Restaurant in The Elysian?

Flipper

Is this after opening? Anyone have a link/number?

towel401

is it as overpriced as the elysian itself?

scuby

passed the "idle tower" the other day and there is a wine/bar rest. on the garda station side alright...can't remember name

Bill-e

I had a leaflet here in front of me.
It's called EL VINO bistro/wine bar

It opened on the 10th of July
Breakfast: 10am-12noon
Lunch 12am-5pm
Tapas&Bistro 5pm-10pm
They do takeaway
Tel: 021 4318530

I work close by. I thought iw was going to be a cool trendy kind of coffee place. But it's a ladie da, nambie pambie type of place I wouldn't have any interest in going to.
Let me know if they do a good take out coffee?

Owen

I drove past it last week, and my mind was made up never to go near the place because of the two twats sitting outside. One guy in his 60's, boating shoes on - no socks, shorts, a pink shirt, and a lemon jumper draped over his shoulders tied in a knot, and his wife - the colour of lucozade. Both with miserable faces, drinking wine and reading the papers.

Spiffing.

dahamsta

Bill-e wrote: »

It's called EL VINO bistro/wine bar

How imaginative.

Faith

Isn't that the place that's in the East Village too?

Rebel_City

Haven't been home to Cork in a good while. But will be heading down this weekend. Great to hear that a wine bar/bistro has opened......esp when shops, hotels etc are closing every second day. And places like the Cornmarket Centre remain empty, bar the anchor tenant.

It's to be expected that a place opening in the Elysian development is somewhat 'ladie da' - it is meant to be that type of development. Ah but sure sf course it would look great to have a Supermacs there, with loads of kids hanging around outside......., neon signs etc! Great 'first impression' coming from the airport!

C'mon! It's good to see some life there! Dublin docklands are the same, not much happening but a few retailers etc taking a gambling and opening, such as Fresh. An expensive, up market supermarket. I wouldn't shop there much, if ever, but I wouldn't knock it for being there. We need this to keep people in jobs and show that it is viable to develop there....ie. the Cork docklands eventually!

Owen

Rebel_City wrote: »

It's to be expected that a place opening in the Elysian development is somewhat 'ladie da' - it is meant to be that type of development. Ah but sure sf course it would look great to have a Supermacs there, with loads of kids hanging around outside.

No one is saying open a Supermacs, or similar outlet there. The Elysian is targetted at the trendsetter demographic - which is people, aged between 25-40 with disposable income and a penchant for the unusual in life. Having an OTT restaurant there pandering to the whims of moody/grumpy pensioners is not exactly going to bring people flocking in droves to the empty apartment complex - There's already restaurants filling that niche 200 metres away, Prendevilles Bistro, the other Bistro next to that, and the Clarion.

It should have been an urban space - the designers should have visited Berlin/NYC/London to identify what type of establishment could pull the crowds they desired. Instead, it's just a carbon copy of all the other over the top restaurants - full of class, devoid of atmosphere or personality.

Max001

I give it three months

kcb

Max001 wrote: »

I give it three months

I was thinking that too!

Although it might pick up some of the stragglers from the newly trendy Sextant and Boardwalk

towel401

PaintDoctor wrote: »

The Elysian is targetted at the trendsetter demographic - which is people, aged between 25-40 with disposable income and a penchant for the unusual in life.

dinner party folks basically.

they don't go for anything unusual, just the the mass-manufactured wannabe version of posh.
if they think what they are going for is unusual then they are really living in a dream world

they used to want a mansion in the country but they don't want to do the maintenance. but the country is just so damn creepy and inconvenient and there is no way they can pay someone to do it all for them. so they buy an overpriced flat in the city instead, mandatory 4000 a year management fee to some bunch of shysters seems like a bargain.

these people piss me off

Bill-e

I'm still upset that they don't do a little coffee in the morning.
I'm normally late and don't have time to go over the river to the over priced coffee pod place.
When I saw that they were building this place i asked a guy working there what it was going to be. He said a coffee shop of some sort. I was well happy with that cause I could it's so nearby.
Alas, it is what it is. I reckon they'll last 6 months. It took 3 months to do the place up so I don't see them giving up very easily.

Illkillya

Bill-e wrote: »

I'm still upset that they don't do a little coffee in the morning.
I'm normally late and don't have time to go over the river to the over priced coffee pod place.
When I saw that they were building this place i asked a guy working there what it was going to be. He said a coffee shop of some sort. I was well happy with that cause I could it's so nearby.
Alas, it is what it is. I reckon they'll last 6 months. It took 3 months to do the place up so I don't see them giving up very easily.

I was in El Vino today. As expected, it caters to the pink shirt/lemon jumper tied in knot brigade for sure. It really felt like they are trying too hard. Consider the music: James Blunt, Elton John, Shayne Ward, that other guy who won X Factor (with the black hair), a fairly cringeworthy experience overall. Rebel_city, I understand that the Elysian is marketed as "ladie dah", but look how far that got them. It is not difficult to create an atmosphere that appeals to trendy/yuppie types without having to sell its soul to the "James Blunt" generation. The Sextant and the Crubeen both got the balance right, in my opinion - trendy but not sickening... Bob Marley instead of Elton John, Kings of Leon instead of Shayne Ward... you'll still appeal to the 30-something year old ladies and dinner party folks, but won't drive out the rest of us away. El Vino... even their cups were so deliberately modern that I couldn't figure out how to hold them.

So, first impressions not good, but some of that I will attribute to the waiting staff being new and inexperienced (and the manager did apologise on their behalf). Reminds me of The Boardwalk when it just opened (before it dropped the prices and came down to Earth a bit), and is geared towards a similar demographic (albeit slightly more "Elysiany"; yes I still remember the ads they had on the hoardings while it was being built).

Having said that... Bill-e, their coffee is cheaper than Coffee Pod (€2.20 for a regular coffee in El Vino vs €2.40 in Coffee Pod) but I don't know if they let you take-away. Agreed, it would be handy, because I don't like to walk over to Gusto, would sooner go to Daybreak... so maybe they will. Also, interesting that they do breakfast, although it is a bit on the expensive side. I think if they lower their prices a tiny bit then the sheer convenience of the place would bring me back and probably lure me in for the odd breakfast too.

And as an aside to PaintDoctor, I have to say that Club Brasserie is a different vibe entirely - targeted at professionals, but not necessarily yuppy Elysian dwellers folks or Prendeville listeners. Despite the dodgy name, it is not the kind of place you would feel embarrassed to be... they positioned themselves well and I don't get the feeling that they are trying too hard. Not the kind of place that I would go to regularly, but a decent venue with great food.

Míshásta

Illkillya wrote: »

I was in El Vino today. As expected, it caters to the pink shirt/lemon jumper tied in knot brigade for sure. It really felt like they are trying too hard. Consider the music: James Blunt, Elton John, Shayne Ward, that other guy who won X Factor (with the black hair), a fairly cringeworthy experience overall. Rebel_city, I understand that the Elysian is marketed as "ladie dah", but look how far that got them. It is not difficult to create an atmosphere that appeals to trendy/yuppie types without having to sell its soul to the "James Blunt" generation. The Sextant and the Crubeen both got the balance right, in my opinion - trendy but not sickening... Bob Marley instead of Elton John, Kings of Leon instead of Shayne Ward... you'll still appeal to the 30-something year old ladies and dinner party folks, but won't drive out the rest of us away. El Vino... even their cups were so deliberately modern that I couldn't figure out how to hold them.

So, first impressions not good, but some of that I will attribute to the waiting staff being new and inexperienced (and the manager did apologise on their behalf). Reminds me of The Boardwalk when it just opened (before it dropped the prices and came down to Earth a bit), and is geared towards a similar demographic (albeit slightly more "Elysiany"; yes I still remember the ads they had on the hoardings while it was being built).

Having said that... Bill-e, their coffee is cheaper than Coffee Pod (€2.20 for a regular coffee in El Vino vs €2.40 in Coffee Pod) but I don't know if they let you take-away. Agreed, it would be handy, because I don't like to walk over to Gusto, would sooner go to Daybreak... so maybe they will. Also, interesting that they do breakfast, although it is a bit on the expensive side. I think if they lower their prices a tiny bit then the sheer convenience of the place would bring me back and probably lure me in for the odd breakfast too.

And as an aside to PaintDoctor, I have to say that Club Brasserie is a different vibe entirely - targeted at professionals, but not necessarily yuppy Elysian dwellers folks or Prendeville listeners. Despite the dodgy name, it is not the kind of place you would feel embarrassed to be... they positioned themselves well and I don't get the feeling that they are trying too hard. Not the kind of place that I would go to regularly, but a decent venue with great food.

:eek:

Jayz! Haven't you got life catagorised. Everything divided neatly into social groups, fashion statements, music tastes, ages, generations, cutlery design.

20c difference in a cup of coffee. Wow!

"pink shirt/lemon jumper tied in knot brigade " ?

I was just about to go out for a pint and now I'm too confused about what to pick from my wardrobe. And I don't even know who the fack James Blunt is, not to mention which generation. But there's one thing for sure - my prized lemon Pringle pullover is going to the charity shop. Or maybe 'twill still be acceptable down at the golf club.

Illkillya

Míshásta wrote: »

:eek:

Jayz! Haven't you got life catagorised. Everything divided neatly into social groups, fashion statements, music tastes, ages, generations, cutlery design.

20c difference in a cup of coffee. Wow!

"pink shirt/lemon jumper tied in knot brigade " ?

I was just about to go out for a pint and now I'm too confused about what to pick from my wardrobe. And I don't even know who the fack James Blunt is, not to mention which generation. But there's one thing for sure - my prized lemon Pringle pullover is going to the charity shop. Or maybe 'twill still be acceptable down at the golf club.

Obviously people aren't so neatly divided in practice, but when a restaurant or bar opens, there are very specific demographics that they target and they can be very precise in their stereotypes. When you look at things from a marketing point of view then they have it all figured out.

I don't care if you personally wear a lemon Pringle pullover or what music you listen to, I won't judge an individual on their tastes. But if an establishment identifies "lemon jumper wearing James Blunt fans who like the Elysian" as their ideal customer, then they are looking at much broader stereotypes than can be applied to one individual. In marketing terms, everything IS neatly categorised, and in the case of El Vino, they are trying too hard to tick all of the boxes that fit their own particular Elysian target niche (bang on course with the market that the developers went after, but were unable to find).

Much better to get a place that defines itself and has its own character rather than genericising itself to neatly fit its narrow target base.

kcb

Can you get a pint in there?

gccorcaigh

Its the same owners of El Vino in Douglas. The Douglas one is really nice !

Bill-e

There was an article some where about how much of a success the place in Douglas has been. So my mammy tells me.
It's not my thing tho. I'll add it to my list of things to get into like golf and candle light suppers....

namaimo

Here's the website for those interested. It looks pretty nice and worth a few more people trying it out before people pass judgment!

http://www.elvinocork.com/

Amack

I walked past there last night and the smell coming out of the place was amazing, looks a bit pricey though, has anyone eaten there yet

Judes

Can't wait to try the place as I really like the one in Douglas and found the tapas portion size really decent compared to other tapas bars.

Mind you the opinion of Mr or Ms. Marketing who seems to have everyone categorised into nice little social boxes almost turned me off entering any venue in Cork. (Yes, I've worked in Marketing and my friends would be in very senior positions in Marketing in bigger companies in London - and we would never "box" our social lives). Infact - as one of my London mates pointed out - it's what the person on the street does/watches/comments on that tips off the marketing departments as to future trends!

I'm in my mid 40's- I work in Cork - I love James Blunt and Abba -I also love the Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Porcupine Tree. In the 80's I would have been a pink and yellow type of girl, as were most of the boys! Ah, how I miss the Cork of the 80's where it didn't matter where you worked, what you drove, what you wore (ok era of bad taste and all that) nor what age you were - everyone just got out there (albeit in our pink and yellows) and had fun and socialised together!!!

It's 2009 the success of this and every other venue should be based on the quality of the food, service and staff and cleaniless of the venue. As far as I'm concerned a mish mash of people and backgrounds will make for interesting and entertaining conversation. Watch out El Vino I'll be there to try out the place soon and I'll got all my friends who vary in ages from 25 - 65 to wear yellow pringle - "the Yellow Mellows" will take over the city and reclaim what's ours.................

Illkillya

Judes, just to clarify, you are referring to me as Mr. Marketing?

To reiterate what I already spelled out in the last post, I don't divide anyone into categories. I don't make decisions about people based on their music tastes, or what they drive, or what they wear. However, in the marketing world, particular when it comes to a new restaurant like this deciding their niche, they do. If you or your very senior friends at bigger companies dispute that, then I would love to hear it.

How many decisions do you think El Vino made with their target market in mind? For starters, the name. The logo. The business cards. The paintings on the wall. The music. The types of food. The menu design. The shape of the crockery. The price range. The colour of the waiters' shirts. Whether to serve chips or "french fries". Each decision that El Vino made with the yuppie Elysian dweller market in mind positioned them closer to that ideal, when they could have easily opted for a broader appeal that would satisfy a larger cross section of the public, or even ventured to inject some of their own personality in the place.

I disagree that a venue should be judged solely on food, service, staff, cleanliness. Atmosphere also has its place. As someone who worked in marketing, you should know more about that than I do. The decor and the music, most critically. I agree that food, service, cleanliness come first... but in El Vino the food is unremarkable, the service is poor (but I forgive them because they have the excuse that they are new), cleanliness is not likely to be an issue since the place is a week old, then the atmosphere is worth a mention. I fully agree that a mishmash of people and backgrounds makes for interesting and entertaining conversation, which is EXACTLY WHY I voiced my disappointment at El Vino's decision to position themselves so deliberately towards such a narrow niche.

By all means, get your friends to wear pringle yellow cashmir and tennis shoes with no socks, maybe have a glass of wine at El Vino and invite them up to your Elysian apartment for a dinner party, a little bit of "Rocketman" and "Three Wise Men". Take a black-and-white photo on your SLR Hybrid of all of you cheering, and convince me that the market that both the Elysian and El Vino have been chasing really does exist in Cork. I'll be around the corner in the Sextant, where neither your turtlenecks nor my jeans/t-shirts will draw any gazes, and I won't have to puke from nausea while I'm there.

abbeywell

I read the various responses regarding the new El Vino at the Elysian. To be fair I think people who may not have yet tried it are judging it. For me El Vino is a nice middle of the road restaurant/ Tapas Bar, and in saying this is probably a big hit with the Ladies, I wouldn't catergorise it as a nambie pambie type set up.

Firstly I've been to the one in douglas a few times with my better half, its pleasant has a good ambience and is pretty reasonable. When I first heard that it was opening at the Elysian I was a bit surprised, however my Girlfriend and I went last week and its just as good as the one in Douglas.

Another thing I don't catergorise myself as a yellow cashmere sweater, deck shoe (no socks) wearing snob, if I'm really honest I go to El Vino because my better half and friends like it, I'd be as happy having Burgers and Chips somewhere. I've never agreed with the type Elysian development, someone on here said that the Elysian type of person dosen't exist in Cork, to which I agree, and to be fair I think El Vino is just a tenant there and it seems like its an ok location. I've met the lady who owns it in Douglas and she's pretty down to earth.

This is a nice middle of the road restaurant and I think its worth a visit.

Bill-e

Nice post abbeywell(welcome to Boards btw)

I wish El Vino well in their new venture!
Do me a favour will ya? when your in there next and if you have the ear of the girl who is running it. Will you tell her to open a small coffee part on the side... maybe open a window onto the street. For all the coffee zombie in the offices surrounding the place.
I need coffee!!!

abbeywell

Hahaha:D, sure thing if I see her I'll mention it, I'm sure they'll probably do it when their more established, most places do,,,

Geog

Is there room for another restaurant in Cork in the present climate?

abbeywell

I'm not sure, but no doubt we have seen restaurants & pubs in Cork close down even in the good times, so I think that we all have eat, we'll all still socialise to a certain degree. Not just for Restaurants but other businesses also, the market size shrinks, and the better value or quality, or just more appealing restaurants etc wins the business. And I think El Vino fits into this catergory......