The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

fin12 · 13-01-2019 11:59PM

Had food in The Bodega was really good and the selection of cocktails and other drinks is really good.

nlrkjos · 14-01-2019 01:00AM

had some food yesterday in the Woodford, nice food, fish n' chips and a philly sandwich were grand, and reasonably priced, Irish coffee's were as good as I've had, and the staff were sound. Only problem was the smell of sewage near the fireplace, I said it to one of the staff who said it was a regular occurrence but as the building is "listed" nothing could be done about it except light incense sticks...we were moved, but surely this is ridiculous and a serious health hazard "listed" me boll***s, they should hold back their rates until something is done about it, the girl server seemed embarrassed about the smell, but why should she have to explain and apologise for it!!! Its a nice pub with decent food and this must be a terrible situation to have to deal with. I wouldn't be a moaner about food/booze normally, but I have friends coming from Norway in the summer and the Woodford would be the kinda place I would bring them, but no fault to the pub, not now ! Anyone else here have this experience, or knowledge of it? This really pee's me off....if a place is doing its best and local bureaucracy puts barriers in front of them! Or am I reading it all wrong!

pwurple · 14-01-2019 09:43AM

Very hard to say about the "listed" thing, whether that is a lack of engineering investigation on the building owners part, or whether it is genuinely part of the listing. Usually there is SOME way around it, the problem can be that the way around it is prohibitively expensive. It's a huge shame, because that inflexibility it leads to dilapidation rather than conservation.

I've seen places basically unable to open because safety regulations demand a fire-door, and protection on a facade means a fire door can't be installed. So, they rot instead.

Ditto for that Living Above The Shop scheme that was brought in to increase urban accommodation. There were incentives to convert the upstairs above street level businesses into apartments, but the regulations to comply included one where the entrance to the apt had to be to the front of the building. The buildings were listed in a lot of cases, so no entrance to the front could be added without breaching that.

The right way to do heritage protection, would be with a range of grants and assistance (a dedicated panel of expert consultants, and funding help) to maintain the buildings. But, that would mean diverting funds from something else. Who's going to be the dope who reduces health spending or social welfare so that the EVIL landlords or developers can get a break. Political suicide. Amirite?

.red. · 14-01-2019 10:13AM

We were in town for something the other day and spotted the Luigi's lunch deal. 2 courses with a soft drink for €11 and gave it a go.
It's a seriously good deal with plenty of options on the menu.
We had wings(extra€1) and a ceasar salad for starters, mains were pizza and meatballs with linguine. The sauce on the meatballs was really really good. Easily as good as I've had anywhere.
The bill came to €23 cos of the wings and I doubt there's a better lunch deal out there unless it's a soup and sandwich.
I'm not in town too often but if it's on the next time I'm in I'll probably go for it again.

flangemeistro · 14-01-2019 10:25AM

.red. wrote: »

We were in town for something the other day and spotted the Luigi's lunch deal. 2 courses with a soft drink for €11 and gave it a go.
It's a seriously good deal with plenty of options on the menu.
We had wings(extra€1) and a ceasar salad for starters, mains were pizza and meatballs with linguine. The sauce on the meatballs was really really good. Easily as good as I've had anywhere.
The bill came to €23 cos of the wings and I doubt there's a better lunch deal out there unless it's a soup and sandwich.
I'm not in town too often but if it's on the next time I'm in I'll probably go for it again.

We always go for that deal as well if we're in the city on a weekday and not only is it fantastic value for money but they've actually consistently improved over the last 2 years.

We were regulars there around 10 years ago but it went downhill drastically roughly 7 years ago and we didn't return again until two years ago and we noticed the improvements in all aspects immediately, from menu selection, staff, price and most importantly quality.

There's a faction on here that look down there nose on Luigi's & call it fast food but that's just the elitist coming out of them so they can rave about their experience in itchy coochy coo & orso or wherever else is hip & niche at the moment but if you're in the city between 1 & 4 on a weekday you won't find a better lunch menu than Luigi's.

I was there last Thursday and got the garlic mushrooms to start followed by a BBQ pork skewer with chips and salad washed down with a glass of beer for €13.50 and it was fab.

the beer revolu · 14-01-2019 11:07AM

flangemeistro wrote: »

There's a faction on here

Are you sure it's not a brigade?

Didn't you enjoy ichigo iche when you went?

rob316 · 14-01-2019 11:24AM

flangemeistro wrote: »

We always go for that deal as well if we're in the city on a weekday and not only is it fantastic value for money but they've actually consistently improved over the last 2 years.

We were regulars there around 10 years ago but it went downhill drastically roughly 7 years ago and we didn't return again until two years ago and we noticed the improvements in all aspects immediately, from menu selection, staff, price and most importantly quality.

There's a faction on here that look down there nose on Luigi's & call it fast food but that's just the elitist coming out of them so they can rave about their experience in itchy coochy coo & orso or wherever else is hip & niche at the moment but if you're in the city between 1 & 4 on a weekday you won't find a better lunch menu than Luigi's.

I was there last Thursday and got the garlic mushrooms to start followed by a BBQ pork skewer with chips and salad washed down with a glass of beer for €13.50 and it was fab.

That's bollox mate, its been hammered because the food has been consistently one of the worst in the city. If its improved brilliant, I'll be glad to give it ago and say if it is.

The 3 or 4 times I ate there have been the worst meals I've ever had.

pwurple · 14-01-2019 02:24PM

rob316 wrote: »

That's bollox mate, its been hammered because the food has been consistently one of the worst in the city. If its improved brilliant, I'll be glad to give it ago and say if it is.

The 3 or 4 times I ate there have been the worst meals I've ever had.

Ditto. And the previous poster mentioned it as well. The food quality plummeted a few years ago. I'd gladly go back if it was decent again. My memory of it is from 7 years aog. Massive tasteless portions with poor quality ingredients (plasticy cheese. A mountain of gloop. I also remember getting a pizza so burnt it was like charcoal. I very rarely send something back, and generally give places room for human error, but cripes it was B A D.

Cotts72 · 14-01-2019 04:55PM

flangemeistro wrote: »

We always go for that deal as well if we're in the city on a weekday and not only is it fantastic value for money but they've actually consistently improved over the last 2 years.

We were regulars there around 10 years ago but it went downhill drastically roughly 7 years ago and we didn't return again until two years ago and we noticed the improvements in all aspects immediately, from menu selection, staff, price and most importantly quality.

There's a faction on here that look down there nose on Luigi's & call it fast food but that's just the elitist coming out of them so they can rave about their experience in itchy coochy coo & orso or wherever else is hip & niche at the moment but if you're in the city between 1 & 4 on a weekday you won't find a better lunch menu than Luigi's.

I was there last Thursday and got the garlic mushrooms to start followed by a BBQ pork skewer with chips and salad washed down with a glass of beer for €13.50 and it was fab.

I think most peoples issues are the fact that the food is apparently precooked during the day and then reheated and served later. Also numerous alleged cases of food poisoning

nerwen · 14-01-2019 07:53PM

pwurple wrote: »

Ditto. And the previous poster mentioned it as well. The food quality plummeted a few years ago. I'd gladly go back if it was decent again. My memory of it is from 7 years aog. Massive tasteless portions with poor quality ingredients (plasticy cheese. A mountain of gloop. I also remember getting a pizza so burnt it was like charcoal. I very rarely send something back, and generally give places room for human error, but cripes it was B A D.

My experience of the place has been similar. Went back last year as it'd been years since I was there last, and was disappointed with the food again. Gloopy, stodgy stuff. I'll give it another few years before I go back I think.

sporina · 14-01-2019 09:05PM

nlrkjos wrote: »

had some food yesterday in the Woodford, nice food, fish n' chips and a philly sandwich were grand, and reasonably priced, Irish coffee's were as good as I've had, and the staff were sound. Only problem was the smell of sewage near the fireplace, I said it to one of the staff who said it was a regular occurrence but as the building is "listed" nothing could be done about it except light incense sticks...we were moved, but surely this is ridiculous and a serious health hazard "listed" me boll***s, they should hold back their rates until something is done about it, the girl server seemed embarrassed about the smell, but why should she have to explain and apologise for it!!! Its a nice pub with decent food and this must be a terrible situation to have to deal with. I wouldn't be a moaner about food/booze normally, but I have friends coming from Norway in the summer and the Woodford would be the kinda place I would bring them, but no fault to the pub, not now ! Anyone else here have this experience, or knowledge of it? This really pee's me off....if a place is doing its best and local bureaucracy puts barriers in front of them! Or am I reading it all wrong!

to be honest i'd be asking the manager what the Food Safety Authority/Health and Safety have to say about that - its a place that serves food after all... after reading this post, i won't be eating there again

FlacidBiscuit · 14-01-2019 11:32PM

Not a suggestion but does anybody know where I can get a good authentic Cannoli in Cork/Kerry?

what the hell! · 15-01-2019 09:23AM

FlacidBiscuit wrote: »

Not a suggestion but does anybody know where I can get a good authentic Cannoli in Cork/Kerry?

Italee on Oliver Plunkett St do amazing ones and great coffee to go with them.

sporina · 15-01-2019 09:16PM

keen to try the restaurant in the new Maldron Hotel on the South Mall - menu looks fab

sammyjo90 · 15-01-2019 10:00PM

sporina wrote: »

keen to try the restaurant in the new Maldron Hotel on the South Mall - menu looks fab

Just looked at it because of your post. It does look good! Some slightly different options there. Always a good thing!

JohnK · 16-01-2019 07:51PM

Had lunch in the Maldron today. Very tasty and some of the friendliest staff I've encountered.

beer enigma · 17-01-2019 11:21AM

JohnK wrote: »

Had lunch in the Maldron today. Very tasty and some of the friendliest staff I've encountered.

Do they have their drinks licence sorted yet

JohnK · 17-01-2019 01:24PM

beer enigma wrote: »

Do they have their drinks licence sorted yet

Don't know that I'm afraid, only had a coffee with my lunch.

And had lunch in Bocelli's today on Maylor St.; very tasty there also. Have to say we're getting a lot of good places recently

richiepurgas · 19-01-2019 02:08PM

Strasbourg Goose has a €22.95 offer of two courses, main and either starter or dessert. Was there a few days ago, good food , good value.

Richmond Ultra · 19-01-2019 02:15PM

Went to the Rendezvous for dinner with a friend last night. Very expensive mediocre grub. I had a chicken curry. The chicken was hardly sliced to cook it. Some pieces were 3/4 inches big. It lacked in presentation. The friend got a burger. The bun was nearly falling off the plate on presentation. No sauce in the burger and the chips were over cooked frozen ones. It was mediocre. I'll stick to a pint there and skip the food next time.

Markcheese · 19-01-2019 05:47PM

richiepurgas wrote: »

Strasbourg Goose has a €22.95 offer of two courses, main and either starter or dessert. Was there a few days ago, good food , good value.

It'll be a long time before I go back there...

Nonoperational · 19-01-2019 05:51PM

Bookshelf cafe do a very nice brunch. Was very pleasantly surprised.

Mardyke · 19-01-2019 10:59PM

Richmond Ultra wrote: »

Went to the Rendezvous for dinner with a friend last night. Very expensive mediocre grub. I had a chicken curry. The chicken was hardly sliced to cook it. Some pieces were 3/4 inches big. It lacked in presentation. The friend got a burger. The bun was nearly falling off the plate on presentation. No sauce in the burger and the chips were over cooked frozen ones. It was mediocre. I'll stick to a pint there and skip the food next time.

Thanks for this.

Maybe it's presumptuous of me, but when I saw what they did with the terrace (A nice open area which they turned into a smoking room) i assumed a bunch of idiots had taken over and hence the food would be ****e.

Good to know. I'll avoid.

Richmond Ultra · 19-01-2019 11:11PM

Had burger of the month in Son of a Bun tonight. Absolutely savage, definitely one of their better combinations. Well worth trying out.

whatever76 · 20-01-2019 02:25AM

Richmond Ultra wrote: »

Had burger of the month in Son of a Bun tonight. Absolutely savage, definitely one of their better combinations. Well worth trying out.

drove passed there about 8.15pm this evening the place was heaving ... its doing something right that for sure … have yet to try it !

the beer revolu · 20-01-2019 08:37AM

whatever76 wrote: »

drove passed there about 8.15pm this evening the place was heaving ... its doing something right that for sure … have yet to try it !

The place is always heaving - even midweek.
I don't see the huge attraction, myself. Been once and thought it was fine but fair play, they struck a chord with people and not just as a passing thing.

pwurple · 20-01-2019 02:49PM

the beer revolu wrote: »

The place is always heaving - even midweek.
I don't see the huge attraction, myself. Been once and thought it was fine but fair play, they struck a chord with people and not just as a passing thing.

The attraction is deafening noise, with a decent burger. So you can bring along your most obnoxious charmless acquaintances, eat, and completely avoid talking to your companions.

Fills a niche nicely for a lot of the population I’d say. It’s absolutely perfect for anyone missing a personality.

Nonoperational · 20-01-2019 03:42PM

pwurple wrote: »

The attraction is deafening noise, with a decent burger. So you can bring along your most obnoxious charmless acquaintances, eat, and completely avoid talking to your companions.

Fills a niche nicely for a lot of the population I’d say. It’s absolutely perfect for anyone missing a personality.

Wow.

sporina · 20-01-2019 09:03PM

Had coffee in Cocoa in the winthrop arcade yday - coffee is fantastic - Mahers.. with a truffle on the side - delish.. the place is v v small but its quaint - a vintage vibe about it..

run_Forrest_run · 21-01-2019 07:44AM

the beer revolu wrote: »

The place is always heaving - even midweek.
I don't see the huge attraction, myself. Been once and thought it was fine but fair play, they struck a chord with people and not just as a passing thing.

not having sh*t on the meat seems to be working well for them.

The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

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