A Novel Idea at Novelli’s

Paula Gracey enjoys a menu with a view around the clock at Jean-Christophe’s fab Belfast harbour restaurant.

In search of Jean-Christophe – that’s what my dining partner, Louise, and I decided was a worthwhile use of our time on a sunny Saturday afternoon, a lovely lunch while keeping our eyes peeled for the man himself in his Novelli at City Quays restaurant in the AC Marriott Hotel, down by the riverside in Belfast’s Clarendon Dock.

I had the pleasure of meeting Jean-Christophe at the opening of the hotel and he was an absolute joy – my lasting memory was how good he smelt!

Anyway, we met up at 2.00pm in the already busy lounge bar area and opted for a bottle of wine and some bread to nibble on as we chatted and decided what to have for lunch.

There are several menus on offer, set by the clock, and we decided to forego the 12-3.00pm express lunch menu and go for the 3.00 to 9.30pm lounge bar menu – mainly because it had two of our favourites on it, prawns and crab claws and my beloved mussels.

There is also an a la carte menu which we enjoyed on our evening visits to Novelli.

Winter or summer there is always a good vibe. And the views of the life on the river alongside add to the relaxing experience.

From the minute you walk in the staff are so pleasant and cannot do enough for you. They are also very knowledgeable about all the dishes and the wines, which is how it should be.

The views of the Lagan are lovely, and big selling point, whether the rain is pouring or the sun is shining. We, naturally, could not make up our minds between a couple of wines and were given a small sample to try which helped us decide – it’s the little touches that make it special.

A delicious bottle of Malbec called ‘Run by Rebels’ was brought to us and a generous amount of toasted focaccia with a delicious tapenade saw us through until the 3.00pm menu started.

There are small plates to choose from with breads, chicken wings, toasted almonds, crab claws and prawns and then signatures dishes like fish and chips, BLT, and thankfully, my mussels with garlic focaccia.

Two happy customers got stuck in. We had added a portion of skinny fries to munch and the flavours were delicious with both bread and fries to dip into the tasty sauces that surrounded my mussels and Louise’s tasty prawns. We were well satisfied by the time we had polished off our feast so no room for dessert sadly but, of course, we had a look at the menu for future reference.

Plenty to choose from. However, there is a strange phenomenon, not easy to say after a bottle of Malbec, that occurs even after a wonderful meal – there is always room for an Espresso Martini.

OMG one of the best, and believe me, we have tasted a few! Not too sweet, just the right amount of coffee and vodka – yummy!

We were already planning our next trip and, as it is dog friendly, we can even bring Louise’s dog, AKA my nephew, Chester, the next time. He will love it and you will too!

Boost Unveils Energising Trio

BOOST is bringing three bold new energy drinks to Northern Ireland – and giving shoppers the chance to win a share of £2,000 in cash prizes while they try them.

The much-loved brand has launched Limited Edition White Peach, Zero Sugar Citrus Zest and Zero Sugar Dark Fruits, giving fans three tasty new ways to get their Boost.

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To celebrate the launch, Boost is also running an instant win promotion, offering shoppers the chance to win cash prizes ranging from £5 to £50. In total, 112 prizes are up for grabs, with a combined prize pot of £2,000.

Anyone who buys a Boost Energy 250ml can can enter by scanning the QR code on pack or promotional material, or by visiting www.WinWithBoostNI.com. Winners will find out instantly if they have hit a winning moment.

The promotion runs until 11.59pm on May 3, 2026 and is open to Northern Ireland residents aged 18 and over.

Image Notes

Novelli Restaurant
Jean-Christophe
Haymarket sharing platter
Boost unveils energising trio
Win cash prizes from £5 to £50