RESTAURANTS AND FOOD: Cobh

Showing posts with label Cobh. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Azure, Cobh’s new waterfront bistro. White and blue, and very good too!

Azure, Cobh’s new waterfront bistro.

White and blue, and very good too!

Azure Harbour Bistro is the newly opened waterfront restaurant in Cobh. With its charming blue and white exterior, the bistro embodies the aspirations of Chef Tabrez Shaikh, who is also known for his work at the Stew Stores in Douglas and the Marina Market. In Cobh, Chef Shaikh can showcase his extensive experience in a wide range of international cuisines.

Bouillabaisse

The bistro focuses on the finest seasonal local produce, including fresh fish, which will be central to its offerings. However, each dish served at your table will be significantly enhanced by the diverse influences that the chef has encountered over the years. During my lunch visit last week, I found Azure truly living up to its promises.

After a warm welcome, we settled down by a sunny, south-facing window—Spike Island is directly across the water—to study the menu.

Chicken wings

It was not so much a study as I had seen it online and had already made up my mind to order the Bouillabaisse, the renowned rich and spicy fish stew associated with Marseille. There was no disappointment here, as the Azure mix of Prawns, Mussels, Sole, Plaice, Saffron broth, rouille, and sourdough bread was really excellent and brought back memories of a trip some time back to Provence.

Hake

CL was enjoying the flavors of Korea in her chicken wings. The increasingly popular sticky Gochujang sauce, which is sweet and spicy, accompanied the wings, along with pickled red cabbage and a salad.

The website tells us that Tabrez’s gastronomic journey has traversed continents — from the vibrant kitchens of the UAE and the refined culinary circles of the UK, to the rich culinary heritage of India and the evolving food landscape of Ireland.

On the Five Foot Way, I met the
Shanty Man by Ray Lonsdale.
It was donated to Cobh by
Gary and Anne Wilson

It’s no surprise to find the New Orleans Po' Boy sandwich (above) on the menu here. I was eager to try it, especially after my server mentioned it was his favourite. Azure's Shrimp Po' Boy features a generous mix of tempura shrimp, crushed avocado, classic Marie Rose sauce, capers, and is served on not just one, but two bao buns. It was a very satisfying and enjoyable dish, naturally a little milder than my Bouillabaisse.

Although it may not have been as exotic as some of the other dishes, we truly enjoyed our fish dish here: Pan-Fried Hake served with Colcannon, Charred Asparagus, Dill Velouté, Dill Oil, and Blood Orange. CL was quite pleased with her plateful, demonstrating that the chef is capable of preparing Irish cuisine to the same high standard as any other.

The dessert menu that included Paris Brest (Filled Choux Pastry, Pistachio Ice Cream), Red Rose (Raspberry Mousse, Berry Sorbet, Rose & Saffron Syrup) and the Caramel Dome (Biscotti Caramel Sauce, Salted Caramel Ice Cream) was extremely tempting, but having been fed well, we skipped it.

The dinner menu looks even more tempting, and you can check out both menus here.

“Support local” is a key element of the Azure offering and that extends to the whiskey selection that includes spirits from Irish Distillers in Midleton and West Cork Distillery in Skibbereen. You may get Murphy’s Stout on draught and Stonewell Cider, including their superb non-alcoholic edition, both in bottle.

No Irish wines (yet!), but there are some very impressive bottles in the collection available. You may enjoy the "Il Bucco" Montepulciano or perhaps the Tindal Vineyards Organic Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, both by the glass or bottle.

Tip: Before or after your meal, take a wander around the town!

Casement Square, Cobh.

Monday, October 14, 2024

Cobh on a sunny morning

Cobh on a sunny morning

October 2024

The Bandstand

Sonia O'Sullivan, always a winner.

Looking west: Annie Moore and siblings

Sailing

Looking down on Pearse Square, with Titanic Experience in the background, from the cathedral.

Des Res. The Crescent.

Gorgeous. Jack Doyle remembered

St Colman's Cathedral. Commenced 1868, completed 1919.
Designed by E. W. Pugin and G. C. Ashlin in 1868

Coffees, cakes, curiosities (including vintage Carrigaline pottery)
at Belvelly Vintage, 5 Harbour Row, Cobh, Ireland P24N407

Resting boat. Busy bird.

Casement Square, with a tour group at Lusitania Monument

St Brendan, The Navigator.
By marygregoriysculptor.blogspot.ie

The Commodore Hotel, always looking well.

Colourful mural at Cobh Railway Station.

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Harbourside walk before breakfast at Perry Street in Ringaskiddy

Harbourside walk before breakfast in Ringaskiddy

I had something of a re-boot of normal activity on a cold sunny morning last week, combining a brisk walk at the People’s Park in Ringaskiddy and a warming breakfast at the busy Perry Street Cafe in the village.

Cobh

The park is on Haulbowline Island. Though there are a few loops that you may take to add to the main tarmac path, it is a short enough stroll - nothing to stop you from a repeat of course! But it has superb views over Cork Harbour in general and towards the colourful terraces of Cobh in particular.

Close to the entrance, you’ll see the Blacksmith's Hammer that "is preserved in honour of all who worked in the former steelworks".

Quite a large well laid out parking area is available to walkers and there are also toilets there. The coffee shop that was here previously is no longer open but you will find sustenance in the nearby village

Finding parking outside the Perry Street cafe isn't that easy, not on the day of our visit. The ground floor cafe, spread over two adjoining open-plan rooms, serves breakfast until 11.45 am and lunch (from noon until 4.00 pm).

Breakfast was enjoyed by our little group: four adults and one hungry baby. Despite the fact it looked packed at first glance, they found us a very suitable table indeed with room to add a baby seat at one end.

The breakfast is divided along the usual lines, more or less, of Savoury, Eggs and Sweet. Under Savoury, they offer three versions of the Full Irish: Super Perry, Full Perry and Half Perry. One of us enjoyed the full.

The Morrocan Breakfast caught my eye, but instead, I picked the Pancakes with Bacon and Maple Syrup while CL had the Berry Compote and Cream version, each quite satisfactory. Our fourth adult had the Granola with layered toasted nuts, dried fruits, oats, honey, a seasonal compote and organic natural yoghurt.

Prices were more or less average though €3.60 for two slices of toast for the baby raised an eyebrow or two! The welcome was warm and the service was friendly and good all through.

Blacksmith's hammer

#Cobh

#PerryStreet

#Ringaskiddy

#PeoplesPark

#CorkHarbour

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Enjoyable Lunch At Friendly Café Vega In Sunny Cobh

Enjoyable Lunch At Friendly

Café Vega In Sunny Cobh

Chicken, cheese, chorizo

No shortage of eating choices when we arrived in Cobh for lunch and a midweek walk in the sun. The Arch Café and Wine Bar is one of several newcomers in the town but, on this occasion, we opted for the well-established and very popular Café Vega just across Casement Square from the wine bar.

And here, in this neighbourhood restaurant, we found no shortage of choice. The paper menu contains a variety of main dishes (including fish and steak offerings), about five burgers (including El Chapo!), Panninis and Ciabattas with different fillings, and more.

Mural inside Vega

Don't forget the specials. The board may be hanging on a pillar or they may well bring it to the table for a close-up read. Service here is really excellent, efficient and friendly all through.

After doing quite a lot of “reading”, we settled on two dishes from that specials board. We had arrived at about 12.30 and now the place was really filling up, just as well they had a good number of tables outside in the sunny square.

Duo of salmon

Our specials:

1 - Crispy salt and pepper chicken, goat cheese, roasted pops, confit tomatoes, chorizo, warm salad (13.95)

2 - Open duo of smoked and fresh salmon, two salads and fried potatoes (12.95)

Two excellent lunch plates arrived soon after ordering. Quantities were generous yet each was neatly presented and both looked very appetising indeed. That crispy chicken was a delight, especially with a little sweet chilli sauce on the plate. In addition to the items mentioned, there were also pieces of avocado and the filling dish scored highly in terms of both quality and quantity.

And it was much the same story with CL’s salmon, plenty of the fish on brown bread, a little bowl of coleslaw, with a combined excellent salad that included leaves, tomato and corn. Very satisfactory indeed and no need to cook a dinner later on!

A few months back, I enjoyed a similar vibe in The Shamrock in Dungarvan where I was reminded of the bar atmosphere in the TV series Cheers. Like the Shamrock, Vega is another neighbourhood restaurant where customers and staff know one another. They didn't know my name. I was a blow-in but, now, could well blow in again.

Where everybody knows your name

And they're always glad you came

You wanna go where people know

People are all the same

You wanna go where everybody knows your name

You'll find the Vega on Facebook here

************

The Cobh Walk in Pictures

There was no cruise liner docked in the town on this occasion but still plenty to see on our walk, a gentle stroll really, from the Five Foot Way Car Park. We reached this unique building (1860), once the home of the Cobh Urban District Council before turning back. In an eye-catching waterside location, it now houses an Asian restaurant with an inviting outdoor covered dining area (check it out in the photo) but it is looking the worst for wear, just seems to be dying a slow death.

Table with a view by the Water’s Edge Hotel.

The Commodore Hotel looking very well in its blue colours. Haven’t dined there in over a year!

The Navigator, in a contemplative mood, with the cathedral in the background. The work is by Irish sculptor Mary Gregoriy.

I hadn't noticed this before. These are a set of steps by which you can enter and or exit the promenade at its western end. Best viewed before and certainly not while you walk up.