# Things to do Food and Drink

Source: https://nisocial.com/listing-category/food-and-drink/
Part of: https://nisocial.com/
Places listed: 2

Places worth planning a day around rather than falling into: distilleries, markets, farm cafes and the pubs that still do it properly.

## Places

### Capparelli at the Mill

A Mediterranean restaurant and café-deli in the restored 1752 Dundonald Old Mill, run by a former Ottolenghi executive chef, with Yotam Ottolenghi as an investor. It opened on 26 August 2025 and was added to the MICHELIN Guide in September 2026. Book ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner and Sunday lunch.

Full entry: https://nisocial.com/listing/capparelli-at-the-mill/
Cost: Mid-range: MICHELIN puts it at ££. From the September 2026 menus: small plates £9 to £18, pasta £17.50 to £19.50, mains mostly £20.50 to £34, 8oz fillet £38, sides £6 and desserts £6 to £9. Weekend brunch is £8 to £13.50, and the kids' menu is £14.50 including a drink and dessert. Wine starts at £7.50 a glass and £28 a bottle. Groups of six or more pay a discretionary 10% service charge. | How long: Allow about two hours for lunch or dinner. Online bookings hold the table for about 105 to 120 minutes, or 90 minutes on Sundays. The café-deli downstairs suits a quick coffee. | Parking: There is a car park at the mill, and the restaurant says there is plenty of space. No charges or time limits are published.

### The Middle Ale

Lidl's first ever pub: a 60-seat, drinks-only bar with its own off-sales, beside the Lidl store on Dunlady Road in Dundonald. It exists because, under Northern Ireland's licensing law, a pub licence was the only way the store could sell alcohol. It opened on 18 June 2026.

Full entry: https://nisocial.com/listing/the-middle-ale/
Cost: Normal Belfast pub prices, not supermarket prices. Reported on opening day (18 June 2026): Rye River house beer £5.30 a pint, Guinness £5.80, Tennent's £6.05, OutCider £6.25 and Heverlee £6.35. Wild Burrow gin was £3.85 a measure and Dundalgan whiskey £4.30. Guinness was still £5.80 in late July 2026. | How long: It is a small bar with no kitchen, so most people stop for a drink or two. Many visitors come once, just to see it. | Parking: There is a free customer car park beside the pub, shared with the supermarket. No time limit has been published, so check the signs. The free Dundonald Park & Ride next door has 517 spaces and closes at midnight. Do not plan to leave a car overnight.