
Laragh Lodge Restaurant
Quick info
About Laragh Lodge Restaurant
Laragh Lodge Restaurant sits at the end of the waterfall walk in Glenariff Forest Park, with direct driving access also available, in a 19th-century lodge on Glen Rd in Ballymena. Ceiling beams run through the dining room, and outdoor tables let visitors eat with the waterfall views. The kitchen serves Irish cuisine, with dishes such as Braised Beef Cheek, Whipped Goats Cheese and Braised Pork Belly, and lamb shank also features on the menu of 23 dishes. The team accommodates dietary restrictions and allergies, including gluten-free requests and sauce substitutions. A step-free, wheelchair-accessible entrance serves visitors with mobility needs, and high chairs are available for families with young children. Dogs are welcome, and takeaway is offered for those eating off site. The restaurant opens Thursday to Sunday, closing Monday to Wednesday, and reservations are recommended.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree of charge street parking · Free parking lot · Paid parking lot
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible car park · Has wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs available · Has kids' menu
- DietaryServes vegan dishes · Serves vegetarian dishes
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention lamb shank, fries and chips, manager going above and beyond and accommodating dietary restrictions.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention lamb shank, fries and chips, manager going above and beyond and accommodating dietary restrictions.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the lamb shank, repeatedly described as falling off the bone and excellent after a day of walking in Glenariff Forest. Close behind, the surf and turf draws praise for arriving fast with chips several call "to die for," and the seabass with champ earns a solid 7 out of 10 from one diner, along with a chickpea and spinach curry rated the same. Staff are frequently credited with accommodating dietary needs, swapping a duck dish for a gluten-free daughter and adjusting a food allergy for another family, and dogs are welcomed with water bowls and treats. One visit highlights a manager who helped stranded guests arrange transport back to their hotel. Against this, a few reviews note a mismatch between price and quality: one diner paid 22 pounds per dish and found the salad overly simple, the pork chop too salty, and the fries oily with pooling grease at the bottom of the plate, though that same reviewer liked the sauce. The visit closes, for one family, on chips they called excellent alongside a shared surf and turf.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the lamb shank, repeatedly described as falling off the bone and excellent after a day of walking in Glenariff Forest. Close behind, the surf and turf draws praise for arriving fast with chips several call "to die for," and the seabass with champ earns a solid 7 out of 10 from one diner, along with a chickpea and spinach curry rated the same. Staff are frequently credited with accommodating dietary needs, swapping a duck dish for a gluten-free daughter and adjusting a food allergy for another family, and dogs are welcomed with water bowls and treats. One visit highlights a manager who helped stranded guests arrange transport back to their hotel. Against this, a few reviews note a mismatch between price and quality: one diner paid 22 pounds per dish and found the salad overly simple, the pork chop too salty, and the fries oily with pooling grease at the bottom of the plate, though that same reviewer liked the sauce. The visit closes, for one family, on chips they called excellent alongside a shared surf and turf.
Featured reviews
- Joseph O'Toole
“Lovely place, atmosphere, so wonderfully situated. Lamb shank was excellent after long day of walking. As it happened, Michael went out of his way to be so, so kind and helpful to us when he didn't have to, so that we could get back to our hotel. Our highest thanks and recommendations!”
- Gloriana Benita
“The food was delicious (got the lamb shank and it literally fell off the bone) and arrived really fast. The highlight of the visit however was definitely the kindness we experienced from the manager, Michael. We found ourselves stranded after the taxi we were expecting to take us back to our hotel in Ballymena flaked on us. Michael checked in on us to see how our taxi hunt was going and after we explained our predicament, he went above and beyond to make sure we got back safely! Absolutely lovely man, wish him and his family all the best”
- Scott
“My girlfriend and I recently visited Glenariff Forest Park and decided to stop into Laragh Lodge for a quick bite to eat. This place means a lot to my family, as my aunt and uncle had their wedding reception here about 15 years ago, so I …”
- Martha Rolfe
“Food was fantastic! Really accommodating booking last minute with a dog on New Year’s Eve. Staff so lovely and welcoming and treated our dog like a guest with a water bowl and a jar of treats. Look forward to coming back 🤩 …”
- Jen Cleaver
“One of the best meals I have ever eaten. My daughter is gluten free and they changed the duck meal for her to have. Definitely recommend. Very reasonable prices too.”
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- Closed
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Roomy, 19th-century lodge with ceiling beams, outdoor tables and waterfall views, for Irish cuisine.”
- Has great beer selection
- Serves great coffee
- Serves great dessert
- Has great tea selection
- Has great wine list
- Popular for popular for breakfast
Amenities
- Has wheelchair-accessible car park
- Free of charge street parking
- Accepts reservations
- Has outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed inside
- Offers takeaway
Show more amenities
- Serves dine-in
- Good for kids
- Serves vegan dishes
- Has bar on site
- Casual
- On-site services available
- Offerings· 10
- Serves alcohol
- Serves beer
- Serves cocktails
- Serves coffee
- Serves healthy options
- Quick bite
- Serves small plates
- Serves spirits
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Serves wine
- Atmosphere· 2
- Cosy
- Romantic
- Family-friendly· 2
- High chairs available
- Has kids' menu
- Pet-friendly· 1
- Dogs allowed outside
- Dining options· 8
- Serves breakfast
- Serves brunch
- Serves lunch
- Serves dinner
- Has counter service
- Serves dessert
- Has seating
- Has table service
- Facilities· 1
- Has toilet
- Crowd· 2
- Good for groups
- Popular with tourists
- Accessibility· 3
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Highlights· 5
- Has great beer selection
- Serves great coffee
- Serves great dessert
- Has great tea selection
- Has great wine list
- Popular for· 4
- Popular for breakfast
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
- Good for solo dining
- Parking· 3
- Free parking lot
- Paid parking lot
- Plenty of parking
- Planning· 2
- Lunch reservations recommended
- Dinner reservations recommended
Location
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