will certainly be back!

Perfectly adequate food but trying to leave is an effort. This is the 2nd time it’s taken me 45 mins to eat and 20 mins to get the bill. This time I gave up in the end and registered my exit with reception. Zero adult non alcoholic drinks or cocktails; water or kids drinks only.

We were staying at the Grand Central Hotel to celebrate our 29th Wedding Anniversary. The decor and surroundings were fabulous. I wish I could say the same for our meal. It was crap. My wife started with cauliflower which was a fairly tasteless affair. I had crispy korean wings. They were basically chicken wings with Saracha sauce that I could easily make better at home. The piece de la resistance was the main course. My wife had seabass. Whilst the seabass was nicely cooked it lacked seasoning and all the accompaniments were cold. My sirloin steak was bland and had a lot of gristle that hadn't een rendered down properly and the pepper sauce was bland. The onion rings had a thick coating of batter that in parts was raw. The triple cooked chips were fried in oil that was going off and too hot. The result was a chip that although crispy had a burnt rancid taste. The salad that came with it had been made up in advance and was limp. When we complained to the restaurant manager he apologised and offered us a free dessert. Given the slop we had eaten for main course, we said we wouldn't risk it. The restaurant manager beat a hasty retreat. Eventually we got 25% off the meal. For a 5 star hotel, this simply isn't good enough. I can't in all conscience recommend this to anyone!

Gorgeous setting for an afternoon drink and cake. Lovely calm and relaxed atmosphere on a Saturday afternoon

Very disappointing experience which was in contrast to the rest of the hotel, which we found very good. Some serious (re)training of staff needed. We wanted a nice afternoon tea and dessert around 4pm on a Tuesday. When we arrived the café was around 90% empty but we waited to be seated like the sign said. We wanted a nice quiet corner table that was set up for three. The waitress offered us a table for two in between two other parties. We asked why we couldn't sit at the corner table and we were told that this was reserved for parties of 3! We informed her that it was Tuesday afternoon and extremely quiet and we asked her was she expecting "a crowd". All to no avail; we were made sit on the originally offered table. This left a sour taste before we ordered. The tea and dessert was fine, if a bit over-priced. While we were there one party left and only one more party arrived: a party of two (!) who were seated in the corner table we wanted. In my opinion this is down to young waiting staff, poorly trained and with no ability to apply discretion. Would not go back: there are plenty of cafés in Belfast with excellent service.

Our group of 16 was scheduled to eat at 7:00 PM. We were all seated by 7. Our dinner order was not taken until 8:00. The starter course came around 8:30. We got one roll, asked for more as we were all hungry, and were told they were out of rolls. We spoke to the restaurant manager and hotel manager. We got our main course at 9:00. It was good. All of us were done dinner by 9:10. We were hungry. Their whole focus was on filling drink orders. They had 4 people working on drinks that could have put their attention on the food, but of course, drinks are where they make their revenue. We got our deserts at 9:35. I would not come back to this restaurant and I would not recommend it. Maybe breakfast will be better.

I had food here a number of months ago and was really impressed. The cafe was quite busy but the service was brilliant, really attentive and they were very keen to check in to see if everything with the food was ok. The hotel / cafe is gorgeous, very modern, clean and tidy. The food came quickly and was really tasty. I’d definitely recommend having food here and I can’t wait to go back.

Service extremely slow and it wasn't even busy after a 7 Minute wait I had to ask the waitress was it necessary for me to go up to the counter to order.The order was then taken and we had another long wait,the cafe manager dropped out cafes to us and then we had to wait again for our desserts to arrive.We were both disappointed with the service as it didn't match our expectations.

Upper end eatery with great menu for food and drink. Very comfortable and staff were exceptional.

A lovely little place in the hotel. AMAZING service (especially Pearce) with lovey options. I could have sat their all day.

Really enjoyed dinner here, particularly the goat's cheese salad. The atmosphere was lovely and very relaxed, and the food and wine were excellent.

We had lunch in this very central restaurant on the ground floor of the Grand Central Hotel. Nice surroundings and tables well spaced so you are not too close to the next table. Staff very accommodating about special dietary needs of my friend. Tasty food and efficient service.

We called in here for lunch and sampled their festive menu. Both of us chose turkey roulade with stuffing, chipolatas, red cabbage and other vegetables including mashed potatoes. The turkey was overcooked {even despite us liking well done turkey} and the vegetables were on the hard side. The cabbage was unpleasant but the mash was okay. Average would be the verdict, with the chipolatas being the best thing on the plate. What was good was the spicy Korean chicken wing starters we shared beforehand which were very tasty. The ambience and service was good, but we wouldn't rush back.

Myself and my friends started our Christmas shopping day in the grand cafe with a hearty breakfast to set us up for the day. We all opted for the fry which was perfectly cooked , the sausages were lovely. The service was excellent and the two waiters who served us were friendly and professional. Would recommend to anyone. Look forward to returning soon.

A Different Christmas! My partner and I came to spend Christmas Eve on December 24th. The Experience was highly recommended. The workers were very friendly and took great care of us. The room was a dream with incredible views across Belfast with a large picture window right next to the bed. The delicious dinner and a drink at the panoramic bar on the top floor closed a magical night. The breakfast was very in keeping with Christmas Day. . . A Christmas with a difference! My partner and I came to spend Christmas Eve on the 24th of December. The experience was highly recommended. The staff were very friendly and looked after us to perfection. The room was a dream with amazing views across Belfast with a large window right next to the bed. The dinner was delicious and the drink in the panoramic bar on the top floor capped off a magical evening. The breakfast was very much in keeping with Christmas Day.

They were able to accommodate our special requests and the Sirloin was delicious. Elissa was the best!! Would definitely recommend.

Lovely decor with great breakfast menu. However if you're hoping to any work here come prepared with your own connection as WiFi is shocking. Service could be a bit more attentive, very friendly though.

Lovely decor with great breakfast menu. However if you're hoping to any work here come prepared with your own connection as WiFi is shocking. Service could be a bit more attentive, very friendly though.

Nice spot and Good grub. Excellent service.

Very nice and relaxed to sit and enjoy either a snack or meal. You don't feel rushed and able to your company over a snack and some drinks

Really slow service today for lunch- the attention received was very poor

Excellent scones! Great staff. Hope to return to try out a more substantial meal.

Good food and good service, open early for breakfast and I was able to charge my phone which was what I needed, but at the end of the day it's just a modern hotel dining room so I knocked off one star for lack of atmosphere.

Great food excellent service.☺️

Arrived 7:30 for a breakfast. Was told Chef would only be in in 1h... Had Cappuccino, watery and smokey / not close to an Italian standard and left w/o having eaten.

Thank you Adam for taking care of the North Down ladies we really enjoyed our lunch x

I came in for breakfast this morning with 2 of my friends. Wonderful atmosphere, very calm and relaxing. Great coffee and delicious poached eggs on sour dough. My friend felt right at home ordering a mimosa with his granola and the presentation was beautiful. The staff were especially lovely, the assistant manager Poppy was wonderfully chatty and a pleasure to be around. Sian and Sabina were also great company.

Had z class steak meal just hit the spot

Just went in for a quick coffee but ended up getting the charcuturie board and it was excellent. The meat selection was superb, the cheese was beautiful and the olives were devine. Will be back when I'm not so pushed for time as the service was 5* as well as the food

Went today for afternoon tea 🍵 and scones and I have to say the standard going down . I am attending the place on regular basis from the time was open and today have to say the table we got was absolutely fifty. salt and pepper dirty crumbs around the table and broken glass. I know the time is challenging and I am writing this just to improve the place not for badness and prevent other customers having bad experience. The only great thing was the working staff. Very friendly and helpful 👌 5 star service. I hope this will help to improve the place.

The service is wonderful and incredibly professional, food and coffee are beautiful. Can't wait to go back.

nice and quiet place to have a cup of coffee and dessert.

Had dinner that night and dessert , absolutely beautiful. Would definitely go back.

Dined here twice over 24 hours, more for convenience as we were staying in the hotel. Great attention has been paid to the surroundings, being a relatively new hotel. The cafe is beautifully put together, modern and definitely reaching for a premium vibe. The prices...

Again stayed at the hotel for a night, gorgeous food both in the cafe and restaurant. Great service from staff aswell. Would definitely recommend to anybody.

Really nice staff, made us feel very welcome. Great food and atmosphere.

My husband and I ate at the Grand Cafe last night and were disappointed. The cafe itself is beautifully decorated and convenient for those staying in the hotel. However the service was very slow and the cafe wasn’t overly busy. The food portions were tiny...

Lovely food Staff are really lovely too. John tbe Doorman is a gentleman and always remembers us when we go there. Exceptional hotel Love it

A bit slow service but food was beautiful

Early tea before theatre. Lovely relaxing ambiance. Good choice of platters or mains scampi n chips delicious. Others had venison sausages thumbs up and also roasted cod. Dessert was a massive coffee pecan cake VG. Worth a visit for special days out in the heart of Belfast.

we went for morning coffee it was a very relaxed atmosphere. but quite expensive and all staff were lovey

Beautiful spot for lunch. Amazing burger. Ice cream and honeycomb delicious. Staff are so friendly and polite, nothing is to much trouble for them

Great service, Great food, really enjoyed

Nice, not too busy. Hotel prices...

Lovely food and lovely atmosphere!

Wonderful place and service, but the menue needs more variety, with breakfast and desserts

Grand Cafe is on the ground floor of the Hastings flagship hotel. Lovely modern decor but just looks out onto drab buildings. It is a bustling cafe that people call in for drinks or a quick bite to eat. For non meat eaters they had...

We had afternoon tea for a very special birthday and were very impressed with the staff and service we received on the day in question.

We found the service very slow, after being sat it took around 15 minutes before our order was taken. 2/3 starters arrived, no sign of drinks or third starter had to ask a member of staff to get same sorted, drinks arrived and drink order...

Visited here on the Eat Out to Help Out scheme on a Wednesday morning for a nice breakfast before some shopping in town. PROS Setting/ambience Good Staff Comfortable temperature of room (I feel the cold!) Generous pots of tea/coffee CONS Glass coffee and tea cups...

Very slow service, waiters standing about and not serving us. Not what I expected from a establishment like this.

Our first visit to a café since the lockdown began and where better than the wonderful Grand Café in the Grand Central Hotel. Princess got me a gift card as a first anniversary present in June and we decided to treat ourselves to coffee with...

Busy bar with lunchtime food, great food, great service and great atmosphere, had lunch beside a well know Hollywood star who I will not name here, who enjoyed his fish & chips in anonymity

We decided to treat ourselves to breakfast and what a treat it turned out to be. We sat on a cold damp morning at the window watching the world go by. We had the eggs royale and the full breakfast. The food was perfect. It...

Service initially very attentive. Ordered starters and mains. My soups was nice, curried parsnip, plentiful portion. Bread was very heavy. Main was the burger. To be honest it looked nice but there was too much fat and gristle left in the burger. I ended up...

Was walking past one morning and decided to try the cafe for coffee! A wise decision, was greeted by a charming fella called Ruari, the cafe manager, extremely smart and polite, took time to chat with me and ran through the menu options etc, then...

We tired here a few times over 9 days that we had family staying in the hotel The food is lovely Nicely presented and not badly priced Staff are really friendly and helpful And the service was top notch Would highly recommend to anyone From...

O.K. £14 for two coffees and scones might seem expensive but this is not your run of the mill self service cafe. Right from the start with a welcoming smile and bright spacious surroundings this is something special. Excellent table service and possibly the biggest...

So nice to find somewhere that offers a vegan breakfast - better still to find there was a choice! Great food, decent value, and friendly staff.

Not your average cafe. Good menu, lovely decor, lots of PowerPoints to charge electronics while you have your coffee. Staff 💯

Went here this evening for a dinner catch up with friends. A perfect evening from start to finish. Service from Rebecca, Jordan and Philip was top class. So attentive throughout. Food was also without fault, would highly recommend the chicken wings! Definitely be back!

We visited the Grand Café today for lunch and throughly enjoyed the experience. The setting is really pleasant and very relaxing and the service was friendly and efficient. As for the food, we both had the haddock which was very attractively presented and really fresh...

Only went in here for a drink but the building is absolutely beautiful. So spacious and a really unique space. The staff are lovely and it’s a really relaxed atmosphere.

Second lunch here and no better. The decor and ambiance are lovely but badly let down by terrible food. I ordered a steak sandwich. It arrived like this....one slice of sourdough bread slightly toasted on one side, topped with a handful of dry rocket, a...

I visited on a busy Friday around lunchtime and was greeted and shown to my table by Skatska ?( I suspect incorrect spelling). My order of coffee and a scone was provided within minutes which was impressive considering most tables were occupied. Coffee and scone...

My husband and I decided to try out the Grand Cafe for a Valentine’s Day lunch even though we had previously heard very poor reports about the hotel. The place itself has quite a nice atmosphere and was relatively busy. We were seated and eventually...

Pretends to be 5 star and the surroundings support this. It the attention detail, customer service and investment in staff training suggests otherwise. Visited twice this week. First, with colleagues for pre-dinner drinks. Ordered 5 gins and a vodka. 14 mins later, reminded waiter about...

Called in for a first visit, with a friend, for a light meal. From the menu I selected a feta cheese tartlet, but was served with a feta cheese, pear, beetroot and walnut salad. Granted, this would have been my second choice. The server didn't...

Located in a 5 star hotel so expected alot from this cafe but was a bit let down. It is just located to the right of reception with a sign on a table advising to wait to be seated. Even the chairs are lack luster....

I'm not one to normally write reviews however after a recent business trip to Belfast I had the pleasure of staying at the Grand Central Hotel. The service in the cafe was excellent with a very nice ambience. The hipster Barista made us the most...

from the time we entered the hotel until we left everything was just fabulous. Great food varied menu all reasonably priced, recommendations from the most friendly of staff were spot on gin cocktails amazing and great price. Wonderful atmosphere and staff so attentive will definitely...

Decor Beautiful, great spot for breakfast lunch or dinner, excellent service and the pastry selection was extensive all made in house 👍

Delicious breakfast, Gorgeous surroundings, excellent service, Definitely will be back great addition to Belfast

Everything was just so pleasant and the food was delicious. We highly recommend eating here for the quality of the food and the pleasantness of the staff.