The River Bistro

Central and within a couple of minutes walk across the bridge from the Hunt Museum (and also the marina, for visitors who may arrive by boat), this smartly presented Limerick restaurant enjoys a convenient and particularly attractive location overlooking the river.

Run by well-known Limerick man, Diarmuid O’Callaghan, who is proprietor-chef, with his wife Carmel running the front of house. The understated style of the restaurant provides a pleasing backdrop for an enjoyable night out, the food takes centre stage.

Known especially for his commitment to using the best seasonal ingredients, and for unpretentious cooking that focuses on flavour above all else, Diarmuid is a well-travelled man with experience abroad and the style is eclectic.

Menus are not over-long yet offer a wide range, often interspersing less known dishes with the popular - a starter of homemade venison and guinea fowl sausage with dates and salted grapes, for example, may take its place alongside a seafood chowder.

Among the main courses you’ll find traditional choices like good chargrilled rib of beef with chunky chips and rack or loin of lamb (often with a twist) but, with starters like prawn risotto and a main course such as Silverhill duck with hoisin glaze, curied pottao and bokchoy offered, lovers of more adventurous food should be well pleased too - and there is always a creative vegetarian option (pithvier of roasted vegetables with Springfield organic salad, perhaps) and at least one special daily fish dish.

Lovely desserts too – don’t leave without trying the sticky toffee pudding.

This is not a cheap restaurant but it gives good value, especially midweek.

And regular customers value it, not only for the food but for the owners’ personal commitment, good service and the intimate atmosphere.

An asset to the city.