Review
Food Heaven in Ennis County Clare does everything that the name suggests. The strap line on the name is Divine Food, Sinful Desserts, and in fairness it is hard to argue, but do try and make it past the Sinful display of cakes and desserts so you can eat something Divinely savoury.
Food Heaven in Ennis is busy,and has recently doubled in size. It is in that transition from day-time only to both day and evening menus. This can be a difficult one to pull off as customers are familiar with one food experience but owner Nóirín Furey is successfully making this shift and keeping customers very happy in the process.
Food Heaven does a bustling daytime trade in breakfasts, lunches and some of the best baked treats you will get your hands on. The menu makes the most of local produce with Burren Smoked Salmon and Mackerel and St.Tola Goats Cheese featuring. The dessert selection is broad and you can buy things like Lemon Meringue Pies and Cake Pops and take them home, along with sausage rolls, quiche, salads and a great range of those wonderful Suki teas.
The space is bright and fresh with clean lines and plenty of room with mirrors opening it up and lots of springtime hues and candy coloured chairs. The daytime food is spot on and specials change daily, and if you’re lucky enough to try the coconut and squash soup, it’s something special.
Evenings is quite another story and lovers of good food will be cheered to their core with invention and imagination that jumps off the plates. The starter of Crispy Duck with Asian Slaw and Lotus Root was described as the ‘best duck ever’ and was hoovered up by a picky teen. The Goats Cheese Curd with Beetroot Meringue and Macadamia Nuts and Pickled Vegetables was a rainbow on the plate with subtle flavours ping-ponging off each other with wild but fresh contrasts. Delicious and delightful. Home-cured Clare Island Salmon with Pickled Vegetables and Quails Eggs with Fennel and Lemon Gel is a simple assembly of perfect ingredients.
Main courses cater well for vegetarians with a Wild Mushroom Risotto with Truffle Popcorn and Vegetable Madras with Cauliflower Baji and Chapati. Meat lovers will love the Striploin with a perfectly extracted bone marrow sitting pretty on it’s white bone. It’s served with a crispy, creamy Beef Cheek Croquette, chips and Béarnaise or PInk Peppercorn sauce; flavours and texture is all here and the value is outrageously good.
Sides of a bowl of green veg, mange tout, courgettes and peas in butter matched everything. The special of Halibut with Clams, Crab Claws and Savoy Cabbage was rich and indulgent; sweet fish and perfectly cooked greens. The Shoulder of Burren Lamb, with minted Lamb Faggot, Rosti, and Smoked Parsnip Puree showcased the best of Co.Clare ingredients, the lamb falling apart, prettily served as a ballotine and seared for that lovely burnty outside. A divine plate.
Desserts for everybody from caramel squares for chocolate lovers or the Sour Apple Baked Cheesecake with an Apple Tuille for grow-ups, tangy and refreshing, sweet and sour. Just as dramatic looking and delicious is the Lemon Tart, a classic done just right.
Wines by the class, great servers in funky traditionally inspired bespoke uniforms; this is a breath of delicious fresh air. Modern and new and will be loved by people who really appreciate good food. Food Heaven really can lay claim to the name.
