Wanderlust or lost? Fingers crossed that you find yourself in the vicinity of one of these local gems …
Little Acorn Café, Baltinglass, Wicklow
Anyone who has ever eaten Maggie Roche’s creations will know that this is one talented chef. Whether visiting for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner, it’s unlikely you will be disappointed with any of the dishes she dreams up. Chef specials include heart-warming dishes like tempura chilli stuffed with beef mince and diced potatoes with sour cream, pico de gallo and red pepper sauce. Not to mention the small plate of confit duck leg croquettes with pickles and spiced chutney. This is the kind of food you would come back for over and over again. @littleacorncafe
O’Dowd’s Seafood Bar, Connemara, Galway
Perhaps a little less under-the-radar yet no less special, overlooking the picturesque harbour in lovely Roundstone, O’Dowd’s is a traditional pub with an unassuming exterior that you could easily pass without giving it a backward glance – but we’d advise that you make a point of stopping. Especially if an old school Irish bar with a menu to match tickles your fancy. The menu provenance is excellent with locally sourced meat and fish, and fruit, vegetables and herbs from the family’s kitchen garden. Expect retro dishes with an old-school vibe, but the chowder is excellent, the oysters and crab are fresh, and the mussels plump, plus there are some good local beers and ciders on the menu, along with a wine list. The pan-fried fish of the day is usually a great choice. @odowdsseafood
Arundel’s by the Pier, Ahakista, Cork
If you happen to make it as far as the Sheep’s Head Peninsula, Arundel’s is the perfect pitstop for lunch. A summery plate of Castletownbere crab lightly dressed with mayonnaise, citrus, chili and coriander and served on brown bread is the epitome of Irish summer food – nabbing a bench out front will make it taste all the sweeter. The mussels with ‘nduja and the fish sandwich are also good choices, and a scoop of ice cream is a simple yet effective way to round off a summery lunch. @arundelsbythepier
Camus Farm Field Kitchen, Cork
A farm to table restaurant serving organic, home-grown produce, a visit to Camus Farm is worth the Google Maps frustration. A banquet of seasonal produce on a farm in West Cork, dinner at Camus Farm Field Kitchen is a casual affair with picnic benches aplenty to enjoy the dishes on offer. The summer feasts menu features dishes such as braised artichokes with asparagus, broad bean and peas with homemade cavatelli, wild garlic and almond pesto that showcase the very best of local produce. @camusfarmfieldkitchen
Courtesy of The Irish Times.
Island Cottage, Heir Island, Skibbereen, Co Cork
A rustic cookery school and restaurant, John Desmond and Ellmary Fenton have been running Island Cottage since 1989. And while boating to lunch feels more Corfu than Cork, there’s something so romantic about taking a boat to a remote island for lunch. The coastal West Cork location only adds to the drama. An adults only, no choice menu, set lunch costs just €25 (plus optional wine and ferry fare from Cunnamore Pier), meaning a trip to Heir Island is certainly on my summer bucket list. Lunch is served from mid-June to mid-September. @westcork.ie