Enjoy the view and broaden your dining horizons with a trip to The Lodge at Myrtleville.

Enjoy the view and broaden your dining horizons with a trip to The Lodge at Myrtleville.

It was almost by accident that we found ourselves in Myrtleville last Friday evening. It was also by

Taste the World at The Lodge in Myrtleville

Taste the World at The Lodge in Myrtleville

Open wide for the Bao!

Not too long ago, to get a flavour of cuisines around the world, you had to travel—maybe a ferry to France, a flight to Spain, or, if you were very lucky, a multi-port cruise. Now, it is so much easier. Just take the short drive to Myrtleville and The Lodge Restaurant and join a culinary adventure.

Under owner Paul and Chef Vikrant, the venue has been transformed into a global gastronomic haven. The Indian-born culinary maestro brings a special knowledge, gleaned in his native land and across Europe, along with excellent local produce, to create a menu with delicious surprises on every plate. 

Not just dishes from his native India and surrounding countries but from Europe (in Switzerland, where he specialised in Italian and modern European cuisine). He has a wealth of experience and has been encouraged in recent years by Lodge owner Paul O’Brien.

With summertime having just kicked in, we were keen to get out and about and venture a little further from the city, delighted to be able to drive home in daylight. Last Wednesday, we headed off in the Crosshaven direction, and we whetted the appetite on a windy but sunny Fountainstown beach before heading across the short and narrow coast road to Myrtleville and the Lodge.

Some were dining outside, but our reservation was for indoors. As we settled into our seats, we glanced out the large windows, and there was the Brittany Ferries vessel motoring past Roches Point on its way to France. 

Back to the menu to check on the starters on offer. The small plates option makes for a lighter dining experience, and we decided to share the Gochujang Pork Bao. Those little buns aren't much in themselves, but when loaded by the kitchen here, they are transformed into a delicious blend of texture, colour, and flavour. Two bao buns (14.50), packed with spicy Korean pork belly, pickled daikon, Asian slaw, and soy mayo, were quite a treat.

They also offer a range of pizzas here. A few days earlier, I saw the online menu and had put my eye on the Santorini, one flavoured with Greek toppings. However, it was a limited run and not available on our visit.

A ferry bound for France passes Roches Point, as seen from our table.

But no problem. Vikrant, as you might expect, is a master of curry, and on previous visits, we enjoyed his Butter Chicken Curry and his Goan Prawn Curry. This time, it was the Kerala Beef Curry, an authentic spicy beef curry with onion, tomato and masala, that caught my eye. It also turned out to be a winner, with the spicy (not over-the-top spicy) beef falling off the bone into a delicious sauce, mopped up with a side of perfectly cooked rice (22.40).

CL opted for the Mad Cow Burger—a 6-oz Beef patty topped with Sautéed Onions, Mushrooms, Black Pepper and Chive Cheddar Cheese, Beef Tomato, Gherkins, and 1000 Island Dressing—which kept her quietly concentrating for some time. Served with superb fries, this satisfying combination cost €20.50.

Two very well-fed punters skipped the desserts and headed off to the hills on a sunny evening, planning to make more dinner trips around the county in the months ahead. Including a return to the Lodge, of course!

Coastal, Casual, Cool At The Lodge In Myrtleville. Appetising Dishes With International Flavours.

Coastal, Casual, Cool At The Lodge In Myrtleville. 

Appetising Dishes With International Flavours.

Butter Chicken Curry 

The Lodge at Myrtleville is coastal and casual. And cool. Have you seen this sentence in big letters on the side of the building as you drive down towards the nearby beach? It reads: "I don't need an inspirational quote. I need beer.” A place that's not afraid to have a bit of fun!

And if you need that beer, here’s another sign that needs reading: “If you want our booze, wear shirt and shoes”. And on the same notice board, you’ll see that your dog is welcome but must be kept on a lead. So cool, casual, coastal and canine-friendly as well.

And the food? How about a drink first? No bother, there is a full bar here. I'm always a fan of places that support local businesses, and it's clear that The Lodge at Myrtleville does that.  Blacks of Kinsale are among the suppliers to benefit. Their popular beers (I began with a glass of their excellent ale) and whiskey and gin are available here. And some delicious wines too including the smashing Grande Escolha Vinho Verde from Portugal (by the glass and by the bottle).

Kreatopita

No shortage of familiar items on the menu, including burgers and pizzas, chicken wings, and curries. But before grumpily declaring “the same old suspects”, look closer. Those chicken wings come with a Korean sauce, the starters offer a Greek dish (with an amazing relish), and the burgers include one with Mexican Spiced Shredded Pork. Not just standard fare here as there are some unique flavours on the menu and these are just a few examples.

Gochujang BBQ Wings

We got a few tips from the servers - they are all friendly and keen to help here - and made our choices. I’m keen on that Greek one from the Small Plates list, described as Kreatopita, a Greek Style Dish, (Filo Pastry Stuffed with Pulled Beef & Feta) and served with that outstanding Tomato & Basil Relish, plus a small tasty salad.

Looking at our venue from the beach road. The Lodge has terrific views across the Cork
harbour mouth and out to the sea.

A big thumbs up for that and also for our other small plate (not that small by the way!), the Gochujang BBQ Wings (chicken wings glazed with Korean BBQ Sauce, Sesame and Scallions). That Gochujang sauce may well be familiar to customers of the Marina Market. 

Goan Prawn Curry

The focus then switched to the Indian sub-continent as our mains arrived. Mine was the Goan Prawn Curry (a delicately spiced Prawn curry with a blend of coconut milk, curry leaves and a hint of tamarind). The coastal southwest Indian state is famous for its curries and this was superb, delicious and filling.

CL did well here too. Her pick was the Butter Chicken Curry (Chicken Tikka simmered in a rich creamy, buttery and aromatic tomato curry), originally from Northern India. Skinny Fries (top-notch) along with steamed rice and Paratha Indian Bread completed the mains.

Butter Chicken Curry and Rice

We were pretty full at that stage and gave the desserts a skip on this occasion. The Lodge can take 70 patrons inside and as many (if not more outside). Consider reserving a table if you have decided to dine indoors. 

Didn't get to try their Burrata dish.
Next time! Pic by the Lodge.

Any of you checking out the Inst page of The Lodge will have noted tempting pics of Argentinian Braised Lamb Shoulder and Slow Cooked Beef Cheeks and so on. None of these are on the menu at the moment but watch this space. Plans are also afoot to expand the kitchen and enlarge the menu. And also watch out for a Wine Evening or two in the autumn/winter period.

Still lots of long summer days ahead, so do go for a walk on the beach before or after an informal and lovely meal at The Lodge.