A lovely listed building on the main square of this charming little town, No. 14 at the Georgian House dates back to 1722 and provides an atmospheric setting for the first solo enterprise by the highly regarded chef Jim Mulholland and his wife Joanne.
Already well known from his time as Head Chef at Ballyrobin Country Lodge and then Restaurant Novelli at the AC Hotel in Belfast, Jim is renowned for his commitment to using the very best ingredients produced locally and throughout the island of Ireland. His breadth of experience and solid grounding in classic techniques underpin his exceptional creativity in showcasing Irish produce - and yet, while very beautifiul, his goal is to serve food which leaves you remembering the taste for days and wanting more.
Unusually for a chef at this level, No.14 is open all day - and, far from being just a special occasion destination, it is a welcoming part of the local community and accessible to all.
A discreet pavement sign encourages passers-by to go in - and, visible from the street down a gated side entrance, a lovely courtyard is set up with tables in fine weather.
Inside, a bright room on the right is for daytime fare - which can be breakfast or lunch, or just a coffee and a slice of cake - and, set up with a counter area for the drinks and treats, it is a lovely unpretentious room to sit in and relax.
The fine dining restaurant to the left, by contrast, is very opulent with deep colours and accents of cream and gold, dark wood and soft lights, candles, gorgeous curtains, sash windows and a fireplace where logs are laid... Very comfortable chairs surround bare topped tables sporting pure white linen napkins - and there's music at just the right level to encourage conversation. Setting the scene for a memorable experience, everything is perfect.
The wide ranging offering throughout the day includes a casual menu, a kids menu and a vegetarian menu as well as a dinner menu that is offered every day except Sunday lunch, which runs all day until 8pm. Daily specials are on a printed page and producers and origins of ingredients are namechecked throughout eg Lisdergan Flat-iron steak, Dooncastle Oysters, Strangford Mussels, Mourne Ale, Velvet Cloud yoghurt, Lough Neagh eel and pollan, Armagh shitake mushrooms, Kilmegan Cider, Mourne Dew gin, Ruby Blue vodka.
Signature dishes include Lough Neagh pollan with apple vinegar and daikon radish and lamb rump with smoked aubergine puree and Velvet Cloud sheep’s milk yoghurt. The cooking is superb and desserts, especially, are stunning. Details, including the Guinness wheaten with Abernethy Butter, are equally delicious and the children’s menu is far superior to the norm.
All this and a decent wine list (plus a good range of local drinks), warmly knowledgeable service from restaurant manager Joshua Maxwell and his team - and great value for money too. No 14 at the Georgian House is an exceptional restaurant - and a must-visit destination in County Down.
