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Cherry Tree Restaurant

Harry McKeogh's impressive modern restaurant is a favourite weekend destination for discerning Limerick residents, who enjoy the waterside location and consistently excellent contemporary cooking.

A high-ceilinged room with well-spaced, classically appointed tables and River Shannon views makes for a fine restaurant, although its exceptional spaciousness can make it seem a little short on atmosphere unless there is a buzzy crowd in.

All is well on the plate however, as Harry himself is back in the kitchen alongside head chef Falk Hammca; as you arrive, you will notice the team at work, as you are shown to a small reception area nearby or straight to your table. Harry is well known for his commitment to using the best local ingredients, many of them organic.

These special foods and their suppliers are highlighted on simply worded seasonal menus offering a well-balanced choice of dishes - perhaps three on each course on the set menu, five on the à la carte.

Although the food is stylish and menus offer all the treats of fine dining - amuse-bouche, sorbet (refeshing rhubarb and lemongrass perhaps), petits fours - and are peppered with luxurious ingredients like truffles, foie gras, crab and diver caught scallops, Harry McKeogh's trademark is a direct cooking style, without too many cheffy twirls.

And the simpler foods have always been especially good here - the Cherry Tree's salads are legendary, for example, and an outstanding ingredient that has inspired more than one speciality dish is their superb beef, especially perfectly cooked dry-aged steak - and the Comeragh Mountains 'black-faced' lamb has also provided the base for outstanding dishes.

Excellent puddings, each with a suggested dessert wine to accompany, might include a Grand Marnier chocolate fondant with hazelnut ice cream and pomegranate coulis - delicious.

There's a fine cheese plate too, and an interesting, carefully chosen wine list includes seven half bottles.

Set menus - especially Sunday lunch - offer outstanding value, and a dedicated Children's Menu offers three delicious choices on each course.

Cherry Tree Restaurant : Seats 60 (private room, 10). Toilets wheelchair accessible. Children welcome until 7pm (children's menu). D 6-10 Tue-Sat (Wed-Sat in winter). Early evening menu 6-7pm, 2/3 courses €21/25.95. Set 2/3 course D €32/39; also à la carte; Sun L Bank Hol weekends only 12.30-3pm; house wine €19.50. Closed Sun (except bank hols), Mon, Tue in winter, 24-26 Dec, last week Jan, 1st week Feb. Amex, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

At Molly's Pub in Ballina turn down towards the Lakeside Hotel, the Cherry Tree Restaurant is just before the hotel, on the left