do you eat in restaurants/cafés often? opinions on the food?

Robsweezie

I would go the odd time every few weeks, aware that it's getting expensive. Wouldn't usually go near those places that charge an arm and leg for sandwich or steak unless it's good stuff that stands out. Value for money and all that. You know those types that give you a slither of meat, a few leaves and call it gourmet artisan...


I like decent priced fry, and I like the homemade chips a lot of the places do.

desserts I've found are just ok, not great for what you would pay. I never bother with them now.

You could say just buy ingredients and a block of ice cream yourself and eat at home cheaper, but in restaurants you expect a standard and experience above that. You want something different.

MRnotlob606

I think food is nice. Thank You for contribution.

One eyed Jack

If I'm going out I'd usually head to a nice restaurant, but there are some restaurants that try to be something they're not by having a maitre d' mincing around the tables, trying to mingle with diners, just turns me right off.

There's other times then I'll be hanging for a snack box in Supermacs. It varies, but more times I prefer Supermacs than a poor attempt at fine dining tbh.

At least Supermacs aren't trying to pretend they're something they aren't!

Outlaw Pete

I could eat my dinner in a fancy restaurant I suppose, but nothing, I said nothing, could take away these blues.

me_irl

If only there was another website where people rated and uploaded their opinions of restaurants and bars! Hmm...

Pintman Paddy Losty

It's hard to beat the homemade fry before going at it again.

Aongus Von Bismarck

I eat out regularly, and would consider myself a good customer of some of Europe's finest restaurants. I now have an extremely refined palate when it comes to fine dining. The provenance and seasonality of what I'm eating is extremely important to me, and I would have absolutely no hesitation in sending back a plate of food if it wasn't up to standard. 
What we eat is extremely important. I always shake my head in despair when I travel back to Ireland and see red-faced gombeens queuing up at the local pub carvery for an oversized plate of cheap meat, four types of potatoes, some dangerously overcooked vegetables, all drowned in a gravy laden with salt and fat. Probably as 'a lining' before spending the afternoon hoovering back Carlsberg and watching Manchester United on the big screen telly.
Then into some cesspit of a chipper for a burger and chips on the way home.

Collie D

You just don't put in the effort any more, Aongus

RayM

Like Aongus, I like to eat out regularly, and would consider myself something of a connoisseur of fine dining. If my Big Mac wasn't up to scratch, I would have no hesitation in sending it back.

Dr Crayfish

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

I eat out regularly, and would consider myself a good customer of some of Europe's finest restaurants. I now have an extremely refined palate when it comes to fine dining. The provenance and seasonality of what I'm eating is extremely important to me, and I would have absolutely no hesitation in sending back a plate of food if it wasn't up to standard. 
What we eat is extremely important. I always shake my head in despair when I travel back to Ireland and see red-faced gombeens queuing up at the local pub carvery for an oversized plate of cheap meat, four types of potatoes, some dangerously overcooked vegetables, all drowned in a gravy laden with salt and fat. Probably as 'a lining' before spending the afternoon hoovering back Carlsberg and watching Manchester United on the big screen telly.
Then into some cesspit of a chipper for a burger and chips on the way home.

I'm not a fan of any of that food you mentioned above, but I know you like to portray your character on a high horse in the thick of European culture in Germany. Why not take a look at your local cuisine? Schinkenwurst, currywurst, leberwurst (yuk), bratkartofflen, f*cking Quark...
Irish cuisine is bad in general, personally I wouldn't even say we have our own cuisine, but German food is equally is awful. I still enjoy bits of both though.

Aongus Von Bismarck

I'm not saying that some aspects of German cuisine aren't good, but I'm not on a German website, so I'm remarking on what appears to be the most popular dining out choice of many Irish people - the misery masquerading as value that is the pub carvery. 
As I mentioned, I've eaten in many of Europe's finest restaurants and my very favourite of all is Schwarzwaldstube in the Black Forest. The chef, Harald Wohlfahrt, is a creative genius with an extraordinary understanding of texture and flavour. The cellar is also a homage to the finest of German wines.

Campagne in Kilkenny is a fine restaurant. Can see why it has a Michelin star. Remarkably no restaurant in Cork or Kerry has one, and can't think of any that might be near the grade. There used to be 2 in West Cork, in Bantry and Ahakista.

osarusan

Donkey Ford's for me. Fine dining at affordable prices. The batter is divine.

suicide_circus

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

I'm not saying that some aspects of German cuisine aren't good, but I'm not on a German website, so I'm remarking on what appears to be the most popular dining out choice of many Irish people - the misery masquerading as value that is the pub carvery.?
As I mentioned, I've eaten in many of Europe's finest restaurants and my very favourite of all is Schwarzwaldstube in the Black Forest. The chef, Harald Wohlfahrt, is a creative genius with an extraordinary understanding of texture and flavour. The cellar is also a homage to the finest of German wines.

My cellar is an homage to your auld wan

Agricola

Desserts are my bug bear. I just flat out refuse them. Last place I was in, the starters and mains were excellent and excellent value, but then they have the temerity to charge €5 for a child's portion of apple pie, literally about 3 forkfuls. It's just pure profit. F?ck them, I'm saving money and my waistline. Win win.

GingerLily

I eat in pubs quite a bit, a lot of pubs these days have really good food and it's more relaxed then a formal restaurant. Probably twice a month I reckon.
I've eaten in two Michelin star places and they were great days out, really enjoyed the food but it's quite expensive so not something I do very regularly

Aongus Von Bismarck

Cork City is a place I try and avoid at the best of times, if I can manage it. The food scene down there is absolutely shambolic - the last time I checked Tripadvisor I remember some chip shop down there being in the top 10 dining destinations!
Kerry, I know very little about the food scene down there, but can only imagine it's one designed to gouge tourists by offering substandard fare at inflated prices. 
Galway city has a good dining scene, for what is pretty much a parochial backwater. Two Michelin starred restaurants, with another two rumoured to be coming their way over the next year or so.

Conall Cernach

I've noticed the prices in restaurants creeping up again this last couple of years. It was great around 2011 or 12 you could easily find a decent restaurant with mains for under €20 and a more than passable house wine for around €18. Myself and the missus would often have had a good meal for under €80 but now I find it's more than likely to be touching the tonne.

I'm based outside Dublin btw so I do realise that my prices are a tad cheap compared to the big smoke.

wakka12

Conall Cernach wrote: »

I've noticed the prices in restaurants creeping up again this last couple of years. It was great around 2011 or 12 you could easily find a decent restaurant with mains for under €20 and a more than passable house wine for around €18. Myself and the missus would often have had a good meal for under €80 but now I find it's more than likely to be touching the tonne.

I'm based outside Dublin btw so I do realise that my prices are a tad cheap compared to the big smoke.

yeh its crazy
Sandwich prices skyrocketed too, standard 7-9 euro in a lot of the nicer deli/'gourmet' type cafes

LimeFruitGum

I will try anything that I would never normally cook at home. If I wanted pasta or chicken, I can make a perfectly tasty one at home. I love seeing how a chef makes unusual flavour combinations work.

What annoys me is the pile-em-high and fry-em-off joints. It's not worth it. I remember being in a place down in Tipp or Limerick 10 years ago. A lot of effort went into converting the church into a restaurant and making it look all fancy and swish. You then look at the menu and it is deep fried everything with spuds AND chips. Standard dessert options of jelly, ice cream or apple tart with tea. They probably did try to offer interesting food, but I don't think it went down so well. You couldn't pay my dad to eat a meal that didn't include a potato.

As far as I know, it is common for a lot of places buy in their desserts and heat them up on site.

Aongus Von Bismarck

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Cork City is a place I try and avoid at the best of times, if I can manage it. The food scene down there is absolutely shambolic - the last time I checked Tripadvisor I remember some chip shop down there being in the top 10 dining destinations!
Kerry, I know very little about the food scene down there, but can only imagine it's one designed to gouge tourists by offering substandard fare at inflated prices. 
Galway city has a good dining scene, for what is pretty much a parochial backwater. Two Michelin starred restaurants, with another two rumoured to be coming their way over the next year or so.

Was thinking more West Cork, Inchydoney, or maybe Hayfield Manor in Cork City. Cafe Paradiso is often touted as the best vegetarian restaurant in Britain and Ireland, but presume vegetarian precludes the possibility of a Michelin star. South Kerry/Killarney has a fair few 5 star hotels, Europe, Aghadoe, Parknasilla, Sheen Falls and Park. Some have had Michelin starred restaurants in the past, but don't think any of them hold one now, and frankly wouldn't see them at that standard. Stayed in Waterford Castle a few years back and the restaurant was excellent, would say it's about the closest I've seen without having a star. Cliff House in Ardmore has one alright.

Zaph

Deleted User wrote: »

Cafe Paradiso is often touted as the best vegetarian restaurant in Britain and Ireland, but presume vegetarian precludes the possibility of a Michelin star.

Not at all, in addition to several one-starred restaurants, there are a number of two-starred vegetarian restaurants in London.

RayM

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Galway city has a good dining scene, for what is pretty much a parochial backwater. Two Michelin starred restaurants, with another two rumoured to be coming their way over the next year or so.

There's a nice Supermacs on Eyre Square too.

Zaph

Zaph wrote: »

Not at all, in addition to several one-starred restaurants, there are a number of two-starred vegetarian restaurants in London.

Interesting, thought the reduction in menu options might preclude them. Looks like Cafe Paradiso's reputation might be wide of the mark, but then again it isn't as formal as a Michelin starred restaurant really needs to be. Though did hear an interesting interview with Marco Pierre White a couple of years ago where he dissed the whole Michelin thing as conforming to a style that isn't really popular these days, more for a time when people would save up to go out and eat well once a month and it was a really big deal, rather than these days when people go out to eat regularly.

posturingpat

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

I'm not saying that some aspects of German cuisine aren't good, but I'm not on a German website, so I'm remarking on what appears to be the most popular dining out choice of many Irish people - the misery masquerading as value that is the pub carvery. 
As I mentioned, I've eaten in many of Europe's finest restaurants and my very favourite of all is Schwarzwaldstube in the Black Forest. The chef, Harald Wohlfahrt, is a creative genius with an extraordinary understanding of texture and flavour. The cellar is also a homage to the finest of German wines.

When were you last there? Harald is long since gone.

potatohouse

a lot of restaurants in this country seem to be lost in the whole image management and missing the point that the food should be the main event. tommy tiernan hit the nail on the head "a 5 star restaurant, for 3 star people". some of the best restaurants ive been to in europe were crusty looking from the outside and minimal decoration inside, but the food was a whole nother level. have yet to find a seafood restaurant in ireland that doesnt use frozen fish

John_Rambo

potatohouse wrote: »

a lot of restaurants in this country seem to be lost in the whole image management and missing the point that the food should be the main event. tommy tiernan hit the nail on the head "a 5 star restaurant, for 3 star people". some of the best restaurants ive been to in europe were crusty looking from the outside and minimal decoration inside, but the food was a whole nother level. have yet to find a seafood restaurant in ireland that doesnt use frozen fish

Really?? Try Howth in Dublin, most restaurants have fresh fish deliveries every day. Lots of the city centre ones do too. Plenty more around the country serving fresh fish.

koumi

don't go out that often, daughter used do it all the time but I think that's their age group and way of socializing. They are also vegan. She's eating less avocado on toast and frappamochachinos lately because she's trying to save for her own place. It might be a while.

Billy86

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Cork City is a place I try and avoid at the best of times, if I can manage it. The food scene down there is absolutely shambolic - the last time I checked Tripadvisor I remember some chip shop down there being in the top 10 dining destinations!
Kerry, I know very little about the food scene down there, but can only imagine it's one designed to gouge tourists by offering substandard fare at inflated prices. 
Galway city has a good dining scene, for what is pretty much a parochial backwater. Two Michelin starred restaurants, with another two rumoured to be coming their way over the next year or so.

Having sojourned to Cork for a long weekend not too fat back, it is with a heavy heart that I must inform you your abilities both in identifying a worthy venue as well as navigating a decent price point must sorely be lacking, dear Aonghus.