Waterman Bistro is an intimate restaurant at 5–23 Hill Street in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. Opened in 2022 by Belfast chef Niall McKenna, it offers a relaxed, no-frills dining experience inside the restored Waterman House hospitality venue.
Head chef Aaron McNeice leads a seasonal menu that combines Northern Irish ingredients with European influences. The kitchen works with artisan producers and farmers, allowing the available produce to guide dishes rather than holding the selection unchanged throughout the year.
House-made pasta, cured pork, bread and butter illustrate the restaurant’s hands-on approach, and the building’s team also makes its own ice cream. Both à la carte and set-menu formats allow guests to choose how broadly they want to explore the cooking.
A short wine list is joined by reserve bottles, locally changing gin and beer choices, giving the drinks a similarly considered scale. Guests with allergies, intolerances or dietary requirements should discuss the current set menu and kitchen procedures with staff when booking.
Address: 5–23 Hill Street, Belfast BT1 2LA, Northern Ireland
Waterman Bistro Menu
Snacks & Starters
House focaccia & whipped tomato butter
Charcuterie plate
Cod croquettes, tartare sauce
Castelvetrano olives
Roast tomato & red pepper soup
Beetroot, granny smith apple, horseradish & granola
Tuna tartare, avocado, chilli & lime
Crispy squid, chilli, basil & picked organic tomatoes
(n) contains nuts
Main Course
Market fish
Price: market price
Lamb cutlet, confit shoulder, spiced aubergine & harissa yoghurt
Tyrone 283g sirloin & chimichurri butter
Shellfish spaghetti, chilli & fennel
House gnocchi, courgetti, basil & parmesan
Sharing (for 2)
600g chateaubriand for two, red wine jus & peppercorn sauce
Lemon sole on the bone, ginger & spring onion sauce
Price: market price
Sides
Chips
Confit potatoes
Truffle chips
Dressed organic leaves
Hispi cabbage with truffle vinaigrette
Extra Sauce
Red wine jus
Peppercorn sauce
Chimichurri butter
Salsa verde
Desserts
Mixed berry baked alaska
White chocolate mousse, raspberry & lemongrass
Brown bread ice cream & guinness caramel
Sticky toffee madeleines & chantilly
please allow 10 mins
Irish cheese selection
(v) – cashel blue, cooleeney, cais na tire
Set Menu
Wed, Thurs 5-9.15; Fri, Sat 1-6pm. 2 courses £24.50, 3 courses £29.50.
Picked organic tomatoes, peach & basil
(ve)
Hanger steak, roast onion, parmesan & hasselback potato
Lemon posset, rhubarb & torched meringue
Sunday Roast
1pm-5pm, subject to availability
Roast beef, vegetables, yorkshire pudding & gravy
Sunday Set Menu
Available to 5pm. 2 courses £28.50, 3 courses £32.50.
Picked organic tomatoes, peach & basil
(ve)
Roast beef, vegetables, yorkshire pudding & gravy
Lemon posset, rhubarb & torched meringue
Alcohol Free
Pierre Zero Sparkling Chardonnay
Languedoc, France
Pierre Zero, Chardonnay
Languedoc, France
Pierre Zero, Merlot
Languedoc, France
Blackberry 75
Gordons 0.0%, blackberry citrus, Pierre Zero sparkling
Wines by the Glass
Valdo, Etichetta Nera, Prosecco
Italy
Crémant de Loire, Brut Rosé
Saumur, France
Forget-Brimont, Brut NV 1er Cru
Champagne, France
Louis Latour, Burgundy
France
Champagne & Wine
Valdo, Etichetta Nera, Prosecco
Italy
Crémant de Loire, Brut Rosé
Saumur, France
Forget-Brimont, Brut NV 1er Cru
Champagne, France
Forget Brimont, Brut Rosé NV 1er Cru
Champagne, France
Rosé & Red Wines
Ambroise, Rosé d’Anjou
Loire, France
Umani Ronchi, Centovie Rosé
Montepulciano, Italy (V,O)
Perusini Pinot Grigio Ramato
Collio, Italy (V,O)
Villa Wolf, Pinot Noir Rose
Pfalz, Germany
Cellar Selection
Oliver Leflaive, Les Setilles, 2022, Chardonnay
Bourgogne, France
Oliver Leflaive, Meursault 1er Cru Blagny, 2022, Chardonnay
Côte de Beaune, Bourgogne, France
Patrick Javillier, Cuvée Oligocene, 2022, Chardonnay
Côte d’Or, Bourgogne, France
Patrick Javillier, Cuvée des Forgets, 2022 Chardonnay
Côte d’Or Bourgogne, France
Dessert Drinks
Marco Porello Birbet, Brachetto
Piedmont, Italy (V)
Château Pajzos Aszu 5 Puttonyos
Furmint, Harslevelu, Tokaj, Hungary (V)