The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

jdawson · 02-03-2014 06:40PM

I went to the Sultan on Penrose Wharf with the missus a few weeks ago. The food is fantastic, we both cleaned every plate. There's nothing else like it in Cork and the guys running it are great. They don't serve alcohol but we didn't mind at all. They're closed for maintenance from the 17th March - 12th May according to facebook, well worth a visit before that.

EDIT: Worth calling ahead or booking a table as it's fairly popular.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sultan-Cafe-Restaurant-Shisha-Lounge/137153526456392

ABajaninCork · 02-03-2014 07:51PM

Went to the Eastern Tandoori once. That was enough, believe me. The food was disgusting. Stale poppadoms. (Spicy only, no plain. WTF??). Inedible food swimming in grease. I asked for a Dhansak. They literally took a pot of curry and chucked a can of fruit salad in it. I kid you not. And they had the cheek to charge us €150 for four of us with no drinks.

He couldn't serve a meal like that in London. His windows would be smashed in!

BanzaiBk · 02-03-2014 09:11PM

jdawson wrote: »

I went to the Sultan on Penrose Wharf with the missus a few weeks ago. The food is fantastic, we both cleaned every plate. There's nothing else like it in Cork and the guys running it are great. They don't serve alcohol but we didn't mind at all. They're closed for maintenance from the 17th March - 12th May according to facebook, well worth a visit before that.

EDIT: Worth calling ahead or booking a table as it's fairly popular.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sultan-Cafe-Restaurant-Shisha-Lounge/137153526456392

:eek: that's some time for a renovation. Hopefully they return.

Missyelliot2 · 02-03-2014 09:24PM

Went to Blackrock Castle this weekend.....was really disappointed with the food. Had been there for a family thing 2 weeks ago and it was lovely (although we all ordered pizzas). Got the beef salad with chickpeas and I swear I must have munched through about 100 chickpeas, and the beef was really chewy.
The waitress asked if everything was ok (as my salad bowl didn't look like it had been touched, due to those chickpeas!) and I nodded like the churchill dog. Sooooo mad at myself, but didn't want to seem awkward...

nerwen · 03-03-2014 12:38AM

jdawson wrote: »

I went to the Sultan on Penrose Wharf ... They're closed for maintenance from the 17th March - 12th May ...

Definitely popping back in before they close, I love that place! Thanks for mentioning it.

byronbay2 · 03-03-2014 10:54AM

54kroc wrote: »

I have to agree with the last few posts about the Eastern Tandoori, I think it's an awful place, and I don't know anyone that actually like it either.
@ byronbay2, Have you been to any of the other Indian restaurants around Cork?

Well, I'll tell you one thing: there are obviously a lot of people who go there once and never return - any time I go the place is busy!

Yes, I have been to several other Indian restaurants in Cork, all inferior to the ET in my opinion.

ABajaninCork wrote: »

He couldn't serve a meal like that in London. His windows would be smashed in!

I have been to lots of Indian restaurants in London, Birmingham and Manchester and have had some good, mediocre and awful experiences. The ET is a match for the best of these.

Anyhoo, I've said my piece now and will withdraw gracefully from the debate. I merely wanted to act as a mouthpiece for the little people, the forgotten people, the non-connoisseurs who go to the ET week-in, week-out for good food, good value and good service. They don't check Trip Advisor/Boards in advance and don't bother writing reviews afterwards.

I will just leave you with one (Puckish) comment that will no-doubt bring even greater approbrium down on me: I don't think much of that Ramen gaff! The food is too sweet, the noodles too stodgy and those duck spring rolls are the mankiest things I have (half) eaten for a long time!

pwurple · 03-03-2014 05:32PM

Missyelliot2 wrote: »

Went to Blackrock Castle this weekend.....was really disappointed with the food. Had been there for a family thing 2 weeks ago and it was lovely (although we all ordered pizzas). Got the beef salad with chickpeas and I swear I must have munched through about 100 chickpeas, and the beef was really chewy.
The waitress asked if everything was ok (as my salad bowl didn't look like it had been touched, due to those chickpeas!) and I nodded like the churchill dog. Sooooo mad at myself, but didn't want to seem awkward...

You should have said something! I just had the same thing for lunch today. I like the amount of chickpeas, and the beef was fine. It was way too sweet for me though. Not mad about sweet chilli dressings. I should have read the menu properly, it does actually say 'sweet' in it. Anyway, my 3 year old loved her mini pizza and ice cream snowman, so we had fun.

54kroc · 03-03-2014 07:39PM

byronbay2 wrote: »

Well, I'll tell you one thing: there are obviously a lot of people who go there once and never return - any time I go the place is busy!

Yes, I have been to several other Indian restaurants in Cork, all inferior to the ET in my opinion.

I have been to lots of Indian restaurants in London, Birmingham and Manchester and have had some good, mediocre and awful experiences. The ET is a match for the best of these.

Anyhoo, I've said my piece now and will withdraw gracefully from the debate. I merely wanted to act as a mouthpiece for the little people, the forgotten people, the non-connoisseurs who go to the ET week-in, week-out for good food, good value and good service. They don't check Trip Advisor/Boards in advance and don't bother writing reviews afterwards.

I will just leave you with one (Puckish) comment that will no-doubt bring even greater approbrium down on me: I don't think much of that Ramen gaff! The food is too sweet, the noodles too stodgy and those duck spring rolls are the mankiest things I have (half) eaten for a long time!

I've never been to an Indian in Ireland that has come close to what Birmingham and London have to offer, we've different tastes I guess.

Have to agree with you about the Ramen though, easily the most overrated place I've been to.

ABajaninCork · 03-03-2014 11:35PM

Ramen wasn't the greatest, I agree. The service was what really annoyed me. Plus the fact the food's seriously overpriced for what's supposed to be 'street food'. I'm sure there's better to be had in Cork as well as London.

The best rubies in the world are to be found on the Curry Mile in Birmingham, with Leeds a close second. Shimla Pink's rules!

I've said it before. I've NEVER found a decent ruby here. I wait until I go home to London

Dave47 · 04-03-2014 09:32PM

54kroc wrote: »

I've never been to an Indian in Ireland that has come close to what Birmingham and London have to offer, we've different tastes I guess.

Have to agree with you about the Ramen though, easily the most overrated place I've been to.

not surprised it would be overrated considering the love for wagamama in cork lol- think its 4 stars on tripadvisor??

iyers is the place i want to try- menu looks v different

nerwen · 05-03-2014 12:38AM

Dave47 wrote: »

not surprised it would be overrated considering the love for wagamama in cork lol- think its 4 stars on tripadvisor??

I personally love wagamama for lunch and early/quick dinner, but then I do see it as street food, not a restaurant as such.

I love the duck gyoza, their recent ramen thing of which I tried two (pork and beef), both were tasty, the chicken katsu curry is tasty and my very own favorite ginger chicken udon is awesome. It's not a date place, nor a place you go with your folks, but not every place with food has to be that. It might not be very authentic either, but in this case I don't care much as it's trumped by the fact that I really like the food.

All things in context.

Haven't tried ramen, though it's on my to do list, so no comment on that.

pwurple · 05-03-2014 08:19AM

Wgamama and ramen are noodle bars...wagamama is a chain and Ramen more for takeaway. I don't know why people have such massive overblown expectations. They are what they are, and do just that. I don't think either are aspiring to be actual restaurants. I like both. Ramen mainly because they use fresh veg. Wagamama because it's fairly child-friendly and isn't mcdonalds.

For the best sit-down asian restaurant in town, I still think Yuan Ming Yuan (chinese) leads by a mile.

evilivor · 05-03-2014 09:41AM

pwurple wrote: »

Wgamama and ramen are noodle bars...wagamama is a chain and Ramen more for takeaway. I don't know why people have such massive overblown expectations. They are what they are, and do just that. I don't think either are aspiring to be actual restaurants. I like both. Ramen mainly because they use fresh veg. Wagamama because it's fairly child-friendly and isn't mcdonalds.

For the best sit-down asian restaurant in town, I still think Yuan Ming Yuan (chinese) leads by a mile.

Both Wagamama and Ramen describe themselves as restaurants.

pwurple · 05-03-2014 12:40PM

evilivor wrote: »

Both Wagamama and Ramen describe themselves as restaurants.

So does mcdonalds...

evilivor · 05-03-2014 12:48PM

pwurple wrote: »

So does mcdonalds...

Correctly as McDonalds is, indeed, a restaurant.

pwurple · 05-03-2014 01:14PM

evilivor wrote: »

Correctly as McDonalds is, indeed, a restaurant.

Righto, and would you have the same expectation levels for the food/experience in mcdonalds and say... Oysters?

I'm just saying people should possibly adjust their massive expectations for very different sorts of establishments.

nerwen · 05-03-2014 02:10PM

pwurple wrote: »

For the best sit-down asian restaurant in town, I still think Yuan Ming Yuan (chinese) leads by a mile.

Agreed. I haven't had the chance to try out all of the authentic dim sum they have, but I have plans to correct that shortly! Mmm steamed buns.

j8wk2feszrnpao · 05-03-2014 02:11PM

The one and only time I went to Wagamama's, the service was slow - waitress forgot my order twice.
Didn't think much of the food, quite bland.
Felt it didn't it offered value for money, no interest in visiting it again.

evilivor · 06-03-2014 09:45AM

Cafe Bar Deli has closed down.

Lemag · 06-03-2014 12:14PM

evilivor wrote: »

Cafe Bar Deli has closed down.

Since Wednesday/Thursday last week.

sporina · 06-03-2014 08:59PM

evilivor wrote: »

Cafe Bar Deli has closed down.

oh well i am not sorry - i have posted before about this place..

it was always busy though - wonder why it actually closed?

who_me · 06-03-2014 09:25PM

sporina wrote: »

oh well i am not sorry - i have posted before about this place..

it was always busy though - wonder why it actually closed?

Hard to say, it's a great location with frontage on French Church St. and Academy St., which are even busier now with the Opera Lane development. It might just have been bought up / re-leased by something/someone bigger & better.

One thing that annoyed me though was how it seemed to close quite early. I've been turned away at around 8:30. That alone made me less inclined to go back there.

evilivor · 06-03-2014 09:30PM

sporina wrote: »

oh well i am not sorry - i have posted before about this place..

it was always busy though - wonder why it actually closed?

Post deleted. This is off topic, no need to go into the ins and outs of why you think it closed, and it's all pure speculation.

Keep to restaurant reviews/recommendations please folks.

Leahyl

BanzaiBk · 06-03-2014 10:32PM

Iyers for lunch, delicious!

Nonoperational · 07-03-2014 11:29AM

pwurple wrote: »

Wgamama and ramen are noodle bars...wagamama is a chain and Ramen more for takeaway. I don't know why people have such massive overblown expectations. They are what they are, and do just that. I don't think either are aspiring to be actual restaurants. I like both. Ramen mainly because they use fresh veg. Wagamama because it's fairly child-friendly and isn't mcdonalds.

For the best sit-down asian restaurant in town, I still think Yuan Ming Yuan (chinese) leads by a mile.

Perfectly put. I think Ramen is great for a €9.95 pad thai. I'd spend €6 or there abouts making it myself if I went to Tesco to get the ingredients. Once a month I get a craving for a Big Mac and at the time I think it's the nicest thing in the world.

But if I want a nice meal on a Saturday night neither would be anywhere near my radar. They are what they are, and at the right time they are great.

TeletextPear · 08-03-2014 09:09PM

Does anyone know if Chan's in Douglas is closed down? Tried ordering tonight but the phone rang out and their profile isnt on just eat anymore

Milly33 · 09-03-2014 07:52PM

Just called into the titanic in Cobh and well we wont be rushing back. Bad service, bad food

AshAdele · 11-03-2014 12:52PM

went to the Brook in Glanmire last night, it was ok but they really need to sort out there portions, we both eat from the early bird menu. a black pudding fritter started was just two golf ball size pudding balls on some sauce. the buffalo chick wings where piled high, took ten minutes to eat.

the mains were a pasta dish and a pork belly dish. again portion sizes were all over the place. huge bowl of pasta and lots of chicken compared to two small pieces of pork with fancy garnishes of undercook potato balls and a few sauces. thankfully they did add a bowl of mash.

the food was alright but i wouldn't rush back there

nerwen · 13-03-2014 09:37PM

Finally tried out Ramen tonight, ordered in from them and expected to wait a while, but the food arrived after only 30 minutes.

I am central though, so it wasn't a long drive for them.

Anyway, my flatmate got a duck salad and was a little sad when he saw it, the salad, while tasty, was tiny. It was priced at 7.50 so maybe it's meant to be a starter? Luckily we also had the bento box to share however; I found the prawns a bit overdone, but that's probably because it was delivery, the duck spring roll and satay chicken were both good and it all came with plenty of dipping sauce, one for each.

I got the japanese udon and I was impressed with the portion size, it was damn tasty (pardon my French) and I was very happily surprised when they actually noticed a small amendment I made to the dish on the order. While most places have the option, for delivery very few seem to bother removing that pesky onion I don't like. But these guys did, yay!

All in all, good food, good delivery, decent price. Would order again.

olliesgirl55 · 14-03-2014 05:34PM

If you want a really nice dinner out try Greene's on Macurtain Street. The food, ambience and service are top notch. They are a bit pricey but well worth it.

The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

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