Articles

The Winding Stair has been in the news a lot of late and, following the well-publicised problems of the previous owners, the Thomas Read group, Dubliners were delighted when the highly regarded former manager, Elaine Murphy, emerged earlier this year as the new proprietor-manager of this delightfully characterful restaurant overlooking the Liffey. This was great news for everyone who had come to love the real Irish feel of the restaurant, including the way it was expressed through simply cooked local Irish and artisan food – a real ‘good home cooking’ style that was at odds with the cheffy tall food fashions of the day when the restaurant opened in 2006, but is widely appreciated now.
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Just outside Cong, in the Ashford Castle Estate, Lisloughrey Lodge is a contemporary hotel with a lovely Georgian house at its heart and, with views down Lough Corrib, it enjoys one of the most beautiful locations in Ireland. Situated in two rooms on the first floor of the old house, Salt Restaurant is perfectly placed to make the most of the view - just as Head Chef Wade Murphy’s menus make the most of the superb foods that are available to him, including many from the immediate area.
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When his much loved Newbridge hotel, The Red House, was destroyed by fire a few years ago Brian Fallon (of Fallon & Byrne in Dublin) brought the whole team to this well known premises in the attractive village of Kilcullen. Following major renovations throughout, the building emerged with a beguiling interior - a stylish blend of old and new that will be familiar to anyone who remembers The Red House - and a very relaxing atmosphere.
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The Cavaliere family are from Lazio in Italy and, for over twenty years, they have run the excellent and very popular Italian restaurant, Rinuccini, in the heart of Kilkenny City. Situated on smart Grand Parade, just below Kilkenny Castle, it’s the first port of call for lovers of Italian food when in Kilkenny, and one of the joys of this place is that the simplest things are done so well – not only is the cooking excellent (try something really basic like their minestrone soup, and you’ll be a fan for life), but owner-chef Antonio Cavaliere makes it clear that his classic Italian cooking is based on the very best Irish produce sourced locally – and he is proud to shout that from the rooftops. Well, from his menus anyway.
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Fans of the former Lennons Café Bar of Tullow Street in Carlow Town had to wait a long time to enjoy their wholesome food again – but it’s been worth it. Last winter Sinead Byrne and her son Ross, together with some of the old staff, moved into the spanking new Visual Centre for Contemporary Art & the George Bernard Shaw Theatre in the heart of Carlow Town - and both the restaurant itself and the venue that provides its stylish contemporary setting are proving a great asset to the town.
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The “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month winner for April is Harrys Bar & Restaurant in Bridgend County Donegal. Donal & Kevin Doherty and Raymond Moran operate this well-run bar and restaurant close to the Derry border with a real passion for the food of the area. There’s nothing they like better than shouting about it, so there won’t be much need for anyone to ‘Just Ask!’ when eating here – although they’ll ‘Just Love It!’ if you do, as their well-informed staff are just as enthusiastic about their food philosophy as they are themselves.
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The “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month winner for March is The King Sitric Restaurant, in Howth, Co Dublin. Long before it was popular or profitable to do so (indeed, ever since he opened Howth’s premier restaurant, in 1971) Euro-Toques proprietor-chef Aidan MacManus’s philosophy was to source the best possible local produce and tell his customers about it – and that dedication has never waivered.
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The “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month winner for February is Café Rua, in Castlebar, Co Mayo.
When Ann McMahon opened Café Rua on New Antrim Street, Castlebar, in the mid ‘90s there were few enough establishments concentrating on combining quality with simplicity and making the very best foods accessible to all. Today the business is run by Ann’s children Aran and Colleen and, not only has that philosophy of serving ‘uncomplicated food using seasonal and local ingredients’ endured...
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The “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month winner for December is Nash 19 restaurant in Cork. Home from home for its many loyal customers for nearly 20 years, Claire Nash’s bustling city centre restaurant is just a stone’s throw from the English Market – the source of much of the local and indigenous produce they are known for, including vegetables, fresh sustainable catches and meats.
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The “Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month winner for November is West restaurant, at The Twelve Hotel in Barna, just west of Galway city. A former winner of our annual Wine Award, this contemporary hotel has had quality food at its heart from the outset and their motto “True to The Region, True to The Season” sums up the philosophy which can be seen at work in every aspect of the operation, including their excellent bar food as well as the fine dining restaurant, West.
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