When my wife first approached me about taking a trip to Ireland to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary I thought, wow, that’s an expensive gift! However, after I got over the initial shock I said to myself, “hey, Ireland has Michelin-starred restaurants“, and I was all in. You see, although we have very high quality restaurants everywhere in Canada, we don’t get to enjoy the cool and prestigious rating system that almost every other place in world has. So, I was thrilled with the idea that I might get finally see what all the fuss was about.
During our planning for the, it quickly became clear that Ireland is a major foodie destination. Sure, it has some amazing history and attractions (see our upcoming foray blog on those), but it is also home to no fewer than 16 starred restaurants, along with countless other Michelin Bib Gourmand recipients (31 to be exact)! This quickly became a focal point of our journey, and in between all of the truly incredible castles and abbeys and architecture and history, we fit in some incredible foodie experiences. Here are our ten most memorable:
1. Bread 41, Dublin
After landing in Dublin after an overnight flight, our first stop was Bread 41, a cool little restaurant just outside of Trinity College that has a reputation as a great breakfast place. Tired and hungry, we found ourselves walking into one of the most delightful spaces, full of glorious baked goods and fantastic aromas. It’s was our first foodie experience in Ireland – the place were I experienced my first “full Irish breakfast” (complete with blood pudding) – and we were immediately impressed.
2. Tomahawk Steakhouse, temple bar
That evening, still a bit woozy from lack of sleep, full of a few pints of Guinness, and without dinner reservations, we found ourselves wandering historic Temple Bar in search of a decent meal. To our absolute delight we came across Tomahawk Steakhouse. Here, I experienced my first taste of fresh Irish oysters, followed by one of the most perfectly prepared steaks I have ever eaten (done on an Argentinian-inspired charcoal grill). We capped the day with our first traditional Irish coffee (thanks Chris), and settled in for the night happily thinking that this could be the best foodie trip ever.
3. The Hound, kilkenny
Waking early the second day, we headed south to Kilkenny and the first of our planned dining experiences. Originally booked at the Michelin-starred Lady Helen restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate, our reservation was unfortunately moved the The Hound due to maintenance issues. Although still a bit disappointed at the last minute change of venues, the restaurant is a AA Rosette and Michelin Plate winner, and featured a tasty menu in a beautiful setting overlooking the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course. Highlights were the Irish beef tenderloin and fresh trout locally-sourced from the Goatsbridge Trout Farm just down the road.
4. The Herbert, killarney
For Day 3 we headed west to Killarney where we stayed at Cahernane House, a beautiful hotel located just outside of Killarney National Park. Here, we had reservations at The Herbert restaurant and it was exceptional! Despite being outnumbered 40-2 by a visiting tour group, the meal was delicious and the service impeccable. This one actually ranks in the top three on the list of restaurants we had the opportunity to visit. This restaurant was recently awarded two AA Rosettes in recognition of culinary excellence and I’m definitely not surprised. Watch for this one to make the Michelin list in the near future.
5. Aniar, galway
Next, it was on to Galway and dinner at Michelin-starred Aniar – which specializes in “dishes that draw on the terroir of the west coast of Ireland” – and we couldn’t be happier with our choice. From the moment you walk in the door, you know this is a special place, and it delivered an exceptional experience. We opted for the 6-course blind tasting menu and it was spectacular. I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. As we were preparing to leave, after raving about the potato bread (complete with artisanal butter) chef J.P. McMahon was kind enough to provide a copy of the recipe (check it out here). Very cool! It was outstanding in every way and very deserving of it’s Michelin status.
6. Ashford Castle, cong
Continuing north to Cong we had a reservation for afternoon tea at the incredible Ashford Castle (see the related foray here). I won’t go into details, other than to say that this was an unforgettable experience (this coming from a non-tea kinda guy).
7. Douglas Hyde Restaurant, roscommon
From there, it was on to Kilronan Castle and a dinner at the Douglas Hyde restaurant – also a two AA Rosette recipient. After starting with cocktails in the drawing room (very fancy indeed), we headed over to the majestic dining room and were treated to yet another incredible meal, highlighted by a wonderful Kilmore scallops appetizer and Thornhill duck breast main course.
8. Bridgefoot House, sligo
From there is was north-east to Belfast, with a quick stop in Sligo to check out our family roots. It was here that we discovered Bridgefoot House for lunch – an unexpected foodie find.
9. Ox, belfast
After extensive sightseeing, on our second night in Belfast we had reserved a table at Ox, another of the Michelin-starred restaurants on our trip. Once again, we did the six-course tasting menu – to which we added the optional Irish cheese course. And wow, was it was good! From the outstanding team service (I love it when a server explains every detail of a dish to you), to the unique and creative dishes, and right down the finishing touches – like the homemade wine cooler – this was truly a special experience. It’s a toss up between this experience, and our dinner at Aniar, for the best meal overall.
10. Bastible, Dublin
For our final night in this wonderful country we decided to try Bastible, an up and coming new restaurant and also recipient of a Michelin Bib Gourmand. The up beat vibe and creative menu selections (dehydrated raspberry dust you say?) made for another exceptional experience. Once again, we were impressed by the attentiveness of service, the unique use of fresh, local ingredients, and the attention to detail paid by every member of the cooking and wait staff. Kudos!
The only negative thing I have to say about this trip was that it ended too quickly! Over the course of our 10-day stay we had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the incredible Irish food culture, and experienced first hand some of the top restaurants in the country. To say the least, we were truly blown away by the restaurants we visited, and can’t wait to start planning our next Irish foodie adventure.
Sláinte!
