Review
The Majestic Hotel has been a landmark overlooking Tramore Bay for as long as I can remember. It has been under the watchful eyes of proprietors Annette and Danny Devine, and the excellent management of Mark Whelan and his team for the past 25 years. With many upgrades and additions over the years it is the only AA*** hotel in Tramore.
The Majestic is an impressive building over 3 levels; and both the Garden Room Restaurant and the Majestic Lounge get the full aspect of breathtaking views of Tramore Bay, a 5km stretch of golden beach, sand dunes and Brownstown Head
The Garden Room Restaurant is an elegant room, open and bright with panoramic windows stretching the length of the room, divided with mirrored pillars which lead into the function room that is used for weddings or as an overflow for the restaurant when large groups are visiting. A large candelabra style light hangs in the centre of the room, there are pale green walls and formally set tables with crisp, white linen cloths set the tone., while high-backed chairs allow you to sit back, relax and enjoy the view in some comfort.
The Table d’Hote menu offers good value with 3 courses for €25 or 2 courses for €20, both including tea/coffee. Starters offered good old-time favourites such as chilled melon, chicken liver pate, Dublin Bay prawn cocktail, smoked salmon or Caesar salad while the mains included a 6oz steak, rib of beef, salmon, escalope of pork, shank of Slaney lamb, fillet of hake or farmhouse chicken. What really impressed me with this menu was the amount of choice, and the lack of any supplements; supplements on set menus annoy me no end. There were also two specials of the day; a Champagne sorbet to start or medley of seafood as a main option.
The wine list was precise with a selection of 11 reds and 10 whites starting at €18 for a Paulita cabernet sauvignon or sauvignon blanc and rising to €31 for a petit Chablis, but most hovered in the early to mid twenties range. We chose a Willowglen Semillon Chardonnay, at €20.95, a Aussie staple that lights and lemony, and quite refreshing and summery.
I started with the chicken liver pate, it was really smooth and served with melba toast and a sweet tomato relish and I followed with the fillet of hake with a fresh herb crust and served with parsley sauce. The fish was light, perfectly cooked and the sauce wasn’t too heavy. The gentleman went for the soup of the day, which was homemade vegetable served with homemade nut loaf and as a main opted for the steak which was surprisingly more generous than a 6oz and came with sautéed onions, mushroom and a pepper sauce. The steak was good, and the trimmings made this a very substantial meal, which got me thinking about their lack of supplements again; The Garden Room really does offer great value.
We were defeated at this stage, and even the special dessert tummy gave up. I treated myself to a Baileys coffee and we brought the remainder of the wine to the terrace outside of the main bar. On such a beautiful evening it would have been a sin not to partake of the views, and so that is exactly what we did.
**Other dining options at the Majestic is the main bar, which serves food all day including sandwiches, light bites or full meals and offering equally exceptional value for money, it is a suggestion for a less formal meal. They are famous for their Sunday lunch - not carvery I must add – and you can have a main for €10, 2 courses for €15 or 3 courses for €20. Keep it in mind when down the south east of the country.
