Favourite Delicious Dishes 2025. A collection of the best over the past year (and a guide to 2026).

Favourite Delicious Dishes 2025. 

 

An enjoyable and varied collection of dishes,  appetising plates that keep me returning.

Another year is done and dusted and time to look back over its dining delights. For much of the year, Ballycotton's Sea Church was the only establishment to have a contender in all three main categories. At the last moment, Da Mirco's came up with a hat trick of its own, also impressing with starter, mains and desert! Thanks to all the restaurants and cafes I visited this year and hope to see you all in 2026. A Peaceful New Year to you all!

Mains  - Meat & Poultry 

51 Cornmarket (free-range pork chop)

Amicus (Medium curry)

Bar One, Castlebar. Bacon Chop

O'Mahony's Watergrasshill. Glenbrook Farm Pork Ragout

ORSO (Lamb shank)

Poachers, Ballina. Steak

Thompsons (steak)

Sea Church, Ballycotton. (Boeuf Bourguignon)

Jim Edwards Kinsale (Duck)

Nua Asador (Picanha)

Cornstore (Beef cheek)

CUSH Midleton, Beef Cheek

Monk's Lane Timoleague (African-style lamb)

Da Mirco (Lasagna Gratinata Goccia D'Oro) 

Sea Bass at Sea Church

Mains - Fish

Canopy at Castlemartyr Resort (Salmon with butternut risotto)

CUSH, Midleton  (Grilled Hake)

Farmgate Café (Pan Fried Cod with Peperonata, etc)

House of Plates, Castlebar. Halibut

Market Lane (Sardinian Seafood Pasta)

Salty Dog, Ballycotton (John Dory)

Sea Church, Ballycotton. (Sea Bass on bone)

K. O'Connell Fishmongers at Dunne's Stores Patrick St (Salmon Arancini)

Arundel's by the Pier, Ahakista. Fish and Chips

Ferrit & Lee, Midleton (Featherblade, Chicken Liver Paté)

Fish Factory, Dingle. (Prawn & Thai Curry)

The Bosun, Monkstown (Prawn Cocktail)

Mains - others

Bella Napoli (Ragu Alla Genovese)

Good Hood (Diego Pizza)

Ichibanya (Bento Box)

Sullys (Tacos, Nachos)

The Wine Tavern St Luke's (Sharing Board, charcuterie & cheese)

Bakestone  (quiche)

The Lodge Myrtleville Curry

Izz Café (Palestinian cuisine)

Lifeboat Inn Courtmacsherry (aubergine bake)

The Malthouse Midleton (Szechuan chicken stir fry)

Lamb Shank at ORSO

Soups, Chowders, Starters

Azure Bistro, Cobh (Bouillabaisse)

Canopy at Castlemartyr Resort (Aloo Tikki)

Goldie (Oyster Paté)

Sea Church, Ballycotton. (Chowder)

The Lodge, Myrtleville (Bao Buns)

Half Door, Dingle (Lobster Bisque)

Da Mirco (Micro's Board) 

Sweet at Bakestone!

Sandwiches:

Food Club at Fota House, chicken sandwich

Pop Crowleys, Macroom (toasties)

Desserts

Izz Café Basbouseh

Bakestone  (pastries)

Le Bistro (Carrot Cake)

Maison Gourmet, Kenmare (Strawberry Tart)

Sea Church, Ballycotton. (Crème Brûlée)

The Lake Hotel, Killarney (Bread & Butter Pudding)

Thompsons (Swiss Roll)

Rí Fern at Louis Mulcahy’s Dingle peninsula (Peach Crumble)

Da Mirco (Panettone Nel Marsala E Pere) 

Full Irish at Granville (less some requested deductions!)

Tasting Menu

Glass Curtain

Sunday Lunch

The Cornstore

Breakfast

Granville Hotel Waterford (breakfast)

Schull Harbour Hotel, French Toast

Greenmount House, Dingle (Full Irish)

Carvery

The Elm Tree (carvery)