Ireland Places to Eat
Ya gotta sleep, ya also gotta eat. Despite what you’ve been told, food in Ireland isn’t all about potatoes.
Divertamento restaurant by the Shannon
I mentioned earlier that a new restaurant, Divertamento, had opened in Athlone at the East footprint of the bridge overlooking the river Shannon.
I took the occasion of wifey and munchkin’s return to take the girls in my life for a meal and I must say it was a good choice.
Allow me to get ahead of myself. Just look at that dessert plate there to your left - those are pears blanched in white wine with piles of juicy raspberries between them. The whole thing is covered in chocolate with a scoop of sweetened cream (although it could have been some spectacularly creamy ice cream) in the middle (just €3.80).
I’m not even a big fan of dessert, but this was truly something spectacular. I called home about it.
Date: March 2nd, 2007 |
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Alfredos chipper, Athlone
It’s two in the morning in Athlone and you’re hungry.
There’s nothing for it but to hit Alfredo’s chipper. It is argued that these are the nicest chips in town, but from pizza to a battered sausage, Alfredos has got you covered.
Out the Dublin road toward the college, Alfredos is open late and caters to your dirty, nasty greasy needs. If you’re suffering from the late night munchies (something Irish drink causes), there’s hardly a better destination.
Personally, I’d steer …
Date: January 4th, 2007 |
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The best fish and chips in the world
Back in the day, way back in the early 90s, before Galway vomited up miles of suburban tract homes into her hinterland, the charming little fishing town of Galway had a most noble fish and chip shop called McDonagh’s fish and chips.
A much younger version of myself stood at the counter and saw the staff changing their sales chalkboard to reflect what fish had been caught that day. After ordering fresh cod and chips I turned to a framed letter on the wall to my left that had cyrillic writing at its top. Intrigued, I leaned closer to read the official letter from the Admiral of the Russian navy. The letter stated that in all of the Russian Navy’s illustrious travellings, they had never chanced across a better plate of fish and chips in the world. So highly did they esteem McDonagh’s in fact, that they had drafted this official naval letter to that effect.
Date: November 16th, 2006 |
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River S
So we went for lunch in the River S in Athlone the other day.
The great thing about this bar is its location. At the site of what used to be (in the 1970s) the old Ritz Cinema, the River S bar and restaurant occupies what may be the best location in Athlone for a drink on a sunny day.
A very long, thin corridor of a place, the River S has massive windows and unmatched views of Athlone castle, Saints Peter and Paul’s Church and the town bridge. Outside and accessable directly by stair from the town bridge, there is a long wooden deck hanging a few scant feet above the waters of the river Shannon with tables for outside dining. On its third ownership since opening (it used to be called “West” originally), the River S has sought to attract clientelle with affordable pub grub and full rock bands at night.
Date: November 2nd, 2006 |
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Ken’s Oriental Restaurant
Ken’s Oriental restaurant in Athlone is a bit of an institution, spawning numerous spin-off restaurants around the town.
Located quite centrally, it’s easy to miss Ken’s, as it resides above street level above Mary’s discount store. The interior is full of circular, open areas and the main dining area has some striking skylight decorations. Ken’s boasts a full bar and a slightly upscale Chinese eating experience.
Unfortunately, the food is nothing to write home about. While not bad, the grand layout of the place and the crisp, black-and-white-clad waiting staff would lend one to believe that one is in for something special.
Date: January 10th, 2007 |
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Lunch at the Athlone Radisson
The Radisson SAS Hotel in Athlone has one of the most prime pieces of real estate on the River Shannon. If you’re visiting Ireland by boat chances are you’ll be docking down at the marina underneath their large wooden deck.
But that’s not what this post is about, this post is about the lunch they offer in their Quayside bar. Now, look at that picture: you cannot beat the Quayside bar’s view over the river (except possibly south of the bridge at the River S). Just walking into the Quayside bar is nice to do. Comfy cushioned chairs and sturdy low-slung wooden tables threaten to imprison one in luxury. That aside, the Radisson in Athlone does what it does best all over the world - produce a high quality product in a consistent manner. There is a menu to select from, but most folks go for the buffet (12-2:30pm weekdays, €18 meal + dessert, €10 for pasta or salad plate and € 4.50 for soup or dessert only). Their buffet is excellent and has a large selection of lovely dishes. Wifey and I opted for the menu, as we were tempted by a couple of items we saw.
Date: January 2nd, 2007 |
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Kin Khao Restaurant in Athlone
When wifey and I first moved to Athlone we lamented the fact that, while there are loads of wonderfully fresh meats, breads and vegetables to be had in the area, we anticipated a certain lack of selection when dining out.
A year or so after we moved to Athlone a local man opened up, of all things, a Thai restaurant. Having recently returned from Thailand we were extremely skeptical.
The restaurant is located on the old part of town and repainted an older restaurant a friendly sunshine and red colour. It turns out the owners are a Thai woman and her Irish husband and they go to great lengths to ensure the freshness of their ingredients and integrity of their recipes.
Quite frankly, at our first dining experience, we were plain astonished. Kin Khao may be the best Thai food we have had outside of Thailand - and we’re well used to the quality Thai restaurants in our native San Francisco area.
Date: December 9th, 2006 |
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Top Deck Bistro
Top Deck Bistro, the newest restaurant in Athlone opened recently. Taking advantage of the nautical vibe in the town (especially being a stone’s throw from the Shannon River), Top Deck has opted not just for a boat-inspired logo, but for a general sea(or river)-faring decor as well. Located in the very centre of town, above the former Ginkel’s nightclub and directly across the street from Athlone’s IRA statue, Top Deck occupies an excellent location and seems to have created a bit of buzz around the town.
When we arrived, for example, it seemed doubtful we would be sat without a reservation. The hostess found a slot for us all right and we were seated near the kitchen.
The menu is pretty straightforward with a clever twist describing all of its sections as the materials might come to those on a boat. Their mains were varied, ranging from standard steak or chicken to fajitas to burgers. They have an extensive wine list as well.
Date: November 5th, 2006 |
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Busker Brown’s and the best hot chocolate in Ireland
It was the year 2002. Wifey and I were in Galway and the rain, she was pouring down. There was nothing for it, wifey said, except a cup of hot chocolate.
It turned out that hot chocolate was not the easiest thing to find in Galway in 2002. We happened upon Busker Brown’s. It’s a modern pub/restaurant just off shop street in Galway. It boasts a spacious interior and an intimate live music venue on the very top floor. For some reason on that wet day back in 2002 that hot chocolate was …
Date: November 2nd, 2006 |
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