All posts filed under: Restaurants

O’Grady’s on the Pier, Barna, Galway

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One of my favourite restaurants of all time is Michael O’Grady’s seafood restaurant O’Grady’s on the Pier in Barna just outside Galway City.  And even better is that it is a local restaurant for me! The restaurant is renowned for its seafood and has won many awards including Best Seafood Experience at the Restaurant Association of Ireland Awards 2011 – an award it is shortlisted for again this year.  It’s location is another huge plus factor being right down on Barna Pier with gorgeous views across Galway Bay. I have been to O’Grady’s both for dinner and lunch a number of times and it is always a treat.  The location is equally stunning on a stormy winters day as it is on a sunny summers day.  And when the sun does shine, there is the option of eating outside facing the sea. I love Sunday Lunch at O’Grady’s where you can have a three course meal for E27.95 (or each dish is individually priced if you don’t wish to have 3 courses).  Starters typically include …

IL Vicolo Cafe, Galway

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Il Vicolo Cafe is a lovely Italian cafe and wine bar located on the corner of St. Augustine Street and Buttermilk Walk in Galway. I visited for lunch on a busy Saturday of a bank holiday weekend.  The cafe is very small and we had to wait a few minutes for a table – but it turned out to be well worth the wait.  The cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner but you can also pop in for coffees and cake or a glass of wine.  The lunchtime fare consists of soups, two pasta specials and a selection of paninis, bruschettas and salads. There were two of us for lunch and we ordered the two specials.  My dish consisted of penne with spicy sausage, pancetta and chard in a cream sauce.  It was incredible – cooked to perfection and definitely one of the very finest pasta dishes I have ever tasted and well worth its E9.50 price tag.  The second special was gnocchi with a quattro formaggi sauce and pesto and was also pronounced very …

Rouge, Dominic Street, Galway

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Rouge is a French restaurant with a difference located on Dominic Street in Galway.  The menu is limited main course wise to steak, fish of the day or a vegetarian dish of the day and for E15 you get your choice of one of these main courses and a set starter of bite sized appetisers. The concept is really working.  In fact, if you walk in off the street later on in the week or at the weekend you are likely to be disappointed.  The place is now so popular that early booking is definitely advisable. I visited with four friends a couple of weeks ago for the first time.  It was early on a Thursday evening – around 6pm – and before long the restaurant was full.  Our group of five ordered three steaks and two vegetarian dishes.  The vegetarian dish on that day was a filo parcel filled with goats cheese and spinach.  The steaks are served with a good selection of sauces.  All main courses are served with your choice of potato …

O’Brien Chop House, Lismore

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I was delighted to be in Waterford for the weekend and get the opportunity to visit O’Brien Chop House in Lismore for dinner.  I had heard only good things about this restaurant and was really looking forward to visiting. You walk in the door to a gorgeous bar area and a lovely welcome!  I love when a restaurant has an area where you can sit, chat and enjoy a pre-dinner drink and the Chop House bar area is one of the best.  The bar area is beautifully restored and you could sit here for hours.  We enjoyed a Rhubarb Bellini and it tasted like more! For starters, we decided to share the Charcuterie Plate which comprises a selection of the restaurant’s own cured meats.   It is clear that the restuarant is extremely proud of the quality of its produce.  The saddleback pigs are reared by the owners and the management and staff are passionate and knowledgeable about the produce, which tasted wonderful. For mains, I chose the fish option of the day which was …

Tannery Restaurant, Dungarvan

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The Tannery Restaurant has been on my list of must visits for a long time, the only reason it took so long to fulfill is the long drive from Galway to get there, but a few weeks ago I spent a weekend in lovely Waterford and got my wish to eat in The Tannery. I “know” Paul and Maire Flynn from Twitter – they are always so friendly and welcoming online and in person were no different.  The Tannery is housed in a beautiful building and the decor is really gorgeous.  From the moment we entered the building we felt completely at home.  Maire Flynn is a wonderful host and is thoroughly professional, friendly and welcoming all at the same time. We started with some exquisitely made cocktails – a Lychee Martini and a Cosmopolitan.  I had the Cosmopolitan and I can almost taste it as I write this and would give anything for another one now! For starters, I chose the Artisan Smoked Salmon with potato and spring onion fritters and horse radish cream. …

Eight Bar and Restaurant, Galway

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A recent visit with friends to Eight Bar and Restaurant on Dock Road, Galway was a great success (perhaps it was bound to be when the drinks bill was the same as the food bill – but enough of that!).  This restaurant is dedicated to using local, seasonal produce with all suppliers credited on the menu. The menu is divided into three sections; Light Bites (starters) ranging in price from c. E6 – E10, Bigger Bites (mains) c. E18 – E23 and After Eights (desserts) c. E6.50 or a cheese board at E11.50.  There is also a daily cocktail on the menu (E6.50) and given that we were four girls who love “pink fizz”, we had to start with a round (or two!) of prosecco with strawberry puree. The wine list is short (but perfectly formed) and each variety is available by the glass which I always like to see.  We chose a lovely bottle of Chablis which was well priced at E28. One of our party had a glass of Rioja with her main course and this …

Providence Market Kitchen, Galway

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A visit to Providence Market Kitchen on the corner of St. Augustine Street and Abbeygate Street, Galway has put it at the top of my list for the best coffee in Galway.  This gorgeous cafe serves coffees, juices, cakes, soups, salads and sandwiches and is well worth a visit.  The cafe also serves as a gallery exhibiting paintings from established local artists. We stopped by on Saturday for a quick coffee.  Prices are very reasonable with E14 getting us two cappuccinos, a latte, a muffin, a scone and a “Rocky Road”.   The cakes were all very good but it was the coffee that stole the show.  Not only were they perfectly made but the flavour was fantastic – definitely my new favourite for a pit stop coffee in  Galway. The cafe will also pack you an “urban picnic” if you wish to enjoy elsewhere and all menu items are available for take away.  Treat yourself to a coffee and more at Providence Market Kitchen soon!

Sirocco’s, Tullamore, Co Offaly – Top class Italian Restaurant

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Sirocco’s is an Italian restaurant located on Patrick St, Tullamore, Co Offaly.  The restaurant has recently won Best Restaurant Offaly 2011 and Best Customer Service Offaly 2011 in the Restaurant Awards of Ireland – accolades it also won in 2010.  I remember it from years ago in its former guise of Senor Rico’s and was looking forward to dining there again last weekend. The restaurant is small but inviting.  It was busy when we arrived and we had to wait a few minutes for our table but there was a little bar area where we could sit and browse the menu and order drinks.  Having ordered the wine, a carafe of the house Sauvignon Blanc for me and a half bottle of Shiraz for my friend (both priced around the e13 to e14 mark), we settled back to review the menu before being led to our table. The menu is extensive with about 15 each of starters, pasta dishes, pizzas and meat/fish dishes. For starters, my friend chose the Calamari Fritti (Deep fried squid rings with lemon & tartare dip) …

Need lunch on the run in Galway? Try The Gourmet Tart Company

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The Gourmet Tart Company, (www.gourmettartcompany.com) operates from 4 outlets in Galway –  Lower Abbeygate St, Henry St, Galway Shopping Centre and Salthill.  I work in the city and more often than not just need a takeaway sandwich or similar for lunch.  The Gourmet Tart Company is perfect.  Whilst it may be better known for its wonderful cakes, breads and pastries; it also has a wonderful deli counter for fresh sandwiches, rolls or wraps at lunchtime.  It also serves soup, pre-packed (but freshly made that day) sandwiches, mini quiches and take away salads in addition to fresh coffee, soft drinks, juices, water and crisps.  You can currently get a fresh pre-packed sandwich, a bottle of water or juice and a packet of crisps for e5 which is a very pocket friendly deal. Sandwich, roll and wrap prices are very reasonable and you can choose from one of their set sandwiches to have made up or design your own.  All the fillings are fresh that day and include meats (ham, chicken, turkey, beef etc), chicken mixes (cajun, pesto etc), tuna, …

Vie de Chateaux, Naas

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I love Vie de Chateaux in Naas so I am not one bit surprised that it recently scooped the “Best Restaurant in Kildare”award at the regional finals of the Restaurant Association of Ireland awards 2011.  Vie de Chateaux (www.viedechateaux.ie) describes itself as a Wine Bar and Grill, a rather understated description for a very accomplished French restaurant.  The restaurant is located at The Harbour, Naas and is on ground level so it is easily accessible. My last visit was a few weeks ago and it was another triumph.  There are two menus for dinner; a Menu Bistro and a Menu Gourmet.  The Menu Bistro costs e29 and the Menu Gourmet costs e36 and for that you get a starter, main course and dessert.  You can however mix and match or just have one or two courses if you prefer.  It is a French Restaurant and be warned they use lots of garlic and the smell of garlic permeates the restaurant. We chose a very well priced bottle of Sancerre from the wine list (e33) and it was wonderful.  Foodwise, …