Bianconi Rooms/Bells, Waterford

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The Bianconi Rooms and Bells restaurants in the Granville Hotel (Best Western) right in the centre of Waterford City have been combined to make a large but cosy hotel dining room in this very popular four star establishment.

Although it is a hotel dining room, catering for the guests, a number of tables are made available to the general public and these are particular popular for Sunday family lunches and also for family celebrations.

The staff are mainly locals and have been here for years - they are very friendly and helpful indeed. The Manageress of the Restaurant is the sister of the Hotel owner. Even when I haven't been for a couple of years she will always remember me - an excellent trait in hotel and restaurant staff. In addition they have several international staff members and the friendliness has rubbed off on them in a delightful manner.

I label the food here as "staple" food - e.g. seafood cocktail, garlic mushrooms, roast beef, chicken kiev, and meringue nests. However, it's plentiful and is cooked well. There is no difficulty if you want further helpings, and the staff come along with additional trays of freshly prepared vegetables.

There's a seperate children's menu, and in addition to this they will allow your kids to order half portions from the adult menu.

It's a silver service restaurant.

The surroundings are very pleasant, and if you are located in the Bells area the feeling is baroque. Sometimes when I'm in the public areas of this hotel it feels as if I'm in one of the old grand hotels in Rome - but in that regard I'll write a seperate review on the hotel.

Altogether a great family experience.

Favorite Dish: All the food is good here and they cater for everytaste. However, it IS standard hotel food so if you're looking for something fancy this is not the place (although the decor of the hotel itself is quite upmarket).

Prices depend on the menu you order from, with lunch averaging Euro25 per person and a six course dinner at Euro38.

OPEN - for lunch and dinner. However, pother areas of the hotel searve food all day and into late evening.

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This was the hotel where we stayed in Waterford. I noted that dinner was pretty good, and we also had an Irish breakfast in the morning.

Open Monday - Friday from 5.30 – 9.30pm
Saturday from 5.30 - 10.00pm
Sunday from 12.30- 9.30pm

Early Bird menu from 5.30 – 6.45pm - 3 courses only €19.95

Sunday lunch available from 12.30 - 5.30pm - 4 courses €24.00

Favorite Dish: At dinner, my grandson sat at a separate table from me so I don't know what he had. Apparently we had the equivalent of the early bird special dinner 3 Courses for €22.50. This was included in our tour.

For the starter, I had the Salmon and Prawn Salad Served on a Bed of Mixed Leaves and Marie Rose Saucer which apparently is still on the menu. This was a tossed salad with shrimp (prawns) in a pink sauce which I guess was salmon. Also still on the menu is the Chefs Homemade Cream Soup of the Day. I could have also had Pearls of Melon Other possibilities now are

Sliced Beef Tomato & Melted Mozzarella Cheese, Rocket Leaves, Red Onion & House Dressing
Granville Seafood Chowder
Homemade Chicken Liver Patẻ

I had Prime Roast beef with baby vegetables and Irish Whiskey Sauce for the entree The vegetables were green beans, carrots, a potato and something that looks fried.. This is is not on the current early bird menu - The other choices when we were there were Supreme of Chicken, Traditional Boiled Bacon and Cabbage, or Fillet of Salmon.

The entrees now are

Marinated Pork Chops In an Orange and Rosemary Marinade with Roast Parsnip and Thyme Jus
Cardamom Roasted Supreme of Chicken Served with a Sweet Potato Pureè and a Whiskey and Mushroom Cream
Poached Fillet of Salmon With a lemon and caper butter
Roast Stuffed Turkey & Ham served with Sage & Onion Stuffing & Cranberry Sauce
Wild Mushroom Risotto Finished off in Cream and accompanied with Parmesan Shavings

For dessert I had strawberry ricotta slice. this was a waffle cone with a flat bottom with something pink in it with a bit of something that looks like ice cream on the top, and there looks like a dollop of whipped cream with a triangular cookie(biscuit) in it. I could have also had and Apple Tart with Chantilly Cream or ice cream

Now they have
Homemade Raspberry and White Chocolate Mousse
Homemade Apple and Blackberry Crumble with Custard
Homemade Lemon Meringue Roulade
Homemade Warm Chocolate Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream
Homemade Banoffi