Restaurant Guide

dudara · 09-09-2003 3:36pm

In cork the absolute best is the "Ivory Tower", about 50 yoyo per head, excl wine, but a real foodie experience.

For vegetarians we have "Cafe Paradiso" again at the expensive end of the scale, but great for a special night out. Makes you forget that you are eating vegetarian.

For cheap and cheerful meals, there is "Poco Loco" a mexican on castle street, where you can have a main course and a glass of wine for under 10 yoyo. Also "Ciao Ciao" on Washington street for italian, again under a tenner.

In the middle price ranges, there's Tao Tao, an excellent chinese restaurant on Princes street, cafe mexicana on carey's lane, citron in douglas, the bombay palace and indian palace on princes street. The ruen thai on patrick street is superb as is cassanova, an italian joint in the Triskel Arts centre.

I don't tend to bother too much with italian restaurants in cork as most of them are ridiculously overpriced and simply not good enough. Personally I can't stand Bully as I reckon that they are trading on a name, and I've never seen a restaurant more in need of a good scrub and coat of paint.

sod · 11-09-2003 11:14am

In Wexford, best seafood restaurant ever is The Lobster Pot down near Our Ladys Island (not far from Rosslare), absolutely beautiful food, only open during Summer months and no reservations so you go down and hope for a spot or wait for one.

herbie747 · 10-10-2003 5:32pm

Excellent:
Zan Asia - Chinese (Sutton Cross).
The Big Blue (Howth).
Wongs - Chinese (Clontarf).
Casa Pasta - Clontarf.

CRAP:
Little Caesars (Dublin 2). Arrogant staff, crap food.
Oscar Taylors (Malahide). Used to be great. Now it's pathetic.

Mac daddy · 12-10-2003 2:46am

There is a good one in greystones called the hungry monk.
Very good food. There Fillet syeak is massive very tasty.

Another Good one is called Outlawz in dun-laoirghe
quality Grub, There Spare Ribs very tasty

I'm hungry now

embee · 03-11-2003 7:32am

Wagamama underneath St Stephens Green Shopping Centre is yummyyyyy

Reasonably priced and its a nice atmoshpere.

Seafood dumplings - oooooooh

Mumha · 26-11-2003 1:25pm

Originally posted by seveb
what are the best places to eat in cork city & surrounding areas & why?

In no particular order,

The Crow's Nest, Victoria Cross, Cork : Best Steak in Cork (If someone knows better, PLEASE let me know). It is a Cajun Marinated 18oz T-Bone Steak ! Excellent Seafood and other stuff done in a Nouvelle Cusine way but VERY generous portions.

The Wylam, Victoria Cross, Cork : Across the road from the Crow's, Chinese Restaurant. I would rate it in the top 2 quality Chinese Restaurants in Cork. The other being The Ambassador in Marlboro Street (I think).

The Brook Inn, Glanmire, Cork : Don't bother with the lunchtime, try the evening dinner. Really good. Good Variety of options and portions. Good Steak and Seafood.

Scoozis, off Winthrop Street, Cork : A Pizza/Chicken/Steak place. VERY popular. Hard to get a booking but you can just turn up and wait, usually get through quickly. Chicken wings, BBQ Chicken Pizza, Bruschetta, Bacon Cheese Burger and in the evening Steaks are added like the Big Bopper (14oz). Great Pepper sauce.

Luigi Malones, Emmett Place, Cork. : Same square as the Opera House. Part of the chain from Dublin. I've been in the Dublin two, and the one in Cork is nicer. Best Chicken wings in Ireland. I love it ! Hope to try the new LM in O'Connell Street, Limerick, next month.

Speckled Door, Old Head of Kinsale, Garrettstown, Co, Cork : Not sure of the Winter hours but if you are down during the summer, I can heartily recommend it. Superb seafood (John Dory etc)/Steaks/Burgers etc.

Imperial Hotel, Clonakilty, Co. Cork : If you are passing through, they do a High Tea between 6 and 7 in the evening at a very reasonable price.

Courtmacsherry Hotel, Co. Cork: Not sure abot the winter, but in the summer, I can highly recommend it. Loads of nosh !

Gyck · 01-12-2003 1:15am

Now that we're in Cork, how about Casino House, a few klms outside Kinsale? Not just a sublime restaurant, but they have a cottage for rent that is the most romantic place to spend a week, or weekend. Yum and yum!!!

Ichiro · 01-12-2003 3:15pm

FAV restaurant has to be
Diep La Shaker in Dublin Pembroke Lane,
Quality though pricey every time I go quality service and brilliant atmosphere.

Recommended to all.
They also have a cheaper smaller place called Diep La Noddle in Ranleagh
which is goo was there recently good fun and cheaper than big sister

Food is excellent

Gillie · 01-12-2003 3:27pm

Sligo:

Bistro Bianconi: O'Connell St. Excellent Italian food at a very resonable price! Also have a separate premises for take-away. They specialise in Gourment (spelling!!) pizzas.

Montemarte: Market Yard. French Restaurant. One Word - Quality!

Yeats Tavern: Drumcliffe. A bit outside sligo on Letterkenny rd. Class food at a good price!

Fiddlers Creek: Rockwood Parade. Middle of town, again Quality.

There are also too many Chinese and Indian restaurants to mention. All Quality as well.

There are many more Restaurants in Sligo but the above would be my personal favourites

Mumha · 01-12-2003 7:11pm

Originally posted by Gyck
Now that we're in Cork, how about Casino House, a few klms outside Kinsale? Not just a sublime restaurant, but they have a cottage for rent that is the most romantic place to spend a week, or weekend. Yum and yum!!!

Gyck, What type of food do they do ?

Gyck · 04-12-2003 4:37pm

They cook a broad sweep of dishes with a 'European' slant. The menu is changed regularly. They bake their own bread, which is of course delicious! The best way I can describe their food is similar to what you'd be served in Rolys Bistro, or perhaps Bijou in Rathgar, but with a much more relaxed atmosphere and superior views.
Good selection of wines too.

They're well worth a visit if you're in the locality.

Mumha · 04-12-2003 11:32pm

Originally posted by Gyck
They cook a broad sweep of dishes with a 'European' slant. The menu is changed regularly. They bake their own bread, which is of course delicious! The best way I can describe their food is similar to what you'd be served in Rolys Bistro, or perhaps Bijou in Rathgar, but with a much more relaxed atmosphere and superior views.
Good selection of wines too.

They're well worth a visit if you're in the locality.

Thanks for that Gyck. I'll be trying it very soon !

neuro-praxis · 06-12-2003 9:38pm

Acapulco on South Great George's Street in Dublin is my fave. Mexican fare, great atmosphere and latin music. Superb staff and tasty margheritas. Starter, main, dessert and 1/2 bottle of wine per person comes in under E40. Have yet to eat something there that didn't stun me. Book though, to avoid the queues.

Gotta say, Gilly, I've been to most of the restaurants you've mentioned in Sligo and didn't think any of them were up to much. The only one I've ever gone back to was the Bistro Bianconi...but the decor is just so 80's. Bit of a dated venue, not very good staff. Nice pizza though.

Pinkchick03 · 08-12-2003 7:34pm

If anyone is interested in Indian food then I recommend a lovely authentic restaurant in Dundalk:

Punjab House Restaurant

61 Park st Dundalk Louth
(042) 9329980

I was there on the other night! Beautiful food, very reasonably priced - 4 person meal, poppodums and a bottle of wine for €85!Very good value and absolutely beautiful food!

YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Gillie · 09-12-2003 10:38am

"Gotta say, Gilly, I've been to most of the restaurants you've mentioned in Sligo and didn't think any of them were up to much. The only one I've ever gone back to was the Bistro Bianconi...but the decor is just so 80's. Bit of a dated venue, not very good staff. Nice pizza though"

Well as I said I liked them. You must have had a sh*ty experience and thats unfortunate! Can't believe you didn't find the staff to be good!?!

violenza · 19-12-2003 3:23am

"Acapulco on South Great George's Street in Dublin is my fave. Mexican fare, great atmosphere and latin music. Superb staff and tasty margheritas. " Going there for yonks with the gf and have to say I've never been disapointed...infact I hate going elsewhere because it's so unpredictable. The only other place i've experienced consistant satisfaction is the cedar tree across from the international??Lebanese and delicious but still not acapulco:D

sssh!!!

neuro-praxis · 22-12-2003 9:29pm

Imagine, we may have sat beside each other and never known.

Such a great restaurant eh?

MrNuked · 05-01-2004 6:16pm

Best:
La Strada on George's St in Dun Laoghaire has very good food and is affordable, but gets crowded and noisy later on so try it early (opens at 5pm)

Worst:
In in Dalkey is overpriced, gives miniscule portions, has a highly pretentious atmosphere and very rude staff.

In between:

Siam Thai in Ballsbridge has a really nice atmosphere and friendly staff, although the food we tried wasn;t all that nice. Perhaps we just didn't try the right things.

There are two Italian restaurants in Dalkey. One is called Don Givanni's. I don;t remember the name of the other. They both have nice food and atmosphere.

Bang on Baggot St has extremely tasty food but is very very crowded and noisy, and you have to wait a ridiculously long time for your food. The staff are nice considering they work in a horrible envirnment and seem worn out.

[DF]Lenny · 17-01-2004 1:15pm

Lemongrass in Maynooth or The Chile Club in St annes street are both good reasonably prices Thai spots.

BluE-WinG · 19-01-2004 12:12pm

Favorite Restaurants in Dublin :

Little Caesars (Dublin 14) Rathfarnham -

Supurb food, friendly staff and gorgeous italian surroundings. Not too expensive either (as Dublin goes)

Spur Steakhouse Liffey Valley Shopping Centre -

Gorgeous food, friendly staff, Great value for money - Cheapest restaurant I know in Dublin

And theres no compromise on quality

Mumha · 19-01-2004 11:55pm

Years ago, when I lived in Dublin, I was a regular diner at FXBs in Pembroke Street. Is it still there ? Any opinions on it, if it is ?

TacT · 28-01-2004 1:26pm

Latest pleasant Surprise was Bon Apetit in Malahide, when you come into Malahide village, you drive to the end of the village, take the last left and it 's on your left about 5 doors down.

Pricewise - v.pricey, no prices on the Menu and I wasn't paying the bill so I couldn't tell you

Surroundings - sublime, brilliant place to hire a private room for a party, as it happens we were celebrating my Mother's 50th and there were 25 of us at the table.

Staff - V.friendly, excellent service, the head chef is also the owner of the restaurant and his name is Patsy, he'll cater to any special requests you might have and has a great attitude. We were served drinks until 3:45am!

Food - Some of the best I've had in an Irish restaurant, for starters I had a Kir royal sorbet and soup which is served with their homemade bread. Main course I had duck which was nothing short of divine, they cook it so you get crispy fat and none of this soggy rubbish you put to the side of your plate and it's served on a bed of mashed potato with a choice of extra spuds/chips/mash and veg. For Desert I had a blueberry and some other berry pie (note: I was too drunk to remember what the second fruit in the pie was at this stage but it was lovely)

If your looking for a fancy place for a romantic meal or a nice spot to have a get together for whatever celebration, look no further, this place has you covered.

More shocking than anything was the choice on the menu, they have superb choice, many upper class restaurants I've been in always let me down on choice but this place will have you clutching onto that menu for a few more minutes as you're spoilt for it.

10/10 from myself

blondie83 · 28-01-2004 11:42pm

If you're looking for a good Dublin chipper I can recommend Burdocks in Rathmines, epicuren food hall and Christchurch. They're not as good as they used to be, but they're still the best chipper in Dublin.

Also I've got to agree with whoever put up Wagamma under Stephens Green Shopping centre, the chicken katsu cuury is the best!

I like the atmosphere in the trocadero, it's really cosy. Foods a bit pricy though.

Also for lunch try the "steps of Rome", It's just off either Church St or Trinity street, can never remember which one! But for 7.50 you get a nice lunch and a glass of wine. Good food, and nice staff there:p

Mumha · 24-02-2004 4:27pm

Had dinner in the Malthouse in Galway, last week. Pricey but very tasty. Nice ambience.

Kalina · 12-03-2004 2:43pm

Wagamamas is a Japanese noodle bar on South King Street in Dublin City centre. 20 of us arrived at the restaurant on a Sat night recently, the queue was huge but we were seated withing 15 minutes in the really pleasant basement restaurant. For the 20 of us the bill came to only €350, that included drinks, starters and main course for everyone and about 10 coffees and 6 desserts, which is just outstanding value.
Thumbs up for food, service, menu choice and value. I'd definitely recommend it.

Gyck · 11-04-2004 1:31am

I was back in La Cave on South Anne Street recently, I had forgotten how pleasent the place can be. And this was before the smoking ban came in...
...Mind you, I'll miss the cigars!

RE*AC*TOR · 20-04-2004 4:14pm

Waterford: for fish and chips the greatest chipper in the world is in Tramore - its called Cunninghams - unbeleivably good.
There's a retaurant on John's Street called Bodega!, French cuisine reasonably priced, lovely beers, wines, they have a set menu but most of the menu changes on a day to day basis depending on what fresh foods they can get. Best restaurant in Waterford.

Dublin: Elephant and Castle in Temple Bar is reliable, although its not cheap and the wait can be long for a table.
O'Connells in Bewleys Hotel in Ballsbridge used to do high standard of food for moderate prices - but the last time I was there I was very unimpressed (about a year ago) - don't know if its improved since.
Obviously for lunch the Avoca cafe's do some lovely food.
And for that food before or after a night drinking or just some cheap quick food, i'd recommend either Charlies2 in temple bar (Chinese) or Zaytoon also in Temple Bar (Turkish).

weebrat · 24-04-2004 6:34pm

My vote goes to the Cedar Tree, the Lebanese restaurant on St Andrew's St. And I've been to the Lebanon, not exactly the same but pretty close!

More of my (all veggie/vegan) restaurant reviews:

homepage.eircom.net/~thewub/vegan/ireland.html

shameless advertising ;-)

Try the fine Lebanese wine, if you can afford to spring for it, and some arak in ice.

Big Nelly · 01-06-2004 2:12pm

Luigi Malones in Temple Bar: Lovely food, nice wine, Staff are friendly and very handy when going on the beer in town and want dinner first. Can be very packed so booking in advance is a must

Best Chipper is Burdocks

Vinny Vanucchi's in Malahide: Love this place! great food, nice decor and reasonable prices.....also staff are nice!! wud recommend everyone to try at least once

g00ndp00l · 03-06-2004 2:38pm

Heres my Fav places around ireland to eat:

1: Cactus Jacks - Galway (best enchiladas in the world...ever)
2: Botticellis - Temple Bar (fantastic italian homemade food amazing minestrone)
3: Carrigaline Court- carragaline co.cork (great wine list and the duck is superb)
4: Spacos - Off Grafton street (a little fancy and posh but nice on an occasion)
5: Trentunos - Castleknock {a great steak italiano style, but seating is bad}
6: Boccacios - Dame Street (Best atmosphere, good food and great service)

Anybody want to comment on my choices??

Restaurant Guide

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