The Bay Tree

HOLY TOMALES!!!

This could be THE best dish Mihai's ever served! I know I say that a lot, but I always mean it!

Incredible flavours and just such a great summer dish.

Chicken Tomales with Corn Grits, Tomato & Chipotle, served with Charred Corn Salsa, Salsa Verde and Green Rice.

On til it's GONE!

Don't eat the banana leaves 😂

We're ready for you from 9am!

Korean Pancakes, Rayu Eggs, Banana Waffles...the LOT!

🌞🍴🌞🍴🌞🍴🌞🍴🌞🍴

It's that time of year again when we close the doors for a couple of days of well earned rest!

So we're closed Friday & Saturday, back open on Sunday 10am - 3pm with all your Bay Tree favourites!

We'll all be ready and raring to go, apart from Wee John Sidney Nelty who'll be sunburnt 🌞🦞

FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER!

Book your table for July's Friday Dinner (5th July) on 02890421419 now!

We've been really impatient to get this back on the menu, but we had to wait until now because it's... MACKEREL SEASON!

Now returning for its second summer and with absolutely no amendments because it's PERFECT just the way it is!

Grilled Mackerel Fillets on Toasted Homemade Focaccia with Tomato Relish, Green Olive Tapenade, Bloody Mary Dressing and a Poached Egg.

Perfect, and on for the whole season! 🐟

❄️MALTED MILK ICED COFFEE❄️

🍯медовик🍯 Layered Honey Cake

❄️BUENO ICED COFFEE❄️

❤️All The Bay Tree favourites!❤️

And our Beautiful Outside Seating Area of course!🌱☀️

7 days a week.

Friday Nights.

"What's the next level up from yummy without getting into all that pretentious s**t?" Table 14 🤣

🍴MAY FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER MENU!🍷

Yep, it's the first Friday of the month again this week, which means...DINNER AT THE BAY TREE!

We've got another great menu for you this month, with the return of some proper favourites. Medovik, anyone?

The diary is getting pretty full again, so call us QUICKLY if you want to grab a table!

Tel: 02890421419

🍷RIOJA NIGHT!

Massive thanks to everyone who joined Stephen and and the team last night for our 5 course Rioja Wine Dinner!

As always, we had a great time in a buzzing Bay Tree full of familiar and some new faces. Some cracking Riojas there. Look out for them on the specials board next Friday night!

What wine night does everyone want next??

Our BRUNCH MEZZE has had a GLOW UP!!

From tomorrow, get ready for these fresh flavours...

Watercress Houmous with Mint & Tahini Dressing, Asparagus, Basil & Sun Dried Tomato Salsa, Toasted Black Sesame Seeds, Crunchy Flatbread and a Fried Egg.

We can't wait to hear what you all think, because we're pretty confident you're gonna LOVE it and we don't like to hear anything other than praise! 🙌

🍴Late spaces for this Friday!
Tel: 02890421419

Due to a cancellation (I rang her because she's a repeat offender!) of 11 who booked a couple of restaurants to hedge their bets and do a no show on the night, we have a few spaces now. Don't do this, people! It's unfair on small businesses. 😁

This month's Friday Night Dinner menu is up on baytreeholywood.co.uk.

🍷🍷RIOJA WINE TASTING DINNER!🍷🍷

Saturday 27th April
5 Wines, 5 Courses, £55pp
Hosted by Stephen
Tel: 02890421419 to secure your booking!

Yes, we're BACK!
We're absolutely delighted to return to our wine nights next month, with this crowd pleaser of a theme.

Stephen has selected 5 Riojas for us to pair with 5 Spanish courses, featuring 2 reds, 2 whites and a rose exclusive to NI!

Anyone who's been to our wine tasting events will know that they fill up QUICKLY! So get the gang together and give us a call! 🍷

☘️🍀HAPPY PADDY'S DAY HOLYWOOD!☘️🍀

We're open usual hours today, 10am - 3pm.

Tomorrow too, 9am - 4pm.

Breakfast/Brunch/Lunch/Cinnamon Scones/A Wee Drink

🍴What we're up to this weekend!🍴

As well as all your favourite Bay Tree staples:
🍴Korean Pancake
🍴Brunch Mezze
🍴Spicy Rayu Eggs

We've got all THIS to work your way through too:

🍴Baked Egg in Spicy Red Pepper Sauce with Pork & Cumin Meatballs.

🍴 Coconut Crusted Portavogie Prawns with Mango Salsa and Lime & Coconut Cream.

🍴Home Smoked Trout & Dill Omelette

🍴Zingy Jerk Chicken Open Sandwich with Smokey Griddled Savoy Cabbage, Avocado Mayo and Red Pepper Pickle Sauce.

Honestly, I actually think this might be one of our best menus yet! See you at the weekend Holywood!

💐💐 MOTHER'S DAY!! 💐💐

Yeah, heads up. It's THIS Sunday.

We'll be open as usual, 10am - 3pm serving the classics.

Also as usual, we're NOT taking bookings, but if you turn up nice and early, we'll get you seated as quickly as possible (if you play nice).

If you'd like us to cook for you, but would prefer not to brave the queues, our OUTSIDE CATERING diary is filling up, so call us on 02890421419 quickly to order!

Catering menu is available at baytreeholywood.co.uk.

Aaaah Suzi!

After 7 fantastic years working together, our lovely Suzi has decided the time is right to hang up her apron and take on the next challenge.

I still remember where I was when Suzi rang about the job (Victoria Park with my then 8 year old son). Funny how you just know sometimes that someone will fit in straight away from a brief chat, but that's exactly what it was like with Suzi. And in fact, it's how I've based a lot of our recruitment since then!

We're gonna miss you Suzi, but we also know that your self-confessed early semi-retirement means you'll be in brunching after your sea swim with the Helen's Bay girls in your dry robes about 4 times a week! So we'll still all get our fix!

Aaaaand you're out of the game ....🍴❤️

FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER
1st March 2024
Tel: 02890421419

We're almost fully booked for next month's (next Friday's) dinner, but still a few spaces available!

SMALL PLATES

Lamb Albongidas in a Spicy Tomato Sauce with Toasted Almonds and Bay Tree Fennel Bread £8

Duck & Tarragon Croquettes with Saffron Aioli and an Orange & Watercress Salad £8

Mushrooms Sautéed in Sherry with Garlic & Chilli, served on Toasted Sourdough £8

Home Smoked Trout Salad with Shaved Fennel & Roasted Cherry Tomatoes and a Yoghurt, Tahini & Lemon Dressing £8

Chicken Liver Pate with Orange & Onion Chutney and Toasted Wheaten Bread £8

Patatas Bravas £5 (starter or side order)
....................

BIG PLATES

Braised Hannan’s Beef Brisket ‘Bourguignon’ with Celeriac & Truffle Mash, Honey & Thyme Roasted Root Vegetables and Mushroom Gremolata £20

Monkfish Sautéed in Vermouth with Pancetta, Portavogie Prawns, Fennel, Red Pepper & New Potatoes £23

Jerk Marinated Supreme of Chicken with a Charred Corn & Potato Cake, Tomato & Chipotle Salsa and Okra £19

Risotto ‘Primavera’ with Watercress, Spinach & Mustard Leaf, served with Rocket, Nettle & Walnut Pesto and an Avocado, Scallion & Red Pepper Salad £16
................

PUDDING

Bay Tree Crumble with Vanilla Ice Cream £6

Blueberry & White Chocolate Cheesecake with Blueberry & Vanilla Compote £6

Sticky Pecan Pie with Whiskey Ice Cream £6

🌱🌱GREEN SHOOTS🌱🌱

We 💚 seeing the planters waking up from a long winter's hibernation this time of year!

It starts to get us excited for outside seating, sunshine and great food and drink ahead!

Although, when we're choc a block on a Saturday afternoon in February and I look outside, knowing it'll be full soon too, I do wonder how our amazing team does it. But then, they are amazing!

GREAT NEWS!

You can now order our famous Smoked Fish Chowder and our Chicken Liver Pate from our OUTSIDE CATERING menu, as well as a few other delicious new dishes!

Perfect of you've got friends or family over, or just want to plan ahead!

Have a look on our website at baytreeholywood.co.uk

Yep, some seriously good food served in 2023.

We were talking about our favourites in the kitchen today and we kept on coming up with another. "Oh, what about the Beef Short Rib! That flew out!" Or that Ajo Blanco?!

For me though, it has to be the Griddled Mackerel on Toasted Bay Tree Focaccia with Bloody Mary Dressing, Green Olive Tapenade and Poached Egg. Fresh, Local, Perfect, and DEFINITELY making a return!

But it's 2024 now and we can't wait to get started on some new ideas too! Working on a Bombay Potato Scotch Egg with Dhal to kick us off. Watch this space...

HAPPY NEW YEAR HOLYWOOD!!

#2024

CHRISTMAS EVE.
LET'S DO IT!!

Open 9am until 2pm today (last orders 1.30pm)

Pre ordered cinnamon scones are READY for collection. Just head over to our old takeaway shop, opposite our front door.

Our amazing Kate's got about a million cinnamon scones baked and ready to be sold. Once they're gone, they're GONE!

We have one rule on Christmas Eve...
..NO MELTERS! Really though.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!

Christmas Opening Times!

Christmas Eve 9am-2pm (collect your pre ordered, frozen Bake At Home Cinnamon Scones!)

Christmas Day: closed
Boxing Day: closed
Wednesday 27th: closed
Thursday 28th: back open from 9am!

New Year's Day: closed

2 more sleeps.
3 more sleeps and it's all over!

🎄READY!🎄

We've been busy making and jarring your favourite Bay Tree 'other bits' in time for the Christmas run in.

On the shelves, until they're gone...

🥫Seville Orange Marmalade
🥫Cranberry & Orange Relish (for Xmas Dinner!)
🥫Tomato Relish
🥫Orange & Onion Chutney

We're still taking orders for Xmas Morning Cinnamon Scones (collect between 9am-2pm Xmas Eve) at shop.baytreeholywood.co.uk (link in Instagram bio)
Cut off for orders is 2pm Friday 22nd December!

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

🍴🎄The Bay Tree Christmas Dinner🎄🍴

We're traditionalists where this one is concerned and we'll be serving EVERY DAY until 23rd December (nobody wants Turkey on Xmas Eve!).

🎄Lemon Roasted Breast of Turkey
🎄Chestnut Stuffing
🎄Herb Stuffing
🎄Cranberry and Orange Relish
🎄Roast Potatoes
🎄Sprouts
🎄Gravy

We've also got our Mushroom and Cashew Nut Roast with all the trimmings on the menu, as well as Xmas Pudding with Brandy Butter and Cream, John's Mince Pies with Brandy Cream, Hot Spiced Armagh Apple Juice and MORE!

I even made an effort with the Christmas lights this year! 🧑‍🎄

We've had a couple of CANCELLATIONS for this Friday Night!

Call us on 02890421419 between 9am-4pm or email us at [email protected] to grab what's left!

Menu available at baytreeholywood.co.uk

GO!

Also, if you ever forget to cancel your table at a restaurant in December, when they phone to confirm your booking and you pretend that you hadn't booked, despite the fact that we have your name and telephone number in our diary...well, you're the reason businesses have to take deposits for stuff they shouldn't have to take deposits for.

THANK YOU to everyone who joined us last night for another memorable Wine Tasting Dinner!

Special thanks to Stephen and David for hosting the event.

Feedback was excellent! Already looking forward to another one in the new year. Who's in?

LATE CANCELLATION!!

We have up to 6 spaces available for this Saturday's Wine Tasting Dinner with Stephen McCurdy from

We'll be showcasing 5 fabulous wines from our new wine list, paired with 5 equally fabulous dishes!

That's twice I've ever used the word fabulous in my life now, and both in the same sentence!

Call us on 02890421419 now if you want to grab a spot!

£50pp
7pm for 7.30pm start.

GO!

🍒🍒NOVI SAD CAKE!🍒🍒

400 Years ago, I briefly worked teaching English in Novi Sad, Serbia.

When I wasn't busy being a crap teacher, I sometimes spent my time in Cafe Vreme Plov, eating THIS cake!

Crumbly (ok, buttery) biscuit base, frangipane layers with mascarpone, soured cream and cherries. It's UNREAL.

I vac-packed a slice and took it back to Belfast, where we worked it out to the best of our abilities and recreated it. It's pretty much spot on as I remember it.

And guess what? It's on the menu TODAY! Let us know what you think!

If you're from Cafe Vreme Plov, sorry I stole your cake idea. I'll send you a vac-packed cinnamon scone.

THE BAY TREE CINNAMON SCONES.

Every day forever and ever...and ever.

When was your last one?

When's your NEXT one??


(not)

We have a part time weekend waiting staff position available!

You'll be required to work either Saturday or Sunday.

What qualities we're looking for? Initiative, hard working approach, humility, sociable, attention to detail...that sort of thing!

We'll provide training and get you up to speed during busy service. It's great fun, but not for everyone!

If you're interested, DM us and we can discuss getting a trial shift organised.