Visit Derry: Timerquay Waterfront Restaurant -

During our visit to Derry we stayed in the Holiday Inn Express on Strand Road which put us in the perfect location when it came to dining out. Not only could we easily walk into the city centre to eat, but in the opposite direction it was just a short walk to the Foyle river and the most stunning waterfront restaurant, Timerquay. Rated in the top 10% of restaurants worldwide at the 2021 Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice Awards, we had high hopes for our meal and it certainly did not disappoint.

Timberquay promises to deliver high quality, locally sourced food with a modern twist, all whilst enjoying the beautiful atmosphere of a bright, spacious interior seating 120 diners and offering the best view in town out onto the waterfront. As we were shown to our table we admired the artwork done by local artists who created a number of murals over on the Bogside.

We were warmly welcomed by the restaurant manager who took great pleasure in hearing about our stay so far and the activities we had planned. As was the case throughout our entire stay, the staff at Timberquay could not have been more willing to help whether that was to recommend their own personal favourite cask ale, to point out a particular dish they enjoyed or to cater for Harry’s fussiness and allow us to order something a little different to the listed menu.

The menu has an incredible choice of dishes from slow cooked meats to hearty burgers, grilled steaks to fresh fish, and making our decisions was a hard choice! Although there is a children’s menu at Timberquay, you can also request a smaller portion of any adult dish which was great for Eva and Megan who are always far more adventurous than your average child.

For our starters Gaz and Megan chose beef nachos with sour cream, chillis and salsa which looked incredible and were devoured instantly. The portions are perfectly sized so they aren’t too over facing but just enough to satisfy you whilst leaving you ready for your main course.

I went for the Chicken Caesar salad which is one of my favourites and this one was definitely up there as one of my best yet. With lettuce, bacon, croutons and a garlic dressing it was simple but utterly delicious. The crispy bacon was incredible and I was just grateful that the children were so busy devouring their own starters that I didn’t have to share this with them.

Harry and Eva both ordered garlic bread with cheese served with a side of garlic mayonnaise. The gently chewiness of the bread combined with the crispiness of the cheese was the perfect combination and there wasn’t a single crumb left on the plate by the end of it. As I’ve shared many times, Harry really struggles when it comes to food and so seeing a clean plate is such huge praise for any restaurant we visit!

With so many delicious looking dishes on the menu we debated long and hard over our mains but when they arrived we knew we had made the right choice. Gaz went for Cherry Valley duck breast served with carrot & cumin puree, roast shallots, pak choi greens and he added a side of garlic roast potatoes. He declared it not only one of his favourite duck dishes of all time, but one of his favourite restaurant dishes full stop.

My envy at Gaz’s duck thankfully disappeared the moment my dish was placed in front of me – 24 hour cooked daube of beef served with roast shallots, celeriac puree, soy pak choi greens, creamy mash and I also added a side of garlic roast potatoes. If you can’t go for double carbs when you’re on holiday when can you? It was absolutely delicious with the meat literally falling off the bone and the sauce packed with flavour.

Whilst Harry chose from the children’s menu, the girls both went for the Chilli Beef and peppered cream pasta dish with red peppers, peas and parmesan. We ordered a child’s portion of pasta which was more than enough even for the hungriest of children like Eva! I always know when the kids are enjoying their food as there is complete silence at the table whilst we all tuck in and it’s safe to say nobody uttered a single word as we emptied our dishes.

Although there is a delicious dessert menu here at Timberquay, we were so full from two courses we literally couldn’t eat another mouthful. With cheesecake, creme brulee an warm brownies on the menu it took all of our willpower to say no but next time I would make sure we leave enough room to try them!

We absolutely loved our meal at Timberquay, from the food to the staff to the setting, it was completely faultless. If you’re local to Derry or planning a visit, be sure to check out their website here and get booked in. You will absolutely not regret it!