Places to eat in Kinsale

It was a quaint restaurant that over looked Kinsale Harbour. The surroundings and ambience were very neutral - meaning, there was a great atmosphere to be had there. The food was so good, I've never tasted chips so good before.

Favorite Dish: I only really got something small - eggs, bacon and chips but it was the best that I have ever tasted before.

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As Aunty Mary fed us, there was no need to go to restaurants.

However Kinsale is renowned for it's Fine Food Circle and every October a Fine Food Festival is held - so forget the diet!!

Favorite Dish: here's a link to the best restaurants in Kinsale.

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This restaurant is the main dining room of the Carlton Hotel, although it is open to non-residents and goes the extra mile with its food.

We got an excellent deal through the hotel which included dinner here on one night and dinner in the acclaimed Man Friday the following night.

The most spectacular thing about this eatery is not its food, but rather the impossibly lovely views from its second floor curved decking over the bay and across to Oysterhaven.

The service is very good and the menu varied and with plenty of choice.

I would like to think that I was just unfortunate with my meal, as a lot of preparation goes into the food served here plus the dishes are imaginatively put together. Maybe it was the night that the "good" chef was off duty, I don't know, but I was just a tiny bit disappointed with my meal.

Favorite Dish: I started with the fresh local mussels steamed in a broth of fennel and pernod. The flavours of the fennel and pernod was superb, and these two do complement each other so perfectly. However, the mussels were dry, as if they had been overcooked, frozen, or kept warm for too long under a heat lamp. Mussels must be succulent - taken from the cooking broth as soon as the shells open.

My main course was salmon with a risotto of leeks, parmesan, and truffle oil. Now truffle oil has a very distinct flavour, and I happen to adore the stuff, but there was absolutely no sign of it on the dish served to me. In addition to that the salmon was, once again, either overcooked to the point of dryness or else left under that old heat lamp too long. The risotto - that was just OK.

The menu was so promising that the meal should have been divine, and had all the possibilities of so being. Pan fried salmon and steamed mussels are dishes that even a beginner can do with some ease. I might begin to have understood the dryness of these dishes if the dining room was crowded - but when we ordered we were the first in the room and it was perhaps half an hour before anyone else appeared.

My "dessert" was the cheese board. Given that we were in West Cork I envisioned a wonderful local selection. I was served four cheeses. Three of them tasted the same as each other. The accompanying grapes and pickled celery were nice.

My companions meal was better than mine it seems. That saying, my Mum ordered breast and leg of dick but there was only a leg on the plate.

I'd try it here again, but another strike and they are out!

The menu of starter, main course, and dessert plus tea or coffee is €45 per person. Well worth it if your meal is right.

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Sometimes you find a great little spot simply because you want to use the facilities. I always buy a coffee or a water as an excuse to use them, and it was on such an occasion that I discovered Jo's.

Adjoining a guest-house of the same name, this is a cute cafe serving home made cakes, lunches, and some excellent coffee and chocolate drinks.

I couldn't resist the hot praline chocolate as I had never tried it before. It was a rich cup of creamy milky praliney chocolate served with a mini paper-case of chocolate drops in white, milk, and dark varieties. It was a generous serving topped with choc shavings and I relished every sip.

The interior is small but not crowded and prices are displayed on blackboards and whiteboards. It cost €3.50 for my drink. Yes, I'd return.

We went for the Early Bird which was 25 Euro for 3 courses between 6.30 and 7.30pm. They asked us to vacate the table by 8.45 when we arrived at 6.45 which I felt was reasonable. We had a half carafe of house red wine which cost 10 Euros. There was a choice of 4 mains 2 of which were on the menu and 2 of which were specials. For starters we had 3 choices. The atmosphere was relaxed and sophisticated and the staff were friendly without being overbearing. I had mussels then mackerel and then ice-cream. The mussels were nice, the mackerel was lovely and the vegetables that came with it were very well cooked and came with poppy seeds on which I thought was a nice touch. The ice-cream was a little icy but overall it was a great experience. I would recommend the early bird for those who want a sophisticated dining experience on a budget. There was a more extensive a la carte menu which of course was more pricey but I would imagine it was still good value. We didn't book but it was quite busy so it might be a good idea.

Ask for a window table and watch the comings and goings of the local fisherman in this colorful fishing village. The restaurant is local and typical of Kinsale. The offerings are varied
but they do specialize in great seafood dishes.

Favorite Dish: My kids swear that I plan my trips around food. It's not true, but if it were, then I would have called this trip a great success if only for this dish! The dish, Seafood Pie, is served in a small crock. A savory selection of seafood and rich broth is covered with mashed potatoes and broiled to a golden brown. The broth thickens into a delicious rich sauce. I will never forget this decendent and hearty seafood dish!

Located in one of the small winding narrow streets of the trading centre of Kinsale, in a building that probably dates back to the Battle of Kinsale in 1601. Inside the restaurant, there are small tables in a brick covered room. The walls are decorated with copper pots.

Favorite Dish: Over the last 11 years Richard and Anne Ennos have developed a loyal following, serving all the old-time Irish favorites with traditional Irish music, fresh steamed seasonal veggies, and absolutely no French fries. While they serve irish/british cuisine, the restaurant specializes in the use of fresh seafood. Specialties include shepards pie and a fish stew.

It was awful. The restauratnt is very hard to faind in town. The manager ->Mary is very impolite (she was going around the restaurant and screeming on her staff>. Food was cold, and our table wasn't clean the time we came .Going to this restaurant is mistake, it's not worth the money we paid for food.

Favorite Dish: food was cold!!!!!