The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

Seamai · 28-01-2020 04:02PM

the beer revolu wrote: »

Do we really need another rack of lamb, steak, fillet of hake, Bailey's cheesecake restaurant? I certainly don't.
I guess all you are saying is that it's not for you but I commend any restaurant that tries to offer an alternative from the above.

I wouldn't eat anything on your list in a restaurant, when I go out I like something that I wouldn't cook myself (and I'm pretty adventurous), however that menu reads like the raided a dumpster and tried to make a meal of it. I'm frequent disappointed by food I get when I eat out feeling I could often do better myself.

pwurple · 28-01-2020 04:45PM

Seamai wrote: »

I see the Glass Curtain on McCurtain Street is doing special "nose to tail" tasting menu for Valentines night, I'm all for wasting as little of an animal as possible but I cant see too many ladies out there getting overly excited at the prospect of the tripe and heart dishes on offer.

On the whole the menu is a bit too New Nordic (albeit local) for my liking, reading their menu doesn't exact get my juices flowing, the first item is "Milk Bread, Hazlenuts, Schmaltz" (Chicken fat). Emperor's New Clothes spring to mind.

Lord above, did we have to genderise it? I'm one of those offal fans, do I need to check my genitals at the door?

I ate the milk bread with schmaltz, and went back for more. Twice. It's savory, salty and ridiculously delicious. Three times I've been in there now (everyone seems to want to go at the moment!) and have not been disappointed yet.

Schmatlz is a Jewish thing. Like Matzo ball soup... Maybe your lack of exposure to that ethnicity of food is the problem. There isn't a whole pile of that here yet. It's fairly basic, peasant food style rather than notions I would have said.

Seamai · 28-01-2020 05:08PM

pwurple wrote: »

Lord above, did we have to genderise it? I'm one of those offal fans, do I need to check my genitals at the door?

I ate the milk bread with schmaltz, and went back for more. Twice. It's savory, salty and ridiculously delicious. Three times I've been in there now (everyone seems to want to go at the moment!) and have not been disappointed yet.

Schmatlz is a Jewish thing. Like Matzo ball soup... Maybe your lack of exposure to that ethnicity of food is the problem. There isn't a whole pile of that here yet. It's fairly basic, peasant food style rather than notions I would have said.

Not at all, himself grew up in New York with a lot of Jewish (and Chinese) friends so I'm quite well up in all things Jewish. Ashkenazi food has never really done it for me. When it comes to my own food in the kitchen, it's pretty diverse, proper Mexican, Morrocan, Turkish, Greek, Italian, Spanish, French, Indian, South East Asian, Chinese, my one blindspot is probably Japanese (though I do a pretty mean chicken katsu curry). I'd try at least one new dish a week, tonight I'm doing coq au riesling with spatzle, not by first time making spatzle though been making those for a while to go with a goulash, again it's the real deal with only a spoon of tomato puree, no peppers, caraway seeds and two types of paprika, what ever I am, I'm certainly not shy of anything new in the kitchen.

I'd say you might be in the minority amongst your gender when it comes to offal, personally I'd have no issue with heart (it's muscle) but tripe isn't for me, I've tried it but no thanks, it's not so much the taste of boiled dish rag, (that can be disguised) it's the texture I hate.

the beer revolu · 28-01-2020 05:22PM

I dislike liver, kidney, brain and am not gone on sweetbreads.
I must be a girl!

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5 · 28-01-2020 05:38PM

Ate in Raven last night, thought it was very good. Partner got shakshuka (Moroccan stew with baked eggs, coriander and sour cream) and I had the Buddha bowl which I was very impressed with. Really good balance of flavours and textures, very good value, lovely presentation too. Shaksuka went down very well also.

I'd definitely go back and must try the lunch menu too.

I thought the wine list was good, especially for that kind of place, though some of the pricing was a bit odd. Also not sure what the regular crowd is like but almost everyone was on beer or cocktails, they have a LOT of wines by the glass for that kind of turnover.

Oh well I'll just have to try them all

Seamai · 28-01-2020 05:39PM

the beer revolu wrote: »

I dislike liver, kidney, brain and am not gone on sweetbreads.
I must be a girl!

It's not a criticism but from my experience women tend to be a bit more squeamish about offal but plenty of guys are too, I've tried lots of it, some I like, foie gras or tongue though brain or spleen (in Sicily they shove it in a bread roll and eat it on the street) maybe not. When I have friends around for dinner I always run things by them and the ones who have the most issues and objections seem to be women. Most of them won't eat offal, one wont eat eggs (not dietary, she just hates them) another rice, blue cheese, goats cheese (in fact most cheese), aubergines, parsnip (she says it's only fit for feeding animals) a lot of seafood is off the table as well, nothing too spicy, saffron, cumin, fresh coriander, venison (too gamey) the list goes on and on.

The guys on the other hand will eat any old sh*te I put in front of them

who_me · 28-01-2020 06:53PM

Leonel Putrid Cheddar wrote: »

Ate in Raven last night, thought it was very good. Partner got shakshuka (Moroccan stew with baked eggs, coriander and sour cream) and I had the Buddha bowl which I was very impressed with. Really good balance of flavours and textures, very good value, lovely presentation too. Shaksuka went down very well also.

I'd definitely go back and must try the lunch menu too.

I thought the wine list was good, especially for that kind of place, though some of the pricing was a bit odd. Also not sure what the regular crowd is like but almost everyone was on beer or cocktails, they have a LOT of wines by the glass for that kind of turnover.

Oh well I'll just have to try them all

Interesting, thanks. Years back used to be my regular haunt for beers. I didn't even realise they did food these days!

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5 · 28-01-2020 08:03PM

who_me wrote: »

Interesting, thanks. Years back used to be my regular haunt for beers. I didn't even realise they did food these days!

Yeah they did a big revamp I think about two years ago, it's lovely!

fin12 · 28-01-2020 08:39PM

the beer revolu wrote: »

Do we really need another rack of lamb, steak, fillet of hake, Bailey's cheesecake restaurant? I certainly don't.
I guess all you are saying is that it's not for you but I commend any restaurant that tries to offer an alternative from the above.

U can never have enough Baileys cheesecake lol.

pwurple · 29-01-2020 03:22AM

Leonel Putrid Cheddar wrote: »

Ate in Raven last night, thought it was very good. Partner got shakshuka (Moroccan stew with baked eggs, coriander and sour cream) and I had the Buddha bowl which I was very impressed with. Really good balance of flavours and textures, very good value, lovely presentation too. Shaksuka went down very well also.

I really like the raven, thanks for review! What else was on the menu? Both of those I associate with brekkie rather than evening food!

Seamai · 29-01-2020 07:08AM

pwurple wrote: »

I really like the raven, thanks for review! What else was on the menu? Both of those I associate with brekkie rather than evening food!

I was there before Christmas, had the fish tacos, really good, they had other types, beef chicken and a vegetarian one.

rob316 · 29-01-2020 10:28AM

Went into the Fish Wife on Grand Parade the other night, didn't realize they did it up and changed the menu. I had a plaice supper and you can have a beer now too. Absolutely outstanding it was, prices are gone up but I felt the food had gotten better and was worth it.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5 · 29-01-2020 11:16AM

pwurple wrote: »

I really like the raven, thanks for review! What else was on the menu? Both of those I associate with brekkie rather than evening food!

I've got a chronic dose of vegetarianism so my mind just like blanks 90% of the menu lol, sorry. There were definitely falafel tacos and a halloumi burger

bingo9999 · 29-01-2020 12:16PM

http://theravenbar.com/food/

Seamai · 29-01-2020 12:56PM

While I'm partial to a really good brownie, why have they and cheesecake (of the unbaked variety) become the go to desserts in so many restaurants? Baked cheesecake is way better but it's not that common here.

what the hell! · 29-01-2020 01:19PM

Seamai wrote: »

While I'm partial to a really good brownie, why have they and cheesecake (of the unbaked variety) become the go to desserts in so many restaurants? Baked cheesecake is way better but it's not that common here.

Oh god I do love a visit to the Cheesecake Factory!

sporina · 30-01-2020 09:36PM

Seamai wrote: »

While I'm partial to a really good brownie, why have they and cheesecake (of the unbaked variety) become the go to desserts in so many restaurants? Baked cheesecake is way better but it's not that common here.

i am not a lover of regular cheese cake myself (though i respect that there are people who adore it).. but i had a baked cheese cake with blue berries once and it was divine..

Seamai · 30-01-2020 09:44PM

sporina wrote: »

i am not a lover of regular cheese cake myself (though i respect that there are people who adore it).. but i had a baked cheese cake with blue berries once and it was divine..

Mmmm, blueberry baked cheesecake, now you're talking.

.red. · 31-01-2020 09:57AM

rob316 wrote: »

Went into the Fish Wife on Grand Parade the other night, didn't realize they did it up and changed the menu. I had a plaice supper and you can have a beer now too. Absolutely outstanding it was, prices are gone up but I felt the food had gotten better and was worth it.

I went in for the first time a few weeks back. Kids got fish goujons and devoured them.
I got a burger and it was honestly the best burger I've gotten in a "chipper". Smoked cheese and bacon and 2 patties and chips, it was a little expensive for a chipper but if I'd have gotten it in a restaurant I'd still be raving about it and it would have cost an extra €5/6 so good value.
Next time I'm back in town I'll definitely be going back.

kingtut · 02-02-2020 05:12PM

Went to Coriander (new Indian in Douglas where Lal Quila used to be) and it was amazing! Best indian I have ever had.

Burty330 · 02-02-2020 10:25PM

I had a madras from Coriander. It was nice but I felt it contained too much coconut cream which dulled the taste of the spices. It didn't taste like a typical Madras , rather more of a masala /murg type dish.

Spice of India strikes the perfect balance between spice and coconut cream in their madras.

rino87 · 02-02-2020 10:34PM

Is it the folks from Iyers that have taken over the sapce vacated by thali on Popes Quay does anyone know?
Just remember in the summer he had an article in the echo saying he had plans for a new restaurant "less than 40 metres" form Iyers. Haven't been that way since thali moved.
https://www.echolive.ie/corklives/A-new-chapter-begins-for-Iyers-ee285665-8783-4daf-b863-12f428b6794d-ds

igCorcaigh · 03-02-2020 09:14AM

RINO87 wrote: »

Is it the folks from Iyers that have taken over the sapce vacated by thali on Popes Quay does anyone know?
Just remember in the summer he had an article in the echo saying he had plans for a new restaurant "less than 40 metres" form Iyers. Haven't been that way since thali moved.
https://www.echolive.ie/corklives/A-new-chapter-begins-for-Iyers-ee285665-8783-4daf-b863-12f428b6794d-ds

No, I don't think so.
Still waiting for the new premises.

the beer revolu · 04-02-2020 12:48PM

RINO87 wrote: »

Is it the folks from Iyers that have taken over the sapce vacated by thali on Popes Quay does anyone know?
Just remember in the summer he had an article in the echo saying he had plans for a new restaurant "less than 40 metres" form Iyers. Haven't been that way since thali moved.
https://www.echolive.ie/corklives/A-new-chapter-begins-for-Iyers-ee285665-8783-4daf-b863-12f428b6794d-ds

No, that's Mirch Masala, a more typical Indian restaurant.

I think Iyer's move has been knocked on the head for now.

Seamai · 04-02-2020 12:53PM

Iyer's would definitely benefit from a bigger premises. I'd rarely go anywhere but there for Indian, most of them around the city aren't great but Iyer's is pretty authentic.