Caragh Nurseries and The Thyme Coffee Shop

Caragh Nurseries and The Thyme Coffee Shop

Caragh, Co. Kildare

Yesterday Ali and I took a spin out the road to check out Caragh Nurseries (facebook) and the Thyme Coffee Shop (or the Train Carriage Café as it is more affectionately known). Caragh Nurseries is a plant and tree nursery with a large range of stock, enough to excite even the most ardent gardener. I'm not much of a gardener and so my focus was set on one of the quirkiest cafés around.

The Thyme Coffee and Garden Shop is housed in a disused train carriage in the middle of the nurseries and opens 11am - 4pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Apart from a colourful paint job on the outside, the carriage hasn't changed too much from it's time in service. The seats, tables and even emergency stop buttons remain in place and each table has a different gardening book to flick through while eating. The menu is small but well thought out and affordable. Ali had tea and a scone while I went for the green power sandwich and coffee. The sandwich consisted of hummus, avocado, rocket and cherry tomatoes on rye bread and was joined on the slate by a few crisps and a fresh salad. The sandwich was delicious with beautiful fresh ingredients while the coffee was also excellent.

After lunch we took a walk around the nurseries and admired the odd looking manglitsa pigs. Manglitsa are furry pigs and from a distance may actually be confused with sheep. They were friendly and inquisitive, happily coming over for a rub before continuing to root for bugs in the soil. Happy pigs, no greater sight.

Caragh Nurseries is the perfect spot for any gardeners looking for plants and trees but, as a non gardener I can say, it's worth the trip for the cafe alone.

Review: Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Kildare Town

Last Sunday I joined my parents, brothers, granddad and aunt for lunch in Chapter 16 in Kildare. It is part of the Silken Thomas enterprise and is listed as the "jewel of the crown." I had been there a few years ago and enjoyed it but was keen to sample its wears again. The restaurant is particularly lively on a Sunday and it was great to see so many families out enjoying themselves. They offer a competitive Sunday lunch menu with 2 courses for €18.95 or 3 for €21.95. There is a fine selection on the menu and although supplements do apply on steaks there is plenty of other alternatives.

For starter I went for "homemade free-range chicken liver paté." It was strong and gutsy and cut perfectly by the cumberland sauce. I'm so often disappointed by pate's in restaurants being too mild but this was excellent. A great start.

Starter: 9/10

For mains I ordered "pan-fried irish salmon garlic & parmesan crust, chargrilled asparagus, potato gnocchi, roast red pepper & red onion salsa." The salmon was cooked perfectly and retained plenty of moisture. I didn't quite understand the parmesan crust though. It completely overpowered the taste of the salmon and although it was enjoyable I could've been eating any type of fish. The salsa was delicious but the gnocchi were a bit rubbery.

Mains: 6/10

Being a fan of Italian food I got excited when I noticed my favourite dessert on the menu; tiramisu. I needn't have gotten excited at all. Described as a "traditional homemade Italian favourite" on the menu I had been expecting a traditional dish. Instead I got a tiramisu cake. The flavours were decent and it'd be harsh of me to say that I didn't enjoy it. Maybe with the addition of the word "cake" to the menu I would have known what I was in for.

Dessert: 6/10

The service was excellent throughout and we were never left waiting. The staff were all friendly and were great with children too. The ambiance was very enjoyable and although it wasn't quiet, it was great to see so many families out with their children. It is on value that Chapter 16 really shines. €21.95 is exceptional value for a three course Sunday lunch and although I did have some issues with my main and dessert, it was worth every penny of the money paid.

Service: 8/10

Ambiance: 8/10

Value: 8/10

Overall: 7.5/10 

Chapter 16,

Silken Thomas,

The Square, 

Kildare Town, 

Co. Kildare, 

Ireland

Review: Cunninghams, Kildare

Cunningham's

Kildare Town

After a long Tuesday working in the studio I arrived home to be greeted by the most wonderful suggestion...."sure will we go out for dinner tonight?" I was skeptical at first, I had two juicy sirloins in the fridge begging to be put in a sandwich, but there's always tomorrow for that! After a few minutes negotiating on the location of our meal we decided on Cunningham's in Kildare Town. I had been a couple of times before for a quick meal while working but Ali had never tried it.

Cunningham's is an old style cosy bar in the centre of the town. It has a live music venue upstairs which has attracted the likes of Declan O'Rourke, Jack L, Paddy Casey and Aslan recently while the main bar and restaurant area are located on the ground floor. They have a good selection of craft beers and a small wine bar as you walk in. We sat towards the back of the pub as "the snug" around the fire was full. The menu contains plenty of options and should cater to most tastes. Its on the curry front that Cunningham's made its name and I can assure you, from previous visits, they are excellent.

For starter I went for the butterfly prawns with chilli jam. They were delicious, even if they did arrive on a slate! The prawns were tender on the inside with a crispy panko crumb exterior while the jam was the perfect addition to add a little spice to proceedings.

Starter: 8/10

Having tried the curries before (and admittedly loving them) I wanted to ensure that Cunningham's isn't a one trick pony. With this in mind I ordered the beef burger. It was wonderful. A burger can seem like a safe choice but is often a let down as there is nothing worse than an under seasoned over-cooked burger. This was none of them things. The bun was fresh, the onion straws were crispy and delicious while the burger itself was juicy with lots of flavour. I've rarely had a burger as good as this.

Mains: 8.5/10

No matter what our intentions are, we can never go for a meal without having dessert and this was no different. I went for the malteser sundae but sadly it was the only blip on an otherwise fantastic meal. Too much cream, not enough malteser, it was unfortunately highly average, the only thing that was on the night. The service was excellent throughout but the price was exceptional. We paid €73 for 3 courses each, 2 glasses of Montepulciano, 2 glasses of fanta orange, a tea and a double espresso. When you remove the drinks it worked out at roughly €25 for 3 courses which is excellent value for the quality on offer. We will certainly be back.

Dessert: 6/10

Value for Money: 9/10

Ambiance: 8/10

Overall: 8/10 Highly Recommended

Cunningham's Bar,

Main Street,

Kildare Town,

Co. Kildare

(045) 521780

Review: The Ballymore Inn

The Ballymore Inn

Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare

The Ballymore Inn is one of two restaurants in Kildare listed in the latest McKenna Guide (the other being Harte's of Kildare) and is located in the scenic village of Ballymore Eustace, not far from Poulaphouca Lake. After a walk at the lake in the blistering April sun (yep, we're still in Ireland!) Ali and I decided to treat ourselves to lunch in the award winning restaurant.

The Ballymore Inn is light and airy and is especially nice on a sunny day. There is a kitchen shop in one corner selling all sorts of homemade jams, chutneys, pestos and bread while also stocking some nice bottles of vino. Opposite the main door is a small bar which is stocked with a wide range of craft beers to keep even the hippiest of hipsters happy. We were seated close to the door and were given the special lunch menu aswel as the a la carte option.

After a little deliberation we decided to go for the special lunch option of three courses for €25.75. For starter I went with the "homemade duck terrine with warm brioche." It arrived pretty quickly and was presented well. The terrine was beautifully executed and was a little milder than I would be used to. The taste of the duck came through well however and was enhanced by the grape relish. The warm brioche was also delicious although I would have preferred a nice slice of toasted sourdough. A comment must also be made on the fantastic salad dressing, wonderful. Ali's soup of the day (coconut and butternut squash) was also excellent.

For mains we both decided on the fish of the day. "Duncannon cod with stir fried vegetables and roasted red pepper aioli." The fish was perfectly cooked and although the vegetables were a little soft for my liking (they were sliced extra thin) the aioli was the real star of this show. It was magnificent and I would have been just as happy sitting there dipping bread into it! The creamy mash was also delicious, a very enjoyable main.

My dessert of "rich chocolate pots with honeycomb" was exactly as predicted, superb. A rich chocolate base topped with whipped cream and pieces of honeycomb. Simple and delicious. My espresso was also excellent, perfectly balanced.

The service at The Ballymore Inn was quite impressive. Our plates were always cleared away quickly between courses and we were looked after very well. From a price point of view it can certainly be said that The Ballymore Inn is in the upper end of the Kildare price point for lunch although we did find it fantastic value for the quality of food on offer. There are more affordable options with a toastie and soup coming in at a very manageable €10.95 so it can be frequented as a treat or as an every day option. 

Lunch Ratings: 

Food: 8.5/10 (8, 8.5, 9)
Service: 8/10
Ambiance: 9/10
Selection: 9/10
Value for Money: 8/10

Overall: 8.5/10 Highly Recommended

The Ballymore Inn,

Main Street,

Ballymore Eustace,

Co. Kildare.

045-864585

Review: Harte's of Kildare

Harte's of Kildare

Kildare Town

During the week of fine weather Ali and myself decided to head to Killinthomas Woods for a walk. It gives me the chance for an added bonus as I can also collect a bag of wild garlic to top up my pesto reserves. Before heading over, both feeling a little peckish, we decided that a lunch detour was in order first. I had been to Harte's for lunch once previously and was very impressed but Ali had never been. As one of only two places in Co. Kildare to be listed in the latest McKenna Guide (the other being The Ballymore Inn) I'll take any excuse for another visit. 

We arrived around half one on a tuesday and to my surprise it wasn't too busy. The staff were friendly from the outset and knew their stuff when it came to the selection of craft beers on offer (Ali was driving!). We were both impressed with the choices on the menu and had a hard time settling on something. I went for the steak sandwich with potato skins and a Red Ale while Ali chose the burger. The steak sandwich was magnificent! Juicy and tender steak on toasted sourdough with sweet onion relish, blue cheese and a mountain of mixed leaves and thinly sliced cucumber....it wasn't the easiest to eat but every bite was worth the mess! The potato skins were crisp and well seasoned while the garlic mayo was smooth and full of flavour. We didn't have the time (or the room) for desserts so we left it at that, wanting more! 

As for the price, €33 may seem a decent amount for lunch but the portion size is very generous and we only required a light supper later that evening. The sandwiches and soups were considerably cheaper so it certainly caters for all needs and budgets. Highly Recommended.

Lunch Ratings:

Food: 9/10
Service: 8/10
Ambiance: 8/10
Selection: 9/10
Value for Money: 8/10

Overall: 8.5/10 Highly Recommended

Harte's of Kildare,
Market Square,
Kildare Town,
Co. Kildare

Review: Butt Millins, Naas

Butt Mullins

Naas, Co. Kildare

Butt Mullins is a deceptively large restaurant located on the Dublin side of Naas town, next to Lawlor's Hotel. There is ample parking in the square out front and it is adjacent to numerous bars, in which you can enjoy a pre or post meal drink. We decided to sample the early bird menu (3 courses for €17.95) a couple of weeks ago. It was the night before heading off on holiday and nobody was in the humour for cooking.

Upon entering the restaurant we were welcomed by the friendly host and shown to our seats towards the front of the restaurant, close to the bar. The menu is quite impressive considering the price and I've no doubts that most people's needs are catered for. For starter I decided to try the "deep fried brie with red onion marmalade and tossed leaves." It arrived exactly as described and was a pleasant dish. The brie lacked salt to bring out a bit more of its delicate flavour but I thoroughly enjoyed the marmalade and the leaves were fresh and flavourful. A solid start.

Starter: 6/10

The solidity continued into the main. "Butts house burger with onion ring, french fries and a topping of garlic mayo, cheese or bacon." It was a generous sized burger and the flavours melded together well. Again I felt that it lacked a bit of seasoning but I was happy that the meat retained plenty of moisture. Another solid dish.

Mains: 7/10 

For dessert I took the simple option; "selection of ice-cream." It was nice if a little bland but was a fine end to a very filling meal. The espresso was a little mild for my liking however.

Dessert: 6/10

The service was friendly but possibly a little too formal. I was surprised that when my mother requested chips instead of the potatoes and vegetables with her main she was told that they don't do substitutions. I understand this stance when it comes to something that is cooked into a dish but surely this should have been catered for.

Service: 6/10

Butt Mullins is a warm and cosy restaurant with plenty of chatter and laughter from surrounding tables. It is a lovely atmosphere in which to enjoy a meal. It is also fantastic value for money. The portions are generous and the food is wholesome. It may not be spectacular but what can one expect for €17.95 for 3 courses?

Ambiance: 8/10

Value for Money: 8/10

Overall: 7/10

Butt Mullins Restaurant

Popular Square,

Naas,

Co. Kildare

(045) 874252

Review: Bistro Nua, Newbridge

Bistro Nua

Newbridge, Co. Kildare

It was a miserable Sunday morning, made even more miserable as we had just landed back from Barcelona and all of us were now harbouring a serious chill in our bones. We had all decided that a Sunday lunch was in order but the question of where to go was beginning to get heated. After 5 days in the Catalan capital, money wasn't exactly flowing and some of our favourite spots were ruled out purely on that basis. I thought to check the Bistro Nua website and copped their 3 course Sunday lunch for €19.95 per person, perfect.

I arrived first to an empty restaurant and although we had only booked for 5, the waiter was very accomadating in extending our table to cater for the 8 that we turned into. I was surprised to see nobody else there and although 2 more couples arrived while we were there, it was tough for an atmosphere to develop. As we were reading our menus the waiter arrived with a few boards of bread. They were wonderfully moist and full of flavour, joined on the board by some butter, basil pesto and roasted red pepper pesto.

For starter I went for the "Duo of Salmon Fish Cakes with Tomato and Ginger Chutney." I found the dish to be generous but somewhat unspectacular. I like to be punched with flavour and this just didn't succeed in that. The chutney was good but leaned too heavy on the aniseed which overpowered the tomato and ginger. The two large fish cakes were well cooked but lacked a little seasoning. The salad was a surprising bonus, the dressing was great and with a good mixture of leaves it was full flavoured and delicious.

Starter: 6/10

For mains I decided on the "Slow Cooked Braised Beef with Champ Mash and Gravy," The beef was tender and the mash was great but I've a feeling the chef may be immune to the power of aniseed! I found the gravy to again be overpowered by the aniseed flavour which was a real pity as it completely overpowered everything else on the plate.

Mains: 6/10

For dessert I ordered the "Vanilla Pana Cotta with a Mixed Berry Compote." The Pana Cotta had a great flavour and was cut perfectly by the compote. A simple and delicious end to the meal. 

Dessert: 8/10

The service was excellent. Our waiter was friendly and helpful and answered any questions we had. The ambiance was a little dead due to the lack of people but I can imagine it hopping on a busy night.

Service: 8/10

Ambiance: 6/10

It is on value that Bistro Nua really stands out. €19.95 for three courses is exceptional value and regardless of a few blips on the starter and mains (which could be rectified by somebody hiding the star anise) it was well worth the money. 

Value for Money: 8/10

Overall: 7/10

Bistro Nua

Georges Street,

Newbridge,

Co. Kildare

(045) 486369

Review: Harrigans, Newbridge

Harrigans

Newbridge, Co. Kildare

On Valentine's night, Ali and myself along with our friends Ana and Padraig went for a meal in Harrigans. It is located on the main street of Newbridge, opposite the Riverbank Arts Centre and consists of a pub to the front with a restaurant towards the back. The restaurant was operating from a special Valentine's menu which had plenty of choice and cost €59.95 per couple for 3 courses.

For starter I went for the "creamy garlic mushrooms with house side salad and toasted garlic ciabatta crostini's." I was expecting the mushrooms to be breaded and fried with a garlic dip (as per the norm) but I really should have read the menu a little better as the word "creamy" at the start would suggest otherwise. The mushrooms were contained in what was like a thick soup that looked far from appetising. They did taste nice however and although I would rather them cooked the usual way, I did enjoy them. The garlic spreading on the crostini was too thick for my liking but the salad was delicious.

Starter: 6/10

For mains I was the only one not to go with a steak on the stone and instantly regretted my decision upon hearing the unmistakable sizzle of a rib eye beside me! Instead I chose the "8 hour braised lamb shank served in its own rosemary jus with colcannon potatoes and roasted root vegetables." The lamb was perfectly tender but I found it and the jus to be lacking in seasoning which let it down a little. The veg and colcannon were cooked beautifully and complemented the dish perfectly.

Main: 6/10

There was no choice for dessert and so we all received an "assiette of desserts served with homemade mixed berry coulis, chocolate and rich dark butterscotch sauces with side selection of fresh fruit." This translated into 3 mini cheese cakes of varying flavour that were all very nice while my espresso was also of good quality.

Dessert: 7/10

I found the service to be a little disappointing on the night but this had nothing to do with the staff themselves. There appeared to be far too few people working ( I saw one man working the floor, while another man shared the floor and bar work) and so we were waiting for the table to be cleared for too long between courses. Our waiter was very pleasant which was a little surprising considering he was trying to serve everyone else too!

Service: 6/10 (no reflection on staff) 

Valentine's is a tough night to judge the value of a restaurant as the prices tend to rise while a limited menu is offered. I found it to be a little expensive for the quality of the food on offer although not extortionate by any means. The restaurant is well laid out with a very comfortable feel and was buzzing on the night.

Value for Money: 6/10

Ambiance: 8/10

Overall: 6.5/10

Harrigan's Bar and Restaurant

Main Street,

Newbridge,

Co. Kildare

(045) 487704

Pete's Perfect Portion 8

Sausage Roll from Mary-Kathryn's Deli, Kildare Town

Mary-Kathryn's Deli is a delightful little deli shop situated on Academy Street in Kildare Town. It's a little off the main street but it's well worth seeking out for it's wonderful food. I'm not even going to attempt to describe the sausage roll I had from here last week, it was just perfect. Perfect pastry, perfect filling and served with a great espresso. Give it a try if you find yourself in Kildare Town, it won't disappoint. 

Review: Fallons, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare

Fallons of Kilcullen

Kilcullen, Co. Kildare

Yesterday while I was deciding what new PC to splash out on, the hunger hit me. It was 3 pm on a muggy Saturday and having not eaten since an early breakfast, Ali and I decided to go for something fairly substantial. It was not our initial plan to go to Fallons (our intended haunt closed at 3) and I had never considered it for lunch. It was somewhere I would like to try for dinner some evening but it never crossed my mind for a midday meal.

Inside, Fallons is a stylish space and although it doesn't feel as relaxed as a cafe, it doesn't feel too formal either. The well trained staff provide an efficient and friendly service but it's the food that really catches your attention. After a decent espresso, I had the roast of the day on brioche with chips. The beef was delicious, it was cooked well done but didn't suffer from being dry or tough. The brioche was tasty but it was the addition of beautifully caramelised onions that set this apart. The sauce was excellent and while I'm not a fan of a sandwich loaded with leaves, this wasn't swamped with salad and suited me perfectly. The chips were well cooked and crispy and the garlic sauce I requested had a great freshness to it.

As for the price, it could be considered slightly expensive for everyday lunch. The total bill came to €30.80 for my sandwich with chips, Ali's pulled pork salad, a tea and an espresso. It was substantial though, you certainly won't leave hungry!

Lunch Ratings:

Food: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Ambience: 7/10
Selection: 8/10
Value for Money: 7/10

Overall: 7.5/10 Recommended

Review: The Hanged Man's, Milltown

The Hanged Man's

Milltown, Newbridge, Co. Kildare

Time for my second review and again its a very well regarded local restaurant. Ali and I booked in for a midweek meal after numerous recommendations.

The Hanged Man's is located just outside Milltown beside the Canal and is a beautiful Bar and Restaurant with a very classy, old style decor.

Food:

Starter: Chicken and Bacon Galantine with Relish

This was a very nice dish although there didn't seem to be a lot of bacon, it was seasoned perfectly and the relish was particularly fantastic. Presentation was excellent. 6/10

Main: Slow Cooked Beef Brisket

Another very nice dish. The beef was quite tender and was served on a bed of Mash and surrounded by a beautiful gravy. The Roasted Vegetables, served between us, tasted fantastic although were slightly overcooked for my taste. The Roast Potatoes, also served between us, were quite disappointing, quite bland with little or no seasoning. 6/10

Dessert: Selection of Desserts (Almond Tart, Panna Cotta with Raspberry Coulis and Ice Cream)

Delicious! The Almond Tart was fantastic while the Panna Cotta was perfectly cooked and cut wonderfully by the tart Raspberry Coulis. The Ice Cream was also very nice. I also have to add that the Espresso was fantastic, it's not often I come across really good coffee but I really enjoyed this one. 9/10

Staff:

I couldn't fault the service here, I think we were served by the owner and he treated us extremely well being extremely courteous and friendly. 9/10

Ambiance:

It was very quiet the night we went there but it is a beautiful Restaurant with fitting music at a good level in the background. The only thing I didn't like was initially being sat in the bar to read the menus and order and then being moved to the restaurant just before our starters arrived on the table. Although I understand the advantage of this on busy nights, I like to settle into my surroundings a bit before the food arrives. 7/10

Overall: 7/10

We had a great night in the Hanged Man's. Although all of the food was very nice, I did find the Starters and Main to be missing that little something to wow me, the dessert however, certainly did! 

Review: Le Bistro, Newbridge

Le Bistro

Newbridge, Co. Kildare

For my first review on this blog I decided to go to a very well regarded local restaurant that I had never visited before. I've been meaning to go for some time after hearing numerous people recommend it so Ali and myself booked it for New Years Eve.

Le Bistro is located on George's street in Newbridge and shares a premises with An Chistin Cafe which takes the day shift with Le Bistro taking the night shift.

Food:

Starter: Seared Scallops and Garden Pea Risotto

Scallops were cooked beautifully and the Risotto was really nice. Individual flavours were excellent but i thought the Risotto overpowered the delicate Scallops a little too much. Presented flawlessly. 6/10

Main: Confit of Duck Leg, Smoked Bacon and White Bean Cassoulet, Champ Mash

This was an outstanding dish, The Duck was unbelievably tender and the Cassoulet was brought to life by the Smoked Bacon. Everything worked beautifully together. Excellent. 8/10

Dessert: Selection of Fine Ice Creams, Soft Berry Compote

Ice Creams were very nice and were cut by the deliciously tart Compote. Very Simple but executed well. 7/10

Staff:

Very attentive staff, cannot fault them, were quick to remove finished dishes and on the one occasion something didn't arrive (the tea pot) were apologetic and quick to rectify. Excellent. 9/10

Ambiance:

Restaurant was packed with lots of happy diners chatting away. Nice music at a nice level in the background. Beautiful little restaurant. 8.5/10

Overall: 8/10

We had a great evening at Le Bistro and came away wanting to return again. Highly Recommended.