The Midlands Restaurants

The Midlands town of Birr may be known as the "belly button of Ireland" because of its central location, not because this region is regarded as one of the cuisine centers of Ireland. No matter that Ireland's best restaurant (according to some)—Neven Maguire's MacNean's, near Cavan town—is in the Midlands, nor the fact that the region is also home to Wineport Lodge, Ireland's first "wine hotel," you'll find that most restaurants here are simple eateries, ranging in price from inexpensive to moderate.

Nevertheless, there are those restaurants that will entice you right in off the street, especially those offering beef—Mullingar, in the center of the Midlands, is the beef capital of Ireland—and fish specialties, as the many lakes and rivers of the region provide an abundance of fresh salmon and trout (in fact, since no place is more than an hour and a half from the sea, expect to find lots of fresh ocean fish).

Sort by: 2 Recommendations {{numTotalPoiResults}} {{ (numTotalPoiResults===1)?'Recommendation':'Recommendations' }} 0 Recommendations
CLEAR ALL Area Search CLEAR ALL
Loading...
  • 1. Emma's Café and Deli

    $

    A tempting array of both savory and sweet delights are on display at this central daytime café and deli counter. Nourishing soups at lunchtime, such as colcannon (cabbage and potato) or mushroom come with freshly baked brown bread. Other breads, including ciabatta, bagels, or panini wraps are filled with cured meats or cajun chicken and salad, while a selection of fruit and gluten-free scones deserve to be smothered with delicious raspberry jam.

    31 Main St., Birr, Co. Offaly, Ireland
    057-912–5678

    Known For

    • Colcannon soup
    • Meat-filled sandwiches
    • Superfresh scones
  • 2. The Thatch Bar

    $$

    Imaginative food and a warm welcome await at this 300-year-old bar and restaurant, its thatched roof (completely redone in 2017), exposed wooden beams, and brick walls adding to the intimate country atmosphere. Main courses may include half honey roast duck, braised lamb shank, grilled aubergine with goat cheese, or chicken with black pudding. Leave room for the apple and mixed berry crumble. The pub is run by Des Connole, who brings a long pedigree: he is the sixth generation of his family to own it.

    Military Rd., Crinkill, Co. Offaly, Ireland
    057-912–0682

    Known For

    • Steaks
    • Huge portions
    • Flawless service

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch Wed.--Fri.
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

No Restaurants Results

Please try a broader search, or expore these popular suggestions:

There are no results for {{ strDestName}} Restaurants in the searched map area with the above filters. Please try a different area on the map, or broaden your search with these popular suggestions:

Recommended Fodor’s Video