
The Clock House Bistro
Quick info
About The Clock House Bistro
The Clock House Bistro, a restaurant on Leighinmohr Ave in Ballymena, keeps to evening service every day, with the exception of Sunday, when lunch sittings bring roast beef and turkey-and-ham to the table. Through the rest of the week the menu is ordered as starters, mains and desserts, with a two-course option for a shorter meal. Reservations are recommended, and worth arranging early for the Sunday sittings, which are the busiest of the week. Orders are taken at the table by front-of-house servers, who also bring the bill, so nothing is handled at a counter. A step-free, wheelchair-accessible entrance keeps the dining room reachable for visitors with mobility needs. High chairs are kept on hand for families bringing young children to the evening tables.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree of charge street parking · Free parking lot · Parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible car park · Wheelchair-accessible entrance · Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Good for kidsHigh chairs · Kids' menu
Menu & Prices
17 dishes- Honey Glazed Chilli Chicken Strips
- Fivemiletown Goats Cheese
- Wild Mushroom Tartlet
- Roast Chicken & Leek Terrine
- Blackened Crisp Squid
- Glenarm Estate Shorthorn Beef Burger 6oz
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sunday lunch beef dinner, expensive steak supplements, pork belly starter and excellent kids' menu.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sunday lunch beef dinner, expensive steak supplements, pork belly starter and excellent kids' menu.
Customer Review Summary
Attentive, friendly front of house anchors nearly every account here, with servers repeatedly called lovely, helpful and professional, and one diner noting they kept that up while run off their feet. Food draws strong praise close behind, especially the presentation: a smoked duck starter described as an artistic masterpiece, and a Sunday beef main served pinkish over shredded beef cheeks with creamy mash and roasted veg. A pork belly starter and the kids' menu, praised for real cooking rather than nuggets or sausage, also come up. Complaints cluster on value and consistency. Several find the prices hard to justify, singling out steak supplements and extra charges for sauces, and one describes a two course turkey and ham Sunday lunch as a tasteless school dinner eaten amid deafening noise. A diner returning after a long gap says the kitchen no longer matches the stunning venue and would not recommend it, while a chocolate mousse arrived with more cream than mousse and a pork fillet main ran small. One lunch pair left with a discount voucher for their next visit.
Customer Review Summary
Attentive, friendly front of house anchors nearly every account here, with servers repeatedly called lovely, helpful and professional, and one diner noting they kept that up while run off their feet. Food draws strong praise close behind, especially the presentation: a smoked duck starter described as an artistic masterpiece, and a Sunday beef main served pinkish over shredded beef cheeks with creamy mash and roasted veg. A pork belly starter and the kids' menu, praised for real cooking rather than nuggets or sausage, also come up. Complaints cluster on value and consistency. Several find the prices hard to justify, singling out steak supplements and extra charges for sauces, and one describes a two course turkey and ham Sunday lunch as a tasteless school dinner eaten amid deafening noise. A diner returning after a long gap says the kitchen no longer matches the stunning venue and would not recommend it, while a chocolate mousse arrived with more cream than mousse and a pork fillet main ran small. One lunch pair left with a discount voucher for their next visit.
Featured reviews
- Fiona
“The menu choice is good, plenty of variety. I really enjoyed my pork belly starter and pork fillet main (though a little small) but the chocolate mousse dessert was a bit of a let down as there was more cream on the plate than mousse for some reason🤷🏻♀️ anyway in Ballymena it still holds it's own, plus the beat the clock is good value for money.”
- Paul Shannon
“Truly wonderful Easter Sunday lunch of gastronomic delight. Staff are very attentive and friendly. I chose the smoked duck to start, with the plate arriving, on the eye an artistic masterpiece. My beloved had the soup, as usual!, but very flavorsom. Mains on a Sunday, has to beef in my book and certainly didn't disappoint, succulent pinkish cut of fair portion placed over shredded beef cheeks infused in a wonderful gravy with creamy mash and roasted veg. Beloved yet again Chicken, which she was very happy with however I find pointless dining out something that could be equally made at home. Dessert are seldom for me but my wife decided on the Sundae, where I participated just a few scoops again a very artistic presentation. Unfortunately I haven't named the dishes as eloquently detailed in the menu but I can assure, no disappointment was to be had.”
- Billy McDowell
“staff were excellent, polite and friendly,, atmosphere ok for a weeknight, and the food was delicious, really nice.. however, with two supplements for steaks costing £32 on top of the menu cost, plus another £5 for two sauces. the prices are bordering on extortionate so i'm afraid at these prices i won't be able to justify another visit.”
- Vincent
“The food was delicious, well presented and a great selection on the menu. The staff were attentive and friendly. The restaurant lacked atmosphere however this may have been due to dining midweek.”
- gmrossi46
“Sunday lunch 2 course turkey ham dinner Diabolical cost over £35 for a tastless school dinner. Not a place to go for a quiet meal. The noise and bawling wanes deafening. Staff excellent and run off their feet”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
- Great beer selection
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Great wine list
- Popular for lunch
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
- Free of charge street parking
- Accepts reservations
- Dine-in
- Kids' menu
- Bar on site
Show more amenities
- Beer
- Coffee
- Healthy options
- Spirits
- Lunch
- Dessert
- Dining options· 4
- Brunch
- Dinner
- Seating
- Table service
- Facilities· 1
- Toilet
- Parking· 2
- Free parking lot
- Parking
- Planning· 1
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Offerings· 3
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Wine
- Crowd· 1
- Groups
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Highlights· 3
- Great beer selection
- Great tea selection
- Great wine list
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Atmosphere· 2
- Cosy
- Trendy
- Family-friendly· 1
- High chairs
Location
Restaurants near The Clock House Bistro
- Papa's Kitchen4.62610.4 mi£1–15
steak kebab, Papa's secret sauce, mixed kebab on chips
- Nadine's Diner4.64280.4 mi£1–15Good for kidsReservations
generous food portions, fry breakfast, gluten-free breakfast option
- 0.5 mi£10–20Outdoor seatingVegan optionsVegetarian options
fish and chips, curry sauce, celiac thursday gluten-free options
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Clock House BistroReservations | 4.460 | — | — | sunday lunch beef dinner, expensive steak supplements, pork belly starter |
| Papa's Kitchen | 4.6261 | 0.4 mi | £1–15 | steak kebab, Papa's secret sauce, mixed kebab on chips |
| Nadine's DinerGood for kids · Reservations | 4.6428 | 0.4 mi | £1–15 | generous food portions, fry breakfast, gluten-free breakfast option |
| Merchant Fish & Chip Shop BallymenaOutdoor seating · Vegan options · Vegetarian options | 4.5577 | 0.5 mi | £10–20 | fish and chips, curry sauce, celiac thursday gluten-free options |
The 3 nearest restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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