The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

corked

Went to Jacobs on the Mall last night with some friends, really disappointing.

7.30pm seating and left just before 11pm.
told as we sat that 1 stater and 2 mains were no longer on the early bird menu they did substitute but with slight hesitation on the fish option, took ages to take our order.

first bottle of wine we ordered was out of stock, as was second bottle of wine, starters were really slow as was service, 2 got their starters and then took a while for others to come. Starters were really tasty, mains also very slow, well presented but mine was cold. Again really slow on desserts.

In fairness the Manager came over and apologised about delays and running out of food and offered our wine complimentary. Really nice gesture and showed that they knew things were not right on the night, but I still would not be in a rush back and would be slow to recommend.
In general food was ok (I was the in lucky one with mains) but service was very poor.

evilivor

corked wrote: »

Went to Jacobs on the Mall last night with some friends, really disappointing.

7.30pm seating and left just before 11pm.
told as we sat that 1 stater and 2 mains were no longer on the early bird menu they did substitute but with slight hesitation on the fish option, took ages to take our order.

first bottle of wine we ordered was out of stock, as was second bottle of wine, starters were really slow as was service, 2 got their starters and then took a while for others to come. Starters were really tasty, mains also very slow, well presented but mine was cold. Again really slow on desserts.

In fairness the Manager came over and apologised about delays and running out of food and offered our wine complimentary. Really nice gesture and showed that they knew things were not right on the night, but I still would not be in a rush back and would be slow to recommend.
In general food was ok (I was the in lucky one with mains) but service was very poor.

That's a pity - it's a lovely room with some great staff - pity the restaurant can't live up to it.

pwurple

Might have been something to do with it being a Monday? I found over the years that loads of restaurants don't open on Mndays at all, and those that do can have a reduced menu. It's usually the main staffs night off too.

evilivor

Lunched in Perry Street Market Cafe - teething problems and all that - it only opened Monday - but very tasty and a lovely place.

They seem to be going for a Fallon & Byrne kinda vibe - I presume it'll improve - a lot of things were off menu and staff were a bit lost and all over the place.

TBi

evilivor wrote: »

Lunched in Perry Street Market Cafe -

I'll never understand why restaurants don't put an address or map to where the place is on the website! (In an easy to find place, it's buried in the text somewhere).

evilivor

TBi wrote: »

I'll never understand why restaurants don't put an address or map to where the place is on the website! (In an easy to find place, it's buried in the text somewhere).

I don't know if they have a website or not - I linked to someone's food blog.

Anyway, the Market Café is on Perry Street, on the corner with Drawbridge Street.

DeesWholefoods

evilivor wrote: »

Lunched in Perry Street Market Cafe - teething problems and all that - it only opened Monday - but very tasty and a lovely place.

They seem to be going for a Fallon & Byrne kinda vibe - I presume it'll improve - a lot of things were off menu and staff were a bit lost and all over the place.

I was very excited about going in to this Cafe as it looks like such a fantastic space, brought himself in yesterday and unfortunately walked out of the place. I expected lots of Avoca Style salads, but there was only a few sandwiches in a fridge and no menus to be seen anywhere. There is a great opportunity for a Fallon & Byrne style cafe in Cork one that also opens late in the evenings Thurs/Fri/Sat. A guiding example should be Mannings Food Emporium in Ballylickey. The shop part should be filled with a treasure trove of lovely expensive things to look like artisan Orzo pasta or Belazu Rose Harrisa! The English Market closes really early and there is no where else in town to pick up any nice food treats. They would do so well with serving delicious veggie platters, cheese plates etc in the evenings, there are a few places in Cork that do this, but they are located in pubs and not everyone wants to eat in a pub. This is an amazing space and so much could be done with it. I hope they sort out the teething problems soon and best of luck to them.

evilivor

DeesWholefoods wrote: »

I was very excited about going in to this Cafe as it looks like such a fantastic space, brought himself in yesterday and unfortunately walked out of the place. I expected lots of Avoca Style salads, but there was only a few sandwiches in a fridge and no menus to be seen anywhere.

I have to agree on the menu thing - there was one small menu over the hot food which meant one was already in the queue before one could even get close enough to read it - there are some other menu boards way up on the back wall but even with glasses I couldn't only barely make them out. There were wines on a shelf on the back but no wine list or drink lists for anything evident.

What I saw were sandwiches, salads and hot food - there are a lot of things to sort out and, perhaps, if the food hadn't been nice I wouldn't have give it a free pass but I will. If it's still like that in a week or two I won't.

Places like this need to have someone come in and audit their experience from the start - it's no use having a lovely clean place with nice grub if the whole experience is spoiled by lack of menus and a stupid queues and counter layouts. You need someone who can just stand and observe and troubleshoot it all - the owners just seemed to be rushed of their feet and a little overwhelmed.

I suppose for the shop side of it - it's a tough balancing act to get the stock right initially when you don't even know if there are even going to be customers for it.

DeesWholefoods

evilivor wrote: »

I have to agree on the menu thing - there was one small menu over the hot food which meant one was already in the queue before one could even get close enough to read it - there are some other menu boards way up on the back wall but even with glasses I couldn't only barely make them out. There were wines on a shelf on the back but no wine list or drink lists for anything evident.

What I saw were sandwiches, salads and hot food - there are a lot of things to sort out and, perhaps, if the food hadn't been nice I wouldn't have give it a free pass but I will. If it's still like that in a week or two I won't.

Places like this need to have someone come in and audit their experience from the start - it's no use having a lovely clean place with nice grub if the whole experience is spoiled by lack of menus and a stupid queues and counter layouts. You need someone who can just stand and observe and troubleshoot it all - the owners just seemed to be rushed of their feet and a little overwhelmed.

I suppose for the shop side of it - it's a tough balancing act to get the stock right initially when you don't even know if there are even going to be customers for it.

Yes, that's a good idea. Without feedback from customers and really listening it can be a disaster for any business. With regards the shop, lots of businesses would give a free 1st case fill to start a shop going, I know I have given some for upmarket stores in London that have no qualms in asking for a free fill! If you don't ask you don't get as my Dad says! There's plenty of Irish Artisan producers that would love the chance of exposure on a shelf in a prominent Cork City cafe and would happily provide a free 1st case fill. It's a pretty cheap advertisement when you look at it that way.

The menu should be outside and also down at the riverside so all the cars passing can see it or to have a guy with a sandwich board standing there during rush hour. I'll give it a few weeks before I go back again too.

evilivor

DeesWholefoods wrote: »

Yes, that's a good idea. Without feedback from customers and really listening it can be a disaster for any business. With regards the shop, lots of businesses would give a free 1st case fill to start a shop going, I know I have given some for upmarket stores in London that have no qualms in asking for a free fill! If you don't ask you don't get as my Dad says! There's plenty of Irish Artisan producers that would love the chance of exposure on a shelf in a prominent Cork City cafe and would happily provide a free 1st case fill. It's a pretty cheap advertisement when you look at it that way.

There also didn't seem to be a separate place to purchase the limited amount of stuff on sale so it mustn't be a priority - If I was going in to buy my organic beetroot or sausages I wouldn't want to have to queue with the lunch crowd.

Roesy

I was in the Perry Street Market Cafe yesterday. We arrived around 3.30 and the hot food was just about finished, it seemed busy enough though. Some of our group got sandwiches, one got hot food, one got soup and one got a salad plate. My only real complaint was that the sandwich people were more or less finished eating before the soup arrived. The other two were another couple of minutes waiting for their salad and curry. Everyone agreed that the food was really good though. There seemed to be a nice atmosphere in the place and the staff seemed friendly and helpful. One of the owners did take the time to come and apologise for the teething problems and wanted to make sure we enjoyed the food. Here's hoping they get the little bugs ironed out soon and make a go of the place. It would be great to see it succeed.

Nonoperational

Had a decent steak baguette in Currans today. Hadn't been there is years.

who_me

Nonoperational wrote: »

Had a decent steak baguette in Currans today. Hadn't been there is years.

Yeah, it's a really nice restaurant / area especially when the weather is nice enough to use the roof terrace; but the food is ok. If I were them I'd definitely go a little bit more up-market with the place (assuming of course they had the money to spend).

Nonoperational

Ya, I see your point. Couldn't really fault the lunch in fairness though. Nothing too high-brow but I left happy.

rosie16

hey guys,
Does anyone know if any restaurants do a buffet? City centre-ish or anywhere outside the city centre.

who_me

Nonoperational wrote: »

Ya, I see your point. Couldn't really fault the lunch in fairness though. Nothing too high-brow but I left happy.

Hah, I hope I didn't sound too snobbish what my comment. I just really like the layout, the stairs, and the roof terrace; but the food doesn't change much. I wouldn't go there too often - perhaps I'll try again and be pleasantly surprised!

Nonoperational

who_me wrote: »

Hah, I hope I didn't sound too snobbish what my comment. I just really like the layout, the stairs, and the roof terrace; but the food doesn't change much. I wouldn't go there too often - perhaps I'll try again and be pleasantly surprised!

Not at all. I completely agree.

sporina

ate in star anise last night - twas sublime..:)

GavRedKing

1st time in Liberty Grill on Saturday night, really enjoyed it.

I'll be making a second visit very soon I reckon.

Malari

Went to Sakura over the weekend and really enjoyed it! I must go back soon and try the bento box.

the beer revolu

Malari wrote: »

Went to Sakura over the weekend and really enjoyed it! I must go back soon and try the bento box.

I've only ever had the bento box there and never not enjoyed it.
Great value.

the beer revolu

rosie16 wrote: »

hey guys,
Does anyone know if any restaurants do a buffet? City centre-ish or anywhere outside the city centre.

There's an Indian and a Chinese restaurant on opposite sides of North Main Street that both do buffets. I've no idea of the quality, though.

Malari

the beer revolu wrote: »

I've only ever had the bento box there and never not enjoyed it.
Great value.

I know, I should have got it! Although makes it look like a prison when everybody is lined up at benches eating out of red trays of food

Milly33

Just incase there is a deal on Groupon at the moment for the Ivory Tower €70 for two

rosie16

the beer revolu wrote: »

There's an Indian and a Chinese restaurant on opposite sides of North Main Street that both do buffets. I've no idea of the quality, though.

It's worth a try! I'll report back sometime. Thanks

DM1001

is there any good guide for food places in cork?

sporina

DM1001 wrote: »

is there any good guide for food places in cork?

huh?

TeletextPear

DM1001 wrote: »

is there any good guide for food places in cork?

You're reading it!

Milly33

Trip Advisor or Menu Pages are probably the best ones. I don't think there is anyone besides something like this thread from Cork as such. I would trust trip advisor more than menupages

pwurple

Milly33 wrote: »

Trip Advisor or Menu Pages are probably the best ones. I don't think there is anyone besides something like this thread from Cork as such. I would trust trip advisor more than menupages

Trip advisor? Serious?

So your top two restaurants in cork would be the South County, followed by Uncle Pete's.