Pie Fiesta at Gallaghers. Comfort Food in a Comfy Cork City Corner

Pie Fiesta at Gallaghers

Comfort Food in a Comfy Cork City Corner

Beef Pie

Gallaghers of MacCurtain Street is well-known for its signature dish, Beef and Beamish Pie. But we learned last week that it also makes a super fish pie.

The evening was wet and cold, and comfort food was on our wish list. And we got it in accomplished abundance at the junction of Bridge Street and MacCurtain Street.

Soon, we were sitting in our own cosy corner, with a Christmas tree at my left hand and a bottle of stout in the other as we studied the menu.

I had already settled on that signature pie: “the original Beef and Beamish Pie (Beamish stout, braised beef and root vegetables, topped with a crispy puff pastry)". They serve it with fries or mashed potatoes. I chose the mash, which worked very well with the pie.

All the lovely ingredients are hidden under that crisp puff pastry that covers the bowl and extends down the outside. The savoury treasure underneath is a filling and comforting, delicious mix, and you can taste why it has been on the menu here since Noreen and Martin Gannon opened their doors in 2013.

The Fish Pie is a mixture of fresh fish, including salmon, cod, mussels and prawns. It is topped with mashed potato and parmesan crust, with a side of toasted sourdough.  With the various fish nicely balanced, CL enjoyed this one no end, and two very clean plates went back to the kitchen. 

Pork Belly

A Ballyshannon statue of Rory
Gallagher. Lots of Rory
memorabilia in the
Cork pub. He lived close by.

I’m sure most of you are well used to various pies and know how hot they can be initially. In this respect, Gallaghers’ are no exception. Just take it easy; you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy. The cutlery for each pie includes a large spoon! Which pie was the best? Despite some cross-table sampling, we found it difficult to give a one-two. Looks like a replay is called for!

The pies are more or less traditional and are not just for the festive season.  The menu is quite large with something for everyone, including the likes of Buttermilk Chicken Burger, T-Bone Steak, Roast Cider Chicken, Fish ’n Chips, Lamb Curry, Twomey's Beef Burger and Catch of the Day (which was Sea Bass on the night we were in.)

In some restaurants, it can be difficult to find gluten-free options, but not here, where you have plenty of choices, including starters like chicken wings, crispy cauliflower, seafood chowder, and more. See the menu here.  

Our starter was the Korean Pork Belly (Parsnip puree, house pickles, Gochujang glaze), a flavourful combination, sweet and spicy, and melt in the mouth. That set the scene nicely for a lovely meal.

Of course, we got a warm welcome. We stepped in from the cold, were greeted immediately and shown to our table. Everyone got quite a greeting from the helpful staff. Indeed, the staff - chatty, smiling, efficient - contributed in no small way to the general and genial atmosphere. We left this friendly place with, yes, a stomach full of food, but also with a sense of well-being.

My drink, by the way, was Stag Stout from 9 White Deer in Ballyvourney. I’ve long been a fan. It is a medium-bodied traditional dry Irish stout at 4.2 % ABV. It is designed to appeal primarily to traditional stout drinkers, and also happens to be gluten-free, the first of its kind anywhere in the world.

Gallaghers. A comfortable corner.