Review
The newly opened Market Street Restaurant is already causing quite a stir in Tramore. Owner and chef Michael Mee - formerly of Kilkieran Cottage in Carrick-On-Suir - is well known in the south east over many years for his unique style, focusing mainly on seafood, but the Comeragh lamb is excellent and if the Woodlands salad of lambs liver and kidney is on, then it’s really offal-ly good!
The restaurant is in the centre of the town to the rear of the Grand Hotel. Set in a row of mid-terraces it is set over 3 levels. The ground floor is bright and airy, with open staircases being the main feature, creating a real sense of space in a rather small setting. A large bay window to the front overlooks the street, natural timber floors and coloured spot lights set the scene with seating on a couple of sub levels.
There are two menus to choose from, an early bird which is available Wednesday & Thursday till 7.30; Friday & Sunday till 7 and Saturday till 6.30pm. Two courses for €20 and three for €24 offer good value as all dishes are picked from the a la carte.
On the a la carte you can choose starters from a selection of nine ranging anywhere from €5.00 for a soup of the day - potato & rosemary on the evening we visited - to €12 for the pan fried crab claws, with other dishes including pan seared tuna, deep fried goujons of Dunmore plaice or a roast mushroom & blue bell’s goats cheese gateaux to mention a few.
The main courses were priced from €18 for the wild mushroom & saffron risotto to €28 for either the sirloin or the fillet. There was a great selection of fish from poached halibut with a mushroom stuffing, roast Dunmore monkfish wrapped in Parma ham or baked salmon with prawn stuffing.
I loved Dublin Bay prawns, perfectly cooked and hubbie enjoyed very good seafood chowder. For mains I went for the seared Dunmore king’s scallops in a basil pesto cream and this time Fred had the roast 4 rib of lamb. The locally sourced scallops were perfect and the pesto cream not too overpowering. The sauce got mopped up with the mild chilli bread. Fred’s rack was served perfectly pink, and we enjoyed both of these complementary dishes. All the mains came with a selection of vegetables, not overdone, just the way I like them and the potatoes of the day, dauphinose, were garlicky, soft and creamy, just the way they should be.
The wine list comprised of a selection of nine whites and six reds, the house selection is priced at €17.50 and you can go up to €45 for a Chateauneuf du Pape, which is good value for this classic. There is a Prosecco reasonably priced at €21 and a handful of ½ bottles, a Faustino VII for €12 and also a Pinot Grigio or a Chianti for €13.50
The desserts are all homemade and priced at €5.50. With choices such as strawberry and mascarpone gateaux, chocolate & orange terrine or a rhubarb fool it was hard to make a choice, however we decided to share a fresh fruit Pavlova and a coffee,
The atmosphere is Market Street was buzzing and for early on a Wednesday evening I was surprised how busy it was, with all tables gone by 7pm, so I would suggest booking ahead so as not to be disappointed. Great evening, great food and the staff couldn’t have been more helpful, it’s one to try.
