The Tankard

Easily spotted on the seaward side of the road from Tralee, the O'Sullivan family's large pub and restaurant has a great reputation, especially for seafood. An imaginative bar menu, which overlaps to some extent with the restaurant à la carte, is available from lunchtime to late evening, serving a good range of food.

Expect dishes like seafood chowder with delicious hi-fibre home-made brown bread, salads such as smoky ‘Boxty’ (smoked salmon with potato cake & salad), cold seafood dishes like fresh crab and apple salad (a house speciality) and hot snacks including steamed mussels Tankard-style.

There will be plenty of non-seafood dishes too, including warm chicken salad, home-made burgers, pastas and sandwiches.

Restaurant :

There are wonderful sea and mountain views from the restaurant, which has a patio area and a path down to the sea.

Except on Sunday this is an evening destination, although lunch is available by arrangement - a phone call is always worthwhile to get the best of seafood cooking, which can be exceptional. 

The style is traditional, mainly classic French with Irish overtones. Expect simple well-cooked food, based on the finest local ingredients, with excellent saucing and unfussy presentation giving hardly a passing nod to fashion - making a refreshing change from the ubiquitous 'world cuisine'.

Although a good selection of other dishes is offered too, including duckling and lamb, seafood is undoubtedly the star here. Much of it is sourced through the owners’ connections with the local fishing community, and the choices range from very simple monkfish to lobster and oysters.

A very good wine list is well matched to the menu, with efficient and well-informed service completing the experience.