Review
Farm Steakhouse is the newest edition for the Redmond family at Amber Springs resort in Gorey, located on the Wexford Road as you leave the town. It has always been one of our favourite family destinations in the Sunny South East; a real holiday resort with everything you can imagine out the back for all the family including outdoor bars and stage areas for live performances, a kids play area, crazy golf, go-carting and a pet farm. There is also the Amber Springs Express which brings you on a ride through the grounds and down to the village, which is home to more pets and animals then you can imagine
The food philosophy with Chris Farrell and the team has always been farm to fork, with honesty in the dishes, allowing the ingredients and cooking to speak for themselves, with the beef, salads and vegetables coming directly from the local Redmond family farm, the vision is that by the end of the year all the beef eaten in the hotel will be supplied directly from the farm. They are well on track to achieve this as currently a large portion of the hand reared beef, naturally grown pesticide free vegetables and salads are served in both hotels (their sister hotel being the Ashdown Park in the town)
Farm is located to the rear of reception as you enter the foyer, a small elegant room with green leather seating and dark wood tables, a real grown up space. It is an adult only restaurant, so when you’re looking for that space away from little ones, great food and even better wine you will love Farm
The menu is short and well prepared with emphasis on the beef, as one would expect. With a choice of six starters priced between €7 for the beef tea, otherwise known as a clear beef and vegetable consommé to €12 for the duck breast, other great choices are the carpaccio of Angus beef fillet, squash salad or courgette linguini.
Main courses were broken into Angus Beef and mains – the beef came in every shape and size from the 8/10oz fillet; a 10/12oz ribeye; 16oz roast prime rib and not for the faint hearted a 20oz T-bone ranging in price between €24 and €35. Served with a variation of sauces from Green peppercorn & Midleton whisky, Café de Paris butter, Shallot & red wine, Tarragon & truffle béarnaise or Wild mushroom and served with all the trimmings. Other main dishes include rump of Wicklow lamb, Glin Valley free range chicken or their ‘Fish of the Day’ plus a vegetarian option of caramelised artichoke & spinach risotto with nothing passing €24
The ethos at Farm Steakhouse is to select premium wines to complement our food and from their wine list you will see they have certainly achieved this. With a great choice of seven reds and the same of whites running from €27 for a Domaine Montrose chardonnay or Laroche cabernet sauvignon to €35 for the Chablis Domaine Laroche or €48 for the Huia pinot noir. We chose the Post House missing virgin from South Africa, a full bodied, rich wine with a hint of cinnamon and blueberries
Myself and Fred decided to share the seafood platter priced at €15 which was a good idea as the portion was over generous, a fine selection of chargrilled Dublin Bay prawns, mussels & clams, seared scallops & blackened monkfish served with ciabatta croute. Presentation was spectacular, almost too good to eat. But, we did and thoroughly enjoyed. Knowing we were going to be indulging on the mains sharing was the perfect choice. Fred had his eye on a 20oz T-bone with the pepper & whisky sauce and all the trimmings while I ordered the 10oz fillet with the shallot & red wine sauce, the tenderness and flavour of the beef was ‘melt in the mouth’ exceptional
When it came to dessert there were more great choices from boozy fruit to raspberries & cream or an after eight dark chocolate parfait and all good value at €7 or a local artisan cheese board with crackers & chutney for €9. I was quite satisfied and very happy to bring my wine into Brooks Bar to listen to the live music and carry the night on
There are so many other dining options at the resort including Kelby’s which is another fine dining option but for all the family, Brooks Bar for a more casual and all day dining option or Farina which is a lovely Italian located on the terrace to the rear of the resort with the best thin based pizza’s in the county
We have always liked Amber Springs a lot, and on many occasions have said it’s a destination not to be overlooked.
