RESTAURANTS AND FOOD: Excellent Lunch At Killarney’s Brehon

Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Excellent Lunch At Killarney’s Brehon

Excellent Lunch At Killarney’s Brehon

Chicken Tenders by a sunny window

The Sat-Nav said Killarney was approaching and a stop required ahead of driving down to Sneem. The phone would throw up a list of lunch recommendations but, based on a special by Head Chef Chad Byrne, I had just one place in mind and that was the Brehon Hotel on the Muckross Road.

And so we parked at this quite splendid hotel and its rather impressive entrance. That particular special had been for a day or two earlier and I knew it wouldn’t be available this day but it reminded me of Chad’s skill. He had the day off but has a fine team here so no worries and we went on to have a most enjoyable lunch indeed, an early highlight of this latest trip to the kingdom.

Mozzarella

We were directed to the bar as it is here that lunch is served rather than the well-known Danú Restaurant. We got a window seat and, even though veiled in a light mist, the mountains in the view were magnificent.

The welcome and the service throughout was friendly and helpful and soon the menu was studied and decisions made.

Quite a list of starters included Sticky Hot Sauce Chicken Wings, Veggie Pot Stickers (fried Japanese Dumplings with Bok Choi and loads of other veg and lime sauce), Sweet and Sour Prawn Scampi and a Mezzo Plate.

Our pick was the Macroom Buffalo Mozzarella (with basil, cherry Plum Tomato and Garlic Toasties). This combination, with the local cheese, is regarded as a classic hereabouts nowadays and the Brehon version is as good as you’ll get.

No shortage of choices on the mains list either. There was Slow Cooked Pork, a tempting Stir-fried rump steak sandwich, The Brehon Double Smash Burger, Black Cardamom Spiced Bhaji, Coconut and Almond Chicken Curry and a Cod Based Special.

The choice here was the Crispy Buttermilk and Sesame Chicken Tenders with Yuzo and Mango, and spice bag seasoned fries. The chicken was top notch and superbly cooked. Flavours were brilliant here from the chicken itself right through to those spicy fries.

Time then to consider dessert - didn’t take too long. I was tempted by the Brehon Pavlova, the Chocolate Brownie, the Kahlua and Ginger Biscuit Cheesecake, and the Selection of Ice-creams with jelly and berries.

But it was the Warm Sticky Toffee Pudding with Butterscotch and Vanilla Bourbon ice-cream that got the sweet nod. And it certainly got the thumbs up at both sides of the table. “Could have done with a touch more bourbon though”, I remark. “What’s new?” is the retort from CL.

Soon two very well fed and happy customers were on our way up to Molls Gap and down past the Strawberry Field Pancake Cottage to Sneem for the evening.