Westport man Dermott Flynn and his Dublin-born wife Janice O’Rourke opted to offer ‘a small food menu and some good wine selections’, when they opened this restaurant near the Octagon in July 2010. They are Slow Food members and, with everything made on the premises and plenty of local produce, it was very much in the spirit of the times - and not only has it thrived, but it continues to improve all the time.
Soft lighting (with lots of candles for an atmospheric night-time look), mis-matched oilcloth-covered tables, wines and other bits and pieces from their travels on display all combine to create a cosy and comfortable atmosphere - in tune with their aim ‘to bring a casual and fresh Slow Food dining experience to the town’.
Janice heads up the front of house staff and the welcome is truly warm and helpful, while Dermott looks after the kitchen end of the operation. Menus change regularly and the aim is to keep a balance of favourite dishes and new ones introduced for seasonal interest.
All of the menus - early dinner, the evening à la carte and Sunday lunch - are given in both English and Irish, and vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available.
Desserts are home-made and, like all the cooking, good - and so is the value and quality. Beef and lamb are all local - from McCormacks butchers in the town and Kelly's of Newport (who also supply their famous black pudding) - and the free range pork is from Andarl Farm in Co Galway, producers of the very special 'Velvet Pork'. The same philosophy applies to chicken and eggs (both free range) and fish and seafood (local and sustainable), and the impressive list of regular suppliers is goven on all menus and augmented by other small local suppliers as needed for seasonal produce.
A well priced wine list is as carefully selected as the food - and, organised in a user-friendly way by style, it also highlights the bottles suitable for vegans.
The service is nice and easy-going - Janice out-front is very pleasant and helpful and the restaurant gives off a cosy, comfortable feeling.
This is a great, big-hearted little restaurant - and it just goes on getting better.
