Cafe Grand Dame

Hooked onto the side of the majestic Ulster Hall I doubt if a café could have a more central location or a better catchment area. The main building itself is beautiful so it came as a bit of a surprise that this annex was so, well, unremarkable.
The food selection seems fine and the breakfast options are many if a little uninspired. The coffee is Starbucks so at least you know what you’re getting there and the staff are really bubbly and keen to make sure you have a good time.
There in lies a bit of the problem, if this wasn’t attached to the Ulster Hall would it be worth visiting at all? Menu and vibe-​wise there’s not really anything setting it apart from many other similar establishments in the area.
Pros: Nice staff, cool setting.
Cons: The usual coffee shop selection.

I want this place to work so badly. If you read my review of the Ulster Hall, you’ll know why.
The thing is, it’s very expensive for what you get. And because of the layout of the hall, it takes forever for the food to be ready (the kitchen is way at the back of the building and there’s only a small prep area behind the counter).
They also do Starbucks coffee, which is fine if you’re into that, but I hate Starbucks, so that’s no good.
Now, that said, I had one of the best sausage rolls I’ve ever had in there once (might have been because it was a Sunday and I was working with a hangover. Can’t be sure), so maybe there’s hope yet.
It’s definitely got a great location. Although beware of the cold. It’s not so bad in the summer, but because you’re sitting in the lobby of an old building, it can get pretty drafty in the winter — bring a scarf!

Attached to one of the city’s main concert venues, the Ulster Hall, Café Grand Dame is a pleasant enough spot with friendly staff. Expect to find the same food and drink here you would any other coffee shop; pastries, cappuchino, etc. But for me, it lacks personality, the atmosphere that makes me feel comfortable. It’s a collection of hard chairs and tables and seems to be quite dreary during the day, which may be a good thing if privacy is what you seek.