The Food Club, the café at Fota House

"The Food Club", the café at Fota House

Reuben

In an impressive room, with a high ceiling and eye-catching timber beams, you’ll find The Food Club, the seasonal café at Fota House. 

The height of the vaulted ceiling gives a sense of spaciousness and adds visual appeal. The room can comfortably seat about 35 diners and there is plenty of room outside if you fancy ordering “takeaway” at the counter. Otherwise, take a table and your server will take and bring your order there.

The main menu, available from 11.30 am to 3.30 pm, features soup, sandwiches and a salad. All day long, you can visit and order scones and sweet treats along with your coffee, tea, or soft drink, as well as ice cream.

Chicken Sandwich

Interior

After a walk in the gardens and arboretum, we were in for lunch and concentrated on the main menu and on the sandwiches in particular and they both turned out to be superb. 

I picked the Grilled Reuben Sandwich (€13.90), consisting of Beef Pastrami, Red Cheddar, Sauerkraut, and House Mustard Sauce, all on toasted brown bread.

Our other order was their Chicken Sandwich (€12.90), consisting of Grilled Chicken, Sun-Dried Tomato, Pesto, Cream Cheese, Lettuce, roasted peppers, and again, on brown bread. Each was superb, well assembled and invitingly moist, not to mention generous.

Outdoor tables and chairs

With a green plaid material covering the table and comfortable chairs, some in alcoves, and the good food, excellent calm service as well, it was a couple of happy customers that walked out towards the car park.

While dining, we enjoyed the view around us, including those beams above. The work is ongoing here, and it appears that there is more to be done overhead, perhaps a glass cupola or something similar. The walls are hung with large illustrations about Fota and the people who lived here. They feature some members of the Smith Barry family. 

Italian Garden

Grapes on the vine in
the Victorian gardens,
but not under glass

Included is Lady Barrymore, the wife (some question this) of the 7th Earl of Barrymore, who was known for her boxing prowess and participation in bare-knuckle fights and was also called "The Boxing Baroness”. The earl himself was also handy with the fists. Intriguing, isn't it? To learn more about this character and several others who lived here over the decades in an upstairs-downstairs manner, consider taking a guided tour of the house, which is currently offered three times daily (at 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 3:30 pm).

And take lunch before, or after! If you have kids, the menu includes a tempting deal for them: a meal and a drink for €9.90. Gluten-free and vegetarian choices are available upon request.  Marcin and his Food Club team will be happy to help.

More on Fota House https://fotahouse.com/