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The Tankard

Easily spotted on the seaward side of the road from Tralee, this bright yellow 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.

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

Restaurant :

Except on Sunday this is an evening restaurant, although lunch is available by arrangement. A phone call is always worthwhile to get the best of seafood cooking, which can be exceptional: the restaurant style is traditional, mainly classic French with Irish overtones.

Simple well-cooked food, based on the finest local ingredients with excellent saucing and unfussy presentation give hardly a passing nod to fashion, which makes a refreshing change from the ubiquitous 'world cuisine'.

Seafood is undoubtedly at the centre of the menu, much of it sourced through the owners’ connections with the local fishing community, and the choices range from very simple monkfish to lobster and oysters.

A good selection of other dishes is offered too, including duckling and lamb.

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

A very good wine list, well matched to the menu, completes the experience in this seafood-focused restaurant.

Restaurant : Except on Sunday this is an evening restaurant, although lunch is available by arrangement. A phone call is always worthwhile to get the best of seafood cooking, which can be exceptional: although bar menus are to some extent influenced by current trends, the restaurant style is more traditional, mainly classic French with Irish overtones. Simple well-cooked food, based on the finest local ingredients with excellent saucing and unfussy presentation give hardly a passing nod to fashion, which makes a refreshing change from the ubiquitous 'world cuisine'. An extensive à la carte offers some irresistible seafood dishes - a house speciality is a hot Seafood Symphony of lobster, scallops, prawns, grilled oysters, crab claws, salmon & plaice (EUR65, for two), although there are plenty of simpler dishes for those who prefer them; then there’s a wide choice of others too, includes steaks in various guises, duckling, Kerry lamb and some strong vegetarian options and pasta dishes. There are sea and mountain views from the restaurant, which has recently been extended and opened out to make the most of its location, with a patio area and a path down to the sea. Good wine list, well matched to the menu. Seats 130; toilets wheelchair accessible; children welcome (high chair, children's menu, baby changing facilities). D daily 6-10, L daily, 12-4. Set Sun L €22, D á la carte. House wines from about €18; sc discretionary *Bar meals daily, 2-10pm. Closed Good Fri. Amex, Diners, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

5 miles from Tralee on Spa/Fenit road.