Golfing breaks are a speciality at Terry McCoy's renowned restaurant with accommodation in the characterful fishing port of Skerries.
This county Dublin restaurants located in a converted banking premises, which adds to the atmosphere (even the old vault has its uses - as a wine cellar) and Terry is an avid supporter of local produce, with fresh seafood from Skerries harbour providing the backbone of his menu.
Menus, written in Terry's inimitable style, are a joy to read and a statement at the end reads: "All items on the menu are sourced from Irish producers and suppliers. There are too many items for us to list all ingredients after each dish but you can take my word for it, we use local Irish because it's the freshest & so the best."
Dishes conceived and cooked with generosity have names of local relevance - grilled goat's cheese St. Patrick, for example, is a reminder that the saint once lived on Church Island off Skerries - and dishes suitable for vegetarians are marked on the menu. Menus are quite extensive and full of individuality. Specialities include cockle & mussels; razor fish, which are found just off nearby Balbriggan and seen on very few menus in Ireland; Dublin Bay prawns (langoustines), which are prolific in the area and come into Skerries harbour; and also lobster in season.
The dessert trolley is legendary - a large space should be left if you fancy pudding.
An informative, fairly priced wine list includes a wide selection of house wines, and a good choice of half bottles - and the early dinner and Sunday lunch menus offer great value.
Seats 60 (private room,10). D Mon-Sat, 6-9.45; L Sun only, 12.30-4.30. Set Sun L €30; Set D €50; early D 6-8pm €25. A la carte also available; house wines from €24.50; no sc. Children welcome (high chair, childrems menu). Closed D Sun and L Mon-Sat. Restaurant only closed 24-28 Dec.
Accommodation:
18 fine, comfortably furnished guest rooms have all the amenities normally expected of an hotel.
Facilities for private parties (50). Gourmet Golf breaks - up to 40 golf courses within 20 minutes drive. While in the area, allow time to visit Skerries Mills (working windmills (Tel: 01 849 5208) and the beautifully located Ardgillan Castle and Victorian Gardens (Tel: 01 849 2212) nearby, where there are tea rooms.
Rooms 18 (all superior & no-smoking, 1 family, 5 ground floor bedrooms, 3 single, 1 for disabled). Free broadband; Children under 4 free in parents' room (cots available free of charge). Pets permitted in certain areas. B&B €60 pps (€30 in low season), ss €15 (DB&B rate is good value at €79 pps). Accommodation open all year. Amex, Diners, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.
