Fodder Internet Cafe in Downpatrick

Reviews

1. Jon Klap ★☆☆☆☆

   I really wanted to like this place. It came highly recommended, the reviews were glowing, and on paper it sounded like somewhere that takes real pride in what they do. Unfortunately, my visit didn’t reflect any of that. The staff did engage in a bit of conversation, which I appreciated, but overall the service was still slow and felt unfocused. It seemed as though they were stretched thin or simply not keeping track of what was happening. The tipi itself was smoky and uncomfortable, which made it hard to relax and enjoy the experience. I ordered their staple: the burger and chips. With their own Dexter cattle herd, I expected something memorable — rich flavour, good texture, and a sense that the meat had been treated with care. Instead, the burger was bland, poorly put together, and honestly no better than something you’d get from a fast‑food chain. I’ve genuinely had better burgers from Burger King, which says a lot. I chose not to raise any of this on the day — I didn’t want to make a scene, and by the time the food finally arrived, I simply didn’t have the time to stay any longer. But the experience stuck with me because it fell so far short of the reputation this place has. Maybe they were having an off day, but when a venue builds its name on quality and local produce, the basics shouldn’t miss the mark this badly. For me, the hype just didn’t match the reality.

   almost 7 months ago
2. Alison James ★★★★★

   We visited Fodder today and decided to have some Festive Fayre from their menu. We sat outside as we had 2 large dogs and quick as lightning a member of staff dried the picnic table and seats. Not only that, a beautiful deer hide rug was produced as well to sit on. An absolute delight sitting in the sun surrounded by twinkling Christmas Trees. The food which arrived promptly was absolutely delish. I had beef brisket with slaw and crispy onions served in a brioche bap, my other half had the Christmas burger which he declared very tasty. A great Christmas 'picnic', thoroughly enjoyed.

   almost 8 months ago
3. Owen Jones ★★★★★

   A querky woodland place for fun at at any age! The fairy lit winding walks in the woods have all kinds of novel experiences with whimsical themes to amuse kids and adults alike. We spent an hour in the shop alone enjoying the woodcraft and locally imagined hand made gifts and food. One entirey unique experience that is hard to leave.

   almost 11 months ago

1. Eileen Mcallister ★★★★★

   I had the pleasure of visiting Fodders today, a hidden gem recommended by a friend. From start to finish, I was truly inspired by the enchanting atmosphere and the warmth of the staff. The magical and romantic lake walks added to the charm. The food emerging from the kitchen looked absolutely incredible. Although we only enjoyed coffee and sweet treats, the experience was unforgettable. Plus, it’s wonderfully pet-friendly—your furry companion is welcome inside. I will definitely be returning!

   1 year ago
2. Catherine Moore ★★★★★

   Such a cute little place! Absolutely amazing food, they were fantastic with allergies, 10/10! Will definitely be back ❤️

   almost 3 years ago
3. Chris Bell ★★★★★

   Unique spot in the middle of a forest with lakeside walks available. Coffee and food were excellent, staff are very friendly, it’s dog friendly, prices are fair for the quality of food, supports other local businesses…the list could go on. If I could change anything, I would make the farm shop bigger and get even more independent Northern Irish businesses in there!

   almost 3 years ago

1. Craig Wood ★★★★★

   We really enjoyed our time here today. We eat inside the large teepee, next to the log fire. The staff were lovely and friendly and the food was excellent, thoroughly enjoyed it. There was also a musician playing an acoustic guitar and singing, he was great and had picked a decent setlist. Picked up a souvenir mug and went on a couple of trails in the wood. Would recommend it to anyone in the area.

   almost 4 years ago
2. Richard Tongeman ★★★☆☆

   Love the unique venue! Great place to bring young families and dogs. All the staff are really nice and the coffee is delicious. But the Burger quality was much lower than in the winter, basically flavourless with no seasoning. The waitress recommended we order the kids burger because it's the same size just £4 less, and I wish we had! We enjoy the walk but it's not long enough, listing out the different routes on a board is a bit of a joke because there's only 5 minutes difference between them. Also couldn't get ice-cream because it is in a shed which was closed, I asked in the shop whether we could get ice-creams and they said there was no one available to fetch them from the shed. They should make their bathrooms genderless because there's always a long queue for the women's while the men's is sitting empty. The car parking situation is not great, there's a queue running all the way back to the main road, and empty slots in the car-park because other people didn't park properly. If they had white lines sprayed on the floor then you'd be able to fit at-least another 10% more cars. Despite all this I'm sure we'll be back as everyone enjoys it as a fun little day out, just a couple bits which could be improved.

   almost 4 years ago
3. Paula Green ★★★★☆

   Visited for the first time just before Easter travelling from Newtownabbey. It's a lovely spot and we treated ourselves to coffee and cake which was nice, but a tad pricey. The trails are enjoyable with lovely views across the lake and wildflowers to spot along the way. I just thought the trails were a little short.

   almost 4 years ago

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