The Muddlers Club

Tattooed staff, a location down a graffitied alleyway in the backstreets of the cathedral quarter and a name inspired by a 200-year-old drinking club might strike an unimpeachably urban pose but The Muddler’s Club also has impeccable culinary credentials: this is one of only three Belfast restaurants to hold a Michelin star.

Head chef and owner Gareth McCaughey has earned his place in the famous red restaurant guide by turning the best in-season Irish ingredients into a six-course tasting menu produced from a theatrical open kitchen.

Bread and snacks are delivered before a procession of meticulously crafted small plates in which the terse descriptions of the menu are belied by the multi-faceted flavours of what arrives at the table.

Things might kick off with an opening salvo of scallops, bisque and cauliflower ahead of the likes of venison with beetroot and artichoke, halibut with mushroom and broccoli and duck with foie gras and heritage carrot.

A sommelier is on hand to step up to the task of matching what’s on the plate to the perfect bottle from the wine list, although by-the-glass suggestions make pairing easier for everyone: a Devils Corner Pinot Noir from Tasmania for the venison, perhaps, or a Ned Noble Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand with the final course of chocolate espresso.

Vegetarians aren’t neglected either with the likes of a cheese, onion and dill tart or assemblies of cauliflower, curry and golden raisin, or squash, broccoli and mushroom proving every bit as creative as their meat and fish counterparts.

If you don’t want to commit to a tasting menu, a conventional two/three course menu is served at lunchtime, when mackerel with buttermilk, dill and potato might be followed by flat iron steak with onion and horseradish – though the tasting menu is served at lunch too, and is really what the place is all about.

Tucked away in the historic back streets of Belfast's Cathedral Quarter, The Muddlers Club takes its name from a secret society that used to meet in this very spot over 200 years ago. This Muddlers Club isn't quite as secret as the original - in fact, it's safe to say that the secret is well and truly out thanks to a litany of awards, including a coveted Michelin star, received in 2020.

The interiors stay true to the secret society inspiration, with masonic street art painted over exposed brick, and an all-seeing eye that watches over the restaurant from a far wall. The post-industrial dining room is designed by Oscar & Oscar - a well-regarded Belfast outfit that have designed many of the city's most appealing restaurants and bars, including Ox, Edo, Haptic Coffee and Ora.

Diners have a choice between a regular tasting menu and a vegetarian or vegan tasting menu, with chef Gareth McCaughey and team picking the best seasonal produce each day to ensure that ingredients are at their peak. Muddlers Club has been designed with an open kitchen, so guests get a sense of theatre as they dine. 

The menus aren't short of bold flavours, with dishes like scallop, Iberico pork and white beans, venison, hazelnut and salt-baked celeriac. There's also a fully vegetarian menu, featuring the likes of mushroom gnocchi with Jerusalem artichoke, courgette with pistachio and basil or a plum and onion tartlet. For dessert, meanwhile, you'll find similarly punchy flavours at play, such as chocolate with espresso and orange or elderberry with creme fraiche and pear.

A drinks flight is available with either menu for an extra charge, and there's an innovative cocktail list on offer too. Other dietary requirements can be catered for too, as long as the restaurant is given sufficient notice ahead of time.