The striking arched entrance makes this continental / Irish restaurant easy to spot and, with long opening hours every day, it’s a useful place to know about when travelling.
Simply but comfortably set up over several areas, with well spaced tables and some interesting photographs and modern artwork on the walls, it’s a pleasant place and restaurant manager Marie Dooley and her friendly staff are quick to make arriving customers feel welcome.
Customer satisfaction is clearly the ethos at Le Voyage and they are not only happy to accommodate special dietary requirements (and dishes suitable for coeliacs or vegetarians are highlighted), but also take the trouble to inform diners of the way they work - it’s good to find assurances that ‘only the freshest, locally sourced, authentic produce’ is served, that ‘all stocks, sauces and bouillons are made in house from start to finish’, and that ‘everything is homemade without artificial flavours or colours’. (An unexpected exception is the ice cream which, for some reason, is Moevenpick.)
Best of all, though, is the invitation to local suppliers to come in and talk to the Chef – not something you see every day on Irish menus. And, also showing that this a restaurant prepared to go the extra mile, there’s an unusual comment on the Daily Specials board: “We hope you find something for your taste buds, if not ask our Waiting staff and we will try our best to satisfy you.”
The daytime menu kicks off at noon with soups, salads, and ‘Light Bites’ like open sandwiches or Baltimore Bay Mussels (available as a starter or main course portion €6.50/€12.00) and ‘Main Events’ such as Traditional Irish Stew, or Bangers & Mash (made with Gubbeen handcrafted Sausages and served with pomme purée, onion confit and wholegrain mustard jus, €12.50).
The evening menu, styled a ‘Culinary Itinerary’, is naturally a more serious affair and, although many predictable popular ingredients feature (smoked salmon, fresh fish, rack of lamb, steaks) the continental tone - and considerably higher prices - emphasise the restaurant as a destination for an evening out rather than just a quick bite.
Expect to find classics like a home made ballotine of foie gras with port reduction and toast, or la petite bouillabaisse with croutons and aioli among the starters, and main courses lifted by unusual accompaniments - roast pavé of cod, for example, might come with a sage potato gratin and lobster bisque, and a grilled 10 oz fillet of beef may be served with potato strudel as well as roasted shallots and a red wine jus.
The wine list offers a couple of dozen wines from old and new worlds including red, white, rosé also Prosecco, Champagne and dessert wine. House wines are reasonably priced and there’s also a keenly priced wine of the month.
A restaurant with its heart in the right place, you’ll find good quality locally sourced ingredients and good cooking, so everything is fresh and tasty – and served by friendly and attentive staff.
Tue - Sat 12-10pm; Sun & Bank Hol Mon 12-9pm.
