Restaurant Recommendation Thread - Anyone for seconds?

airy fairy · 03-01-2026 05:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124113462#Comment_124113462

Very disappointing as I've never tried the place, only heard about it before Christmas, they apparently did gluten free afternoon tea.

Maybe an unpopular opinion but we could definitely do with a tea room/coffee spot in Cork after the hours of 7pm.

the beer revolu · 03-01-2026 06:10PM

I don't know why you think that would be an unpopular opinion 🤷

I think the issue is to figure out how to both give people value for money and keep the average spend high enough to be profitable. Do you sell food? If so are you just a restaurant without wine?

4 people sitting for 2 hours over tea and a shared brownie, while quite reasonable behaviour , just isn't really profitable.

I don't think anyone is against night time cafés, just that few people, since Tribes, have figured out how to make money out of it.

ofcork · 04-01-2026 06:45PM

Pity tribes closed would love a hot chicken.

sporina · 04-01-2026 10:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124114003#Comment_124114003

bean and leaf grand parade is open till 9 a lot of nights.. love it - meet friends there often

Water John · 05-01-2026 11:23AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124118147#Comment_124118147

Would the City Couincil, which owns the site, made it part of the lease conditions? To provide that extra social service.

at1withmyself · 05-01-2026 07:11PM

Not to go off topic but it is being looked at in regards what to do in the city in the evening:

Night Time Economy Advisor - Cork City Council

Not sure of the full scope but I believe they done some trials last November with Cafe's opening later

Debub · 15-01-2026 08:34PM

New pizzeria coming up in Cork (former Tedo Tapas, Princess street), Napolitan pizzas etc

https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-news/gallery/look-inside-new-three-story-33219797

First look inside new three-storey pizzeria bringing 'authentic taste of Napoli' to Cork city - Cork Beo

sammyjo90 · 15-01-2026 08:47PM

That's 3 pizza places on that street now..

Ok its not just pizza but we are gonna have to dob this area the Italian quarter soon

Harika · 17-01-2026 03:37PM

Wildflour from Innishannon had a popup in Douglas farmers market today. Beautiful bread and pastries

https://wildflourcork.com/

JackieChang · 17-01-2026 06:22PM

Anybody been to the Fingas Afro restaurant on popes quay? Any good?

sammyjo90 · 17-01-2026 07:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124156845#Comment_124156845

I went when it opened.Its a very mixed bag... some stuff is bland, overcooked meat..some things were nice but not enough for us to want to go back. Reviews online are also very mixed.

igCorcaigh · 22-01-2026 05:17PM

Coffeescape on Pope's Quay… has anyone tried the food?

(apologies for the poor image quality, it's all I could do with Instagram's terrible UX)

igCorcaigh · 22-01-2026 11:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124156845#Comment_124156845

I might be trying there on Saturday. I'll let you know. 👍️

igCorcaigh · 24-01-2026 07:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124156845#Comment_124156845

I really enjoyed it today.

The peppered oxtail soup was very tasty, if you don't mind eating on the bone with your hands. Served with white rice.

What I loved about it was the relaxed vibe. I will go back, especially for the smoking area where you are welcome to have a beer or coffee without any pressure to buy food.

It was very quiet for a Saturday afternoon, with a lovely Cork woman serving us. Very different from your typical busy restaurant feel. I recommend.

Debub · 06-02-2026 09:31AM

anyone tried the new Saffron House (old Spice)? Or the Charr’d ?

sammyjo90 · 06-02-2026 02:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124210884#Comment_124210884

Talking to my Indian colleague on wednesday he said Saffron is his new favourite in carrigaline so thats probably a good sign 😅

siblers · 15-02-2026 12:15AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124210884#Comment_124210884

Charr'd is pretty nice to be fair. Good value, large portions and very good service. Can't complain

Markcheese · 16-02-2026 12:33PM

Went to Sultan on Saturday, ( 6 of us )

I hadnt been there in years - really good meal - not the cheapest - 10 to 15 for starters , 20 to 30 for mains ,so coming in about 40 ish a head , but really tasty .. and not too hot ..

JackieChang · 19-02-2026 09:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124240112#Comment_124240112

Haven't been there in years. Stopped going after noticing a very "microwaved" taste off everything. Pittas were definitely Tesco value. Rice tasted like the microwave rice from the packets. Lamb mince kebab (seekh i think?) was definitely obliterated and bone dry. Also, the other "grilled marinated" lamb dish I got was just doner meat you'd get at 3am in the takeaway. Think it was the shawarma dish. There was a review on Tripadvisor that compared it to Whiskas cat food. Sounded about right.

A few quotes from Tripdavisor from around the time I stopped going there:

"regular off the shelf supermarket bought pitta bread"

"rice being peculiarly similar to a savoury rice from a packet"

"Had a lamb shank, meat fell of the bone, but felt as tho it had been microwaved"

"couscous tasted like the tomato couscous my wife gets in an instant pack in lidl"

"freshly baked garlic flat bread was a pitta bread with a bit of garlic oil over it … I'm fairly safe in the assertion that the pitta's were of the shop bought variety"

Hopefully they improved, I might go back. What's your favourite restaurant in town so I can check if we are "aligned"? Scoozi's "Italian" restaurant is it? :D

Anyway these days Four Liars has replaced Sultan for me.

JackieChang · 19-02-2026 09:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124150749#Comment_124150749

Somebody in The Examiner already named the area around the bus station the "Italian quarter" when Sano pizza opened up and they did a review. Because Bocelli is across the road.

Also saw them call McCurtain street the "Food Quarter" in another article.

airy fairy · 19-02-2026 09:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124249826#Comment_124249826

Would you recommend the Four Liars so? What would you go for? In need of something decent.

igCorcaigh · 20-02-2026 03:29PM

My Goodness @ the Quay Co-op again, chilli beans and brown rice, which was tastier and more filling than the photo may suggest, at €8.50.

They have made such a good job of this project, and always busy. Kudos!.

JackieChang · 20-02-2026 10:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124249906#Comment_124249906

Yeah, I always go for the grilled meat section of the menu. Grilled chicken, grilled lamb, mix grill etc

Haven't tried anything else.

Dbu · 23-02-2026 03:05PM

Cafe Velo on Georges Quay has closed down.

airy fairy · 23-02-2026 05:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259266#Comment_124259266

Carrigaline one won't be far behind. Theirs value for money food is poor. And overstaffed.

My daughter was glutened there just before Christmas with a brownie they insisted was gf when delivered to the table. She noticed when paying that the gf ones in the fridge were a different size to the regular ones and then realised. She said it to the waitress but they weren't bothered. Spent the night being sick.

leahyl · 24-02-2026 09:33AM

Heading to Mantra on Saturday, looking forward to it, I've heard good things. Anybody here been?

Drdenise75 · 24-02-2026 10:25AM

Had a lovely meal in l'Atitude on Saturday evening. Tried a couple of dishes from the specials board (stracciatella with fennel and blood orange was particularly good) as well as some of the regular dishes and everything was really tasty. Food has really improved there over last number of months I think.

lostinsuperfunk · 24-02-2026 12:13PM

I've been to Mantra a few times. I really liked the food. The portions are generous, and the service is friendly too. It's a bit on the pricey side but I was a happy diner! It's my favourite Indian restaurant in the city centre.

The Lodge in Myrtleville is also great, and also had good food in the Hyderabad House in Blackrock around a year ago.

The quality and variety of Indian food in Cork is unrecognisable compared to just a few years ago.

Cyclingtourist · 24-02-2026 12:39PM

Went for an evening meal for four recently in the Skylon Hotel (D9) and was pleasantly surprised as I'd eaten there about a year ago and found it mediocre. Food and service was good and worth what I paid.

Lot better than the Croke Park Hotel which I find very disappointing.

airy fairy · 24-02-2026 12:52PM

Got a takeaway from the newly opened Saffron in Carrigaline, formally known as Spice.

I won't be going again. Absolutely awful. One of the group had Madras and we couldn't even taste it so vile to even smell Portions were small, chicken was tough, very little sauces. The takeaway plastic carton was only half full in all meals.

They left us short on some rice and breads. Considering Pilau rice is €4.95 I think it just pushed me over the edge. I was going to complain but pointless as it was so bad I will not return.

Restaurant Recommendation Thread - Anyone for seconds?

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