Courtyard Delight in Kildorrery:
“The Thatch and Thyme”
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| Chicken and chorizo |
It was lunchtime when we pulled up on the main street in Kildorrery and hardly a soul on the footpath. We entered the restaurant “The Thatch and Thyme”, it was quiet immediately inside the door, the indoor dining space. But there was colour and the buzz of conversation outside in the sunny courtyard where we were soon seated with a couple of dozen other diners, young and old, some in family groups.
Chef Joanne McEldowney has been running the business here since 2013 and she is busy as ever in the kitchen as we passed through the currently unused indoor dining space. We did have a quick word on the way out and she told me she is delighted to have the use of the courtyard. She is thankful too to be busy serving her customers whether here in the courtyard or via take-out.
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| Coronation Chicken |
An hour earlier, on our way back from a break up the country, we had begun to think about lunch. We were on the main road from Limerick, had a quick look at the map, and saw that there is a direct link from Kilmallock to Kildorrery. So soon we were heading for Bruree and enjoyed the drive down through pleasant countryside, you are in the Ballyhouras around here, and in no time at all we arrived at our lunch venue.
Service was excellent from start to finish, smiles and chats, and soon we had the menus in our hands. You may start with either soup or chowder (each comes in a small and larger size). Then pick from a good list of sandwiches, everything from Cajun Chicken to Baked Ham and Cheddar to Fresh Baked Salmon, served with tossed house salad, vine tomato, pickled cucumber and mustard dressing, all priced between 7.50 and 9.50.
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| Sweet! |
CL picks the Coronation Chicken (spiced chicken breast bound in curry mayo with spinach, almonds, mango and sultanas). The chicken is superb and very well cooked and everything else is tip notch as well.
I made my pick from the hot dishes. Choice included Pan-fried Hake, a Beetroot and Goats Cheese Tart or a Pork Belly salad with Hanley’s Black Pudding. And also on offer were a number of Cold Salad Plates.
I had been looking at the Beef Stroganoff (strips of Irish beef with mashed potato, rather than rice) but in the end plumped for the Warm Chicken and Chorizo salad with spiced coriander chickpeas and tzatziki dip. Another tasty winner and, in each case, just the job.
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| Screenshot from their Facebook of the courtyard! |
There’s quite a display of baked treats here and there was no way we could pass on those. We ordered a couple and they were boxed for us and we enjoyed both a few hours later while relaxing back at home.
Based in a well kept thatched community building, the restaurant is open Tuesday to Saturday, and you can have your breakfast here as well as lunch.
The Thatch and Thyme
Main Street
Kildorrery
Co. Cork
Facebook here
Tel: 087 282 3503
* Kildorrery by the way is not a sleepy country town. The pavements were certainly quiet around lunchtime but the streets and junctions were busy. Kildorrery has quite a few neighbouring villages and towns, including Mallow, Fermoy, Mitchelstown, Doneraile, Glanworth, Buttevant, Castletownroche, Charleville and Kilmallock! Just saying, walking or driving or cycling (as may be the case for Ballyhoura devotees), be careful at the junction of the N73 and the R512.
