This cottagey restaurant in Dingle is one of the prettiest in Dingle and it has a long history in a town that become a top dining destination in recent years. Established by Denis O’Connor and his wife Teresa in 1990, it was taken over by their son Conor (the chef) and his partner Eileen O’Sullivan (front-of-house) after his parents retired in 2022. Since then they have aimed to build on the reputation Denis and Teresa earned for this restaurant, while adding their own interpretation of contemporary Irish hospitality in this a comfortable and atmospherict setting with its exposed stone walls, decorative copper pans and fish-themed plates on the walls.
The menu varies with the season and is quite extensive, but well informed staff are happy to help you to make the best choices. And you can take your time while nibbing on the delicious breads - Carraig Dubh Stout and Treacle Brown Bread (made with stout produced by the local West Kerry brewery) and Black Olive and Confit Garlic Ciabatta - and enjoyng an aperitif. Something from the cocktail list perhaps, which includes classics like Whiskey Sour, Negroni and Old Fashioned, or they'll happily make your favourite if it’s not on the list.
When it comes to ordering, seafood lovers are in for a treat with oysters, crabs, and lobster to choose from, even a Crab Benedict (toasted homemade brioche topped with dressed Blasket Island hollandaise and served with organic garden leaves) and their Wild Atlantic Seafood Chowder is a house favourite.
Pan-seared hake is a regular main course, served with a dill velouté (and perhaps an indugent side of triple cooked house chips) or you could push the boat out with Blasket Island lobster, served with a choice of lemon or garlic butter, or Gambas prawns and small black (Dover) sole on the bone, served traditionally with parsley & caper butter and lemon segments.
But it's not all fish by any means and there's a good choice of meat and poultry, such as Breast of Silverhill Duck with port jus and McCarthy’s Rack of Kerry Lamb, while steak lovers with big appetites will love the 18oz T-Bone (also from McCarthy's) with green and black peppercorn sauce. And, with tasty dishes like Butternut squash risotto, charred tenderstem broccoli & Parmesan cheese on offer, vegetarians are well looked after too Traditional desserts like Lemon Posse or Macerated Strawberries make a refreshing
Service is at a relaxed pace and, even when they are turning people away at the door, you will not be rushed and there's time to enjoy finishing your choice from the wine list - which includes a vibrant non-alcoholic called Bliss.
