Good restaurants in the midlands

wiggy69

I dont get to go out very much , but when i do i like sometimes just to get out of the town and go for a bit of grub , went to preston house in abbeyleix last night savage grub . wouldn't mind tips on other places

gogo

Preston house has lovely food indeed, spago in portlaoise is also very nice.

villain_97

The Purple Onion in Tarmonbarry.Fabulous food,friendly staff,frothy ale and reasonable prices.Highly recomended by moi

TomTom

The anatolia in tullamore is excellent but can be pricy, also senioritos in tullamore. It may be an itilian but servs a wide range, is fairly cheap and is great food.
Cafe india is an excellent indian but i ain't been there in about 8 months and i heard they changed chefs so I don't know what it's like now.

Bessacadia

Has anyone been to Dante in Mullingar? (under Newbury Hotel)

elexes

TomTom wrote:

Cafe india is an excellent indian but i ain't been there in about 8 months and i heard they changed chefs so I don't know what it's like now.

thats closed down now tom

but imo from tullamore
billabong on harbour st
acorn on harbour st

roma - after a night drinking there chips are lovley
thats about it reely there are other nice places 2 but i havent been to them
there is a chinease just opened on harbour st dono the name of it but havent heard gr8 things about it .

Little Goose

The Acorn Restaurant on Harbour Street, Tullamore is a great place to eat. Slightly pricy but hey, where else can you get crocodile?!? Never tried it though.. Also, I tried the Bistro in #1 Church Street (also Tullamore) recently and I was pleasantly surprised for the most part.. Yum!

*Hungry now*

Kalina

Mezzos in Tullamore is a nice restaurant/cafe. It's not too pricy and has a great take-out manu. The Castle in Terrylspass is lovely but pricy.

pablo21

Had a meal in Don Antonio's in Mullingar and it was absolutely fabulous! Totally recommend it! Its beside the new amber.

Occidental

Agree with Don Antonio's. Others worth a mention are Pasta Bella, and the new Indian near Oscars(can't remember the name), which finally gave the Saagar a much needed kick up the arse. Thank god it's not just Oscars or the Amber Court anymore.

Swarfboy

Shishir in Tullamore is the best Indian I have tasted since coming home to Ireland from Southall (Hindi capital of Britain)... Bangladeshi cooking comes through in the taste.... most Indians in Ireland are Pakistani.... totally different barrel of kippers....!!

Swarfboy

Shishir in Tullamore is the best Indian I have tasted since coming home to Ireland from Southall (Hindi capital of Britain)... Bangladeshi cooking comes through in the taste.... most Indians in Ireland are Pakistani.... totally different barrel of kippers....!!

Seanie M

Kalina wrote:

Mezzos in Tullamore is a nice restaurant/cafe. It's not too pricy and has a great take-out manu. The Castle in Terrylspass is lovely but pricy.

I go there a couple times a month, because its more reasonable than most, I think anyway.


Seanie.

Seanie M

Oh, and for the record, the bast place I've ever been at to eat out was a little place called the Avonlea Restaurant in Rathdrum village, Co. Wicklow. That was over 2 years ago, but I got 1 mother of a T-Bone steak for 7 pounds (€10). generous portions, and a gorgeous hot chocolate fudge cake to finish. There were 4 of us, past 9pm at night looking for somehwere. This place was closing in 10 minutes, but the lady of the house took us in. And I mean house! It was like the front rooms were converted into the restaurant, you know, one of those places! But I'd go back again nay day if I could!


Seanie.

begbie

gogo wrote:

Preston house has lovely food indeed, spago in portlaoise is also very nice.

I've been to Spago's once and i didn't like it at all. There wasn't many people there and the service was really, really slow. The soup was nice, i'll give it that.

Bessacadia

Kinnegad
Rocca Cafe (next to fish shop)

Fabulous food, Very reasonable prices, just take my word for it!

Cosworth

I was in Cafe Rocca During the week and the name doesn't do it any justice.
It is definetly a fully fledged itailian restaurant.

The food was superb and all freshly cooked to order,i would definetly recommed it if you like itailian food.
The prices are very good as well,we had garlic bread for starters,which was served on a beautiful ciabatta bread.

For the main course we had spagetti carbonara,which was nice and creamy,and i had pasta berndia,which had a beautiful white wine sauce and plenty of huge tiger prawns.Our daughter(2yrs old) also had sausge and chips and we had two coffoes after and the total was a very reasonable 30.95.

dts

The crooked wood house has to be the best place I have managed to find. It is closed untill the end of this month but is well worth a visit once it has re opened. The view from the bar is worth the treck up the hill.

edengarden

The Belfry outside Mullingar on the Castlepollard Road is amazing. Its a renovated church and the food is unbelievable. It is expensive but if you go on a weekday evening and it is reasonable enough! Also can’t fault the Bridge House in Tullamore. The interior could do with an overhaul but the food is great.

elexes

just thought ppl might wana know the billabong on harbour st in tullamore is closing in a few months

themurt

Hey elexes, Cafe India hasn't closed down it's just moved to where the Gas Lamp used to be. And while they have changed chefs, the fodder is still pretty decent!

TomTom

I think mezzos is gone way down hill, slow with the food and its not as nice as it used to be. shishirs is a lovley place, one of my favourites now. Although the milder dishes like tika and then are a little to creamy for my liking. kinda sickning. That aside if its thai or a good spicy indian its class.

musical_notes

Bessacadia wrote:

Has anyone been to Dante in Mullingar? (under Newbury Hotel)

yes, it was a dreadful experience. Slow service and the tagliatelle looked and tasted like it had been reheated or had been sitting under the lights for way too long.
In saying this, it *was* only about a week or so after it opened so possible only teething problems.
We went to Amrita's a few weeks and it was lovely. Oscar's is good too but menu is quite boring I think.
:rolleyes:

wiggy69

the lemon tree in portlaoise above grellan delaneys pub does lovely steak , my wife had the chicken she said it was delish and her sis had lamb and she loved it , the steak was 12 oz , savage , would have eaten 2 , the have draught beer too , nice little intimate place to eat about 35 yo yo a scull

CGorman

musical_notes wrote:

yes, it was a dreadful experience. Slow service and the tagliatelle looked and tasted like it had been reheated or had been sitting under the lights for way too long.
In saying this, it *was* only about a week or so after it opened so possible only teething problems.
We went to Amrita's a few weeks and it was lovely. Oscar's is good too but menu is quite boring I think.
:rolleyes:

Have to agree about Dante, we went on the opening night and the kitchen... was broken... took several hours before we got anything to eat! Because it was the opening night, we said fair enough we will try it again when it is more established... one month later and it even worse - our food was'nt arriving, and the staff were avoiding us, even though we were clearly angry - after many hours we walked out (something we have never ever done before).

I personally love Oscars - you can't beat the pizza; yes the menu is kinda boring... but I almost always order the same pizza (ham & mushroom); so I find it great.

MuchSavage

ah remember it well when it opened......had to do it up from amber court. would prefer amber court by a long mile, buddies ain't too bad either, nice burgers. Druids chair also has lovely food!!

CGorman

Yeah Druids chair can be good - does what it says on the tin, like proper decent food, nottin fancy, but not boring. What do you think of the new Apache, I find the pizzas are only all right, they taste like they've been reheated even though there fresh....

MuchSavage

haven't tried the one in mullingar but near enough lived off them last year in college, them and mizzoini's.....hummm pizza...... anyway, don't know to be honest, is it nice?

CGorman

At first I did'nt really like it - I find the side orders just ain't great... not warm enough the times I got it. But I ordered a Apache Special yesterday - absolutely great, cheap, quick and very tasty, so I suppose I can't complain... althought the driver got lost on the way to my house :rolleyes:

MuchSavage

don't help in keeping a pizza warm when they don't know where to go!!! must'nt be from Mullingar if couldn't find ur house too easy, it not that big, or are u out of town?

CGorman

Im about 0.9km from the bloody restaurant! The driver had a Northern Irish accent... even still she was quick enough (less than 30mins).

MuchSavage

long time to wait for a pizza? ever try saagar, that really nice too.....nice place to sit down for a meal

CGorman

No, I hear its great but im not really into indian food... chinese, italian, irish, you name I like it - but not indian....

impr0v

Just to give a differing opinion on Dante's, I went there with a large party, one of which was celebrating their birthday. The unanimous verdict afterwards was that the food was excellent, and was very reasonably priced. The service was prompt and very friendly, our waiter joining in the spirit of things and drinking one of the complimentary sumbuca shots with us at the end of the night. For weeks afterwards I was recommending the establishment to anyone who would listen, so good was the experience our party had there.

CGorman

I know someone else who went there as a group and had excellent service and food days after we were there. It seems they take care of big groups but ignore smaller tables.

biggles007

Try Hannigans in Cashel, Tipperary. If you eat there once you'll return for more

jamiecake

they italian over After Dark in the square in portarlington is really really nice... however, i moved away from there a few years ago, after dark was a great bar.. now some farmer bought it and is letting in all his underage cousins with no class..

wwooooooppsss... hope didnt insult anyone... :eek:

Polly19

Theres a gorgous pizzzersa in Tullamore,cant think of the name of it,up from The Bridge Center.Absoulty superb

Also theres two chineses in Portlaoise.The new one out in Kilminchy(cant remember the name).Its great for intimate dinners wfor two people if you get a quite night.

Also the Royal China,across from the cinema in Portlaoise serves beautiful food

CGorman

I've set up a new website which hosts the menus for takeaways in Ireland. I've focused on Mullingar first and so far have 19 menus for mullingar: http://www.takeaway4you.com/countywestmeath/mullingar.html . Nationally i've got 374 menus done, but theres much more to be done.

Polly19

Isnt there already a site like that in existance?

Good luck anyway CGorman

CGorman

Yes there is. But it charges restaurant owners about €200 a year for a listing. About 50% of restaurants won't pay for it so i'm doing it for free.

Steve_o

Answer to Original Question:
1. Traceys, The Heath
2. Mario's, Portarlington
3. The Kingfisher, Portlaoise
4. The Jasmine, Portarlington
5. The Anatolia, Tullamore

pablo21

edengarden wrote:

The Belfry outside Mullingar on the Castlepollard Road is amazing. Its a renovated church and the food is unbelievable. It is expensive but if you go on a weekday evening and it is reasonable enough! Also can’t fault the Bridge House in Tullamore. The interior could do with an overhaul but the food is great.

had a meal in the Belfry last Saturday and it was absolutely cracking! Top class food and Top class service. the Ambience in the place is amazing. Definitely worth a visit.

Saruman

Im sure there is not but anyone know if there are any Japanese restaurants around? Sushi etc. Loads in Dublin, one in Cork i think but never seen or heard anything elsewhere.

i am a lady

I went here a few weeks ago and there was a queue of people outside waiting for them to open up!! They put the prices up after 5pm so the Sunday lunchtime period is always busy. Had the most delicious steak sandwich with yummy sauces, side salad and wedges for a tenner! Really good value, fast service and good selection of desserts. My friend asked for chocolate fudge cake which was not on the menu but they managed to rustle it up for her anyway. Highly recommended.

Misty Moon

Hi everyone

Am going to Birr for a weekend soon. Anyone have any recommendations for places to eat there? Will have one vegetarian with us so has to be somewhere with decent vegertarian options - maybe an Indian?

Saruman

mullingar: Amritas is the best Indian i have had outside of Dublin.. and even including On Par if not better than Jai Pur.

China Palace at the hotel is excellent.. not just the food.. the service!!! We had 3 people always ready to come to our table and refill water, take away plates etc... very fast very efficient and decent price too!

Oh Amritas is under new managment it seems... they have an early bird special menu too. I think there is a full 3 course meal for €17 or so.

Occidental

Saruman wrote:

Oh Amritas is under new managment it seems...

Any idea of when it changed. Had a takeaway out of there last month and vowed never to go back near it again. When it first opened food was fabulous. The owner lived in the north of England.

Marksie

The Lemon tree in Portlaoise is excellent. One of the best i have ever had. AND it was mentioned in the irish times 100 best restaurants in ireland

Darkbloom

Tullamore-

Sirocco's(neé Senor Rico's) is a great Italian restaurant but they've never changed their menu.

Shishir and the Aadgar(sp?) are both fantastic Indian places.

Jamie's does simple stuff very well. Their steak is the best I've had in Ireland.

The ever-mentioned Anatolia can never be mentioned enough.

And Mezzo is nice enough, but it also boasts the rudest staff in the world.

For takeaways, the Paddy Field and Oriental New Star are the best Chineses. Sorrento's chips are the best in the country. And we have all the usual suspects, but steer well clear.

elekid

Is Amber Court in Mullingar any good? Or the new restaurant out at the Mullingar Park Hotel? I've never been to either of them and I was hoping for a change from Lotus when my family goes for a meal this weekend.