The Carrie Restaurant in Ballymena

We all had a lovely family meal here this evening. Food was superb. Best meal out I have had in a long time. Staff were excellent throughout. We had our three year old with us and he was made very welcome. It's always a good sign to see a restaurant so full on a Sunday evening.

I visited on a Saturday morning with friends for a catch-up. The food was fresh, locally sourced, cooked with care, and tasty. It was great value for money. The waitress was very welcoming, attentive and accommodating of all dietary needs. Highly recommend for anyone looking for traditional food in a cosy setting by an open fire.

Came on this restaurant by chance-lovely cosy place. Food was delicious. Staff friendly and efficient. Highly recommend.

Fabulous food in a lovely quirky restaurant,as well as great value for money.The team were also so helpful and friendly. We will definitely be back very soon.

We have been visiting The Carrie for some time now and have never had anything other than great food and great service. There’s always new additions to the menu as well, so even the fussiest eater will find something to please. Steak Nights, Indian Cuisine Nights, Sunday Roast Lunch you name it and with attentive staff you’ll not find anywhere better. Next up we’re going to try afternoon tea in one of the igloos 😀 . It’s great to see they have expanded now with a function room, great for private parties, weddings and other events.

Went for Sunday lunch with family, the food was good enough but the portion size was poor, the beef was very thinly sliced and not much of it, a small bowl of veg between 2 people and served on a small plate to make it look like more. At £16.95 for one course it's pricey for the amount of food you are served. Won't rush back.

What a beautiful lunch we had in this equally beautiful restaurant. The food was fantastic and The Carrie is a hidden gem. Couldn’t recommend here highly enough xx

Poor food. The Carry must have a different chef as last night I took two friends for a meal and I was very very disappointed. I told the waiter how I felt at the time. We ordered four mini mixed grills comprising of different items, steak, gammon chicken. These came through on a small plate thrown on top of one another swimming in an old black grease. This chef has no pride in the food he produced and I am afraid I will not.be back again.

Went for a birthday dinner so did not want to complain at the time a spoil their day but the service was appalling and the food was mediocre at best. I would not recommend.

Very nice interior. Staff a little distracted and bit of a wait for service. Drinks slow to arrive. Standard menu with a few wee surprises. Vegetables fresh and flavourful. Burger very well done. Chicken carbonara a little heavy. Generous portions of dessert.

I wanted somewhere lovely for a special meal out with friends. I thought a lot about it and eventually booked The Carrie having had a few recommendations from family. What a lovely place! We ate in a garden pod which was amazing. The steak special was great value and brilliant food. The service was friendly and efficient. It was the perfect place for a memorable night out.

My husband & I ( and small dogs) reserved an outdoor seating area igloo for our dinner reservation as we were staying in the area. The service and friendliness from the staff was outstanding The food was lovely and it was overall just very enjoyable!!

Absoutely gorgeous in every way couldn't fault it at all. Meal and service 1st class will be back soon and often. Menu brilliant. Staff lovely. Beautiful setting

Lovely atmosphere and great music. Staff extremely helpful and chatty. Reasonably priced….. Menu was quite basic, but a good variety. Food was fabulous !!! Cannot recommend enough… Can’t wait to go back Hats off to you at The Carrie ✔️👌

We have been going to the carrie from it's opened regularly. Always had a great meal and the staff go above and beyond for customers.

We've been going to the Carrie since it first opened and it has just got better and better. We go often for Sunday dinner and we wouldn't think of going anywhere else. Great food, great prices and the staff are so friendly. Try it, you won't be disappointed!

Lovely breakfast, cooked just as ordered. Had poached eggs, bacon and toast.Loads of pancakes and maple syrup, with bacon. Nice staff and clean, tidy and pleasant place.

Visited with friends on Friday night, lovely wee spot with great food and service! Plenty on offer from a very good menu.

Booked the igloo for lunch, very disappointed about food!The servers were great , got our drinks orders and food orders in good time. Menu was terrible only pizzas, dirty fries and chicken goujons.. we shared the pizza, worst pizza ever , the base was so hard of the pizza and very limited selection for toppings.. had a lot nicer pizzas from supermarkets. Dirty fries were ok , but definitely not worth the price of the meal overall. Don’t think I would be back..

Booked an igloo for myself and 2 kids, igloo was clean and warm. Drinks order came quickly, food menu for igloos is quite minimal, but we knew that before we went. They advertise a pizza that you can pick your own toppings for so i asked could I have one half with pepperoni and the other half just plain cheese with no topping (kids choice) was told no they couldnt do that so went with plain cheese no toppings. Ordered a portion of chicken goujons which came with dips, i realised later i got charged extra for the dips, asked for a portion of chips for kids, waitress had to go and ask if this was ok, why???? Anyway we got them, skinny fries. Pizza base was definately not homemade, very basic and lukewarm. Never at any point did anyone come back to see if we were ok, did we want another drink, or was everything ok. I wont be back

Food was great, love the chowder, it’s always my favourite. I think the door dividers look great and break up the space giving a bit more privacy. Will definitely be back

Another great lunch here and our table was well distanced from the others.I had a burger with fries and my wife had the linguine. Both were good but my original main course was not available as it was 'all gone". We wanted the pavlova but this was gone too, so we settled for our mains.I had chosen garlic fries with my burger but regular fries were served by mistake.Food was nice enough.

Great lunch, fantastic portions. The Carrie offers good choice for lunch, and is at a very reasonable price. Nice chicken wraps, and the staff are very friendly and attentive. Nice decor inside, very clean and nice atmosphere. Will definitely go back. Plenty of free parking out the front, and only 5-10 mins outside Ballymena/Antrim.

Four of us just had a meal in the Carrie. All agreed food was excellent and very good value. Staff were outstandingly pleasant, helpful and friendly. Will definitely return.

Booked one of The Pods for group of us last night, The Pods are a brilliant touch and creates a private and wonderful holiday feel to any outing. This is my 4th visit to this amazing place and Roseanna & her team never disappoint, The food (my 4th different dish to order) was beautiful and presented excellently. The customer service is fantastic, so friendly and helpful, the staff can never do enough to make your visit there any better. I was up visiting family and friends as I live in Dublin, but would have no hesitation in driving from Dublin to dine here and back down, as The Carrie is by far one of the best restaurant‘s around. Fantastic experience, can’t wait to return

Turned up without a booking late on a Friday afternoon, but were seated after only a couple of minutes wait, in very comfy armchairs, during which we could see our table being sanitised. Friendly, attentive staff, cosy atmosphere and good food. Really nice decor - we loved the way they've upcycled old doors to separate the tables.

Visited here on Saturday night . The place was busy but the staff were so friendly and accommodating, especially Peter and the young girl ( blond hair) serving our table, both an asset to this business. The food was delicious as always. Would highly recommend The Carrie.

This is THE place to go if you want to wait 45 minutes for a table, not through being busy, then be told they don't have the steak (rump) you were waiting all that time for and have what was meant to be medium rare rib-eye steak set down. It wasn't. Staff were attentive but to be honest there was little to no atmosphere by the time we were just getting started as the place bar one table was empty. They gave us 20 percent discount however do yourself a favour and avoid mediocre service, food and an awful atmosphere.Avoid.

Had a fantastic Family meal at this restaurant in the little village of Kells near Ballymena. There is plenty of parking space a big Water Feature and outdoor Igloo dinning areas for people who want to eat outside. The Breaded Brie and Carnberry sauce was delicious for the starter I had and the Chicken Goujons for the main course was enough to feed 2 or 3 people. The service and staff was quick and welcoming and the price was around the average you would probably expect. I can't wait to return this restaurant because in terms of the portions you get it is real value and I really want to try out want one those outdoor igloos they have.

I visited The Carrie with 2 friends for an evening meal after reading positive reviews.We were directed to a table near a real fire which was welcome on a cold night!We enjoyed a delicious beef dinner followed by delicious desserts and good coffee.We will definitely be back!

Great atmosphere in a convenient setting,easy to accesses and wheelchair friendly ,plenty of area to park service is exceptional and food is perfect and well priced

The food here is unbelievable, couldn’t recommend it enough! The staff are also lovely and make the place feel very welcoming.

I’ve had dinner here on a few occasions now and have loved every time. Food is divine. So reasonably priced. They don’t charge a fortune and the food is excellent. I always get the breaded Brie for starter - I could eat that for starter, main and desert it is so good! My partner loves the fish tacos, also delicious. Staff have always been so friendly and accommodating. The place is gorgeous too i love sitting beside the open fire. Definitely worth a visit.

Lovely food, good service, reasonably priced and lovely setting Goats cheese swirls starter is gorgeous Would recommend to anyone

Had no idea how good this little place was. Fantastic food. Stopped in today and had the seafood chowder and my girlfriend had salted chilli chicken. The chowder was exceptionally fresh and delicious. Even the wheaten bread was perfect. I honestly can’t complain about one thing. The girlfriends chicken was delicious and the salted chilli chips were amazing. Very pleasing lunch. My compliments to the chef.

Good choice of starters - all sampled in our party- excellent. Main course- excellent. Desserts- good choice- excellent. Good service, attentive staff. Nice restaurant. Will be back.

Went with a group 20. We were all served promptly and efficiently with a number of different dishes. Anything that was asked for was promptly and cheerfully supplied. The food was very good and well presented. A special mention must be made of the vegetables which were cooked just right (not always the case in some restaurants) If anything the helpings were too large! Everyone in our party was complimentary.The room was full to capacity, and because of this was a bit noisy.

It was a great venue for a reunion. We're all from Ballymena, in a sense. I met cousins I hadn't seen for 50 years, and some new people. The restaurant was the perfect setting, in the County Antrim countryside.The food was fine - I had soup and salmon. The service was very good and the price was reasonable.

Booked for a party of seven at the beginning of the week and confirmed numbers on the morning of arrival. Arrived at the agreed time and the table set for our numbers. Very quickly served with menu and drinks order taken. Great selection of starters and main courses that would suit anyone. Other than two of our party, who had then gammon, the rest of us had a different main course and we were all well satisfied with our food and the attention given. There was also the opportunity to change side orders, if required. No one had dessert such was the quality and quantity of the starters and main courses. It should be noted that the starters were of a very reasonable cost hence we lost out on the desserts. Will share the next time although those around us appeared to make use of the good selection available. Will call here again should the need and opportunity arise.

I took my elderly mother for lunch on Saturday. My sat-nav didn't recognise the street address, or postcode, but I cannot blame the Carrie for that. The weather was horrible with driving rain. There was some creative freestyle parking outside which hindered access a little, but again, not a criticism of the Carrie. When we got inside, it was clean and welcoming. There was plenty of space between tables for access with a walking aid - many other places operate probably 50% greater table density. The staff were very pleasant - attentive but not intrusive. Great menu, and great food. My mum declared this the best cod & chips she's had in a very long time. The cod was cooked perfectly, the batter was dry and crispy, the chips were fresh and scorchingly hot. My chicken and bacon wrap was excellent, well filled with just the right amount of relish distributed properly throughout the wrap. And it will be a great tragedy if we lose parmesan fries after Brexit.

Stumbled across The Carrie by chance (long story) and so glad we did! Bit hard to find and setting is unusual but don’t let that put you off. Restaurant itself is nicely decorated and scrupulously clean. Staff are very friendly and helpful. Food is well presented and beautifully cooked. There were six of us so a good variety of dishes were ordered and all were excellent. Wld say, for us, portions were too big, which is slightly off putting but the quality was very good. Only criticism was parsley sauce with gammon needed loads more parsley but flavour of meat fantastic! Fish chowder and pork belly bites starters very good. Oh, and wine very reasonably priced. Will definitely be back. Thanks The Carrie!

Have been told by aload of freinds about the carrie but we tried it on sat past 14th sept and it did'nt disappoint from the starter to dessert all in all it was fantastic especially the seafood chowder an deep fried brie.

Traditional Sunday lunch fare along with normal menu. Two courses for price of one. We had off the lunch menu- the Roast beef for one and Turkey and Ham for other. Both very good as were the desserts which followed. All were good helpings. Pleasant surroundings. Would go again.

I have been to the Carrie few times now and I am never disappointed. The food is always great and teh service is great too. Would highly recommend.

My wife and I stumbled upon The Carrie whilst visiting the local area. We called in and booked a table for dinner later in the day. We arrived back at approx 5pm and there was only one other couple in the place, this was soon to change as half an hour later the place was packed! The menu is very good with 2 courses for the price of the main course, which meant you could either have a starter or a dessert at no extra cost! All the main courses were reasonably priced with an average of about £12. Our food was superb (Chicken and Steak) and the portions were a good size, the starter of chowder was amazing. The drinks, including wine were a lot cheaper than most restaurants. Overall our experience was superb, the ambience was good and the staff were very attentive and friendly. I would definitely go back and would suggest anyone wanting to visit books in advance to avoid disappointment.

I reviewed The Carrie Restaurant in July and of course the food and service was just as good. This is a review to highlight a new Red Wine from California called Jack Rabbit a Merlot which is quite fruity and fairly full bodied. Well worth a try when you dine at The Carrie Restaurant next time.

Really lovely meal here. So clean and the food is lovely and fresh. Really great little place, a bit off the beaten path but well worth a gidit

A cosy, casual restaurant in a nice setting with friendly, efficient staff and great food. A second course comes free of charge, so my Mum had soup included with her main course and my husband had a free dessert following his main.....a novel idea and a very good one. The menu is varied, portions are generous and we could not fault the quality of the food, home cooking at its best. Highly recommended!

I last reviewed The Carrie Restaurant in September 2017. In that review I highlighted the excellent food, well nearly two years on and many meals at The Carrie I'm delighted to say that consistency has been maintained. They have now got a Drinks Licence and so you no longer need to carry in your own, although I understand they will serve you your own drinks for a small corkage charge.

Visited The Carrie for the first time on Saturday afternoon for lunch. The menu choices were plentiful , tasty and of good quality and were well priced and and the service was excellent. All staff were engaging and friendly. We will definately return.

Went back for a second visit to the Carrie. On the first occasion it was very good despite being busy (service was a bit slow for the mains but certainly forgiveable!).

Have been for lunch and for an evening meal and I have been so impressed with the quality of the food and service.

A beautiful building and restaurant was pleasantly warm on a cold wet day. Enjoyed the food although there was very few people in the restaurant. Would return. Staff very nice.

It was set menu on Mother’s Day. Food was alright. Starter was delicious salt and chilli chicken, got the chicken Kiev for main wasn’t good at all, and cheesecake just was like a digestive and fell apart , staff were great though.

Never knew this place existed until recently. Very difficult to get anywhere open for Sunday morning breakfast in the Ballymena area and couldn't believe there was one in Kells. Certainly a bit remote from the centre of the village but well worth the effort to get there. First impressions were extremely clean and tidy, well laid out, good decor and very empty! We were the first there that morning but things had picked up by the time we left. Nothing but praise for the staff and the quality of the breakfast. It really was first class, very reasonably priced and also highly recommended. We will certainly return in the future.

I was in a group of 48 or so women. Food served by two fantastic waitresses who knew what they were doing and nothing was too much trouble. All meals fantastic with meat so very tender and steaming hot. Atmosphere and decor was beautiful, together with a lit fire. Gluten free lashed catered for too. Well Done!

Went here for family Sunday lunch and food amazing . Great choice on menu and very reasonable price. Staff very welcoming and service is good. Nice friendly restaurant and perfect for a relaxing meal. Would highly recommend to all.

Back again to the Carrie with husband and teenage girls. You can always be guaranteed a lovely meal.. good menu, well presented and very tasty. Hard to beat.

Visited this restaurant during a busy period Saturday evening peak time my partner an my self

Second visit here, this time for lunch. The seafood chowder and the salt and chilli chicken strips were both excellent. Special mention should be made of the chips, which were the best I have tasted in along time. The place is really nice to sit in and the service was good. We will return in a couple of weeks for the Christmas Lunch.

Leuk restaurant met spontane bediening

We had a visit to the Carrie today and I have to say the service and food was excellent from start to finish. Roast beef and the desert was Devine and I will definitely return, the presentation of food was fab this restaurant in my eyes is a five ⭐️ a must visit hands down

The lunch meal was first class not just in content but also in value. Service was excellent and the staff very helpful. Definitely recommended

Had only heard of the Carrie last week after a friend had visited and said it was delicious. So yesterday me and my partner decided to try it and we were not disappointed. I had brie for started and it was delicious with ample portion size. We both had steak for main sirloin and rump. Both were cooked perfectly and melted in your mouth. Only negative was the dauphinoise potatoes which I didn't think were as creamy as usual but maybe just my personal preference. Would definitely visit again. And very fairly priced with started or dessert included for price of main.

Having just moved to the area and using trip advisor to find the local eating houses and came across The Carrie. I only wish I hadn't so, so disappointed and it all started so well. It's a bit of the beaten track, and we were impressed with the ambience of the restaurant lots of space between tables, music playing in the background but not too loud so you can still have a conversation an added bonus you can bring your own wine. Staff appeared to be thin on the ground with one waitress doing everything and very well. Menu's produced and looked excellent if only the food had been the same. I ordered ribs for starters and they came served on a wooden tray, one of my pet hates what is wrong with plates.???

Have been in The Carrie a few times recently and it is definitely one of the best little restaurants around the area. The staff are lovely providing an excellent service, the food is plentiful, very tasty and appropriately priced from a sandwich to a hearty meal you will not be disappointed. If you happen to be in the Kells area give The Carrie a try!!.

The food was amazing couldn’t fault one single thing, plenty of choices for both gluten free and vegetarian. Thanks guys

I wouldn't have known about or have been able to find this restaurant if it weren't for the TripAdvisor community. It is in an out of the way locale with very little signage, but it's worth the effort to find your way here.

Nice clean fresh restaurant..... food was very tasty and good value for money....staff were really nice tho maybe a little under pressure so service a tad slow. Would i return ? Absolutely

Visited here with friends we all had the 3 course. Food was nice and service was quick and the waitress was lovely but not much atmosphere

We visited The Carrie last night with family from Australia and had a really fantastic meal - the staff were attentive and help with our various dietary requirements, the food was delicious and the price was very reasonable. Our visitors really appreciated the fire being lit!

My family and I love the carrie we have been for lunch and dinner numerous times and always come away happy.

First time we've tried here. I really can't fault it! The entrance, lounge and dining room all have charming characteristics of a farm style barn but with with a modern feel. The staff are friendly and attentive. The menu is very reasonably priced with a good verity. I had the 10oz sirloin ordered medium rare, it was perfectly cooked. My fiancée had the peppered chicken on a bed of champ, again couldn't fault it. The deserts were home made. Really lovely place and we can't wait to go back.

Greatly impressed by the entrance, spacious, inviting. Excellent toilet facilities. Beautiful large restaurant, warm fire. Fresh rose on every table! Welcoming staff.

As we live locally, we have visited this restaurant a number of times, Great menu, Great food and something for everyone! whether you are here for breakfast, lunch or dinner you will not be disappointed.

Whst a fantastic hidden little gem. All I can say is the good was amazing and the atmospheric surroundings were just wonderful.

I visited the restaurant yesterday for the first time and it was so good. Car parking might not just be the best but the restaurant itself is so lovely inside. It's small but it's homey and very family orientated and has a nice relaxing atmosphere with a lovely fireplace too. The staff were more than helpful to us as I was part of a large group of people but they had so much patience with us and couldn't do enough. The staff are so friendly and welcoming and that for me is always a big plus. I had the roast beef dinner and oh my i couldn't even finish it. It was such a good portion size and the beef was so melt in your mouth, really recommend this, and it was piping hot too. Couldn't honestly say a bad word about the place and will def be back.

The food and service was fantastic. And very reasonably priced. They also do a great Breakfast on Saturdays and Sunday mornings. 9am to Midday. We will be back.

We were disappointed, this place has so much potential, surrounding and atmosphere were great, the staff were very helpful, BUT the food wasn’t warm enough, I had the steak which wasn’t great, the salt and chilli chips were soggy, the lasagne was average. I hope we got chef on a bad night and if you go you have a better experience than us. We really wanted this to be brilliant, but it wasn’t

This was our second visit to the carrie restaurant and we will will be back.

Excellent food. Good value for money and lovely surroundings. Mid week dinner. Four us had a 3 course meal all for just over £50, Good selection from the menu and the starters were excellent.

We all went ( family of 7) for a meal on Saturday 10th September.

A little difficult to find for a stranger to the area. We were in time for early bird menu but fancied steak. Unfortunate as otherwise we could have had three courses for £12.95!! Lovely meal, lovely, friendly lady waiting on tables. Good experience.

Have been a few times to this restaurant. Great food , reasonably priced , the early bird menu is great value and Friday night is steak night . Bring your own bottle makes it a very enjoyable night out that doesn't break the bank.

While we were staying in Connor at the comfortable "Old Flax Mill", we thoroughly enjoyed the outstanding cuisine, uplifting music, and personable service of "The Carrie". This Restaurant is a BYOB, but, no worries, there is a supermarket at the crossroads that carries (no pun intended) a variety of alcoholic beverages. Both steak and fish orders were amazing and always served with a smile. Highly recommended.

Had lunch here with a friend on Saturday afternoon. The waitress was very friendly and efficient. The meal we chose was delicious. The steak was cooked to perfection and all the accompaniments were really flavoursome....as usual. This is one of our favourite Saturday lunch venues! Would highly recommend.

Went for dinner at 6pm tonight and once again had a very enjoyable meal. The steaks were cooked to order. The pasta dish was lovely and desserts gorgeous ☺ Service was very good and it's a very inviting little spot. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend The Carrie to anyone and do so frequently!!

The worst service we have ever had was from a blond haired older waitress who was more interested in texting on her mobile phone steady rather than attending to customers. Ridiculous that she thought this behaviour is acceptable and customers don't notice this even though she tried to hide it. The food was nice enough but they need to improve customer service.

we were shown to our table at once--asked what we wanted to drink and after a few minutes the waitress came back to take our order--efficient. we both had soup which was very nice.. i took lamb---melt in the mouth..hubby took steak which i sampled-- lovely! we then had cappuccino.. would definitely recommend this restaurant and would return. the only thing i would say is table and chairs are quite basic. restrooms were immaculate

We had an excellent dinner in lovely relaxed surroundings the staff where very friendly and looked after us well. Our meals where well presented and the food was delicious. I normally don't recomend restaurants but in this case I would. Looking forward to visiting The Carrie again hopefully sometime soon.

Family Sunday lunch at Carrie ..first impressions were terrible...Noisey ..no soft furnishing ....slow service.....and most important The food...Roast beef ..no taste ..veg and potatoes didn't taste fresh!! Worst moment for me was when I complained about our grandsons raw in the middle chicken gouging ......a waitress reached with her fingers and lifted them off the plate ! I was horrified ! Need I say anymore...

Went to the carrie for my birthday dinner the food was out standing everyone was very friendly very clean and warmly will be going again

Came across this by accident and decided to have lunch.

Stopped in for Sunday dinner with the family and had a lovely meal. Approved of the decor and atmosjhere. Staff were very busy but also very accomodating and friendly. Our meal came quickly. This is not a licensed restaurant so you can bring your own bottle which cuts down the costs of a family meal. There was a slight error with our bill whcih was quickly resolved. I would definately recommend to others and will return.

Just saw this new place online and thought we'd give it a try.

We decided on a last minute family night out and we're able to book an early evening table.

First visit and was very pleased with the staff surroundings and the food was excellent, the staff are totally child friendly and I for one will certainly be back would recommend you book.

First visit was good for the meat eater and poor for my partner who is vegetarian. Second visit I had a great meal, it was the Sunday roast but my partner didn't. His pasta dish was really nice to start off with then found a piece of cling film in his meal, so it was obviously reheated. Not what u expect from a restaurant. It shouldn't matter if your vegetarian or a meat eater your meal should be to the same standard

We went as a party of 8 for a family meal. The food was tasty, plentiful and well presented. Whilst we know it is BYOB, the service for soft drinks was a bit slow, it was hard to get attention and a long delay in getting them which is not good when you have a little one. However this would not put me off and am looking forward to my next visit

Came here today with my husband to try as my mum had been at the weekend and thought it was beautiful, lovely entrance with comfy sofas , restaurant is lovely and homely, big open fire although it wasn't lit, not busy but wasn't surprised on a Monday afternoon. There was a Christmas lunch menu reasonably priced but we opted for the ordinary lunch menu, my husband got the burger with smoked cheese there's a choice of 3 , and chunky chips, I ordered the salt and chilli chicken with curry mayo and Parmesan chips, both of us really enjoyed it, I had a latte which was lovely and hot, just a tad to strong for my liking, will definitely come back maybe in the evening as u can bring your own wine which is an added bonus!