Review: Salamander Coffee House, Newbridge

Salamander Coffee House

Newbridge, Co. Kildare

Bold statements, great coffee and delicious food has Salamander Coffee House making a bit of a name for itself in Newbridge. Upon first entering the cafe last Saturday (during The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Busk and Food Festival) I was greeted with "have you heard we do the best coffee in Newbridge?" Bold and confident it may have been but it sure was correct. After my first take away coffee I decided a sample of the food was necessary, so this morning Ali and myself headed in for breakfast.

Salamander Coffee House is a cosy little cafe on George's Street in Newbridge. It has a few tables downstairs with more available upstairs when busy. There are also a few seats outside. The interior is light and airy with an exhibition by local photographer Charlie Mac currently adorning the walls. The breakfast menu is quite short but has plenty of options including organic porridge, french toast and pancakes aswel as the usual offerings like eggs and bacon, large breakfast etc. I went for the Salamander Large Breakfast without bacon and a flat white. The breakfast consisted of eggs, mushrooms, fried potatoes, tomato and toast (it usually includes dry cure bacon too). Not just the best coffee in Newbridge - It was delicious. The eggs were perfectly cooked with a creamy runny yolk.  The ingredients used were of excellent quality with the tomato being a particular highlight, ripe and sweet. The generous portion of toast with real butter was also much appreciated.

Salamander Coffee House are particularly proud of their coffee and it's easy to see why. It really is excellent and with a good range of choices there is sure to be something for everybody's tastes.

Breakfast Ratings:

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

Overall: 8.5/10 Highly Recommended

Salamander Coffee House,
2 George's Street,
Newbridge,
Co. Kildare
045-431567

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

Blogroll Week 2 - Feeding Time with The Boozey Swine

It's the second installment of my blogroll and this time it's local legend The Boozey Swine.

From what I can see food blogs tend to fall into 3 categories. First there's the reviewers (see last week's post), there's recipe junkies and there's the health freaks. I like to think I fall in between the first two but fellow Newbridgian and good friend Andrew O'Donnell, aka The Boozey Swine, has a category all of his own. Boozey loves nothing more than to head to Swift's for a few beers followed by whatever crazy concoction of fast food he can get his hands on. It's a great lesson on how to give yourself a monster hangover with crippling indigestion but luckily for everyone; there's a few cures posted up aswel. Andrew may be better known to some as the bass player with Newbridge's own Knoxville Morning.

Check out Feeding Time with The Boozey Swine at:

http://www.theboozeyswine.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ftwtheboozeyswine

https://twitter.com/theboozeyswine

Pete's Perfect Portion 12

Pancakes with Bacon and Maple Syrup - Hoky Poky, Newbridge

You wake up late. You're tired, a little grumpy and dying of dehydration. It wasn't the bottle of wine you consumed last night, it was ONLY ONE bottle. It was on one such morning that Ali and myself decided to head into the Hoky Poky for breakfast. I was instantly attracted to the Pancakes with Bacon and Maple Syrup, what could be better for a hangover? They were delicious. Fluffy pancakes and crispy bacon with the perfect accompaniment to any breakfast; maple syrup. The coffee wasn't half bad either. Hangover cured!

Pete's Perfect Portion 9

The Double Decker Sandwich from Chat 'n' Chew, Newbridge.

Chat 'n' Chew is a homely cafe at the top of Newbridge sandwiched between McCormack's Butchers and Nick's Fish. It's very homely and the staff, particularly Yvonne (the owner), are always friendly and bubbly. I would consider it my local, great for a chat and a coffee or full lunch. The double decker sandwich is a two storey (hence the name) sandwich with bacon, chicken, lettuce, tomato and mayo. It's served with salad (with possibly the best dressing in Newbridge) and usually some coleslaw or a few crisps. This isn't a big gourmet extravaganza, its not de constructed and there isn't a hint of beetroot to be found anywhere. It's great, simple food served by passionate staff in a homely atmosphere.  

Pete's Perfect Portion 6

Tandoori Chicken - Jaipore Indian Restaurant, Newbridge.

On Saturday I spent my afternoon in St. Conleth's Park in Newbridge watching both Moorefield and Sarsfields setting up another county final showdown by beating Celbridge and Athy respectively. I didn't really have the time or energy to cook so Ali and I agreed that a takeaway from our favourite Indian restaurant was in order. I went in and ordered a medium Tikka Masala for Ali and was stopped before I could order myself. Adi recommended a special that they were trying out that evening: Tandoori Chicken. After his glowing recommendation I agreed and was delighted to hear a member of the kitchen staff come out two minutes later to say there's only one portion left. What a great sign!

The dish was delicious. Definitely my favourite Indian takeaway meal. It was quite simple but that allowed the spicing to shine through perfectly. The chicken was on the bone adding plenty of extra flavour while the subtle hint of cardamom drew me in immediately. I promptly rang Adi to let him know what I thought, I loved it. It's not always on the menu at Jaipore but if it is, order it!

Review: All Seasons, Newbridge

All Seasons Restaurant

Newbridge, Co. Kildare

After numerous recommendations, Ali and myself decided to sample the wares of this popular Newbridge restaurant on Thursday evening.

Upon arrival to All Seasons I was pleasantly surprised to see how busy it was, surely a good sign. We were seated at a small table by the window and handed both the food menu and wine list. This was our first time to visit this restaurant and later in the night I was very disappointed to realise that the specials board had not been pointed out to us. I would've ordered items from it for starter and mains had I known. Instead, not realising there were specials available, I ordered "Tempura Prawns with Chilli Sauce" for starter.

Before our starter arrived we received a bruschetta type dish to share. A nice touch but to be honest it didn't quite hit the spot. It contained far too much onion for both of our tastes and I can't help but think that a simpler, tomato bruschetta might have been a better option. The starter was good. Nicely cooked prawns in a light batter served with a sticky chilli sauce and side salad. The seasoning on the prawns was too reserved for my tastes but the sauce was a nice blend of sweet and spicy and worked well to inject a little life into the crustaceans.

Starter: 6/10

For main I went for the "Oven Roasted Monkfish with Garlic King Prawns with White Wine Herb and Lemon Butter." Again the prawns were perfectly cooked while the monkfish was nicely flavoured but just a little overdone. The seasoning was a little light on the main too but this was rectified with a sprinkling of salt and pepper. There was no shortage of food on the table with mashed potato, mini roasties and roasted vegetable sides all arriving with the meal. The house red wine was of a good quality.

Main Course: 5/10

It was while ordering dessert that we realised there was a specials board at the far end of the restaurant after being pointed towards it to see the available desserts. This was a source of major disappointment for me and a major oversight by the staff. 

For dessert I ordered the "Chocolate Fudge Cake" which was served with a scoop of ice-cream. It was good if a little unspectacular. My post-meal espresso was of good quality with a nice depth of flavour. As for the price, €20 for two courses may sound like a great deal but by the time you add on the €4 supplement between my starter and main, the €6 supplement for Ali's Fillet Steak with Pepper Sauce and the added €5 each for dessert, the bill wasn't long about adding up. €75.80 for 2 starters, mains and desserts, 2 glasses of wine, a tea and a coffee isn't the highest I've come across but it was a little bit too much for the quality of food on offer.

Dessert: 6/10

Value for Money: 5/10

Overall I found All Seasons to be a good restaurant serving decent food. If you have two courses and drink water then I think it comes in on the money at €40 for two people. The service was good although the specials board should have been pointed out. The ambiance was very nice with plenty of diners chatting away over nice background music at an appropriate level.

Service: 6/10

Ambiance: 8/10

Overall: 6/10

All Seasons Restaurant

3 Limerick Lane

Newbridge

Co. Kildare

(045) 487 614

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.