The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

bee06 · 02-08-2017 09:55AM

phater phagan wrote: »

Hi Guys,
Can anyone recommend a good pub around the bus station area i.e Plunkett St.? I'd prefer one that doesn't serve food.
Thanks

Could you define what "good" means to you. Good to one person could be another persons worst nightmare.

phater phagan · 02-08-2017 10:28AM

bee06 wrote: »

Could you define what "good" means to you. Good to one person could be another persons worst nightmare.

I understand. I'm looking for a safe, friendly respectable pub with an interesting selection of beers, and wines.

nlrkjos · 02-08-2017 03:57PM

Try the "poor relation"....nice pub with good beers, food is not a big thing there.

Drdenise75 · 02-08-2017 04:28PM

I've been reading this thread for ages and have finally registered to join in! First post goes to Orso. Had another lovely meal there on Saturday night. Not been disappointed there yet. We had the whole sea bream and the beef bazella pie for mains and both were excellent. Their espresso martini from the desert menu is fantastic - best I've tried in the city. We got a table much quicker than usually happens on a Saturday evening but place was full all night and good lively atmosphere. Friendly service there too

who_me · 02-08-2017 06:41PM

phater phagan wrote: »

I understand. I'm looking for a safe, friendly respectable pub with an interesting selection of beers, and wines.

Not much right by the station; just the Welcome Inn and the Poor Relation (mentioned above). L'atitude 51 isn't too far away, fine for wine and has a small (bottled) beer selection. The Sextant (though it does do barbecues outdoors) or Cask would both be <5 minutes walk.

pwurple · 03-08-2017 05:27AM

Drdenise75 wrote: »

I've been reading this thread for ages and have finally registered to join in! First post goes to Orso. Had another lovely meal there on Saturday night. Not been disappointed there yet. We had the whole sea bream and the beef bazella pie for mains and both were excellent. Their espresso martini from the desert menu is fantastic - best I've tried in the city. We got a table much quicker than usually happens on a Saturday evening but place was full all night and good lively atmosphere. Friendly service there too

Nice! Great to hear about the Espresso martini's , I actively hunt them down.

We ate in Paddy the Farmers with the family recently... because market lane and blackrock castle cafe were full. Paddy the farmers was empty, and fairly underwhelming. First of all, their childrens menu is woeful. Sausages, chicken nuggets, battered fish, a burger, or pasta in a cream sauce. Not a vegetable to be seen, usually they can at least manage a tomato sauce on pasta. They gave us colouring pencils and paper for the kids, nice thought, but every single pencil was worn down so far it didn't make a mark on the page, just sqeaks... i asked if they had a parer. "No, but everyone always asks". No **** guys.

Anyway. Annoying sound of completely blunt pencils scraping on paper going through my skull aside, menu is boring. Burgers, a steak, chicken curry. Toasty sandwich. I asked about specials, none on tonight. Right.

Got a burger with blue cheese. It was pretty good, decent meat, good salty cheese, crappy bun though.. and it came on my pet hate, a wooden chopping board. Christ I just hate them. There is no way those wooden yokes are cleaned properly, plus it takes up most of the table, and my burger juice is running off the side of it, dripping onto my leg. Arg. We want plates!

I didn't get a dessert, but the others did. Kids had strawberries and cream, parent eile had choc cake with cream. Cake was dry. Strawberries were turnip-like in their underripeness, and cream was squirty. There is no earthly excuse for squirty fake cream in ireland . We have such good quality dairy products. Use em, love em.

So yeah. Good burger. Bad pencils. Price was ok. Two burgers and two pints for 30 euro. Sausage and chip 6, bowl of pasta no sauce, 6. (Saucy afterall?).

the beer revolu · 03-08-2017 12:04PM

Pwurple, that sound pretty rubbish. It wouldn't inspire me to go.
You should really ask for them to bring a plate and transfer your meal to it. If enough people do this, they may reconsider not using plates!

Went to Star Anise for the first time in a few years. Had a really nice early bird.
Cesar salad croquettes and crab crumble to start and pork belly and hake for mains.
Very, very nice. Well cooked and tasty.

€25 for 2 courses. Good value for the quality.

What I loved is that they do a few wines by the glass, 250ml or 500ml carafe. 500ml is perfect for myself and Mrs beer.

Nice to go back to an old favourite.

MintyMagnum · 03-08-2017 12:18PM

who_me wrote: »

Not much right by the station; just the Welcome Inn and the Poor Relation (mentioned above). L'atitude 51 isn't too far away, fine for wine and has a small (bottled) beer selection. The Sextant (though it does do barbecues outdoors) or Cask would both be <5 minutes walk.

Has the LV Bar / Craic House closed on Macurtain St?

SteelyDanJalapeno · 03-08-2017 12:28PM

I like paddy the farmers, it's not a restaurant. It's good quality for a pub food imo

Malari · 03-08-2017 12:54PM

Paddy the Farmer does a mighty good burger, but I would avoid pretty much everything else on the menu! And yes, the wooden board thing drives me nuts. I want to have sauces and juices contained please, and be able to pour my chips out of their metal cup and only select the best ones, without them ending up on the table. It's good enough value though, if you get a pint and wine of the month, as there's a deal.

The other place I quite like is Lishh, but they put their food on slates! The last time I was there I went back up, got a plate and slid everything on to it. I can't stand the sensation of cutting something on slate. Eek!

Dbu · 03-08-2017 03:41PM

We really like Cafe Velo in Georges Quay and now I believe they open at night on weekends as well.
Only gripe we have is that your clothes stink when you leave there..dont know what it is, but food is terrific

what the hell! · 03-08-2017 04:25PM

Dbu wrote: »

We really like Cafe Velo in Georges Quay and now I believe they open at night on weekends as well.
Only gripe we have is that your clothes stink when you leave there..dont know what it is, but food is terrific

They stink?? Of what exactly?

pwurple · 03-08-2017 09:03PM

TiltedBrain wrote: »

I like paddy the farmers, it's not a restaurant. It's good quality for a pub food imo

Yeah, it's graaand like. Defo not the worst.

Just compared to say, gallaghers, or the bullman, or even the silver quay it was below them i guess. Anyway, It was a good burger. I will ask for a plate next time.

I'll just leave this here...

http://wewantplates.com/category/worst-of-we-want-plates/

sporina · 03-08-2017 09:08PM

I see Sago have changed their menu - meals are cheaper and they have "Chinese take away" style dishes now...

I assume they are using cheaper ingredients..? Anyone eaten from there recently?

I have not done so in ages but was going to this weekend but now I am dubious..

Dbu · 04-08-2017 09:22AM

what the hell! wrote: »

They stink?? Of what exactly?

Hard to describe really,Clothes just smell of food, a greasy smell if you like.

Have you tried it?

LLewellen Farquarson · 04-08-2017 09:31AM

sporina wrote: »

I see Sago have changed their menu - meals are cheaper and they have "Chinese take away" style dishes now...

I assume they are using cheaper ingredients..? Anyone eaten from there recently?

I have not done so in ages but was going to this weekend but now I am dubious..

Yep, had lunch there this week.
Went for the salt and chili chicken. Maybe it was a bad choice, but it was drowning in salt. And they had run out of boiled rice

I wasn't overly impressed, and it will be a while, if ever, that I go back.

I get the impression it has changed hands again.

what the hell! · 04-08-2017 09:51AM

Dbu wrote: »

Hard to describe really,Clothes just smell of food, a greasy smell if you like.

Have you tried it?

Not good! Ya I've been but not for a while now.

Malari · 04-08-2017 09:54AM

Dbu wrote: »

Hard to describe really,Clothes just smell of food, a greasy smell if you like.

Have you tried it?

I've been there several times and never noticed this! Not during the evening though, so maybe something specific they were cooking. How off-putting.

Dbu · 04-08-2017 10:42AM

Malari wrote: »

I've been there several times and never noticed this! Not during the evening though, so maybe something specific they were cooking. How off-putting.

Have to clarify the food is fab, its just this smell on clothes that gets me

what the hell! · 04-08-2017 11:35AM

Went to Tequila Jacks last night. It was... grand. First off the place is very cool they've done a great job kitting it out. The bar area is cool and they have big booths and tables on their own. We were commenting how nice it is to have plenty of space because in a lot of Cork restaurants you're nearly sitting on the table beside you. Our waitress was very nice and attentive and she gave us recommendations of what was good. Ordered chips and dips to start which were fine. 3 dips and your basket of chips. Then for mains I ordered the chicken tacos and the other two ordered the steak tacos and the Mole enchiladas. Everything just seemed bland. The mexican rice that came on the side had no taste whatsoever, it seemed to be sitting around a while. The black bean salsa was tasty. But the tacos were weird- my chicken had a plastic taste of it and again no major seasoning. Mexican should be full of flavour but there was nothing. Thinking back the taste of plastic could have been coming from the board that they were served on-it was like a cleaning product taste so could be from what they were cleaning the boards with. Main comments from the other two dishes was no flavour. Just bland. We got two house margaritas with the bottle of Sol inside, the 'Bulldog'. They were nice. One gripe is they don't have Corona which is strange for a Mexican place. We said we'll give it one more try because the place is cool and want to try and support it. Very busy in there last night.

Mumha · 04-08-2017 11:37AM

Malari wrote: »

Paddy the Farmer does a mighty good burger, but I would avoid pretty much everything else on the menu! And yes, the wooden board thing drives me nuts. I want to have sauces and juices contained please, and be able to pour my chips out of their metal cup and only select the best ones, without them ending up on the table. It's good enough value though, if you get a pint and wine of the month, as there's a deal.

The other place I quite like is Lishh, but they put their food on slates! The last time I was there I went back up, got a plate and slid everything on to it. I can't stand the sensation of cutting something on slate. Eek!

The metal plates with greaseproof paper in Coq Bull does my head in, PUT IT ON A PLATE !!!

Mumha · 04-08-2017 12:41PM

We dined in Monk's Lane in Timoleague last night, full as usual, thankfully we booked. I had the tasty pepper sirloin steak and herself had the also substantial Hake. Well worth a visit.

dudara · 04-08-2017 04:55PM

Was back home in Cork last weekend. Had lunch (toasted sandwich and tart) at Jacques. Excellent as usual, their toasties are so good.

For dinner, we went to Spitjack. First off, the interior is gorgeous, really lovely. Goats cheese salad to start, followed by ham hock for me. Others at the table had beef and chicken. Overall, we quite enjoyed it. A solid showing, plus their wine list from Curious Wines is quite good value especially when compared to Rachel's across the way.

We also had drinks on the terrace of the Montenotte hotel. Gorgeous place to be when the weather is good and great views over that side of the city.

04-08-2017 06:13PM

Yeah had lunch in montenotte, really recommended it. Lovely food, great service and the place has been seriously revamped

nlrkjos · 04-08-2017 08:25PM

Going to try South County in Douglas tomorrow evening, been to Barrys a few times and just looking for a change...its close to home and I heard it was ok. good food, good beer and good choons.

whatever76 · 04-08-2017 10:47PM

See the oyster tavern has opened this week - anyone been ?

pwurple · 05-08-2017 09:16AM

whatever76 wrote: »

See the oyster tavern has opened this week - anyone been ?

Popped in for a quick nose last night. Didn't stay for a drink.

The bouncers are in dinner jackets. Crowd might have been the after work thing on a Friday night, suits etc. Not the spot for a group of lads. More a mr and mrs date night, or work group place.

limnam · 05-08-2017 09:21AM

dudara wrote: »

plus their wine list from Curious Wines is quite good value especially when compared to Rachel's across the way.

Is Rachel's wine list from curious wines too?

Or you just referring to the wine price in general in Rachel's?

dudara · 05-08-2017 02:44PM

limnam wrote: »

Is Rachel's wine list from curious wines too?

Or you just referring to the wine price in general in Rachel's?

Rachel's wine list isn't from Curious Wines, it's a comment on pricing in general. The wine list at Rachel's is on the expensive side.

Colser · 05-08-2017 02:51PM

Does anyone know if The Turners Cross Tavern is doing food?It looks nice from the outside and I thought it said restaurant on the sign but can't find anything definitive online.

The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

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