the lighthouse bistro

Whitehead

About us

The Lighthouse Bistro

Nestled along the coast between Carrickfergus Castle and the Gobbins Cliff Path, The Lighthouse Bistro is situated just off Victorian Whitehead's colourful promenade. 


The Lighthouse Bistro is a small, cosy, award winning family run restaurant which makes everything from scratch including its own pasta, breads and smokes and pickles a range of local produce too. You can expect to find local cheeses, seafood, coffee and a range of meat dishes such as smoked pork belly and steaks on the menu. 


The Bistro holds various events throughout the year including tapas nights, wine tasting and tasting menues. Dates are announced here and via social media. We are unlicenced but you may bring a bottle!


Our menu is subject to change. We regularly have daily lunch and evening specials on offer. 


WE WILL BE CLOSED FROM 2ND JULY TO 18TH JULY FOR OUR SUMMER BREAK. WE WILL BE OPEN AGAIN ON FRIDAY 19TH JULY. 


Sea you all soon!


#thelighthousebistro

Lunch

Small plates

Seafood chowder

6

mixed seafood, sour dough

Chicken & avocado

6

mixed leafs, lime sour cream

Strangford mussels

7

white wine cream, Bistro bread

Goats cheese

6

beetroot, walnut, mixed leafs, seeds

Pasta

fresh pasta, cream or tomato sauce with garlic bread & smoked cheddar

Chicken & chorizo

Seafood

Smoked bacon & mushrooms


All    £10

Minute steak 6oz

12

greens, garlic skins / chips, choice of sauce

Chicken fillet

11

greens, garlic skins / chips, choice of sauce 

Bistro Menu

Starters / Small Plates

Seafood chowder

6.50

mixed seafood, sour dough

Chicken liver mousse

5.50

House chutney, sour dough

Fivemiletown goats cheese

5.50

beetroot, walnuts, mixed leafs, seeds

Cured salmon

5.90

Sauce suedoise

Duck leg confit

7.50

aioli, pickles

Mains

Lighthouse bouillabaisse

18.90

mixed fish and seafood, tomato & basil sauce, baby boils, House bread, aioli

Bistro beef

18.50

6 oz premium sirloin carved, root vegetables, mushrooms, red wine reduction

Chicken

16.50

local free range chicken fillet, garden greens, blue cheese & pear cream

Smoked pork belly

17.50

marinated king prawns, butternut squash puree, pickles, chilli jam

Silverhill duck breast

17.50

pearl barley, butternut squash, Madeira sauce

From the Grill

All served with choice of sauce & butter saute mushrooms

Cleaver&Steel premium sirloin 12oz

22.50

Smoked pork belly

16.50

pickles, chilli jam

Chicken fillet

15.50

local free range chicken fillet, pickles

Weekly game & seafood specials

Venison, pigeon, duck, scallops, lobster due the availability & seasons.

Sides

Handcut house chips

3.50

Garlic potato skins

3.50

Baby boil potatoes

3.70

Trio of vegetables

3.95

Tomato & onion salad

3.95

Sauces

Bushmills pepper cream

Red wine jus

Madeira

Garlic butter

Chasseur

Sherry vinegar gravy

Kids corner

all £5 and served with chips, peas & carrots

Fish fingers

Fresh chicken goujons

Minute steak (£2 supplement)

Macaroni & cheese

Dessert Menu

Tart

Cheesecake

Chocolate brownie

Posset

Sorbet

Cheeseboard

8.50

Irish cheeses, crackers, house chutney

all £4.95

Vegan Menu

Small plates

Vegetable soup

5.50

Sour dough

Garlic mushrooms

5.50

Virgin olive oil, parsley

Bruschetta

5

Sour dough, tomato & basil salsa, herb oil

Super food salad

6.95

Avocado, tofu, mixed leafs, cucumber, peas, seeds

Mains

Salt & chili tofu

17.95

Crispy tofu, sesame seeds, Asian flavour vegetables

Polenta steak

16.95

Root vegetables, mushrooms, red wine reduction, House pickles

Spaghetti

16.50

Mixed vegetables, tomato sauce, garlic bread

Portobello mushroom

17.50

Vegetables, House pickles

Desserts

Bistro sorbet

4.95

Fresh fruit salad

4.95

Thursday Tapas Menu

Cold

Spanish tortilla

4

Salmon geviche

6

Salted beef pincho

5

Goat cheese & piquello peppers

4.50

Duck and orange salad

5

Avocado pincho

4.50

Hot

Seafood & chicken paella

7

Chorizo in red wine

6

Spicy mussels

5

Smoked pork belly

5

Patatas bravas / aioli

4

Mixed beans & avocado

5

Sweet

Crema catalana

3.50

Sangria sorbet

3

Chocolat mousse

3.50

All three for

9

nb: Weekly changes!

Visit Us

The Lighthouse Bistro

2 Marine Avenue, Whitehead, Carrickfergus, BT38 9QW

028 9337 2447

Hours

Lunch

Tuesday to Saturday 11-14


Evening

Thursday to Saturday 17 - 21


Monday & Sunday - closed.


Booking recommended. 

Contact Us

Cancel

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Press

The Food Awards NI 2019

We were thrilled to be Highly Commended in the overall Customers Choice Award at the Food Awards NI this year! Thanks so much everyone!

image185

Sunday Life

'A star is born. The Lighthouse Bistro has it all!' 

Great review from TableTalk in the Sunday Life 3 months after opening (October 2018). 

image186

Taste of Ulster

We are proud to be a Taste of Ulster member and use local produce where possible! We passed our mystery inspection with a 97% pass rate. 

Team Lighthouse

The Lighthouse Bistro Team

image187

 Having worked for over 30 years in the business, Chef Joni's food obsession leads to a dining experience based on fresh, seasonal and made from scratch plates.   

Our staff are dedicated to providing a relaxing and welcoming dining experience and look forward to meeting you!

Special Events and Catering

image188

Our restaurant is available for private events: weddings, business lunches, dinners, and more. We would love to discuss how to be a part of your next event or meet your outside catering requirements!

Changing and Set Menues - Seasonal and Local

image189

Look out for our changing seasonal menues which take advantage of the amazing produce growing and available in these lands! We also provide a set menu experience. Please get in touch for further info. Feedback on our menu is always welcome.