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QC's Seafood Bar & Restaurant

Kate and Andrew Cooke’s sensitively renovated bar and restaurant has some great original features that give it character, including a rugged stone wall and an enormous fireplace; the bar counter is also over a century old and there are numerous pictures of local interest and nautical antiques, reflecting Andrew’s special love affair with the sea (he runs a yacht charter service* as well as the bar).

The sea is fundamental here anyway, as local fish is the main feature - supplied by the family company, Quinlan’s Kerry Fish at Renard’s Point (one of their shops is just across the road).

And there’s a big Spanish influence, so expect delicious chargrills, with lots of olive oil and garlic: fresh crab claws and crabmeat are a speciality, also sizzling prawns, and pan-seared baby squid.

Menus are flexible - any of the starters can be served in a main course size, and, although it undoubtedly helps to like seafood, there are plenty of other choices. Main courses include excellent meats to balance up all that ultra-fresh seafood especially, on evening menus, rack of Kerry lamb and char-grilled fillet steak (supplied by a local butcher).

The most pleasing aspect of the food is its immediacy - everything is ultra-fresh, simply prepared and full of zest and, given the quality, it is also good value.

At the back of the restaurant, there’s a charming sheltered outdoor dining area and landscaped garden, carved from the hillside by their own sheer willpower - and, as Andrew is quick to point out, a hired digger.

An interesting wine list leans strongly towards Spain, especially the reds, although house wines are from France & Chile; it is good to see sherry listed as a mainstream wine rather than relegated to aperitif status.

[*For yacht charter information, see www.YachtCharterKerry.com]

Seats 50 (outdoors, 40); children welcome. Meals: L 12.30-2.30 in Summer (Jun-Aug) only; D 6-9.30pm, 7 days in Jul-Aug, 6 days shoulder season (closed Mon), Winter Thu-Sun. Closed 25 Dec, Good Fri; annual closure 8 Jan - mid Feb. Minimum credit card charge, €25. MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

In the centre of Caherciveen .