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The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

Faith

There's been a crazy number of threads recently looking for restaurant recommendations, so I'd like to start a specific thread for it. Please post below about your favourite restaurants - why you like them, what price range they are, what type of food they serve, if they have an early bird, opening hours if you know them, where they're located. If you could include a link to the website, that would be great. The more details, the better. This is not a thread to post negative reviews - there's a thread in the main Food & Drink forum for that if you like. Basically, I want this thread to be full of recommendations, not positive and negative reviews. That being said, you can disagree with a recommendation briefly if you really feel the need to, but you must have a really valid reason such as an awful experience, rather than "I don't really like the food" or "It's too expensive".

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pwurple

Spitjack recommendation. Worst name I've heard for a restaurant in Cork city, but work peeps wanted to go there, so off we went.

Happy surprise, no spitting or jacking in sight. The place is very stylish inside, lots of glinting brass, striking tiles and loads of glassware.

I ordered sirloin, and was happy with that choice. It was very good indeed. They roast the whole side of beef (O'Mahony's sirloin, a great local butcher as well), and slice you off a 10oz hunk the size of a steak. It's pink, maybe a medium. No choice in how you get it, but that suited me fine. So tender, so delicious, plenty of salt on it. I could eat another one now. 23.50 for that , it's the most expensive thing on the menu. It came with a green salad and one side dish of my choice. On the table we got a heap of sides... sweet potato fries, skinny chips, roast crispy spuds, mushroom risotto, Caesar salad, roast veggies with ginger (my least favourite, the ginger didn't go with what anyone else had). couldn't fault any of them. The sweet potato ones came with this smoked paprika mayo, loved it.

They have a big cocktail list, I had the "5 a day". Something with avocado and goji berries in it. Very hipster altogether, tasted like alcoholic grass. I liked it a lot, but someone else at the table didn't like theirs (they said more like soap).

Because we're pure savages and it was a big table, we tried all the desserts between us. The peanut butter one was pronounced the best by consensus. It's a peanut butter semifreddo, with peanut brittle and a chocolate sauce.

roundymac

Savoury pancakes french style maybe but sweet ones, , no way.

limnam

sporina wrote: »

i don't get the pancake thing at all.. just like the doughnut thing.. on Pancake Tuesday the only way I partake is my having some nutella on a digestive or a rich tea biscuit..

Each to their own i guess.

I'd have a quick check there for a pulse. It's possible you maybe dead :pac:

sporina

pwurple wrote: »

Lol, yeah, I take my pancakes SERIOUSLY.

I feel bad slightly buying them, because they are so very easy to make, but we were without functioning kitchen at the time, and feck-it, it's fun to go out for brekkie.

Not quite the thread for it... but if anyone wants my uber-lazy pancake recipe:

1 egg per person, and one extra. - beat in a bowl
Add one heaped tablespoon of flour* per egg. - beat more.
Add a little milk**, more for thin ones. A pinch of salt if you like it. Beat some more.

Fry in a bit of butter & oil.

* Any flour, plain, self-raising, strong, wholewheat, gluten free... whatevs. Also works with readybrek here if no flour in the house, but you need a bit more.

**milk can be subbed for buttermilk, almond milk, oatmilk, yoghurt, crème fraiche, cream... pick your poison.

Now, what to put on your pancake. That's the makings of a book.

i don't get the pancake thing at all.. just like the doughnut thing.. on Pancake Tuesday the only way I partake is my having some nutella on a digestive or a rich tea biscuit..

Each to their own i guess.

rob316

Add White Rabbit and Soho to the list too.

pwurple

Malari wrote: »

That is some pretty extensive pancake research there, pwurple!

Lol, yeah, I take my pancakes SERIOUSLY.

I feel bad slightly buying them, because they are so very easy to make, but we were without functioning kitchen at the time, and feck-it, it's fun to go out for brekkie.

Not quite the thread for it... but if anyone wants my uber-lazy pancake recipe:

1 egg per person, and one extra. - beat in a bowl
Add one heaped tablespoon of flour* per egg. - beat more.
Add a little milk**, more for thin ones. A pinch of salt if you like it. Beat some more.

Fry in a bit of butter & oil.

* Any flour, plain, self-raising, strong, wholewheat, gluten free... whatevs. Also works with readybrek here if no flour in the house, but you need a bit more.

**milk can be subbed for buttermilk, almond milk, oatmilk, yoghurt, crème fraiche, cream... pick your poison.

Now, what to put on your pancake. That's the makings of a book.

Malari

That is some pretty extensive pancake research there, pwurple!

sporina

pwurple wrote: »

Well you have come to the right place! When we were couchsurfing recently, pancakes were the weekend treat for us and the kids. We found a LOT.

Liberty Grill does awesome pancakes. Syrup, bacon, or banana I think. (Or any combo of those)

Idaho cafe has nice belgian waffle with maple syrup... not a pancake, but close, and my kids ate them.

The bookshelf cafe... puts cinnamon on them, and they have oats in there. controversial for us. Mainly uneaten by the kids, but I liked them.

Tony's bisto, north main street has pancakes with nutella.

Gallaghers on bridge street.

Tara's tea room on mccurtain street.

Drakes on acadamy street. American ones with maple.

The Parlour Cafe , cornmarket street. V nice here.

Serendipity out towards UCC on the western road.

Weir rooms out that way as well (river lee hotel).

Gogos on the well road, douglas.

Castle cafe. And I assume by extension market lane, but I didn't check them out.

And I have heard that spitjack does them on washington street.

Enjoy!

Gogo's is fabulous.. OMG their dessert section... divine divine.. glad i don't live too near there..

pwurple

northgirl wrote: »

Does anywhere in Cork do pancakes for brunch? I am craving pancakes.

Well you have come to the right place! When we were couchsurfing recently, pancakes were the weekend treat for us and the kids. We found a LOT.

Liberty Grill does awesome pancakes. Syrup, bacon, or banana I think. (Or any combo of those)

Idaho cafe has nice belgian waffle with maple syrup... not a pancake, but close, and my kids ate them.

The bookshelf cafe... puts cinnamon on them, and they have oats in there. controversial for us. Mainly uneaten by the kids, but I liked them.

Tony's bisto, north main street has pancakes with nutella.

Gallaghers on bridge street.

Tara's tea room on mccurtain street.

Drakes on acadamy street. American ones with maple.

The Parlour Cafe , cornmarket street. V nice here.

Serendipity out towards UCC on the western road.

Weir rooms out that way as well (river lee hotel).

Gogos on the well road, douglas.

Castle cafe. And I assume by extension market lane, but I didn't check them out.

And I have heard that spitjack does them on washington street.

Enjoy!

pwurple

SouthernBelle wrote: »

Agreed. We've had a few good staff nights in the Weir Rooms.

Keep it in the weir rooms though... the other restaurant in there is dead.

Apt8

northgirl wrote: »

Does anywhere in Cork do pancakes for brunch? I am craving pancakes.

White Rabbit on MacCurtain Street, I haven't tried them but noticed them on the menu.

sporina

northgirl wrote: »

Does anywhere in Cork do pancakes for brunch? I am craving pancakes.

Dukes on Careys lane have them - had lunch in there again today - i really like it - good value for money and staff are really great

SouthernBelle

sporina wrote: »

The River Lee Hotel is great..

Agreed. We've had a few good staff nights in the Weir Rooms.

northgirl

Does anywhere in Cork do pancakes for brunch? I am craving pancakes.

Malari

I find that the Cornstore is a place I'd go to around Christmas but not really any other time of year!

They generally have a decent set menu, great cocktails and the atmosphere is very festive. It always feels super-christmassy in there at the most wonderful time of the year.

confusticated

I realise that Market Lane is nearly always recommended regardless of the occasion, but it's with good reason! We had dinner there a few Christmases ago and it was lovely, no rush on you and good food and drinks.

sporina

silly wrote: »

Looking for a restaurant recommendation for a nice meal at Christmas time for girls night out. Cheers

The River Lee Hotel is great..

silly

Looking for a restaurant recommendation for a nice meal at Christmas time for girls night out. Cheers

pwurple

Amicus... popped in, have not been there in years.

Surprisingly good beef salad with blue cheese. Loads of steak in there, I asked for it medium, and medium it arrived. The size I ordered was the starter one, it was massive. Hurray!

Kids all mortified me and ordered off-menu (asked for pasta with tomatoes, it was macaroni with a cream sauce on the menu). they were very accommodating and made it for us.

Cheap and cheerful in there. My salad was 9 euro, the pasta dishes were 5 each. Happy days.

jsms88

Cherry_Cola wrote: »

La Dolce Vita, well holy god! How I have never been there before is beyond me! Great vibe, lovely staff, amazing food. Had the ham and mushroom calzone and colleague has the spinach tortelloni and we were both very impressed.

Same. Tried it out for the first time this weekend. Got the sea bass, friends got pasta. Fantastic spot.... will be back for pizza next time.

nerwen

Went to Umi the other day and had a falafel sandwich, super impressed with it. The falafel was tasty, the tzatziki was good, bread felt like it was home made and fresh. Only thing I wasn't a fan of was the seating area, it's super tight between the tables and my friend had to scoot to the side of the table because he had a full table behind him.

Will be going back, got my eye on the grilled halloumi sandwich, but this time I'll do take out.

Jentle Grenade

Went to Tequila Jacks with a group and found it alright.

Ordered steak and chicken tacos, a burrito, steak fajitas and an enchilada. When ordering we asked if the food could come on plates (my wife has a cast on her wrist ATM and we've had interesting experiences with boards and slates recently). The waiter assured us that plates were no bother/most come on plates anyway. Naturally most of the meals came on boards. We asked for plates again and they arrived just as we were finishing up. I enjoyed the steak tacos, tasted the enchilada which was also nice. It's kind of like a slightly better Mexicana, at least from what I tried. No cocktails for me but those who did have them loved them. €9.50 seemed a fair enough price for what they got.

At the end I was kind of surprised at how much the bill was, pricey enough given we had no starters but it is all a la carte. I'd probably go again to try brunch. It was absolutely packed too which is good to see.

the beer revolu

ncmc wrote: »

Can you go to Tequila Jacks for just drinks? I have a hankering for a good marguerita lately! I think €9.50 pretty reasonable for a cocktail.

Yes. It's a bar and restaurant.

ncmc

Can you go to Tequila Jacks for just drinks? I have a hankering for a good marguerita lately! I think €9.50 pretty reasonable for a cocktail.

Malari

sporina wrote: »

where is this?

Cafe Velo.

sporina

Dbu wrote: »

Thankfully it wasn't just us then. Yes that deep fried smell off the clothes afterwards would be very accurate

where is this?

pwurple

Another tequila jack visitor here.

Had a couple of margueitas, nachos and chicken tacos. The drinks were excellent, well balanced, usually they either way too sweet or too acidic... and I think this is the first place in Ireland to give me a choice of how i wanted it (straight up, frozen or on the rocks).

Food was fresh (actual chopped tomatoes and fresh coriander in the salsa, not out of a bottle!), and very tasty. For us, there wasn't enough salsa on the nachos, but that could my own hangover from cafe mexicana. Their nachos have so much on top they get deliciously soggy, and almost turn into a nacho lasange, which I love... but i know isn't remotely authentic.

Tacos were yum, a big wedge of ripe avocado on top. They came with the tiniest bowl of blackbeans (more please), and a neat bowl-formed pile of rice on a wooden board. Rice promptly fell apart all over the table, because, you know... no rim on a board.

Service was very good. Plenty of staff, same guy seated us, took orders, brought food and bill. Competent, friendly and efficient. (Not like the confusion of rachels).

Seemed to be very busy, we were near the door, people being turned away.

Bill for that was 41 euro. Drinks are pricey enough, 9.50 each, with the option to add more expensive tequilas for another couple of euro. I think it's probably the norm around the city though.

WE WANT PLATES

sammyjo90

I went to tequila jacks after work yesterday about 5ish.
I had the roast chicken Taquitos(x3) to start and the steak tacos (x2) for main.
For me...I think they could be amazing.. just needs bit more...oomph!
Nothing was overly spicy..the black beans served with the tacos had a bit of smokeyness and tang to them
I asked about spicing it up and bit for those who like spice and they said it could be accomodated.
I over heard the table next to me say how spicy their wings were

I also got the added bonus of a free cocktail as they were taking professional photos of their cocktail and food menus which was nice of them

And on the service, the only thing i had a problem with was getting their attention when i wanted the bill.

I'll go back and try spicing it up or maybe for brekkie

Dbu

Malari wrote: »

You're right! Was in there over the weekend and it smelled of...kitchen. The smell you get when you open the oven while you're doing roast chicken and spuds! I think maybe it's the stuff they deep-fry? Obviously the extractor doesn't do that great a job.

Having said that, the food was actually lovely, and couldn't fault the service. We had the baked cooleeney, which was unusual and quite filling, but very delicious. Also had salmon fishcakes, which were tasty and served with a salad and sweet potato crisps. And fish and chips, with peas (which were served in a bizarrely large container for the size of the plate! A little on the steep side maybe, but they were giving out free glasses of prosecco. Quiet night though - only a handful of other tables occupied.

Pet peeve...seemed like several other dishes going out were served with greaseproof paper under the food on the plate. Made it seem rather canteen-like. I think it needs something else to transition to a restaurant by night. It still has that cafe feel to it. I would like to try it again, if only to sample the smoked fish sharing platter (which my dining companion did not fancy this time!).

Thankfully it wasn't just us then. Yes that deep fried smell off the clothes afterwards would be very accurate

waxmelts2000

Raymond retired and it was taken over , I think the guys who took it over worked there in the past