Search Results for 'bar food'

The House Hotel is one of my favourite little boltholes in Galway. Cool, quirky, and fun, you can't beat it for location. The rooms are lovely and settling into one of the squashy pink couches in the lobby with one of the rather superior afternoon teas is a great way to catch up with friends.

There was a time when it would be normal to eat dinner at the local hotel or if staying there, to eat-in each night. In fact for many towns in Ireland the only place to eat was the local hotel. All that changed in the seventies and eighties with the growth of cafes, restaurants and the new kid on the block - bar food. The change in attitude to hotel food is something that hotel owners must struggle with daily as they try to get the seats filled in the dining room. There are of course many exceptions to this and one I really recommend that you try at the earliest opportunity is The Lobster Pot restaurant in the Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill.

The Carlton Hotel on the Dublin Road is a favourite for quick and tasty lunchtime dining. Located within easy access of some of the city’s many business parks and hospitals and with ample free car parking, it is a lunchtime favourite with Galwegians and visitors to the area.

The Brog Maker, just outside Kilkenny city, is the perfect place to relax and unwind while enjoying a pint and savouring some quality food.

Along with its nearby neighbour, Moran’s of the Weir, I reckon Paddy Burke’s must be one of the best known landmark pubs in the country. I pass by the front door most days and there are always cars turning in to park, especially tourists who have heard the name or have been there previously. For myself it is the place of one of my earliest culinary memories. During the mid to late 1970s I was a regular diner there, that was when bar food had just moved from ‘hang sandwiches’ to toasted sandwiches (really posh) and to hot food. My absolute favourite dish back then was chicken cordon bleu and it was the most popular dish on their menu for many years. The luxury of it, breaded on the outside, ham on the inside, and a cheesy sauce oozed out as soon as it was cut. I am sure many readers will remember this dish too.

If you ask any student or ex student from Galway where they drink in Galway city, I think The Cellar Bar will be among the top places. It has also been a regular for locals, tourists, and weekenders. It was unfortunately closed down last January for a few months and now is in new ownership, up and running seven days a week.

One of the Midlands’ leading live music venues for the last 20 years changed hands this week with local man Declan Murray (42) taking over the reins at The Stables in Mullingar on the retirement of Tommy McManus.

The Prince Bar, Athlone will officially launch its new Friday ladies club and cocktail menu next Friday November 5.

Once again Arthur Guinness Day returns with this year’s official celebrations taking place in Dublin, Cork, and Galway. Organisers of the official Arthur’s Day may have forgotten to include Athlone on Thursday September 23, but the Prince Bar hasn’t.

This Saturday August 28 The Prince bar, Athlone are throwing an end of summer party to mark the end of what was a great summer, they even have sunshine!