A Northern Irish chef and entrepreneur who trained in some of the world’s most respected Michelin star restaurants has returned home to Belfast to launch a new independent fast casual food concept focused on flavour, nutrition and convenience.
VINE, which stands for Vital, Intentional, Nutrition, Everyday, was founded by chef Nathan Sno and opened at 408 Lisburn Road last week, bringing a chef-led approach to everyday eating in Belfast.
The concept has been designed to bridge the gap between convenience and quality, serving freshly prepared hot bowls built around whole ingredients, balanced nutrition and restaurant-level cooking standards.
The launch follows an investment of approximately £80,000 and has created ten jobs, with the business developed and brought to market within three weeks of Nathan receiving the keys to the premises.
The menu centres around a build your own concept, featuring seasonal sides, proteins and sauces made in house. The food has been developed in consultation with a nutrition specialist with a PhD, with a focus on creating meals designed for everyday life rather than restrictive dieting or traditional health food.
Signature items include Romesco Salmon, Spiced Lemon Chicken, Turkey Meatballs and VINE Falafel, alongside sides and sauces such as wholemeal mac and cheese, cashew kale Caesar, green tahini, maple sweet potatoes and marinated cannellini beans.
Nathan, who grew up in Northern Ireland, began working in kitchens at the age of 11 before building an international culinary career across Belfast, London, Australia and the United States.
After becoming a head chef in Australia at just 20 years old, he later moved into restaurants with Michelin stars to further develop his craft. Over several years, he completed training placements in more than 20 Michelin star restaurants internationally, including The French Laundry, Eleven Madison Park, Frantzén and Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester. He also worked as a sous chef in a Michelin star restaurant in Mayfair, London.
Following his time in professional kitchens, Nathan founded Food Story Media, a creative agency working with chefs, restaurants and hospitality brands internationally.
VINE brings together his background in food, hospitality and media with a personal focus on health, performance and everyday eating.
Nathan said: “VINE was created to solve a simple problem. People want food that makes them feel good, but they do not want to sacrifice flavour, convenience or experience to get it.
“Fast food has traditionally prioritised speed over quality, while a lot of health focused food can feel cold, restrictive or disconnected from real life. We wanted to create something in the middle. Food made with care and proper kitchen standards, but served in a way that fits modern everyday life.
“The menu has been developed alongside a nutrition specialist, but first and foremost the food still has to be comforting, satisfying and genuinely enjoyable to eat.”
Nathan also spoke about the personal experiences that influenced the concept.
He continued: “When I was younger, I had a very unhealthy relationship with food and with myself generally. I realised over time how much food impacts not only physical health, but energy, mindset and daily life.
“VINE came from that journey. It is not about perfection or extreme health culture. It is about making better food more accessible and creating somewhere people can return to consistently without feeling like they are compromising.”
Lisburn Road was selected as the first location due to its established hospitality scene, strong footfall and growing audience of customers interested in health, fitness and lifestyle.
The restaurant has been designed as a modern third space, somewhere people can work, meet, eat and spend time, with an emphasis on community, culture and everyday routine rather than traditional fast food.
Nathan has also been documenting the process of launching the business through a daily social media series, sharing the realities of building a hospitality concept from scratch, from construction and menu development to branding and operations.
The opening of VINE brings a new independent hospitality business to one of Belfast’s busiest food and lifestyle destinations, while introducing a scalable concept designed around changing consumer demand for convenient, health focused food that still delivers on flavour, warmth and quality.
With its first location now open in Belfast, the business plans to expand further across Northern Ireland in the coming years, with a second modular location already in development and a five site growth target.