"Travelling from Newtownards through Kircubbin towards Portaferry, you will pass Saltwater Brig. And it would be quite the mistake on your part if you didn’t stop for a bite or a beverage at this long-established (circa 1765, would you believe? pub and restaurant. “The Brig” has a traditional feel, not only in the comfortable interior with a cosy “snug”, main bar and relaxing beer garden with its beautiful views over the Lough, but also in the menu, featuring lots of pub-grub style favourites using top quality locally sourced ingredients. We were greeted by the wonderful Orla, who has been at the helm of Saltwater Brig with Joe for nearly twenty years, and enjoyed one of our favourite white wines, a crisp, summery Green Social Verdejo while we perused the menu. And the chef kindly sent out an amuse bouche of Cream of Chicken White Onion Soup to whet our appetites! To start, the delightful Donna served us a Portavogie Prawn Cocktail with Hand Shelled Prawns, Mixed Baby Leaf Cherry Tomato Salad, Salsa, Marie Rose Sauce, served with Wheaten Bread. We also had a bowl of Fresh Strangford Lough Rope Mussels in a White Wine Garlic Cream, with Toasted Sourdough to mop up the delicious sauce. To follow, the Seafood Combo-an incredible selection of Beer Battered Portavogie Scampi, Crispy Salt Chilli Squid on Asian Slaw, Lemon Black Pepper Crumbed Cod Scampi, Battered Smoked Cod Goujons and Trio Of Dips, came with a choice of side. We went for some golden, crispy chunky chips. And the Pan Fried Seabass Fillets on Herb Crushed Potatoes surrounded by a White Wine Cream Sauce packed with Prawns, and served with Tender-stem Broccoli was delicate and delicious. To finish, the Spiced, Bramley Apple Crumble, fragrant with Oats Cinnamon, came with a jug of steaming Home Made Vanilla Custard Vanilla Ice Cream. And for a nightcap, the extensive Whisky Menu has plenty of old favourites, and some newer drams. Thank you so much to all the team at Saltwater Brig for a great evening of food, drink, and craic!"
