Sawers is a feast for the eyes and the hungry alike

Sawyers

Center of the Fountain,

College Street,

Belfast,

BT1 6ES

028 9032 2021

sawersbelfast.com

It’s controversial, but I firmly believe that while lunchtime is the best part of the day, it can also be the most boring – especially when you work in the city centre and are overwhelmed with options.

We’ve all been there: You agree to meet a colleague for a bite to eat and talk shop, only to be greeted with, “So, where would you like to go?” — which, if you’re like me, a perpetual sycophant, leads to at least five minutes of back-and-forth “No, it’s up to you, I don’t care.”

Thankfully, since The Irish News moved to the Fountain Centre, this has not been such a common occurrence as we are located just above what I believe to be the best stocked deli in Belfast.

Sawers defies all laws of space and dimension by packing what seems to be enough of the world’s finest foods, locally sourced, canned, smoked, freshly squeezed, freshly picked, freshly caught, dolphin-friendly, fair trade, organic, imported and always exotic, that would put Harrods Food Hall to shame.

It’s clear that owner Kieran Sloan isn’t just passionate about food – he’s obsessed, clearly living by the maxim “too much is never enough”. I mean, where else would you find smoked eel with fresh pollan from Lough Neagh, a range of Middle Eastern baklavas and a selection of meats including zebra, rattlesnake and bison, all in one place?

On a recent visit with an indecisive coworker, we stood in a busy line that snaked around the store. Not that we minded, as being surrounded by the glorious smells of various cheeses, sauces, and condiments helped us forget about the depressing, dreary “summer” weather we’ve been experiencing lately.

The strength of a Sawers lunch, whether you choose to sit outside at one of their Parisian café-style tables or take your purchase back to the office, is the sheer variety. From salads and wraps to their iconic hefty sandwiches that are nearly as big as your head, the selection and ingredient list seems limitless.

After pondering the nine enormous menus hanging from the ceiling, I chose the pesto chicken wrap – an excellent decision, if I do say so myself.

A crispy tortilla sprinkled with a generous amount of paprika, topped with chicken marinated in spicy pesto, would have been tasty enough, but the added tang from the sun-kissed tomatoes and the hint of salt from the Parma ham and parmesan took it to another level.

There seemed to be a similar taste sensation occurring across the table as my colleague devoured her melty Italian sandwich—smoked Parma ham topped with bronzed tomatoes, pesto, arugula, and just the right amount of creamy buffalo mozzarella, all stuffed between two pieces of lightly toasted ciabatta.

Having made it this far (down the escalator), it would be rude not to try some of the sweet things Sawers has to offer – plus, there’s nothing like a sugar rush to help you get through the second half of the day.

Unfortunately, they had sold out of their Portuguese custard tarts, which had become something of a specialty. However, the strawberry cannoli I brought back was still an excellent choice.

A crispy, flaky pastry that gives way to a sweet, creamy mascarpone filling, although I must admit that the strawberry flavor is lost despite the bright red coloring.

However, the caramel cake was flawless – a wonderfully light sponge cake with a gooey centre and drizzles of smooth vanilla icing on top to complete the look.

Sawers has been in business since the 1800s: this is its third century in operation. In that time, it has established itself as the place to go for those weird and wonderful things you’d struggle to find anywhere else, so it’s no wonder it’s become a hit with tourists.

The reputation and extraordinary range of products attract people to the store, but it is the quality that keeps them coming back: it is a feast for the eyes as well as the appetite.

So the next time someone asks you where you’d like to have lunch, make your life a lot easier and head to Sawers.

The bill

• Hot Pesto Chicken Wrap – £7.95
• Italian Ciabatta Melt – £7.95
• Cannoli Grandi Strawberry – £2.50
• Sticky Toffee Cake – £3.00
• Arizona Peach Iced Tea – £2.99
• Joe’s Classic Lemonade – £3.99

Total: £28.38