Rain City, Belfast

It was all over in 36 minutes. (story of my life...) Arrived just before 930pm and was greeted by a friendly waitress. "when do you close?" "abite neoow". Hmmm. Caesar Salad (small) was £5-50, Slow roasted Lamb shank was £12-50, Glass of Red wine was £3-50 {I can always have 2 glasses instead of paying £10-00 for a half bottle}. Asked for it all together but was stunned to find 3 minutes later that there it was! Organic carrots and parsnips - must be organic as they didn't peel them; champ (or maybe mash with spring onions in it) and jus of red wine. Small portions verging on cuisine nouvelle. Caesar salad very disappointing. Large leaves, grated not shaved parmesan; insipid dressing, a few extra olives but little taste. Took so little time that I couldn't justify asking for a second glass of red wine. In 36 minutes I had eaten, paid the bill and was leaving Rain City. Paul Rankin may have a good name but Rain City was just another stop on the long road of average restaurants.

Breakfast on GNER

Matches, and often exceeds, most hotel breakfasts. There are salmon and veggie choices but your correspondent braved the Full English on your behalf. Of course, with the same menus being used on the King's Cross to Edinburgh run (well worth the money just for the view), this becomes "The Great British Breakfast" - so as not to offend.

To start Tall glass of orange juice - fairly normal but welcome all the same.

Then, eschewing the original Alpen (with full sugar complement), Weetabix, Cornflakes choice I go for the fresh orange and grapefruit. Pink and white grapefruit and orange segments, skinned and not tinned, look a treat in the dish and taste a treat too.

Toast while we wait for the main course. It has to be said it is burnt on one side - not the side showing when you pick it from the basket; slight disappointment. Restaurant full (first class ticket holders only today) so must be chaos in the galley; pehaps the last British train on which any real cooking is done?

Main course. Good choice of good quality honest-to-goodness-cholestorol-on-a-plate. Sumptuous bacon (bit limp by the time the waiter gets to the bits under the top layer of the pile on the salver but lots of it and a bit of the crispy top layer too), thick pork sausage, black pudding, FRIED egg on FRIED bread (looks like chef has it in for the bread today as this slice is overdone too - could have chosen scrambled), top quality grilled tomato, huge open cup mushrooms. hash browns (just like having chips but less guilty). I decline the baked beans (there ARE limits!). Now down to some serious eating. Not much conversation in the carriage. I distinctly thought I heard the woman next to me have an orgasm at this point but said nothing, being English.

Followed by coffee, toast, strawberry jam. Delicious.

£13 - what excellent value.

Eat your heart out Virgin - with your microwaved burn-your-mouth bacon roll in a plastic bag served with yoghurt and apple segments all in hermetically sealed containers whether you want it or not.