Ok so everyone in Kenmare raved about this place, and I guess given the size of the town, it is considered the "fine dining" option. It wasn't bad (for meat eaters) but it certainly wasn't up to our standards of great food.
The ambiance is what gives it the 3, and if this was based on ambiance alone, I might give it a 4. It's in an old building (someone said a former school house) and that certainly gives it its charm.
We were seated in a table in the far corner by a window and a potted that shouldn't be there. We noticed a few other better tables open, but the hostess/waitress/manager offered us this one, so we said fine and took it.
The menu stated at the bottom one price for a Two Course meal and one for a Three Course Meal. We asked our server is that's how it works we order one starter and one main, she said yes. We weren't hungry enough for two courses, but if that's the rule, ok. So we placed our orders, I ordered the vegetarian mushroom soup and my boyfriend ordered the sticky wings. The food took some time to come out, but that was fine since we had ordered some drinks. When the food arrived, I noticed my soup had a funny smell. It had croutons in it which I usually LOVE. But these smelled like old oil...they had either been made with rancid oil, or they made the croutons and let them sit somewhere for much too long. I had to scoop out all of the croutons and even then I couldn't eat much of it. He liked his wings though.
Another couple arrived at this time and was seated at a table close by. They asked to sit at the open table by the fire, but were told it was reserved. They asked about the set menu and the same waitress told them they could also just order a main if they wanted!! Well that annoyed me. I just had to deal with smelling rancid croutons in a course I didn't even want!
Our main courses arrived. I had ordered the goat cheese balls on her suggestion. When I had ordered it, it didn't sound like a main to me, but she assured me it was.
It is not. This would be much better placed on the starter menu. Now I get it, I wasn't that hungry, but if I'm ordering an entree, it better look like one! It was four goat cheese balls, ping pong ball sized, and they were fried to high heaven. There was shredded beets on the plate as well. I ate one goat cheese ball, before I was done. My boyfriend had the Duo of Lamb, which he really did enjoy.
Around this time, we heard the other couple asking about the duck, which was no longer available...this wasn't late at night either. I could see they were annoyed. After a minute, they told the waitress they were going to go elsewhere. I wished I had done the same.
I watched another couple come in and be seated at a better table as well. One not shoved in a corner by a tree. I wonder if we were given the worst table because we had made OpenTable reservations??
It's a better place for meat-eaters, no doubt, but the prices are too steep for what you get, regardless. After a few days in Kenmare, we realized we could have had pretty much the same meal for a third of the price.
When the waitress came to our table, she asked if I didn't like mine, I said no, it's overly fried and just doesn't taste good. Most fine dining establishments would either offer something else or take it off the bill. Not the case here.
I also think they need to get a bit more creative with their veg two course options if they're going to charge €50.
Serving starters as entrees doesn't cut it. (The prices for the meat eating customers is higher). Overall, you're better off eating at a pub that yes, might be noisier, but would be much cheaper for better options. Save the money for extra pints!! read more
