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Cava Spanish Restaurant and Tapas bar, Galway 
Spanish food has been underserved with most of the fusion offerings that have sprung up until now. Cava takes a great culinary tradition, treats it with respect and delivers Spanish food as it should be.
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The Step House Hotel, Borris, Co. Carlow. 
The Step House Hotel is a family run business that has expanded to become a very stylish boutique hotel, situated in the very pretty heritage village of Borris, in Co. Carlow. The Step House has delightful views over the Blackstairs Mountains and in their Cellar Restaurant, a brilliant young chef called Alan Foley.
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Il Vicoletto, Italian Restaurant, Temple Bar. 
This is one of the best Italian restaurants in the country, never mind Dublin. Authentic dishes, a lovely room and good service make this well worth a visit.
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La Picolla Italia, Italian Restaurant, Carlow 
Good Italian restaurants are like hens teeth in Ireland and La Piccola Italia had all the indications of being one of them. After an unfortunate rocky period, there is new management and Nicola Orefice (ex of Via Veneto) is in situ, and everything is good with this restaurant again. Good ingredients and careful and faithful preparation. The signs are good - you won’t find cream in the carbonara or garlic butter, but authentic food and a good wine list should …
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Asian Palace, Thai and Chinese Restaurant, Carlow. 
A little over a year ago, both myself and Paolo ate in a small Chinese restaurant in Bunclody called Peony Court. Outside of a handful of restaurants, including Eatzen and China Sichuan, the food was fabulous. Now part owner Catherine has opened a bigger restaurant in Carlow Town called the Asian Palace, where the food is equally as good.
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Et Voila French Bistro, New Ross, Wexford. 
The sunny south east seems to be turning very continental in the last few years. Wexford and Wicklow are home to some of the best French and Italian restaurants in the country. Et Voila French Bistro is one of the ones to visit for anyone planning a French odyssey in this part of the country.
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The Counter, Custom Burgers, Dundrum Town Centre. 
The Counter in Dundrum Town Cenyre’s Pembroke Quarter has a novel twist on the gourmet burger scene. Paolo ventured there during the big freeze of 2010.
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Le Bon Crubeen, Talbot Street, D1. 
A fine menu, very good food and excellent value for money prices in Le Bon Crubeen more than soften the hassle of Christmas shopping for Paolo. The north city-centre isn't awash with restaurants, so Le Bon Crubeen is a very welcome addition. Long may it prosper.
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Bar 8, Dock Road, Galway 
Bar 8 is situated on the waters edge with a big picture window affording great views of the Galway docks. Bar 8 has a stylish, funky feel, while being un-pretentious. Chef Jess Murphy has followed her dream halfway around the world. Originally from New Zealand, she has worked in London, and spent two years with Kevin Thornton during the days when the restaurant had two Michelin stars – this lady can cook.
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The Boardwalk Bar and Grill, Lapps Quay, Cork 
The Boardwalk is a large premises, and like it’s name suggest it is half bar and half restaurant. There is a really long bar that snakes around towards the back while the décor is modern contemporary with lots of dark wood and leather seats. Tables are well spaced and glass wear and linens are very high quality. This is an un-ashamed American style steakhouse, jumbo shrimp cocktails and steaks meet cocktails and pints.
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Reviews | |
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Dillingers, Ranelagh, D6. Now, did you wonder what happened to Mint after it closed amid the melt-down earlier this year? Well, wonder no more: it's reopened as Dillinger's, and Temple Garner -- who was executive chef for Town, South and The Bridge Bar -- is cheffing and John Farrell from Il Primo is doing front of house. | |
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2009, A year of Dining. Looking back over 2009, it's impossible not to recognise that it was a very hard year for the restaurant business. Turnover was down, costs went up and margins were cut to the bone. Yet, despite this, restaurants are still trading, people still have their jobs and there are still customers looking for good food. | |
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Bistro Sola, Naas, Co. Kildare. This week I visited a restaurant in Naas and it was only as I sat at the table I realised that I'd been there before, not once, but twice. I'd gone to have dinner in Bistro Sola in Naas with fashion designer Lainey Keogh, | |
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Special Offers
 Rugged Donegal and the lovely lake outside your window can provide the backdrop this Valentines day. Harveys Point have a number of Valentines packages to keep the love fires burning....
Enjoy a main course FREE at Brasserie Sixty6, when you both order a starter and main course. Available every night, except Saturday. And if you haven't tried their roast suckling pig, you are SERIOUSLY missing out!
Seagrass have brought back their brilliant tapas, only a fiver each, or 4 for €15. Every tuesday is byo wine evening. Phone 01-4789595.
One of the country's top young chefs is back, this time with Greg Murphy in Wexford's Taste Restaurant. Gotta be good.
This is one of the best deals we have come across, not least because the items on the menu are not what you expect on a cut price menu - duck, rack of lamb and good fish dishes all appear. Telephone +353 (0) 41 9835410 or e mail info@scholarshotel.com.
Have You Tried?
The Step House Hotel is a family run business that has expanded to become a very stylish boutique hotel, situated in the very pretty heritage village of Borris, in Co. … 
The sunny south east seems to be turning very continental in the last few years. Wexford and Wicklow are home to some of the best French and Italian restaurants in …
The Boardwalk is a large premises, and like it’s name suggest it is half bar and half restaurant. There is a really long bar that snakes around towards the back … |