The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

who_me · 12-10-2018 4:37pm

richiepurgas wrote: »

Where's that ?

Tapas/wine bar on Douglas St.

SusieBlue · 12-10-2018 4:58pm

nlrkjos wrote: »

Daughter has just booked Amicus for me and the auld doll...never been there, looks OK and menus seems OK... is it good or not ? I know preferences are different!!! I'm just looking for a comment or two

I wouldn't be a fan. The few times I've eaten there, the service has been consistently abysmal.
The food is average, not awful but nothing to write home about.
Its honestly the worst service I've encountered in the city.
Sorry for being so negative, maybe others will have more positive experiences but I've always left there annoyed and frustrated.

bee06 · 12-10-2018 7:57pm

nlrkjos wrote: »

Daughter has just booked Amicus for me and the auld doll...never been there, looks OK and menus seems OK... is it good or not ? I know preferences are different!!! I'm just looking for a comment or two

I like it. It would be one of our go to casual dinner restaurants. Plenty of menu choice and I’ve never found an issue with the service like the previous poster.

sporina · 12-10-2018 9:21pm

nlrkjos wrote: »

Daughter has just booked Amicus for me and the auld doll...never been there, looks OK and menus seems OK... is it good or not ? I know preferences are different!!! I'm just looking for a comment or two

oh gosh - sorry but maybe best to ask before booking...

i'd say its ok for a quick bite of lunch but not dinner..

last time i was there my niece, a kid at the time, she had a burger - and it was not for an adult never mind a kid - was laced with black pepper and tough as leather.. she couldn't eat it.. never went back..

its cheap non fast food fast food if you know what i mean, but poor ingredients an dbad service.. so many other places (better) to choose from..

but i hope ye have a nice time - do let us know how you get on..

Mardyke · 12-10-2018 9:49pm

.....but it's another one of these places that SOMEHOW always seems to draw a crowd, and keep going for ages despite being bang average... (in there with the Cornstore, Idaho and Ramens of this world)

Gamb!t · 13-10-2018 11:09pm

Mardyke wrote: »

.....but it's another one of these places that SOMEHOW always seems to draw a crowd, and keep going for ages despite being bang average... (in there with the Cornstore, Idaho and Ramens of this world)

I always liked going to Idaho cafe if I could get a seat for tea and scones.
I'm not a big salad lover but the the salads in Idaho I found a pretty good along with the sausage and bacon bap.

nlrkjos · 13-10-2018 11:23pm

sporina wrote: »

oh gosh - sorry but maybe best to ask before booking...

i'd say its ok for a quick bite of lunch but not dinner..

last time i was there my niece, a kid at the time, she had a burger - and it was not for an adult never mind a kid - was laced with black pepper and tough as leather.. she couldn't eat it.. never went back..

its cheap non fast food fast food if you know what i mean, but poor ingredients an dbad service.. so many other places (better) to choose from..

but i hope ye have a nice time - do let us know how you get on..

Lovely evening, food was grand, service was excellent, lovely local girl quick with the banter(deserved a tip of her own!!!) nice atmosphere in there. we went about 6'ish and it was fairly busy but no problem with table. food was just right as to what we ordered and have to say the young girl serving us was a cracker, don't know about going back, but I wouldn't say no, I've had better but I've had worse...one thing, the tiger prawn pil-pil was the best I've had in a while.

smurgen · 13-10-2018 11:28pm

nlrkjos wrote: »

northgirl wrote: »

Ate in Palmento at the weekend. The pizza and wine were very nice. Lovely spot for a cosy chat.

Nice pizza there, we go fairly regular, but they seem to be slow to serve, I wonder is the take-away service a bigger earner for them, to the detriment of the "sit downs"?

Got it a few weeks ago and couldn't get over how bad the pizza and service was.paid for it online and collection.two pizzas and two soft drinks.when i arrived our pizza wasn't ready so waited .when it came they handed the two boxes and i asked for the drinks to which i was told we hadn't paid for drinks.they then rechecked the order on the computer to confirm i had.
When we got it home,literally 5 minutes as we live at the top of rochestown the pizza was stone cold,the toppings were unevenly spread,one was missing one of it's toppings.the pizza was greasy.and worst of all it was a rip off coming in at close to 40 eur.never again.

whatever76 · 14-10-2018 12:51am

sporina wrote: »

The Iberian Way is closed for the foreseeable future - they just announced it on FB - i wonder whats happening?

oh that's a shame - always enjoyed myself any night been in there and seemed to be doing well - is it a perm closure ?

northgirl · 14-10-2018 2:48pm

Mardyke wrote: »

.....but it's another one of these places that SOMEHOW always seems to draw a crowd, and keep going for ages despite being bang average... (in there with the Cornstore, Idaho and Ramens of this world)

Idaho is nothing to rave about IMO. Won't ever go back there. Overpriced, pretentious nonsense.

Mardyke · 14-10-2018 6:57pm

northgirl wrote: »

Idaho is nothing to rave about IMO. Won't ever go back there. Overpriced, pretentious nonsense.

There's a vocal minority that love blowing on about that place among a few others. The Cork mafia. Up their own holes.

rob316 · 14-10-2018 7:14pm

Idaho owner is the biggest pain and whinge bag on social media too. I'd never darken his door

northgirl · 14-10-2018 7:23pm

rob316 wrote: »

Idaho owner is the biggest pain and whinge bag on social media too. I'd never darken his door

Pompous numpty.

sporina · 14-10-2018 8:47pm

nlrkjos wrote: »

Lovely evening, food was grand, service was excellent, lovely local girl quick with the banter(deserved a tip of her own!!!) nice atmosphere in there. we went about 6'ish and it was fairly busy but no problem with table. food was just right as to what we ordered and have to say the young girl serving us was a cracker, don't know about going back, but I wouldn't say no, I've had better but I've had worse...one thing, the tiger prawn pil-pil was the best I've had in a while.

hmm glad ye had a pleasant eve... albeit not fantastic.. but interesting that you loved the prawn pil pil.. its one of mt fav dishes.. i'll have to give that a go if nothing else.. i hope they have a decent sav nav to go with it lol

and great about the service - good service and make/break a dining experience = they are lucky to have her.. (not sure if matters that she was local though)

Markcheese · 14-10-2018 10:19pm

sporina wrote: »

The Iberian Way is closed for the foreseeable future - they just announced it on FB - i wonder whats happening?

No panic, the flat upstairs flooded (washing machine apparently), but blew electrics, fridges off the lot, they're hoping to reopen in a couple of weeks...

flangemeistro · 15-10-2018 8:37am

rob316 wrote: »

Idaho owner is the biggest pain and whinge bag on social media too. I'd never darken his door

I had the displeasure of seeing him and his ilk in full on pomp during the Cork Coffee weekend a year back, it just shows that it doesn't take good coffee or even a basic knowledge of coffee to take part in that weekend as Idaho's offering is tripe and their knowledge is bluff, he wasn't the only perpetrator though, there's a bang of obnoxiousness from the majority of organisers unfortunately because Cork has a really good coffee scene.
The last sighting I had of Mr Idaho was when him and his possie including Eoin Kennedy were on Twitter trying to get the artist on Patrick Street kicked off the street the the filthy tactics like "I wonder what paye he's paying"
I called him out on it and he blocked me.
Good riddance.
Anyway myself and the wife have a hospital appointment in the city today so can anyone recommend anywhere to grab some lunch, I'm looking for somewhere that we haven't tried and nothing high brow maybe like a wings or nacho starter, burger, fajita or pasta main.
I was thinking Gallagher's or spitjack?

northgirl · 15-10-2018 9:45am

flangemeistro wrote: »

I had the displeasure of seeing him and his ilk in full on pomp during the Cork Coffee weekend a year back, it just shows that it doesn't take good coffee or even a basic knowledge of coffee to take part in that weekend as Idaho's offering is tripe and their knowledge is bluff, he wasn't the only perpetrator though, there's a bang of obnoxiousness from the majority of organisers unfortunately because Cork has a really good coffee scene.
The last sighting I had of Mr Idaho was when him and his possie including Eoin Kennedy were on Twitter trying to get the artist on Patrick Street kicked off the street the the filthy tactics like "I wonder what paye he's paying"
I called him out on it and he blocked me.
Good riddance.
Anyway myself and the wife have a hospital appointment in the city today so can anyone recommend anywhere to grab some lunch, I'm looking for somewhere that we haven't tried and nothing high brow maybe like a wings or nacho starter, burger, fajita or pasta main.
I was thinking Gallagher's or spitjack?

Haven't been to either but heard great things about both.

Harika · 15-10-2018 9:52am

As we are talking coffee already

Soma is doing their own roasting now and the coffee is really great, imo now best in Cork.
Three Fools has also great coffee, just not as good as Soma, but has better cakes.

BullBlackNova · 15-10-2018 10:05am

Harika wrote: »

As we are talking coffee already
Soma is doing their own roasting now and the coffee is really great, imo now best in Cork.
Three Fools has also great coffee, just not as good as Soma, but has better cakes.

Staff in both places are really nice too. Always friendly and chatty so well worth a visit.

Agreed on the coffee, too. Their own roasts are a cut above most other places in Cork IMO.

Had breakfast in the Bookshelf in the Elysian last week too. Very enjoyable and a really nice spot too. Very bright. Lots of light options too if you don't fancy eggs benedict. I got toast with apple and homemade peanut butter and it was very nice indeed!

rob316 · 15-10-2018 10:11am

flangemeistro wrote: »

I had the displeasure of seeing him and his ilk in full on pomp during the Cork Coffee weekend a year back, it just shows that it doesn't take good coffee or even a basic knowledge of coffee to take part in that weekend as Idaho's offering is tripe and their knowledge is bluff, he wasn't the only perpetrator though, there's a bang of obnoxiousness from the majority of organisers unfortunately because Cork has a really good coffee scene.
The last sighting I had of Mr Idaho was when him and his possie including Eoin Kennedy were on Twitter trying to get the artist on Patrick Street kicked off the street the the filthy tactics like "I wonder what paye he's paying"
I called him out on it and he blocked me.
Good riddance.
Anyway myself and the wife have a hospital appointment in the city today so can anyone recommend anywhere to grab some lunch, I'm looking for somewhere that we haven't tried and nothing high brow maybe like a wings or nacho starter, burger, fajita or pasta main.
I was thinking Gallagher's or spitjack?

Nosta on Marlboro St. They do a great €10 main with drink. Try the pide! I was in there again on Saturday, great meal, really underrated spot.

Markcheese · 15-10-2018 11:10am

rob316 wrote: »

Nosta on Marlboro St. They do a great €10 main with drink. Try the pide! I was in there again on Saturday, great meal, really underrated spot.

Was in nosta about 3 weeks ago, really nice...
. . . But I prefer Ali's kitchen on Paul Street ( Rory Gallagher Square), really good, simple enough food, but very well done...

whatever76 · 15-10-2018 11:40am

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/lifestyle/foodanddrink/restaurant-review-da-mirco-osteria-4-bridge-street-cork-875388.html - Nice review for Da Mirco !

SteelyDanJalapeno · 15-10-2018 11:49am

Had a lovely Brunch in The Bookshelf at The Elysian Saturday, there was a queue out the door after we sat down, akin to Liberty Grill.

I got the Breakfast Bap (floury Bun, square of good black pudding, Bacon, Cheese, fried egg and relish with some greens) it was very good, and the missus god avocado and egg on toast which was also excellent. with 2 coffees it came to about 25 euro but I got a take away raspberry scone too which was magical.

decor is fantastic, service is great, food is great, 9/10

SusieBlue · 15-10-2018 12:02pm

Had an excellent meal in Lab 82 over the weekend. The menu looked gorgeous and very different and interesting compared to what has become standard brunch fare in Cork.

I had the potato rosti, which came with black pudding, a glossy fried egg, fried onion, rashers and a blob of tangy relish. The rosti was crispy, moist, and just as it should be. The accompaniments were all fab too.
One of my friends had the pancakes with strawberries & cream, and the other had the half Irish breakfast. Both also found them to be excellent.

They offered 3 different types of coffee bean, can't remember which I had off the top of my head but it was really good & gorgeously presented. The orange juice tasted freshly squeezed.

They also had a selection of fresh sandwiches on the menu which I'll definitely be returning to sample. There was a counter display filled with dessert type goodies, again, the presentation was impeccable, I was almost drooling looking at it.
My only regret was not getting one for takeaway!

My only slight criticism was that you have to order at the counter - no table service. I found the staff to be friendly & polite despite being run off their feet, the place isn't long open & the queue was out the door.

All in all I would highly recommend. Its now up there with Ali's Kitchen & The River Lee hotel as one of my favourite brunch spots.

Eireog1 · 15-10-2018 3:44pm

Hi All

Just looking for some advise myself and 5 firends are going to visit the lovely city of Cork on the 10th of November. We are staying on McCurtain street and are looking for suggestions for some good restaurants in the area? Open to suggestions for any food types but not too expensive. Thanks

rob316 · 15-10-2018 4:14pm

Eireog1 wrote: »

Hi All

Just looking for some advise myself and 5 firends are going to visit the lovely city of Cork on the 10th of November. We are staying on McCurtain street and are looking for suggestions for some good restaurants in the area? Open to suggestions for any food types but not too expensive. Thanks

Gallaghers seems to be very popular but haven't ate there myself. Son of a Bun and the White Rabbit BBQ are decent too.

hufpc8w3adnk65 · 15-10-2018 4:22pm

rob316 wrote: »

Nosta on Marlboro St. They do a great €10 main with drink. Try the pide! I was in there again on Saturday, great meal, really underrated spot.

Has this place fairly regularly and never leaves me down!

richiepurgas · 15-10-2018 7:14pm

Eireog1 wrote: »

Hi All

Just looking for some advise myself and 5 firends are going to visit the lovely city of Cork on the 10th of November. We are staying on McCurtain street and are looking for suggestions for some good restaurants in the area? Open to suggestions for any food types but not too expensive. Thanks

There's a new Italian place in Bridge street, just around the corner. Haven't been there yet, but the owner worked in the Farmgate in the English market, a class place.

Water John · 15-10-2018 7:32pm

Post 7173 above gives the link to a very favourable review of that place.

Mardyke · 15-10-2018 8:00pm

flangemeistro wrote: »

I had the displeasure of seeing him and his ilk in full on pomp during the Cork Coffee weekend a year back, it just shows that it doesn't take good coffee or even a basic knowledge of coffee to take part in that weekend as Idaho's offering is tripe and their knowledge is bluff, he wasn't the only perpetrator though, there's a bang of obnoxiousness from the majority of organisers unfortunately because Cork has a really good coffee scene.
The last sighting I had of Mr Idaho was when him and his possie including Eoin Kennedy were on Twitter trying to get the artist on Patrick Street kicked off the street the the filthy tactics like "I wonder what paye he's paying"
I called him out on it and he blocked me.
Good riddance.
Anyway myself and the wife have a hospital appointment in the city today so can anyone recommend anywhere to grab some lunch, I'm looking for somewhere that we haven't tried and nothing high brow maybe like a wings or nacho starter, burger, fajita or pasta main.
I was thinking Gallagher's or spitjack?

On the face of it, that Coffee Week is a good idea. But once you look at the muppets behind it and the way they only include their own little clique it becomes an embarrassment! They are some shower.

They blow on about supporting indepentent cafes. But they really mean just support the clique. If you're not in the clique you don't exist, regardless of the quality of the product.

For example Warren Allen does a coffee on a different planet to Idaho. But you'd never hear the Eoin guy mention them.

rob316 · 15-10-2018 8:24pm

It's the passive agressive nature of his signs outside the cafe I don't like.

"Cups not buckets coffee sold here"
"We won't put your name on your cup"

He's trying to be edgy but comes across as a tosser.
You'd swear he was the only independent business who has multinational rivals in his industry.

nlrkjos · 15-10-2018 8:46pm

SteelyDanJalapeno wrote: »

Had a lovely Brunch in The Bookshelf at The Elysian Saturday, there was a queue out the door after we sat down, akin to Liberty Grill.

I got the Breakfast Bap (floury Bun, square of good black pudding, Bacon, Cheese, fried egg and relish with some greens) it was very good, and the missus god avocado and egg on toast which was also excellent. with 2 coffees it came to about 25 euro but I got a take away raspberry scone too which was magical.

decor is fantastic, service is great, food is great, 9/10

Meself and herself go there regular, also the one on the mall, coffee is great there and the scones are a meal in themselves, I mix their beans with red rooster 4 and its the best cup of coffee in the world, (I use a ceramic stove top pot that I bought in Sicily 20 years ago)

nlrkjos · 15-10-2018 8:49pm

sporina wrote: »

hmm
and great about the service - good service and make/break a dining experience = they are lucky to have her.. (not sure if matters that she was local though)

Local does matter sometimes, they "get" the humour and the bit of craic, more so than other nationalities, nothing agin' them either but they can be a wee bit dry. Herself reckons she wouldn't bother going there again tho@ thought it was a bit overpriced for what we had, but she did enjoy the evening, maybe because we sat near a Norwegian couple (I speak the lingo) and she got some pointers on where to go when we go to Tromso in December.

sporina · 15-10-2018 8:59pm

Heard today that EAST by The Rocketman in the Winthrop street arcade has closed..

bizz213 · 15-10-2018 9:10pm

Joes & Bros apparently going in there

BullBlackNova · 15-10-2018 9:11pm

sporina wrote: »

Heard today that EAST by The Rocketman in the Winthrop street arcade has closed..

Really!? I hope not. Big fan! There was a huge queue outside there when I passed early last week.

Corkforever · 15-10-2018 9:19pm

Whats Joes & Bros like?

Meeting friends there tomorrow

sporina · 15-10-2018 9:34pm

BullBlackNova wrote: »

Really!? I hope not. Big fan! There was a huge queue outside there when I passed early last week.

apparently so

i'm a fan too - best falafels in town - Umi's are not a patch on them

JackieChang · 16-10-2018 7:45am

rob316 wrote: »

Nosta on Marlboro St. They do a great €10 main with drink. Try the pide! I was in there again on Saturday, great meal, really underrated spot.

Get the grilled lamb next time. So delicious.

Slim Charles · 16-10-2018 10:57am

Dinner in River Lee Hotel this evening, never been, is it any cop ?

opus · 16-10-2018 2:07pm

SteelyDanJalapeno wrote: »

Had a lovely Brunch in The Bookshelf at The Elysian Saturday, there was a queue out the door after we sat down, akin to Liberty Grill.

I got the Breakfast Bap (floury Bun, square of good black pudding, Bacon, Cheese, fried egg and relish with some greens) it was very good, and the missus god avocado and egg on toast which was also excellent. with 2 coffees it came to about 25 euro but I got a take away raspberry scone too which was magical.

decor is fantastic, service is great, food is great, 9/10

Had a very nice lunch there today, will definitely be back there again to try some more of the menu.

pwurple · 16-10-2018 4:13pm

Slim Charles wrote: »

Dinner in River Lee Hotel this evening, never been, is it any cop ?

Come back and tell us! It's about 4 years since I ate in there, brekkie was good. Evening was a bit mixed.

Cotts72 · 17-10-2018 12:08am

SusieBlue wrote: »

Had an excellent meal in Lab 82 over the weekend. The menu looked gorgeous and very different and interesting compared to what has become standard brunch fare in Cork.

I had the potato rosti, which came with black pudding, a glossy fried egg, fried onion, rashers and a blob of tangy relish. The rosti was crispy, moist, and just as it should be. The accompaniments were all fab too.
One of my friends had the pancakes with strawberries & cream, and the other had the half Irish breakfast. Both also found them to be excellent.

They offered 3 different types of coffee bean, can't remember which I had off the top of my head but it was really good & gorgeously presented. The orange juice tasted freshly squeezed.

They also had a selection of fresh sandwiches on the menu which I'll definitely be returning to sample. There was a counter display filled with dessert type goodies, again, the presentation was impeccable, I was almost drooling looking at it.
My only regret was not getting one for takeaway!

My only slight criticism was that you have to order at the counter - no table service. I found the staff to be friendly & polite despite being run off their feet, the place isn't long open & the queue was out the door.

All in all I would highly recommend. Its now up there with Ali's Kitchen & The River Lee hotel as one of my favourite brunch spots.

Been here a few times also,great spot and lovely coffee (choice of Brazilian/Ethiopian/costa rican beans)! staff are a1 also. Can vouch for the eggs benedict

what the hell! · 17-10-2018 8:08am

JackieChang wrote: »

Get the grilled lamb next time. So delicious.

I must get in over the next few days. I was having a look at the menu. Are they lamb cutlets? Can't see them on the menu.

JackieChang · 17-10-2018 3:25pm

what the hell! wrote: »

I must get in over the next few days. I was having a look at the menu. Are they lamb cutlets? Can't see them on the menu.

It's called lamb grill. Super succulent cuts of lamb fillet in a sort of turkish arrangement with bread, salad, sauce, chips etc. The flavor of the lamb is like heroin to me. The way I describe it sounds like a late night kebab... but it's not don't worry.

.red. · 17-10-2018 4:53pm

JackieChang wrote: »

It's called lamb grill. Super succulent cuts of lamb fillet in a sort of turkish arrangement with bread, salad, sauce, chips etc. The flavor of the lamb is like heroin to me. The way I describe it sounds like a late night kebab... but it's not don't worry.

That's what a kebab should be like, but usually isn't.
I think I might know where my next meal out could be. Very hard to find a "good" kebab in Cork.

Slim Charles · 17-10-2018 6:02pm

pwurple wrote: »

Come back and tell us! It's about 4 years since I ate in there, brekkie was good. Evening was a bit mixed.

Set menu i got mushroom soup for starter as I didn't care for any of the choices and wanted something to dip my rolls into. Our lass ate my soup after her starter and said it was nice though. Beautiful salmon for main, not enough veg the only downside. And sticky toffee pudding for dessert - very nice.

Would give it 8/10 - points lost for flat beer and the choice of starters.

nerwen · 17-10-2018 6:46pm

JackieChang wrote: »

It's called lamb grill. Super succulent cuts of lamb fillet in a sort of turkish arrangement with bread, salad, sauce, chips etc. The flavor of the lamb is like heroin to me. The way I describe it sounds like a late night kebab... but it's not don't worry.

+1 for this description.

It is very much like a high quality, deconstructed kebab and there's nothing wrong with that. I go regularly for this specific dish, love it!

Corkforever · 17-10-2018 7:56pm

Visited Lab82 for 1st time today and have to say coffee was good & food was tasty! Place is cool also! Service was slow tbh but i think they aren't open long so hopefully get more fluid and quicker

D'Agger · 17-10-2018 10:29pm

Corkforever wrote: »

Visited Lab82 for 1st time today and have to say coffee was good & food was tasty! Place is cool also! Service was slow tbh but i think they aren't open long so hopefully get more fluid and quicker

Popped in there last week also and really enjoyed it, coffee was really nice and wasn't piping hot as is normally the case when you order black coffee, enjoyed it being spacious especially seeing as I was in the horrors after staying up for the McGregor fight :pac:

The Restaurant Recommendation Thread

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