Favorite meal in Ireland?
 

What and where was your favorite meal in Ireland?

We'll be headed there in September 08, and I'm still very open on the itinerary, so please tell me about some wonderful places!

Wrenwood

Wrenwood:


First of all, ye'll love Ireland no matter you'll visit.

On our most recent visit, we stayed at, and ate at Doyle's in Dingle...though the food presentation and quality was excellent.

Also, for lunch, try "Destry's (Rides Again) in Clifden...cute little place with innovative dishes.

Stu T.

Ballymaloe House, hands down.

This is a restaurant you do NOT want to miss if ever in Kenmare:

http://www.odonnabhains.com/

I can vouch for their Roasted Chicken & Potatoes, their Beef and Guinness Irish Stew, and their Potato cakes with herb and smoked salmon. We LOVED this place!

Seafood in Kinsale

I most remember Pasta Pasta in Dublin.

We couldn't get enough curry chicken and chips.

Just remembered another place where we had a memorable meal - The Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge in County Limerick near Adare. We also lodged there a couple nights and loved it. www.mustardseed.ie

The Lime Tree in Kenmare. Don't remember what we had (it was 2005) but remember it being very good.

carolsc

wrenwood:


If you're going to be anywhere near Galway, a wonderful fried oyster lunch awaits you at famous Moran's...in Kilcolgan, a little bayside town a few kms. south of Galway. Probably good for dinner ,too.

Stu T.

Salmon - almost anywhere.

Either as a main course - or as lunch, smoked on brown bread with salad.

Also - Dublin Bay prawns.

The breakfasts at Ashford Castle and Dromoland Castle. OMG. AMAZING!!!

I second the vote for the Mustard Seed. Definitely the best!

Seafood (scallops for me) at Jacob's Ladder in Cobh. Added bonus, watching the sailboats race in the harbor as we ate.

It depends on your price range. Seafood especially salmon is good here, everyone should try fish and chips at least once. My favouritte places are not necessairily "Irish" food here in Dublin. There are some great Indian Restaurants around as well. We ate at a nice one a few weeks back in Ennis above a shop near the market sq must look up and post. What area will you be in to narrow down?

L'Gueleton on Fade Street in Dublin if you're there. It's rustic French food done very well and a great atmosphere. You can't book but they take your name and will call once a table is free. Usually no wait at lunch.

Beshoffs fish and chips while walking up the pier if you're in Howth is wonderful...and bracing.

If you are in the Galway city area, don't miss the White Gables in Moycullen..
www.whitegables.com/ourrestaurant.html .......
We have eaten there several times over the years! It is always very special!

That's a coincidence - I just had lunch at L'gueuleton! One of my favourite restaurants in the city. There was a queue at lunchtime today and we actually got the last table for 2 - however it is Christmas week so all restaurants in the city are packed. Food is FAB! My other favourite place is Chapter One on Parnell Square.

Best meal was lunch at Fishy Fishy in Kinsale - they do not take reservations and at the time (2 years ago) were only open for lunch. It was great. Another great meal was had at Out of the Blue in Dingle. We loved it but some may find their "attitude" slightly offensive - i.e. from the website:

"Meat eaters need not apply: Out Of The Blue is strictly for seafood lovers! Everything depends upon the catch of the day and nothing but the best will do. If there’s no fish, the restaurant doesn’t open." You may get a lecture on local fishing rights, etc. It was worth it to us!

My best meal was also at Fishy Fishy in Kinsale. I had a Lobster salad that was to die for.

Gus O'Connor's Pub- its near the Cliffs of Moher- try to avoid the crowds of tour buses, but the Guinness Stew really is wonderful. I spent 4 months in Ireland, and stopped at this pub any chance I got. Enjoy!

Wow, this is making me really HUNGRY!!!!! And how nice to see so many special places in the areas we're looking at!

SiobhanP, to narrow it down and give an idea of our route, we will be there hopefully for 3 weeks, losing about 3 days in arriving and departing. At the moment, we're thinking of these areas ~ first few days around Powerscourt Gardens area ~ then Kinsale, but probably with a stop somewhere in between ~ then Kenmare for a few days (visit Killarney from there as many have suggested) ~ then Dingle for a few days ~ then somewhere around Cliffs of Moher ~ and maybe as far north as Clifden (I'd really love to see Kylemore Abbey) before we head back to Dublin for a flight back.

Ballymaloe looks a little off our route at the moment as I'm thinking we will head inland from our first base (somewhere near or between Powerscourt Gardens and Mt Usher Gardens) on our way towards Kinsale. It's also quite close to Kinsale, and I do think we want to stay within the town of Kinsale, it looks fun. I don't know where we'll stay before Kinsale.

The Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge is already on our radar, it looks like a great place for 1 night after Dingle, and easy to visit Adare from there if we choose.

Ashford Castle and Dromoland Castle looked a little pricey for us unless they do some mid-week specials in September, and we don't use spas and golf courses............but outstanding breakfast yes!!! Our final choice in Derbyshire when we were there in 2006 was Underleigh House, in part because of it's outstanding breakfast!

We won't be in Dublin or any city ( if we can help it!) prefer to be in the countryside and small towns.

And yes, we love salmon and seafood, so Fishy Fishy will be on the list. I hope September won't be the wrong time of year for Lobster?

Gus O'Connor's Pub and O'Donnabhain's will be on the list for Guinness Stew ( and those potato cakes sound yummy!) Is Gus O'Connors in Doolin?

Hmmmmmm......... Ballymaloe might be a possibility after all. It's very close to Fota House and Arboretum. Thanks Seamus!

Ireland -- I never got so sick of seeing the same boiled carrots and potatoes. The oatmeal wasn't bad.

USNR, You just did not know where to eat. There are plenty of great restaurants in Ireland. http://www.ireland-guide.com/

We had delicious meals at the Westport Inn in Westport, County Mayo. An added benefit was that I saw my first rugby game in the bar and fell in love with Ronan O'Gara.

If you're near Shannon, the Carreygarry House is simply amazing! We love their dinners (and the lodging, and the breakfasts...)

So well prepared.

Otherwise, I love the beef lasagne with chips (yes, I even have it with Guinness for the full carb meal.)

Wrenwood, we are also going to Ireland in September 08. I sure hope there is lobster in September. I have been dreaming about that salad at Fishy Fishy ever since I had it.

Every day for lunch,as we travelled around for 11 days,the seafood chowder and soda bread at the local pubs. Absolutely delicious. The scallops on the West Coast,especially Golleen. We have never had the same quality since. And the beef in the South,never had a bad meal anywhere in Ireland. Makes us want to go back just thinking about the food...oh yes and the scenery..and then the locals.

Fresh Salmon at Crocket's on the Quay in Balliná, County Mayo; Seafood chowder in Galway at Garvey's Hotel & Restaurant on Eyre Sq. & Forster St.; just across from the Bus/Rail station - usually my first stop after Shannon arrival; in Dublin: Carvery lunch at Madigan's Pub on Middle Earl St. just off O'Connell Street.

Gus O'Connor's in Doolin is OK but it's not the same since Gus (RIP) passed away several years ago.

The Queen's Hotel in Ennis, County Clare (Abbey St.) is one of few places that serves a buffet lunch on Sundays. After lunch you're likely to find Trad Irish music next door at Cruise's Pub & Restaurant.

When we went to England and Wales, people warned us about the food being bad ~ well they were wrong! We had wonderful meals, especially in the recommended local Pubs. The quality of the food itself was excellent, as they seem to pride themselves ( as I believe Ireland does) on using local sources. Probably the only thing I would change is a little more variety at breakfast, as one did tire of the "English Breakfast" when it was served day after day. But that's probably the same at most places in many countries when you stay at the same B&B or Hotel for 3-5 days.

Rosetravels, I bookmarked Carrygerry House just in case we were to fly in or out of Shannon, it looks lovely!

Hester, do you know yet when you are going in September, or when you might be in Kinsale for that Lobster Salad?

Huddoshols, I looked up Golleen on Viamichelin, are your fresh scallops in Goleen in Co Cork on the SW coast?

wrenwood,
We are looking at Sep. 2, 2008 -Sep. 15, 2008. My husband doesn't like to be gone any longer than eleven or twelve days. I could go for ever. But our plans keep changing. Originally we were going around July 10-15, DS1 is getting married Aug 1 in Chicago and we live in Washington state so we decided to change our date until after the wedding, so we can be stress free and enjoy the wedding and Chicago.

Then we decided on the Sep. date, now our nephew is getting married right around when we are suppose to go. So I am at a loss at what to do. I really just want to go in Sep. I think if we keep this up something is going to keep popping up. But I don't want to upset my brother and his family.

When we do go this is our itinerary:

Fly into Dublin -3 nights
Cashel- one night
Kenmare-one night
Kinsale-two nights
Dingle-two nights
Doolin-one night
Somewhere around the Shannon airport where we will fly out.

This is almost identical to what I traveled in July 2006 with my sister except we flew back out of Dublin. I really enjoyed Dublin that's why there are three nights there and we will also do a side trip to Newgrange.

I want to be able to show my husband everything that I saw the last time I went. I pretty much know what B & B's I want to stay at except around Shannon. I have two places I want to be sure to eat one is Fishy Fishy the other is Queen of tarts in Dublin.

I hope you have a wonderful time. My last trip was even better than I would have ever dreamed of and I had very high dreams!

Merry Christmas!

If I may make a suggestion. You might want to consider flying in/out of Shannon instead of Dublin.It looks like you will be doing more in this region, and it will save you lots of time. Besides, the fact that you will be starting to drive on more rural roads sooner.This is great if you have not driven in Ireland before. Also, in my opinion do not spend time driving the Ring of Kerry. Rather use available time in the Dingle area. So much more scenic and Dingle is a beautiful town. One of my most memorable meals was at Bulman's pub across from Charles Fort in Kinsale. Have fun.

Hester ~ Good luck with your schedule, I'm sure you will be able to work something out! We will be there for about 3 weeks sometime between September 9 and October 15 ~ all I need to work around at that time of year is the Penn State Football schedule!

Keep me posted, maybe we'll meet up for a beverage in Kinsale, Kenmare or Dingle if the timing is right.

Cajan, I think I agree with leaving out the drive around the Ring Of Kerry. It looks to me like we will see amazing scenery in most places we drive! I do think however that we will fly in and out of Dublin, as it's non-stop from Dulles/D.C and cheaper. Also, if we end up as far north as Donegal to see Slieve League, we'll head southwest through Enniskillen towards Dublin as we hope to spend a day around Tullamore and Birr in Co Offaly to see some special trees.

And I do have another question..........how many people tried black pudding for breakfast, and how many people liked it?

Tried it and liked it...didn't know what it was at the time...

atlantic seafood chowder, brown bread and a pint, at o'sullivans pub in crookhaven/mizen head. i love irish food!

The whole meal was wonderful but it was the one perfectly fresh, ocean-tasting oyster at the Global Village restaurant in Dingle that did me in. Perfect!

The Wine Vault on Bridge Street in Skibb: Brown bread and salmon with a rocket salad, a little bit of Jamesons and a half of Murphy's. I was very hungry, and jet-lagged, and the atmosphere of the place was just right. The young owner took care to make sure I knew how to get to my B&B, and the bartender/chef was attentive but not intrusive; the horse races were on the TV but the sound was off and music was playing at just the right volume. It was an early summer evening and I'll always remember how comfortable I was and how delicious every bite of that simple supper tasted.

Patrick Gilbaud in Dublin in the beautiful Merrion House hotel. Scallops that would make you want to smack your mammy!

And for that matter... tea in the above mentioned Merrion Hotel in Dublin. The setting is magnificent with high ceilings, fireplace, lovely portraits. Wish I could go back today..