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Good Things Café

Great ingredients-led contemporary cooking is the magnet that draws those in the know to Carmel Somers’ simple little café-restaurant just outside Durrus village. Well-placed to make the most of fine West Cork produce, she also sells some specialist foods from Ireland and abroad and a few books including Good Food in Cork, the great little guide to local producers of produced by Myrtle Allen and Caroline Workman.

The daytime café menu offers a concise list including great salads, West Cork fish soup, West Cork Ploughmans (a trio of local cheeses served with an onion cassis compôte), Durrus cheese, spinach & nutmeg pizza... then there are irresistible desserts to choose from a display.

Dinner brings a more formal menu, with a choice of four on each course, and will feature some of the daytime treats along with main courses like turbot with dill sauce with wilted spinach and local spuds, or beef fillet with pesto.

Service is prompt and attentive from the moment a choice of breads and iced water is brought to your table to the arrival of home-made chocolate truffles with your coffee. Ingredients are invariably superb and a meal here can be memorable; this place is a one-off and it is well worth planning a stop when travelling in West Cork, especially during the day, when the bright atmosphere and white café furniture seems more appropriate.

An interesting, well-priced wine list includes seven well-chosen house wines, and a good choice of half bottles.

*Cookery classes also available; details from the restaurant.
**Carmel plans to move into new premises so keep an eye on her website.

Seats 40 (plus 10 outdoor in fine weather); toilets wheelchair accessible; ample parking; children welcome. In summer, open all day (11-9) Wed-Mon (daily in Aug & during Bantry Music Festival), L 12.30-3; D (7-9). A la carte. House wine about €18. Closed Tue and Sep-Easter. Reservations advised for dinner; a call to check times is wise, especially off-season. MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

From Durrus village, take Ahakista/Kilcrohane Rd.