Recommend a restaurant in Kilkenny?

zootroid

Trying to decide where to eat out at the weekend, and as I don't eat out very often in Kilkenny I thought I'd post here.

Anyone care to recommend somewhere, or offer warnings on where to avoid?

Looking for an early bird as I'm going to a gig at 7:30

Deliverance XXV

You can't beat Ripley's TBH. There's a great choice for early bird meals too.
I recently was in Little Italy and whilst the price was very fair and the food was fantastic I found the choice was fairly limited.

I recommend booking in advance also, particularly for weekends.

selena27

If you like oriental cuisine I highly recommend VINDEES near Johns Bridge(beautiful,spacious interior as well) and Royal Spice on Patrick Street. For more traditional dishes try Cafe Sol in one of the lanes off High Street

Threadhead

Maybe myself and the above poster have different taste but I just think it's fair to say that I find Ripley's to be far and away the worst eating out experience in town. But I accept that some people do like it. I've had two horrible experiences in there and I'm definitely not alone in that regard. It's pretty much the last place I'd recommend.

I would recommend Key Largo for a good mix of cuisine at good prices. Royal Spice on Patrick Street is a fantastic Indian restauraunt. Lombardi's on Parliament Street would be my (reasonable) Italian of choice and Cafe Sol in also great quality.

Hank Scorpio

Joes.

Ollchailin

My personal choices would be Lautrec's, Zuni or Rinuccini- with my favourite being Rinuccini. It's kind of expensive but their early bird is good value I think. Oh I'm hungry now & really want to go there!!!

PhilipMarlowe

Just had lunch in Rinuccinis
I like the place a lot for lunch.. never overly mad about it for dinner out but there you go.
My favourite (rare) eating out experience is Campagne for an early bird on Saturday evening (<6:30 kick off) followed by a few drinks in the Left Bank.

patrickc

have had 3 meals in ripleys, 2 excellent, one really bad.

have heard little italy is the place to go presently

zootroid

Thanks for all the replies, decided to go to Rinuccini's, the early bird seems to be good value

femur61

Threadhead wrote: »

Lombardi's on Parliament Street would be my (reasonable) Italian of choice and Cafe Sol in also great quality.

Isn't it called something else now. If you are talking about going at the weekend you mentioned an early bird but most places only do them Mon to Fri, some do them on fri night but you'd have to ask. Little italy on john St. great value for eating, if you like Italian.

thetonynator

zootroid wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies, decided to go to Rinuccini's, the early bird seems to be good value

Its prob the best, it or Zuni . . .

Jinxi

CHez Pierre on Parliment Street... Amazing but a bit pricey(totally worth it IMO). I save up to eat there. And then my partner and I dream about it for a few weeks:D
Can't beat Zuni for lunch

PhilipMarlowe

Chez Pierre, but for Saturday morning breakfast... mmmmmm
Or a lunch special either if you didn't get up in time.

pertinax

I'd reccomend La Rivista (used to be Lombardis) in Parliament St.
Little Italy Is the place to eat now but I can't tell the difference really between the food in Little Italy and rivista. La Rivista is bigger so your more litly to get a table I'd imagine.

Threadhead

pertinax wrote: »

I'd reccomend La Rivista (used to be Lombardis) in Parliament St.
Little Italy Is the place to eat now but I can't tell the difference really between the food in Little Italy and rivista. La Rivista is bigger so your more litly to get a table I'd imagine.

I have to agree with that statement, La Rivista is really fantastic. It's one of the best eateries in town. Certainly a major step up from the overpriced, cramped and overrated Italian restaurant across the street from it.

El Tarangu

Is Himalayan Spice still open? I had the best lamb saag I've ever eaten there.

Wouldn't be too keen on Little Italy - they over-cook their pasta (which doesn't bother me too much but that is something that they should be able to get right).

Glenalla

Went to Runiccini recently, what a disappointment. Put in corridor out the back and meal was just OK, service too quick eben though we kept asking for more time, food just all right. Spent quite a bit of time in Italy and it certainly does not echo proper Italian fine dining. Its probably catering to its market here though.

Threadhead

The last time I was in there I was put in a corridor too. Suffice to say, I haven't been back.

Glenalla

Threadhead wrote: »

The last time I was in there I was put in a corridor too. Suffice to say, I haven't been back.

Wont be back myself, anybody recommend elsewhere to eat, dont mind paying but just want good food and service to match.

Captain Havoc

Last time I was in Rinuccinis I thought the service and food was very good.

Sky King

Glenalla wrote: »

Wont be back myself, anybody recommend elsewhere to eat, dont mind paying but just want good food and service to match.

Zuni? I have heard great things about Campagne but have never been.

Btr

zootroid wrote: »

Trying to decide where to eat out at the weekend, and as I don't eat out very often in Kilkenny I thought I'd post here.

Anyone care to recommend somewhere, or offer warnings on where to avoid?

Looking for an early bird as I'm going to a gig at 7:30

Personally I've always recommended Lautrecs and I've never had bad feedback . May need to book.

Threadhead

I've heard the most amazing things about Campagne but I've never been either. Nationally, it seems to be the most highly rated of Kilkenny restauraunts.

I've always found Zuni to be good quality too. Been to Lautrecs once and it was fairly decent. Anytime I walk by recently, it's jammed.

PhilipMarlowe

I've been to Campagne 3 or 4 times and each time it has been excellent. I'd advise to go for an early bird which I think they do until 6:30 on a Saturday? I know they are fairly strict on the time so I wouldn't be late Good value way of checking it out.

I was in Chez Pierre twice recently.. great place on a Saturday morning or for lunch... love it. That said, I've only ever had an evening dinner there once and for whatever reason I don't tend to consider it as a potential evening venue... next time I get out maybe

thetonynator

Btr wrote: »

Personally I've always recommended Lautrecs and I've never had bad feedback . May need to book.

Wasnt great the last time I was there, but that was a good time ago, I think there are new owners now.

fabbydabby

I would feel a lot more at ease at Chez Pierre if the namesake made more of an effort to conceal his utter contempt for his customers.

Lovely food though. Really nice. I just hate giving him money.

peabutler

thetonynator wrote: »

Wasnt great the last time I was there, but that was a good time ago, I think there are new owners now.

Don't think so.

SilverSparkle

Has anybody tried Chez Michelle yet on John St?

zootroid

Glenalla wrote: »

Went to Runiccini recently, what a disappointment. Put in corridor out the back and meal was just OK, service too quick eben though we kept asking for more time, food just all right. Spent quite a bit of time in Italy and it certainly does not echo proper Italian fine dining. Its probably catering to its market here though.

I noticed that when I was there too, it's really off-putting.

I went there for the early bird, had pate to start, and the fillet steak. Steak was lovely, but it was served with cauliflower! They definitely could have thought of something better to serve it with.

Overall, it was good, but could certainly be better. I wouldn't be in a rush to go back there. I'd much prefer to try a few other restaurants that have been recommended.

SilverSparkle

SilverSparkle wrote: »

Has anybody tried Chez Michelle yet on John St?

To reply to my own question, I passed it today and it was "closed for reservations". I looked in and there were accounts documents on the table...

fabbydabby

Closed for reservations or closed for renovations?

I hate to see such a new business cease to trade so soon, but really, how many resturaunts are there in Kilkenny? Was there really a huge gap in the market for another?

SilverSparkle

fabbydabby wrote: »

Closed for reservations or closed for renovations?

I hate to see such a new business cease to trade so soon, but really, how many resturaunts are there in Kilkenny? Was there really a huge gap in the market for another?

Did I write reservations??

Thanks for correcting it, I did indeed mean renovations!

Glenalla

zootroid wrote: »

I noticed that when I was there too, it's really off-putting.

I went there for the early bird, had pate to start, and the fillet steak. Steak was lovely, but it was served with cauliflower! They definitely could have thought of something better to serve it with.

Overall, it was good, but could certainly be better. I wouldn't be in a rush to go back there. I'd much prefer to try a few other restaurants that have been recommended.

I have never seen a fillet steak served with cauliflower in Italy!!!!!!!! The reason we went was to have Italian cuisine unfortunately this was not the case.

nhg

We went to Campagne for the early bird menu on sat evening, absolutely beautiful.... the place was packed at 6.00 pm on a saturday evening, we could'nt justify the full price menu though.

SilverSparkle

nhg wrote: »

We went to Campagne for the early bird menu on sat evening, absolutely beautiful.... the place was packed at 6.00 pm on a saturday evening, we could'nt justify the full price menu though.

I still have to check out Campagne! Might do it some day soon. Was it very overpriced?

nhg

The early bird menu was very good value €29 for 3 course meal, most main courses on menu are between €20 & €30, they have a sample menu on their web site

AWD4

I think Kilkenny is quite a great spot for good restaurants. It must be the envy of its neighbourgs.
My first choice would be Campagne, went many times there, including one New Year's eve and in all occasions, it was simply brilliant and faultless. The food is definitly worthy a of a Michelin star, although if that means prices going up, maybe not
Second is Zuni, great room, great buzz, friendly staff and lovely food (huge portions though)
I really like the laid back wine bar on Rose Inn Street, the Grapevine. They've good wines and the food taste like it is prepared on site (rare enough for tapas in Ireland...)

Rinuccinis, Cafe Sol are good spots too.

Wouldn't have much time for Ripleys, which is commercial and souless, not sure what to make out of Chez Pierre, no Italian food in sight in the Italian Connection, haven't tried any of the new Italians on John Street yet.

countryliving

hi, does anyone remember the Italien restaurant in bennettsbridge? it was just delicious and so nice! i wonder what happened to all the chefs and staff of this restaurant? i just have the idea that they took over the place on johns street? i am probably totally wrong!

zootroid

Went to Little Italy on Saturday evening. Average food, poor service. Won't be eating there again