MacNean's House & Restaurant

MacNean's House & Restaurant Review

Quality doesn't come cheap, but every bite in Neven Maguire's restaurant is a sublime taste sensation. No surprise—this is one of the best restaurants in Ireland. The five-course dinner menu, priced at €72, is an unhurried affair—it even comes with pre-starters and pre-desserts. Winning appetizers include an artistically presented study of shellfish, and a confit of Thornhill duck leg served with balsamic jelly. Top mains include rare breed of caramelized pork belly, fillet of dry aged beef, or sea bass. The Menu Prestige, at €87 (€132, including wine), delivers a staggering nine courses: your taste buds may never again experience such an explosion of epicurean delights. The five-course Sunday lunch at €39 is great value. Given the remoteness of Blacklion, mattresses may be as important as menus, so why not book an upstairs guest room when reserving a table to avoid a postdinner late-night drive? To meet the increasing demand for seats in his superlative eatery, Maguire has extended his accommodations from 10 to 19 rooms. Diners can choose from the original small rooms, or new spacious deluxe and super-deluxe rooms (which come at a price, but include such extras as bathrobes and slippers). As many diners have learned, the 65-km (40-mile) detour to Blacklion makes a lot more sense if you are heading from Dublin northwest to Sligo or Donegal, and also take in an overnight. But be warned: this restaurant is perpetually busy, and there's a waiting list of up to 12 months for weekends.