The Fish Kitchen Delivers Once Again
Delighted to get the chance to call to the Fish Kitchen during a recent visit to Bantry. We got the best of weather while in the seaside town and in the popular upstairs restaurant we got the best of fish.
Of course, we got the warmest of welcomes from Diarmaid and his team. It was quite busy and their outside seats were filling up quickly and we were quite happy to go upstairs and watch the sun splashed world go by from a good perch.
No time for people watching though until we’d taken in the details of the menu on the blackboard, a menu that changes quite often, depending on what the local boats have brought in.
It may be hake, haddock, cod, tuna or John Dory or some other fish. Haddock or Hake may be your fish in the Fish and Chips while the likes of Tuna may appear as a starter, for instance Tuna Carpaccio with Mango and Chili Salsa. Later on, dinner choices may include a seafood pappardelle Pasta Mariniere with Garlic Bread, a half or full Bantry Bay Lobster, or a sharing platter.
Our lunch selection was quite extensive, no shortage of choice. There was a Courgette and Red Pepper Soup, Battered Haddock and Chips (including Mushy peas), Pan-fried Hake with Lemon and Herb Butter, veg and potato, Breaded Lemon Sole, Red Prawn Thai Curry, and an Open Crabmeat Sandwich, all well priced. I really should have picked the Half Dozen Sherkin Island Oysters for €11.00! But, with a big dinner scheduled for the evening, I was being a little cautious!
My choice was a Bowl of Chowder and half an open Prawn sandwich (12.00). Quite a feed actually, so perhaps my caution about the oysters was justified! The Chowder was delicious, packed with proper fish and veg, great value too by the way.
CL’s pick was Fish Cakes & Calamari (13.50) with sweet chili mayo, all on a house salad. Another packed plateful and another delicious one. By the way, a bowl of fries also appeared and they too were excellent.
No desserts ordered - we were heading for a walk on the beautiful Sheep’s Head Peninsula which is just a few miles out of the town. Some tempting sweets on their blackboard though including a Zesty Lemon Posset, a Mixed Berry Meringue, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Vanilla Creme Brûlée and a seasonal Rhubarb Crumble.
The wine list is short, appropriately slanted more to whites than reds, six in all available by the glass (three whites, two reds and a bubbles). It includes an Albariño, a Riesling, a Chablis and a French Sauvignon Blanc and Prosecco of course. There’s a rosé also but only by the bottle.
Like all our restaurants and cafés, the Fish Kitchen is again finding its way in these post (?) covid days so expect changes to menus and opening times. Probably the best way to keep up to date is via their Facebook Page. I can heartily recommend this friendly place and, by the way, if you are self-catering in the area, the family fish-shop, the Central Fish Market, is downstairs!
Also on this trip:
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