Wineport

Zubeneschamali

John_Rambo wrote: »

Hatter's had the quirky decor (looks like an old train interior!), but that's about it, the food was fairly average.

It used to be fairly average, but last time I was there (during 2014 some time) it had gone way, way downhill. If I was moving in there, I'd scrap the name.

Saint_Mel

I thought Hatters were doing a good trade so I'm not sure if it will be there. I always liked Hatters (and still do). Always found the staff to be very good.

Saint_Mel

I never saw the big deal about the Fatted Calf to be honest. Granted I was only there a handful of times but it always struck me as bar food at restaurant prices. Don't get me wrong, the food was nice, just well over priced (imho)

veryangryman

Saint_Mel wrote: »

I never saw the big deal about the Fatted Calf to be honest. Granted I was only there a handful of times but it always struck me as bar food at restaurant prices. Don't get me wrong, the food was nice, just well over priced (imho)

Replace "Fatted Calf" with Khin Chao and you got my opinion. €10 for a lunch that doesn't even half fill you.

martin1

My information is that the fatted calf will open in St. Marys square where athlone crystal used to be

Addle

Saint_Mel wrote: »

I never saw the big deal about the Fatted Calf to be honest. Granted I was only there a handful of times but it always struck me as bar food at restaurant prices. Don't get me wrong, the food was nice, just well over priced (imho)

Agree. They could at least have a table cloth for the prices charged.

Saint_Mel

martin1 wrote:

My information is that the fatted calf will open in St. Marys square where athlone crystal used to be

Funnily enough my missus was in the new Athlone Crystal the other day and the lady there said they had some enquiries from potential restaurants and cafe's for their old location.

Sunny Dayz

Saint_Mel wrote: »

Funnily enough my missus was in the new Athlone Crystal the other day and the lady there said they had some enquiries from potential restaurants and cafe's for their old location.

Did Athlone Crystal move from St Mary's Square?

Steven81

Never eaten in The Fatted Calf but have been in Grogans a good few times, realy like the food and relaxed atmosphere, getting a pint or two helps. The food is always good and always a good crowd in there, never really liked the menu in the fatted calf.

John_Rambo

Addle wrote: »

Agree. They could at least have a table cloth for the prices charged.

I'd rather they put the money in to the food and service than a tablecloth.

Saint_Mel wrote: »

I never saw the big deal about the Fatted Calf to be honest. Granted I was only there a handful of times but it always struck me as bar food at restaurant prices.

I was happy to pay the price for above quality restaurant food in a bar like scenario. I really thought it was a big deal! I genuinely thought the menu was creative, I loved the locally sourced food and booze.

Martha_Mae

Was there last week and was surprised with the vegetarian choices.... Had to pay €30 for a bit of past and one - ONE mushroom!!!!!!

John_Rambo

Martha_Mae wrote: »

Was there last week and was surprised with the vegetarian choices.... Had to pay €30 for a bit of past and one - ONE mushroom!!!!!!

That's odd. What did you ask for?

Martha_Mae

John_Rambo wrote: »

That's odd. What did you ask for?

Sorry I meant pasta... I paid €28 for the Fresh Tagliatelle which was a very small portion of pasta as much as you can fit in a cuppa and just only single mushroom. Never again!

John_Rambo

Martha_Mae wrote: »

pasta as much as you can fit in a cuppa

That's about the right portion of fresh pasta for an adult in fairness. What sauce was on it?

Martha_Mae

John_Rambo wrote: »

That's about the right portion of fresh pasta for an adult in fairness. What sauce was on it?

Well that's definitely not enough for me :P And that's not the portions you usually get in all the other restaurants around here. Didn't taste a sauce.. and I definitely don't think that €28 is a fair price for a portion of pasta..

John_Rambo

Martha_Mae wrote: »

Well that's definitely not enough for me :P And that's not the portions you usually get in all the other restaurants around here. Didn't taste a sauce.. and I definitely don't think that €28 is a fair price for a portion of pasta..

I know, portion control is a nationwide problem.

I don't believe you paid €28 for dry pasta with one mushroom and no sauce.

Zubeneschamali

There is a dish on the Winter menu (online) described as:

Fresh Tagliatelle
Glasson field mushrooms & white truffle oil

Yes, it's a main course, and costs €28.

There's no doubt that if you are looking for a big feed for not much, you're in the wrong place.

scrgirl

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

There is a dish on the Winter menu (online) described as:

Fresh Tagliatelle
Glasson field mushrooms & white truffle oil

Yes, it's a main course, and costs €28.

There's no doubt that if you are looking for a big feed for not much, you're in the wrong place.

can you link that menu, I cant find any menu online for the new owners, the villager or whatever it is to be called now.

Zubeneschamali

scrgirl wrote: »

can you link that menu, I cant find any menu online for the new owners, the villager or whatever it is to be called now.

No, I was looking at the Wineport menu, which is the subject of the thread.

scrgirl

ah sorry we had been discussing the fatted calf, assumed you were taking about that.

Martha_Mae

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

There is a dish on the Winter menu (online) described as:
There's no doubt that if you are looking for a big feed for not much, you're in the wrong place.

I was looking for a good feed... which was far from what I got..

Zubeneschamali

scrgirl wrote: »

ah sorry we had been discussing the fatted calf, assumed you were taking about that.

There is no Fatted Calf at the minute.

scrgirl

I always feel Irish restaurants over feed us, so when I dont feel stuffed at the end of a meal I think thats a good thing.

scrgirl

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

There is no Fatted Calf at the minute.

Is Cathal Moran not in yet?

John_Rambo

Martha_Mae wrote: »

I was looking for a good feed... which was far from what I got..

If your looking for quantity over quality you'd be better off going to a pub carvery. Like scrgirl a lot of people nowadays like to leave a restaurant without feeling bloated. Some portions are a joke.

Martha_Mae

John_Rambo wrote: »

If your looking for quantity over quality you'd be better off going to a pub carvery. Like scrgirl a lot of people nowadays like to leave a restaurant without feeling bloated. Some portions are a joke.

Are you working there or something? I never said I prefer quantity over quality but when I'm paying €28 for pasta I'm expecting something more than two mouthfulls and one mushroom. I would mind the portion if there was actually something there to make it up for the price

John_Rambo

Martha_Mae wrote: »

Are you working there or something? I never said I prefer quantity over quality but when I'm paying €28 for pasta I'm expecting something more than two mouthfulls and one mushroom. I would mind the portion if there was actually something there to make it up for the price

No, I don't work there, but when I go to somewhere like the Wineport I know what to expect. Look, if you can't taste truffle oil in fresh pasta, you don't want to pay a lot of money and you want huge portions the best place for you is the carvery. They are great value, they are cheap and you "get a great feed".

Martha_Mae

You're hopeless - Wineport is overpriced. Great location but I the food is mediocre

Guess we're spoiled by The Locke here in town. Great chef, gorgeous food, excellent service.

Sunny Dayz

Martha_Mae wrote: »

You're hopeless - Wineport is overpriced. Great location but I the food is mediocre

Guess we're spoiled by The Locke here in town. Great chef, gorgeous food, excellent service.

Apparantly the Locke has closed up.

Keithmc40

The Locke is closed down !!!

John_Rambo

Martha_Mae wrote: »

Guess we're spoiled by The Locke here in town. Great chef, gorgeous food, excellent service.

Meh.... average fair, uncreative, low quality produce. Beef and Salmon diner. Cracking building though.

John_Rambo

Keithmc40 wrote: »

The Locke is closed down !!!

No surprise there, pity though, hope it's only for Jan and Feb and it improves if it reopens.

Rasmus

Martha_Mae wrote: »

Well that's definitely not enough for me :P And that's not the portions you usually get in all the other restaurants around here. Didn't taste a sauce.. and I definitely don't think that €28 is a fair price for a portion of pasta..

Agreed. That amount of pasta is extremely cheap to mage and the costs should be passed on accordingly. Why did you choose such an expensive pasta dish though?

John_Rambo

Rasmus wrote: »

Agreed. That amount of pasta is extremely cheap to mage and the costs should be passed on accordingly. Why did you choose such an expensive pasta dish though?

Disagree, that amount of pasta is exactly what you'd get in Italy. Where they invented pasta. It's a processed food designed to be a side or mixed with fish, veg, or meat. A good Italian restaurant will give you enough pasta that will fit in your cupped hand. I don't believe there was just one mushroom.

But, in fairness to Martha vegetarian dishes seem to be an afterthought throughout Europe. I find this unsurprising as, in my view (and, it seems, most chefs view) vegetarianism is unnatural. If you're not a hardcore veggie I'd advise anyone to order a normal main without the meat and ask can the veg be added to supplement. Shouldn't be a problem. I have asked for starters to be enlarged as a main in the Wineport... they are fairly flexible.

Rasmus

John_Rambo wrote: »

Disagree, that amount of pasta is exactly what you'd get in Italy. Where they invented pasta. It's a processed food designed to be a side or mixed with fish, veg, or meat. A good Italian restaurant will give you enough pasta that will fit in your cupped hand. I don't believe there was just one mushroom.

But, in fairness to Martha vegetarian dishes seem to be an afterthought throughout Europe. I find this unsurprising as, in my view (and, it seems, most chefs view) vegetarianism is unnatural. If you're not a hardcore veggie I'd advise anyone to order a normal main without the meat and ask can the veg be added to supplement. Shouldn't be a problem. I have asked for starters to be enlarged as a main in the Wineport... they are fairly flexible.

But they wouldn't charge 28 euro for a pasta in Italy! The point is, in Ireland they serve pasta as a main dish and charging that is taking the p's.

John_Rambo

Rasmus wrote: »

But they wouldn't charge 28 euro for a pasta in Italy!

They certainly will!!

Zubeneschamali

Unfortunately, unless it's a specialist place, anyone ordering the vegetarian main course in a restaurant is asking for trouble. It's like saying you want a Medium steak.

Saint_Mel

Sunny Dayz wrote: »

Did Athlone Crystal move from St Mary's Square?

Yep,moved in beside the Westmeath Independent offices

Saint_Mel

John_Rambo wrote: »

I was happy to pay the price for above quality restaurant food in a bar like scenario. I really thought it was a big deal! I genuinely thought the menu was creative, I loved the locally sourced food and booze.

That's the things though, I didn't think it was anywhere near above quality restaurant food.

By any chance did you work there before? Not getting at anything btw with that but your talk about the place comes across (to me anyway) as someone with a past/vested interest in the place.
Although that could just be me being a suspicious Aloysius :-)

fergal.b

I have to say I love the food in Wineport it's one of my favourite stop off points after a day on the lake, the service is always very friendly and welcoming and when I'm short a few quid the bar food is just as tasty
I would have no problems recommending the place to anyone.




.

John_Rambo

Saint_Mel wrote: »

That's the things though, I didn't think it was anywhere near above quality restaurant food.

I did.

Saint_Mel wrote: »

By any chance did you work there before? Not getting at anything btw with that but your talk about the place comes across (to me anyway) as someone with a past/vested interest in the place.
Although that could just be me being a suspicious Aloysius :-)

Nope, fair question St. Mel, it may sound like I have an interest in the place, but I have an interest in anywhere that does good food. You'll see that in my post history. I work in advertising in Dublin! I've never worked in the hospitality or food sector. Some of my family do work in the sector, but not in the midlands, mostly Dublin and nationwide. I have family in the midlands and I'm in to my food, I'd be fairly adventurous with my own cooking and love places that push the boundaries with food. I'm very keen on local produce and game and I feel the Shannon midland area has lots and lots to offer, that's all!

Martha_Mae

Rasmus wrote: »

Agreed. That amount of pasta is extremely cheap to mage and the costs should be passed on accordingly. Why did you choose such an expensive pasta dish though?

It was the most appealing vegetarian choice on their menu...Really poor and expensive dish wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Martha_Mae

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Unfortunately, unless it's a specialist place, anyone ordering the vegetarian main course in a restaurant is asking for trouble. It's like saying you want a Medium steak.

Hahahahaha that's soo true!!

Rasmus

Martha_Mae wrote: »

It was the most appealing vegetarian choice on their menu...Really poor and expensive dish wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Pasta dishes are the most unimaginative and lazy vegetarian dishes that many restaurants put on the menu. I think I had a pasta in the Wineport before and was not impressed (hardly any ingredients, just pasta) but I don't remember it being that expensive.

tubos

Can we get a synopsis of what we have discovered over the last few posts? What I have learnt is....

The Fatted Calf has closed in Glasson. It is due to move to a new premises but we dont know where yet? Possible Mullingar somewhere, possibly replacing Hatters in Athlone?

The Villager (name very similar to other restaurant there!!) has replaced the Fatted Calf in Glasson. It's run by former Wineport chef? So it will be expensive enough, more like restaurant prices and food in a bar setting, just like the fatted calf. Will it open at normal restaurant times only or can people just go in during normal bar hours for a drink?

Athlone Crystal have moved to a slightly smaller premises beside the Westmeath Indo so their place on Marys Square might be turned into a restaurant but there is nothing confirmed yet.

Just to add to this multi-threaded thread... What's being built on the Ballymahon Road on the land that used to be owned by Buccs? Beside Fernhill there.

Zubeneschamali

tubos wrote: »

Just to add to this multi-threaded thread... What's being built on the Ballymahon Road on the land that used to be owned by Buccs?

The Development will consist of the a Neighbourhood Centre Development (1967sqm total gross floor area)consisting of a supermarket with Off License and ancillary areas (1504sqm of which 991 sqm is net retail sales area), 3 no retail units (310sqm) and 1 no stand alone restaurant/cafe unit (153 sqm). Permission is also sought for car parking (125 no spaces) services yard, ESB substation, building mounted and free standing signage, hard and soft landscaping, boundary treatments and all associated site and development works. Access is proposed via a new junction on the Ballymahon road which will provide access to the current application site and adjoining development lands

Rasmus

I was in The Villager once. I did not really like it and found it overpriced. Saying that, I loved the Fatted Calf so it will be hard to sway me unless Kin Khao moved there or something.

demanufactured

Roll on March... Till the chalets open again.