Eat Your Way Around Ireland

nompere · 12-12-2023 1:17pm

"There are starred options in Galway and Kilkenny city, but another option you might consider is going up to Belfast. Stay in the Merchant Hotel, have a cocktail, and then have dinner in OX or Eipic. OX is a bit lighter, a little bit French, a little bit Scandinavian. Eipic is more traditional."

If you're thinking of going to Eipic, you need to hurry. According to Jay Rayner in THe Observer last Sunday, it's closing this Friday.

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/dec/10/jay-rayner-restaurant-review-deanes-meat-locker-belfast-they-have-the-good-stuff

Black Sheep · 12-12-2023 3:52pm

Sad to see so many restaurant closures at the moment. Not just affecting high-end places, either.

The Nal · 12-12-2023 3:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121487150#Comment_121487150

Lots opening too though!

Dave_The_Sheep · 13-12-2023 12:43am

Finally got around to Hawksmoor tonight. Four of us went, and all of us more or less had the same opinion at the end.

Atmosphere, staff (one exception), decor/surroundings, all great. Cocktails were lovely, though pricey as you'd expect. Starter was excellent (pork belly myself, bone marrow for another, oysters). Dessert (peanut butter louis) was delicious.

Sides for the main were good, if a little over salty for some of them (greens for a friend, my fries and mash for my partner, we all thought they were very salty).

We all ordered ribeyes, medium rare. We all got a differently cooked steak. There were parts of my steak that were top notch, juicy tender and proper medium rare, however that was the minority of the steak - most of it was slightly but noticably above medium rare and whilst tasty wasn't nearly worth what you pay for it, and didn't match up against, say, FXB's similar offerings. My friends one (same size as mine) was nearly perfect all the way through though to be fair. My partner's was like mine - parts were great and cooked correctly, most not. They were also over-seasoned in parts. That being said, the seasoning overall was well done and the flavour on the steak was good.

(before anyone asks why we didn't return them - because it wasn't far enough away from medium rare on the whole to warrant it, but some parts of it were between medium and medium well and most of the rest was above medium rare).

Odd interaction ordering the steaks though, and I'm curious as to people's take on it. Two men, two women at the table, ladies ordered first, two 350g ribeyes. I ordered 550g ribeye, as did my friend. At that point, my friend's wife asked to upgrade to the 550g as she hadn't realised it was an option. The waiter then decided to advise her not to get it as he thought it would be too large for her - which was odd enough (just take the damn order) - but then continued with - paraphrasing "Oh, the guys, that's fine, but for you I don't think it's a good idea". After her asking again for it, he kept on at this, and she decided not to argue anymore and took the 350g steak. I thought it was bizarre though. A few minutes later, when pouring the wine, he poured for the two guys - without asking - and then stopped and asked our partners if they wanted wine. I wouldn't have thought much of it, unless the previous interaction had occurred. It was just a bit strange. Ask everyone, surely. Anyway, steaks come, she demolishes the 350g and could have eaten more - she'd not have had an issue and we made a joke as he was clearing the plates that she'd have been grand. I think it clicked a little that he might have messed up so he comped her her dessert as a result. Anyway. Interested if I'm just overreacting or what people think.

Overall it was a very nice meal, but the highlight of it just wasn't up to the standards I was expecting nor the price charged. I'd go back if someone else was paying, but probably won't on my own dime. There are better steaks out there in Dublin and certainly better value ones.

PARlance · 13-12-2023 10:17am

First time popping into this thread and just had a very entertaining read. Our fine dining (or just plain dining) days have dramatically reduced since the kids arrived and we moved west.

@Dave_The_Sheep I really liked the less formal / relaxed service at Hawksmoor, but I could see there being a potential for it being too casual at times.

We really enjoyed the experience overall. Cocktails were fantastic, one of our group is very much into his wine so he brought a few bottles (a nice option to opt for just the corkage) and they were suitable impressed with his selection. I didn't notice the sides being overly seasoned but I wouldn't mind a heavy hand unless they were really salty. I did have a ribeye experience there as well, though. I am medium rare to rare for steak in general but opt for medium with ribeye... The waiter tried to sell me on medium rare to the extent that it felt a bit awkward sticking to my guns.

Fantastic experience overall though but I wouldn't be surprised to hear of the odd issue with the service.

Interesting reading all the great reviews of Chapter One. Reviews are always very good but my MIL had one of her worst dining experiences there many years ago, it was for a landmark birthday of hers which made it all the worse. It was under RL at the time. She is a coeliac of 20+ years and was served gnocchi, which had been prepped in flour. Her tolerance is so low, you can imagine what kind of reaction she had to it being covered in flour. She just about made it to the end of the meal but spent the night in her hotel bathroom lying on the bathroom floor with severe cramps/vomiting/zero sleep that night for her. They investigated it and admitted the error of their ways, but it's hard to believe that could ever happen in a star kitchen. She could have made a much bigger deal of it.

Black Sheep · 13-12-2023 11:43am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121489291#Comment_121489291

I still haven't eaten in the Hawksmoor in Dublin, but on balance, the reviews I've read have been more positive than not.

From the point of view of having eaten in the London outlets a lot: What you're describing sounds a little bit familiar, in terms of the sometimes 'hit and miss' finishing of the steaks. I've had steaks come out that were slightly over, or were a little cool - too slow getting off the pass. I put it down to the number of covers they do in an evening, they just don't seem to be able to keep the attention to detail.

But, in saying that, while this might sound odd, I don't think people should go to the Hawksmoor and think they're going to get "the best" steak, I'd be thinking in terms of the overall offering. They have a lot of signature sides and cocktails that, for me, are why I still consider it a safe bet for a good meal, at short notice, in London, if I'm there for work. I'll always have the bone marrow and toast, and a Shakey Pete or two.

As far as the server goes.. Do you think there was a little touch of sexism in play, or were they just a little off the mark in terms of how they'd been trained, in terms of giving advice?

It's less common these days, but occasionally my wife still is patronised... You know, stuff that just wound't be said to a bloke. It happened a lot when she was pregnant, in particular. Sometimes it was an older Irish server, but also it tended to happen more if the server is from a country that still tends to be more socially conservative.

I've also had a few experiences lately where, particular with younger servers, they seem very pre-occupied with keeping the bill down. There is a time for a server to flag to someone if they're really over-ordering, of course... But what I'm describing was as if they'd been given advice that many customers are looking to actively keep their bill down, because of the cost of living crisis etc. We took this kind of well-intentioned advice on one occasion, at Library Street, when it was suggested we share a main. I asked if the mains were intended for sharing, and we were told "people generally do", which was a bit ambiguous, but we took it at face value and went with that. Anyway, when the main came, needless to say, it was a piece of venison very much suitable for one person...

Moral of the story: I think, generally, if you know your way around the food scene, it's just better to use your own judgement. Unless I know for sure the server is providing good advice, I'm wary of discounting my own instincts these days.

the beer revolu · 13-12-2023 11:47am

Yeah, some serving staff just don't know when to shut up. That kind of gender biased chat drives me mad, too. Some think that being friendly means trying to be your pal.

Recently had a waiter pouring water, who pored my wife's first. No problem there, until he comes out with, "ladies first", and then directed at me, "I'm sure you agree." He was met with stony silence 🤣

Black Sheep · 13-12-2023 12:12pm

I feel like I have to inject in here that generally I'm on the side of the servers, though... Maybe even the oddballs among them.

Being a waiter was still the hardest bloody job I ever did... Not so much in terms of the actual labour, it was the outrageous customer behaviour. There was no shift that went by without some encounter with absolute pig-ignorance. :)

the beer revolu · 13-12-2023 12:46pm

No one is castigating all servers. There are fantastic serving staff all over the country. But there are some who just seem to have no idea of what's appropriate to say to customers. Getting the balance between friendly/respectful/efficient can be very tricky but many manage it extremely well.

And yes, the customer is, regularly a cnut!

Bobson Dugnutt · 13-12-2023 12:49pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121483585#Comment_121483585

Good to see some alternatives to the almost ubiquitous at this stage Neapolitan style. Roman style is great when done right.

Dave_The_Sheep · 13-12-2023 12:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121490096#Comment_121490096

I take your point on the overall experience, which is fair, as we very much enjoyed ourselves in the whole. I think you're probably right about the steaks, having been in London branches a few times, I've had the same experience. For me, my focus was on the steak in a steakhouse for sure.

As for potential sexism, yeah I felt it was a bit patronising based on her being a woman. So did she. Nothing massively egregious, but definitely noticable. He was a bit awkward overall, which I put down to potential language barrier issues, the aforementioned perhaps more conservative country, but definitely didn't nail the fine line of friendliness / respect that service staff have to tread.

The Nal · 13-12-2023 3:36pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121490316#Comment_121490316

Had some today! Very good and very authentic. Very tasty and crunchy, but still light. A lot better than some Ive eaten in Rome. Suppli was proper Roman stuff.

Pricey enough mind you for whats basically a snack. Queue ouot the door.

Gloomtastic! · 13-12-2023 3:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121491194#Comment_121491194

How much?

Dave_The_Sheep · 13-12-2023 10:59pm

Was in Eat Tokyo on Capel St. earlier today for lunch (picking up the car from last night). Gyoza and wings. Both were really good, and reasonably priced, for town anyway.

Black Sheep · 13-12-2023 11:38pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121492764#Comment_121492764

Have you gone to Tokyo Kitchen near Smithfield? Hole in the wall sushi place next to Kish Fish. Really recommend it... Take away only. The daily Bento special is very good value.

Eat Your Way Around Ireland

Comments

Being young is a great advantage, since we see the world from a new perspective and we are not afraid to make radical changes - Greta Thunburg