Award-winning chefs from Gardiners Restaurant, in Magherafelt, Sean Owens and Ciaran Kelly, pictured with the Donnelly family as they sample some of the fine cuisine on offer at the Castledawson Food Fayre held in the village as part of the Lough Neagh Food Festival in 2007placeholder image
Award-winning chefs from Gardiners Restaurant, in Magherafelt, Sean Owens and Ciaran Kelly, pictured with the Donnelly family as they sample some of the fine cuisine on offer at the Castledawson Food Fayre held in the village as part of the Lough Neagh Food Festival in 2007 | National World

Northern Ireland retro: 31 mouthwatering photos show popular restaurants in the noughties

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?

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