The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

igCorcaigh · 27-05-2019 04:28PM

fin12 wrote: »

The Katsu curry looks lovely.

It was delicious.
It came with a soft boiled egg, which I declined.

the beer revolu · 27-05-2019 05:23PM

pwurple wrote: »

Even vegan nachos are grilled on a dish, with some sauce on it, and then loaded up with goodies. Those are chips and dips. Why can't places just call things by their names!

ffs like. Would you go into a shop, as for a shirt and then get handed a shoe?

Oh hey, I know you asked for a lasagne. Here's similar ingredients in a totally different way, spaghetti bolognese. But we're going to call it lasagne here.

I have been served brown beef stew as "Irish stew" and I've been served "spaghetti bolognaise" with no meat. I got some brown, sweet sauce served as babaganoush recently, too.
Oh, honourable mention to "boneless chicken wings" - chicken nuggets, in reality.

Slim Charles · 27-05-2019 07:06PM

the beer revolu wrote: »

I have been served brown beef stew as "Irish stew" and I've been served "spaghetti bolognaise" with no meat. I got some brown, sweet sauce served as babaganoush recently, too.
Oh, honourable mention to "boneless chicken wings" - chicken nuggets, in reality.

Reminds me of a scene from The Wire.

Some one asked a few pages back about pigalle - I was there on a work night recently with a limited set menu but it was amazing will deffo be back.

nlrkjos · 27-05-2019 10:06PM

Six of us, went to the Bosun in Monkstown on Friday evening, all of us had a different dish..beef, turkey, fish n' chips, burger, curry...everyone was well happy with the quality of the food and the service, and, as the eejit who was paying, well pleased with the price. Great friendly staff and nice pints after, barman was good craic.

pwurple · 28-05-2019 03:14PM

nlrkjos wrote: »

Six of us, went to the Bosun in Monkstown on Friday evening, all of us had a different dish..beef, turkey, fish n' chips, burger, curry...everyone was well happy with the quality of the food and the service, and, as the eejit who was paying, well pleased with the price. Great friendly staff and nice pints after, barman was good craic.

Are the portions there still on the scale that would feed an elephant?

nlrkjos · 28-05-2019 05:50PM

pwurple wrote: »

Are the portions there still on the scale that would feed an elephant?

Absolutely. struggled to finish my own, wife was cute enough to order a half portion.The others were Norwegians and they just hoovered it all up and had desserts too !! the menu hasn't changed much over the years here, but what they do, they do well...wine was pretty good too,taste wise and price wise. We go there at least 3/4 times a year and have never been disappointed over the last 20 years, with the food or the staff.

Micko99 · 30-05-2019 10:15AM

Went to Spitjack last weekend for brunch. Was extremely disappointing. The pancakes were dry and tasteless and tasted like they came out of a packet. My friend got the salsa eggs benedict, the tomatoes were gone off and as a result it tasted like vinegar. Maybe I went on an off day but I could not give the place any higher than 4/10.

Micko99 · 30-05-2019 10:48AM

nlrkjos wrote: »

Absolutely. struggled to finish my own, wife was cute enough to order a half portion.The others were Norwegians and they just hoovered it all up and had desserts too !! the menu hasn't changed much over the years here, but what they do, they do well...wine was pretty good too,taste wise and price wise. We go there at least 3/4 times a year and have never been disappointed over the last 20 years, with the food or the staff.

I'd agree the Bosun is a fantastic spot. Never had a bad meal there and the portions are generous.

pwurple · 30-05-2019 12:33PM

nlrkjos wrote: »

Absolutely. struggled to finish my own, wife was cute enough to order a half portion.

Smart lady. That's what puts me off the Bosun. I end up handing back most of my dinner every time, and feeling stuffed/sick and guilty about the waste... Was wondering if they had changed that policy at all, as I haven't been there in years. Good to know, and sure it suits a lot of people.

rob316 · 30-05-2019 12:59PM

Micko99 wrote: »

Went to Spitjack last weekend for brunch. Was extremely disappointing. The pancakes were dry and tasteless and tasted like they came out of a packet. My friend got the salsa eggs benedict, the tomatoes were gone off and as a result it tasted like vinegar. Maybe I went on an off day but I could not give the place any higher than 4/10.

Nah that's about it, it's extremely average. If they put as much effort into the food as the interior it would be a winner.

30-05-2019 03:55PM

I also wasn’t impressed with Spitjack. Found the staff a bit odd too!

Debub · 31-05-2019 08:18AM

HI guys - how would you rate Toonsbridge Dairy (Macroom) for a lunch? Looks quite good with the Pizza’s and cheese n ice creams and my kids might enjoy...

31-05-2019 08:22AM

Debub wrote: »

HI guys - how would you rate Toonsbridge Dairy (Macroom) for a lunch? Looks quite good with the Pizza’s and cheese n ice creams and my kids might enjoy...

Oh 100 percent!
It’s gorge there. Food is divine and the service is really good.

BullBlackNova · 31-05-2019 08:48AM

Seconded - Toonsbridge is a great spot, well worth the trip. I don't think you can book (or at least we didn't!) and had about a 45 minute wait but you can just enjoy the garden in that time if it's a nice day.

Cork Lass · 31-05-2019 11:07AM

You can book Toonsbridge through their website. It’s a fab place with great food and lovely staff. Getting much more popular now than it used to be so we never go without booking first - especially on Sundays.

the beer revolu · 31-05-2019 11:09AM

the beer revolu wrote: »

Anyone tried Bar Pigalle for food yet?

I passed yesterday and the menu looks really good.
Must give it a go soon.

Had food here last night.
I really enjoyed it. Good value, too.
Staff could be a little more clued in, generally, but it was all friendly and pleasant.

We ate exclusively from the first section of the menu (menu changed slightly from the one pictured). €45 for 7 plates of really well made, creative food! I'd go again.

Nonoperational · 31-05-2019 08:50PM

Good to hear. Super menu in fairness.

Cedrus · 01-06-2019 10:11PM

Am I the only one who is getting totally peed off with restaurants fake advertising? I am well used the the "Thai Fishcakes" bull, there are no potatoes in a real Thai Fishcake, a bit of coriander and sweet chilli do not make an Irish potato farl with 10% whitefish into a Tod Mun Pla, so stop lying and have a bit of pride in what you can do.
I got caught badly tonight, stupidly believing that "Tempura Fillets of Haddock" was actually going to be lovely light and dry Tempura and not the grease oozing ****e that I got, Jackie Lennox would have done 10 time better for a third of the cost and my indigestion tablets would be covered in my change.
We have some great food in this country and there are some fabulous imports, but please, restaurateurs, stop bull****ting us.

the beer revolu · 02-06-2019 07:50AM

Cedrus wrote: »

Am I the only one who is getting totally peed off with restaurants fake advertising? I am well used the the "Thai Fishcakes" bull, there are no potatoes in a real Thai Fishcake, a bit of coriander and sweet chilli do not make an Irish potato farl with 10% whitefish into a Tod Mun Pla, so stop lying and have a bit of pride in what you can do.
I got caught badly tonight, stupidly believing that "Tempura Fillets of Haddock" was actually going to be lovely light and dry Tempura and not the grease oozing ****e that I got, Jackie Lennox would have done 10 time better for a third of the cost and my indigestion tablets would be covered in my change.
We have some great food in this country and there are some fabulous imports, but please, restaurateurs, stop bull****ting us.

Where was this, Cedrus?

Markcheese · 02-06-2019 11:15AM

This has always been the way.... Just think of prawn cocktails and blackforest gateau... They "could be" brilliant (70s??)
By the late 80s you'd run a mile from the menu..
(incidentally the bosun used to do (prob still does) a really great prawn cocktail.
Now they're kind of ironically hip again...

Just look at the pigalle menu, it's buzz word bingo... (i think it sounds great and plan on going. Soon.) but soon some where will be dumbing it down and including the hip bits, to make their menu seem fresher...

Debub · 02-06-2019 11:20AM

Went to Toonsbridge yesterday, was great, really nice pizzas, also had the cheese/meat platter and the baked Scamorza, good service - definitely worth a drive again sometime soon in good weather

Debub · 02-06-2019 11:22AM

Cork Lass wrote: »

You can book Toonsbridge through their website. It’s a fab place with great food and lovely staff. Getting much more popular now than it used to be so we never go without booking first - especially on Sundays.

Yea - we booked online, it was a good idea, was crowded on a Friday afternoon

Cedrus · 02-06-2019 04:44PM

the beer revolu wrote: »

Where was this, Cedrus?

The "Thai Fishcakes" scam is so ubiquitous now that Irish tourists in Thailand are in for a shock when they meet the real thing. My greasy experience last night was in Ferrit & Lee in Midleton, I still don't feel well, can't do greasy anymore. However their Tiramisu is top notch.
Years ago I went to an "Irish Pub" in Hong Kong and ordered "Traditional Irish Bacon and Cabbage", it was basically cabbage soup with one rasher.
It is hardly amazing that Irish food has no reputation abroad when our restaurants have so little pride in what they do well.

02-06-2019 05:03PM

Ate in Jaques, from the tapas menu.
Really liked it. What we had was gorgeous and service was great

pwurple · 02-06-2019 07:22PM

Cedrus wrote: »

The "Thai Fishcakes" scam is so ubiquitous now that Irish tourists in Thailand are in for a shock when they meet the real thing. My greasy experience last night was in Ferrit & Lee in Midleton, I still don't feel well, can't do greasy anymore. However their Tiramisu is top notch.
Years ago I went to an "Irish Pub" in Hong Kong and ordered "Traditional Irish Bacon and Cabbage", it was basically cabbage soup with one rasher.
It is hardly amazing that Irish food has no reputation abroad when our restaurants have so little pride in what they do well.

I hear you on the greasy thing... it was a duck dinner that landed me in hospital with gallstones years ago. Hadn’t touched the stuff in years because I always felt rubbish after it, even though it is ridiculously delicious. That birthday treat did not end well.

And yes, 100% on your side on the mangling of international food. Although, to be fair, like your Hong Kong thing, I have had that experience all over the world. I am thankful for the death of “Fusion” style cooking for the most part.

I have pigalle on my list too, eyebrows raised a little with njuda and mussels, and the duck with kimchi. What were the successes on the menu in there?

Came in to recommend a good pizza in the Leaping Salmon (Blackrock village). It was the one named after the place itself, smoked salmon, rocket, capers and creme fraiche.

the beer revolu · 03-06-2019 06:30AM

pwurple wrote: »

I have pigalle on my list too, eyebrows raised a little with njuda and mussels, and the duck with kimchi. What were the successes on the menu in there?

Didn't have the mussels.
The duck pancakes were excellent - even if the pineapple kimchi was more pineapple than kimchi.
Monkfish was lovely - essentially posh fish nuggets.
The pastillia was buffalo short rib with apricot pureé - lovely North African flavours.
Tampura pickled chillies were lovely too.
No bad plates.

Gamb!t · 03-06-2019 06:38AM

Lia_lia wrote: »

I also wasn’t impressed with Spitjack. Found the staff a bit odd too!

Over rated and over priced.

nerwen · 03-06-2019 09:54AM

Went to Isaac's this week, doubt I'll be back. The food was mediocre, the service was lacking. Had a warm salad for starter, where oddly all the non leafy parts were buried under a soggy layer of lettuce. My main was a ribeye which wasn't seasoned. The waitress spilled food on three people in the party at different times, didn't apologise, forgot several dishes, and just disappeared after getting everyone their mains.

I'd have been so much happier going to Market Lane, which has a similar style, more interesting menu, at about the same price point.

D'Agger · 04-06-2019 03:12PM

Brunch in Salt went for the 'Starving' which was nice but wish I'd gone with the old reliable 'Kiwi Brunch' which I order every time and went against for some variety. Went to Kinsale with a buddy then for the CL final & ended up popping down to the Black Pig after a few pints for a Charcuterie board, cheese board & some oysters between us which was really nice, great vibe in there really enjoyed it

BullBlackNova · 04-06-2019 03:20PM

D'Agger wrote: »

Brunch in Salt went for the 'Starving' which was nice but wish I'd gone with the old reliable 'Kiwi Brunch' which I order every time and went against for some variety. Went to Kinsale with a buddy then for the CL final & ended up popping down to the Black Pig after a few pints for a Charcuterie board, cheese board & some oysters between us which was really nice, great vibe in there really enjoyed it

Your CL final experience was a lot more civilised than mine. :eek::P

Not city but have to recommend Sea Salt in Cobh. Lovely little spot; about time the town got something good! Well worth a visit. Have been a few times now and found the food, coffee and staff all good on every occasion.

The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

Comments