The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

phater phagan wrote: »

Hi guys - it's my wife's birthday today and I'd like to take her to a very nice restaurant. She has an extensive background in the restaurant industry in the past and knows her stuff. I'd like any recommendations. Price is not an issue - good, quality service, delicious cuisine and atmosphere is. All advice will be gratefully appreciated. Thanks.

Les Gourmandises sounds like it would be a good fit

pwurple wrote: »

City - Hayfield manor

Hayfield manor is probably the most consistent. It's a "real" 5 star experience.

pwurple wrote: »

Goodness, what do you consider special? They serve you like you are royalty in there. Crystal, fine china, sommelier at your beck and call. If you go with children, they even bring out pets to entertain them.

well my little Tarquin is only used to Corgis so naturally he was distraught when they rolled out some scruffy puppy. It totally ruined our evening, I shall really have the place closed and the animals put down for such trauma

rob316 wrote: »

Hayfield Manor is very average IMO, the 2 times I have been there.

I'd love to know where you dine that you consider above average.

The menu's are perfectly put together to suit just about anyone.
The service is the best I've had in the country, never mind Cork.
I don't think it has a star, it definitely should have.The food is exquisite.
Wine list is outstanding.
For the over all quality it's reasonably priced

I've been let down more than once in Cork food wise, but never in the manor.

Can please let us know where you're eating

I've only been once for food too - for afternoon tea. The food was quite good but the service really wasn't that great at all. We were given food and forgotten about. I've had afternoon tea in many places (it's the new hen party :-)) and I really thought the service there would be better.

Had lunch in the Farmgate in the market yesterday. I had tripe and drisheen, it was fab, brought back child hood memories. The o/h had roast chicken, very impressed, (which says a lot). €24 the lot.

Stayed in Hayfield Manor last month. Had the afternoon tea, which was fantastic. Every detail was truly excellent. Orchids was closed that day, so we ended up dining in the Garden Bistro. It was grand. Not their fine dining obviously, but it was still only a solid 7 out of 10. Really want to try Orchids at some stage. Staff were excellent throughout.

sporina wrote: »

.... anyone eaten in the actual restaurant Fairbanks?

I haven't but I did eat in The Springboard (maybe same one you were in?), which is the more casual restaurant in the hotel.
They serve Burgers, Fish & Chips etc...... Enjoyed it.

Heading to SoHo tomorrow night with another couple for the first time amazingly, got a great deal on thetaste.ie for 2 courses and a bottle of wine for two people for €50.

Been threatening to try the lava steak for years.

roundymac wrote: »

Did you have to prebook or was it walk in?

we just in the lounge area by the river - no need to book there..

pwurple wrote: »

Soho is pretty good for food, enjoy. They do a savage espresso martini if you're a bit sleepy after dinner.

I never get the cooking your own steak on a rock thing I have to say... I'm going out so that I don't have to cook my own bloody dinner. I've seen similar things done where they bring you a pot of water and you lower your veg into it on a stick, or this other place where it was a piece of quartz heated to some temperature and they gave you pork and kimchi. It's not for me at all.

Agreed, I don't want to cook my own steak on a stone I don't know the temperature of and end up overcooking and then having to rest my steak at the table. But to each their own and I enjoy other things on their menu!

They do a fantastic frozen apple marg...daqi...something. It's an adult slushie basically and it's SO tasty.

Just reporting back, We had a great experience in Soho last week.

I had a delicious calamari starter, the couple with us got the chicken wings, one with the suicidal sauce and one with the insane sauce, a really generous portion, the insane is supposed to be hotter but I find it more vinegary so I prefer the suicidal.
Another member of the party got a goujon starter and it was huge, there were five fresh goujons, if you had a portion of chips with it then it would pass as a main.

Three of the party got sirloins for mains and they were all perfectly cooked as ordered with minimal fat/grizzle served with veg and chips.
I got the steak on the rock and it was absolutely spectacular, one of the juiciest cuts of meat I've ever had with zero waste.

There was no problem with extra sauces and also no sneaky charges.

The house red which was a South African Syrah was one of the smoothest reds any of us had ever tasted.

I had the espresso martini to finish up as there was no room for desserts and it was really refreshing and light.

Service was outstanding, we never had to ask twice for anything or wait for anything.

I can't wait to go back it truly was a pleasurable experience.

There's a new café/deli opened on Albert Road only in the last week or so - Sonny's Deli - they only seem to have a twitter so far http://twitter.com/Sonnys_Deli

So many new places opening!

leahyl wrote: »

There's a new café/deli opened on Albert Road only in the last week or so - Sonny's Deli - they only seem to have a twitter so far http://twitter.com/Sonnys_Deli

So many new places opening!

I believe they're the same people who do a Pho stand at the Douglas farmers market (and perhaps others). The pho is really good so I'll be checking this place out on the back of that alone