The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

pwurple · 09-09-2013 09:08PM

lennyloulou wrote: »

Hi
Hubbie and I will be attending a mid week course (2 day) near UCC next week- Mon and Tues and staying out near Blarney... any ideas where we could get a nice early bird please?
we have not tasted the Gourmet of Cork City before... also not interested in Indian/Chinese..... any advice please?

Cafe paradiso is walking distance from UCC, and does a nice early bird.

Menu here.
http://www.cafeparadiso.ie/pre-theatre

Gallo and galetti might suit too.
http://www.galloandgaletti.ie/
They do a tasting platter and bottle of wine offer for 20 quid early I think?

sporina · 10-09-2013 09:35PM

had dinner in Annies on sundays well at the weekend.. sublime.. and you would pay a lot more for the same standard of food in the city/kinsale etc..

pwurple · 13-09-2013 07:23AM

New place corkonians. Open two weeks-ish I think.

Sultan's

On penrose wharf, tried it yesterday, very impressed. It looks like a take away from the outside, but it's a restaurant inside.

Middle eastern food, lebanese / turkish?

Yummy shewarma, Baba Ganouj with flatbread, Hommus with minced lamb, labneh, mixed mezze platters, that kind of thing. They do those big pipe things that look like bongs? Can't remember what they are called. They don't do booze, but have smoothies, fruit juices and the pipe thing. And some very fancy coffees. Coffee topped with rose-water and orange water, along with the usual americano, latte etc. I'm not a coffee drinker but husband loved the turkish coffee, it came with a silver pot of rosewater.

They are run by the same guys who are at the blackrock and douglas markets, doing the kebabs. Very enthusiastic about food, really welcoming and smiley, nice people. All homemade desserts too. Good baklava, homemade turkish delight and other nutty pastry things I have never heard off.

Facebook for them here:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sultan-Cafe-Restaurant-Shisha-Lounge/137153526456392

the beer revolu · 13-09-2013 07:53AM

Sultan's open since at least may but is otherwise as you describe..
I particularly enjoyed the mezze.

ABajaninCork · 13-09-2013 08:42AM

pwurple wrote: »

They do those big pipe things that look like bongs? Can't remember what they are called. They don't do booze, but have smoothies, fruit juices and the pipe thing. And some very fancy coffees. Coffee topped with rose-water and orange water, along with the usual americano, latte etc. I'm not a coffee drinker but husband loved the turkish coffee, it came with a silver pot of rosewater.

Facebook for them here:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sultan-Cafe-Restaurant-Shisha-Lounge/137153526456392

The big pipe things are called shisha pipes.

. Usually filled with fruit tobacco (or other things if you're in Bayswater!

). They're also known as hubbly bubblies.

Milly33 · 13-09-2013 08:45AM

A hubbly bubbly!! better known as the shisha. Cant wait to visit this place, I have Sultan and El Vino by the Elysian to visit in the next few months..

Faith · 13-09-2013 08:52AM

El Vino is nice actually. It tends not to have anything particularly different on the menu, but whatever I've had there has always been nice.

pwurple · 13-09-2013 09:42AM

the beer revolu wrote: »

Sultan's open since at least may but is otherwise as you describe..
I particularly enjoyed the mezze.

Yeah, it's nice alright. They said they were open 'a couple of weeks'. I took that way too literally obviously.

nerwen · 13-09-2013 11:25AM

pwurple wrote: »

They said they were open 'a couple of weeks'.

Definitely more than a few weeks! Think I went back in May or June but it was lovely then as well. Need to go back soon!

On another note, does anyone have a place to recommend for proper burgers? While I quite like Soho and the gourmet burger kitchen I'd like to try somewhere else. Not cpt americas or luigis please.

the beer revolu · 13-09-2013 11:45AM

nerwen wrote: »

On another note, does anyone have a place to recommend for proper burgers? While I quite like Soho and the gourmet burger kitchen I'd like to try somewhere else. Not cpt americas or luigis please.

Gourmet Burger Bistro on Bridge Street has been pretty good any time I've gone.
Bierhalle on Popes Quay do a pretty good burger - I'd be wary of anything else though apart from pizza.
Fish Wife on McCurtain St. do an amazing burger but it's not a restaurant - although you can have your food in The Cork Arms across the road.

TeletextPear · 13-09-2013 12:00PM

the beer revolu wrote: »

Bierhalle on Popes Quay do a pretty good burger - I'd be wary of anything else though apart from pizza.

Just curious, why would you be wary of anything else there? I've eaten there loads and always found it great, the falafel especially is amazing.

the beer revolu · 13-09-2013 12:12PM

TeletextPear wrote: »

Just curious, why would you be wary of anything else there? I've eaten there loads and always found it great, the falafel especially is amazing.

Nothing from a hygiene point of view or anything, I've just had some pretty poor meals there but the pizza has always been good and the burger good when not overcooked.

pwurple · 13-09-2013 12:37PM

Liberty grill do a good burger

Menu

leahyl · 29-09-2013 12:38PM

Was in Fenns Quay for the first time last night and it was lovely - wasn't too hungry so just had a main of mushroom risotto which was delicious! It was only 15e

The service was excellent - our waiter was hilarious and we had a great laugh with him!

He asked was it a special occasion and it was a friends birthday so he gave her a free glass of prosecco and had the chef pipe happy birthday in chocolate sauce on her dessert. At the end of the night before we left he asked if any of us were going straight home and I said I was and he asked if i'd like to take some scones home with me that we're left over from the day!! He came out with a brown bag full of them!

It's a really lovely place and the food is top notch

nerwen · 29-09-2013 11:38PM

Had a quick lunch burrito at El Bandito on Washington street the other day and was really pleasantly surprised! I love Mexican food but I am not much impressed with that microwave feast that is Cafe Mexicana. Anyway! Got a "Cork Carnitas" with guacamole and medio salsa for €7, it was huuuuge. And tasty! Guac and salsa were clearly freshly made, pork was really tasty and there was loads of it in the burrito too, not just the token amount of meat you get sometimes.

Really recommend this if you want to grab a burrito to take.. home, work, somewhere. They only have one table and it's the store front, so it was a little uncomfortable sitting there with burrito things everywhere (so I'm a messy eater!) while people were walking/driving by and staring.

Salsa choices were mild, medio and hot, I got medio as mentioned and thought it was really nice, though not particularly spicy. They also got choices of pork, chicken, beef of veggie burrito, as well as a salad, nachos or burrito bowl.

And now I want a burrito.

Loire · 30-09-2013 10:38AM

pwurple wrote: »

Liberty grill do a good burger

I've passed Liberty Grill at lunchtime the past 2 Saturdays and the queue is out the door. I must arrange a baby-sitter and take herself in there some day :cool:

Edit - have been for dinner, but would like to try their Brunch!

leahyl · 30-09-2013 12:54PM

Loire wrote: »

I've passed Liberty Grill at lunchtime the past 2 Saturdays and the queue is out the door. I must arrange a baby-sitter and take herself in there some day :cool:

Edit - have been for dinner, but would like to try their Brunch!

Go for brunch and have the eggs benedict - you will not be disappointed!!

pogsick · 02-10-2013 01:35PM

leahyl wrote: »

Go for brunch and have the eggs benedict - you will not be disappointed!!

Their pancakes are really nice too, whether it be for breakfast or brunch.

Karmella · 03-10-2013 12:48PM

Hi - quick question, has anyone been for tapas in Jacques? Looking for somewhere to go for drinks & nibbles with a friend on sat night and wondering if this would be a good spot, there doesn't seem to be any tapas menu on the website, although they say that they do it.

Any other recommendations? with the boqueria closed down ... and i feel that maynes is a bit expensive for what you get .... ok I know jacques isn't cheap but i'd pay if i thought what we were getting was worth it.

Where else is there that I'm not thinking of?

TBi · 03-10-2013 01:04PM

That place across from City Hall does a type of tapas. L'attitude i think it's called.

Cedrus · 03-10-2013 10:15PM

Karmella wrote: »

Hi - quick question, has anyone been for tapas in Jacques? Looking for somewhere to go for drinks & nibbles with a friend on sat night and wondering if this would be a good spot, there doesn't seem to be any tapas menu on the website, although they say that they do it.

Any other recommendations? with the boqueria closed down ... and i feel that maynes is a bit expensive for what you get .... ok I know jacques isn't cheap but i'd pay if i thought what we were getting was worth it.

Where else is there that I'm not thinking of?

I used to love Jaques and I've seen them pull of some serious catering achievements (20+ perfect steaks on a works do) but I gave up on them when I got a bare lump of fish for my main and then later, two small spuds and a bowl of veg arrived with my dessert, with no apology whatsoever.

I don't know of a good tapas restaurant, I'm tempted to suggest Sultan for a series of starters and no main course as a substitute, but they don't do the vihno tinto that makes tapas flow so well.

Karmella · 04-10-2013 08:58AM

Cedrus wrote: »

I used to love Jaques and I've seen them pull of some serious catering achievements (20+ perfect steaks on a works do) but I gave up on them when I got a bare lump of fish for my main and then later, two small spuds and a bowl of veg arrived with my dessert, with no apology whatsoever.

I don't know of a good tapas restaurant, I'm tempted to suggest Sultan for a series of starters and no main course as a substitute, but they don't do the vihno tinto that makes tapas flow so well.

Yeah I love the food that the Sultan guy sells at his farmer's market stalls, but the lack of vino would be a turn off unfortunately!

Well we've decided to go for sushi now instead to my initial query is moot now anyway! thanks!

Oleander · 04-10-2013 12:49PM

Cedrus wrote: »

I used to love Jaques and I've seen them pull of some serious catering achievements (20+ perfect steaks on a works do) but I gave up on them when I got a bare lump of fish for my main and then later, two small spuds and a bowl of veg arrived with my dessert, with no apology whatsoever.

I don't know of a good tapas restaurant, I'm tempted to suggest Sultan for a series of starters and no main course as a substitute, but they don't do the vihno tinto that makes tapas flow so well.

Was that recently in Jaques and was it in the evening or the afternoon?

Cedrus · 04-10-2013 09:24PM

Oleander wrote: »

Was that recently in Jaques and was it in the evening or the afternoon?

Not recently, but I can't remember exactly when. It was in the evening.

tryclops · 05-10-2013 01:29PM

Why would you give 5 free meals that makes no sense. Each customer that enters a restauraunt is more work, more cost, more food on the business . It annoys me when people expect everything for free. If I book 20 flights and demand one free or expect it Id be told where to go. Its not fair asking businesses this queston and IMO its rude.

tryclops · 05-10-2013 01:35PM

Tipperary animal lover wrote: »

No wonder there's loads of space €35.....

It isn't when you see what is served, homemade , free range and locally sourced products that support local farmers. Its very easy having a 20 euro set menu when your carrot is from Holland and your chicken is half Vietnamese half Spanish. I think there set menu is 27 euro all evening. Quality over Quantity something that Irish consumers forget about! Silly really

the beer revolu · 05-10-2013 02:11PM

tryclops wrote: »

Why would you give 5 free meals that makes no sense. Each customer that enters a restauraunt is more work, more cost, more food on the business . It annoys me when people expect everything for free. If I book 20 flights and demand one free or expect it Id be told where to go. Its not fair asking businesses this queston and IMO its rude.

What are you talking about?

dudara · 10-10-2013 12:20PM

Karmella wrote: »

Hi - quick question, has anyone been for tapas in Jacques? Looking for somewhere to go for drinks & nibbles with a friend on sat night and wondering if this would be a good spot, there doesn't seem to be any tapas menu on the website, although they say that they do it.

Any other recommendations? with the boqueria closed down ... and i feel that maynes is a bit expensive for what you get .... ok I know jacques isn't cheap but i'd pay if i thought what we were getting was worth it.

Where else is there that I'm not thinking of?

+1 here for L'Atitude 51. Very nice wine selection. Plenty of cheese and meat boards and other small plates.

DeesWholefoods · 10-10-2013 02:59PM

dudara wrote: »

+1 here for L'Atitude 51. Very nice wine selection. Plenty of cheese and meat boards and other small plates.

There's a new wine bar in St. Luke's Cross called The Wine Tavern, there's vegetarian and meat/cheese tapas. I'm going on Friday so I will let you know! The No. 8 bus gets you there : ) http://www.stlukeswinetavern.ie/

ABajaninCork · 10-10-2013 03:05PM

That's staggering distance from me! Let me know how it goes...

The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

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