A Wee Review of No.1, Stranmillis

When someone has a passion, will do whatever it takes to make it work and and they have excellent taste, particularly in trainers, then you know somewhere is going to be great.

I find it flippin’ difficult to get parked in Stranmillis but come the weekend, when the students have packed up their washing to take it home to mammy, I visit this wee gem. The brunch options are just perfect and it’s BYO so grab a bottle of bubbles from across the road and let them add their OJ. Hey Presto - you’re sitting outside on their beaut terrace watching the world go by drinking mimosas and sipping on their excellent iced coffee! Their shakshuka of baked eggs, feta, greens, pulses and a rich herby tomato sauce is beaut and their infamous ‘Yolk and Yoghurt’, with their, as I like to call it, ‘own made’ (what even is home made, it’s very rarely made at home, and most of the time it’s probably bought from someone who made it not at home!) flat bread, herbed yoghurt, poached eggs, chorizo, halloumi and crispy kale.. What is not to love!

The usuals are there too, smashed avocado with sourdough, egg, smoked bacon and their yummy crispy chilli oil, as well as the ‘Brekkie’ which includes our favourite Scullery Made Belfast Black Pudding, tomato salsa, spiced sausage, sweet potato, greens and salsa verde - I have to admit reader, writing this makes me want to visit No 1 tomorrow!!

No 1 is the type of place that you know will create a community. When I sat there, people came in hoping for bowls of granola to take home but it wasn’t quite ready as it was browning in the oven (everything is as ‘own made’ as possible) and the customers were happy to wait... or popping in with their pup for a quick bite on their morning constitutional and then me with my bottle under my arm for a catch up with friends post a hike up Cavehill ‘Mountain’. Their menu is big for such a little place, and covers breakfast and lunch, I know you will find something that’s right up your street.

Andrea and Ethan have put their heart and soul into this sparkly wee gem, and boy, it sparkles so bright. Go visit, you’ll love it!

Words by Caroline Wilson.