Good mussels, although a bit thin and small. Fantastic Atlantic chowder was amazing, thick, creamy, large bits of meat and veg... I could've eaten another bowl happily! I was seated quickly at a table right by the door, perfect for 1 person, although might be tight for two, since you can really only sit on the side facing the bar with the traffic going by around you. Overall nice place to duck into for a late lunch/early dinner. read more

Delicious food and a friendly family restaurant atmosphere. I really enjoyed the lamb shank and the seafood chowder. Very fresh and great ingredients. Highly recommend! read more

Cookes Wine Bar - Lamb shank - Wine Bars Near Me - Galway, G

I ate here on Fri March 24th with my wife and son. I tend to stay away from places that look too touristy but Cookes is off the main pedestrian area and the menu although a bit limited looked very appealing. The restaurant is also very nicely decorated as you see from some of the pictures I've posted. My wife and son had the tomato and basil soup starter and fish and chips while I had the black pudding starter and the Irish Lamb Shank. Their fish was outstanding, lightly fried and flaky. I love Lamb and have eaten it in many forms and places. I can honestly say I don't think the Lamb could have been done any better. It was very large, perfectly cooked and the gravy was simply outstanding. The desserts were also very fresh and delicious. Their raspberry cheese cake was very different than what I expected and a nice surprise. Combine the great food, a very friendly staff and the beautiful dinning area and We would definitely come back. read more

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My wife and I loved our meal at this beautiful restaurant! If you are looking for a place with a high class vibe in the middle of Galway, this is your spot. The food is unbelievable and the service was perfect. We highly recommend the lamb sheer as it was so crazy tender. Oh man, the seafood chowder was lovely too! read more

Cookes Wine Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Galway, G

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I thought we were stopping for a snack. We ended up having a light lunch at about 4pm! Well that's going to spoil dinner! The waitress showed us to a table and told us the days specials. A wine list was at the table. Most of the wines are sold by the bottle, but three of the red are available by the glass. Didn't look at the white wine list but I would guess a few of those are available by the glass also. The cheese board is very well presented. Cheese included a soft, a mild blue and a smoked variety. Crackers, grapes, walnuts, poached pear, pickled cauliflower, tomato relish and fig compote. Prosciutto, salami and mortadella round out the board. Excellent. Soup of the day was vegetable presented with a very good slice of brown bread and butter. The mixed lettuce side salad included avocade, cucumber, pepper and tomato in a vinegarette. Everything was fresh, tasty and portions substantial. The building itself is very nice with a few small dining rooms on two floors. Setting is romantic and relaxed. I would definitely return. read more

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My husband says their lamb shank dish was one of the top 5 meals he's ever eaten in his life! We are foodies, and stumbled into Cooke's as a way to get out of the cold in 2018 from an incoming hurricane. From the outside it is warmly lit, and cozily welcoming you in. We cannot suggest this place enough. With Cookes being open on Monday evening (many are not) do not think for one second that you will be "settling" in taste, atmosphere or price. Cooke's was delicious and we cannot wait to be able to travel again. We will be stopping into Cooke's as soon as we are back within Galway city limits!! read more

It is awesome. Frankly, I am a little stumped at how delicious and awesome everything is. Also very cheap. I can recommend it whole-heartedly. The fish, the Irish coffee and the deserts are very very tasty. read more

Cookes Wine Bar - Very tasty fish cakes with chili sauce. - Wine Bars Near Me - Galway, G

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Just done a lovely lunch of chowder and my partner had fish and chips and loved it, I been sick with chest infection and the lovely waitress brought me some hot water that made my day and feel 100 times better :) if your a tourist or a local or even Irish come in here you will not regret I will 100 percent be back read more

Fried hake of the day was delicious, wine perfect! And the crumble pot is awesome. The prices were even better. Best place in Galway so far! read more

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On vacation from the states with family. We're a pretty big group at ten adults, two toddlers, and two babies but they were instantly accommodating of our size and set us up in our own room with tables put together. The food was amazing! I got the seafood chowder and Irish chicken and was very pleased by price and flavor. Highly recommend this to future visitors! Great staff! read more

Cookes Wine Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Galway, G

Absolutely delicious food! We were visiting from the States and stumbled upon this jewel of a restaurant. We had dinner and drinks on the upstairs terrace. My mother and I had the Ravioli and my brother tried to steal it. (Becky doesn't share food!) My dad had the fish special and it too was delicious-very light and the batter was very good. My brother had the lamb-he said it was delicious as well. The prices are affordable. 15-18 euros for an entree. read more

Cookes Wine Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Galway, G

Nice restaurant. Had the ribeye with bernaise sauce. Good atmosphere. Enjoyed the meal.

Totally recommend. We were a group of 12, 6 were children under 12, looking for a place in the center of town with reasonable prices and authentic Irish Food that could accommodate our group. Cookes surpasses our expectations. Staff even carried the baby carriage up the stairs for us! Nice menu, 20 Euro Early Bird was a good deal with good choices, staff were genuinely happy and caring, and the Kids' Menu was one of the most complete I've ever seen anywhere. Cookes was one of our best meals in the West of Ireland. A+. read more

Really excellent little jewel in the middle of the busy old city Galway. Delicious food, great presentation and variety.

Very quaint atmosphere, quiet and not difficult to get a table on a Saturday evening. My husband and I enjoyed a corner table after all the crowds on the street. read more

Cookes Wine Bar - Crab tian- lovely starter. - Wine Bars Near Me - Galway, G

Went here for dinner for my hen and it was bad from the start. We were put in a room by ourselves which was nice but then all went downhill. Waiter couldn't get the drinks order right and just dumped the wine bucket on the table. We had to ask for water more than once and took half an hour before we got it. We had to go looking for someone for drink refills. Arrived at 8.15 and were still waiting for food at 9.30. When it did arrive food was bad and cold and sides were missing but no-one came back to see if we were okay. We had to go looking for staff to get the bill and there were three of them chatting downstairs. Bad attitudes and bad night for all of us. Left as soon as we could. Basically put in a room and forgotten about. read more

Best lamb stew I've had in Ireland. Couldn't recommend it enough. Really really wonderful.

Amazing food! The hake special was delicious and their soup was great. Hidden gem in Galway.

Great atmosphere, better food. A fantastic dinner spot for the weary tourist who has an hour away from the tour bus. read more

Cookes Wine Bar - Salad. Goat cheese. Beets. Yum. - Wine Bars Near Me - Galway, G

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First things first.. After we ate there a few weeks back, I left my pack under the table with my DSLR Camera and various other items in it. I thought it was lost. Cooke's server Tara found it, took it home and went through the pack to identify me from copy of my rental car agreement. On her own time, she called my rental company and had them forward her cell phone # to me. I had already left the country by the time the rental company got in touch with me, but she was willing to arrange to ship it to me, not wanting the reward I offered on top of shipping cost for her trouble. Outstanding service from your employee. Above and beyond. Fortuitously, I found out a friend was visiting Galway this past week and he picked the bag up for me. Of course, everything was still there. Tara is an asset to Cooke's. I'm forever grateful. .. on to the restaurant and meal.. Stopped in Cooke's on a Monday night because my wife was looking for raw oysters. We were disappointed that, though advertising them on a street billboard, they were out of oysters. But, I'd rather hear they're out than receive left-over inventory from the weekend. We were sat up front at a table in the middle of the room by wall.. where space was tight. It would have been nice if they would have pulled one table out of the front room during the work week when [I assume] there aren't as many diners. There were only a couple other tables seated in that room while we ate. Overall, the ambience was very good. Vintage decor, which is what we were looking for in Galway. Food was excellent. I had the French Onion soup with a Lamb stew. Being several weeks out now, I don't recall what my wife ate, but I remember it was delicious. My wife had wine, I had beer. Beer selection was good by Galway standards, I believe that was my first taste of the "Galway Hooker" Pale Ale. I hadn't found anywhere in Galway (or even Dublin) that had the broad selection that's not uncommon at many restaurants in the US so I was happy with Cooke's selection. I would recommend Cooke's to a friend for the food and the environment.. in fact I did. I told my friend who picked up my pack to eat there if he had time. Of course, also a fantastic place if you're a bone-head who's likely to leave a backpack containing your DSLR under the table when you leave. ;-) Steven. read more

The food is really good here. Never had a bad meal here and have recommended this place to lots of friends too. Good early bird deals. In a really quaint old building in the middle of town. Big portions too. Will be back soon! read more

Cookes Wine Bar - Mushroom risotto and butterfly chicken - Wine Bars Near Me - Galway, G

We had a bit of everything: salad, soup, entree, kids menu, dessert and wine. Everything was delicious and the service fantastic. read more

Cookes Wine Bar - We had a little of everything: soup, salad, entree, wine, dessert and something from the kids menu. Delicious!! - Wine Bars Near Me - Galway, G

When we walked in, we were greeted by a Maitre'D who was eating food! This is very unprofessional. I waited a long time to even place my order. The food was nice, well cooked and delicious, and the wine was okay. read more

Beautiful, quaint interior with excellent food! The Irish Chicken Supreme was exactly what I needed when I visited. Make sure to go upstairs and see the oddities and beautiful layout! read more

It looks like a tourist trap from the outside (US flag), but inside it's both cozy and rambling (upstairs). I got the fish special--complex and well-balanced flavors. For dessert, I got the Bailey's cheesecake, which was served with a citrus sauce. I was impressed with this place, which clearly has a talented chef. read more

Tucked away down a quiet lane in this medieval city, you will find Cooke's. Small and family run, this place is a gem. Staff are warm and friendly, atmosphere is unique, cozy and relaxing. Menu has everything, fresh local seafood and meats, as well as pastas. Wine list is extensive. My friend and I were in Galway for 4 days, and ended up eating here twice. read more

We stopped by here while staying in Galway. Cute boutique place with awesome options on the menu. Loved our server and his recommendations. I m just deducting one star for not having a full bar or a TV :-) read more

Really beautiful food, we had the mussels which were so so good. The broth they came in was delicious. They were super fresh and cooked to perfection. I stole a spoonful of my friend's chowder and it was heaven, I had instant food envy! It was such a lovely vibe too. All the waiters were really friendly and it just had this warm relaxed atmosphere. If I had looked at the place from the outside I wouldn't have went in because it wouldn't be the style I would usually be drawn too but thanks once again to other Yelp reviews we decided to give it a go. The only let down for me personally was the music. It plays such a vital role in creating the mood in any food experience for me. This place has such character and presence withs it's choice of decor, the music would just tie it all together in a beautiful bow. read more

The food and wine here are a great treat. They have a price fix "early bird" menu that ran all night two courses 19 euro and three courses 23 euro. All good was served hot! The sirloin and hake dishes were amazing! The house cab sav wine was excellent. The ambiance was nice and had an elegant feel. read more

Absolutely fantastic dinner! We were a party of 10 and the waitstaff made sure we had a fabulous dinner. Everything from service to dinner was so so enjoyable!!! read more

It has been a great pleasure ! Everyone was welcoming and took well care of us , I took the soup and the lamb shank and it was delicious.

Had a terrific meal here with my family of 4. Great mix of items on the menu. One person had a ravioli dish. One had the lamb shank. A couple of folks had chowder. Very nice atmosphere. Just a block off the main strip in Galway. Definitely worth the 2 minute walk down Abberygate street! read more

Place is a gem. On our visit one brunette waitress was an absolute ****, the other was a complete pleasure. Food was excellent, what we received of it anyway, again the brunettes lack of completion. Her displeasure still can not dampen the greatness that is Cooke's, I recommend it even with the side of attitude. read more

What a lovely surprise on a rowdy race week. Walked in off the street, happy to escape the crowds. We were promptly greeted and escorted to a warm table in the window. Staff was courteous and professional. The dining area was cozy, and classically decorated with candles buring on each table and in the windows. We took their recommendations and could not have been more pleased. Baked cod with mushroom risotto and the lamb shank were both on point. Highly recommend this as an overall spot for an intimate dinner. read more

Met up in Galway with 20+family members. My niece wanted to arrange a dinner and stopped in a few restaurants. Cookes offered to reserve their upstairs room and even worked with her to put together a fixed price menu that included a good selection of appetizers, entrees and desserts to keep everyone happy. It made the evening so simple and uncomplicated. We ended up with 24 people and everyone was THRILLED with the food and the staff was fabulous. Can't say enough about the place. Would definitely revisit if I get back to Galway. read more