A real hidden gem, just 10 mins on the train out of Belfast. The service was brilliant, really knowledgeable without being intimidating or pushy, and instead helped us order without overdoing it. The wine selection by the glass was great, and good value too, again, great recommendations.The food is the real star of the show, we went for the lightly grilled oysters, the jambons (which really feel like one of those dishes you’ll be craving every few days after), the moreish artichokes, steak tartare Caesar salad which was great fun, skate wing and their signature crispy potatoes. The food comes out when it’s ready in a really clever order, no rushing.The Veda treacle tart was a standout for dessert, and ask for a ‘Belfast coffee’ - like an espresso martini but nicer.By no means cheap, but quality of ingredients and the vibes were brilliant. We’ll be back again!
Paul Osborne
First time eating here but won't be our last. Really impressed. Food was excellent. Great winner selection as well. Wasn't cheap but it was well worth it.
kerry w
Love it
Lucie Munier
Would highly recommend!
Alexander F
Frae served interesting and delicious dishes all at a reasonable price. We will be coming back!
Trail769997
I've been dying to try Frae, since it had opened! Living in London has halted the experience! I'm quite glad I waited! The food was excellent! Our male server Paddy, was excellent and knew the menu well! Having worked in semi fine dining, the cute intimate experience was reminiscent of old Belfast dinining culture! Something we greatly miss living in London! The only issues we had is the chairs are not fully able accessible, but I seen there is full body chairs upstairs. The perfection in subtle cooking is where Frae complimented the experience, the walnut pickle, the cured trout, pancetta reduced jus (drinkable) with the scallops! Finishing with the beer Carmel sauce on a very classic Irish grandma date cake! This was a touch of pure Irish cuisine! Cultivated with classic French and Italian cooking methods! The Maccabo orange wine, was also very complimentary to the choice of food we decided to share. Thank you to the team, looking forward to experiencing the other menus in the future!
Mannix McAlister
We stumbled across this place my accident and were blown away by it, their knowledge of wines was incredible and the menu items were interesting and delicious!
Nikolay Naydenov
Really, really great food and nice atmosphere. The staff was really kind and helpful as well.
mannixmc
We stumbled across this place my accident and were blown away by it, their knowledge of wines was incredible and the menu items were interesting and delicious!
Iain Semple
Excellent little restaurant in the heart of Holywood. I've been here several times & it doesn't disappoint.Small menu of well thought out dishes that change regularly.
Such a hidden treasure in Holywood. Brilliance in a quirky menu - both a la carte and set menus. Interesting wine list which goes a little bit more off piste than the usual suspects. All served by friendly motivated staff. The lobster was delightful!
Culture43769572089
Located on the main street of Holywood, Frae is both easy to find and easy to access by all types of transport. The venue itself is compact seating only about 40 people but is bright, light and very modern. It's a fixed menu tasting style experience in which one of everything is brought out in preset waves. Starting with the rosti, soured cream and trout caviar it was perfectly crunchy, with a sour twist and a sweet pop from the caviar this 2 bite treat was well balanced and light. Next there was the cheese and ham Jambon, presented almost like a profiterole it was rich and decadent with the wonderful familiar flavours you'd expect from a classic jambon. The celeriac fritter was incredibly crunchy with a pleasant piquant from the pickled walnut, with the smoked gubben offering up a silky creaminess with subtle smokey undertone. The artichoke and smoked haddock chowder was wonderfully unctuous and velvety, perfectly balanced and deeply flavourful, served with bread that was somehow both the fluffiest and crispiest I've experienced. Round 3 was the braised shin, radicchio salad and the garlic potatoes. The shin was melt in the mouth tender whilst the split pea and carrots were very crisp and perfectly cooked. The shin bone with marrow was an added bonus of richness and punchy flavour. The salad was so fresh the parsley giving a fragrant lift. As for the potatoes, delicious crunchy packages of butterey garlicky goodness, I would truly buy these by the bucket. The dessert was profiteroles, aside from being utterly massive these are deep, and rich the richness is wonderfully offset by the silkiness of the cream. The service was exactly what you'd hope for, friendly and attentive without being overbearing and intrusive, the timings seemed well choreographed as if to not ask you how you're doing whilst you have a mouthful. I enjoyed everything about this experience, and I'd be surprised if Frae doesn't have a star in their future. I 100% hope to visit again soon.
Terry McGrenaghan
I had the pleasure of dining at Frae recently and can't stop raving about my incredible experience there. Amazing atmosphere, food and wine. I'll definitely be back!
john bolleboom
Amazing eclectic food with fantastic wine list.
Julie Beaumont
Such a hidden treasure in Holywood. Brilliance in a quirky menu - both a la carte and set menus. Interesting wine list which goes a little bit more off piste than the usual suspects. All served by friendly motivated staff. The lobster was delightful!
A real hidden gem, just 10 mins on the train out of Belfast. The service was brilliant, really knowledgeable without being intimidating or pushy, and instead helped us order without overdoing it. The wine selection by the glass was great, and good value too, again, great recommendations.The food is the real star of the show, we went for the lightly grilled oysters, the jambons (which really feel like one of those dishes you’ll be craving every few days after), the moreish artichokes, steak tartare Caesar salad which was great fun, skate wing and their signature crispy potatoes. The food comes out when it’s ready in a really clever order, no rushing.The Veda treacle tart was a standout for dessert, and ask for a ‘Belfast coffee’ - like an espresso martini but nicer.By no means cheap, but quality of ingredients and the vibes were brilliant. We’ll be back again!
First time eating here but won't be our last. Really impressed. Food was excellent. Great winner selection as well. Wasn't cheap but it was well worth it.
Love it
Would highly recommend!
Frae served interesting and delicious dishes all at a reasonable price. We will be coming back!
I've been dying to try Frae, since it had opened! Living in London has halted the experience! I'm quite glad I waited! The food was excellent! Our male server Paddy, was excellent and knew the menu well! Having worked in semi fine dining, the cute intimate experience was reminiscent of old Belfast dinining culture! Something we greatly miss living in London! The only issues we had is the chairs are not fully able accessible, but I seen there is full body chairs upstairs. The perfection in subtle cooking is where Frae complimented the experience, the walnut pickle, the cured trout, pancetta reduced jus (drinkable) with the scallops! Finishing with the beer Carmel sauce on a very classic Irish grandma date cake! This was a touch of pure Irish cuisine! Cultivated with classic French and Italian cooking methods! The Maccabo orange wine, was also very complimentary to the choice of food we decided to share. Thank you to the team, looking forward to experiencing the other menus in the future!
We stumbled across this place my accident and were blown away by it, their knowledge of wines was incredible and the menu items were interesting and delicious!
Really, really great food and nice atmosphere. The staff was really kind and helpful as well.
We stumbled across this place my accident and were blown away by it, their knowledge of wines was incredible and the menu items were interesting and delicious!
Excellent little restaurant in the heart of Holywood. I've been here several times & it doesn't disappoint.Small menu of well thought out dishes that change regularly.
Restaurantji Recommends
Such a hidden treasure in Holywood. Brilliance in a quirky menu - both a la carte and set menus. Interesting wine list which goes a little bit more off piste than the usual suspects. All served by friendly motivated staff. The lobster was delightful!
Located on the main street of Holywood, Frae is both easy to find and easy to access by all types of transport. The venue itself is compact seating only about 40 people but is bright, light and very modern. It's a fixed menu tasting style experience in which one of everything is brought out in preset waves. Starting with the rosti, soured cream and trout caviar it was perfectly crunchy, with a sour twist and a sweet pop from the caviar this 2 bite treat was well balanced and light. Next there was the cheese and ham Jambon, presented almost like a profiterole it was rich and decadent with the wonderful familiar flavours you'd expect from a classic jambon. The celeriac fritter was incredibly crunchy with a pleasant piquant from the pickled walnut, with the smoked gubben offering up a silky creaminess with subtle smokey undertone. The artichoke and smoked haddock chowder was wonderfully unctuous and velvety, perfectly balanced and deeply flavourful, served with bread that was somehow both the fluffiest and crispiest I've experienced. Round 3 was the braised shin, radicchio salad and the garlic potatoes. The shin was melt in the mouth tender whilst the split pea and carrots were very crisp and perfectly cooked. The shin bone with marrow was an added bonus of richness and punchy flavour. The salad was so fresh the parsley giving a fragrant lift. As for the potatoes, delicious crunchy packages of butterey garlicky goodness, I would truly buy these by the bucket. The dessert was profiteroles, aside from being utterly massive these are deep, and rich the richness is wonderfully offset by the silkiness of the cream. The service was exactly what you'd hope for, friendly and attentive without being overbearing and intrusive, the timings seemed well choreographed as if to not ask you how you're doing whilst you have a mouthful. I enjoyed everything about this experience, and I'd be surprised if Frae doesn't have a star in their future. I 100% hope to visit again soon.
I had the pleasure of dining at Frae recently and can't stop raving about my incredible experience there. Amazing atmosphere, food and wine. I'll definitely be back!
Amazing eclectic food with fantastic wine list.
Such a hidden treasure in Holywood. Brilliance in a quirky menu - both a la carte and set menus. Interesting wine list which goes a little bit more off piste than the usual suspects. All served by friendly motivated staff. The lobster was delightful!