Michael Keogh’s old pub in the picturesque village of Kinvara has a cosy bar with an open fire - and, behind it, there's a restaurant of character, with wooden floors and benches, oilcloth-covered tables and a large fireplace with a traditional black stove. It all adds up to a welcoming scene - an d a perfect setting for down to earth meals where the philosophy is "to provide a choice of seafood to everyday people, in an everyday setting, at an everyday price".
The daytime food style is a combination of traditional and modern Irish bar meals, served by charming staff, and there are tables outside in summer. In the evening the style gears up a notch or two when a more formal restaurant menu is offered.
Local seafood is very much the main speciality and accounts for at least half of the menu - an informal bite of creamy fishy chowder for example, or steamed mussels (both come with home-made brown bread) at lunch time and, in the evening, more sophisticated main courses like cod fillet with roast beurre blanc, smoked haddock fillets with a light parsley sauce or creamy seafood risotto .
There are plenty of other choices too, if you're not in the mood for seafood, such as smoked chicken vol-au-vent with mushroom sauce and rack of Kinvara lamb - and gluten free pasta is available on request.
To finish, choose from homemade desserts such as freshly-baked apple and rhubarb crumble or strawberry and tiramisu soufflé.
Seats 50 (outdoor seating, 18). Food available daily 9.30am-10pm (Sun from 12), B 9.30, L 12-5, D 6-10. A la carte. House wine from about €15.95. Reservations accepted; children welcome, air conditioning. Weekly music sessions in summer. Closed 25 Dec, Good Fri. Amex, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.
