Best pub grub in the city?

DVDM93

Not a restaurant thread :P or a man passionate about his grub Any recommendations? Simplistic stuff like soup and a sandwich (nice soup and good brown bread) Nothing fancy. Just a good hearty meal. I'll be in Galway Friday. Have heard good things about the likes of The Cellar, Buskers, The Front Door, Cafe Express and The Kings Head. Can anyone vote for one of these or recommend somewhere else? I'm a food lover Thanks in advance!

JillyQ

Personally I lIke the front door, but McCambridges is also worth a try.

DVDM93

JillyQ wrote: »

Personally I lIke the front door, but McCambridges is also worth a try.

Thank you, keep them coming

feargale

McSwiggans, Eyre St..

DVDM93

feargale wrote: »

McSwiggans, Eyre St..

That's the spot with the big tree up through it isn't it? Beside The Hole in the Wall down Woodquay side? Thank you

JillyQ

DVDM93 wrote: »

That's the spot with the big tree up through it isn't it? Beside The Hole in the Wall down Woodquay side? Thank you

Yes it is

JillyQ

DVDM93 wrote: »

That's the spot with the big tree up through it isn't it? Beside The Hole in the Wall down Woodquay side? Thank you

Yes it is

kevthecelt

Massimos.

ben.schlomo

kevthecelt wrote: »

Massimos.

Easily the best.

muppetkiller

An Pucan has great grub these days..Chicken Wings are fantastic too.

biko

For me, Kelly's.

flynn2426

The cellar, easily for me lovely food and prices not to bad, only thing depending what time u go it's usually very busy

DVDM93

Thanks so much for all the replies, as usual the people of Boards are as helpful even with silly questions like mine wouldn't have actually thought about Massimos to be honest, nothing to do with it being a little further down the town but have only ever heard of it being a good pub for Chelsea football fans or nice for a pint the odd time, as random as it sounds but that's been my only association with it I'm curious and interested now, and two of ye have recommended it. Not surprised to see The Cellar mentioned as I've heard good reports in the past. Funnily enough I've always been meaning to try the pub grub in An Púcán since it was done up, liked the look of the new menu, how silly it sounds but it completely slipped my mind as I only had a pint or two there Saturday for the start of my work party

wowee

Blakes on Eglington St is the best-no doubt about it. Great staff too and lovely open fire

ArtyC

Dàil bar and Blake's do so a steak and pint for €17... Can't be beaten for me...,

charlie_says

wowee wrote: »

Blakes on Eglington St is the best-no doubt about it. Great staff too and lovely open fire

Blakes and Massimo hands down. None of the places you mentioned OP, they aren't bad but they aren't great either.

The Atlantic seafood board in Blakes is sublime. They do traditional but excellent bar food. Massimo is a more modern but great ingredients and lunch deal is superb there, soup and very good sandwich + tea/coffee for 10 bucks.

edit: I hear the new bar in the Meyrick is quite nice food, lovely inside but haven't tried it myself yet.

biko

Ach sure I remember when pub grub was a pickled egg from the jar behind the bar.
None of this gastro-pub nonsense.

DVDM93

Thanks for all the suggestions

DVDM93

biko wrote: »

Ach sure I remember when pub grub was a pickled egg from the jar behind the bar.
None of this gastro-pub nonsense.

Moe Szyslack eat your heart out :P

ger vallely

I was going to say Blakes on Eglington Street too. Great food and awful nice staff. Any food myself or my family have eaten there has been extremely tasty, always love going there.

DVDM93

ger vallely wrote: »

I was going to say Blakes on Eglington Street too. Great food and awful nice staff. Any food myself or my family have eaten there has been extremely tasty, always love going there.

Blakes is edging it at the moment friends. Who will be the winner by Friday? Chicken soup with nice buttered brown bread, a sandwich made up of chicken, cheddar cheese, stuffing and a bit of mayo in the nicest bread is taking my fancy at the moment. Nommmmm.

ben.schlomo

biko wrote: »

Ach sure I remember when pub grub was a pickled egg from the jar behind the bar.
None of this gastro-pub nonsense.

No anti recommendations please.;)

feargale

biko wrote: »

Ach sure I remember when pub grub was a pickled egg from the jar behind the bar.
None of this gastro-pub nonsense.

Most places have moved on. You can get a packet of Taytos now,

beardybrewer

feargale wrote: »

You can get a packet of Taytos now,

Many pubs you can't even get that. Pringles for €2? They're reformed potato saw dust. Down with that sort of thing!

El_Dangeroso

Blakes is easily the winner here.

I know we're not allowed to anti-recommend so I will only say that my experiences in trendy hipster style gastro-pubs in galway have always been really disappointing, the menu looks great but then the service is painfully slow (over an hour for a burger) and the food shockingly bland and overpriced.

BigBadRob83

The Oslo out in Salthill, great place for lunch and the match at the weekend

beardybrewer

BigBadRob83 wrote: »

The Oslo out in Salthill, great place for lunch and the match at the weekend

Try their steak sandwich! I'm a connoisseur and the last time I had one there (2 months ago?) it was one of the best.

dr.bollocko

beardybrewer wrote: »

Try their steak sandwich! I'm a connoisseur and the last time I had one there (2 months ago?) it was one of the best.

Krcma steak sandwich. For a few moments I saw beefy Jesus.

The Lost Sheep

I really like kings head but...

And if ever a thread needed a poll. Can OP/Mod put one in??

ben.schlomo

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Blakes is easily the winner here.

I know we're not allowed to anti-recommend so I will only say that my experiences in trendy hipster style gastro-pubs in galway have always been really disappointing, the menu looks great but then the service is painfully slow (over an hour for a burger) and the food shockingly bland and overpriced.

Thankfully Massimo isnt like your description, great and friendly service, fairly priced food and amazingly tasty. Want their Pork Belly Bap right now, dang.

El_Dangeroso

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Thankfully Massimo isnt like your description, great and friendly service, fairly priced food and amazingly tasty. Want their Pork Belly Bap right now, dang.

I'm making no further comment but needless to say that has not been my experience the several times I've been there. But the fact that you immediately mentioned one of the places I was referring to says a lot I think.:)

ben.schlomo

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

I'm making no further comment but needless to say that has not been my experience the several times I've been there. But the fact that you immediately mentioned one of the places I was referring to says a lot I think.:)

Id have had a similar experience with the service going back a couple of years, miles better nowadays and the food has always been great.

inisboffin

Are they still doing the gourmet sambos in The Bier Haus? Haven't been there in yonks, but people were going mad for them the last night I was in with a friend.

The Dáil do *some* dishes really well, have fireplaces, and some of the friendliest staff in town. Their pint+ deals are really popular.

Massimos fish and chips are on the spendy side but really delish. Again their pint+ dishes are good

Wasn't gone on Blakes but only had one dish once, food was ok, just seemed overpriced for what it was.

Cellar and Kings Head are grand pubs but food never wowed me, in my head they're meeting not eating pubs. Others love them though.

whineflu

inisboffin wrote: »

The Dáil do *some* dishes really well, have fireplaces, and some of the friendliest staff in town. Their pint+ deals are really popular.

I like the Dail for those reasons but the 40 inch tellys and loud chart hits just kill the comfy pub vibe. I'm guessing most people don't mind that and I'm just old and contrary.

inisboffin

whineflu wrote: »

I like the Dail for those reasons but the 40 inch tellys and loud chart hits just kill the comfy pub vibe. I'm guessing most people don't mind that and I'm just old and contrary.

Yeah true it is the one drawback. I choose seats where they are less invasive, and earlier in the day they're often super low (depends who's on).

tmh106

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Thankfully Massimo isnt like your description, great and friendly service, fairly priced food and amazingly tasty. Want their Pork Belly Bap right now, dang.

The food in Massimo's is very good - it's the same people who run Aniar restaurant (the one with the Michelin star) and Cavas, two of my favourite restaurants in town, and both with great service I should add.

However, in my last few visits the service has been very poor. So Massimos is a difficult one for me now: drawn by the food, but driven away by the service. My 2 cents.

tmh

El_Dangeroso

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Id have had a similar experience with the service going back a couple of years, miles better nowadays and the food has always been great.

Just that you immediately mentioned Massimo when I said trendy hipster style gastropub.

Anyway it's clearly a divisive issue so I won't argue with you, just realise that not everyone's experience there is the same as yours. That's OK right?:)

Another shout out for Krchma, really underrated place that I didn't try for ages, love eastern european fare and the food is very fresh and quick.

whineflu

tmh106 wrote: »

The food in Massimo's is very good - it's the same people who run Aniar restaurant (the one with the Michelin star) and Cavas, two of my favourite restaurants in town, and both with great service I should add.

However, in my last few visits the service has been very poor. So Massimos is a difficult one for me now: drawn by the food, but driven away by the service. My 2 cents.

tmh

I thought this too and was told by someone that the restaurant is a different business so the bar and wait staff are separately employed. Might be the cause of mix ups in ordering food, drink etc.

tmh106

whineflu wrote: »

I thought this too and was told by someone that the restaurant is a different business so the bar and wait staff are separately employed. Might be the cause of mix ups in ordering food, drink etc.

Yes, that would explain it. As I said, the service in their two restaurants is excellent, among the best in Galway in my experience and opinion.

tmh

ben.schlomo

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Just that you immediately mentioned Massimo when I said trendy hipster style gastropub.

Anyway it's clearly a divisive issue so I won't argue with you, just realise that not everyone's experience there is the same as yours. That's OK right?:)

Another shout out for Krchma, really underrated place that I didn't try for ages, love eastern european fare and the food is very fresh and quick.

Most certainly okay to have a differing opinion, im just surprised given my experience that others including yourself have had poor service there. Weve been probably 7 maybe 8 times in the last three months, lunch and dinner, yet to have bad service. One thing is its always busy on a Saturday evening and you can be waiting a while but its always worth it and weve always been told on arrival that its busy etc.
Agree on KRCMA too, we ate there few months back, good chicken fillet burger and ribs, good prices too.

nuac

I suggest McSwiggans'

But lookit - you are a guy, presumably unattached coming to Galway for the weekend.

Why this obsession with food. There are mighty women in Galway. Mingle and try your case. There will always be time for grub.

In ten or twenty years' time will you be thinking of that perfect sandwich, or of that delightful lady?

ben.schlomo

nuac wrote: »

I suggest McSwiggans'

But lookit - you are a guy, presumably unattached coming to Galway for the weekend.

Why this obsession with food. There are mighty women in Galway. Mingle and try your case. There will always be time for grub.

In ten or twenty years' time will you be thinking of that perfect sandwich, or of that delightful lady?

Bizarre stuff.

DVDM93

nuac wrote: »

I suggest McSwiggans'

But lookit - you are a guy, presumably unattached coming to Galway for the weekend.

Why this obsession with food. There are mighty women in Galway. Mingle and try your case. There will always be time for grub.

In ten or twenty years' time will you be thinking of that perfect sandwich, or of that delightful lady?

The last time I was in Galway I chose to satisfy my sexual needs rather than my my physical human need to eat so I think I'll give eating a go this time and maybe 'mingle and try my case' next time I'm here.

On that point, I love Galway, it's a lovely, lovely place. It's just a pity it doesn't allow for one to enjoy a nice recommended lunch AND associate with members of the opposite sex. This one or the other law that was passed is ruining trade in the city and imo will inevitably lead to places closing for business.

DVDM93

Anyway, back to relevance... I appreciate all the feedback this thread has gotten. I'll really be in 10 minds over where I decide to grub tomorrow :P

Oh but to add a poll as someome suggested, I'm on the iPhone and it doesn't seem to be giving me that option. I'm not sure I'd know how to on the desktop site either but if anyone wants one and can out me in the right direction I'd be more than happy to make one

ArtyC

I too think the service is massimos is poor. It's why i won't return.

Seems to be a recurring problem with them if you look on trip advisor

ben.schlomo

ArtyC wrote: »

I too think the service is massimos is poor. It's why i won't return.

Seems to be a recurring problem with them if you look on trip advisor

First ten reviews on TA are 4/5 star, just saying. :cool: You then of course have the out of towners who whinge about bouncers and give one star which is nowt to do with the food.
Anyway im still surprised that another person thinks its poor, have you been recently Arty? Or is it a legacy complaint?

tmh106

DVDM93 wrote: »

The last time I was in Galway I chose to satisfy my sexual needs rather than my my physical human need to eat ...

Where do you go for that in Galway? Can you start a new thread.

DVDM93 wrote: »

On that point, I love Galway, it's a lovely, lovely place. It's just a pity it doesn't allow for one to enjoy a nice recommended lunch AND associate with members of the opposite sex.

Huh?

Tmh

deisedude

tmh106 wrote: »

Where do you go for that in Galway? Can you start a new thread.



Huh?

Tmh

His post was tongue in cheek

tmh106

deisedude wrote: »

His post was tongue in cheek

So was mine, or supposed to be. I obviously need practice

tmh

ArtyC

ben.schlomo wrote: »

First ten reviews on TA are 4/5 star, just saying. :cool: You then of course have the out of towners who whinge about bouncers and give one star which is nowt to do with the food.
Anyway im still surprised that another person thinks its poor, have you been recently Arty? Or is it a legacy complaint?

Was there recently for my second and last time... Paid €7.50 for a sandwich on a board on it's own. Had to get up three times to ask for the coffee I ordered.

I only wish it was better cause it's a cool pub but I hate bad service

jh79

ben.schlomo wrote: »

First ten reviews on TA are 4/5 star, just saying. :cool: You then of course have the out of towners who whinge about bouncers and give one star which is nowt to do with the food.
Anyway im still surprised that another person thinks its poor, have you been recently Arty? Or is it a legacy complaint?

I've been to Massimo's about 10 times, the service is always poor but the food just about makes up for it. Every visit starts with a discussion on whether we are of the right mental state to put up with it for the sake of the food.