Ireland 2012 Guidebook
Best and worst restaurants:
Best: Crackpots in Kenmare
Why: Early dinner includes a complete meal that was outstanding.
recommend: Mulcahy's in Kenmare
ann fessler in gig harbor, wa, WA USA 12/21/2011
Best: Fishy Fishy Shop & Chippy, Kinsale, 2011 book, p. 172
Why: The BEST fish/chips we had in Ireland! Light, tasty batter for fish and the fish itself was SO FRESH! Great service as well!
Worst: The Fisherman's Bar, Portmagee, 2011 guide, p.207
Why: Terrible food! We had fried shrimp & fish & chips. Here we were at a harbor, and the food wasn't fresh - it was frozen! Tasted like the frozen food you get in a Banquet TV dinner. Service wasn't much better.
Maureen in Tempe, AZ USA 10/22/2011
Best: Cassidy's in Tralee, Fishy Fishy in Kinsale
Why: Cassidy's in Tralee was our top meal until we stumbled onto Spa Seafood and went to Fishy Fishy. This is no small feat as the food in Ireland was great and the people very friendly. However these two recommendations were inaccurate only in that they might have been a bit low in their reviews.
Worst: Meadowlands Hotel
Why: The dinner tasted like it was microwaved or out of a can. The breakfasts were lacking and the egg dishes were horrible.
William Gamble in Culver City, CA USA 10/11/2011
Best: Lohan's - Salthill
Why: Fabulous food and wonderful service plus no mark up on wine
Peter in Vancouver, Canada 10/06/2011
Best: Abbey Tavern in Howth
Why: okay food but good irish show almost every night
martha Aguiar in CAMPTON, NH USA 10/03/2011
Best: Lime Tree restaurant, Kenmare
Why: Went there based on Rick's recommendation. Very friendly, nice slightly upscale atmosphere, good food. A little treat from the usual pub fare. Also loved another Kenmare recommendation: "Jam" bakery/cafe. Good lunches, breads, scones.
B. Golden in San Francisco, CA USA 09/21/2011
Best: J. J. O'Malleys
Why: Great food and a nice atmosphere.
Eilis O'Neal in Tulsa, OK USA 08/05/2011
Best: Fishy Fishy Restaurant - Kinsale
Why: Hands down the best oysters I have ever had in my life. They are truly amazing. Add to that the fabulous lobster and turbot dishes we enjoyed and this is one great restaurant. Make reservations a few days ahead if you want a chance to try this restaurant.
Brian Furlong in Chicago, IL USA 08/04/2011
Best: Out of the Blue
Why: Fresh, unique, delicious, creative
Worst: None
Why: We did not have a bad meal in Ireland
Gregory in Las Vegas, NV USA 07/30/2011
Best: Out of the Blue, Dingle and Vaughan's Pub, Kilfenora
Why: The food in Out of the Blue was excellent and fresh. Vaughan's Pub, the only restaurant in this tiny town along the path to the Burren had the best fish and chips I've ever tasted.
Lisa Moyer in Pine Grove, PA USA 06/30/2011
Best: Out Of The Blue-Seafood Restaurant
Why: The freshest fish I've eaten - I had the Monk Fish special. Delicious.
Jon Lesch in Portland, OR USA 06/10/2011
Best: Out Of The Blue-Seafood Restaurant
Why: The freshest fish I've eaten - I had the Monk Fish special. Delicious.
Jon Lesch in Portland, OR USA 06/10/2011
Best: Dublin restaurants
Why: O’Neill’s Pub (good pub experience), Bewley’s Café (fun to visit and good food), and Gallagher’s Boxty House (good people there and good food, too). All enjoyable with different experiences in each.
Susan and Don in Columbia, SC USA 06/09/2011
Best: Fitzroys in Derry
Why: Food was very good and they give a 30% discount for all food and beverage.
eileendaniel in rochester, ny USA 06/01/2011
Best: An Canteen and The Old Smokehouse, Dingle Town
Why: Excellent food and atmosphere at reasonable prices
Paul Porwoll in Johns Island, SC USA 05/26/2011
Best: Max's Wine Bar, Kinsale
Why: Wandered in, bedraggled from travel without a reservation, on a Friday evening (early May) and owner/hostess very pleasantly offered to seat us immediately or after 8. The warm greeting, food and service were (along with Heatons' restaurant in Dingle) the best we enjoyed in Ireland. Good menu with local ingredients, pleasant atmosphere. Wish we had a Max's in my town!
Chris in Cedar Point, NC USA 05/17/2011
Best: Queen of Tarts
Why: Great irish breakfast and the most delicious blueberry scones in the world! Easy to find, friendly staff, and great prices!!
Worst: Copper Alley Bistro
Why: We stayed at the Harding Hotel that is connected to the Bistro so it centrally located but for the price it was not worth the breakfast or dinner. We got alot better meals for a better price nearby.
Karen in Suwanee, GA USA 04/14/2011
Best: Bewley's Cafe (Dublin)
Why: Great food; really interesting environment; loved the Goat's Cheese Pizza (check it out!). My friends and I stayed in Bewley's for a leisurely dinner and had great conversations. Great environment, great food, great desserts.
JoAnna Frederick in Austin, TX USA 03/14/2011
Best: Out of the Blue in Dingle, Fishy Fishy in Kinsale, Monks in Ballyvaughan
Why: Both fantastic recommendations for seafood. Monks was a great spot in Ballyvaughan for food and a good time.
Heather O in Washington, DC USA 10/25/2010
Best: McGann's Pub in Doolin
Why: McGann's had the best music and atmosphere we experienced in all of Ireland. AND great food.
Mary Schroeder in Seattle, WA USA 10/23/2010
Best: 55 North Portrush
Why: Views and pleasant staff. The food was good.
Jo Anne Vaughn in Colorado Springs, CO USA 09/16/2010
Best: Horseshoe Pub, Kenmare
Why: Very accomodating host and outstanding food
Worst: Kytelers Inn, Kilkenny
Why: Great atmosphere, food was average
Dan Doll in Lincroft, NJ USA 08/18/2010
Best: Fenton's, Dingle
Why: Fenton's celebrates 25 years in Dingle in 2010 and I celebrate my eleventh year enjoying their fabulous food, excellent service, and special friendships. Absolutely wonderful people and you cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. (Especially the strawberry/rhubarb or berry crumble dessert!)
Dave KS USA 08/06/2010
Best: Out of the Blue, Dingle
Why: My husband and I were excited to try this restaurant, based on the idea "if it is closed it was stormy and no fish caught", meaning everything would be fresh. And it was! The menu is on chalkboards, highlighting the days catch. I would definitely go back!
Crystal in Drexel Hill, PA USA 07/28/2010
Best: Walter's in Dun Laoghaire & Global Village in Dingle
Why: Both used fresh local ingredients in innovative ways.
Kitty Kramer in Centennial, CO USA 07/22/2010
Best: Cayenne in Belfast and Busker Brownes in Galway
Why: Cayenne - WONDERFUL staff, lovely ambience, and DELICIOUS food. Probably the best restaurant we ate it in Ireland. Busker Browner - Knowledgeable and friendly staff and really excellent food.
Worst: Bad Ass Cafe
Why: We had several locals turn up their nose when we asked about this place. We walked over to it and thought it looked pretty icky. We didn't stay.
Karen Labenz in Clive, IA USA 07/18/2010
Best: Strasbourg Goose, Cork
Why: Great value at 20 euro for 3 lovely courses
Rose in Chicago, IL USA 07/17/2010
Worst: Granny's Kitchen, Cashel
Why: Nice little garden to sit in, though if it had been raining we would have had to sit in the cramped dark restaurant. The reason it was disappointing was the food: ranging from mediocre to inedible. The coleslaw, for example, was thick-cut cabbage covered in thick plain mayo -- this was in the inedible category. The sandwiches were ok, bread with some nondescript cheese, grilled, with onions or tomatoes or whatever was specified. -- nothing special. I wouldn't go back there -- even though it was conveniently located at the base of the Rock of Cashel, I'd look for something nicer in the town.
Maya in Cambridge, MA USA 07/03/2010
Best: Half Door, Dingle
Why: 40 Euro fixed price dinner. Big portions and excellent quality in a small, beautiful dining room. Worth the money.
Worst: Fishy, Fishy, Kinsale
Why: Didn't eat there but our B&B owner said guests had complained about the attitude and poor service and someone in a pub told me the same. He was a local who said their success has gone to their head.
Brian in Fort Lauderdale, FL USA 06/07/2010
Best: La Bella Donna, Donegal; Rozzers, Killeen House, Killarney.
Why: La Bella Donna in Donegal Town serves some of the best Italian food I have had anywhere. Rozzer's in the Killeen House Hotel was excellent in a beautiful setting.
Worst: none
Why: Food everywhere we ate was good.
Brian in Ft. Lauderdale, FL USA 06/06/2010
Worst: FishyFishy, Kinsale
Why: At 4:45 pm my wife and I were seated by an unsmiling, unfriendly host that told us that we would have to be away from the table by 7pm. The place was only one quarter full..lots of empty tables. We sat for more than ten minutes watching a handful of young waitstaff clear and set tables and chat amongst themselves at their work station. No one came to fill our waterglasses or to take our order. I felt like we had on Harry Potter's "invisibility cloak". Finally a young lady came to our table. No greeting, no smile, just "Do you know what you want?" When my wife asked how the avocado pear with prawns was prepared, the waitress said "Don't you know what an avocado is?" At this point my wife and I looked at each other and got up and walked out of the restaurant. We could not reward this surly, unprofessional behavior by spending our money there. Fishy Fishy stinks!
Barry in Fraser, MI USA 05/19/2010
Best: Bulmans in Kinsale
Why: It was not traditional pub food - very delicious. Bulmans pub has a fancy restaurant upstairs called Toddys and they serve all the pub food.
Holly in Pasadena, CA USA 04/12/2010
Best: Out of the Blue Seafood-Only Restaurant
Why: Although pricy, it was really yummy.
Cece Chen in Phoenix, AZ USA 04/04/2010
Best: Waters Edge Hotel
Why: The monkfish was superb! One of the best meals I enjoyed!!!
Penelope Rittgers in DeSoto, IA USA 03/24/2010
Best: Langton's in Kilkenny & Granny's Kitchen by Rock of Cashel
Why: Langton's: good food & music Granny's: warm & cozy ambiance; lovely service
Madeleine Schamehorn in Redlands, CA USA 02/06/2010
Best: Ramore Wine Bar, Portrush, Ireland
Why: Great food, nice variety and atmoshpere.
Nancy Grosshans in Spring, TX USA 01/28/2010
Worst: Fishy, Fishy in Kinsale
Why: Now here's a place that is taking Rick's recommendation waaaaaaay too seriously. They are pompous and borderline rude when you walk in, as if they are doing you a favor by seating you at a table. We took one look at the menu and said "no thanks" to the staff member and he said: "Well, we are totally booked later tonight, so you'd better decide now whether you're coming back or not." Guess what? We walked, and never looked over our shoulder at the place again.
Jake in Queen Creek, AZ USA 10/24/2009
Best: Cafe Sol.....Kilkenny
Why: This place was on a side street in the city centre. When we read the menu on the window, we noticed that it was recommended by Frommers (sorry Rick). They have an "early bird" special until 7:30 p.m. so we gave it a try. It was, without question, the best food we had in all of Ireland. I would call the cuisine "Irish Fusion" for lack of a better term. Don't miss it when you're in Kilenny.
Jake in Queen Creek, AZ USA 10/24/2009
Best: Gallaghers Boxty House, Dublin
Why: We had wonderful service in a pleasant atmosphere. Even though it was mid day, they had two musicians playing. We had two different meals and both were excellent examples of traditional Irish food. I had the pork knuckle, with cabbage and champs, with parsley sauce.
Worst: Langton's, Kilkenny
Why: Poor service, bad food, odd experience. Not good!
Kimberly Lachamn in Libertyville, IL USA 10/11/2009
Best: El Muretto
Why: It was a great change of pace from pub food with fresh veggies and an acceptable wine list.
Worst: Langton's
Why: It was a stuffy place that couldn't decide if it wanted to be a formal dining establishment or a pub. So it compromised and served mediocre at best food and high end prices served by fancy dressed staff with no food or drink knowledge, but did have a casual indiffence to our dining experience.
Dale in Libertyville, IL USA 10/11/2009
Best: McDonagh's Fish and Chips
Why: We had a sit down dinner (complete with waitstaff) on one night and then enjoyed fish and chips on the bench side another night. The served dinner was very good (I had salmon cooked to perfection) and the wine selection was well rounded. The fish/chips on the separate night was plentiful and the atmosphere in a public seating area was fun. You had to wait in line for both meals, but it was worth it.
Worst: McSwiggans
Why: Very, very loud. While the waitstaff was great, the choice of foods were not traditional Irish meals. Disappointed with this choice.
Pamela in Overland Park, KS USA 09/12/2009
Best:
Why:
Worst: Galway. Busker Brownes and McGonagh’s Fish-and-Chips
Why: Incredibly crowded. Across the street from Busker Brownes is Kettle of Fish serving a meal of fish and chips for 8.50 euros.
Mary Ann in Wilmette, IL USA 09/06/2009
Best: The Chart House in Dingle, and Botticelli's in Dublin.
Why: The ambiance is lovely, and food's delicious--Chart House; Botticelli's food was great, too.
Carol and Bob Hicks in Los Angeles, CA USA 09/04/2009
Best: Baskins Cafe, Dunkineely, County Donegal
Why: Reported to have the best fish and chips in Ireland, and we had to agree. Huge servings, fair price....tasty!
Daniel Murphy in Ocean Shores, WA USA 09/02/2009
Best: The Castle Arch Hotel in Trim
Why: The meal was delicious and very reasonable. the service was great, atmosphere as well. ALSO:the fish and chips takeaway on harborfront was absolutely the best we had in 3 weeks.
Susan and Lamar Robinette in Clemson, sc USA 08/23/2009
Best: Old Pier, Dingle
Why: While a little out of the way it is well worth finding. Best seafood of our trip.
Julia Strawley in New York, USA 07/18/2009
Best: O'Connor's Pub (Doolin)
Why: Craic. The music was special - local musicians. The fish was very good and so was the Guinness
Steve Ferrin in Naperville, Il USA 06/28/2009
Best: LaTaverna
Why: This was not on your list of restaurants. It was the best place we ate in Ireland. It had a good variety on the menu. It was the first time I orderd a pizza and it was server with scissors to cut it. The owner gave you plenty of personal attention. Prices on the menu were very reasonable. You should try this one out.
Cindy Christofferson in Poulsbo, Wa USA 06/17/2009
Best: Bar in Ennis/ Jim Edwards in Kinsale/ Adare Golf Club, Adare
Why: Brogans:Best Fish 'n Chips we had in Ireland/ Jim Edwards Bar:Excellent seafood casserole...hot, fresh and fun watching the Irish open/ Adare Golf Club:Change of pace from bar food...Best hamburger, Caesar salad and French onion soup.
Worst: Not actually the worst, but not up to all the raves in your book..Fishy, Fishy
Why: Tasty enough but the prices were high for what we got...a starter of scampi...6 small shrimp... and an order of haddock + 1 pint Murphy...This was for lunch and cost as much as most of our dinners at other places.
Marie & Bob Andel in Kirkwood, MO USA 06/16/2009
Best: Temple Bar
Why: Great food, great atmosphere, lots of choices and fabulous music!
Sarah Arehart in Minot, ND USA 06/12/2009
Best: Sean Cheibh in Kilronan
Why: Excellent portions. Great service. Best fish and chips we had in Ireland.
Gary Zekis in Little Rock, AR USA 06/09/2009
Best: Muddy Maher's
Why: We had a super friendly bartender and the food was good.
Laura Gilligan in Chicago, IL USA 05/25/2009
Best: Crown Pub In Belfast
Why: We had a terrific time over lunch at the Crown Pub. It was great food and the help were so fun.
Debbi Sharp in Blaine, MN USA 05/03/2009
Best: Gallaghers Boxty house
Why: lowkey, friendly
KevinMcKenna in Rancho Cordova, ca USA 04/24/2009
Best: O'Connor's Pub, and the Doolin Activity Lodge
Why: O'Connor's Pub has traditional Irish food at fair prices. Grand service. A good friendly place to get out of the wind and rain, feel welcome with friendly conversation. The Activity Lodge B&B has lovely Irish Breakfasts and during season lunch and dinner. Both are near the harbor.
Kathleen H. Douglas in Yuma, AZ USA 03/16/2009