BELFAST is enjoying a restaurant revival with several big name eyeing up the city.
The latest to be considering a move to the city centre are Italian restaurant chains Carluccio's and Zizzi.
Others already known to be planning launches in Belfast include American fast food group Five Guys while Ed's Diner opened its first outlet in the north at Boucher Road last week.
Investors have been flocking to the city in their droves following decades of Belfast's almost non-existent night time economy, held back due to the Troubles.
The union flag protests at the end of 2012 that carried into 2013 looked set to derail the progress of Belfast food scene - but investment has continued unabated.
Zizzi already has more than 130 outlets in Britain. It is owned by equity firm Bridgepoint Capital, which also counts Pret a Manger in its portfolio.
Carluccio's was founded by Italian restaurateur Antonio Carluccio in 1999 as a spin off from his food shop business.
It has more than 110 outlets across Britain and Dubai with a second Dublin restaurant also in the planning.
The latest market report by property firm CBRE said Belfast's "restaurant sector remains strong" as the string of national chains line up.
The city had already made a name for itself for its top end restaurants in recent years with the likes of James Street South, Deane's, Ox and the Mourne Seafood Bar.
However, Belfast still lacks a much sought after Michelin star although Deane's and the now defunct Roscoff have held one in the past.
