It is just past 6.30pm on a Friday evening and Cork’s Cornstore restaurant is already abuzz. But still time for a warm welcome and soon we are at our table studying the various menus. I asked the waiter was he expecting a busy night. “Ah, not too bad,” he said. “About two hundred.” Cool or what? But he and the rest of the Cornstore crew sure know how to run the popular Cornmarket Street venue with equal measures of efficiency and friendliness.
The Cork restaurant, they also have one in Limerick, prides itself on its steaks and seafood. The aged steaks here are top notch but we turned our attention to the fish on Friday night. I went straight to the water with their Haddock Mussels (€10.50), a delectable balance of textures and flavours and a spoon (didn't have to ask!) available to scoop up the sauce.
Meanwhile CL was tucking in, enthusiastically, to a favourite of hers: Goats cheese tart
with fig jam, roast red pepper and sun dried tomato pesto (9.50). The pastry was beautifully crispy, packed with flavours.
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| From left: Hake, Sea Bass, Cheese. |
So we were off and running and getting into the wine. They have something of a “sale” at the moment and we got the Chilean Crucero (Chardonnay) for thirty euro instead of the normal forty. Aromatic, fruity, with refreshing acidity and with a good finish, it turned out to be a very enjoyable bottle indeed.
Of course, if you are at the Cornstore, you must check out their extensive cocktail menu. We had a couple at the end. Mine was High Society: Beefeater gin, peach schnapps, Campari
and grapefruit juice - light, bright and lovely! CL picked the Balsamicotini (try saying that quickly at the end of the night!) and this serious mix consists of Grey Goose vodka, fresh strawberries, balsamico, fresh basil, fresh lime juice, cranberry juice and strawberry syrup.
By that time, we had dispatched the mains. Hers was the Pan seared seabass on a potato rosti with roast organic pumpkin, spinach, and a carrot and orange reduction (€22.95) while I picked the Oven roast hake on braised fennel, potatoes, pappardelle of carrot, lemon beurre blanc and a prawn oil (€19.95). Both were superb. We didn't quite finish off the plates (you get vegetables on the side as well) but portions are Irish size here!
No dessert as such but we did share a well picked Cheese Platter (including Cashel Blue) with chutney, apple, celery and grapes. Nice and tasty finish. Cocktail time!
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| Some of the cool crew at the Cornstore (pic by Cornstore) |
About the Cornstore
The Cornstore Restaurant offers delicious award-winning menus over 2 floors in a lively, Manhattan style surrounding. We specialise in premium Steaks & quality Seafood, award winning cocktails, new world beers & a vast wine selection.
Location
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Phone
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(021) 427 4777
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Email
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cork@cornstore.com
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Website
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Hours
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Mon - Sat: 12:00 pm - 10:30 am
Sun: 1:00 pm - 9:30 pm
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