Wheres me jumpa

I have been meaning to big up this restaurant since I had the pleasure of eating there last Saturday. It was Valentines night, so Minnie and I trusted a recommendation of a friend and booked a table.

I pass the restaurant on a daily basis but always assumed it was more of a shop / deli than a restaurant. Sure enough on entry you have a deli like counter and you pass a long wall of wine before getting to the back seating area. It’s a small area but it is not overcrowded, seated perfectly for the space available.

The menu is very simple. All recognisable dishes. Not many dishes either. We started with Tiger Prawns and Brie. Both were delicious and a good sign of things to come. Took me a while to decide on a main course but eventually I went for the Herb Crusted Cod while Minnie went for the duck. Again both were delicious and both were so simple (but obviously cooked to a standard that will never be seen in my kitchen). I am not a huge fan of duck, I tried Minnies and it is easily the best duck I have ever had. Desserts were equally as good, the Banofi Pie is even better than expected after reading several tip off’s for dessert.

Food aside the staff are very friendly, efficient and know the menu. The owner / chef appeared on two occasions to speak to customers and also had a quick chat with us when we left. It is a very easy thing to make people feel appreciated for giving you their custom but it is often neglected, not here. I also liked the fact that there wasn’t a big deal made of Valentines night. Other restaurants saw fit to adorn their exteriors with balloons and other decorations.

Three course meal (x 2), a bottle of wine and coffee came to a more than reasonable 91 euro. The Cheese Pantry is a real find for us, as we live just around the corner. I’m not sure how well known it is in Dublin but it is certainly a recommendation for anyone living in / visiting the city. We will be back to sample the rest of the menu and I can’t wait!

Website is not complete yet, but you can view contact details and menu on MenuPages.ie.

I finally got to dine at Carlows newest restaurant, The Grill and Grape. Thankfully their premises was unaffected by the flooding that has hit Carlow recently. Its riverside location is unique in Carlow but Im sure with the levels of water that were seen this week, they are relieved to have escaped unscathed.

Inside, you get a modern, spacious, well laid out restaurant. There are a few circular booth type tables that are ideal for larger crowds. And of course you have the window seats which over look the Barrow.

As you would expect with a steakhouse, dead cow dominates the menu. Very tasty Calamari started me off before I went for the 10oz Sirloin, while my other half went with what appears to be the signature dish, a rare steak served on a hot skillet. It cooks as you eat. It proved a novelty at first and is worth a try, but be prepared for some splashes and a slightly awkward meal.

Your steak comes plain jane, and you select a sauce which comes separately. This has a certain, American, diner type feel to it. I went for a garlic butter sauce. You expect when visiting a steakhouse to be blown away by the steak, although it was a nice piece of meat, Ive had better steaks, even in Carlow.

Plenty of sides to fill you up also. Ice cream for dessert, rounded off with a very potent espresso. Dinner for two, shared starter, shared dessert, espresso each and bottle of wine coming to a very reasonable 80 euro.

It’s a restaurant with a modern, trendy feel to it. It’s a significant change to the type of restaurant in Carlow and adds some variety. Also its location, slightly, away from the main streets, means it may attract more locals than stag/hen night blow-ins. It could be our little secret, ssshhh.

You must eat here! Maeve spotted this restaurant in a guide. The review said the restaurant is “low key” and can easily be missed when walking by. Sure enough, a tiny door with a simple canopy is what you need to look out for.

This is a Spanish restaurant with a great menu that has all the dishes you would expect from a mediterranean restaurant. We ordered lobster paella and a fillet of beef while we had chorizos and stuffed mushrooms to start. The starters were simple but packed full of flavour. The main courses were oversized and delicious.

The staff are very welcoming and entertaining, they seem very genuine, unlike some of the tip chasing staff you meet in NY. At the end of the meal you are offered a rum soaked grape that packs a punch!

This is a real find and we will be back again.

Cant seem to find a website for this restaurant, so here are the contact details:

303 E 56th St
New York, NY 10022

(212) 759-8767

This restaurant was recommended in a travel guide and the travel guide got it right. This is a Turkish restaurant located on the Upper West Side on 100th St and Broadway.

The walls of the bar and restaurant are lined with drapes which makes for a very unusual interior. The staff were very friendly and explained all the Turkish dishes on the menu.

We went for Iskender Kebabs. Coming from a country where a kebab is a late night takeaway snack this dish changed my opinion! For desert we tried the recommended baklava. I never had baklava before but I want more, delicious!

Prices were very reasonable also.

Click here for more details.

We found this restuarant the first time we visisted New York and we have gone every time we have returned. This small Italian restaurant and bar is located on West 56th St.

The menu has the usual from an Italian restaurant, seafood, pasta, steak, veal etc. Ive sampled the steak, lamb and veal. All were delicious! While Maeve can offer the same verdict for the seafood.

The staff are very friendly and really make you feel at home which really adds to the atmosphere. Its location in mid town also means its never too busy or overcrowded. The price is right too with a three course meal for two and a bottle of wine just passing the $100 mark.

Click here for more info.