Nu Delhi Restaurant and Lounge, 68-72 Great Victoria St., Belfast, Northern Ireland
Hours: 5-11 p.m. Monday-Friday, 3-11 p.m. Saturday, 5-10 p.m. Sunday
Menu: https://www.nudelhi.co.uk/pdfs/Nu-Delhi-Main-Menu-X0803.pdf
Suitable for: Vegetarians, vegans, lovers of a good curry

We knew at some point during our travels around Northern Ireland, we’d have to break down and have a proper curry. Our time in Dublin didn’t offer quite as much in the way of a curry, but when we entered the United Kingdom in Belfast, we knew it was time to make way for a proper Indian feast.

We had our pick of a number of restaurants, but in no time we settled on Nu Delhi – mainly because of the wonderful aromas wafting out and onto Great Victoria Street! The cool, chic second-floor interior, which we could see glimmers of from street level, didn’t hurt, either. 

So though it was much too hip of a spot for these two Yanks, we gussied up as best we could and popped over early one night, hoping to snag a free table before the reservations set snapped them all up. Success! Before we knew it, we were escorted over to one of the only free two-tops in the sprawling restaurant, and after a glass of white wine was poured, we were ready to feast.

Indian cuisine has always been friendly to vegetarians, but Nu Delhi also had a specific vegan menu, populated with some old favorites as well as some new-to-us dishes. As we munched on our papadom and sauces, LeeLee and I prayerfully considered how best to tackle the menu. Soon, we determined it would be best if we each ordered what we would want as an entree but also be prepared for some generous sharing. This turned out to be a great choice, as everything was SO good that we were desperate to give it all a try!

We started with an order of vegetable samosas, which were heavenly. Crispy on the veneer, doughy on the midsection, giving way to a pouch of vegetables nestled within, they were the perfect entry point for a delectable meal. Samosas are my Kryptonite, anyway, so to enjoy such a masterful version was a great delight.

From there, LeeLee ordered something new to us both – red kidney bean punjabi masala. Admittedly, this was a bit of a risk, especially when the likes of chana masala and daal makhani tantalized us from the pages of the menu, but it was a risk that paid off in droves. The masala was spicy, yes, and fragrant from the moment it was set before us, but the complexity of the flavors is what made the dish sing. The red kidney beans were cooked with chopped tomatoes and garlic in an onion gravy, and the flavors came together in a beautiful concert.

I, meanwhile, ordered something new to me, as well – subzi meloni. Friends, I am here to tell you that just as LeeLee’s culinary risk paid off, so did mine: This dish is what people dream about when they think of United Kingdom curries. The mixed vegetables came together in a beautiful medley, working in tandem with the cashew nuts and simmered in a delicate – yet hardy – curry sauce. I could not get enough!

While we were at it, we also ordered some saffron rice and plain rice, as well as some naan. By the end of the meal, there wasn’t a morsel left.

The next time I’m in Belfast (and there will be a next time!), I’m sure to visit Nu Delhi. You should, too!

:)

Darcy’s, 10 Bradbury Place, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Hours: 4-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 1-9:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday.
Menu: https://www.darcysbelfast.co.uk/_files/ugd/8f6f8d_7fbd6fdbbe004488840e171830734318.pdf
Suitable for: Vegans, vegetarians, lovers of pub food

We had been in Belfast for, oh, about five hours when I decreed it was time for some proper pub food. A quick scan of HappyCow and Yelp – I’ve found using the two in tandem is a winner – showed a few options, but after walking the streets of Belfast for a while to get our bearings, we cast our lot with Darcy’s – and we were certainly not disappointed.

As soon as we entered the space and stepped up to the host stand, we felt like family. To a person, everyone from the host to the bartender to our server were warm and welcoming, bringing these two Yanks into the fold in no time. We sat down at our cozy little table, snug (but not too snug) next to other patrons, and perused the menu.

First up: A Guinness, my first since arriving into Ireland and Northern Ireland a day prior. I had heard that Guinness was better there in the “Motherland,” but had pooh-poohed it; but I must say, that is a fact! I’m not even a big fan of Guinness in the States, and yet after Darcy’s I found myself ordering one a night. When in (Northern) Ireland … right?

Next we made a prayerful decision to give the boxty dumplings a try. Boxty, a potato pancake, is super-popular on the island, as we quickly learned in both Dublin and Belfast. We’d seen all these advertisements for boxty this and boxty that, and being a potato lover I knew I’d like it. So when the opportunity arose to enjoy some boxty dumplings, we leapt at the chance. The dumplings were at once chewy and firm, an outer gnocchi-like “skin” giving way to a delightful potato mixture within. We mowed them down at once and, reader, I wish I had more right now as I’m writing this.

For our main course, we went two different directions, both of which were delightful. I chose the nut and mushroom Wellington with celeriac mash, seasonal greens and onion gravy. Let me tell you, I chose correctly! I am a sucker for anything in puff pastry, and this Wellington was so perfectly prepared, so hearty and yet also not heavy, that I knew at once I needed to savor every bite. I did all I could not to inhale the entire meal in one gulp – but it was certainly tempting!

LeeLee, meanwhile, had the vegan sausages, which came with petit peas, onion gravy and several onion rings piled high up top. The sausages were perfectly seasoned, the gravy and peas were a perfect complement, and oh! Those onion rings! They were so lightly fried, so crisp, so surprisingly dainty. The perfect accoutrement to a protein-packed dish.

We wished we had room for dessert, but alas! Our stomachs were crying Uncle even though our eyes wanted more. Next time.

And I surely hope there will be a next time in short order: We loved Belfast, and we adored Darcy’s! Make it part of your travel plan the next time you find yourself in the area – you’ll be glad you did.

:)