Henry's Will Have You Smiling in Ennis
Looking for a good meal in Ennis? Why not try the recently opened Henry's on Market Street? Here you get a royal Déise welcome from Dermot Fetton and some excellent dishes based on superb Banner produce. Nothing overly fancy here mind you, though cooking and presentation is excellent. Dermot, for so long the main man at the Cloister, gives his customers what they want, not what the chef thinks they should have.
Dermot and the team have moved to this new venue in recent months and it was abuzz on the April night that we visited and the man himself is very happy with the new venue (including its smaller more manageable size). I had forgotten my reading glasses and my host had a few pairs to try (including his own!). Where would you get that kind of service? By the way, they also do lunch here.
Starters
Once back with the glasses, I began to study the menu. My pick was the Slow Roast Pork Belly, Kale, Wine Jus. Excellent and a generous portion. Other starters included Sautéed Mushrooms and Spinach, Poached Pear and Blue Cheese Salad, Goats Cheese and Caramelised Onion Tart, Chowder and Soup. CL was very happy with her pick: Henry's Fishcakes, Leek and Smoked Bacon Fondue. As you can see from the picture, there was a dollop of cream in that. And you will see more cream in the menu!
Mains
The regular wine list contains the more popular types with seven of both white and red available by the glass. There is also another list with a step up in quality, and price. And, on the night we were in, there was also an offer list containing bin ends. And there is also a selection of Champagne, Dessert and Sparkling Wines. And, if you are in for a drink, Henry's has a separate wine bar with tall tables and seats, on the other side of the entrance, that can also be used as a waiting area or overflow from the restaurant itself.
More cream again as my mains, one of the evening's specials, arrived. The John Dory came with a basil cream sauce. It was a lovely dish, with both the vegetables on the plate and on the side cooked to perfection, providing a tasty crunch to the delicious fish. CL's Duck Leg Confit came with a Lentil and Vegetable Ragout. The duck was perfect though the ragout seemed to have taken a touch too much wine!
You'll have quite a choice of mains here, eight or nine on the night we were in. The ten ounce
10oz Hereford Ribeye is always popular. There's also a braised daube of beef with a wine jus. A Lamb Shank with an unusual rosemary jus. The Chicken Breast Burger always goes down well. There's Fish 'n Chips of course, another popular choice; haddock is the usual fish. There’s the Roasted Salmon Fillet with Ratatouille and another fish offering is Hake with cauliflower and broccoli.
FINALÉ
