The Great Room Restaurant lies at the heart of The Merchant Hotel on Skipper Street. Its original Victorian interior, glass cupola and remarkable chandelier create one of Belfast’s most dramatic dining rooms. Expert service matches the scale of the setting while allowing breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea to retain their own distinct pace.
Seasonal ingredients guide the cooking, whether guests choose the à la carte selection or the more extended tasting menu. Precise technique and detailed presentation give familiar meat, fish and vegetables a fine dining finish. A vegetarian à la carte and tasting menu ensure that plant based cooking is developed as a complete experience rather than an afterthought.
Afternoon tea draws on the room’s grand character with savouries, scones and pastries, including alternative versions for vegan and several dietary needs. Sunday service has its own menu, while weekday lunch works well for business dining. Guests with allergies should discuss the current alternatives in advance so the restaurant can prepare appropriately.
A cellar of more than 200 wines gives the team scope to match individual courses or guide diners towards a bottle for the table. Wine pairings can accompany the six course tasting format, and other hotel bars provide options before or after dinner. The Great Room combines architectural theatre with a menu broad enough to serve the entire day.
Address: The Merchant Hotel, 16 Skipper Street, Belfast BT1 2DZ, United Kingdom
The Great Room Restaurant Merchant Hotel Menu
To Begin
Selection of bread and Irish butter
Carlingford oyster, Bloody Mary mignonette
Spanish Gordal olives
Sesame prawn toast, lime
Pan con tomate, Cantabrian anchovy
Starters
Salad of burrata and Iberico ham, purple fig, sherry vinegar, Marcona almond
Duck liver and foie gras parfait, spiced cherry marmalade, warm brioche
Torched mackerel, beetroot gazpacho, buttermilk, cucumber, dill, rye
Seared lamb fillet, burnt aubergine, velvet cloud labneh, marinated peppers
Native lobster ravioli, buttered spinach, Florence fennel, shellfish bisque
Shellfish stuffed courgette flower, crispy langoustine, tomato beurre blanc
Mains
Turbot T-bone steak, roast hispi cabbage, garden peas, chicken butter sauce
Fish of the day, Portavogie prawns, summer vegetables, tender herb nage
Murley Mountain lamb loin, ratatouille, olive and marjoram gnocchi, courgette pesto
Free-range chicken breast, sautéed girolles, charred sweetcorn, chasseur sauce
Thornhill duck breast, pressed leg, watermelon, beefsteak tomato, feta, split vierge
Lisdergan beef fillet, Ballymakenny potatoes, Café de Paris hollandaise, Gold River Farm leaves
Sides
All sides 6.50
Summer vegetables, salsa verde
Triple cooked Ballymakenny potatoes, alioli
Spring onion mash
Mini Caesar salad
New potatoes, mint butter
Desserts
Valrhona mille-feuille, Jivara Namelaka, Guanaja crémeux, brandy ice cream
Summer cherry mascarpone mousse, balsamic syrup, cherry and dill ripple ice cream
Rum baba, mango compote, whipped vanilla ganache, passion fruit sorbet
Chilled peach and almond crumble, lemon crémeux, honey oats, peach and basil sorbet
Selection of continental cheese, served with matching condiments
Merchant petit fours
Summer Set Menu
Available Monday – Friday • 12pm – 2.30pm | 6pm – 7pm. 2 Courses 36.50, 3 Courses 42.50.
Selection of bread and Irish butter
Carlingford oyster, Bloody Mary mignonette
Spanish Gordal olives
Sesame prawn toast, lime
Pan con tomate, Cantabrian anchovy
Salad of burrata and Iberico ham, purple fig, sherry vinegar, Marcona almond
Duck liver and foie gras parfait, spiced cherry marmalade, warm brioche
Torched mackerel, beetroot gazpacho, buttermilk, cucumber, dill, rye
Seared lamb fillet, burnt aubergine, velvet cloud labneh, marinated peppers
Fish of the day, Portavogie prawns, summer vegetables, tender herb nage
Murley Mountain lamb rump, ratatouille, olive and marjoram gnocchi, courgette pesto
Free-range chicken breast, sautéed girolles, charred sweetcorn, chasseur sauce
Thornhill duck breast, pressed leg, watermelon, beefsteak tomato, feta, split vierge
Summer vegetables, salsa verde
Triple cooked Ballymakenny potatoes, alioli
Spring onion mash
Mini Caesar salad
New potatoes, mint butter
Summer cherries and mascarpone mousse, balsamic syrup, cherry and dill ripple ice cream
Rum baba, mango compôte, whipped vanilla ganache, passion fruit sorbet
Profiterole swans, vanilla ice cream, warm chocolate sauce
Selection of Irish farmhouse cheese, seasonal chutney, artisanal crackers
Vegetarian Summer Set Menu
Available Monday – Friday • 12pm – 2.30pm | 6pm – 7pm. 2 Courses 36.50, 3 Courses 42.50. VA: Vegetarian but can be adapted to suit vegan dietary requirements.
Selection of bread and Irish butter
VA
Spanish Gordal olives
VA
Pan con tomate, alioli
VA
Salad of burrata and purple fig, beefsteak tomato, sherry vinegar, Marcona almonds
VA
Mushroom pâté, pickled shimeji, onion marmalade, walnut, warm brioche
VA
Beetroot gazpacho, buttermilk, free-range egg, crispy potato, cucumber, dill, rye
Roasted hispi cabbage, Ballymakenny potatoes, aubergine, romesco sauce, feta
VA
Garden pea risotto, girolle mushrooms, aged Parmesan, truffle butter
VA
Olive and marjoram gnocchi, ratatouille, courgette pesto, summer vegetables
Summer vegetables, salsa verde
VA
Triple cooked Ballymakenny potatoes, alioli
VA
Spring onion mash
VA
Mini Caesar salad
New potatoes, mint butter
VA
Profiterole swans, vanilla ice cream, warm chocolate sauce
Valrhona Guanaja chocolate tarte, praline, coconut sorbet
VA
Strawberry crunch, passion fruit whipped ganache, vanilla ice cream
VA
Selection of Irish farmhouse cheese, seasonal chutney, artisanal crackers
Vegetarian Menu
Monday – Saturday from 6pm to 10pm. VA: Vegetarian but can be adapted to suit vegan dietary requirements.
Selection of bread and Irish butter
VA
Spanish Gordal olives
VA
Pan con tomate, alioli
VA
Salad of burrata and purple fig, beefsteak tomato, sherry vinegar, Marcona almonds
VA
Mushroom pâté, pickled shimeji, onion marmalade, walnut, warm brioche
VA
Beetroot gazpacho, buttermilk, free-range egg, crispy potato, cucumber, dill, rye
Roasted hispi cabbage, Ballymakenny potatoes, aubergine, romesco sauce, feta
VA
Garden pea risotto, girolle mushrooms, aged Parmesan, truffle butter
VA
Olive and marjoram gnocchi, ratatouille, courgette pesto, summer vegetables
Summer vegetables, salsa verde
VA
Triple cooked Ballymakenny potatoes, alioli
VA
Spring onion mash
VA
Mini Caesar salad
New potatoes, mint butter
VA
Profiterole swans, vanilla ice cream, warm chocolate sauce
Valrhona Guanaja chocolate tarte, praline, coconut sorbet
VA
Strawberry crunch, passion fruit whipped ganache, vanilla ice cream
VA
Selection of Irish cheese, served with seasonal chutney and crackers
Sunday Menu
Two courses 39.95, Three courses 46.50. Chef’s selection of potatoes and seasonal vegetables included.
Selection of bread and Irish butter
Carlingford oyster, Bloody Mary mignonette
Spanish Gordal olives
Sesame prawn toast, lime
Pan con tomate, Cantabrian anchovy
Salad of burrata and Iberico ham, purple fig, sherry vinegar, Marcona almond
Duck liver and foie gras parfait, spiced cherry marmalade, warm brioche
Torched mackerel, beetroot gazpacho, buttermilk, cucumber, dill, rye
Seared lamb fillet, burnt aubergine, velvet cloud labneh, marinated peppers
Fish of the day, Portavogie prawns, summer vegetables, tender herb nage
Murley Mountain lamb rump, ratatouille, olive and marjoram gnocchi, courgette pesto
Free-range chicken breast, sautéed girolles, charred sweetcorn, chasseur sauce
Traditional roast Hereford sirloin, duck fat roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, glazed carrot and parsnip
Summer cherries and mascarpone mousse, balsamic syrup, cherry and dill ripple ice cream
Rum baba, mango compôte, whipped vanilla ganache, passion fruit sorbet
Profiterole swans, vanilla ice cream, warm chocolate sauce
Selection of Irish farmhouse cheese, seasonal chutney, artisanal crackers
Breakfast Menu
Continental Breakfast
Toasted white and brown bread, pastries (choose one: croissants, pain au raisin, pain au chocolat), fruit juice or smoothie of the day (orange, apple, pineapple, cranberry, tomato juice), half grapefruit or fresh fruit salad, natural Irish yoghurt with honey and hazelnuts, mixed berry compote, chia seeds, cereal (Merchant muesli, Bran Flakes, Weetabix, Rice Krispies, Cornflakes), porridge with Irish whiskey cream and honey, tea or coffee.
The Great Room Breakfast
Toasted white and brown bread, pastries (choose one: croissants, pain au raisin, pain au chocolat), fruit juice or smoothie of the day (orange, apple, pineapple, cranberry, tomato juice), half grapefruit or fruit salad or cereal (Merchant muesli, Bran Flakes, Weetabix, Rice Krispies, Cornflakes), choose one of the following: smoked salmon (Walter Ewing’s smoked salmon and scrambled egg), full Merchant breakfast (eggs of your choice, cured back bacon, local sausage, Clonakilty black and white pudding, field mushrooms, tomato, potato bread, soda farl), Eggs Benedict (soft poached free range eggs, local ham on toasted soda bread with hollandaise sauce), omelette (free range eggs with filling of your choice: ham, sausage, bacon, tomato, mushroom, onion, cheese), pancakes (buttermilk pancakes, bacon and maple syrup), special of the day (please ask your server for details), tea or coffee.
Tasting Menu
TASTING MENU 90.00, WINE PAIRING (5 WINES) 55.00. Monday – Saturday from 6pm to 9pm. Tasting Menu is not available on Sunday.
Burrata and Iberico ham
Purple fig, sherry vinegar, almond
Seared lamb fillet
Burnt aubergine, velvet cloud labneh, red pepper
Shellfish courgette flower
Crispy langoustine, tomato beurre blanc
Thornhill duck
Pressed leg, watermelon, tomato, feta, split vierge
Strawberry, yoghurt, lime
Valrhona mille-feuille
Jivara Namelaka, Guanaja crémeux, brandy ice cream
Cheese course
Supplement 9.00
Merchant petit fours
Vegetarian Tasting Menu
TASTING MENU 90.00, WINE PAIRING (5 WINES) 55.00. Monday – Saturday from 6pm to 9pm. Tasting Menu is not available on Sunday.
Burrata and purple fig
Beefsteak tomato, sherry vinegar, Marcona almonds
Beetroot gazpacho
Buttermilk, crispy potato, cucumber, dill
Olive gnocchi
Ratatouille, courgette pesto, marjoram
Roasted hispi cabbage
Burnt aubergine, romesco sauce, feta
Strawberry, yoghurt, lime
Valrhona mille-feuille
Guanaja crémeux, brandy ice cream
Cheese course
Supplement 9.00
Merchant petit fours
Aperitif
Glass 150ml
Valdo Origine Prosecco
Blackberry Bellini
Taittinger Brut Champagne
Dessert Wines
By Bottle (375ml) | By Glass (50ml)
Araldica Moscato Passito, Piedmont, Italy
Elysium Black Muscat, Andrew Quady, California
Port Selection
50ml
Kopke Fine Ruby Port
Kopke White Port
Kopke LBV 2015 Port
Kopke 10yr Old Tawny Port
Kopke 20yr Old Tawny Port
Kopke Port Tasting Flight
Fine Ruby 50ml, LBV 50ml, 10yr 50ml
Tableside Irish Coffee
Choose from our range of Irish Whiskeys and allow us to make your perfect Irish Coffee in five star style.