The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

DeadlyH83 · 23-12-2013 11:07PM

Will the restaurants be open tomorrow night?
Christmas eve.

Cedrus · 24-12-2013 01:52AM

DeadlyH83 wrote: »

Will the restaurants be open tomorrow night?
Christmas eve.

You'd need to check individually, city centre places would typically shut by 9ish suburbs a little later.

pwurple · 24-12-2013 09:23AM

Popped into the new Iago's the other day. I think they made a mistake with a shop rather than the open-air environment of the market. Smell of cheese was overwhelming. And I LIKE cheese. It was very unpleasant to even be in there.

BanzaiBk · 24-12-2013 09:31AM

I went to Ramen with friends and it was great. We had a chicken pad Thai, cashew chicken and sweet chili and coconut chicken for mains and they were all delicious and fresh-tasting. We split the bento box to start and it was nice but everything was contaminated by the prawn which was a shame. I'll be back. Service was good too.

DeadlyH83 · 24-12-2013 10:13AM

Cedrus wrote: »

You'd need to check individually, city centre places would typically shut by 9ish suburbs a little later.

So far this morning I have checked 5 restaurants in the city centre and they are only open for lunch today.

curly from cork · 28-12-2013 05:41PM

Finally got to Ramen ,as I have said it's owned by a friend of mine . We loved it food hot freshly made and very tasty. Liked the ice cream cone as a freebie dessert touch . Also a euro for a can of coke wasn't in rip off territory . Well impressed . Seemed very busy too .

gimmick · 02-01-2014 03:11PM

Yup, went there sunday afternoon. Loved it and I look forward to working my way through the menu. Nice spot with decent prices.

Malari · 02-01-2014 03:14PM

I was there too recently and loved it! Think I'll be making it my go-to takeaway :P

Footoo · 02-01-2014 06:08PM

I've been to Ramen twice, both for takeout.. The food was petty good both times and pretty good value for money. It's a lovely spot and was busy both times.

......but.

The service was shocking both times. First time was first week open so I gave them a free pass but New Year's Day I called in my order to collect. They said it'd be a half hour. When I got there a half hour later, I was told it'll be a few minutes more. 40 minutes later my food was ready with not so much as an apology.

The couple ahead of me asked when there food would be ready (I presumed they were there ages already considering their demeanour) , they were told that they didn't know how long it would be. So they asked for their money back and left.

Here's the thing, I don't mind if my food is going to be late or take a long time but they need to be honest to people. Further people arrived after ordering takeout and were all told it'll be 20-30 mins. there was no way they were getting their food in that time.

They seem obsessed with all these fancy touches, free ice cream cone, fancy decor, fancy takeout menus, while seemingly having little clue about how to run a serivce and basic customer service.

As stated earlier, the food was pretty good, particulary the appetisers/nibbles, like the duck spring rolls and chicken wings but just not worth it until they sort out their service issues.

Malari · 02-01-2014 06:11PM

That's a shame Footoo. We ate in, and got our food quite quickly. As we sat there, several people arrived to collect their takeaways and left again without delay, so maybe it was a new business hiccup.

pwurple · 02-01-2014 06:17PM

Just spotted a place on washington street earlier today called Amigos. Opposite St Augustines. Sign said Mexican restaurant. Anyone been in?

ABajaninCork · 02-01-2014 06:21PM

Wowsers! I've just looked at their (Ramen's) menu, and would like to give them a try...

What's the delivery side like? Does anyone know??

Malari · 02-01-2014 06:26PM

Haven't had anything delivered but they say €2.50 within a 5K radius with a min order of €15.

nerwen · 02-01-2014 11:00PM

pwurple wrote: »

Just spotted a place on washington street earlier today called Amigos. Opposite St Augustines. Sign said Mexican restaurant. Anyone been in?

A new Mexican? Colour me very interested! Cafe Mexicana makes me sad.

gimmick · 03-01-2014 12:23PM

pwurple wrote: »

Just spotted a place on washington street earlier today called Amigos. Opposite St Augustines. Sign said Mexican restaurant. Anyone been in?

Dont think it is open yet. Or at least it wasn't last week. There is a sign in the window looking for staff as well.

Hopefully it will be nice. Unlike Mexicana (as mentioned above).

leahyl · 03-01-2014 02:15PM

About time Cafe Mexicana got a bit of competition - it's beyond me why Cork hasn't had any mexican restaurants bar that place until now. Hope this place is nice

pwurple · 03-01-2014 05:56PM

leahyl wrote: »

About time Cafe Mexicana got a bit of competition - it's beyond me why Cork hasn't had any mexican restaurants bar that place until now. Hope this place is nice

Looks like a burrito take away joint from a gawk in the window, but I live in hope!

ABajaninCork · 03-01-2014 07:18PM

Read so many good things about Ramen on this thread, so decided to give them a try.

Ordered my food online for delivery OVER AN HOUR AGO!! No sign of the order, and worse still can't get through on the telephone, as it's OOO. I now have to get the car out and go down to Ramen in person to find out what happened to my order. :mad:

If they can't get this sorted, I don't care how good the food is. They won't last long.

It's a shame...

EDIT. The food did eventually arrive. It wasn't bad. But my experience has been soured completely, and I will not be going there or using Ramen again. If anyone wishes to know why, feel free to PM me...

Karmella · 03-01-2014 08:20PM

Just want to put in a recommendation for oysters in the clarion, we went on new years eve with another couple. They had a set menu for 55 euro, it was 5 courses with a glass of prosecco. But even before we got our first course there was a little 'shot' glass with a seafood pate in it. Was lovely. There was king prawn, then chowder, then the main which was halibut but I went for venison as the alternative choice. My god, it was outstanding and the other 3 in our party were mad jealous :-) but the halibut was lovely aswell. There was a cheese course and then dessert and finally we got chocolates and nougat. Overall it was a wonderful experience, there was a guy playing piano. And my friend got a little candle with her dessert because it was her birthday.

I'd been to oysters once before (on a grab one deal) and it was lovely but it was a Monday night so a little dead. So It was certainly nice to get dressed up and have a lovely dining experience. So yeah it's a little expensive but so so good.

ABajaninCork · 03-01-2014 08:23PM

Karmella wrote: »

Just want to put in a recommendation for oysters in the clarion, we went on new years eve with another couple. They had a set menu for 55 euro, it was 5 courses with a glass of prosecco. But even before we got our first course there was a little 'shot' glass with a seafood pate in it. Was lovely. There was king prawn, then chowder, then the main which was halibut but I went for venison as the alternative choice. My god, it was outstanding and the other 3 in our party were mad jealous :-) but the halibut was lovely aswell. There was a cheese course and then dessert and finally we got chocolates and nougat. Overall it was a wonderful experience, there was a guy playing piano. And my friend got a little candle with her dessert because it was her birthday.

I'd been to oysters once before (on a grab one deal) and it was lovely but it was a Monday night so a little dead. So It was certainly nice to get dressed up and have a lovely dining experience. So yeah it's a little expensive but so so good.

Sounds great! I'd love to try it one day. But I actually think E55 for five courses is a GREAT deal!

BanzaiBk · 03-01-2014 08:31PM

As someone who said great things about Ramen a few posts above I was surprised to see the bad service reports. Then I mentioned it to one of the friends I went there with initially and her takeaway from yesterday 2.1.14 never showed up at all

What is going on? The service was very good the day I ate there and there was a steady stream of people popping in for takeaways. I'm not sure if I'd chance it again now.

The new restaurant on Washington Street is in the space where Mixor used to be. It appears to be a burrito/fast food place tbh, a bit of a rip off of the guys 2 doors down! I saw today that a Burrito and Blues restaurant is opening in Paul Street in the old Puccinos space too. Cork went from zero to three burrito joints in a few months.

ABajaninCork · 03-01-2014 08:33PM

BanzaiBk wrote: »

As someone who said great things about Ramen a few posts above I was surprised to see the bad service reports. Then I mentioned it to one of the friends I went there with initially and her takeaway from yesterday 2.1.14 never showed up at all What is going on? The service was very good the day I ate there and there was a steady stream of people popping in for takeaways. I'm not sure if I'd chance it again now.

I'm not surprised. And like I said earlier, I wouldn't.

BanzaiBk wrote: »

The new restaurant on Washington Street is in the space where Mixor used to be. It appears to be a burrito/fast food place tbh, a bit of a rip off of the guys 2 doors down! I saw today that a Burrito and Blues restaurant is opening in Paul Street in the old Puccinos space too. Cork went from zero to three burrito joints in a few months.

Burritos seem to be the 'in' thing now!

nerwen · 04-01-2014 10:39AM

Any new burrito place would have to be pretty darn good to sway me away from El Bandito though, that place does burritoes the size of a small child and their guacamole is amazing.

BanzaiBk · 04-01-2014 11:05AM

nerwen wrote: »

Any new burrito place would have to be pretty darn good to sway me away from El Bandito though, that place does burritoes the size of a small child and their guacamole is amazing.

I haven't eaten from El Bandito but the burritos do look huge. I'll have to pop down next week.

dudara · 04-01-2014 05:41PM

leahyl wrote: »

About time Cafe Mexicana got a bit of competition - it's beyond me why Cork hasn't had any mexican restaurants bar that place until now. Hope this place is nice

There was a great Mexican restaurant about 10 years ago on Paul Street (where Brew Cafe is now, IIRC). It was really good and quite cheap. But it didn't last. At the time, anything good and cheap didn't last in Cork, like the pizza/Italian place on Washington St.

evilivor · 04-01-2014 05:59PM

dudara wrote: »

There was a great Mexican restaurant about 10 years ago on Paul Street (where Brew Cafe is now, IIRC). It was really good and quite cheap. But it didn't last. At the time, anything good and cheap didn't last in Cork, like the pizza/Italian place on Washington St.

Pi?

dudara · 04-01-2014 06:36PM

evilivor wrote: »

Pi?

No, there was another one closer to the junction with Grand Parade. Close to where Cafe Gusto is. It was very good, owned by Italians with homemade pizzas and tiramisu.

Footoo · 04-01-2014 11:24PM

dudara wrote: »

No, there was another one closer to the junction with Grand Parade. Close to where Cafe Gusto is. It was very good, owned by Italians with homemade pizzas and tiramisu.

That place was brilliant. Beautiful authentic pizzas and ridiculously cheap..

I think it was where where the New Mexican place is opening up and where the original Augustine's was.

Completely forget the name of it mind.

Edit: it was called Ciao Ciao I think

Loire · 06-01-2014 08:55AM

Nice review from Catherine Cleary (Irish Times) for Fenn's Quay :

http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/restaurant/no-5-fenn-s-quay-a-corker-of-a-lunch-1.1642306

A great little restaurant!

Loire.

nerwen · 06-01-2014 11:51AM

It seems the guys at Ramen are aware of the time issues mentioned earlier, they posted this on their facebook page:

Dear Ramen fans,

After less than a month of opening, we are blown away by the popularity of our food already.

As a result, we realise that some of you have been waiting a log time to receive your orders. We have made the decision to extend the kitchen to accommodate the demand and will be able to feed you all much faster as soon as we are done!

Thank you for your patience!

#ramenwasn'tbuiltinaday

The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

Comments