The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

pwurple · 06-01-2014 12:39PM

Loire wrote: »

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.

I'm really glad she mentioned the decor in that review. I like Fenn's Quay a lot, the food is great, and this is very superficial of me...but the atmosphere in the place makes it more of a lunch place than a dinner place for me. I'd never take a visitor or a client there for example. It's decorated like my work canteen.

Loire · 06-01-2014 03:23PM

pwurple wrote: »

I'm really glad she mentioned the decor in that review. I like Fenn's Quay a lot, the food is great, and this is very superficial of me...but the atmosphere in the place makes it more of a lunch place than a dinner place for me. I'd never take a visitor or a client there for example. It's decorated like my work canteen.

+1

S Barrett · 09-01-2014 11:31AM

I am going to the East Village for dinner tomorrow night. I havent been there for awhile. Good or bad?

Faith · 09-01-2014 02:56PM

S Barrett wrote: »

I am going to the East Village for dinner tomorrow night. I havent been there for awhile. Good or bad?

.

Hit and miss. Some good food, but prone to blandness in my experience. Good chicken wings. Can be very noisy and can be hard to attract attention of servers.

S Barrett · 09-01-2014 03:46PM

Faith wrote: »

.

Hit and miss. Some good food, but prone to blandness in my experience. Good chicken wings. Can be very noisy and can be hard to attract attention of servers.

Thank you for that. I will bring a flag with me so.

kingtut · 09-01-2014 05:00PM

Faith wrote: »

.

Hit and miss. Some good food, but prone to blandness in my experience. Good chicken wings. Can be very noisy and can be hard to attract attention of servers.

Spot on! Couldn't agree more!

Nonoperational · 10-01-2014 01:04PM

Got lunch in Ramen today. Thought it was excellent.

sporina · 12-01-2014 01:58PM

Nonoperational wrote: »

Got lunch in Ramen today. Thought it was excellent.

Darina allen was in Ramen yesterday - i wonder does she know the owners or does she just eat where ever.. cool anyway..

Pabmac · 12-01-2014 10:24PM

Do the Allens have an involvement with Ramen?

pwurple · 13-01-2014 11:16AM

You people have made me go eat at Ramen. Their tom yam soup is very good. Most impressed with the whole thing. Loads of fresh veg. Felt like health food rather than fast food.

I got take-away... what's the craic with those ice-cream cones? Are they included when you sit in?

They could do with a more visible menu. That tiny one sellotaped to the counter is a little tricky to read when the place is jammers.

gimmick · 13-01-2014 11:18AM

There are menus at all the tables and one on the wall outside as well.

They would want to hurry up with their extra staffing. 2 buddies over the weekend were waiting well over an hour for their takeaways.

pwurple · 13-01-2014 11:23AM

gimmick wrote: »

There are menus at all the tables and one on the wall outside as well.

Those are kinda hard to see when it's pissing rain outside, and you're getting take-away, so not at a table either. Era, it's minor. Food is good, that's all that counts for me. I'll be baaaaccchh.

CAUN · 13-01-2014 11:51AM

Thinking of going to Market Lane on Thursday. Would it be packed to bits? I'd like it to be relaxed and ... "romantic" :rolleyes: but not dead.

Also, this Ramen place seems to be constantly busy and packed. I guess it wouldn't be the best place for a quiet dinner? What's it like on a Monday/Tues/Wed? Tripadvisor reviewers said that they were waiting over an hour for food.

JohnK · 13-01-2014 01:14PM

Anyone thinking of eating in La Lavanda in Douglas will have to change their plans, they've a sign in the window saying they're closed permanently.

pwurple · 13-01-2014 03:19PM

CAUN wrote: »

Thinking of going to Market Lane on Thursday. Would it be packed to bits? I'd like it to be relaxed and ... "romantic" :rolleyes: but not dead.

Also, this Ramen place seems to be constantly busy and packed. I guess it wouldn't be the best place for a quiet dinner? What's it like on a Monday/Tues/Wed? Tripadvisor reviewers said that they were waiting over an hour for food.

Market lane is always busy in my experience. Not that that's a bad thing. Got a nice buzz going.

Ramen is a noodle-joint / take-away. Not for a quiet dinner at all, think wagamama.

ABajaninCork · 13-01-2014 04:51PM

I go to Wagamama's for lunch when at home in London. Don't think it's really a dinner joint. I haven't tried the one here as yet, though.

pwurple · 13-01-2014 05:13PM

It's the same here as london.... wagamama and ramen are very similar inside. Noodle places. I wouldn't think either would be good for romantic dinner.

who_me · 13-01-2014 07:21PM

CAUN wrote: »

Thinking of going to Market Lane on Thursday. Would it be packed to bits? I'd like it to be relaxed and ... "romantic" :rolleyes: but not dead.

Also, this Ramen place seems to be constantly busy and packed. I guess it wouldn't be the best place for a quiet dinner? What's it like on a Monday/Tues/Wed? Tripadvisor reviewers said that they were waiting over an hour for food.

It's always busy, but a Thursday shouldn't be the worst. Upstairs is usually a bit quieter, but even downstairs isn't too jammed in. As said above, it always seems to have a nice buzz about the place.

sporina · 13-01-2014 09:13PM

CAUN wrote: »

Thinking of going to Market Lane on Thursday. Would it be packed to bits? I'd like it to be relaxed and ... "romantic" :rolleyes: but not dead.

Also, this Ramen place seems to be constantly busy and packed. I guess it wouldn't be the best place for a quiet dinner? What's it like on a Monday/Tues/Wed? Tripadvisor reviewers said that they were waiting over an hour for food.

i would not rate market lane for a romantic dinner at all…
1. for guys portions are small
2. they offer you the bill when you have eaten - prob as they do not take bookings so they want you to vacate when you have finished eating..

i would recommend electric - food is great and it would be ok on a thursday night in jan..

ABajaninCork · 13-01-2014 09:17PM

sporina wrote: »

i would not rate market lane for a romantic dinner at all…
1. for guys portions are small
2. they offer you the bill when you have eaten - prob as they do not take bookings so they want you to vacate when you have finished eating..

i would recommend electric - food is great and it would be ok on a thursday night in jan..

I don't agree with this. My husband is a 'good eater' (Bit too good at times, but hey!). Portion sizes are on the generous side I've found.

And I've NEVER been offered the bill as soon as I've eaten. I usually have to attract the waiter's attention to get it!

Malari · 13-01-2014 09:23PM

I agree with the Bajan. Big enough portions and I've never felt rushed at all.

Loire · 13-01-2014 09:24PM

All,

There's a new Indian in North Main St called Spice Inn. Mrs Loire had takeaways from there twice now and thinks the food is out of this world. I collected the last take-away and I wouldn't eat there to be honest - the dining room was a haze of smoke from the kitchen, but as said the food is great - proper Indian. It's where the Italian used to be, a few doors down from Bradley's

Loire.

sporina · 13-01-2014 09:53PM

ABajaninCork wrote: »

I don't agree with this. My husband is a 'good eater' (Bit too good at times, but hey!). Portion sizes are on the generous side I've found.

And I've NEVER been offered the bill as soon as I've eaten. I usually have to attract the waiter's attention to get it!

those were my experiences.. on one occasion i was mortified because i brought visitors there and a male friend was still hungry after his sea food special..

and on another occasion - a work night out.. the courses were dragged out so much but they made sure that the wine flowed… filing our glasses without asking…

Nonoperational · 14-01-2014 11:33AM

I just think Market Lane is extremely over rated. It's fine, but it's nothing at all special. I've found the portions decent though I must say.

who_me · 15-01-2014 03:15PM

sporina wrote: »

i would not rate market lane for a romantic dinner at all…
1. for guys portions are small
2. they offer you the bill when you have eaten - prob as they do not take bookings so they want you to vacate when you have finished eating..

i would recommend electric - food is great and it would be ok on a thursday night in jan..

I HATE it when restaurants do that. For me eating out is as much about relaxing, chatting with friends as much as the food itself, so I really hate being rushed. I've even heard of places that'll bring your dessert while you're still on your mains if you take too long - I think I'd get up and leave if anyone tried that with me.

But I've never experienced that in Market Lane though, and I eat there very often. Maybe it happens with larger groups, or at busier times of year? I usually dine with a small group or alone, so maybe it's more of an issue with bigger tables?

sporina · 15-01-2014 08:48PM

who_me wrote: »

I HATE it when restaurants do that. For me eating out is as much about relaxing, chatting with friends as much as the food itself, so I really hate being rushed. I've even heard of places that'll bring your dessert while you're still on your mains if you take too long - I think I'd get up and leave if anyone tried that with me.

But I've never experienced that in Market Lane though, and I eat there very often. Maybe it happens with larger groups, or at busier times of year? I usually dine with a small group or alone, so maybe it's more of an issue with bigger tables?

the last time it happened was on a sat night - and it was really busy - but i that was ages ago - not been back as i do not like to feel under pressure when i go out for dinner - that is the reason i go out - to relax.

nerwen · 16-01-2014 11:32AM

Loire wrote: »

All,

There's a new Indian in North Main St called Spice Inn. Mrs Loire had takeaways from there twice now and thinks the food is out of this world. I collected the last take-away and I wouldn't eat there to be honest - the dining room was a haze of smoke from the kitchen, but as said the food is great - proper Indian. It's where the Italian used to be, a few doors down from Bradley's

Loire.

Had food delivered from this place a few times and thought it was pretty good. Decided to go there to eat at one point since the take out (always had it delivered) was decent. Haven't had any take out from there since. It's sad, as the food was ok when we went there as well, but the place is just... not very nice.

The tablecloth was dirty, the forks and knives were as well, as were the fancy cloth napkins I'm assuming they use to save money. The waiter wiped the dinner plates down with a towel that had seen MUCH use that day (week?) to get the spots from the previous guests off them before placing them on our table. Also, he smelled very powerfully of bo. It may not be nice of me, but these things makes me not want to go back, nor order from there again.

Loire · 21-01-2014 12:09PM

nerwen wrote: »

Had food delivered from this place a few times and thought it was pretty good. Decided to go there to eat at one point since the take out (always had it delivered) was decent. Haven't had any take out from there since. It's sad, as the food was ok when we went there as well, but the place is just... not very nice.

The tablecloth was dirty, the forks and knives were as well, as were the fancy cloth napkins I'm assuming they use to save money. The waiter wiped the dinner plates down with a towel that had seen MUCH use that day (week?) to get the spots from the previous guests off them before placing them on our table. Also, he smelled very powerfully of bo. It may not be nice of me, but these things makes me not want to go back, nor order from there again.

My impressions were the same to be honest and it's a pity as the hard work is done (the food). They probably need a proper font-of-house managing the dining room.

sporina · 21-01-2014 01:05PM

nerwen wrote: »

Had food delivered from this place a few times and thought it was pretty good. Decided to go there to eat at one point since the take out (always had it delivered) was decent. Haven't had any take out from there since. It's sad, as the food was ok when we went there as well, but the place is just... not very nice.

The tablecloth was dirty, the forks and knives were as well, as were the fancy cloth napkins I'm assuming they use to save money. The waiter wiped the dinner plates down with a towel that had seen MUCH use that day (week?) to get the spots from the previous guests off them before placing them on our table. Also, he smelled very powerfully of bo. It may not be nice of me, but these things makes me not want to go back, nor order from there again.

wow if this place has practices as bad as that - there is obviously no concept of hygiene. I dread to think of the state of the kitchen. I wonder has a health inspector ever paid a visit

CAUN · 21-01-2014 02:43PM

Went to Iyer's the other day. Meh. Got a takeaway lunch - 5 styrofoam tubs of cumin-covered stuff. Beetroot with cumin flavoured sauce. Chickpeas with cumin. What seemed to be water with cumin and one mint leaf. Actually tasted a bit like wee. Some sort of soup with cumin. Nicest thing was a tiny thimble-sized tub of cold salad/seed stuff. Oh and the rice was dry. Was left starving after paying a tenner. The missus was even more starving as she couldn't eat the cumin beetroot, cumin soup or cumin weewee. (Too much cumin.)

Now, I heard the menu changes every day, so maybe I was unlucky. I am willing to give them one more chance.

I would never go there to eat in - the place is too small. When I was paying at the till there was a couple seated beside me and I might as well have stood on their table.

The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

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