Clare Restaurant Thread

Henry Ford III

I've no connection to it, but just wanted to highlight this place as it's excellent in my view. I hope it's ok to do that here.

It's called "Chow" and is situated in the old "Stir Fry" premises on the Main Street in Ennistymon, half way between the AIB and Eugene's Pub.

Run by Hein who is a South African and will be known to many as the proprietor of the chipper in Liscannor.

The food is great, all cooked to order, with no MSG, but the flavours are all there.

Well worth checking out.

Clareman

I've renamed Henry's thread to cover the whole county and it's restaurants rather than just 1 in Ennistymon, which is a great 1 to start btw.

Pembily

The Rowan Tree over by the Abbey St car park in Ennis is lovely for lunch and dinner. Their goats cheese salad rocks

Lady Chatterton

Goosers Restaurant, Ballina, Killaloe.

opinionated3

I like quincy's in Quin. Good food and service. For a quick bite i also like the Hunters lodge in Newmarket on Fergus. Cheap and cheerful

CptSternn

http://www.yelp.ie/search?find_desc=restaurant&find_loc=Ennis&ns=1

Lots of good places in and around Clare sure.

rainbowdash

MrsD007 wrote: »

Goosers Restaurant, Ballina, Killaloe.

Thats in Tipperary but even their website says they are in Clare!

Palmach

MrsD007 wrote: »

Goosers Restaurant, Ballina, Killaloe.

I found it expensive for what it offers.

Lady Chatterton

rainbowdash wrote: »

Thats in Tipperary but even their website says they are in Clare!

Yeah, it is just over the border in Tipperary but Ballina and Killaloe are twin towns and work really together. The Lakeside Hotel and Molly's are both in Tipp too but I'd say they use the Co. Clare address to avoid confusion with Ballina in Mayo.

Palmach wrote: »

I found it expensive for what it offers.

I really like Goosers, especially in summer when you can eat outside and admire the view but I have to agree with you, it's pricey!.

admcfad

Hi, it is my Mothers 70th birthday on the 16th January (Wednesday) and we were hoping to book a restaurant within a 10 mile radius of Lisdoonvarna/Ennistymon. Most of the ones I have phoned are closed or only open at the weekend off season. Any recommendations for a good dining experience would be very welcome but it has to be that night. If anyone has local knowledge please share. Many thanks.

Builderfromhell

I have been to that new restaraunt cafe near the Clare Champion. Cairdé it's called. Excellent Fish Chowder, daily soup and coffee. Could not recommend it enough.

Steel Dog

admcfad wrote: »

Hi, it is my Mothers 70th birthday on the 16th January (Wednesday) and we were hoping to book a restaurant within a 10 mile radius of Lisdoonvarna/Ennistymon. Most of the ones I have phoned are closed or only open at the weekend off season. Any recommendations for a good dining experience would be very welcome but it has to be that night. If anyone has local knowledge please share. Many thanks.

PM Sent

haybob

Nice to see Ennistymon getting a plug here, Byrnes is quite nice too

The Wild Honey inn in Lisdoonvarna is really good too

Mr. G

I went to the wild honey inn and found it quite pricey and had small portions. It took us about 40 minutes to take our order. We left after we had our main. Was disgusting aswell.

I've heard good things but have been disappointed several times with it.

Chow is nice. It is (or used to be) owned by a family couple. Very nice in there and the food is brilliant.

The rowntree in ennis is really good too, for a lunch.

maryb26

admcfad wrote: »

Hi, it is my Mothers 70th birthday on the 16th January (Wednesday) and we were hoping to book a restaurant within a 10 mile radius of Lisdoonvarna/Ennistymon. Most of the ones I have phoned are closed or only open at the weekend off season. Any recommendations for a good dining experience would be very welcome but it has to be that night. If anyone has local knowledge please share. Many thanks.

Hotel Doolin has a lovely dining room, open all year and food of a very high standard. They also have a function room upstairs for up to 150 people. The Doolin cafe might open for a large group. Think the Fulacht Fia in Ballyvaughan may be open also.

Henry Ford III

Mr_Grumpy wrote: »

...Chow is nice. It is (or used to be) owned by a family couple. Very nice in there and the food is brilliant.....

New management and a new menu I think. The old Stir Fry was a standard Chinese takeaway. Chow is Thai food, and I reckon it's streets ahead, and a bit different too.

admcfad

Mr_Grumpy wrote: »

I went to the wild honey inn and found it quite pricey and had small portions. It took us about 40 minutes to take our order. We left after we had our main. Was disgusting aswell.

I've heard good things but have been disappointed several times with it.

Chow is nice. It is (or used to be) owned by a family couple. Very nice in there and the food is brilliant.

The rowntree in ennis is really good too, for a lunch.

Thanks for your comment Mr Grumpy, my Mum has already been to The Wild Honey Inn and disliked it for exactly the same reasons you gave. She also added that the music was too loud, I am not sure if it was a live band or background music, to enjoy a conversation.

admcfad

maryb26 wrote: »

Hotel Doolin has a lovely dining room, open all year and food of a very high standard. They also have a function room upstairs for up to 150 people. The Doolin cafe might open for a large group. Think the Fulacht Fia in Ballyvaughan may be open also.

Maryb26, An Fulacht Fia in Ballyvaughan is lovely but only open at weekends this time of year. I rang Hotel Doolin and again their restaurant is closed but they could offer a bar menu, we may yet go there but we were hoping for a nice atmosphere for our lovely Mum.:)

Lady Chatterton

haybob wrote: »

The Wild Honey inn in Lisdoonvarna is really good too

Mr_Grumpy wrote: »

I went to the wild honey inn and found it quite pricey and had small portions. It took us about 40 minutes to take our order. We left after we had our main. Was disgusting aswell.

I've heard good things but have been disappointed several times with it.

admcfad wrote: »

Thanks for your comment Mr Grumpy, my Mum has already been to The Wild Honey Inn and disliked it for exactly the same reasons you gave. She also added that the music was too loud, I am not sure if it was a live band or background music, to enjoy a conversation.

I'm surprised and disappointed to read that people have been unhappy with the Wild Honey Inn. I've been wanting to visit the place ever since I saw it featured on RTE's 'At Your Service' programme but I just haven't gotten around to it. They seem to have won a lot of top awards in the last two years so food critics seem to like them.

Awards

2011+2012 Best Restaurant in Co Clare.
2012 Georgina Campbell’s Ireland Guide
Chef of the Year.
2012 Bridgestone Best Places to Stay in Ireland.
2011+2012 Michelin Bib Gourmand.
2011 Food and Wine, Restaurant of the Year Awards, Best Chef in Munster Commended.
2011 Michelin Eating Out in Pubs
Inspector’s Favouite.
2011 Sunday Independent Life Magazine
Best Restaurant in Co Clare.
2010 Gold Medal Award, National Winner
for Casual Dining.
2010 Hospitality Ireland
Best New Establishment.
2010 National Hospitality Awards.
Hospitality Ireland Best Pub with Food.
2010 Best Casual Dining in Co Clare
2010 Bib Gourmand, Michelin Red Guide

I love Linnanes in New Quay, great place for lobster!

Mr. G

I've been there several times. Won't set foot in there again.

It can have all the awards it can get and still be sh1te. Fullacht Fia is pricey though, and some may not like it in there.

How about Larco Italian in Ballvaughan. Very nice food in there as well and its not all pizzas.

Shapey Fiend

There are a lot of decent places in Ennis but nothing that I'd very enthusiastically recommend to someone not from here.

I was passing by the Friary today noticed there's a new place opposite. More of a fast food type thing maybe I would have examined more closely but I'd already had lunch.

Clareman

Shapey Fiend wrote: »

There are a lot of decent places in Ennis but nothing that I'd very enthusiastically recommend to someone not from here.

I don't know about that Shapey, any time I've friends around and they want to go for something to eat I always ask what they're in the mood for and have never failed to get somewhere good for them, for example, pub grub Brogans, Knox's, O'Halloran's or The Poet's Corner, fancy lunch, Old Ground Restaurant, burger or something, Season's 52, Chinese, loads of places.

The 1 thing that Ennis is lacking in my opinion is a fine dining experience, The Town Hall is the only place really, and even at that it isn't really fine dining, the closest to town would be Dromoland I guess.

Lady Chatterton

Clareman wrote: »

The 1 thing that Ennis is lacking in my opinion is a fine dining experience, The Town Hall is the only place really, and even at that it isn't really fine dining, the closest to town would be Dromoland I guess.

I agree with this, I used to love going to The Cloister in its hey day, when Jim Brindley had it. Anyone remember Garvello's? It was situated in Clareabbey where the Lynch Hotel's HQ building was.

black & white

MrsD007 wrote: »

I agree with this, I used to love going to The Cloister in its hey day, when Jim Brindley had it. Anyone remember Garvello's? It was situated in Clareabbey where the Lynch Hotel's HQ building was.

I remember it t'was was owned by a couple, think she worked in Raychem or one of those places. They started a dining club where you paid X amount up front and then ate each week or something like that. I think they went to England after a while ? Must be 20 years ago though.

Clareman

I remember Garvello's back then there seemed to be a new restaurant opening in or around town every week. I don't know if there is the market in Ennis for a fine dining experience though, I think the Old Ground has the mix just about right for what the town is looking for.

I forgot to mention The Dining Room, it took me a while to get over the fact that it used to be Henry J's (and what I got up to there..........) but it really does great food and is 1 of the few places in town that has different specials every time I go there.

testicle

MrsD007 wrote: »

I agree with this, I used to love going to The Cloister in its hey day, when Jim Brindley had it.

What's it like since it reopened a few weeks ago?

Lady Chatterton

Clareman wrote: »

I forgot to mention The Dining Room, it took me a while to get over the fact that it used to be Henry J's (and what I got up to there..........) but it really does great food and is 1 of the few places in town that has different specials every time I go there.

I'm a big fan of the Old Ground Hotel, funnily enough it used to have a restaurant called "The Dining Room" too but they re-named it. It is now the O'Regan Room after the Old Ground's former owner and the founder of Airport Duty Free Shopping, Dr. Brendan O'Regan.

Lady Chatterton

testicle wrote: »

What's it like since it reopened a few weeks ago?

I haven't been in the Cloister since Jim Brindley sold it, that's well over ten years ago now. Hopefully, one of the others will be able to advise you

Clareman

testicle wrote: »

What's it like since it reopened a few weeks ago?

I've heard good things about it, the overall consensus seems to be that it's lovely but very expensive, a friend of mine said "you don't mind paying top price for dinner for top price food, but when you've to go past beer taps and TVs it doesn't have a restaurant feel to it"

admcfad

Has anyone tried Vaughans The Anchor Inn in Liscannor for an evening meal, the menu looks quite pricey but if the food was good it might be worth trying?

haybob

admcfad wrote: »

Has anyone tried Vaughans The Anchor Inn in Liscannor for an evening meal, the menu looks quite pricey but if the food was good it might be worth trying?

Overpiced and overrated, food poor and the service is none better

Has the food in the falls improved a bit lately I'm hearing rumblings

johnam

MrsD007 wrote: »

I'm a big fan of the Old Ground Hotel, funnily enough it used to have a restaurant called "The Dining Room" too but they re-named it. It is now the O'Regan Room after the Old Ground's former owner and the founder of Airport Duty Free Shopping, Dr. Brendan O'Regan.

Glad to hear you are a fan MrsD....The O'Regan Room was never officially known as the dining room, it was the O'Brien Room, but was called the Dining room by the staff, just as the Town Hall is known as the Bistro. Personally I would rate it ahead of the Town Hall in terms of the food. I work in the OG, and if I'm looking for something a bit special for a family celebration the O'Regan Room is where I would head. If I'm looking for something a bit more private for myself and my wife, I usually head out of town...but only because working in the OG means I never really get to relax in there (either in the Town Hall or O'Regan room), I just don't think any of the other restaurants in town offer anything to write home about, they all make the grade but none stand out. Pretty sure if I wasn't working there the O'Regan Room would be my favourite restaurant in town, the menu covers all the bases from T-bones, Fillet steaks, Sirloin steaks, Rack of Lamb, Pork Fillet, Black Sole, Monkfish, Mussels, there is nothing on the menu I would be afraid to recommend.

Clareman

Just as well I booked the O'Reagan room for a christening then

Lady Chatterton

johnam wrote: »

Glad to hear you are a fan MrsD....The O'Regan Room was never officially known as the dining room, it was the O'Brien Room, but was called the Dining room by the staff, just as the Town Hall is known as the Bistro.

You're after educating me johnam, I've been going into the OG since I was a very young child and I never knew the 'Dining Room' was officially called the O'Brien Room :eek:

I always find it a real pleasure to go to the Old Ground either for a meal or a drink in the bar - keep up the good work!

colm_mcm

Big fan of Doolin Cafe, under new owners since last year (is it longer?)
Really unusual menu (its not on the website though) . Great atmosphere and something different.

Don't know if they're back open after the winter, but def worth a look if you're up that way

http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g214506-d1503707-Reviews-The_Doolin_Cafe-Doolin_The_Burren_County_Clare.html

mrswhiplash47

johnam wrote: »

Glad to hear you are a fan MrsD....The O'Regan Room was never officially known as the dining room, it was the O'Brien Room, but was called the Dining room by the staff, just as the Town Hall is known as the Bistro. Personally I would rate it ahead of the Town Hall in terms of the food. I work in the OG, and if I'm looking for something a bit special for a family celebration the O'Regan Room is where I would head. If I'm looking for something a bit more private for myself and my wife, I usually head out of town...but only because working in the OG means I never really get to relax in there (either in the Town Hall or O'Regan room), I just don't think any of the other restaurants in town offer anything to write home about, they all make the grade but none stand out. Pretty sure if I wasn't working there the O'Regan Room would be my favourite restaurant in town, the menu covers all the bases from T-bones, Fillet steaks, Sirloin steaks, Rack of Lamb, Pork Fillet, Black Sole, Monkfish, Mussels, there is nothing on the menu I would be afraid to recommend.

I am gluten and dairy intolerant and I must say the staff and chefs in The Old Ground are wonderful. I have had to send food back in other restaurants because they weren't gluten and dairy free,even though I informed the waiting staff of my intolerance,but in the OG they get it right and are up to date.

Akrasia

We went for sunday lunch to Seasons 52 last sunday for my mothers birthday and it was very nice indeed, especially for families. The food was delicious, well priced and the staff were friendly

golfball37

Vaughans- Food is nice, service brutal.

The Cloister is now open under the same chef who was in Bunratty Manor which was top of the range in taste terms for me. I intend going very soon as I've heard great things about it.

For me portion size and value for money is just as important as taste. In that regard my favourite places in Ennis are the Rowan Tree and Seasons 52.

maiden

I had the absolute pleasure in having lunch in The Cloister last week, I loved it! Fantastic staff and food reasonable, my new fav place

2rkehij30qtza5

Stayed in the lovely Temple Gate Hotel not too long ago and ate in the restaurant Legends I think it was called. Divine! And it was not expensive either. I'd recommend it for sure.

Clareman

Brycen Tender Zap wrote: »

Stayed in the lovely Temple Gate Hotel not too long ago and ate in the restaurant Legends I think it was called. Divine! And it was not expensive either. I'd recommend it for sure.

Great call with the Temple Gate, went there not too long ago and really enjoyed it.

alibride

food heaven in the market do the best sambos!! yum and the OG is always v good too, bar town hall or obrien room

Clareman

I find the PepperMill in the Quin Road Industrial estate brilliant for lunch, they have a full salad/sandwich bar as well as an excellent carvery. They are nice and quick as well with loads of seats so if you're in a rush you can get in and out or if you're not you can take your time, they do a lovely coffee as well.

The Food Emperioum by Glor/Tesco is great as well, they have by far the best espresso in town.

Dan O'Connell's does a great Soup & Sandwich and is usually very reasonable, I'm very partial to their chicken salad sandwich.

Carazy

Clareman wrote: »

I find the PepperMill in the Quin Road Industrial estate brilliant for lunch, they have a full salad/sandwich bar as well as an excellent carvery. They are nice and quick as well with loads of seats so if you're in a rush you can get in and out or if you're not you can take your time, they do a lovely coffee as well.

The Food Emperioum by Glor/Tesco is great as well, they have by far the best espresso in town.

Dan O'Connell's does a great Soup & Sandwich and is usually very reasonable, I'm very partial to their chicken salad sandwich.

Was an item in one of the papers recently regarding this place that put me personally off going there. I will try and find the link.

A successful prosecution was also carried out by the Health Service Executive on:

• The Food Emporium (restaurant), 8/9 Abbeyfield Centre, Francis Street, Ennis, Clare
http://www.fsai.ie/details.aspx?id=11796&terms=ennis

Shapey Fiend

In the Food Emporiums defence they've been around for 30 years and didn't have any problems before. I'm sure they've sorted it out after this incident. I heard off a pub owner about a year ago that the HSA have become incredibly tetchy about the standard of kitchens lately to the extent it wasn't worthwhile him doing food at all anymore. The current standards are just encouraging restaurants to do as little on site cooking as possible and buy in food preprepared on an industrial estate. Easier for the HSA to regulate but it's leading to a lot of places doing the same bland and homogeneous meals.

Clareman

I know of a restaurant that was closed for a day following a successful prosecution by the HSE cause 1 of their fridges wasn't working. They knew the fridge wasn't working and they were only storing plates in it while waiting for someone come fix it, they tried to explain this to the health inspector but they wouldn't listen and went through with the prosecution.

Johnboy1951

Clareman wrote: »

I know of a restaurant that was closed for a day following a successful prosecution by the HSE cause 1 of their fridges wasn't working. They knew the fridge wasn't working and they were only storing plates in it while waiting for someone come fix it, they tried to explain this to the health inspector but they wouldn't listen and went through with the prosecution.

....... which apparently was successful .... and that would make me wonder .....

vkid

Builderfromhell wrote: »

I have been to that new restaraunt cafe near the Clare Champion. Cairdé it's called. Excellent Fish Chowder, daily soup and coffee. Could not recommend it enough.

Was there over xmas. Absolutely loved it. Food was superb.

For lunch i would also recconend lilly maes in the woolen mills bunratty. Was there years ago and didnt think anything of it..but seems to have really upped its game

johnam

Shapey Fiend wrote: »

In the Food Emporiums defence they've been around for 30 years and didn't have any problems before. I'm sure they've sorted it out after this incident. I heard off a pub owner about a year ago that the HSA have become incredibly tetchy about the standard of kitchens lately to the extent it wasn't worthwhile him doing food at all anymore. The current standards are just encouraging restaurants to do as little on site cooking as possible and buy in food preprepared on an industrial estate. Easier for the HSA to regulate but it's leading to a lot of places doing the same bland and homogeneous meals.

I agree with your comment on the Food Emporium, and hope the negative publicity hasn't done them any harm. They were always lovely to deal with, one example that will always stand out for me is when my wife went in there once to buy some scones, and then realised she forgot her wallet, the guy followed her out to the car with the scones and said to pay the next time she was passing. It was her first time in there, so it wasn't as if they knew her face.

I disagree with everything else you say about the HSA. They have rules, clear rules, rules which with a little bit of work everyday can easily be met. The hygiene policy is called HACCP, which means Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points, basically you take every step in the production of a dish, look for where it can go wrong and then prevent it from going wrong. I fail to understand how kitchens serving over 1000 meals a day can meet these standards, but kitchens who serve much less than that feel that they are over powering.

HACCP sounds complicated but in fact is incredibly simple. For example if you are shopping in Dunnes and see a packet of Chicken left among the cleaning products, would you buy it? If you did buy some meat, would you leave it sit in your car for 6 hours on a warm summers day, or bring it home and put it in the fridge as soon as possible? Would you cut your Cooked Chicken on the same cutting board you used for cutting the raw chicken? Would you like your local food establishment to follow the same basic rules you would at home? HACCP is mainly common sense, but unfortunately with some establishments, common sense goes out the window, and for that reason the HSA has introduced a range of rules called HACCP which ensure every establishment check everything they possibly can about their products. From ensuring deliveries come in properly cooled vans, not some builders van which has driven around for the last 6 hours slowly stewing the chicken, to ensuring all fridges which are in use are in proper working order with temperature checks carried out regularly, or all hot holding areas are hot enough to prevent bacteria growth, to ensuring raw cutting boards are not used for cooked meats, HACCP is all common sense (with rules).

Clareman wrote: »

I know of a restaurant that was closed for a day following a successful prosecution by the HSE cause 1 of their fridges wasn't working. They knew the fridge wasn't working and they were only storing plates in it while waiting for someone come fix it, they tried to explain this to the health inspector but they wouldn't listen and went through with the prosecution.

Sorry Clareman, but this sounds like a poor excuse. The HSA understand machinery break down, but they also say that if machinery breaks down, it should not be used, and all items should be transferred to another fridge until the issue can be rectified. I find it highly unlikely that any establishment would need to use a broken fridge to store plates. Why would they not just use the shelves that they would normally store the plates on when the fridge is working. It is much more probable that the fridge in question was still in use, and that no temperature checks existed for the fridge. So not only was the fridge not working, but the staff weren't aware either. How many establishments do you think would tell their customers the truth when they failed a health inspection...surely it would be easier to blame an over enthusiastic HSA officer. ..... but I'm only guessing.


I hope this doesn't read like a rant, or appear too critical on any other poster.

Builderfromhell

This thread has turned into a very good restaurant guide to Ennis and Clare generally

Clareman

The other day Mrs. CM and myself went for a drive with our little one as she was after having her 6-in-1 and we wanted to get her to sleep, we were both hungry coming back from Kilkee and neither of us was in the mood for cooking or having a sandwich, we didn't want to bring herself into a public place cause we didn't know how she'd react so we went to the Pepper Mill and got 2 take away dinners, I have to say they were lovely, well presented in proper take away containers, i.e. segmented insulated dishes.

Actually, if I tell the truth, Mrs. CM only ate half of hers so I had the other half for dinner that evening while she just had some pasta