Established as The Joymount Arms in 1846, the newest iteration of the bar and restaurant just down the road from Carrickfergus’ famous castle is Ownies Bar & Bistro, a charming little spot that has undergone some fantastic renovations of late.
Downstairs, you’ll find a typical Northern Irish bar, with a roaring fire, cosy snugs and tons of craic, whilst upstairs is a more party-centric area, with another bar, a large open space that can be converted into a dance floor, and solid wood dining tables with hefty tartan-backed chairs.
The atmosphere is easy-going and casual, with a real local warmth and the staff are attentive and friendly too. The menu matches the ambiance well, with comfort food being the order of the day. The portions are hearty and the standard is way more than you’d expect from a local bistro.
To start, I tried the Toasted Cheesy Garlic Ciabatta Bread, which is not your typical garlic bread by any stretch of the imagination. Served on a wooden board, the little triangles of cheesy, garlicky goodness come with a few leaves and a pesto and a sweet chilli dip, which really helps to make things seem a bit more special.
For the main course, you can choose from a whole range of filling classics from Baby Back Ribs to Silverside of Beef. I went for the Southern Fried Chicken Burger, a towering structure topped with tobacco onions, cheese, mayo and Sweet Potato Fries on the side. The burger was tender and flavoursome, whilst the sweet potato fries were just the right texture, soft on the inside, yet crispy on the outside.
It took a little time to flag down a member of staff to order a dessert from, but once we had, the homemade Eton Mess more than made up for the wait, and with Maud’s Ice-Cream just a few doors down, the ice-cream selection is superb too. You can have a look at the menu online here.
As a local restaurant and pub, Ownies goes above and beyond what you’d expect, and at a reasonable price too.
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