August 2024 by Gabriela D.
The veggie Wellington was okay but didn't have a ton of seasoning. The steak was cooked poorly and was flavorless. We ordered a side of gravy with the meal and it took 45 minutes to get. The server made us pay before we got our food and forgot to charge us for it, and then charged us even though they forgot. It was a long wait and the food was tasteless. Overall weren't impressed and would not go back.
August 2024 by Genna G.
This was recommended to us by one person and had good reviews, but it was absolutely horrible. This may be the first time online reviews have led me so wrong. The server was rude from the second she approached the table, and was annoyed with questions about the menu. When the drinks did make it to the table eventually, one of them was on ice when we ordered a shot of Jameson. I asked the server to fix the error when it was delivered. It took about 10 mins to get back to me and when it did, it was clear that the shot had sat in ice for several minutes and turned into a watered down ice cold Jameson. I thought for sure it was a mistake but the server was not returning any time soon so I brought it to the bartender to ask for him to switch it out for what I had actually ordered, a straight up shot, and he said "yeah if you pay for it." Ok, I've worked in the industry for a lot of my life, I get it people are jerks, but this was me asking him to fix his mistake. I told him I am paying for it, the thing that I ordered and he said, "you ordered a shot, I put it on ice, then I took it off the ice and sent it back to you, so there's your shot." Asked for the manager who very reluctantly fixed the issue...what?? They were not serving the steak pie, the item we specifically came to try, which was disappointing but it happens. The roasts and fish and chips were pretty bad though. So ok, horrible service, bad food.. the bill comes and there's a service charge. I ALWAYS tip, I think even on an off day, people in restaurants deserve the support, but this was an exception. The people I dined with said they were going to ask for it to be taken off the bill because of how horrible every second of our experience was. One went the manager and asked for it to be removed because of how rude the staff had been (different manager than earlier who had not been present for any of the earlier rudeness of bartender, server and lack of care from earlier manager), he asked if everything was ok and the instances of rudeness and were explained, and he agreed. Less than 10 seconds later he approached us and said that "no one was rude, no one was rude." Ok, again, whatttt is happening here? We reassured him that they were awful to us, and he reluctantly agreed to remove the service charge... toilet overflowed and bathroom was disgusting. Other tables were having to get up/ shout to server to ask her for her attention, which she ignored. Probably the worst customer experience I've ever had.
March 2024 by Alli C.
We had a quick in and out of this bar, where we witnessed a shocking item for us - a buffet on a bar! This pub seemed to be a legit locals pub, full of somewhat grumpy old men watching horse racing and multiple spots that as an American woman, I don't understand. Staff was some of the friendliest we encountered in Belfast, but we chose to move on to other pubs due to seating.
February 2024 by Martin C.
Really cool pub in the center of Belfast. Popped in for a quick drink and stated for the buffet lunch which was tasty and great value for money.
January 2024 by 533sin_adr
Placed food order, mains only and waited 45 minutes for the meal to arrive, food temperature warm not hot enough. Ordered slow cooked beef expecting beef that would fall apart and got silverside like you would get for a Sunday roast. Roast potato clearly reheated, yorkshire pudding was dried out, and some of the meat i couldn't get a knife through. So many great places in Belfast to eat, but this is not one of them, a couple of tables had tourists I hope they don't take away memories of Belfast having terrible restaurants.
January 2024 by D9502LQannel
Appalling food! Steak mainly gristle and tough! Meals not as menu. Staff taking decorations down when still open!
December 2023 by Wander59381462418
We went for a end of year family meal that we were all really looking forward to. The staff were very friendly and took our orders promptly. The disappointment came with the food. My son and I ordered a turkey & ham dinner. This is possibly the worst turkey & ham dinner I've ever had!!! It was served warmish, no brussel sprouts that had been replaced with celery!!! No cranberry sauce and very minimal roast potatoes and carrots! The ham tasted like it had just come out of a tin! The turkey itself was pathetic served with brown cuts of meat and no stuffing. Not once were we ask if everything was ok with our food. I felt complaining about our food would only fall on deaf ears and I didn't want to go off on one in front of the family. We didn't want anything else after our meal and asked for the bill. When checking the bill we saw that there was a 10% service charge added to the bill. We would of though this would of applied to a table of 10+ but certainly not for a table of three adults and one child. When I asked the waitress why was a service charge added she said "it was a Christmas thing they do"....unbelievable!!! Looking back I should of refused to pay the service charge but again I didn't want to make a scene in front of the family. I would of left a tip but it certainly it would not been 10% of the bill!!! The whole experience put a bad taste in my mouth for the rest of the evening (no pun intended) I work hard for my money and wished I had of spent it elsewhere and had a meal that I was satisfied paying for!! I will not be calling again to The Morning Star and I would not recommend it to anyone looking to go there for a meal!!
December 2023 by David S
Needs a revamp, service slow and poor (kept missing things), steak half gristle, cheeseboard was a joke, home bargain thins used?
December 2023 by Aileen P
Hello, We were out for our annual family Christmas dinner last night in the morning star. We had drinks downstairs first, which was a nightmare to begin with aswe had to wait ages to get a drink. When we went upstairs to get our table at 5pm, which had to be rebooked as our booking was "lost" even though we paid a £160 deposit, we were told our table wasn't ready and the staff tried to seat us at 2 separate tables. I was not happy and the staff said we would have to wait 15-20mins for our original table. When we eventually got our table, it was in a cold area, the rest of upstairs was nice and warm. We waited about 30mins then to get our first round of drinks then about 30mins after that the staff took our food order. I ordered the salmon and dill parcel as a main and I dont know if it was supposed to be cold, but it was cold and salty. I asked my nephew who had the same starter and he said his was warm. Then to be charged nearly £60 for a service charge was despicable when the service was awful. We have been to the morning star before and it was a pleasant experience, however after the experience last night we will not be back. I know it's Christmas and a very busy time of year, but the restaurant upstairs was not busy and there was no excuse. I am just disappointed as it was a family night out and it was not enjoyable.
December 2023 by YesChef89
Where to start!? Restaurant decor is like it's from the 1800's, including the staffs uniform. Staff are so poorly trained and just didn't care about anything or wanting to be there. Order was taken pretty quickly, only to be told that there was NO turkey and Ham from the Christmas menu...(it was a Friday evening), 45 minutes for the starters to appear which was nothing special. Another 20 for the mains to appear after the starters had been cleared, chef Mike (the microwave) is definitely underpaid for the amount it's used!! The desserts...well they just tasted brown and sad! Don't waste your time or money, so many more nicer places around Belfast for probably a cheaper price to!!
November 2023 by Trek30818066553
Went here with some work friends on Wednesday 30th November. The decor can be a little dated at first, but I think it adds to the charm! My friend went for a 3 course Christmas dinner and the rest of us went for steak. One word for that was WOW. Steak was absolutely enormous. Amazing, amazing, amazing value for money!! Sides and sauces were beautiful too, was very thankful the sauce wasn?t served in a tiny thumb sized jug. Staff were brilliant, I didn?t get their names but both (girl and boy) were attentive and kind. Will definitely be back!
November 2023 by Kerry186470
Ignored for about 5 minutes on arrival - service seemed shambolic and all over the place. Ordered turkey and ham dinner - nearly £18. Flavour ok - portions tiny (and we're two females with not massive appetities) - no roast potatoes - in fairness the menu didn't say there would be - but unusual not to have roast spuds with Xmas dinner. Plates completely cold - food luke warm. We really couldn't be bothered complaining - what's the point. Won't be back. Been going here for over 20 years for reliably good food - so sad that this has changed so much. Something has seriously changed here... and definitely not for the better.
November 2023 by David K.
The Morning Star is an atmospheric pub located on Pottinger's Entry, a pedestrian alley, and they offer what must be one of the best "Pub Lunch" deals in Belfast. A plate from the buffet line of cooked meat and vegetable dishes cost just £6,95, and our server was generous with piling on as many items as we wanted! The selection included roast pork loin, steak pie topped with puff pastry, beef lasagne, homemade beef & black pepper sausages, roast chicken wings, meatballs stroganoff (peppercorn and mushroom cream sauce), Madras beef and stirfry vegetable curry, two cooked vegetable dishes, and champ (mashed potatoes). Everything we had was tasty though a bit greasy--but you really can't beat the value of this pub lunch!
November 2023 by Eliane Abou-Assi
We came here because the reviews were so good but it took almost 2.5 hours to get our food. Everyone was served around us. They finally brought the steak out and it was boiled and leaking water. It was so gross. We also ordered drinks and they took 25 min and forgot half of them.Even though some of the apps were good; the wait and service wasn?t worth it.
November 2023 by peteratkinson1
Traditional style pub that is very quaint and perfectly okay if you are going for a drink. We had an evening meal there and it was only just okay, nothing special and not as good as other places in the area. On a positive note the staff were excellent and made up for the poor quality of the food.
