Published Wednesday, 11 January 2012
The West Circular Road had to be closed for about 30mins on Tuesday night, due to smoke billowing from the former Villa Toscana and causing poor visibility.
"Very shortly after our arrival, the fire broke through the roof of the first story at the front of the building," a Fire Service spokesman told UTV.
"Severe damage has been caused to the front annex - it's totally destroyed."
A YouTube video shows smoke coming from the building and the presence of the emergency services.
The building has been unoccupied for about four years and the fire is being treated as suspicious by both the Fire Service and PSNI.
It took four fire crews, plus an aerial appliance from Belfast, to bring the blaze under control and stop it spreading to other nearby properties.
North Down Alliance councillor Andrew Muir said he had been concerned about the former restaurant lying empty for so long.
"After previously contacting the police concerning ease of access available to the building, I was glad to see the building partially secured - but, with no occupier, anyone intent on gaining access could almost certainly enter the old disused restaurant," he said.
"While the cause of this fire hasn't yet been established, the need to secure and protect disused buildings remains paramount during these tough economic times when more premises remain unsold and unoccupied."
Fire Investigation Officers are working to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Roads in the surrounding area were closed as smoke caused poor visibility while the Fire and Rescue Service dealt with the blaze, which has been extinguished.