Ownies Bar and Bistro
Quick info
About Ownies Bar and Bistro
Ownies Bar and Bistro, a bistro in Carrickfergus at 16-18 Joymount, keeps the bar and live music downstairs and the dining area upstairs. A band plays on both weekend nights and takes requests from the room. The menu includes seafood chowder, fish and chips and mussels. An Early Bird menu is available, and Sunday lunch and Sunday dinner are served. At lunch, guests order and pay at the bar, and the food is brought to the table. A private dining room upstairs gives groups a space of their own. The car park facing the pub is free in the evenings and all day Sunday.
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 · High chairs · Kids' menu
- DietaryOrganic dishes · Vegan options · Vegetarian options
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention live music, fish and chips, lasagne and seafood chowder.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention live music, fish and chips, lasagne and seafood chowder.
Customer Review Summary
Fish and chips is the dish reviewers name most, paired in one account with a Guinness pint at lunch, and the seafood chowder comes close behind. Lasagne, garlic mushrooms, mussels, seabass and a monkfish and prawn curry special also earn praise, and one table of six reported everyone cleaned their plate. Live music downstairs is a second draw, with a packed, buzzing room and a band taking people's favourite requests. Reviewers describe friendly, speedy service, family dinners, and Sunday lunches where food arrives without a long wait. The sharpest complaint comes from a single lunch visit, where a reviewer reports a chicken burger arrived pink and raw in the middle. The replacement was reportedly bloody too, a waitress said the chef had checked its temperature, and the burger was still charged with fifteen percent taken off the bill. Another diner, by contrast, enjoyed the chicken burger with a few pints. One reviewer notes that staff accommodated a request for a smaller portion of fish and chips.
Customer Review Summary
Fish and chips is the dish reviewers name most, paired in one account with a Guinness pint at lunch, and the seafood chowder comes close behind. Lasagne, garlic mushrooms, mussels, seabass and a monkfish and prawn curry special also earn praise, and one table of six reported everyone cleaned their plate. Live music downstairs is a second draw, with a packed, buzzing room and a band taking people's favourite requests. Reviewers describe friendly, speedy service, family dinners, and Sunday lunches where food arrives without a long wait. The sharpest complaint comes from a single lunch visit, where a reviewer reports a chicken burger arrived pink and raw in the middle. The replacement was reportedly bloody too, a waitress said the chef had checked its temperature, and the burger was still charged with fifteen percent taken off the bill. Another diner, by contrast, enjoyed the chicken burger with a few pints. One reviewer notes that staff accommodated a request for a smaller portion of fish and chips.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“One of the best meals we had in ireland .”
- Google user
“I've had a couple of Dunday Lunches here while visiting relatives locally. The food and the service has always been excellent. It seems like a very popular spot at they are always busy. And we have never had to wait long for our food and drinks. Would highly recommend.”
- Google user
“As far as pub food goes this was superb! Great tasty food and friendly service, my family have not been all together in one place for a while and this was a perfect evening dinner together. I had the mussels for starter and the chicken burger with a few pints. Great atmosphere with other happy families.”
- Google user
“We ordered some lunch from the bar just before they finished up service at 4pm. You pay and order directly at the bar and then they bring it to your table. The Guinness pint was on point along with the Fish & Chips, and the Seafood Chowder. For those two lunch dishes and the pint, it was £34.50. We really enjoyed our lunch, thank you!”
- Google user
“Oh what a place! Honestly, i have been at this place for food plenty of times and I can't say anything bad about it! This time, went for food and entertainment, which was an added treat! Between the six of us, we had the seabass, the monkfish and Prawn curry(a special on the night- UNREAL), the humble Lasagne, the smash burger and the scampi...everyone cleaned up their plate,it was all delicious 😋 I had the monkfish and Prawn curry which I thought might be a bit heavy but was so light and full of flavour👌 Service was so attentive and spot on, really special! What topped the night though was the live music downstairs, place was packed and buzzing, music was so inclusive, the band taking people's favourites and all, I loved it! Great time had by all! Thanks to all the staff from the servers to the entertainers and the security, it really is a gem in the heart of carrick 💎”
Highlights
- Fireplace
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Dine-in
- Good for kids
Show more amenities
- Vegan options
- Bar onsite
- Cozy
- Beer
- Coffee
- Happy hour drinks
- Offerings· 12
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Happy hour food
- Hard liquor
- Healthy options
- Late-night food
- Organic dishes
- Private dining room
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
- Wine
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Family-friendly· 2
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
- Planning· 1
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Highlights· 8
- Fireplace
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Great wine list
- Live music
- Sports
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Crowd· 3
- College students
- Groups
- Tourists
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Dining options· 7
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
- Atmosphere· 2
- Casual
- Trendy
- Parking· 4
- Free parking lot
- Free street parking
- Paid parking lot
- Usually plenty of parking
- Pet-friendly· 2
- Dogs allowed inside
- Dogs allowed outside
Location
Restaurants near Ownies Bar and Bistro
- Victoria Hot Spot4.35170.6 mi
fish supper, crispy batter, pink pastie
- The Fuzzy Beak4.42544.3 mi£20–30Good for kidsReservations
chicken wings/strips, surf and turf, ribeye steak
- Lynchpin Holywood4.91285.3 mi awayWheelchair accessible
the hash, satay scramble, cinnamon bun
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ownies Bar and BistroOutdoor seating · Vegan options · Vegetarian options | 4.61,847 | — | £10–30 | live music, fish and chips, lasagne |
| Victoria Hot Spot | 4.3517 | 0.6 mi | — | fish supper, crispy batter, pink pastie |
| The Fuzzy BeakGood for kids · Reservations | 4.4254 | 4.3 mi | £20–30 | chicken wings/strips, surf and turf, ribeye steak |
| Lynchpin HolywoodWheelchair accessible | 4.9128 | 5.3 mi away | — | the hash, satay scramble, cinnamon bun |
The 3 nearest restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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