Anyone eaten in Loam?

dinneenp

Hi,
Anyone eaten in the new restaurant Loam, off Eyre Square?
Just wondering during what it's like?
Cheers,
Pa

thesandeman

Where's that?

Sofa King

Never heard of it but €3 for some salted nuts at the bar seems a bit steep.

http://loamgalway.com/menu/

thesandeman

Sofa King wrote: »

Never heard of it but €3 for some salted nuts at the bar seems a bit steep.

http://loamgalway.com/menu/

From following on from the link it seems to be in the same building as the tax office.
Possibly part of the Radisson?
Neither the menu or the location would appeal to me really.

buzz11

I emailed them last Friday to make a reservation, no reply received yet....

ben.schlomo

If im not mistaken its the former chef from Aniar.

Mrs OBumble

I walked past last Friday afternoon and was surprised to see it there. Quite odd - no signage outside saying what it was called even, made me think it wasn't quite open yet, even though the interior looked fully fitted and there were people working inside.

Good to see that space finally being used for businesses, though. Looks like Atlantic College have some of it too, and a small coffee place down at the end by the Revenue door.

Let's hope the niche they're filling is large enough for them to succeed through the bleak post-Christmas months.

JONJO THE MISER

Looks like its trying to be some pretentious dump, no sign up, oh how radical.
And you say it was a chef from anair, that explains it all.

ben.schlomo

JONJO THE MISER wrote: »

Looks like its trying to be some pretentious dump, no sign up, oh how radical.
And you say it was a chef from anair, that explains it all.

No i said twas from Aniar, off to Supermacs or Riordans with you there, some good fare to be had for you.

JohnCleary

2 friends ate there last week, said they wouldn't be back in a hurry

Utopia Parkway

Just been awarded a Michelin star.

biko

Source
https://twitter.com/MichelinGuideUK/status/644138040827486208

Red_Wake

Went there once, thought it was lovely. Quite expensive though, but the staff really make the effort.

You kind of have to step out of your regular food comfort zone, but it's really nice food.

Reckoned it would get a Michelin Star sooner or later at the time as well.

Utopia Parkway

2 Michelin star restaurants in Galway now is pretty good going. Don't think there's any in Cork for example unless I'm mistaken.

?Cee?view

Red_Wake wrote: »

Went there once, thought it was lovely. Quite expensive though, but the staff really make the effort.

You kind of have to step out of your regular food comfort zone, but it's really nice food.

Reckoned it would get a Michelin Star sooner or later at the time as well.

Agree with all you've said except that it's expensive. I think it's great value for what you get.

Extremely unpretentious staff and chef (how many places have a chef who greets people personally when they're leaving) but the unfortunate risk is that it will now start attracting G4 type pretentious customers

Geuze

I'd say 60 euro for a 6 course tasting menu is not expensive for a Michelin star restaurant.

Of course the price may rise with added demand.

Aniar charges 70 for a 6-course menu, or 100 with wine.

6 course: €70 [ €100 ] cold | hot | sorbet | main| dessert | cheese

Zzippy

?Cee?view wrote: »

Agree with all you've said except that it's expensive. I think it's great value for what you get.

Extremely unpretentious staff and chef (how many places have a chef who greets people personally when they're leaving) but the unfortunate risk is that it will now start attracting G4 type pretentious customers

That doesn't sound pretentious at all! :rolleyes:

tmh106

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

2 Michelin star restaurants in Galway now is pretty good going. Don't think there's any in Cork for example unless I'm mistaken.

Both garnered by the same chef.

Spanish Eyes

Michelin Stars are grand, but what do they actually mean?

That the food is par excellence? Yes, it can be great but at what price? Foamed shellfish reduction in red currant jus etc. lol. Depends on your wants I suppose.

I wouldn't go to an M Star place as first choice. I'd be afraid I'd spill something on the tablecloth or something!

Good food does NOT have to be M starred. But some are smitten.

Each to their own.

beardybrewer

I think most people, and I include myself in that, might not find what sets a good restaurant apart from a Michelin starred restaurant all that interesting. For me good service, tasty food done better than what I could do, and a reasonable price are all I desire. Yet it's amazing how hard it is to manage even these most humble of expectations consistently (looking at you Rouge!).

Just take a look at this gallery: http://loamgalway.com/gallery/

Those pics are gorgeous! Maybe if I ate out every night such that a good meal seemed passé I would look for more... food that is art?

biko

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Michelin Stars are grand, but what do they actually mean?

Not sure if this was an actual question or a mini-rant but in case anyone else wonders.
In short,
1 star means worth a visit if you're in town.
2 stars means worth a visit if you're not too far away.
3 stars means worth travelling specially for.

One have to remember the guide started as a guide to places to eat* if you were on a road trip.



*And hotels etc

Spanish Eyes

biko wrote: »

Not sure if this was an actual question or a mini-rant but in case anyone else wonders.
In short,
1 star means worth a visit if you're in town.
2 stars means worth a visit if you're not too far away.
3 stars means worth travelling specially for.

One have to remember the guide started as a guide to places to eat* if you were on a road trip.



*And hotels etc

Thanks for that. I never knew either!

thesandeman

beardybrewer wrote: »

Just take a look at this gallery: http://loamgalway.com/gallery/

Those pics are gorgeous!

Tbh, those pics look to me like the leftovers I'd leave on the side of the plate after I finish my meal (and I'm not a big eater).
Everyone to their own though and fair play to them.

ben.schlomo

Its about the overall experience and not just the food. Anyone can go to McSwiggans for an average/poor meal and waste 50 quid, id sooner spend more and have something exciting and different.

WallyGUFC

Exciting, different and not at all filling judging by those pics. I'd be making a beeline for Supermacs after a meal there I'd say.

Mrs OBumble

WallyGUFC wrote: »

Exciting, different and not at all filling judging by those pics. I'd be making a beeline for Supermacs after a meal there I'd say.

I'm picking you're not in their target market :-)

Probably everyone will be happier if you just start the evening in Supermacs.

Red_Wake

I found my 8 course meal quite filling.

Utopia Parkway

beardybrewer wrote: »

Just take a look at this gallery: http://loamgalway.com/gallery/

Those pics are gorgeous! Maybe if I ate out every night such that a good meal seemed passé I would look for more... food that is art?

Edible flowers are so hot right now.

JONJO THE MISER

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Its about the overall experience and not just the food. Anyone can go to McSwiggans for an average/poor meal and waste 50 quid, id sooner spend more and have something exciting and different.

More like been taken for a fool, looking at the pics you would be starved senseless after eating there.
But i guess some people have awful notions and i guess the place just takes advantage of such people.

pmasterson95

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Its about the overall experience and not just the food. Anyone can go to McSwiggans for an average/poor meal and waste 50 quid, id sooner spend more and have something exciting and different.

Strange why dont Trocaire go for excitement and difference when asking for food. If your going to overspend on a meal and still be hungry thats more money than sense. Excitement isnt going to fill you.

I ate there earlier this year and enjoyed it.

ben.schlomo

JONJO THE MISER wrote: »

More like been taken for a fool, looking at the pics you would be starved senseless after eating there.
But i guess some people have awful notions and i guess the place just takes advantage of such people.

pmasterson95 wrote: »

Strange why dont Trocaire go for excitement and difference when asking for food. If your going to overspend on a meal and still be hungry thats more money than sense. Excitement isnt going to fill you.

If you want to pay money to be stuffed go to a buffet, if not then dont worry your wee heads about it, neither of ye gastro enthusiasts will be forced to go somewhere offering such heinous things.

Eeden

What's all the snarking about? Some folks love that kind of dining, some don't. Same as some like the theatre, some don't. Some like the races, some don't. Et cetera.

If you don't like the idea of it, don't go there, but leave it for those who do. If you think you might like it, give it a try.

pmasterson95

ben.schlomo wrote: »

If you want to pay money to be stuffed go to a buffet, if not then dont worry your wee heads about it, neither of ye gastro enthusiasts will be forced to go somewhere offering such heinous things.

Why so sensitive? Its your money to waste.

ben.schlomo

pmasterson95 wrote: »

Why so sensitive? Its your money to waste.

Not remotely sensitive, if anything your initial reply to something of clearly no interest to you would demonstrate a sensitivity to the matter.

McTigs

Myself and my wife ate there a couple of weeks ago and loved it. The food was just exceptional, no two ways about it.

I really can't understand the hate that goes with anything like this, if you don't want that sort of thing, don't go.... theres loads of different restaurants to cater for damn near every possible taste in Galway.

Personally I think its brilliant that we have such a wide variety of good restaurants in such a relatively small city. Places that are great to go to as a group (Cava, Lunares, Rouge, Raw,Asian Tea House), places that a great as a couple (Kai, Loam, Black cat, Dela), casual pub places (An Pucan etc).... gourmet places and places that will stuff you to the gills, upper end places and cheap and cheerful places(Bite Club, Hooked on Henry Street). We are spoiled for choice and I only wish i had the financial resources to get to more of them more often.

There are a few places especially around the Quay street area that could pull up their socks a bit but they are getting away with it through sheer footfall i reckon.

?Cee?view

McTigs wrote: »

Myself and my wife ate there a couple of weeks ago and loved it. The food was just exceptional, no two ways about it.

I really can't understand the hate that goes with anything like this, if you don't want that sort of thing, don't go.... theres loads of different restaurants to cater for damn near every possible taste in Galway.

Personally I think its brilliant that we have such a wide variety of good restaurants in such a relatively small city. Places that are great to go to as a group (Cava, Lunares, Rouge, Raw,Asian Tea House), places that a great as a couple (Kai, Loam, Black cat, Dela), casual pub places (An Pucan etc).... gourmet places and places that will stuff you to the gills, upper end places and cheap and cheerful places(Bite Club, Hooked on Henry Street). We are spoiled for choice and I only wish i had the financial resources to get to more of them more often.

There are a few places especially around the Quay street area that could pull up their socks a bit but they are getting away with it through sheer footfall i reckon.

Well said. Agree with your every word.

muppetkiller

McTigs wrote: »

Myself and my wife ate there a couple of weeks ago and loved it. The food was just exceptional, no two ways about it.

I really can't understand the hate that goes with anything like this, if you don't want that sort of thing, don't go.... theres loads of different restaurants to cater for damn near every possible taste in Galway.

Personally I think its brilliant that we have such a wide variety of good restaurants in such a relatively small city. Places that are great to go to as a group (Cava, Lunares, Rouge, Raw,Asian Tea House), places that a great as a couple (Kai, Loam, Black cat, Dela), casual pub places (An Pucan etc).... gourmet places and places that will stuff you to the gills, upper end places and cheap and cheerful places(Bite Club, Hooked on Henry Street). We are spoiled for choice and I only wish i had the financial resources to get to more of them more often.

There are a few places especially around the Quay street area that could pull up their socks a bit but they are getting away with it through sheer footfall i reckon.

Totally agree. Can't believe though you didn't give an honorable mention to Thai Garden
There's also some new Mexican place opened up on across from Lynch's castle to try out..

Daisy78

Well done Loam, a great achievement.

Haven't eaten there but really want to try it out before Xmas. ive heard nothing but posotive things about the place so looking forward to it.

redarmyblues

I have to agree with the posters dissing all this fancy schmazy stuff and I recommend to you The Aytin House at The Green Fool Hotel in Carrickmacross. Its a bit of a schlep I know, but it has a real back to basics vibe but is also bang on the Park Slope zeitgeist being a single dish joint, serving only a dish called "Mate" which consists of long cooked shoe leathers served in a bowl of brown broth flecked with white globules of solid fat. Its an new riff on an old classic. The difference being in the Aytin' House take, is that the leathers are all locally sourced from certified jakeys who are fed solely on beer, this gives the leathers a unique depth of flavour.

The only bummer is they don't take bookings and the queues are horrendous.