Luciano Pavarotti once said ‘ One of the very nicest things about life, is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. ‘ Ok, so you may have to wait maybe several months to get a weekend table at Ireland’s latest Michelin star adorned eaterie but boy, your attention will surly not wain once seated.  Belfast based Ox is most certainly worth the wait. When we arrived early Saturday evening, our dining guests had yet to arrive, so we were ushered next door to Cave, the adjoining wine bar. Chic and sexy, both places ooze  sophistication and class. I stopped and thought about that last line, can a restaurant be sexy? If what they serve to you over the course of the evening is anything to go by then yes, yes it can! 

  
After a quick sample of the exceptional wine selection on offer in Cave,  our fellow guests arrived and we got seated quickly upstairs overlooking the bustling dining area below us. We all opted for the seven course tasting menu with paired wines. The element of surprise in letting the kitchen send us our meal of their choosing, along with our sommelier choosing our wines for the evening was too good to pass on. 

  
 Ox is owned by two long term friends, both with a lifelong passion for food and using seasonal local products along with the best of locally reared meat and fresh local fish. And it shows in the finished product. You are in safe hands with locally born Stephen and Britany native Alain. 

My favourite course of the evening had to be the sublimely cooked duck. Photographs do no justice to any of the food that was on offer, but believe us, the culinary journey that you will take over your three hours or so in wonderful Ox is one to savour. Exemplary service from start to finish with the freshest finest foods on offer locally, and served to you each time as a complete work of art. The fabulous Ox, try it. We guarantee you will love it.