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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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Dbu

D'Agger wrote: »

Finally got to eat in Elbow Lane last night. Loved it, nice atmosphere, attentive staff, lovely roasted chickpea things with a glass of their craft beer. had the ribeye and my usual trick of ordering a medium-well and getting a medium worked a treat - this isn't solely an elbow lane issue, pretty much every where I go tends to require this and I'm used to it. But the steak was fantastic, oyster mushrooms were decent but not fantastic and washed it down with another glass of beer - really enjoyable meal.

Agree, love the steaks and the whole fish on the bone sometimes
Sides are not that great IMO

sporina

opus wrote: »

I'm quite partial to a Reuben sandwich so tried Sonnys around two weeks ago, didn't realise how busy it was so pretty much everything was sold out when I got there & queued for ten mins. Tried again today but went for an early lunch & plenty to choose from. The Reuben was very tasty & only had to wait a few mins but the queue was building as I was cycling away.

Totally gratuitous food pic

they also have a snickers biscuit cake that's insanely delicious

leahyl

sporina wrote: »

they also have a snickers biscuit cake that's insanely delicious

Such a pity they don’t open on the weekends; unlikely I’ll get there for a while...until my next day off anyway. The food looks unreal.

Seamai

leahyl wrote: »

Mayfield my home town too :-) love the Old Bank, lovely to have somewhere nearby that does a nice breakfast/brunch

Their "House Dish" for breakfast / lunch is fantastic, it's great to see them doing so well.

Be right back

Seamai wrote: »

Their "House Dish" for breakfast / lunch is fantastic, it's great to see them doing so well.

The food is lovely there. Mayfield was crying out for a nice cafe.

Lombardo123

All - sorry for the laziness, I've left this all quite last minute.

Heading down to castlemartyr today for 2 or 3 days, would anybody be able to recommend somewhere for lunch nearby? Would travel in Youghal direction but would like to avoid the city if possible.

For dinner will probably eat in hotel but open to travelling if something really good nearby.

Thanks in advance.

Skybirdjb

Lombardo123 wrote: »

All - sorry for the laziness, I've left this all quite last minute.

Heading down to castlemartyr today for 2 or 3 days, would anybody be able to recommend somewhere for lunch nearby? Would travel in Youghal direction but would like to avoid the city if possible.

For dinner will probably eat in hotel but open to travelling if something really good nearby.

Thanks in advance.

There is a pub in the Castlemartyr village called haunted hog they do food from 12-8 we have eaten there before and the food is top notch . You can walk from the hotel so have a few drinks too .

Skybirdjb

Meant to add they do food only Thursday to Sunday

H8GHOTI

Lombardo123 wrote: »

...
Heading down to castlemartyr today for 2 or 3 days, would anybody be able to recommend somewhere for lunch nearby?
...

Pier 26 in Ballycotton is nice. Old Thatch in Killeagh is ok. Clancys in Youghal I’ve heard is good.

barneygumble99

Have been to cork a few time’s over the years and can thoroughly recommend The Elm Tree in Glounthaune. Close to cork but on your side and don’t have to go as far as the tunnel.

Lombardo123

Thanks very much everybody. I'll get looking at those.
Plenty for a few days

Reputable Rog

Lombardo123 wrote: »

All - sorry for the laziness, I've left this all quite last minute.

Heading down to castlemartyr today for 2 or 3 days, would anybody be able to recommend somewhere for lunch nearby? Would travel in Youghal direction but would like to avoid the city if possible.

For dinner will probably eat in hotel but open to travelling if something really good nearby.

Thanks in advance.

Farmgate Midleton

Markcheese

Reputable Rog wrote: »

Farmgate Midleton

Quite a few places in midleton , ferrit and Lee by the distillery would be my pick .. ( apparently the distillery restaurant is good too but I've never been )
The Kilkenny cafe in shanagary is nice ,and sitting on there terrace/conservatory thing for a late breakfast/ lunch can be very nice..
The pepperstack down in aghada is good ,

Reputable Rog

I forgot JJ’s truckstop, but that’s situated in Waterford.

Seamai

Markcheese wrote: »

Quite a few places in midleton , ferrit and Lee by the distillery would be my pick .. ( apparently the distillery restaurant is good too but I've never been )
The Kilkenny cafe in shanagary is nice ,and sitting on there terrace/conservatory thing for a late breakfast/ lunch can be very nice..
The pepperstack down in aghada is good ,

I've had Sunday lunch in Ferrit & Lee for or five times and it was top notch but make sure to leave room for dessert, very friendly service too.

Seamai

Dbu wrote: »

Agree, love the steaks and the whole fish on the bone sometimes
Sides are not that great IMO

You're right, an extra couple of sides would be a big improvement, had a great t-bone there not that long ago and it was fantastic, the only small crib I'd have is that you come out of the place smelling of meat, I was expecting every stray dog in Cork to be following me.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Hey folks. Who does the best hummus in Cork? Dining in ideally.

Got a taste for it while on holidays and having cravings!

I know Umi is a popular choice. Any others?

pwurple

Seamai wrote: »

You're right, an extra couple of sides would be a big improvement, had a great t-bone there not that long ago and it was fantastic, the only small crib I'd have is that you come out of the place smelling of meat, I was expecting every stray dog in Cork to be following me.

I like their veg a lot. Last time I was there had the mushrooms and grilled iceberg lettuce with some sort of yoghurty lemon dressing. Both were fairly savage. There were green beans on the menu at the time too I think. And chips, and possible also baby potatoes. What sides do you think are missing? 5 is a fair amount, no?

bingo9999

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

Hey folks. Who does the best hummus in Cork? Dining in ideally.

Got a taste for it while on holidays and having cravings!

I know Umi is a popular choice. Any others?

I havent had it now but Izz cafe getting a lot of love online including the hummus

JackieChang

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

Hey folks. Who does the best hummus in Cork? Dining in ideally.

Got a taste for it while on holidays and having cravings!

I know Umi is a popular choice. Any others?

I got a nice bread and humus plate from Arthur maynes recently. And I loves me hummus.

Lombardo123

A lot of the recommendations I got were great, but few places don't open on a Monday so I might try get back tomorrow.

Just did Elm Tree for a Sandwich. Very nicely done with some soup. Good selection of sandwiches. And if you want a Carvery option, it all seems to kick off at 12. Place got wedged in the space of 5 minutes.

Good recommendation and I would second it.

the beer revolu

I'd add Sage in Middleton to the list, too.

the beer revolu

I had a very nice beer and food paring menu in Pigalle last night.

JackieChang

the beer revolu wrote: »

I had a very nice beer and food paring menu in Pigalle last night.

Had a look at their menu recently and didn't understand a lot of it. Seemed quite wanky. I'm sure it's very tasty and I'll try it some night as it's close to my house. Apparently they do a special offer during the week, any idea what that is?

Seamai

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

Hey folks. Who does the best hummus in Cork? Dining in ideally.

Got a taste for it while on holidays and having cravings!

I know Umi is a popular choice. Any others?

My house! Seriously though it's not that difficult to make, chickpeas (you can use tinned) tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic salt and a blender, you just play around with it until you get the texture you like, you can also experiment with additional flavours like cumin, paprika, or fresh coriander.

Seamai

pwurple wrote: »

I like their veg a lot. Last time I was there had the mushrooms and grilled iceberg lettuce with some sort of yoghurty lemon dressing. Both were fairly savage. There were green beans on the menu at the time too I think. And chips, and possible also baby potatoes. What sides do you think are missing? 5 is a fair amount, no?

I think there was only 4 the last time, potatoes, strips of portobello mushrooms, kimchi and something else, no salad, so something uncooked and fresh to complement the meat, asparagus when in season (there are a couple of Irish producers), I like chicory and fennel, I do a nice fennel gratin with cream parmesan and breadcrumbs.

pwurple

Yes, I agree, needs something green / salad alright I think to cut through the meat fest. And there are plenty of winter salads like you say. Odd they have reduced that.

Markcheese

JackieChang wrote: »

Had a look at their menu recently and didn't understand a lot of it. Seemed quite wanky. I'm sure it's very tasty and I'll try it some night as it's close to my house. Apparently they do a special offer during the week, any idea what that is?

I had to do a lot of asking what's that ,and googling stuff when I went ... But I put it down as my best meal out of last year ...
They were doing a veggie curry night on Tuesdays or Wednesday,,set menu no bookings or something , (I was booking for a family meal for 6 so I passed )

Seamai

I see the Glass Curtain on McCurtain Street is doing special "nose to tail" tasting menu for Valentines night, I'm all for wasting as little of an animal as possible but I cant see too many ladies out there getting overly excited at the prospect of the tripe and heart dishes on offer.

On the whole the menu is a bit too New Nordic (albeit local) for my liking, reading their menu doesn't exact get my juices flowing, the first item is "Milk Bread, Hazlenuts, Schmaltz" (Chicken fat). Emperor's New Clothes spring to mind.

On the topic of restaurant reviews, am I the only one who thinks that Joe McNamee (Irish Examiner) plays it a bit too safe in his reviews?, he's obviously well known in foodie circles around Cork and is probably friends with the owners of half the places he writes about so he doesn't rock the boat too much as he knows which side his bread is buttered on. Why is it that reviewers insist on giving their dining guests stupid monikers? He's not unique in this. It's not funny or amusing.

the beer revolu

Seamai wrote: »

On the whole the menu is a bit too New Nordic (albeit local) for my liking, reading their menu doesn't exact get my juices flowing, the first item is "Milk Bread, Hazlenuts, Schmaltz" (Chicken fat). Emperor's New Clothes spring to mind.

Do we really need another rack of lamb, steak, fillet of hake, Bailey's cheesecake restaurant? I certainly don't.
I guess all you are saying is that it's not for you but I commend any restaurant that tries to offer an alternative from the above.