The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

D'Agger wrote: »

Ate in White Rabbit recently and the food was slow coming out considering how quiet it was, that said I'm wondering what the etiquette is regarding pancakes - I don't tend to order them. The girlfriend went for banana pancakes and I was shocked that they came out swimming in syrup - as in they were destroyed & she said as much herself. Would they normally come with the syrup on the side?

thats terrible - i hope you sent it back or at least said something to them? thats a massive no no! Thats like putting ketchup or mayo on someone's chips

Water John

Trump even has the ketchup, on the side, with his steak.

Markcheese

D'Agger wrote:

Ate in White Rabbit recently and the food was slow coming out considering how quiet it was, that said I'm wondering what the etiquette is regarding pancakes - I don't tend to order them. The girlfriend went for banana pancakes and I was shocked that they came out swimming in syrup - as in they were destroyed & she said as much herself. Would they normally come with the syrup on the side?

A bit horses for courses... Swimming in syrup seems a bit daft... But I'd serve mine out with butter and syrup on them...

D'Agger wrote: »

Ate in White Rabbit recently and the food was slow coming out considering how quiet it was, that said I'm wondering what the etiquette is regarding pancakes - I don't tend to order them. The girlfriend went for banana pancakes and I was shocked that they came out swimming in syrup - as in they were destroyed & she said as much herself. Would they normally come with the syrup on the side?

No 'normal', different places do it different ways. I like mine with the syrup already on them. The tiny bit of syrup you get in the containers doesn't do me at all. I like them drowned.

On pancakes theme though, my kids love them, so we end up ordering them all over the place. Worst ones we've had in the city were at Salt on Victoria road. They were dry, thick, didn't bend in the middle. more like a flat, stale scone. Even though I asked what they came with before ordering, (chocolate sauce or something), they came coated in an undisclosed layer of icing sugar, with sauce on the side. My kids, who have wicked sweet tooths, rejected them for being too sugary, I had a taste and it was like diabetes on a plate. Decent pancakes can be had in Liberty Grill.

Markcheese

Ate in club brasserie the other night, really enjoyed the meal, 6 of us ate there, all happy...
. . Now the service wasn't perfect and it's slightly pricey.. (22 euro for my pork belly) but I'll go back... Desserts were great.. Especially the lemon and passion fruit pots.. Came in about 30 / 32 euro for main, dessert and a glass of wine each...

pwurple wrote: »

No 'normal', different places do it different ways. I like mine with the syrup already on them. The tiny bit of syrup you get in the containers doesn't do me at all. I like them drowned.

On pancakes theme though, my kids love them, so we end up ordering them all over the place. Worst ones we've had in the city were at Salt on Victoria road. They were dry, thick, didn't bend in the middle. more like a flat, stale scone. Even though I asked what they came with before ordering, (chocolate sauce or something), they came coated in an undisclosed layer of icing sugar, with sauce on the side. My kids, who have wicked sweet tooths, rejected them for being too sugary, I had a taste and it was like diabetes on a plate. Decent pancakes can be had in Liberty Grill.

thats good if you like them like that.. but for those who don't - ie if they want one of less.. then they should be left without syrup.. and then at least that way no harm is done.. for those who want it, they can ask for it - and if they don't get enough, ask for more..

but ifs it on already then there is no going back..

perhaps a solution would be to be asked when serving "would you like with or without syrup etc"..

or if one has a preference, then to make that known when ordering..

D'Agger

northgirl wrote: »

On the side would definitely be my preference. In Idaho and Brick Lane, syrup is served on the side.

Markcheese wrote: »

A bit horses for courses... Swimming in syrup seems a bit daft... But I'd serve mine out with butter and syrup on them...

pwurple wrote: »

No 'normal', different places do it different ways. I like mine with the syrup already on them. The tiny bit of syrup you get in the containers doesn't do me at all. I like them drowned.

On pancakes theme though, my kids love them, so we end up ordering them all over the place. Worst ones we've had in the city were at Salt on Victoria road. They were dry, thick, didn't bend in the middle. more like a flat, stale scone. Even though I asked what they came with before ordering, (chocolate sauce or something), they came coated in an undisclosed layer of icing sugar, with sauce on the side. My kids, who have wicked sweet tooths, rejected them for being too sugary, I had a taste and it was like diabetes on a plate. Decent pancakes can be had in Liberty Grill.

That's the thing - I haven't been in Liberty Grill in ages but I recall being with somebody who got syrup on them there....but in my head was full sure you'd get it on the side in most places. So yeah, there's no real 'normal' practice I'd say and if you want it on the side you'd ask normally but they were properly wrecked by whoever dished it out.

sporina wrote: »

thats terrible - i hope you sent it back or at least said something to them? thats a massive no no! Thats like putting ketchup or mayo on someone's chips

We weren't in a rush but the girlfriend didn't say anything about it until we left, I had been thinking it but I'm a quiet man so I got stuck into my sandwich :pac: I'd have suggested sending them back but tbh - that would have pissed me off because we were waiting a while for the food in the first place and I know the lady wouldn't have wanted it either because she was annoyed at the initial wait time too.

Remedied it by crossing over to Hanleys for a coffee and some people watching. First time in there and it's a lovely spot. Black coffee was a tad bitter but I think that's just Badger & Dodo coffee from having it before.

I know this is discussed every so often, but as the dining scene changes so frequently...anyone recommend the best spot for tapas at the moment? There's not much, is there?

I'm thinking maybe that Spanish place on Douglas St, Iberian Way, might be the best option.

Malari wrote: »

I know this is discussed every so often, but as the dining scene changes so frequently...anyone recommend the best spot for tapas at the moment? There's not much, is there?

I'm thinking maybe that Spanish place on Douglas St, Iberian Way, might be the best option.

the parlour cafe on the coal quay... delicious..

Oh, would never have thought of that place! Looks good.

Malari wrote: »

Oh, would never have thought of that place! Looks good.

yep its a bit inconspicuous but the food is fab - the freshest of local stuff and the service is top notch.. v laid back - in the evening its v atmospheric

sporina wrote: »

yep its a bit inconspicuous but the food is fab - the freshest of local stuff and the service is top notch.. v laid back - in the evening its v atmospheric

I've been there for lunch/brunch a few times and enjoyed it, but didn't realise they did tapas in the evening. Jobs a good'un.

Malari wrote: »

I've been there for lunch/brunch a few times and enjoyed it, but didn't realise they did tapas in the evening. Jobs a good'un.

what does the above highlighted mean?

Nonoperational

Job done, in a positive tone.

http://www.jacquesrestaurant.ie/

Nonoperational wrote: »

Job done, in a positive tone.

ha ha not heard that before..

limnam

Malari wrote: »

I know this is discussed every so often, but as the dining scene changes so frequently...anyone recommend the best spot for tapas at the moment? There's not much, is there?

I'm thinking maybe that Spanish place on Douglas St, Iberian Way, might be the best option.

H8GHOTI

Have seen a few recommendations on here for Iberian Way but never been.

Few places I've had tapas that I liked. Arthur Maynes, L'Atitude 51 & El Vino in Douglas. There's a nice place in Kinsale as well I was in couple years ago called Twisted. Think it might be Spanish owned.

Nonoperational

sporina wrote: »

ha ha not heard that before..

I've heard Jamie Oliver blurt it out a few times!

Nonoperational wrote: »

I've heard Jamie Oliver blurt it out a few times!

Haha! Except it's a bit more Northern than Essex

I suppose 'sorted, boy!' is the Cork equivalent

I think Jacques is overpriced and I didn't like the service or food in El Vino.

I think for Tapas you need to be in a bar... They are snacks to have with beer or wine afterall. Restaurants doing them seems awkward to me. If they bring one thing, it's too small, if they bring loads the table size doesn't work.

L'attitude 51 and Cask would be my picks.

Or, best of all, go to the airport and jump on a plane to Spain.

pwurple wrote: »

I think for Tapas you need to be in a bar... They are snacks to have with beer or wine afterall. Restaurants doing them seems awkward to me. If they bring one thing, it's too small, if they bring loads the table size doesn't work.

L'attitude 51 and Cask would be my picks.

Or, best of all, go to the airport and jump on a plane to Spain.

Yeah, I agree the tapas places here are not entirely authentic. The whole idea is you have two, then if you want another one or two you'd just go and grab them off the counter, or order while getting a drink.

But a flight to Spain for a meal is a bit beyond my budget for a Father's Day treat

livedadream

whata bout the spanish tapes place on washington street is that gone?
feed the senses or something?

the beer revolu

pwurple wrote: »

I think for Tapas you need to be in a bar... They are snacks to have with beer or wine afterall. Restaurants doing them seems awkward to me. If they bring one thing, it's too small, if they bring loads the table size doesn't work.

L'attitude 51 and Cask would be my picks.

Or, best of all, go to the airport and jump on a plane to Spain.

I don't think Irish people 'get' tapas. Whenever people try to do casual bar tapas, Irish people try to treat it like a restaurant and keep going there for dinner and complaining that it's not a proper restaurant. The places then morph into tapas 'restaurants' to suit the local market.

I think that happened with Crubeen which was amazing when it started.
Bodega Tapas were top notch for about a month after the big reopening.

I've heard that Feed Your Senses on Washington Street is good but I haven't been.

the beer revolu wrote: »

I've heard that Feed Your Senses on Washington Street is good but I haven't been.

It is good, but again, it's restaurant-style. The food is very much like the kind of tapas you get in bars in Spain, but portions are slightly bigger.

And actually, I find the place a little cramped and awkward.

livedadream wrote: »

whata bout the spanish tapes place on washington street is that gone?
feed the senses or something?

Food is good, it's like good spanish home cooking. owners are dotes, but the same problem with every tapas "restaurant". Tables are tiny. atmosphere is a a little bit kitsch. Fans and spanish guitars hung on the walls.

dibkins

Anyone got any recent recommends for coeliacs? I've been sticking to Market Lane mostly for a while (They always look after me well), but I have to start branching out^^
Tried Bunsen and Iyers the last few weeks and both went well!

SteelyDanJalapeno

dibkins wrote: »

Anyone got any recent recommends for coeliacs? I've been sticking to Market Lane mostly for a while (They always look after me well), but I have to start branching out^^
Tried Bunsen and Iyers the last few weeks and both went well!

Fast food :
Boojum - Burrito in a bowl (Cilantro Rice)

Others :
Arthur Maines are pretty good, very decent GF bread
CoqBull have a great GF Bun
Orso