The Fern Room in Ballymena

Just want to mention the friendly helpful woman who served us many times, she has been there for many years and is so lovely. Food was delicious and the restaurant was spotless, would definitely recommend and will be back.

For years a friend and I have met at McKillens on a Friday morning for tea and chat. Pre Pandemic it was £5.00 for both. Now less is more £7.90. Small cup of weak tea, NO POT, NO HOT WATER NO SMALL JUG MILK ANY MORE BUT UP £2.90. Did ask for some more hot water, no problem. Asked if Top Ups available, NOT SINCE PANDEMIC was answer. Service was very slow this morning, not that overly busy. Very disappointed. NOT UP TO USUAL GOOD STANDARD

Really have to post a review in regard to this restaurant as it deserves recognition for delicious food and warm hearted staff . Sheryl, Michelle and Carol are the heart and the hub of McKillens restaurant and deserve recognition for providing a constant high standard of service. I have been a regular weekly customer and have witnessed first hand how the staff interact with customers . They welcome everyone and don’t hesitate to offer assistance if required, in my personal opinion that’s a trait that’s getting rarer elsewhere. The choice of food ranges from hearty healthy soups and a variety of meat, pork,chicken and veg meals ,to selections of panini or toasty , sweet snacks of traybakes /scones or cakes are also available. The entire restaurant area is maintained to a high hygiene standard by the endeavours of the restaurant staff . If you haven’t visited McKillens restaurant I urge you to “ give it a go”, you don’t know what your are missing!

Was in Ballymena doing an errand and wanted some lunch. Called in for lunch and found a small selection of food to chose from. A friend with me went for a piece of pie and I picked the beef stew. And what stew it was ! I would say that it near enough was the best I have ever tasted. Will come back to here when in Ballymena in the future.

Called in passing took special 5 piece fry free tea or coffee. Hot freshly cooked. Pleasant surroundings and staff. Will call again.

Had a choice of 3 homemade soups and we all really enjoyed the soup. Will definitely return for another meal.

I was visiting Ballymena on a half-day trip from Belfast doing some genealogy exploration in the area. I stumbled upon the Fern Room atop the McKillan shoe store (probably one of the largest shoe stores I've ever been in, btw). I was anticipating a quaint, lacy, antiquey type of tea room, but its more like a cafeteria. Little ambiance. Small salad bar, some hot foods. Honestly nothing appealed to me so I chose a scone and bottle of water. The scone was fine, nothing special, but did the trick for me. Several tables of people (mostly women) who looked to be taking a shopping break. Its certainly well located for that.

Such a privilege to be able to eat here often. The food is always great with a good selection. The owner of the building that the cafe is in always personally checks if you’re okay with everything and it is always good to talk with an honest man like Thomas. Here is upper class food at its best.

Bit of a delay on this review! Went there in December for the Christmas dinner. Part of McKillen's shoe shop, I'd never tried it before. A little towards the end of dinnertime and not many people in, but I still had to wait a little for the staff to finish doing something else. The food itself was ok, but instead of just serving it, they told me to take a table and I saw that they were microwaving the potatoes and Veg. Fair enough, I like my food hot but it's not really the fresh cooked thing you expect. The mash came out of a plastic tub and then into the microwave. It was fine, just a little too expensive for what it was.

Today (Monday) I was tempted by the advertised scone, butter and jam plus tea or coffee for £2.50, but it was such a disappointment. The coffee was poured from a filter jug and tasted as if it had been made for some time. The young server added a splash of milk, but I would have preferred to add the milk myself. All of the scones on display were similar in that they were very 'flat', and seemed quite hard/dry. They certainly didn't seem fresh. I chose a fruit scone and asked for it to be heated. Even the butter and jam didn't help the taste or consistency. The tables were kept cleared, and the ladies room was clean and fresh. It's just such a pity that the food fell so far short of expectations.

One of the very best options for a cup of tea and a snack when needing a break from shipping in Ballymena. They will also come around filling up your cups with coffee, and they are very quick in their service

What a mighty fine place to stop for a bite to eat. Staff very friendly. Food is nice and tasty. Well done

the meal was 1st class all the way service was 1st class the staff where 1st class you have guessed it my wife and I realy enjoyed ourselves THANK YOU

This is a very expensive cafe. The soup was stone cold. The staff are quite blank and the place isn't very clean. The tea was tasteless. Will not be back.

I had always held the Fern Room in high esteem with prices very reasonable and comfortable surroundings to enjoy a relaxing chat. However, on my last visit the atmosphere changed dramatically. A family member and I ordered a tea and a coffee and the only food to eat was a pancake and a Paris bun. We bought both. The first issue I had was when I got my tea the assistant insisted on putting the milk in beforehand. Why she did this I don't know. Does she not realise that adding milk to tea is something that should be left to the customer? I asked for a separate container and with the greatest reluctance she agreed. What an attitude! I then questioned the price of the Paris bun because it appeared on the receipt (which we had to ask for) as a Cappuccino costing £2.25p. She couldn't even look me straight in the eye when I questioned her; just snapping back that she had no other choice on the till as a Paris bun was not listed. I have always found the owner to be a pleasant, helpful and cheery person who never fails to bid you the time of day. How a business with such a fine reputation in Ballymena tolerates a cheeky, unhelpful and unfriendly member of staff is beyond me. Thank goodness there are plenty of other eating spots in the town!

My wife and I go to The Fern Room each year for Christmas dinner. We are provided a with a perfectly adequate, tasty meal consisting of the usual Christmas fare. Pleasant surroundings, pleasant staff, the boss often among them.

Mientras que sólo tengo un bocadillo aquí , la selección es siempre acogedor. El lugar es impecable y el personal son iguales, esto nos lleva a creer que la cocina no visto será el mismo. En mundo de días un lugar limpio siempre es muy importante, a veces escenario trasera deja mucho que desear.

Este sitio necesita cerrado! El hotel está a sólo un café básico en una tienda de zapatos. La comida está podrida y huele mal, el té sabía que era dishwater y con azúcar. Seguro para decir que estoy cada vez más molesto por. El jefe ni siquiera quería saber sobre mis comentarios que sólo me dice que eso no tengo ya bienvenido en su tienda!

Great for a quick snack, clean and very ordinary food.this central located restaurant ,never changes in what it offers,how it offers and represents good value for money to those who shan't a quick lunch.

This place I went into while at the Christmas fair in Wellington Court. I had mashed potatoes and roasties to eat along with a coke. The owner came up to my aunt and asked if I was her toyboy. he then complained that I had no gravy or veg and when I told him I wasn't fond of either he exclaims "sorry for even speaking". then this old couple comes into a table near me, they ask the owner what the Christmas dinner is like to which he replies "Oh I don't even eat in here" which I found unacceptable for an owner to say about their own businessSo offended