Shells is a seriously lovely café, which blends a kind of surfer cool with seaside fun and friendliness

OUR intrepid food reviewer has travelled near and far to find the finest food and these are his favourites of the past 12 months.

Vanilla in Newcastle, Co Down, was Dominic's pick of 2016.

He dined on ravioli, lamb and lemon brulee and was so enamoured that he contemplated never leaving the restaurant.

Here's what he had to say after dining there in March: "OK, here's the plan. I’m going to move in to Vanilla. I’ll just book a table and never leave. I’ll nip into the toilet now and then to freshen up, brush my teeth, sleep, and what have you. I reckon if I can brazen it out for a couple of days, make it look like I’m meant to be there, then the staff will be too embarrassed to say anything.

"This place is just the bee’s knees, you see. In fact, if you rang the day before, they’d probably make you bee’s knees; I don’t see why not – they do a crispy pig’s head (I was tempted by that, but gave it a miss, as I already have one)."

Read more: Vanilla

Another favourite was Belle’s Kitchen in Rathmullan, Co Donegal.

Dominic fell for the charms of Belle's Kitchen and waxed lyrical about Belle's fish and chips.

"There were lovely flakes of firm fish encased in a light, crisp batter. The chips were soft on the inside, with a good, golden brown outer crunch. Close my eyes and I could have been walking back from the match, eating this straight from the paper, with the Footy Echo tucked under my arm, top of the league."

High praise indeed.

Read more: Belle's Kitchen

Shells in Strandhill, Co Sligo also got the Kearney seal of approval.

Dominic treated himself to a seaweed bath followed by lunch in Shells Seaside Bakery and Cafe.

"This is a seriously lovely café, which blends a kind of surfer cool with seaside fun and friendliness. It’s light, bright, airy, fresh, and smiley, just like a day at the beach should be. "

He tucked into a BLT that was "packed with thick bacon, enough mayonnaise to flavour without overpowering, and lovely, fresh tomato" that was held together "by the café’s own white, multi-seed bread, lightly toasted, soft, and crusty".

Us, jealous? Never.

Read more: Shells

Bishop's Gate Hotel in Derry

Dominic and his dining companions tore through duck arancini, seafood cocktai, Caesar salad, pannacotta, trifle and more in their visit to the hotel restaurant and were suitably impressed.

"I think they’re on to a winner here. A good hotel can earn a place in a city’s heart – the Shelbourne, the Merchant, the Midland, the Adelphi. With its attentive staff, friendly bar, and excellent – though not faultless – food, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the Bishop’s Gate Hotel becomes a fixture in Derry’s affections."

Read more: Bishop's Gate Hotel

His final favourite was Surgarbeet in Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone

"First impressions? Well, the greeting couldn’t have been warmer – instant, genuine friendliness. We were early, so it still felt more café than restaurant, with one blackboard showing the breakfast menu and another the lunchtime specials, and there was a TV tuned to a vintage pop channel. (On a side note, having Bucks Fizz singing Making Your Mind Up while we looked over the menu was either a fantastic coincidence or a touch of genius.)"

And it was here that he had a salmon fillet he declared to be "the best I’ve ever tasted. Full stop."

Read more: Sugarbeet

Now tell us where you loved to eat in 2016: