The Garden - Larne

The Garden Restaurant is situated within the Ballygally Hotel. This is a lovely hotel situated right on the shore line with a beautiful beach to the front. The hotel itself has a lot of character and charm which can be explored with a trip to the tower and ghosts room. The entrance to the restaurant is already impressive with a large custom carved wooden door to celebrate the Game of Thrones which was filmed in local spots around Northern Ireland. The carved wood was from fallen trees in Dark Hedges another film location.The Garden Restaurant has nice views to the gardens of the castle which are also worth a stroll around to enjoy. Upon entering we were warmly welcomed and placed at a central table. The restaurant is bright and airy with a vaulted ceiling. Perhaps it loses a little of the intimate dining experience which most enjoy.The menu choice was nice with a good selection to cover most tastes. The food itself was lovely without fault and enjoyed by the whole party. The table service was also as expected.Overall, a lovely choice of good quality food in a nice setting and worth the travel.

The Garden Restaurant is situated within the Ballygally Hotel. This is a lovely hotel situated right on the shore line with a beautiful beach to the front. The hotel itself has a lot of character and charm which can be explored with a trip to...the tower and ghosts room. The entrance to the restaurant is already impressive with a large custom carved wooden door to celebrate the Game of Thrones which was filmed in local spots around Northern Ireland. The carved wood was from fallen trees in Dark Hedges another film location. The Garden Restaurant has nice views to the gardens of the castle which are also worth a stroll around to enjoy. Upon entering we were warmly welcomed and placed at a central table. The restaurant is bright and airy with a vaulted ceiling. Perhaps it loses a little of the intimate dining experience which most enjoy. The menu choice was nice with a good selection to cover most tastes. The food itself was lovely without fault and enjoyed by the whole party. The table service was also as expected. Overall, a lovely choice of good quality food in a nice setting and worth the travel.

Had Christmas Eve dinner and it was excellent. the roast beef fell apart and tasted very nice. All current guidelines were excellent.

The restaurant has a very good and varied menu and caters for those with special dietary requirements. The staff are helpful and professional and the food is excellent. Highly recommended whether staying at the hotel or for a meal out.

Seems to us that the Ballygally hotel is taking advantage of the government eat out scheme by offering an extremely poor set menu with cheap ingredients rather than the usual Lounge menu. The starter offers leek and potato soup, breaded mushrooms, chicken wings or...Caesar salad. Mains offers were fish pie which was mashed potato Not one single chunk of fish with even more cubes of potato in the under mash. Seemed to me this was some left over chowder as it had small pieces of over cooked leek and celery in i looking like they had been a soup previously. Chicken curry was a pre cooked chicken breast heated by adding to a curry sauce. Chicken was dry and hard and sauce lacked flavour. Very few staff with long waits between service. Also and more worrying social distancing and hygiene precautions were Non existent. Hotel was teeming with a very large funeral party eating from a buffet in main restaurant, and a wedding party in lounge/function room. Staff no masks or gloves.The Only precautions were a hand sanitiser on entry. Plates and cutlery all handled by staff, salt and pepper placed on tables not in sachets. Tables not wiped down. Unfortunately we will not be back despite the friendly and courteous staff who were run off their feet.