At Excalibur Press, we have had the pleasure of working with The Hills and its owner Philip Davison for several years, so when the team invited us to try their new The Hills Live evenings, I was delighted to go along and experience it for myself.
We were invited to join for the 6.30pm sitting, which turned out to be the perfect time to take in the calm atmosphere and enjoy the views before the evening got busier. The dining room was peaceful when we arrived and the large windows overlooking the Castlereagh Hills created a lovely, relaxed setting.
The staff greeted us warmly and were fantastic throughout the evening. They took time to explain the daily specials, made sure we had water on the table straight away and checked in at just the right times.
We ordered drinks, a draught beer and a glass of house Sauvignon Blanc. Both were served perfectly chilled and as someone who appreciates nice tableware, I really liked the wine glass.
For starters, we chose the Garlic King Prawns, served in a creamy garlic and white wine sauce with toasted sourdough, and the Mozzarella Brick with Buffalo Hot Sauce, which came as a generous portion with a nice balance of heat and sweetness in the sauce. The garlic prawns were nice and creamy with a perfect amount of garlic and a nice piece of sourdough.
For mains, we ordered The Hills Smash Burger, a double beef patty with cheese, pickles, burger sauce and chips and the Fish of the Day, which that evening was pan-fried cod served with baby boiled potatoes, roast seasonal vegetables and a lemon butter sauce. The fish was perfectly cooked and flaky, the potatoes were soft and buttery and the vegetables had just the right amount of bite. Everything on the plate worked together really well and it was the highlight of the meal. The burger was juicy, nicely cooked and full of flavour.
By the time we got to our mains, the restaurant had started to fill up and the atmosphere became lively while still feeling comfortable. We did not stay for the live music, which starts at 8pm, but you could tell from the buzz in the room that people were settling in for a great night.
The dessert menu looked tempting, with options like Sticky Toffee Pudding, Cheesecake of the Day and Chocolate Brownie, but the portion sizes were generous enough that we could not manage another course.
Overall, it was a lovely evening. The Hills delivers great food, friendly service and a welcoming atmosphere, all set against one of the most scenic backdrops in Belfast. Whether you are planning a date night or a relaxed evening with friends, The Hills Live is a brilliant way to combine good food and live music at the end of the week.
The Hills Live runs every Friday night with food served from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and live music from 8pm to 10pm.
You can find out more or book your table by visiting thehillsrestaurant.co.uk or calling the restaurant directly.