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Restaurant Café Sol

Noel McCarron's popular daytime café and evening restaurant is easy to find, just off the High Street. A small interior porch leads in to a large room warmly decorated in yellow and terracotta with large paintings by local artist Catherine Barron, giving it a sunny, Mediterranean feeling; daytime is very casual with oilcloths or plain wooden table tops, and in the evening - when the building is floodlit and heavy white paper cloths and candles are used - there's a distinct change of atmosphere.

Liam O'Hanlon took over as head chef in 2004, and the house style remains colourful and punchy, showing international influences but based on the best local produce like delicious Lavistown sausages, beef and lamb from Mullins butchers, and fish from Dunmore East, Co Waterford; suppliers are credited on the menu, together with the offer to prepare gluten free or dairy free dishes on request.

Daytime menus offer informal dishes like open sandwiches, panini and salads, and perhaps ten hot dishes including comfort food like grilled Lavistown sausages with colcannon, and spicier dishes such as an oriental stirfry. Evening menus move up a gear or two, and as well as the more predictable dishes (local beef, of course) include some unusual choices - a tasting plate of cured meats, Lavistown cheese, aged balsamic and rocket leaves, for example.

Vegetarians always do well here, too - and lovely desserts might include homely treats like warm mixed berry and apple crumble, with whipped cream - simply delicious. Stylish plain white plates do a lot for the food, which is attractively presented but not over-worked.

This is an interesting restaurant, offering something different from the 'sameness' of so many menus, and at reasonable prices.

*At the time of going to press the restaurant is about to undergo refurbishment, and possibly also a change of name.



Seats 45. Air conditioning. Open all day Mon-Sat, 12-10, Sun 12-9. Set D about €23; Set D for 2 & bottle wine €60. also á la carte. Wines from €18. SC 10% on parties 6+. Closed 25 Dec, 1 Jan. *Free Broadband wi/fi Amex, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

Coming from castle - up High St. - 2nd turn left opposite Town Hall.