The beautiful town of Clonakilty, Ireland, has a hidden gem only steps away from the town center…read more(where the Battle of The Big Cross monument is). So I guess most visitors will go to the pubs to try out traditional Irish food and we've done that. But I said to myself, these pubs and restaurants get their meat and perhaps pasties and pies from the butcher, so why not cut the middle man? It turned out to be one of the best decisions on our trip. Scully and his staff cheerfully greeted us the moment we walked in and later chatted about life in the fast-paced US metropolitan vs. Ireland countryside (we both agree that the Ireland version contributes better to your mental and physical health). We selected the delicious fish pie, a freshly baked steak and kidney pie, the best chicken & mushroom pie I've ever tasted, along with a beef pastie and quiche for a quick lunch. I usually do not enjoy food that taste and smell too gamey, but the steak and kidney pie actually pleasantly surprised me with its full flavors. Realizing that we're going to have a quick lunch by the small park by the monument outside, Scully provided the utensils and everything else to make our meal enjoyable. We absolutely love the graciousness and hospitality on this nevertheless short visit to this picturesque small town. I can't recommend this joint enough!

Best butcher in town. OK, he's the only butcher in town but who's counting? He's very patient. He…read moreindulges me while I ask for everything specially cut. If I move back to the U.S., I will miss local butcher shops. For sure.

We had some wonderful sandwiches, freshly made. We also stopped by a second time on our way back…read morethrough town and got some delicious lattes and some treats from their shop. A few items to enjoy here and a few local food treats to take home as gifts. The staff were super friendly. Their outdoor seating is quite pleasant. They had a solid local clientele in addition to some tourists like us. We highly recommend this spot to stop off for some lunch!

We were part of a large tour group. We were seated right away and presented with beautiful…read morecharcuterie boards for lunch. The food was delicious and the service was wonderful. If I lived in the area this would be one of my regular go-to's.