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The Purple Onion Bar & Restaurant

Paul Dempsey and Pauline Roe’s roadside pub has an olde world feeling with dark wood, bric-à-brac and prints and, unusually, it doubles as an art gallery, so good original paintings add interest and charm.

It can get very busy in the evening, with people waiting for tables, and there may be standing room only; however watchful staff quickly bring menus to arriving diners and, even if you have to read while standing, the choice offered is impressive for a small restaurant, and may include some unusual dishes (grilled sardines, for example), also organic food including salmon and chicken; an early dinner menu is offered, also a separate children’s menu and daily changing specials and desserts too.

Sensibly, given the clientèle, there’s a core of popular dishes, including sirloin and T-bone steaks, but also a fair sprinkling of suggestions to tempt more adventurous diners.

Although some may find it dark and cramped (features that tend to go with the territory in old pubs), the restaurant has character and the dining experience overall is enjoyable - the food is interesting and offers something different from other choices in the area, and staff are attentive and genuinely caring.

The wild boar sausage alone is reason enough to want to return to this restaurant.

Seats 55; children welcome before 10pm (high chair, childrens menu); air conditioning; L Sun only, 12.30-3.30pm; D Tue-Sun, 5.30-9.30pm (4.30-7.30 Sun). Good wine list; house wine €18.95. Closed Mon, one week Nov. MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

13km (8 miles) west of Longford on Dublin-Westport road