Mark and Claire Woods' appealing restaurant at the heritage centre in Carlingford has a well-earned local following and - with welcoming pavement menu boards and plenty of space at the front for a very pleasant outside seating area it's an enticing prospect for hungry passers-by.
Indoors, what was once a tiny space soon developed to meet demand and it has always packed a mighty punch, offering great cooking and modern menus.
Begin, perhaps, with one of Mark's excellent "something soups" or something from a selection of about ten starters (seafood risotto with prawn, salmon, smoked haddock, tomatoes & basil pesto and pork spring roll with Hoi Sin, pepper coulis, basil oil and baby cos indicate the style); a similar number of main courses offers dressed up favourites like shank of lamb and pan-seared duck breast, alongside ideas from further afield like the signature Thai spiced pork in a light batter with sticky rice, curry oil, sweet soy & Asian salad or hot & sour onions.
There are some appealing vegetarian dishes too, probably including a house special, also seafood specials such as Carlingford mussels and oysters.
Desserts offer a choice of five, possibly including a very nice apple crumble with crème anglaise and ice cream, and the wine list is interesting and fairly priced.
Pricing generally is very reasonable and this is an interesting and enjoyable place to eat.
