The Elk Bistro & Wine Bar in Magherafelt

What an amazing deal...3 courses for £15! Staff ✅️ Food ✅️ Value ✅️ Everything was perfect! Never had a bill of £34 in total (£4 steak supp) since early 2000's Highly recommend

Went here for there Wednesday night special. Service first class food fantastic. Have also been to there Friday night Steak night great value for money

Had my mum's 60th birthday party at The Elk in December, Aileen was fantastic from start to finish, so helpful and nothing was too much trouble. The room looked brilliant and the food was delicious, everyone loved the festive fries!! Victoria and the girls looking after us in the night were just brilliant. Thanks for everything ☺️ xx

We attended last night for a Christmas dinner. Service and food etc was amazing! However the band that played just simply amazing. I wasn’t drinking and thought it would be a quiet early night. The band had the whole place singing and joining in and I would absolutely be back for more if I knew they were playing!

Absolutely beautiful food with warm welcoming staff. Great atmosphere in both the bar and the restaurant.

I never put any reviews on my page at all but I was absolutely disgusted today. Went to The Elk @Toomebridge for dinner. The food was beautiful so I can't complain about that. On arrival the place was very busy and they had Irish music which was fine, But what I thought was totally unacceptable was they then started to play OH AH UP THE RA 🤬. Now anyone who knows me knows I couldn't care who u r or what religion u r but to be sitting in a family restaurant and this being blasted was not on at all. The couple beside our table went straight up to complain as they were a mixed couple. There was another table behind with young kids who said they had never witnessed such a thing and they certainly did not want the kids to be hearing it. They again were disgusted by what they were hearing. They were told that they would turn it down. The young bar man when the couple left, turned around to another colleague and said O when he was giving off I just stood back and laughed. He was then asked if he thought it was bloody funny to which he replied he never said that. We know what we heard. There was no apology from the manager or anything. Always used the Elk for food but will never be back again. It's 2023 and if this was the other way round and they were playing some sort of loyalist music in a restaurant all hell would break loose. The Elk should be ashamed of themselves. A lot of tables left straight after this happened so no doubt there will be a lot of complaints.

Family restaurant I don't think so sectarian music played over full restaurant and when complained solution was to close the door to the bar! We live in the 21 century not the 1980! I thought the elk would have learnt lessons over the overpacked teenage disco but as we seen they think they can do whatever they want. Disgusting behaviour in this day and age.. did the wolftones not get into police investigation over these types of songs and encouraging people to sing along ( as they were in the bar and band asking them to do so

Visited here recently to use a voucher the wife got and I have to say we were very impressed, we enjoyed our meal and staff were very good, we will definitely come back

A party of 30 of us visited the Elk on 8.9.22 on our way to Belfast for a show and we had made our menu choices in advance. We would all say that the service was a ten out of ten, the restaurant really paid attention to our choices and dietary needs. It was a lovely experience, friendly, welcoming and such excellent service from staff who really understand customer service and hospitality. We could not fault it at all, the food was very good value and there was plenty of it. Highly recommended!

Havent been here for a long time but excellent value, excellent service and excellent food...we will be back again. Thank you!!

Really lovely staff and a nice looking place, but it’s let down by the food which does not live up to the high prices. When we ate there last Saturday afternoon, there was only one other table occupied in the whole bistro, so I don’t think the lack of quality in the food is down to demand or a Saturday rush. The only options for wine by the glass were all Chilean, but our server did comment that they are currently revamping the wine list. I chose instead to order a bottle of Rioja which was reasonably priced and pleasant. My partner had memories of great food at the Elk about 10 years ago, so we’ve been meaning to go for some time. Unfortunately after our meal (steak, duck, kids pizza, salt chilli chicken), all four of us agreed we would not return.

Couldn't fault our experience today at all. The Elk hosted our party attending the MADMC Targa Rally. Lovely friendly atmosphere & staff. Restaurant/bar was pleasantly warm from early morning, right throughout the day (on a very bitter cold day) We availed of breakfast, lunch and dinner, all of which was served fresh and piping hot in no time at all but most importantly all was really delicious!! 😋 Will definitely make a point of making a returned visit with family & friends again soon!

Dined here as a party of eight and made the right choice! Modern, bright, clean and comfortable restaurant. Menu to cover all tastes and very competitively priced. Best of all was the friendliness of the servers! We were all made to feel special by staff who showed real appreciation for our custom. Main courses ordered included stir fry combo, steak, chicken all cooked to perfection, served piping hot and almost simultaneously. Good portion sizes. Desserts included apple crumble, ice cream mix and meringue. Washed down by Guinness, lager, wine and soft drinks. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff. The bill made our spend extremely good value. Already planning a return visit!

My husband and son and I decided to stop here for lunch one Monday. We arrived just after 12pm. Sat down, had our drinks and food order taken and my little boy needed to use the toilet. My husband took him to the public toilets which to his utter disgust where completely blocked and disgustingly dirty. He then tried to take him to the restaurant toilets and they where pretty much the same! Could not use them. He alerted a member of staff and it wasn’t even acknowledged and I took him to the female restaurant toilets which where not as bad but had definitely not been cleaned. We again spoke to what was meant to be a young girl duty manager. Her response was oh the cleaners mustn’t have been in?? Seriously? Is there not checks done before opening? If environmental health had of shown up they would have been shut down. We only ate our food because we had already ordered. My husband decided to email to advise of the dirty standards and never got a response, hence now the review. Absolute disgrace. Standards have dropped massively.

We went out to try the lunch menu, we were warmly greeted by aaron and taken straight to our table, we had our 4 month old baby with us, so we were apprehensive about eating out with social distancing in mind so we pre booked. We were both very happy to see staff and customers using the sanitizer stations and everyone very spaced out. We were firstly served by keiran who took out order and had our drinks promptly brought to us, another great sign from a restaurant that doesn't leave you waiting on your drinks despite how busy it was. We didn't have very much waiting time for our meals another great prospect when dining with a baby. Our meal couldnt be faulted my partner ate off the £5 menu and despite the price the portion sizes were still huge, we were happily satisfied, we were checked on when drinks got low and a quick top up when needed, the staff are very attentive and the quality of service never quivered despite the large number of customers also being served at the same time, a great reassurance for nervous parents taking their children out after lockdown i cant wait to return. Fantastic service and food

We had the best afternoon in The Elk’s new beer garden. The food, cocktails and atmosphere was fabulous. The staff were really attentive and ensured that all safety measures were adhered too. Maureen Gribbin took great care of us and we cannot wait to come back

Called in today on off chance as we were passing and were not disappointed. 5 of us had a great lunch, food was delicious and staff couldn't have been more helpful. Great spot if you are out and about.

Great food and a great price. Staff very friendly and helpful. A very clean restaurant. They also have a beautiful wedding venue on the upper floor that looks very grand. They have a very good selection on their menu.

Absolutely unreal food here, stayed at a near by B&B for a night and the owner suggested The Elk as someone for supper. We weren’t disappointed, in a bit of an odd location, it felt a bit plonked in the middle of nowhere but the food was amazing. Some of the best we had during our whole time in Ireland. The service was great, the decor is modern.

Stopped in for Sunday lunch today. Roast beef was excellent, entire meal was lovely, staff were helpful and friendly. Pretty good with the gluten free thing as well. All good.

We've given The Elk a few chances. The staff are generally very friendly and efficient. However, the food is simply under-power. Their Sunday dinners are ok. The veg choice is limited and the meat served is just ok. The starters are limited, and never vary. As a group, three ordered the ribs - the variety in the 3 portions was significant, with one portion having hardly any meat at all and two being very over done. The salt and chilli chicken was so overdosed in salt it was genuinely inedible. Obviously, salt and chilli chicken should be salty... but I order it elsewhere all the time and it is never like this. I suggested they taste it... to no avail. I wasn't offered the opportunity to order anything else until I asked. Zero apology or recognition. But, I know that's just one item. My main point is you can get a great meal in multiple places elsewhere... that's what we'll do in future.

My wife and I went for a family meal with our daughter,son-in-law and 4 grandchildren. The Elk did not disappoint in any way. The ambience and warmth as you enter gives you a welcoming feeling. The food served was top class from start to finish. Starters,mains, desserts and kids meals were truly gorgeous. Congratulations to the chef.Staff extremely friendly and always on hand providing an efficient service. Overall we were very very impressed with The Elk and will definitely make a point to return soon. The management need to know what an excellent staff they have. Of course the management must be congratulated for selecting and employing their staff.

Out and about today saw a lot of cars in the car park always a good sign,very welcoming staff,food lovely the manager came over in a crisp white shirt immaculate another good sign, he was very attentive and friendly will definitely be back

Recently visited with a few friends for the gin night they where holding. Very enjoyable night and staff where very friendly and attentive. Staff also had very good knowledge of all the different types of gin available for us to try. Menu met dietary needs of our group as one had a nut allergy and another was a vegetarian, food was lovely. Over all good experience and will definitely be returning for another visit.

Unfortunately I do not recommend this venue for food. On both occasions I have visited, the food has not been good. After our first experience- when the food and service were both poor - we decided to return as we passed by on a Sunday evening to give the restaurant another chance!! Now the service was better but the food was still poor. We won’t be returning.

Stopped here en route to ferry port with Golden Girls as perfect half way point. Great parking, friendly welcome by locals as we went through lounge, plenty tables and greeted on arrival by waitress. Order taken quickly and food with us very quickly. Piping hot, plentiful, reasonably priced and so tasty. Four happy ladies carried on to continue our trip well fed & watered...

On way to Belfast decided to stop for lunch as the reviews were very good . Restaurant looked very nice and waitress was nice . Asked her if she had a pale ale or IPA beer . She didn't know . She didn't go to check but I left it and ordered a small prosecco as it was a weekend away in Belfast and would've been a nice start to the weekend. Served the prosecco and a tea for my husband who was driving . Tea was tea bag in a cup .. his second one was as would be normal in a tea pot .. poor staff training. Ordered chowder and 'healthy ' chicken salad . Wine glasses ..4 on the table were not removed ( normal precedure ) . Chowder arrived ... we were shocked ! Usually creamy and opulent what was presented was spuds with heavily smoked slithers of salmon .. no other fish / shellfish and no cream evident . And tasteless . Healthy chicken salad was like something from the 70s with basic salad topped with a pineapple ring , pasta with a sweet chilli dressing and a lump of heavily mayonnaised coleslaw .. healthy as dumplings ! No point in complaining as it was evident that the place had no idea how to present good food . I will never return. I think it is popular with big groups as the toilets had adverts for Mother's Day communions etc .. worst meal in a long time . One star is for the standard of the toilet which was very clean .

We called in The Elk for Sunday lunch. On arrival we were greeted warmly. The Sunday lunch menu offered traditional roasts as well as a couple of alternatives and hal a dozen starters. The roast lamb with rosemary jus, mashed potato and veg was gorgeous - a generous homely helping full of flavour and beautifully cooked and served.

Met a friend here for lunch and was made very welcome. Well decorated and was lovely and warm. Good selection on menu to choose from. I choose the soup and sandwich combo. Soup was lovely and hot, the sandwich was really well filled and lovely side salad to garnish. Really well presented. Service was excellent too and weren't rushed out. Will definitely be back.

This was our 3rd time here an have to say am never disappointed.Just arrived on the off chance as it was a busy Sunday afternoon.We were taken to a table right away.Great value for money 4 course 4 £17.95.We got starters an main course which was vegetable soup an toast beef.It was absolutely delishious.The vegetables were really soft which I like an you don't normally get in restaurants.We ate every pic and the sevice was fantastic.Cant wait 2 go back again when passing.Its rare to find a place like this where everything is perfect! Keep up the good work Elk!

Friendly staff to greet you on arrival. Food was excellent even though they had to deal with a few allergies in our party. All our requests were fulfilled, would highly recommend to all family and friends to visit.

We are old traditionalists who cook Sunday Dinner but last weekend we were invited out by our daughter, husband and two children aged 3 and 4 and head for the Elk Bistro.

We recently had our wedding in the elk. Maureen was our wedding planner, who tended to our every need, and went above and beyond for us! The room was beautifully decorated and everything was just as we wanted it! They even accommodated us having a bouncy castle indoors for the kids!! Shannon and Sean were the chefs who prepared the most beautiful meals for our 180 guests, and everyone mentioned how delicious, warm and plentiful the food was! The service we got was first class and didn’t cost a fortune!! So glad we had our big day here!

Called into the Elk on my way to Belfast for something to eat. I haven't been here for quite a few years so thought I would try it again, the restaurant has been given a face-lift and it is absolutely stunning, the staff are so friendly and nothing was to much trouble. I ordered The Elk sizzling combo with a side order of chilli pepper chips, the only thing left on the plate was the pattern, was absolutely delicious. Would definitely recommend The Elk and I can't wait for my next visit

After leaving my son off to university for the first time I felt a little down and stopped off fro some comfort food, the staff welcomed us in even though some staff were casually dressed they made us welcome. The food arrived quickly cooked to perfection. I would recommend the sizzling beef and chicken and the salted chilli chips. My wife and I cleared our plates. And to top it off it was very well priced, a very big thank you to them.

Went here for dinner with my partner this weekend. This wasn’t our first visit but sadly the service hasn’t improved any. I’m generally not one to complain but the service was genuinely laughable!

I had Turkey and ham with wonderful stuffing, gravy, scrumptious mash and roast potatoes and roast root vegetables. The young Lady who served me brought ice cold water and cranberry sauce. The young gentleman brought me the desert menu and recommended the banoffee pie. Though mocha coffee was not advertised they made it up for me.

Was at the elk for Sunday lunch and everything was first class.The staff are really good and the food is the best we have had in a long time. will be back very soon...

Excellent service very charming waitress, the ambiance is relaxed and the food is cooked to perfection, varied menu to too much choice I would easily recommended this bistro

Visited the Elk last night for a meal . Our whole experience was excellent The service was friendly and efficient by all the staff . We both ordered Sirloin Steak and were not disappointed one of the nicest steaks I have had . It came with lovely mushrooms and onions and some salad the garlic fries were delicious

Family of four visited here after a day out along the coastline. Food was good and tasty. A little unnecessary flourishing and garnish but nice. Staff a bit slow with taking order, drinks, clearing and bill.

So, bit of a long drawn experience, booked a birthday party in January for my father’s 60th in July. Forward planning.

Ci fermiamo qui quando stiamo tornado dall’aeroporto. Il chowder è veramente molto buono. Il servizio è molto cordiale.

I visited with the family for lunch on Fathers’s Day & enjoyed a lovely meal. Good value children starter options meant they could enjoy a starter too. My husband and I started with chilli chicken & ribs which we really enjoyed. I ordered salmon for main which was lovely & my husband was very happy with his steak. I couldn’t resist tasting my daughters lasagne which we both agreed was lovely. We felt the service was pleasant & efficient without being over bearing - not always easily achieved. So congrats to the floor staff & the Chef / kitchen staff. We will be back.

The Elk I've known for years and the food just keeps getting better the menu has a lot on it , fab place to have a family meal in . Staff are very welcoming .Get down and experience it for yourself.

Called at the elk for a quick bite to eat this evening,no prices on the menu, ordered a southern fried chicken burger and chips.Could not believe I was charged £13.95 for it.Seems very expensive for this meal.

Having a 4hr drive ahead of us I rang the Elk one Friday to see if they serve all day breakfast. Got speaking to a lovely lady who advised they did that on a Saturday but by now we were in carpark, she then spoke to chef and told us to come on in. We have a great full Irish breakfast which the chef served himself ! For a business to go above and beyond not turning a customer away and serving us with a smile was a great start to our break. Thankyou !

Went for dinner got the menu couldn't decide what to order as fancied everything on it but eventually ordered chicken curry chips and onion rings did not disappoint as taste first class.. Went back a week later and got the meat feast for lunch tasted amazing definitely be back thanks to the chef and staff..

So many great options but went for the chouder... burger.. chicken curry.... Chips and onion rings.... Service was friendly and very helpful.... Food tasted fabulous and portions great... Told all local ingredients.... and at end was all very reasonable priced... Thanks to chef and all staff for a lovely dining experience

We visited for a night out to see a band and the only thing I can say is that the whole thing was completely disorganised... the band where very good but that was the only good point about the night! I'm unsure if this establishment expected the crowd that turned up for the night but it was terrible, the service, the seating arrangement, the size of the room everything was unorganised! We each paid £15 entry and the prices at the bar changed every time I went for the same drinks, they seemed to get more expensive as the night went on. I will not be visiting again any time soon.

Booked the Elk Bistro For lunch with my husband & grandchildren. Seven in total. It was a Carvery. five course. Soup.( beautiful.) Salmon & salad. (delicious) Mane course. Turkey, Ham, Roast Beef , Lamb. Different types of Potatoes Loads of different vegetables. accompanied by three or four sauces. The desserts... there were so many to choose from we were spoiled for choice. Fabulous meal. Very well priced.

Me and my boyfriend stopped by for a quick lunch and were served by the wonderful Maureen and John we got an amazing service and the chief even accomidated my fussy appetite will 100% be back best food northern ireland has to offer!! 5 stars ☆☆☆☆☆

My wife and I visited the Elk for Lunch, last Friday (16th Feb)

Visited the Elk in a large group for a family Christening. The food was wonderful and the service brilliant. Will definitely be back.

We recently had our daughters christening party of 25 people in the Elk. Maureen was fantastic in organising the whole...

Called in today on our way home from Donegal. We were greeted by friendly and efficient staff and were delighted...

Called in with family so a party of 5, always drive by and meant to call in so we did...

I had my twins christening in the elk back in October. From the very start Maureen was fabulous, nothing was...

Reserved a table for my wife & I after hearing good reports, and we're glad that we did! We arrived...

Such a great place to eat ! The atmosphere is really cosy, the food is exquisite - we tried one of their burger and we still talk about it!! Also the staff where very nice and welcoming. Will definitely revisit if we ever come back to Magherarfelt :)

My husband and I were driving home from Donegal to Belfast and saw the Elk and decided to stop for...

We haven’t eaten in the elk in the past 6 months and decided to give it a try on Sunday and we were highly impressed.

If the Elk was in Belfast or Derry you would be booking for weeks but as it happens it is half-way between and ideal for that something special where civility, ambiance and good food meet in a unique way.

It has been a few years since I last visited this restaurant.Since I had last been it has been revamped. I stopped off for lunch with my partner and first impressions were very good-friendly staff and an excellent menu to choose from.The food was served promptly and was delicious.We will be back soon.

We visited the restaurant whilst staying at a local B&B.; We had Chilli Squid to start which was lovely. We shared this started, but wished we had ordered one each. For mains we had Carbonara and Salmon, which we both loved. I was really craving a creamy pasta dish and this felt like one of the nicest I'd ever had. We were a little underwhelmed by the desserts, which was the only thing that stopped us from giving 5/5. Overall, a very pleasant meal :o)

Was in the area earlier this afternoon for business purposes and arranged to meet up @ The Elk with a friend for bite to eat and a catch up - We arrived about half 5 this evening and have to say had the most amazing meal - I had an Elk Burger and it definitely was delicious, served with an accompanying side salad, chips and peppered sauce! Just loved it and my friend had The Salmon. Both plates where all but licked clean as testimony to the great food. Service was fantastic, staff really welcoming and friendly too! Great atmosphere and wonderful food - so just had to compliment - well done to the folks here - A very happy grazer!!!!!!!!!!!

Work event for 20 people team.The manager categorically rejects to open a tab. When asked if he doesn't care of loosing business for work events as many company I supposed booked here as it is a big place his response was "no".I definitely not recommend this place for a work team building. Now it is crowded loud food is average so I wouldn't recommend it for couples olnight out either.Between friends max 10 people I suppose is the only audiance they trigger.Aside of that I asked for virgyn merry the barman after wondering around the bar for few minutes came back to ask me what the Virgin merry was. And finally thy don't have tomatoe juice . For a bar that advertise cocktails is pretty poor .I don't see any reason why I would ever come back here for any reason. Pity as we could have used the place many times for team building.Up to you to decide.

We saw this place while driving from Belfast to Donegal & stopped 'on spec' for lunch and could not have chosen better. Very friendly, lovely food and very nice decor to boot. Great value for money considering volume of food we were served. You have to try the Tobacco onion (Shredded deep fried onion) - best thing I have eaten in a very long time. Cannot recommended highly enough.

Called here today on a trip back from Belfast not only where we made feel very welcome the food was delicious and very well priced we where treated so well by a lady Pauline &a the rest of the staff ,we will definitely be calling again thank you's

Traveling back from Belfast we needed lunch and decided to try The Elk Bistro. The Bistro was quiet for a lunch time but that was to our advantage, we were seated immediately and order taken within a few minutes of browsing the menu. Server was friendly. I had the pulled pork Burger absolutely gorgeous there was a flamed grill taste which i love and my favourites where on the menu Tobacco Onions. Whist these were tasty they were too crispy but I still enjoyed them. My husband had the roast of the day Turkey and Ham, he loved it he is not a vegetable person but again there was like a flamed grill taste off them and he loved them. Portion sizes very generous, we didn't have room for dessert. The foyer was beautiful, the Bistro was spootlessly clean as were the toilets which is definitely always a good sign. Glad we have tried here as we will definitely be using The Elk Bistro more often and recommending it too frequent travellers to and from Belfast.

We spotted The Elk on the way past and just called in on spec and were we glad!! The food was lovely and the restaurant and toilets were spotless but it was the service we received that made it such a lovely experience. John our waiter was friendly and helpful and nothing was too much trouble for him. Maureen the Manager could run courses in hospitality. She went out of her way helping us choose dishes, ensuring that a nut allergy was taken seriously and even coming up with something out of the ordinary for the vegetarian!! The chef didn't let her down and our food was delicious. It was a really delightful start to our weekend away and I couldn't recommend it highly enough. Well done!

Visited this restaurant with a family party of 20. We had pre ordered our main course which was quickly served and well presented. However there were problems with the delivery of desserts and coffee. Service left a lot to be desired. The waiters and waitresses were not to blame - they were definitely overworked and understaffed. However they did their best and maintained their pleasant dispositions, despite the challenging circumstances.

I called in here with my boyfriend on the way to Belfast. The food was not good, and the plate was very bare. I was still hungry afterwards. The worst thing about this place is not the food, it's the either rude or inexperienced waiting staff. There is a woman who is so rude and couldn't smile to save her life. She's very abrupt and unfriendly. It really makes for a bad atmosphere. I doubt this place will be open in a few years. Give it a miss.

Came here recently on a Friday night for the first time. We got there about 7pm and it was very quiet, maybe 6/7 tables in the whole place. We got seated without a reservation. As we were just wanting a quick bite we made up our minds very quickly but we sat with our menus for fifteen minutes on top of each other trying to catch someone's attention before someone came to take our order. I ordered the duck salad and cheesy bread starter together as a main course and my boyfriend ordered the burger. The food was quick to come. And it was delicious! No complaints anywhere. Unfortunately we couldn't stay for desserts this time. We got a jug of cordial which roughly cost around £3 (My boyfriend didn't keep a copy of the bill) which I think is a bit steep but I work in a hotel that charges £2.25 for the same which I also think is overpriced! I would definitely return.

We visited on Saturday evening on the way back to Belfast, we are a family with 3 kids (all under 5).As soon as we walked in we were welcomed by a smiling waitress who showed us to our seats. The decor is really nice, it all looks brand new. It was dimly lit with little candles on each table which made the whole place feel very cosy.The service was superb from start to finish and very attentive.The food is absolutely first class and great value too.We will be back...

My wife and I are just back from the Elk after a lovely meal. We don't live that far from it and were unaware of the quality of the food here being more familiar with it as a night club. The food was very nice - we had eaten there last weekend with our son and daughter-in-law and were so pleased with the quality and presentation of the food that we decided to return this week and we weren't disappointed. The decor and layout of the restaurant is very welcoming and the staff are most attentive and helpful. But it is the food that really sets it off. Paul the chef and Maureen the manager are aiming to put the Elk on the culinary map and they will, I have no doubt. The food is presented beautifully, locally sourced and bursting with flavours. Paul has had experience of working in some of the top restaurants in France and London and is passionate about his food and keen to share his love for good food with you. If you are looking for somewhere nice to eat at very reasonable prices we would certainly recommend the Elk and we have dined in all the local eateries within a 15 mile radius.

Siamo andati a questo ristorante circa 40 mins da Belfast sulla M2 verso "il nord". Posto arredato tipo pub con persone squisite. Abbiamo mangiato bene - roba tradizionale del posto carne, salmone ecc. inoltre una chowder molto, molto buono. Occhio che chiude alle 21 ma ci hanno servito arrivando alle 20.45. Consigliato. Vino molto buono.

We had two evenig meals here and both were good pub meals. If we were to go to Northern Ireland again we would eat here.

Fantastic lunch.generous portions.kids meal great. Recommend the pulled pork, homemade burger and chicken and chilli. Very nice staff

A family member had suggested for some time that we try 'The Elk'. It was wonderful! The menu is varied; we weren't stuck for choice.In the end I picked form the 'Specials' menu (it changes weekly), and had a wonderful Smoked Lough Neagh Eel in a Chorizo, vegetable and cream sauce (delicious!) and a fantastic Fillet Steak (even more delicious!).We had a lovely chat with Head Chef Paul afterwards; he and all if his staff are polite and so enthusiastic.A wonderful meal with obviously fresh ingredients and bursting with flavour Loved it, totally!

Myself, partner and little one stopped in at The Elk on Saturday to break up our journey from Belfast to Derry. We were seated immediately and drink orders taken. All the staff were very friendly and attentive, our little ones mash and gravy arrived immediately and at the perfect temperature for him. Once he finished one of the waitresses Leeann took our son and entertained him so we could eat our meal, this has never happened before in any restaurant we have dined in before. A lovely gesture as our son isn't a fan of high chairs. Can't think Leeann enough four what she did, wee gestures like that mean a lot. Great food outstanding service, we will definitly be stopping in again.

Excellent place for stopping to eat on the way the the Seamus Heaney Homeplace. Staff provided excellent information on choice of meals and the quality of the food was on a par with top restaurants in Belfast.

Excellent service from several different members of staff and fantastic food! Unfortunately don't live nearby but when passing again we will definitely make a point to stop here!

We decided at the last minute to go for dinner, usually cook as hubby is gluten free , The kids were with us, on arriving the kids were able to enjoy the bounce castle , staff were great, menu was good, meal arrive and we both had the chicken stack, beautiful, kids said it was better than my cooking lol, The staff gave the children ballons and were able to take home a small gift, they were well chuffed.We all agree that we will return again,

We had a family meal out last weekend at the Elk Bistro. As soon as we arrived the waitress took our drinks order and brought them within minutes. (I loved the chilled wine glass!) The restaurant was very busy and although we thought they would have been under pressure, the staff couldn't have been friendlier. Each of us ordered a different meal and they arrived in good time and were really delicious. We will definitely be back to the Elk- I would thoroughly recommend the Chicken a Tower!

Tipp unserer Unterkunft. Tolles Essen, lecker draught beer. Die Mannschaft ist jung und nicht aus der Ruhe zu bringen. Irische Gelassenheit kombiniert mit Freundlichkeit. Preis/Leistung stimmt!!!!

Myself and my partner went for dinner on a Saturday evening. The restaurant was not busy, there were maybe 4 or 5 tables filled. It took the staff 5 mins to greet us - long enough for my other half to nip to the toilet before I was seated. The waitress asked if I wanted to order my drink and I said I'd wait a minute until my partner joins me at the table. We then waited for almost 10mins before the server returned (after I stared at the staff standing chatting at the bar, trying to get someone's attention). The girl came over I proceeded to order, after stating my starter and main she then asked me to wait a min for her to get her notepad!! She came back, then took the order again. I ordered bread to share, a bbq pulled pork burger with sweet potato fries and my partner ordered the 8oz fillet steak with chips. The server didn't ask how he wanted it cooked, but we informed her anyway (felt like she needed prompting!). We waited for the food and drinks. Another server arrived asking for our order, I told her we had ordered and she asked again what we had ordered (!??). She behaved awkwardly - I had thought it was strange I was being asked my order for a second time, my partner quietlu said to me afterwards that she looked drunk. The sharing bread arrived with our 2 soft drinks. It was lovely. I had to stare at staff again (4 of them now chatting at the bar) to get their attention that we had finished. The main food arrived. The steak came on a sizzler ...despite my partner specifically ordering the fillet and NOT the sizzler (he doesn't pay £22.50 to cook his own steak!!). It was practically raw in parts. The server mixed up our 2 side orders. Didn't ask if we needed any other condiments. I had to ask if I could order another drink (could have dehydrated at this point). My burger had an extra relish on the bun that wasn't listed on the menu - this made it spicy (I don't eat spicy food).In finishing the food we asked for the bill straight away. Not one staff member asked once how our meal was from start to finish. I am shocked at the appalling service - mainly in a restaurant that charges as much as it does. The food was not to the standard I would expect. The fact that they were not even slightly busy made everything even less acceptable - there was no excuse for their ignorance.

We had a lovely dinner cooked by chef Kieran (also had the pleasure of meeting this very talented friendly chef after dinner).The Pollen special was fab and tbe Chicken Tower was delicious.We will be back and will highly recommend to all.

Lovely pleasant atmosphere, Maureen and staff were very courteous and helpful. Good service to a table of 10

We visited early evening on a Friday. The restaurant was fairly empty and as It is a big space, there was very little atmosphere however the service was friendly and the food was very good. Portions were large.

Unbelievable service, went with the Fam to get a scran and wasn't let down at all, the chicken tower was one of a kind, great service and amazing food definitely will be there again

Lovely food, fantastic service and really reasonably priced. Great location. Parking on site. Completely flawless.Will definitely return soon

I have to say that the elk lives up to its hype!! Me and my girlfriend came Wednesday night past and it was not a disappointment! We travelled from Donegal to come up to the elk and I have to say it was worth every minute of the journey! I had the sirloin steak and it was cooked to perfection, very tasty and I can't wait to be back up!! I applaud the chef and his team at there tremendous talents!

Called in here on an impulse and glad I did. Lovely atmosphere and decor. Staff extremely helpful and food delicious.

I have visited the elk now on a few occasions... for no other reason than I love the food... they have a great menu that caters for all tastes and ages... but on the weekends the kitchen put on a 'Special'.... I had the Red Gurnard and asparagus.... it was delicious!! And something I never probably would have ordered... the rest of our party ate from the menu and we were all sharing and tasting each others... I'm excited for the next time I go... I would encourage everyone to try this place and ask for the specials that are on that weekend!!

We stopped off at the Elk on our way to a meeting in Belfast. As I have dietary requirements it difficult to find a restaurant that can meet my requirements. To my surprise nothing was a problem. The young Waitress made us very welcome took our drinks order. We told her we had a meeting in Belfast. So she took our food order. To my surprise I was the first to be served normally With my dietary requirements I'm always last. The Fish was to die for, my sauce & vegetables came in a separate dishes. Our coffee was delightful. We will definitely call here in the very near future. Highly recommend this Bistro to all travellers.

Called in for a quick lunch on route to Belfast. Had no booking but we thought we'd risk calling in in the off chance. When we arrived at the front desk a few members of staff were at the bar talking to each other. We stood and waited until one of them shouted over; "just sit anywhere" and continued their conversation. We sat at a table and waited until they finished their conversation so someone could bring us a menu. Specials where rhymed off the back of an order pad and our drinks order was taken.We felt we had been waiting a long time for our meals to arrive but this could be forgiven as we assumed the food was being made fresh... food was okay, the chips tasted like frozen chips and the gravy was tasteless. We finished our meal & talked about ordering a coffee, we waited for our main course plates to be cleared and for some to ask if everything was okay with our meal. We waited for 15 minutes and no one checked on us. We got up to pay our bill and the waitress offered to split our bill for us which was very helpful. As she was splitting the bill, a lady, who I assume was her manager, came over and interrupted her to ask about something. They talked about sending emails and menus and making bookings, this conversation went on for a while with the manager continually looking at me as though I was eavesdropping on her conversation, when actually the waitress was ignoring us when we where trying to pay. All we wanted to do was pay our bill and leave, this should have taken no more than 5 minutes and they could have continued their conversation all evening if they wanted to. Service and staff attitude really needs to be reviewed, will not be in any rush back and will be stopping at the filling station for lunch on my next journey to Belfast

We had a meal in The Elk tonight. We were very impressed. I have a dietary intolerance and one of the "specials" was adapted to suit my requirements. Recommendations made were 100%. Meal was superb and service was second to none. We would definitely return and recommend to friends and family.

As I was commuting from Derry to Belfast on a business trip, I decided to take a stop into The Elk as I was passing through Toome and heard positive reviews about it. I felt welcomed by staff and was seated quickly. As I looked at the menu, the week's special, the Silverhill Duck Breast stood out to me. I tried it out and it definitely lived up to what it was, special.The potato dauphinoise and braised hot onion that accompanied it was delicious. The food definitely lived up to it's reputation and I was pleased with the service overall. Would highly recommend coming back here in future.

Last Thursday my girlfriend and I called in for a meal for our anniversary, it was our first time in the Elk but they definitely impressed. The atmosphere was inviting and the staff quickly got us seated and took our drink order which was a lovely pinot grigio that was recommended by our server.My girlfriend got the Slaney Valley Lamb which was in her words was 'perfectly cooked and moist' where I got the Grilled Red Gurnard and it was outstanding, the fish was so well seasoned and cooked. Easily one of the best meals Ive had in a while and we will definitely be back!