The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

€85 for high quality japanese food is not expensive and he will have no problem packing them in if he delivers what he is saying. I have eaten in good japanese restaurants in other cities around the world that cost many times this. Visit a Nobu in USA and you'd be lucky to get away with €200 / person (and worth it IMO!).

So is Bao Boi next to Miyazaki? Hopefully a trend will start in this area and we get a little Asia happening here!

TrustedApple wrote: »

Back to Miyazaki I still think paying 85 euros for a meal you need your head looked at.

Back in Italy in my dad's village there is a place that's 35 euros a head but it includes the wine that is made on the land. They keep bringing you foods to your full and everything is made on the land of the restaurant as well.

And the chef comes and speaks to you during your meal to.

You sit on plastic garden chairs there is miss matched table clothes. The place looks like someone's front room. But by good this is a proper dineing exp to me.

I don't see why you are so intent on criticising peoples' choices. The restaurant appears to do less than 30 covers, and the cold food is prepared in front of you. It has the potential to add something completely different to Cork.

For some people €85 for a special meal once in a while is absolutely nothing.

You've made your point, but I'd reiterate mine. If the experience is good then it's perfectly reasonable. Saying that someone is crazy if they pay €85 to enjoy it demonstrates a real immaturity and misunderstanding of the situation.

I read the article as saying there's only 5 seats at the counter where you get this €85 meal cooked in front of you. The rest of the tables could well be more "normal". Based on the quality of the 'takeaway' food they produce, I'll definitely give it a go at least once. I've wasted more money on far more stupid things in the past to have a conscience about this.:o

limnam wrote: »

If Ivory tower charged 20e for the tasting menu they'd be over charging.

How this place stays in business is beyond me.

Haven’t eaten there myself but only ever heard good things about it.
Why don’t you like it?

limnam wrote: »

IMO what he's doing is gimmicky rubbish but seems to have enough people falling for it to keep the doors open.

Never been myself but Cork isn't a big enough market that you can keep fooling people. Restaurants need returning trade to survive as long as that one has. It must be doing something right. Obviously enough people have a different opinion to you to keep it going.

Ludo wrote: »

Never been myself but Cork isn't a big enough market that you can keep fooling people. Restaurants need returning trade to survive as long as that one has. It must be doing something right. Obviously enough people have a different opinion to you to keep it going.

tbh Cork is flooded with mediocre rubbish that manages to stay open.

So it doesn't mean anything really.

Ate in the Barn last night and it was beautiful. 3 courses for 25e - had the pate for starter, then a beautiful bit of hake with bacon and leek cream and veg and potato and then for dessert a raspberry jam and custard cake - which tasted sort of like sherry trifle but in a cake haha.

The only thing I would say about the place is that there was a bit of a breeze coming from somewhere, even though it looks like such a warm place when you come in and it's really nicely decorated but the cold was unpleasant.

mire wrote: »

Agree 100%. Look some Cork people think Ecos is fine dining ffs. Cork, despite all the guff about food etc is miles and years behind Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny. People here whinging about 'fancy food' and experimentation seem to want big dinners. Go to the island gate lads.

Speaking of Ecos, went to the one in Glanmire last week and it was so average and the place was heaving and really noisy. Wouldn't be rushing back.

SouthernBelle wrote: »

I heard they're opening in Ballincollig - possibly in the place vacated by John Gately's short-lived "Republic".

Is that the same Gately who was involved in the Boardwalk?

If it is I heard he's now calling all the shots in the Commodore Hotel Cobh after paying off their debts.

Some staff that have been there over 20 years have handed in their notice because of his attitude.

Everything he touches seems to turn to ****e so I really hope he doesn't have the same effect on the Commodore as food has really improved over the last 12 months and they're one of the biggest employers on the island.

He's had so many failed ventures how does he still have the funds to pay off other people's depts and drive around in a Maserati?

Drdenise75 wrote: »

Tried BaoBoi tonight. It's just down barracks st from barbarella. Small place. I think about 8 high stools for eating in. We got take away. Tried 4 of the baos pork, beef, fish and mushroom. Good overall. The buns themselves ie the dough are really good. Soft and pillowy. The ingredients in the fillings were good too. You can see they are using quality ingredients. The beef was lovely, tender and 2 thick pieces in the bao. The fish and pork were very tasty too. The mushroom was a bit of a let down though. It had more tomato than mushroom but minor quibble... will go back again and eat in next time as i think the food doesn't travel too well. They do other things too... spice bags fries banh mi and others i don't remember all of. Very friendly staff and quick service. Cash only at the moment until they get their card machines up and running

Sounds delicious. Would give it a go but it's just the other side of town from me (Patrick's Quay.. yes, I am that lazy).

Hopefully it takes off, and we see more of them. We could do with some new cuisine choices in the city!

mire wrote: »

Agree 100%. Look some Cork people think Ecos is fine dining ffs. Cork, despite all the guff about food etc is miles and years behind Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny. People here whinging about 'fancy food' and experimentation seem to want big dinners. Go to the island gate lads.

Your right it is miles behind, in terms of not just what's put on the plate. But everything around it.

There's no point been "different" for the sake of been different most people are happy for some diversity but that shouldn't be an excuse for inconsistency and lack of quality. Putting alphabet spag in a cup is not creative, it's not "fancy" it's not even quirky.

As was mentioned before Cork is a fairly small market there shouldn't be too much room for mediocrity but the city's full of it. You can get away with that if you have enough quality to ignore it but there's not that either

It was one of the things that stood out for me after moving down from Dublin. The lack of options and then of the options that can deliver anywhere near an "experience" is few and far between.

I can't recall too many people on this thread complaining about "fancy" food. Whatever that is.

Leonel Putrid Cheddar wrote: »

As a non Cork native I find the food culture here to be one of the sources of pride that's actually justified

I think to a certain extent it's true, but outside of restaurant's.

E.g. I've had some really nice surpises at some of the markets etc

But then on the other hand there's probably only one place in the city where you can get a drinkable coffee.

There might be some secret places they don't tell Dub's about :mad:

I've made Cork my home as I love the city and the people but the one thing that keeps coming back to irk me is this to the point where I'm now dreaming about been in Chapter one.

limnam wrote: »

... there's probably only one place in the city where you can get a drinkable coffee.

Wha?! No way I believe this. Off the top of my head you can get a decent cup in

Filter
Soma
Union grind
Myo
Dukes

Further afield:
Alchemy
Langford Row

igCorcaigh wrote: »

For good coffee:

Filter: George's Quay
Portafilter: St. Peters, North main Street
Priory: North main Street
Three Fools: Grand Parade
Alchemy: Barrack Street
Soma: Tuckey Street

Avoid: Starbucks and Gloria Jean's

Just my 2c!

I knew that comment would get me some recommendations

Filter is top notch.

Union Grind is on my todo list.