Dinner Tonight! Where to go? - Restaurant & Eating Out Recommendations for NCD

Stheno · 18-02-2017 10:49pm

Arthur Daley wrote: »

It hasn't helped that they had boarded up shops either side for the last 8/9 years. I saw some effort going into the shop fronts on main street this week.with the castle redevelopment work started let's hope future businesses there have a bit more chance to thrive and there is a bounce for the main street. Considering how many 10s of thousands live around, it should be doing better.

Empire has been beside them the past two years?

pinkypinky · 19-02-2017 12:25am

Well, parking is a disaster in the whole town - and most of the housing estates are not a walkable distance. That's surely part of the problem. They should be opening up the empty fingal Co.Co. staff car parks at night and on weekends to attract people to the town.

Stheno · 19-02-2017 12:27am

pinkypinky wrote: »

Well, parking is a disaster in the whole town - and most of the housing estates are not a walkable distance. That's surely part of the problem. They should be opening up the empty fingal Co.Co. staff car parks at night and on weekends to attract people to the town.

Every time I've gone out in Swords in the past three months we've gotten parking either in the loading bays in the plaza or on the main street.

Even on Saturday afternoons when we go for brunch.

So I'd not blame that, every other establishment has to cope with that.

The Davestator · 20-02-2017 1:02pm

pinkypinky wrote: »

Well, parking is a disaster in the whole town - and most of the housing estates are not a walkable distance. That's surely part of the problem. They should be opening up the empty fingal Co.Co. staff car parks at night and on weekends to attract people to the town.

Mastersons is always rammed and its only across the road!

The Davestator · 20-02-2017 1:04pm

Homer wrote: »

I think theres a curse on that building! Plenty of competition around the town has weathered the hard times yet that location has seen Nhu Y (what the hell kind of name is that lol) Fratellis, Mint Leaf, Dowlers, all in the space of a couple of years.

I think the curse is that they have all gone down the 'Groupon' road - its not sustainable as people who get a dinner for €x will not spend double on the same dinner the next time. They'll just wait for the next deal but unfortunately, the business closes because they cannot run at a loss.

My opinion anyway

sharkman · 28-02-2017 8:33am

Homer wrote: »

I think theres a curse on that building! Plenty of competition around the town has weathered the hard times yet that location has seen Nhu Y (what the hell kind of name is that lol) Fratellis, Mint Leaf, Dowlers, all in the space of a couple of years.

I think Fratelli's has moved down to one of the units that used to be Taylors Hardware .

Uriel. · 28-02-2017 9:04am

Was in Nhu Y the other night. It was dead unfortunately. Can't see it lasting. Not doing themselves many favours either though. Red wines - 3 options €25 €45 and I think 50ish. Not a lot of choice but more so if you don't like the standard affair (Italian wine) your next option is 20euro more expensive. They could do with a few extras.

The pricing for the starters seems a bit muddled. Some starters are 10euro which is expensive for that kind of restaurant and when I saw the 10 euro starter, while tasty was nowhere near worth 10euro imo.

Also they gave a bowl of prawn crackers (or something similar) to our table and it had one cracker each in it. Seemed stingy to me, especially if they're trying to drum up repeat business. It wouldn't have been noticed so much if they didn't give any at all.

Inquitus · 28-02-2017 12:06pm

Shagun gets my vote for best Indian Takeaway in Swords

humberklog · 02-03-2017 5:59pm

I had Indie Spice last month and really liked it. I got a take away for 2 and I picked it up in the restaurant myself. It's a really nice room and good service.

I'd usually go to Jaipur in Malahide and it is nice but not as good as what the extra in price would have you think. My regular for take-out of 1 starter, 2 mains with rice and nan costs about a tenner more than other nice Indians.

I like Shobnom these days but they don't have it in Indie Spice so gonna try Spice of India tonight.

humberklog · 05-03-2017 11:47pm

...and I really liked Spice of India too!

Nice room, more traditional English Indian style decor but done smartly and knowingly. I was in for a take away but the service was friendly.
Taste wise I thought it slightly ahead of Indie Spice but really nothing between them.

Maybe Spice of India for traditional English Indian and Indie Spice for a more contemporary experience of dishes and decor?

I was in The Greedy Goose in Malahide for the first time today. Lunch. An interesting and enjoyable menu served well in a very smart room. We were lucky enough to get a window seat.
Looking forward to going back for dinner sooner rather than later.

Stheno · 05-03-2017 11:49pm

humberklog wrote: »

.

I was in The Greedy Goose in Malahide for the first time today. Lunch. A really interesting and enjoyable menu served well in a very smart room. We were lucky enough to get a window seat.
Looking forward to going back for dinner sooner rather than later.

Was that the mixed menu where you pick a load of essentially tapas?

I love eating there but my OH hates it so we rarely go.

There is a new place opened up where Little Jerusalem was, called the Grillhouse.

humberklog · 06-03-2017 12:04am

Stheno wrote: »

Was that the mixed menu where you pick a load of essentially tapas?

I love eating there but my OH hates it so we rarely go.

There is a new place opened up where Little Jerusalem was, called the Grillhouse.

That's the one. I think they're avoiding calling it Tapas because of the way the term has been confused and abused here.

It suits me as I often like a series of small sharing dishes. Wouldn't be for everyone.

Stheno · 06-03-2017 12:06am

humberklog wrote: »

That's the one. I think they're avoiding calling it Tapas because of the way the term has been confused and abused here.

It suits me as I often like a series of small sharing dishes. Wouldn't be for everyone.

Yeah I'm the same, enjoy having a number of small dishes

My OH is a shteak and spuds type

humberklog · 06-03-2017 12:13am

Stheno wrote: »

Yeah I'm the same, enjoy having a number of small dishes

My OH is a shteak and spuds type

The Scotch Bonnet could be the place for him! I really like it, fun and tasty.

Dizzyblonde · 06-03-2017 12:13pm

I love the Greedy Goose, they have a great menu and the food is consistently good.

Homer · 06-03-2017 2:07pm

Speaking of Tapas.. a little further out the coast in Howth.. Restaurant called Boqueria. Calling it Tapas would be a slight disservice as its more than that. larger portions than I would normally expect from a Tapas menu but presented in a stunning way and delicious! Well worth a spin out.
Must try spice of india after the positive comments here! We are die hard chilli shaker fans

pinkypinky · 11-03-2017 3:18pm

Had a lovely meal in the Scotch Bonnet in Malahide last night. Excellent scampi. They were mad busy too.

neris · 11-03-2017 6:29pm

Homer wrote: »

Speaking of Tapas.. a little further out the coast in Howth.. Restaurant called Boqueria. Calling it Tapas would be a slight disservice as its more than that. larger portions than I would normally expect from a Tapas menu but presented in a stunning way and delicious! Well worth a spin out.
Must try spice of india after the positive comments here! We are die hard chilli shaker fans

not been but parents went there week before last and werent impressed with it, said it was expensive for what was being served

Qprmeath · 12-03-2017 7:00pm

Anyone try any of the Indian takeaways in Balbriggan lately?

Pipmae · 13-03-2017 11:58am

Qprmeath wrote: »

Anyone try any of the Indian takeaways in Balbriggan lately?

Moti Mahal is consistently very good. We get takeaway about 3 times a month from it and we are never disappointed.

padger · 13-03-2017 4:22pm

The Thai restaurant in balbriggan, karma Thai, is lovely , delicious food and friendly people

The Hill Billy · 13-03-2017 8:25pm

I couldn't agree more. The only issue that I have with Karma Thai is that they have different menus for the restaurant & for takeaway. And my fave dish is only on the takeaway menu.

That said, the food is super & the service is great. The restaurant is very family-friendly too.

padger · 13-03-2017 9:24pm

Didn't realise they had separate menus, can't beat the pad Thai though

Stheno · 19-03-2017 8:31pm

Dinner at sale e Pepe Friday always a lovely experience.

Nice food and good service

plodder · 20-03-2017 10:09am

A place I never would have thought was the restaurant in the Carnegie Court. Had a really nice early bird on Paddy's day. Food was excellent.

uck51js9zml2yt · 20-03-2017 10:11am

plodder wrote: »

A place I never would have thought was the restaurant in the Carnegie Court. Had a really nice early bird on Paddy's day. Food was excellent.

We had our wedding meal there and got the early bird. Everyone had what they wanted and were happy!

pinkypinky · 20-03-2017 12:55pm

Yes, I've never had a bad meal in the Courtyard.

uck51js9zml2yt · 25-03-2017 9:35pm

We went for a trip to Skerries this afternoon having not been there in a few years.
We ate in the Blue Bar. I have to say, I was very impressed with the quality of the food.

Had 1 starter, 2 mains, 1 side , 2 deserts and a coffee for 65 euro.
It would be on my repeat visit list...if i kept one:)

LeoB · 26-03-2017 6:36pm

In Oscar Taylors last night and it was good.

3 starters, 5 mains (1 Child) and 4 desserts glass of wine and 4 soft drinks around €125 so reasonable.

We had a good selection from menu, wings, (have had better), HK Chicken and fish cake as starters. The Salmon, Chicken and Steak as mains and they were good. Desserts were 6/7 out of 10.

Will go back

PukkaStukka · 26-03-2017 6:51pm

I think we're very fortunate to have the pick of great eateries in the north county. A few of my favourites:

Swords: Indie Spice and D'Chili Shaker for Indian, Gourmet Food Parlour for Tapas.

Donabate: Pasta Castello and Chungs for Italian & Chinese respectively.

Skerries: Blue, Stoops, Red Bank and Raffs. The latter does an excellent voucher deal for steak on the stone for two. Booking that with a live band playing is a really good night out!

Special mention for my favourite coffee shop which does nifty food which is at The Seamus Ennis centre in the Naul.

Arthur Daley · 26-03-2017 8:19pm

Yes the Seamus Ennis centre cafe do a decent full meal and a french or italian theme night when they show a french or italian film.

Had a grand bacon and cabbage there st. Patricks day. For the day that was in it.

Stheno · 26-03-2017 8:38pm

I've never warmed to gourmet in swords since the purple revamp last time we went there for tapas it was so dark we couldn't read the menus.

I often get a takeout sandwich there and love going for brunch in their malahide branch but the swords gourmet is no longer for me.

Arthur Daley · 26-03-2017 8:50pm

During the week - office hours there is also the gourmet food parlour in the estuary business park -right by the new post office depot. Parking isn't much better though, since they went nuts with the double yellow lines in there about a year ago.

Dizzyblonde · 26-03-2017 9:15pm

I've never been in the Gourmet Food Parlour in the evening, we usually go for breakfast or lunch - or for coffee and their huge warm scones that come with cream and jam

Stheno · 26-03-2017 9:25pm

Dizzyblonde wrote: »

I've never been in the Gourmet Food Parlour in the evening, we usually go for breakfast or lunch - or for coffee and their huge warm scones that come with cream and jam

Brunch is still good there I've been a few times on my own and it was lovely.

Michael8000 · 27-03-2017 4:01pm

Arthur Daley wrote: »

Yes the Seamus Ennis centre cafe do a decent full meal and a french or italian theme night when they show a french or italian film.

Had a grand bacon and cabbage there st. Patricks day. For the day that was in it.

Stheno · 30-03-2017 4:42pm

Am being treated to the early bird in Bon Appetit tonight, anyone been recently?

Stheno · 30-03-2017 7:32pm

Stheno wrote: »

Am being treated to the early bird in Bon Appetit tonight, anyone been recently?

Yum!!!

Stheno · 30-03-2017 10:02pm

Stheno wrote: »

Yum!!!

Now that I'm out of my food coma, I can be a little more expansive.

Lovely service, with a great waiter who got my OHs sometimes obscure humor.

Last time we ate here it was when it was still Le Restaurant, then the bistro, and the tapas, so a lot fancier.

They've really changed the style of the bistro as it was.

Great bread to chew on while we perused the menu, I'd spatchcooked quail for starters, then pork belly with egg, and black pudding in a veg broth.

I wasn't too sure how to eat the quail, so didn't get the best of it, and later saw another diner just pick it up and suck the meat off the bones.

Either way, both courses were gorgeous.

OH had a spare rib croquette, and roast chicken (he's a fierce plain eater, last time we were there he thought the best part of the meal was the bread :eek:)

He said both were just divine.

Two courses each, two glasses of wine, a soft drink and a coffee came to 50 euro which I thought was shockingly good value.

They've completely changed from how they were a few years ago, they do brunch now, and a steak special on Sundays where a steak is 15 euro.

I'm still sat here and my tummy is still going "omg, omg, that was good"

neris · 31-03-2017 8:29am

the guy who runs it had the newstalk business show in there doing a live event last weekend and was saying how he,d done the whole michelin star thing and found it to be a pain in the backside and now just wanted to serve decent food and give good service and wasnt bothered with the whole snobbery around the high end restaurants

pinkypinky · 31-03-2017 9:26am

I was there last week: very nice food but portions are quite small. I had a lovely crab starter and vegetarian gnocchi dish for my main but was left a bit hungry. Staff were attentive but not overly. 3 starters, 3 mains and 3 glasses of wine for €130.

One small complaint: it was mother's day and their offer of €15 steaks didn't apply. That's fine: but take down the signs advertising it on those occasions.

Stheno · 31-03-2017 10:21pm

pinkypinky wrote: »

I was there last week: very nice food but portions are quite small. I had a lovely crab starter and vegetarian gnocchi dish for my main but was left a bit hungry. Staff were attentive but not overly. 3 starters, 3 mains and 3 glasses of wine for €130.

One small complaint: it was mother's day and their offer of €15 steaks didn't apply. That's fine: but take down the signs advertising it on those occasions.

I like the small portions

On the likes of mothers day I can see why they don't do the offer

Yggr of Asgard · 09-04-2017 5:46pm

Swords Main Street now has an Italian with wood fired pizza called "Pomodorino" and it's excellent.

Very small place (next to the now defunct Pok Pok) with only a couple of tables but offers takeout (which is considerable cheaper than the dine in prices).

Great food, service could have been better but I was on the 2nd day of them open.

Lead · 18-04-2017 4:56pm

Went to Bon Appetit for the tapas on Saturday. The food was fantastic but my god the woman serving us was a nightmare. Between forgetting every order we gave her (drinks and food) to standing at our table bitching about the owners. I wont go back again if she's there in future, i'll turn and walk out. Someone in my job was there the same night and had the same complaints about her. Appalling behavior.

Dizzyblonde · 18-04-2017 10:41pm

That's very off-putting, I doubt she'll be working there for long.

Kintarō Hattori · 20-04-2017 11:35am

Just seeing the mention of the Seamus Ennis centre in Naul and I have to highlight just how consistently delicious their roast meals are. The missus and I used to go there for breakfast from Balbriggan and while I wouldn't rate the breakfasts, their roast lamb and beef meals are absolutely divine. It's not somewhere to make an 'event' of but if you happen to be in the area and are feeling peckish, it's well worth it.

uck51js9zml2yt · 20-04-2017 9:23pm

We went to Fifty50 in Ashbourne a few weeks ago. Had 3 course early bird for €16.
the food was exceptional. Parking in Tesco just opposite. Booking is essential

Felexicon · 24-04-2017 9:11am

Emilee Numerous Baker wrote: »

We went to Fifty50 in Ashbourne a few weeks ago. Had 3 course early bird for €16.
the food was exceptional. Parking in Tesco just opposite. Booking is essential

Now as local to the area I would have to point out that it is in Meath but yes the food is exceptional.

Felexicon · 24-04-2017 9:13am

Not dinner but went to Seasons in Skerries for breakfast on Saturday and I must say it was delicious. Service was excellent and they dealt with the power cut very well. Plenty of options available but the Breakfast of Champions was top notch

Stheno · 30-04-2017 4:58pm

Went to the Seamus Ennis art centre for brunch today, it was lovely. I'm convinced they did themselves on the bill, a breakfast, a blt, two coffees, three lattes and a slice of brack came to 19.90. They checked it a couple of times and said the extra coffees went down as refills rather than full price and seemed happy with it.

Will be checking out some of their events they seem to have a great programme

Dinner Tonight! Where to go? - Restaurant & Eating Out Recommendations for NCD

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