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The Brake

There is little about the neat but plain exterior to prepare first-time visitors for the warmth and country charm of The Brake - all old pine and rural bric-à-brac, it has open fires and friendly staff.

It’s a great place to stop just for a late afternoon cup of tea but, even better if you’re hungry, it has a well-deserved reputation for good bar meals, and not just the usual pub staples, but a very wide choice including proper home-made chicken kiev, and all kinds of seafood especially Dundalk Bay prawns.

There are plenty of meat dishes, too, especially steaks, and accompaniments are particularly good, all arranged buffet style, all for a moderate price.

Beware of the unusual opening hours though this is a late afternoon into evening place.

Seats 120; not suitable for children under 12; air conditioning; toilets wheelchair accessible. Bar open 5-11.30. D daily 6-9.30pm. A la carte; house wine €18; sc discretionary. *The Clermont Arms, a few doors along the front, is in the same family ownership. Closed 25 Dec, Good Fri. MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

Turn off the main Dublin-Belfast road 5km (3 m) south of Dundalk.