The Restaurant Review Thread

Orizio

Thought I would put this up, for people to write about restaurants they have lately been in the Cork countryside. To start:

Restaurant: Sage
Location Main Street, Midleton.

Was in here maybe a week ago, seemed like a decent addition to the over-large food scene in Midleton. Decent vegetable soup as a start, followed up by a cracking chicken main, with some lovely chorizo plus nicely cooked squash and carrots. Decent chips as well. A nice white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake for dessert. Others had steak, which was as one would expect. One slight against some of the produce though, the potatoes didn't look local, were old and were generally a bit tasteless, the ice-cream with the dessert wasn't homemade and the breast of chicken was fine but not the greatest quality. Other dishes on the menu were Hake and a Salmon burger.

I suppose what makes Sage stand out a little is that it caters to vegetarians more so then other Midleton restaurants and the menu is just a little different. Probably not as good as Finins or O'Donovans but well worth looking at, and probably one of the cheaper restaurants in Midleton as well.

-Corkie-

Ok

Kanturk- The Vintage

Milstreet-nothing wallis arms but stay away its hit and miss.

Macroom- Granvilles or the auld triangle.

dahamsta

Garryvoe Hotel is always corking, they went downhill when they started taking the hotel towards a fourth star a few years ago, with smaller portions and trendy plating, but they've gone back to the good old Big Plates Of Niceness now and the service is back to homely again. I'd eat there every week if I could.

Went to Aherne's in Youghal a year or two ago after hearing great things about it, was very disappointed. There was nothing wrong with it per se, but nothing stood out either. Wouldn't go back there.

Anybody been in Cliff House in Ardmore, or Capella Castlemartyr?

overmantle

THE CORNSTORE IN CORK IS EXCELLENT.

Orizio

Garryvoe Hotel is always corking, they went downhill when they started taking the hotel towards a fourth star a few years ago, with smaller portions and trendy plating, but they've gone back to the good old Big Plates Of Niceness now and the service is back to homely again. I'd eat there every week if I could.

Are we talking about the bar or the restaurant?

Went to Aherne's in Youghal a year or two ago after hearing great things about it, was very disappointed. There was nothing wrong with it per se, but nothing stood out either. Wouldn't go back there.

Aherne's is excellent imo, if only for their chips and bread & butter pudding. Bit pricey.

Anybody been in Cliff House in Ardmore, or Capella Castlemartyr?

Regarding the Capella, been in the golf bar on numerous occasions, fine if you expect decent bar food. Only been in the restaurant once, wasn't impressed but that was a couple of years ago and they've changed the chef a couple of times since. Nice area to go for a walk around anyway.

reic

overmantle wrote: »

THE CORNSTORE IN CORK IS EXCELLENT.

I've eaten there twice and was underwhelmed. Not bad and not great.

dahamsta

Orizio wrote: »

Are we talking about the bar or the restaurant?

Doesn't make much of a difference, it's essentially the same food.

Orizio

dahamsta wrote: »

Doesn't make much of a difference, it's essentially the same food.

Unless its changed drastically, the bar and restaurant food is completely different, different parts of the hotel with (I presume) different kitchens.

Orizio

The restaurant menu.

MrsA

Orizio wrote: »

Unless its changed drastically, the bar and restaurant food is completely different, different parts of the hotel with (I presume) different kitchens.

Just the one kitchen in Garryvoe Hotel, and yes, essentially the same food in the bar and the restaurant - wedding food seems be be inferior to both.

Bar food is good value, restaurant food there not so much.

dahamsta

The menus are different and the restaurant food is slightly more swishy in presentation, but it's the same ingredients prepared in the same kitchen by the same people.

Had plaice in the bar on Friday, damn near exploded afterwards, gorgeous!

adam

Orizio

MrsA wrote: »

Just the one kitchen in Garryvoe Hotel, and yes, essentially the same food in the bar and the restaurant - wedding food seems be be inferior to both.

Bar food is good value, restaurant food there not so much.

They have completely different menus.

Orizio

dahamsta wrote: »

The menus are different and the restaurant food is slightly more swishy in presentation, but it's the same ingredients prepared in the same kitchen by the same people.

Had plaice in the bar on Friday, damn near exploded afterwards, gorgeous!

adam

The important point.

Plaice is nice alright.

MrsA

Orizio wrote: »

They have completely different menus.

Sorry, what I mean is that the same ingredients are used, the same people cook them and the same kitchen is used.

nolo1

Blairs Inn in Cloghroe is one of the best restaurants in Cork. The menu is varied and the food is consistently good

c montgomery

Orizio wrote: »

Thought I would put this up, for people to write about restaurants they have lately been in the Cork countryside. To start:

Restaurant: Sage
Location Main Street, Midleton.

Was in here maybe a week ago, seemed like a decent addition to the over-large food scene in Midleton. Decent vegetable soup as a start, followed up by a cracking chicken main, with some lovely chorizo plus nicely cooked squash and carrots. Decent chips as well. A nice white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake for dessert. Others had steak, which was as one would expect. One slight against some of the produce though, the potatoes didn't look local, were old and were generally a bit tasteless, the ice-cream with the dessert wasn't homemade and the breast of chicken was fine but not the greatest quality. Other dishes on the menu were Hake and a Salmon burger.

I suppose what makes Sage stand out a little is that it caters to vegetarians more so then other Midleton restaurants and the menu is just a little different. Probably not as good as Finins or O'Donovans but well worth looking at, and probably one of the cheaper restaurants in Midleton as well.

Sage is much better than Finins for both quality of food and price. In fact Sage is one of my favourate reataurants in Midleton. Cheap tasty food thats always prepared fresh.
Thai Thani is also an excellent restaurant if you like thai food. Sweetcorn cakes a must if you ever go there, devine.

nolo1

c montgomery wrote: »

Sage is much better than Finins for both quality of food and price. In fact Sage is one of my favourate reataurants in Midleton. Cheap tasty food thats always prepared fresh.
Thai Thani is also an excellent restaurant if you like thai food. Sweetcorn cakes a must if you ever go there, devine.

Sounds brill! Will check it out over the summer when I'm in East Cork.

Nonoperational

O'Donovans in midleton is excellent imo.

peteandjenn

'The wild goose' just outside Mallow. Food is just fab with plenty of it served up on big plates and not very expensive at all, roughly about €10 or under for dinner, around €15 for steaks and the best bit you can have a pint with your dinner mmmmmmmmm

-Corkie-

peteandjenn wrote: »

'The wild goose' just outside Mallow. Food is just fab with plenty of it served up on big plates and not very expensive at all, roughly about €10 or under for dinner, around €15 for steaks and the best bit you can have a pint with your dinner mmmmmmmmm

Have you being in it latley??? The food is horrible.. We ate there recently and there was a smell of cow dung of the chips.:eek: The place was filthy dirty as well. I got a glass of wine with my dinner and it was like vinegar...

MunsterCycling

c montgomery wrote: »

Sage is much better than Finins for both quality of food and price. In fact Sage is one of my favourate reataurants in Midleton. Cheap tasty food thats always prepared fresh.
Thai Thani is also an excellent restaurant if you like thai food. Sweetcorn cakes a must if you ever go there, devine.

Only problem with it (food is great) is the attitude they have to customers, snobby.

Shenshen

peteandjenn wrote: »

'The wild goose' just outside Mallow. Food is just fab with plenty of it served up on big plates and not very expensive at all, roughly about €10 or under for dinner, around €15 for steaks and the best bit you can have a pint with your dinner mmmmmmmmm

I lived in Mallow for 2 years, and I can't say I liked the place one bit.
Apart from the chips, there is absolutely nothing vegetarian on the menu, and absolutely everything is deep-fried.
I have to say I found it quite revolting.

Padraig Mor

dahamsta wrote: »

Anybody been in ....Capella Castlemartyr?

Absolutely appalling - although it has changed hands since I was there.

oldyouth

Travelled to Cork City for the weekend but took the notion to go to dinner in Cobh.

Firstly, I have to say I'm surprised at how few restaurants there appears to be in Cobh, given that I would consider it to be well on the tourist map. Anyway, Tradewinds was full, so we happened upon Gilberts. We hadn't booked, so were were asked if we would like to have a drink to see if a table came free, which we decided to do.

To cut a long story short, the service, food and general professionalism of the whole operation was the best I've experienced in many years.

Unfortunately, we were in a bit of a rush but I could have stayed for hours. A little gem of a place. 10/10

cjmcork

SARASON wrote: »

Macroom- Granvilles or the auld triangle.

agree re Granvilles - but Jesus H Christ, what the hell is going on in the Auld Triangle, I was in there yesterday, the old menu is gone and I think that the management think that Macroom is Kinsale, they were seriously pushing the fish menu - some of the dishes were 20 quid a pop - message to the management of the AT - you are going to lose your customers if you continue to charge Celtic Tiger prices for the food you could get before for under a tenner, if I want a 20 quid fish dish, I'll go to Hayfield Manor and have it under silver service thank you - you are serving pub grub, not french cuisine.............we left before we were served and went to the Castle instead (and got 2 main courses for less than a tenner each).............rant over - it kills me to see what was such a lovely place go so downhill

ocos

Was in Kinsale for the weekend. Great spot.
Had a fab early bird in Jolas...perfect in every way!

tipp86

I cant say enough for the rivergate in Youghal. Good food at a very good price and the staff are the best i have ever come across.

Pat Shortts in castlemartyr worth a mention aswell.

timo87

Dilllons in timoleague is worth a trip if your in the area varied menu, very good seafood and game usually there.

Pat McGhee

Can anyone recommend a Chinese take away in Midleton? I've gotten Thai Thanie loads of times (always devine!) but I fancy something different.

I made the mistake of ordering from Jasmine once. Never again.

tinnuvial

Spice in Carrigaline, great Indian food, fresh, tasty and not very expensive. Also Thairish do a great fry up and also do a great Pad Thai, not your normal range of specialties.

overmantle

Haven't been to Blairs Inn for years but glad to hear it's still good.:)

Orizio

Pat McGhee wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a Chinese take away in Midleton? I've gotten Thai Thanie loads of times (always devine!) but I fancy something different.

I made the mistake of ordering from Jasmine once. Never again.

Might drop in here, anything is particular you would suggest?

-Corkie-

cjmcork wrote: »

agree re Granvilles - but Jesus H Christ, what the hell is going on in the Auld Triangle, I was in there yesterday, the old menu is gone and I think that the management think that Macroom is Kinsale, they were seriously pushing the fish menu - some of the dishes were 20 quid a pop - message to the management of the AT - you are going to lose your customers if you continue to charge Celtic Tiger prices for the food you could get before for under a tenner, if I want a 20 quid fish dish, I'll go to Hayfield Manor and have it under silver service thank you - you are serving pub grub, not french cuisine.............we left before we were served and went to the Castle instead (and got 2 main courses for less than a tenner each).............rant over - it kills me to see what was such a lovely place go so downhill

I see that allright. Luckily my woman likes fish!!!. Granvilles is just as dear imo and not as nice.

SouthernBelle

In Ballincollig, Thai Tanie is gorgeous. Caseys Bar do a great Carvery and Tastees (Chinese) does a 4 course for €20 - lovely food & staff. You can't beat Dinos in the shopping centre for a decent breakfast!

McCarthy's Bar on Model Farm Road - I've eaten in both the bar and the restaurant and would give both a thumbs up. The Bay Leaf in Douglas - great €20 early bird - beautiful food. The Rising Tide in Glounthaune - lovely food with the added advantage of a full bar. I've eaten in both the Golf Club and hotel bar at Castlemartyr Resort in the last few months (it's owned by Dromoland now not Capella) - enjoyed the food in both places. Nice view over the course from the golf club bar.

lordhaha

I travel alot on the N20 and at last have found a great place to eat, half way between Cork and Limerick.

The Orchid, Main St. Buttevant, Co. Cork

A small cafe/restaurant halfway up the main street. Roast of the Day €10.00
Deserts under €4. Friendly staff, excellent food and generous portion's.

Well worth poping in even if just for a coffee as it is like a mini museum of the area also.

trotter_inc

cjmcork wrote: »

agree re Granvilles - but Jesus H Christ, what the hell is going on in the Auld Triangle, I was in there yesterday, the old menu is gone and I think that the management think that Macroom is Kinsale, they were seriously pushing the fish menu - some of the dishes were 20 quid a pop

I had this exact same conversation with someone yesterday

€15.50 for MACKEREL!!?? :eek: They're loosing the plot in there aright, Mackerel is one of the cheapest fish you can buy, about €1.50 each from a fishmonger. I reckon they are trying to push the fish a bit more in order to try compete with Granvilles a bit more.

They still have the old menu there too and they are still refusing to charge proper pub grub prices for it. For some reason, they think that they can charge restaurant prices for what is essentially standard pub grub.

cjmcork

had lunch in the Crows Nest Lissarda (formerly Mai Fitz's) today (second time in the past few weeks) - gotta say, it's lovely in there and the food is decent aswell, good portions, realistically priced and the staff are super-nice! defo very high up on the list of places to go when I want to eat out now without heading into the Collig!

also, in the Collig, La Boheme is lovely - ditto re above, super staff, realistic prices - very customer friendly...........

-Corkie-

I was actually going to try it a few times as I seen it recommended here by trotter. Any time I have passed the car park is empty and this has turned me off. Agree on the Auld triangle. I dont think the grub is anything to write home about and neither is Granvilles. The hotel is only average too.