
Wild Duck Inn
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Quick info
About Wild Duck Inn
Wild Duck Inn is a country restaurant at 93 Main St in Ballymena, with rooms for overnight stays. Sea bass is a recurring main on the menu. The bar area has a wood burning stove. The inn also hosts events, with function rooms that include a smaller space for more modest gatherings. Weddings are held there, and the venue also lists live entertainment and corporate events alongside dining, so one site can handle a celebration, the meal and the night's stay. Desserts come in half portions.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree parking lot · Free street parking · Paid parking lot
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, parking lot, restroom, seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids · Has changing table(s) · High chairs
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sea bass, half roast duck with noodles, half portion desserts and thursday £10 mains special.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sea bass, half roast duck with noodles, half portion desserts and thursday £10 mains special.
Customer Review Summary
Diners most often single out the sea bass, praised as cooked to perfection, with the half roast duck with noodles and salt and chilli chips, the steak and a burger close behind. Reviewers also mention shared mushrooms to start and half portions of dessert that looked like full ones. Portions come up as generous, and several describe the food as well presented and good value, including a Thursday mains special and a Sunday lunch with a kids menu they liked. Staff are repeatedly called friendly and helpful, and the venue also hosts a wedding and an engagement party that reviewers describe warmly. The one recurring complaint is slow food at a birthday dinner, where the bar manager offered a free round of drinks, and that reviewer later returned to find quicker service and had the fish. One reviewer wished baby potatoes came with the sea bass. Reviewers also mention a wood burning stove in the bar.
Customer Review Summary
Diners most often single out the sea bass, praised as cooked to perfection, with the half roast duck with noodles and salt and chilli chips, the steak and a burger close behind. Reviewers also mention shared mushrooms to start and half portions of dessert that looked like full ones. Portions come up as generous, and several describe the food as well presented and good value, including a Thursday mains special and a Sunday lunch with a kids menu they liked. Staff are repeatedly called friendly and helpful, and the venue also hosts a wedding and an engagement party that reviewers describe warmly. The one recurring complaint is slow food at a birthday dinner, where the bar manager offered a free round of drinks, and that reviewer later returned to find quicker service and had the fish. One reviewer wished baby potatoes came with the sea bass. Reviewers also mention a wood burning stove in the bar.
Featured reviews
- Mike Miles
“The Wild Duck is dirrerent in a good way. The decore is quirky and interesting. We had a meal on the Thursday evening when they do their £10 mains specials. Lower cost did not mean smaller portion or less choice. The choices were varied and wide. The food was very well presented and tasted great. The staff were very friendly and helpful. It was one of our more enjoyable meal. We did have extras which is why our spend was higher.”
- Sandra
“I hadn't dined at the wild duck before, so when a friend suggested 5 of us go for a meal I didn't know what to expect. Wasn't I pleasantly surprised, the food was delicious and served my favourite, sea bass cooked to perfection. My friend's meals were of equal high standard and beautifully presented. The service was excellent, discreet but totally in tune to all our requests. If I had one very tiny suggestion, it would have been nice if baby potatoes were available with the sea bass, but apart from that I would have no hesitation in recommending the Wild Duck in Portglenone.”
- CHservices
“The food at the The Wild Duck Inn is always great. This has become our regular place to go and it never disappoints. The meals are consistently good quality, the atmosphere is lovely, and the staff are always welcoming and friendly. Every visit has been enjoyable and we would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great place to eat.”
- Gavin RAFAC
“Dropped in for an impromptu meal whilst we were visiting the area. Service was excellent. Food was excellent and the portions were really good size. Definitely would eat here again. Highly recommend.”
- Stuart Alexander
“Myself and my wife had the pleasure of getting married in the Wild Duck and it was absolutely amazing- from the room, the atmosphere, the staff and the food, everything was first class and we had the most amazing day. Special thanks to Ruairi, Eileen, Odhran,, Shay, Kieran and the rest of the team for making our big day so special!”
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“A destination venue for celebrations, live entertainment, corporate events, dining and overnight stays”
- Fireplace
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Takeout
- Dine-in
- Good for kids
Show more amenities
- Bar onsite
- Cozy
- Beer
- Coffee
- Healthy options
- Late-night food
- Highlights· 8
- Fireplace
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Great wine list
- Live music
- Sports
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Offerings· 6
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Hard liquor
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Wine
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Atmosphere· 4
- Casual
- Historic
- Romantic
- Trendy
- Family-friendly· 3
- Has changing table(s)
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
- Dining options· 6
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
- Parking· 4
- Free parking lot
- Free street parking
- Paid parking lot
- Parking
- Planning· 3
- Brunch reservations recommended
- Lunch reservations recommended
- Dinner reservations recommended
Location
Restaurants near Wild Duck Inn
- The Crispy Cod4.31846.4 mi away
cod and chips, long wait times, gravy chips
- 7 mi away£20–30Vegan optionsVegetarian optionsWheelchair accessible
watery gravy, dry roast beef, cold starters
- 7.3 mi awayWheelchair accessible
salt and chilli chicken, goat's cheese starter, braised beef
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Duck InnOutdoor seating · Wheelchair accessible · Good for kids | 4.5831 | — | £20–30 | sea bass, half roast duck with noodles, half portion desserts |
| The Crispy Cod | 4.3184 | 6.4 mi away | — | cod and chips, long wait times, gravy chips |
| The Post House Carvery at TullyglassVegan options · Vegetarian options · Wheelchair accessible | 3.749 | 7 mi away | £20–30 | watery gravy, dry roast beef, cold starters |
| Dawsons Restaurant - CastledawsonWheelchair accessible | 4.9200 | 7.3 mi away | — | salt and chilli chicken, goat's cheese starter, braised beef |
The 3 nearest restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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