With Mother's Day this Sunday, you may be left scrambling to find the perfect last-minute gift to show her you love her.
Instead of the usual flowers and a card, why not take her out for a special meal to mark the occasion this year?
Food booking app Dish Cult has made stressing about where to choose that little bit easier by rounding up their five top picks for Mother's Day 2023.
Read more: Afternoon tea spots in Belfast perfect for a Mother's Day celebration
They said: "This Mother’s Day, we love nothing more than treating mum to a dining experience that she won’t forget.
"When it comes to eating out in Belfast, we’re truly spoiled for choice. Be it a delicious bistro, a delightful afternoon tea or a classy wine bar, the city boasts plenty of exciting and unique options to make it a day to remember.
"With so many venues to choose from, the team at restaurant discovery platform Dish Cult has rounded up some of the best dining spots to spoil and treat mum for the occasion."
Here are their top picks and what they have to say:
Cyprus Avenue
Located in Ballyhackamore, just east of the city, Cyprus Avenue is the perfect venue to celebrate any special occasion. Open all day for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, you’ll have plenty of choices when it comes to treating your mum.
With creative and ever-changing menus dictated by the seasons and based around the best quality produce from all across Ireland, you are guaranteed a delicious and flavourful meal here.
If you’re treating your mum to a breakfast out, she’ll be spoilt for choice with their menu of everything from cooked Irish breakfasts to chocolate and marshmallow-covered buttermilk pancakes.
Out for dinner? The options here are just as good, with delicious dishes such as beer-battered fish and chips, lamb kofta flatbread, various salads, and more.
Alba
A newcomer to Belfast’s dining scene, Alba Scottish Steakhouse is the perfect place to treat your mum to a delicious dinner this Mother’s Day. Located in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter, this spot specialises in the highest-quality Black Angus beef and fresh, local ingredients.
Offering a fine-dining experience, the menu features various cuts of meat, including Cote de Boeuf and Sirloin, as well as Chateaubriand, and Tomahawk steaks.
Even if beef isn’t your thing, they also serve up a range of other dishes including Sunday roasts, pan-fried sea bass, burgers, and risotto.
They also do a delicious range of Scottish inspired favourites, such as an Irn Bru Panna Cotta and a Haggis Trio starter!
The Observatory at The Grand Central
If you really want to show your mum how special she is, then there is no better place to take her this Mother’s Day than the Observatory at the Grand Central Hotel.
Not only does this spot offer some of the best views in Belfast, but it is also known for its exceptional service and delicious range of food and drinks.
Overlooking the city centre and across the city’s outskirts sprawling out into the distance, dining here is an experience you won’t soon forget. One of the best ways to dine in the Observatory is by booking in for afternoon tea.
Guests are treated to an indulgent array of finger sandwiches, fresh scones with jam and clotted cream, and sweet cakes and pastries, all washed down with your choice of tea and a glass of bubbles.
Alternatively, you can book in for their Bollinger experience to enjoy a glass or two accompanied by some delicious handcrafted nibbles as you gaze over the Belfast skyline. Can you think of a better way to catch up with your mum? We certainly can’t!
Coco
With over a decade of experience serving the people of Belfast, Coco is a city centre spot with a stellar reputation. With a varied menu and unique interior, there is something here for everyone, from succulent meat-focused dishes to flavour-filled options for vegetarians and vegans.
Stand out dishes include their salt and chilli venison, seafood linguine, and the monkfish and braised short rib.
Full of flavour and curated using the highest quality ingredients, you will quickly learn why Coco has become one of Belfast’s most highly regarded restaurants.
Located in the vibrant Linen Quarter, just behind City Hall, this is the perfect place to dine after a day spent shopping in the city centre — the perfect Mother’s Day outing!
A Peculiar Tea
If you really want to treat your mum to something special this Mother’s Day, then there’s nothing better than a delicious meal at A Peculiar Tea.
A truly delightful and unique dining spot located right beside Queen’s University, you and the most important lady in your life can enjoy a delicious six-course tasting menu all based around the theme of ‘The Best of Broadway’.
The full menu is kept a secret until guests arrive, but what we do know is that it features plenty of delicious, high quality, fresh ingredients, including pork, tomato, langoustine, potato, cherry, beef and chocolate.
Vegetarian and gluten-free menus are also available for those who have special dietary requirements. Plus, it’s not only the menu that is sure to impress.
Rather, staff go all out to decorate the restaurant interior to match the theme, so you’ll be blown away as soon as you step foot through the door!
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