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Casino House

Kerrin and Michael Relja’s delightful restaurant is just a few miles west of Kinsale and it is well worth the effort of getting here, as it is one of the best in an area which takes great pride in the excellence of its food.

It’s a lovely old house and it has an unusually cool continental style in the decor, but Kerrin’s hospitality is warm - and Michael’s food is consistently excellent, in wide-ranging seasonal menus based on the finest local ingredients: Ummera smoked organic salmon, fresh seafood from nearby fishing ports (don’t miss his wonderful speciality lobster risotto), Kilbrittain lamb and Ballydehob duck all feature - a starter dish of four variations of duck is another speciality.

Tempting vegetarian dishes are listed ahead of the other main courses and nightly specials will include extra seafood dishes (turbot on lobster cream with purple champ, for example), all with individual vegetable garnishes and deliciously simple seasonal side vegetables.

Variations on classic desserts are irresistible (a delectable chocolate cake on caramelised pineapple with red berry dressing, perhaps) and local cheeses are always seriously tempting in this area...

An al fresco early summer dinner, or Sunday lunch, can be an especially memorable experience.

A very nice wine list offers plenty of treats to match the food, and includes a well-chosen selection of half bottles.

Casino House was our Restaurant of the Year in 2005, and it consistently offers some of the best food and hospitality in the country.

*Casino Cottage: sleeps two €85 per night (or €155 for 2 nights), everything provided except breakfast - which can be supplied if needed. Longer stays discounted; weekly & winter rates available. Further accommodation is in the pipeline at the time of going to press.

Seats 35 (private room 22; outdoor dining 16). D Thu-Tue, 7-9, L Sun only,1-3; all á la carte; house wine from €20.90. Closed Wed, and 1 Jan-17 Mar. Amex, MasterCard, Visa, Laser

Directions:

On R600 between Kinsale and Timoleague.