The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

Malari wrote: »

Yup, that's the point! :P Arai is there now.

I know my aunt used to like Gambieni's years ago, but it always struck me as a garlic mushrooms and lasagne place. Very basic.

Oops, I missed the quote from Sporina!

Ok so Im back, just about..

Must say for ambience Ivory Towers is spot on.. Such a loverly feeling to the place.

Was delighted walking in that they had a game menu on for €35, 5 courses. Very interesting we had pigeon, hare, venison, and other stuff.. Im debating it was very very nice but as with some stuff there was too much messing done with the food.. The served the venison with this chilli chocolate sauce and it was too heavy.. The rabbit and hare served nice and simply yummie..

The man himself was serving and he was really nice was half expecting him to be a bit of an ass but nope his lovery too..

pwurple wrote: »

What did you get? Have a lunch coming up there soon, wouldn't mind a recommendation.

The menu is very basic and there isn't a whole lot of selection but what they do, they do well.

I had the spicy chicken wrap, which was served with rustic fried potatoes and a side salad. The chicken was tender and juicy, the salad fresh and the potatoes crisp and not overly greasy like you would imagine. It was a very large portion too, I was planning on getting a dessert but I was stuffed.

My companions had the steak sandwich, the ceaser salad, the chicken supreme and the roast of the day, all of which got rave reviews. We really weren't expecting much, just wanted some simple pub grub but it was one of the nicest meals I'd had in ages.

Hope your not disappointed, enjoy!

We bought another grab one voucher this morning, this time for a new place in ballincollig called Rooster Pil Pil. €15 for a €30 voucher. We brought the kids to the cinema and went in after.
The place is a copy of Nandos, the menu is even the same. Its got restaurant service tho and not the fast food type of service i hate so much in nandos.
The food was fantastic, 4 different types of marinade available with 4 spice levels of each ranging from mild to very hot.
We got 2 half chickens with "mild pil pil" on one and "hot mexican" on the other. The chicken was nice and juicy, cooked to perfection. We werent mad about the pil pil flavour but that was a personal preferance and nothing to do with the food. The mexican was delicious tho.
the kids both had chips and garlic bread with 6 wings or a breast cut into strips. Bots were a fine sized portion with a small dessert included for €5.95.
in total we had 2 kids meals, 2 mains, 2 teas and 1 adult dessert and it came to €44 so only cost €29 with the voucher. Great value even at full price.
Its not the kind of place id go to for a big romantic gesture but for simple well cooked food its perfect. Just make sure all your party likes chicken.

-Toppy- wrote: »

Where in Ballincollig is it?

Next door to drumstix.

sporina wrote: »

is the chicken actually marinaded in the spices though? i was so let down with nandos - the chicken is defo not marinaded! the sauce is just put on

Maybe, maybe not. It was nice either way. Plenty of flavour.

Very tempted to call into town this evening to try out... For all ye should keep on eye on the Grabone website, picked up a great deal for Oysters €20 for a €40, fine its midweek but still.. It is sold out now but I am sure they will have more

Went to the restaurant in Barry's in Douglas recently. Just don't order steak unless you like it medium because that seems to be the only way they cook it, no matter what you order.

I'm really looking forward to trying Huguenots and Aroi though, with all the positive reviews coming out!

the beer revolu wrote: »

Note to everyone :

If your steak doesn't come cooked reasonably close to how you order it, please, please send it back. It's the only way they will learn that it actually matters.

I was in Dingle recently. We ordered 4 rare striploins. We got 4 medium to well done striploins. A very nice (and embarrassed) waitres offered to take them all back. Lucky for the chef 2 of my friends decided, due to being starving, to eat theirs but I'm sure that the 2 wasted steaks and the 4 complimentary coffees were well discussed with the chef.
Maybe, he/she'll think twice about banging out all steaks cooked medium when it's busy again!

This one size fits all approach to cooking steaks, irrespective of how they are ordered, is far too common in Ireland. We need to let them know that it's not ok.

Oh I did send it back! And it came back about 10-15 minutes later slightly less cooked, but still not the way I ordered it. Which I told them, but at this stage my dining companions were half-way through their food and I was starving so I ate it. I did not leave a tip!

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Oooh - that sounds nice! I'd like to pop in for lunch next week...

I think for lunch they have a special for €10, main, scoop of gelato and coffee.

WhiteRoses wrote: »

Went to the East Village for the first time on Saturday and was sorely disappointed. I thought it'd be right up my street because I like SoHo but I wasn't a fan. My chicken burger was dry and bland, with a tiny portion of chips and cost me and the most miserable looking side salad I've ever seen. My friends chicken wings were half cold, half piping hot, which we think means half the portion were sitting under a warmer for a while before we were served, because the restaurant was very quiet. It cost about €14 before I even got a drink which I found to be very overpriced. I left still hungry and very unsatisfied. SoHo portions are bigger and far better quality.

Your not paying for quality in the east village, your paying to sit with the cool people!

.red. wrote: »

Your not paying for quality in the east village, your paying to sit with the cool people!

rob316 wrote: »

Two of our friends only eat there if the go out, Im baffled as its so average. Never had a good meal there. Service is a joke and its not good value.
It's more of a cool spot though than anything else, chances are there are a few "celebs" usually eating there so I think you are paying for the atmosphere and profile.

Really? Why on earth would they eat there? What's so good about East Village?