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The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

Faith

There's been a crazy number of threads recently looking for restaurant recommendations, so I'd like to start a specific thread for it. Please post below about your favourite restaurants - why you like them, what price range they are, what type of food they serve, if they have an early bird, opening hours if you know them, where they're located. If you could include a link to the website, that would be great. The more details, the better. This is not a thread to post negative reviews - there's a thread in the main Food & Drink forum for that if you like. Basically, I want this thread to be full of recommendations, not positive and negative reviews. That being said, you can disagree with a recommendation briefly if you really feel the need to, but you must have a really valid reason such as an awful experience, rather than "I don't really like the food" or "It's too expensive".

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Faith

draiochtanois wrote: »

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One reply to ask if she complained is a normal response. 4 posts harassing her for your interpretation of her post is an overreaction. Let it go!

draiochtanois

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ABajaninCork

digitalninja wrote: »

I'm a Dub coming in for the weekend to see my mother who recently moved out west.
I want to bring her to a nice fancy restaurant on Friday but don't know Cork at all, can you people's republic lads steer me right?
She likes french, italian, steaks, indian or chinese.... Any ideas? Needs to be taxi reach of cork city centre.

Market Lane, Greene's, Star Anise, Isaac's. All within walking distance of the City Centre.

Missyelliot2

Hi there,
has anyone tried 'The Venue' in Ballintemple? It's recently renovated, but don't know if they do food.
Thanks!

Faith

draiochtanois wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Do you work there or something? You've really overreacted to pwurple's review.

Shame to hear about the Glucksman. I've only eaten there once, but it was always held in high regard. Maybe they're diverting all their energies to the new Asian place they're opening and Fresco is slipping as a result? Or maybe it's just gone to pot.

digitalninja

I'm a Dub coming in for the weekend to see my mother who recently moved out west.
I want to bring her to a nice fancy restaurant on Friday but don't know Cork at all, can you people's republic lads steer me right?
She likes french, italian, steaks, indian or chinese.... Any ideas? Needs to be taxi reach of cork city centre.

Dave47

leahyl wrote: »

I have heard very mixed reviews about the Kingsley - which are actually beginning to fall more on the negative side now - food wise I mean; the actual surroundings and the staff are fine but it's the most important element, the food, which is letting them down.

I'm going for afternoon tea there in November - really looking forward to it so I hope it's nice!

Food was very nice for me about 5 weeks ago. Always teething problems as a hotel restarts I suppose. Interior is stunning- all hard wood but modern looking- views on the river are great. Very happy with value as well although menu was a little strange in some ways... no underlying theme to it.

Bacchus

Milly33 wrote: »

No mention of 101 and twas obvious we hadn't eaten there before.. Perhaps you should take a wonder into town this evening for a bite tis nice to walk around trying to pick we do have a great selection

Bad waiter so, it should have been explained.

You're grand thanks, lots of nice places to eat in Cork for sure but I'll be eating at home tonight.

rob316

Another outstanding meal in Gallo and Galetti last week, 10 of us were there for a birthday party, clean plates all around it was delicious.

I had the Tuscan chicken, came with sautéed potatoes and this sort of medley of mixed peppers really good, the only thing was the sausage stuffed in the chicken lacked a bit of flavour.

Everyone was very happy and its great value. I'd really recommend it to anyone who hasn't been yet.

Milly33

No mention of 101 and twas obvious we hadn't eaten there before.. Perhaps you should take a wonder into town this evening for a bite tis nice to walk around trying to pick we do have a great selection

Bacchus

Milly33 wrote: »

Well now I didn't spot that they weren't starters could have sworn it said but perhaps it didn't. But either way nope they didn't tell us anything about bringing all the food at the same time, they only thing they double asked was large or small glass of wine.. Which looking at the menu yeah it says those glass sizes but it was little more over just a reg glass that we got...

Food wasn't wow either one was laced with coriander and the other was just too much..Everyone is different but I know I defo would not be going back there...

I can see how it can be missed but they are marked "sides" not "starters" at the top. The only way they didn't tell you that the food comes out as it is cooked is if you said you had eaten with them before, in which case they don't give the "Wagamama 101" speech

Different strokes for different folks as you say. I personally love the place, great spot for a random "I don't feel like cooking dinner tonight but haven't booked anything" dinner

Milly33

Well now I didn't spot that they weren't starters could have sworn it said but perhaps it didn't. But either way nope they didn't tell us anything about bringing all the food at the same time, they only thing they double asked was large or small glass of wine.. Which looking at the menu yeah it says those glass sizes but it was little more over just a reg glass that we got...

Food wasn't wow either one was laced with coriander and the other was just too much..Everyone is different but I know I defo would not be going back there...

ABajaninCork

byronbay2 wrote: »

Even before we sat down I had a bad feeling about the place: They have these big floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over a beautiful scene of autumnal trees with the leaves turning - a genuinely superb view. Only problem was that the windows were absolutely MANKY - they looked like they hadn't been cleaned in months. Our group noticed it straight away and remarked on what a shame it was - set the tone for the entire meal, unfortunately.

You can always tell the standard of a restaurant/cafe by the way they keep the place. Dirty windows would be a pretty good pointer, as is the state of their loos...

I went home to London in February. Needed a curry fix, so I arranged to meet some friends in Woolwich of all places. If you know London at all, you'll know Woolwich is a dive of a place! The restaurant they booked was in a little side street off the main Woolwich Road. But - OMG. The place was spotless and the food unreal!

Definitely will go back!!

northgirl

leahyl wrote: »

I work in UCC and have been there maybe twice (both times a good few years ago now) and each time the service has been extremely slow and each time I went was on a lunch break so you'd want to have 2 hours for lunch! The food was only ok each time too....they obv haven't improved on their service which would put me off going again, because I was only thinking recently that I might visit again....perhaps not now...

Also work in UCC, not a fan at all of the Glucksman. I think their food is average and overpriced for what you get. I think I went there twice ever and I'm no longer on main campus so don't go at all now. Service is slow and not the friendliest either so nothing to entice me back even at a weekend.

byronbay2

leahyl wrote: »

I work in UCC and have been there maybe twice (both times a good few years ago now) and each time the service has been extremely slow and each time I went was on a lunch break so you'd want to have 2 hours for lunch! The food was only ok each time too....they obv haven't improved on their service which would put me off going again, because I was only thinking recently that I might visit again....perhaps not now...

Even before we sat down I had a bad feeling about the place: They have these big floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over a beautiful scene of autumnal trees with the leaves turning - a genuinely superb view. Only problem was that the windows were absolutely MANKY - they looked like they hadn't been cleaned in months. Our group noticed it straight away and remarked on what a shame it was - set the tone for the entire meal, unfortunately.

I mean, FFS: half an hour of cleaning, once a week, would make a huge difference to the ambiance - incredible laziness and incompetence really.

Malari

Milly33 wrote: »

Went to Wagamamas last night and I just don't get it.. Himself likes it but I am a defo no no..

Staff were great when we got there and then disappeared. We got a starter to share took one bite, and his main was out, five mins seconds later mine was out. So didn't even finish the starter.. Wanted to get a coffee or dessert but the staff were no where to be found, back by the kitchen chatting.. Paid like €7 off for what they called a big glass of wine, which was just a big glass.. Defo wont be going back there

What is the problem there? A big glass is 250ml, a smaller/regular glass is 175ml.

I love the idea of sides and mains. It means there is always something to nibble on if one of the mains takes longer to cook, and the food is delivered perfectly freshly cooked to your table - no sitting under a lamp or anything, waiting for the other main to be ready.

Bacchus

Milly33 wrote: »

Went to Wagamamas last night and I just don't get it.. Himself likes it but I am a defo no no..

Staff were great when we got there and then disappeared. We got a starter to share took one bite, and his main was out, five mins seconds later mine was out. So didn't even finish the starter.. Wanted to get a coffee or dessert but the staff were no where to be found, back by the kitchen chatting.. Paid like €7 off for what they called a big glass of wine, which was just a big glass.. Defo wont be going back there

You're right, you don't get it. The food in Wagamamas (which is yummy btw) comes out as it is prepared. The staff would have told you this, they ALWAYS do. There are no starters. There are sides and there are the mains. The sides are always on the table first (quickest to cook) but they do not wait for you to finish them to bring out the main. Once a meal is ready, it is brought down to your table.

I do agree though that sometimes when you are finished your meal, the staff can be a bit slow coming back around to ask if you want coffee/desert/bill but it's never been a big deal.

draiochtanois

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pwurple

draiochtanois wrote: »

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Why does everyone assume I'm a guy!!!!!!

And you can behave like a whiney petulant child all you like, throwing all your toys out of the pram at the slightest infraction... it's not for me, thanks.

draiochtanois

This post has been deleted.

Milly33

Went to Wagamamas last night and I just don't get it.. Himself likes it but I am a defo no no..

Staff were great when we got there and then disappeared. We got a starter to share took one bite, and his main was out, five mins seconds later mine was out. So didn't even finish the starter.. Wanted to get a coffee or dessert but the staff were no where to be found, back by the kitchen chatting.. Paid like €7 off for what they called a big glass of wine, which was just a big glass.. Defo wont be going back there

leahyl

I have heard very mixed reviews about the Kingsley - which are actually beginning to fall more on the negative side now - food wise I mean; the actual surroundings and the staff are fine but it's the most important element, the food, which is letting them down.

I'm going for afternoon tea there in November - really looking forward to it so I hope it's nice!

pwurple

draiochtanois wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Ah lad come on, this is a place that only reopened this year, we were giving it a fighting chance. I'll always let something go at the start, and give it a chance to improve over the rest of the meal. The mains were ok, so it was looking good for ordering something else.

There's a medium ground there between being the ultimate nightmare whingebag customer, and not being walked over. And who wants their mains spat in!

draiochtanois

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pwurple

draiochtanois wrote: »

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Do you mean 'ate it all'?

See the part where I wrote "it went back uneaten"... that's the bit where we sent it back, and told them we weren't happy with it. They offered replacements, but we said leave it, and take it off the bill instead.

Jeez like.

draiochtanois

This post has been deleted.

pwurple

leahyl wrote: »

I work in UCC and have been there maybe twice (both times a good few years ago now) and each time the service has been extremely slow and each time I went was on a lunch break so you'd want to have 2 hours for lunch! The food was only ok each time too....they obv haven't improved on their service which would put me off going again, because I was only thinking recently that I might visit again....perhaps not now...

I know, lunch service has to be snappy for it to be viable for working people. It really does.

Now, the glucksman is probably students, with zero training on working in a restaurant. I know people think it's a no-brainer, but I've worked as a waitress ( in nyc, where the customers will tell you pretty sharpish when you are getting it wrong!). You really need to have your wits about you to be good at it. Watch your tables, watch the kitchen, manage the drinks. Watch the bill, and probably do the tidy-up as well. Juggle them all at the same time, make no mistakes, and be fast.

Anyway, I had some food in one of the Kingsley restaurants over the weekend. Not the fancy one, the middling one you don't make bookings for, that isn't the bar. I think they have 4 restaurants in there? Place looks great anyway, nice refurb. Anyway, the menu was sandwiches, steaks, burgers and that kind of thing. Menu was oddly presented, some ratty creased papers tied with a dirty shoelace onto a heavy piece of sheet-metal, all dangling on meathooks as you go in the door. Don't know what that was supposed to add to the experience. You can see the kitchen from the restaurant through glass, which is nice though, and the river is all around as well.

We got a wonton starter between us. It was 4 deep fried wontons, all stuck together into one congealed lump. Not good. Mains were alright, steak and a burger. Pepper sauce that came with the steak was like a packet-one, had a skin over it when when it arrived, but the steak was cooked correctly, burger was good.

Dessert was godawful. Chocolate fondant was burnt and not in any way a fondant. Mille feuille (Which I assumed was going to be a good old cork Milly Filly!) was a slab of soap-flavoured jelly between 3 sheets of filo pastry. Both went back uneaten. Yeuch. Pricing is ok, I think it was 20 for the steak, desserts were 6. Service was fine. Just some of the food wasn't great, and getting the dessert wrong just leaves a bad impression.

leahyl

byronbay2 wrote: »

I live quite close to UCC but had never been to the café in The Glucksman Gallery (called Fresco) before. So, when I saw an offer on LivingSocial for a €30 voucher for €13, I decided to go for the weekend brunch. The result was reasonably decent (but not exceptional) grub and the most Fawlty Towers-esque service I have ever experienced.

You would need to have been there to understand how ridiculous the service was (and I don't want to write an essay here) but to give a quick synopsis:
Our group of 4 ordered 2 full Irish breakfasts and 2 burgers - the breakfasts are inclusive of tea or coffee. The people who ordered the breakfasts were never asked whether they wanted tea or coffee - the breakfasts just arrived. BOTH breakfasts were missing the sausages. It took 5 minutes to get the attention of a waitress and inform her. There was no apology whatsoever. The 2 breakfast people ate their breakfasts (sans tea/coffee) before their sausages arrived. The table had been cleared of all crockery and cutlery by the time the 4 sausages were plonked on the table - on one plate! Needless to say we had to request another plate and 2 knives/forks. We mentioned the fact that the breakfast was supposed to come with tea/coffee but that we had not been offered either - we were informed that we should have asked!

Anyway, we eventually got 2 coffees - again with no apology. In fact, we got the impression that WE were pissing the staff off (Fawlty Towers style) with all of our impossible demands. We finished up and I went to pay at the counter. The waitress called out a number to me as the bill and I said it seemed a bit high. She then listed our items which included a cost for 2 coffees - I explained (as she didn't seem to realise) that these were included in the cost of the 2 breakfasts. Again, no apology, just another number which I accepted and paid. She gave me my change but offered no receipt. I asked for a receipt but what I got was a piece of printed paper with the total cost on it i.e nothing itemised. At that stage I got the fcuk out of Dodge!

At the time I was fuming but we had a good laugh about it later on, when my blood pressure returned to normal. In case you're wondering: No, I won't be going back!

TL/DR: I do not recommend Fresco Café in The Glucksman Gallery, UCC.

I work in UCC and have been there maybe twice (both times a good few years ago now) and each time the service has been extremely slow and each time I went was on a lunch break so you'd want to have 2 hours for lunch! The food was only ok each time too....they obv haven't improved on their service which would put me off going again, because I was only thinking recently that I might visit again....perhaps not now...

byronbay2

I live quite close to UCC but had never been to the café in The Glucksman Gallery (called Fresco) before. So, when I saw an offer on LivingSocial for a €30 voucher for €13, I decided to go for the weekend brunch. The result was reasonably decent (but not exceptional) grub and the most Fawlty Towers-esque service I have ever experienced.

You would need to have been there to understand how ridiculous the service was (and I don't want to write an essay here) but to give a quick synopsis:
Our group of 4 ordered 2 full Irish breakfasts and 2 burgers - the breakfasts are inclusive of tea or coffee. The people who ordered the breakfasts were never asked whether they wanted tea or coffee - the breakfasts just arrived. BOTH breakfasts were missing the sausages. It took 5 minutes to get the attention of a waitress and inform her. There was no apology whatsoever. The 2 breakfast people ate their breakfasts (sans tea/coffee) before their sausages arrived. The table had been cleared of all crockery and cutlery by the time the 4 sausages were plonked on the table - on one plate! Needless to say we had to request another plate and 2 knives/forks. We mentioned the fact that the breakfast was supposed to come with tea/coffee but that we had not been offered either - we were informed that we should have asked!

Anyway, we eventually got 2 coffees - again with no apology. In fact, we got the impression that WE were pissing the staff off (Fawlty Towers style) with all of our impossible demands. We finished up and I went to pay at the counter. The waitress called out a number to me as the bill and I said it seemed a bit high. She then listed our items which included a cost for 2 coffees - I explained (as she didn't seem to realise) that these were included in the cost of the 2 breakfasts. Again, no apology, just another number which I accepted and paid. She gave me my change but offered no receipt. I asked for a receipt but what I got was a piece of printed paper with the total cost on it i.e nothing itemised. At that stage I got the fcuk out of Dodge!

At the time I was fuming but we had a good laugh about it later on, when my blood pressure returned to normal. In case you're wondering: No, I won't be going back!

TL/DR: I do not recommend Fresco Café in The Glucksman Gallery, UCC.

curly from cork

Had a really lovely lunch in The Castle Cafe at Blackrock Castle today . Pate to start , plenty of it with toast and crisp breads. Sea Breem on cous cous with asparagus for mains . Half baked choc cake for dessert. Start to finish excellent . (Boiled egg for tea !!! ) I would highly recommend it . The place seemed to be full too , we had booked thankfully . Horrible day but arrived to a lovely real fire in the dining room