Location: Cookstown
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Northern Ireland, United Kingdom Food Guide: 10 British food Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Cookstown
Reviews on British food in Cookstown, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. Cookstown is a town and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the fourth largest town in the county and had a population of 22,838 in the 2011 Census]]. It is one of the main towns in the area of Mid-Ulster. It was founded around 1620 when the townlands in the area were leased by an English ecclesiastical lawyer, Dr. Alan Cooke, from the Archbishop of Armagh, who had been granted the lands after the Flight of the Earls during the Plantation of Ulster. It was one of the main centres of the linen industry West of the River Bann, and until 1956, the processes of flax spinning, weaving, bleaching and beetling were carried out in the town.
Things to do in Cookstown
10. Kitchen Restaurant, Tullylagan House Hotel
Overall Ratings
3 based on 50 reviews
Reviewed By Lizzie M
When you pull up outside the Tullylagan Country House Hotel, after the meandering drive between the main road and the quietly secreted building itself, nestled amidst several acres of lush green, tree lined and carefully manicured Tyrone countryside, you half expect a spotty teenager in a National Trust T shirt to greet you, collect your admission and begin the tour.You see, The Tullylagan Country House Hotel was originally the family home of the Greers, built in the early 19th century in the contemporary Georgian classical style of the era on the site of a previous dwelling. Many large manor houses of this era have been taken over by the National Trust and have become places of pilgrimage for tourists at a loss for how to fill the long weekend hours by learning the history of how the other half lived in previous centuries; whilst the Tullylagan has made the transition to commercial enterprise, metamorphosing into a luxury hotel and restaurant. Dining facilities at The Tullylagan are divided into 3 distinct areas: The Lobby Bar, an area in the foyer of the building, furnished and decorated in a style sympathetic to the late Georgian/early Victorian architecture of the building, in the shadow of an impressive, though not imposing wooden staircase, which leads to the accomodation on the first floor. From here you can rest in the comfort of a winged armchair, or lounge on a two seater sofa and enjoy a glass of wine or afternoon Tea. The Kitchen Restaurant is a more of a traditional dining room,located on the ground floor of the premises and catering for evening dining sessions and Sunday lunches in tastefully, yet modernly decorated surroundings:Then lastly, but by no means least is Harry's Bar. Located in a former outbuilding to the south of the main house and named after Harry Ferguson of Tractor fame who had links to the Greer family, Harry's bar serves modern Bistro style food from 6pm from Wednesday to Sunday, every week.Today's outing to the Tullylagan was precipitated by my mother's Birthday and my desire to have at least one Sunday of the month free from the burden of cooking and clearing up after Sunday lunch. I'd also heard, on the grapevine, that the Kitchen Restaurant was under the leadership of a new, antipodean chef and was curious to see what he could bring to the table? We were ushered to our table by a pleasant, well presented member of the waiting staff and given time to peruse the updated, summer Sunday lunch menu while our waiter organised our drinks. (Soft drinks for my dining companions and a large glass of a lively, unpretentious Cabernet Sauvignon for myself). Starters and mains were ordered, Thai crispy chicken for myself, goats cheese and red onion marmalade tartlets and Thai fish cakes for my dining companions. Then roast lamb, Salmon and turkey and ham, respectively, were the main event. Now, it has to be said that this was from the Sunday lunch menu NOT the evening a la carte menu and although my expectations from previous visits were high I have no allusions as to the constraints which can be placed on the end product when a kitchen attempts to balance quality with a budget. I was also acutely aware that control of the kitchen had changed hands and the coronation of a new 'king of the kitchen' can spell absolute disaster for any establishment once held in high esteem. I was wrong to be worried.Each starter was beautifully presented and expertly cooked. My only criticism being that the Thai element mentioned in the description of the crispy chicken on the menu alluded only to a sweep of sweet chilli sauce, encircling the deep fried chicken pieces and the slaw would have been more aptly described as stir fried vegetables, but it was tasty and filling. The fishcakes were gorgeous little spheres of deliciousness and the tartlets well balanced in their sweetness and acidity, perfectly complementing the robust goats cheese.The mains were perennial Sunday lunch favourites, yet the attention to detail and obvious quality of the ingredients was unmistakable. In a world where style too often triumphs over substance, it is a rare treat to experience a perfect pomme purée. No lumps or bumps but perfectly smooth, buttery bliss. The salmon even had a liberal sprinkling of samphire among its seasonal vegetables. Something pretty much unheard of outside of an expensive a la carte evening menu.Having cleaned our plates of all but a few traces of food we decided to stay the distance and finish the race with desserts and coffee. My dining companions ordered profiteroles and Elton mess whilst I gave into the temptation of the pistachio brownie. Ok, so these aren't the sorts of desserts you'll see on the menu of a Michelin starred restaurant but to dismiss the classics is to make a fatal error in judgement. Most people love a nostalgic note at the end of a meal. It's like a warm, reassuring hug from an old friend and the perfect addition to a Sunday lunch menu. If I were to be pedantic though, I'd suggest that the brownie was more of a cake slice than a squidgy, fudgey American brownie, but I am fiercely critical of restaurant brownies since I happen to make the best brownies that I, or any of my friends have ever tasted (yes, even the American friends lol). However, should the pastry chef at the Tullylagan wish to up their game I'll be happy to share the recipe (and the subsequent joy lol). Having said all of that, it was a tasty little slice of cake. I have few real complaints. After a perfect little cup of freshly brewed coffee and shaking with the caffeine jitters (I don't usually indulge in caffeinated drinks... and it shows) I settled the bill at the front desk. Three starters, three mains, three desserts, two soft drinks, two cups of coffee and a LARGE glass of delicious Cabernet Sauvignon all for £67.50. I felt like I had stolen something from them? How can anyone complain in the face of such quality AND value? Which left plenty of room for a generous tip for the thoughtful, well presented, hard working Waiting staff. My parting words to the manager were 'this was our best lunch yet', to which he replied;'Well, you'll just have to come back again soon to test that theory.'And so I will.
9. Porto Cafe
Reviewed By Hilary C
Most enjoyable late lunch in a very unexpected place - Portuguese food served by friendly attentive staff. We asked for dish recommendations and duck rice (arroz de pato) and Francesinha were the offering. We were advised that they would take about 15 mins to prepare and they were well worth the wait. Both were delicious - the Francesinha is a traditional sandwich of steak, ham, chipolata and linguiça covered in melted cheese with a tomato and beer sauce served with tomato and beer sauce and a bowl of chips. It was delicious and filling - only for the very hungry carnivore! Decor is cafe style. Good coffee!
8. Cappatinos
Reviewed By julesthereader
My kids and I love eating here. Great kids meals with either hot chocolate or ice cream for £3.50. Gluten free wraps are soft and full of filling. You can order from sw menu or ordinary menu. Lots of choice from BLT's to bagels. Lovely fresh food and welcoming staff. Will def be back.
7. The Braeside
Overall Ratings
4 based on 32 reviews
Reviewed By DeeFromMoira
Had the opportunity to eat here while attending the Cookstown 100. The place was extremely busy obviously but the kitchen and service staff did an excellent job. Food was served quickly and the staff managed to stay attentive and friendly under pressure. Good quality and reasonably priced. Worth a visit even if in the area , even if it is slightly outside the main town.
6. Hanover House
Overall Ratings
4 based on 74 reviews
Reviewed By nickiemma
Ok if you just want some plain food. Service not great, very slow and they donât do chicken or turkey gravy even when serving turkey and ham!!!! Suitable for people who like plain food!!Thank you for taking the time to write a review , We have just registered with Tripadvisor hence the delay in replying , We are shocked to read your story , I have passed on your feedback to the team. On a positive note we do have 5 star health & hygiene food rating and have been established as restaurant for over 30 years. Again Thank you for your review Kind Regards Hanover House
5. Bluebells
Overall Ratings
4 based on 36 reviews
Bt80 9ad
Reviewed By Charlotte K
We called here for lunch after walking out of the near by hotel. The tasty food here is nice cafe food with a wide selection on offer, was served quickly and by friendly staff. The sweet potatoe chips were amazing and something different. Would recommend this place.
4. Windsor Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 49 reviews
Reviewed By EmLou101
Very disappointed. We ordered our meal just as Sunday carvery was finishing and I honestly think our chips were the leftovers just reheated. Steak was overcooked and not very tasty! This used to be our favourite restaurant but I wouldn't be in a hurry back. Staff are always pleasant and attentive tho. Dear EmLou101,Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback following your meal at The Windsor Restaurant and for your kind remarks about our staff. Please accept my apologies that you were dissatisfied with your food. We pride ourselves on our consistently high standards and can assure you that chips are always freshly cooked to order and never reheated from leftovers. Additionally, we would have been more than happy to replace your meal if you had indicated any problem at the time. We do hope that you will return for another visit and give us the opportunity to provide the quality of food and service for which we are locally renowned.Best wishes,The Royal Hotel
Where to eat Irish food in Cookstown: The Best Restaurants and Bars
3. TIME
Overall Ratings
4 based on 108 reviews
Reviewed By 1NPK1
I visited Time Bar, Cookstown, Co.Tyrone 3.10pm Wednesday 12th September 2018.A barman took my food order, no notepad, tried to remember my order in his head (and big no no for me).I had the vegetable soup.Nice but, barely hot enough 6/10.I opted for the 10oz steak at £18.95.Included was...1: Sauce 1: SideThe steak was very small.It was also tasteless.The red wine gravy was nice but.Would I return for another steak...?NO...Would I return for other food...?Yes, as I've eaten here before & it was nice.Overall experience this visit & value for money 5/10
Best Pizza food near Cookstown, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
2. Greenvale Hotel Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 113 reviews
Dining At GreenvaleIt's a combination of the wonderful array of dishes, the best-quality fresh and locally sourced produce, the excellent skills and knowledge of our resident chef, the friendly and efficient service and the beautiful surroundings that mak
Reviewed By spring683
I am frequently passing through Cookstown and at a time when I am wanting to find somewhere to eat. I was with a group of friends so didn't want to create a scene. Two of us ordered the roast beef toasted sandwich and I couldn't believe what arrived. Two thin slices of cold toast with slices of cold roast in between them, topped off with partially cooked onions. At the very least I was expecting hot roast beef inside hot bread. There was a salad which was off-putting as the plate was heaped too full and it resembled a salad from the 1980s. I just don't know where the coleslaw came from, it was really white and most of the items on the plate had no flavour - the cheapest ingredients I suspect! Just a waste of time and money! Why can't kitchens take a bit of pride in what they send out to customers?
Top 5 European food in Cookstown, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
1. Lucy's Loft
Overall Ratings
5 based on 40 reviews
Reviewed By Robert H
Lunch was superb. Not haute cuisine but without deficit. We hoped for a quick 'ordinary' lunch but what a surprise. Friendly efficient staff. Good choice of food. Coleslaw was in the top 1% of any that we have tasted. Everything seemed to be freshly cooked but there was no undue delay. Ingredients top class. Puddings - we only had one each but other choices looked equally good (what we ate was excellent). Decent coffee. And the overall price was surprisingly modest.
Most Popular Cafe food in Cookstown, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
