Restaurant Recommendation Thread - Anyone for seconds?

Cork Lass

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121615617#Comment_121615617

It’s grand but overrated. The last time we got a takeaway from there I felt it was just average.

airy fairy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121614322#Comment_121614322

I didn't post a negative, more an observation of getting an incorrect order. I noted the food and price was still good value. And no, I didn't say it to them, because the combo meal comes on one platter. (3 mains, rice etc on one plate). If I was to complain, the other two dishes would've been wasted also. Obviously, ordinarily, I would've sent an incorrect meal back, but it made little sense to waste 3 mains.

Rfrip

would highly rate golden elephant…my go to but ya their delivery changed there a few months ago and it’s just Douglas area thereabouts only now.

it’s a lovely restaurant to go to instead of takeaway and the service is great

igCorcaigh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121615920#Comment_121615920

Thanks! I much prefer the sit down experience...

I have never ordered a takeaway to my home, but living in the city centre, I don't have to.

Hawkeye123

The Examiner on Saturday frontpage headlines were about all the restaurant closures. The restaurant owners were saying it was because their costs had gone up so much, so probably higher than the official inflation numbers.

igCorcaigh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616158#Comment_121616158

Yeah, inflation is the consumer price index. Business is a different thing I suppose, but I'm not sure how that is measured.

run_Forrest_run

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616158#Comment_121616158

restaurant owners have out-moaned publicans lately. They benefited on the lower VAT rate for a long time and suddenly after Christmas they start the whinging again. All types of businesses are suffering due to increased costs etc. I feel some restaurants were price gouging too, not all but some.

the beer revolu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121617300#Comment_121617300

Well, if restraunts are actually closing, it shows it's not just empty moaning.

notAMember

The Soho replacement, 77. Has anyone been in and had food?

Seems like the same crowd who run dwyers maybe?

run_Forrest_run

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121617351#Comment_121617351

my point is, they might be closing due to badly run businesses or just not being good enough. They might be using the high rates as an excuse and want more help from the Government (tax payer) because they are accustomed to it by now. It's too simplistic to just cite high rates etc as the reason for closure.

notAMember

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121617560#Comment_121617560

Love these armchair experts that show up telling everyone else their business is badly run. What's your business's name so we can use your model as a template? You should run a seminar or something.

rob316

Cash flow is the biggest issue for nearly any business now, I know all too well. An industry like hospitality that uses alot of minimum wage workers will definitely be feeling the pinch with the latest rise, approx €1.70 per hour including PRSI and entitlements.

How much more can you pass onto the customer before they say enough and no one is spending money?

Bottom line though anyone who isn't a good operator or has a good strong business isn't going to survive the current climate. Nash 19 a surprise but I'm not that surprised by White Rabbit and Tung Sing.

rob316

Blaming the increase in the VAT rate isn't valid though, it's such a small difference it shouldn't be the difference between closing your doors and trading.As an operator your problems lie elsewhere

Iguarantee

You can call in, phone them or use their app (G-Thai).

The app and the bizarre wording and disclaimers therein don't do the place justice, in my view. The app works fine though, once you know what you want it’s very easy to use and pay and clearly tells you when you can pick up the order

The food is good, service is a bit overbearing at times when sitting in (think Artie Bucco from The Sopranos).

Their fried curry paste dishes are absolutely superb.

Takeaway for two adults & 2 kids is about €60 which is good value (usually 2x mains, 2x rice, 2x starters, 2x kids portions, 1x prawn crackers).

aidanodr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121619187#Comment_121619187

@rob316 Seems the RAI and Adrian Cummings are out of the blocks already with a special 5 point plan for this perceived special sector ..

Im sure many other SMEs would like to be able to reduce VAT to 9% ( I would say most SMEs have to charge the 23% ) and have a phased pay off of warehoused VAT over 10 years

https://twitter.com/RAI_ie/status/1746107731251974284

rob316

"bespoke support package"

That should be dealt with on a case by case basis not more blanket hand outs. If it's a solid business and is experiencing cash flow problems or other mitigating circumstances it merits assistance.

As regards the VAT rate, that is a reduction for the consumer, there is no sure way to know the reduction is passed on so it should be a non starter.

Hawkeye123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121617300#Comment_121617300

Proof is in the pudding. The restaurants are closing.

Hawkeye123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616182#Comment_121616182

I`d take the CPI with a pinch of salt and an expectation of indigestion. Bon appetit.

Iguarantee

I run my own business, I’d gladly accept a VAT reduction, temporary or otherwise.

Padraig Mor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121619187#Comment_121619187

I do wonder if there's more than meets the eye with the Nash 19 closure. While her statement blames rising costs it also mentions the appointment of liquidators almost in passing - who called them in and why?

Water John

Likely she did that herself. Presume it's a co, so shields her personally.

Dbu

https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/companies/arid-41310004.html

Quite shocked at this one, thought it was going well..

the beer revolu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121622531#Comment_121622531

Unless she has personal guarantees on credit. It's not easy to get credit these days without personal guarantees.

A pal of mine lost his house and almost lost his mother's house when his business went into liquidation. Personal guarantees!

Somehow, though, I expect Ms. Nash will come out of it just fine! Perhaps not her creditors, staff or Revenue, unfortunately.

Iguarantee

I was in there on a Saturday night in Q1 2023 and they had no Coca Cola (of any type), no non-alcoholic beer and the 7 staff behind the bar were chatting to the extent that I was waiting at the bar for service, despite there being circa 20 people in the place.

High prices and shite service was my lasting impression.

Ernest Cantillon is a decent guy from the few times I’ve met him. I hope the (competent) staff land on their feet.

rob316

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121624626#Comment_121624626

He's a lovely fella, bit of a serial entreprenuer though and I'd imagine got bored of Electric.

airy fairy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121623526#Comment_121623526

It's been going downhill for a while. Only opened on a Thurs-Sun over the last few months. Was there before the summer, very drab and cold appearance.

Iguarantee

Sounds like poor management then (disinterest even).

aidanodr

It seems to be in the main pubs and restaurants at the moment, but dont forget other small businesses of all kinds supply goods and services to this sector, thats a worry, if this spreads further than the hospitality sector

This could exacerbate further the hospitality biz closures.

https://twitter.com/CWeston_Indo/status/1747212784264179977

"Higher costs for holidays, higher mortgage and rent costs, and higher food prices are behind the inflation figures."

shnaek

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121627834#Comment_121627834

Scary times. And all those inflation increases are cumulative.

PreCocious

It's interesting (or maybe I'm thinking too much) that a lot of the column inches are being given to the darlings of the Cork restaurant trade. We never hear much about the Market Lane group who seem to be doing ok and rarely come out asking for subsidies or cheap labour. There was no mass flagellation when the doughnut craze ended or the Asian food places ran out of steam , maybe that's because they weren't run by the great and good of the city who'd been to the right schools and members of the right golf clubs.