6 Best Restaurants in The Southeast, Ireland

When Garrett Byrne, the former head chef of Dublin's celebrated Chapter One, returns home and opens a restaurant, people take notice, and the awards---and diners from all of Ireland---start flooding in. The menu is a work of art, with common French themes toyed with and expanded. The ox tongue and cheek, in sauce gribiche with pickled salsify and horseradish cream, is just about the perfect starter. For a main, try the saddle of wild venison with bacon and chestnut dumpling, caramelized parsnip, and pepper jus. Byrne chose an industrial site beside the disused railway yard and transformed it into a stylish, uncluttered space with a beautiful green canopy for a sense of the French bistro. The oak flooring and curved banquettes contrast with the abstract splashes of bright colors on the walls. The wine list is long and luxurious.

It's rather fitting that this restaurant is in a converted church, as it's become something of a shrine for foodies. Jason Matthia's cuisine is classic French with contemporary Irish twists. The seafood cassoulet—half a dozen varieties of fish and shellfish with a delicate chive velouté—is legendary. Another specialty is venison, mushroom and cranberry pie with chestnuts and hazelnuts. The atmosphere is wonderful, too, with dark wood and tapestries providing an elegant background for the white linen. Matthia has opened a great café next door if you prefer something more informal.

Fresh-off-the-boat fish is the big draw at this restaurant at the family-friendly Ferrycarrig Hotel. Seafood from Kilmore Quay is a favorite, but the Killurin lamb is just as local and tasty, as is the wild Wicklow venison loin with red cabbage tatin, parsnip puree, red wine jus, and game chips (potatoes, flour-dusted then thinly sliced and fried). Check out the wine list, one of the better ones in the Southeast. While the tables are formally appointed with crisp white linens, the light-filled dining room has a friendly, relaxed vibe. 

A warm glow emanates from this Georgian town-house restaurant, where owner-chef Antonio Cavaliere is intensely involved in preparing such luscious Italian dishes as rigatoni all' arrabbiata (tubes of homemade egg pasta in a fresh tomato sauce with chili and garlic). Other specialties, such as medallions of fresh Kilmore Quay monkfish with roasted cherry tomatoes, garlic, white wine, and a touch of fresh chili, go particularly well with Antonio's garlic roasted potatoes—highly recommended as a side dish. A splendid all-Italian wine list complements the menu, and there's a host of delicious homemade desserts. This is one of the best Italian options in town. The restaurant accommodates overnight guests in the town house above.

Situated on the ground floor of a Victorian house with a wonderful vegetable garden out back, the Beach House has rapidly become one of the hottest seafood restaurants in the country. Their shellfish bisque is a gorgeous starter, and while mains change with the daily catch, the brill with mussels and Muscadet and the black sole are two of the more popular. There are excellent meat and vegetarian options and the almond tart is a standout dessert. 

Set in a magnificent and grand Palladian-style bank in the center of Dungarvan, the Old Bank restaurant is the place to withdraw some delicious food and cocktails. The Italian bistro menu has plenty of local twists. Open with Harty's oysters on ice with beetroot, cacao nib, and shallot dressing. For a main try the rare tuna in sesame, with tataki of red onion and garlic crisps. The real treat is an after-dinner original Abbeyside Martini in the stylish cocktail bar.