Northern Ireland retro: 31 photos show popular noughties restaurants

It was an era before everyone owned an air fryer, and avocado toast became the hipster’s breakfast of choice.

These photos take you back to the noughties and how we dined back then.

They show some of the most popular restaurants from the 2000s, from Belfast to Benburb, and Cookstown to Craigavon.

The owners, chefs and waiting staff are pictured in this retro photo gallery, along with diners enjoying a meal out.

The restaurants pictured range from award-winning fine-dining establishments to much-loved local takeaways.

Some of the places pictured have sadly shut their doors for good since these photos were taken, but others are still going strong.

Is your favourite restaurant among those featured, and do these nostalgic images bring back any happy memories of special nights out?

9. Palomo

Palomo restaurant and wine bar, on Church Place, Lurgan, in 2008 | National World Photo: Geoffrey Cousins

The Italian Place restaurant, pictured in 2008 | National World

Singer Sophy Smith with La Boca restaurant owner Pedro Donald in 2009 | National World Photo: Diane Magill

Olga Henry, from Bistro 24 in Loy Street, Cookstown, doing a cookery demonstration in 2009 | National World Photo: Adrian Robinson