Review
The Windmill steak and seafood restaurant is in the coastal town of Skerries, twenty minutes from Dublin airport. On a sunny summers day I headed out with advertising Madman - and erstwhile Skerries summer resident - Peter Mansfield for a nosh and a natter.
Skerries hasn't changed much, and that's a good thing. It retains its charm, with small narrow streets off the main wide thoroughfares, imposing commercial buildings beside small homes, and a pretty and busy harbour area with plenty of pubs and walks to work off some of the food.
During the summer is a perfect time to visit, and the town was very busy on a summers evening. The Windmill is on New Street, which is just off the Main Street, and is at the back of the Snug bar. Caroline Lacey & Paul Doherty are the Chef and proprietors of the Windmill Seafood & Steakhouse, located where the original famous Windmill restaurant used to be, in New Street, Skerries.
The room is very pleasing with exposed stone work, brown leather banquette seating, and a large dining table in the centre of the room, which caters for some of the large family parties who come here for lunch and dinner. It's cosy without being too cluttered and the atmosphere is busy and buzzy.
We were actually lucky to get a table without a reservation at 7pm, and settled in to make our choices. The menu is a study in steak and seafood, and starters range from dainty crab ravioli to hearty baby back ribs with sticky sauce, while main courses offer the option is a choice of steaks, some fish and seafood, or a vegetarian choice.
We both loved our very different starters; Peter had the home made ravioli stuffed with crab, and served with a velvety lobster bisque, while my hearty and heavier rack of baby ribs were unctuously delicious, and a great comfort dish.
Main courses were reversed, with Peter enjoying a rib eye steak with the addition of Dublin Bay prawns giving him the surf element. It was served on a wooden board, with opinions and mushroom, and a side of home cut chips which he enthusiastically worked his way through.
I had a lighter option. A seafood platter made up of scallops, prawns and fish, scattered about the plate with crushed potatoes and greens; it was light and delicious, and wouldn't have seemed out of place in a fine dining restaurant.
We were ruined for dessert, but finished with two good coffees and a stroll through the town and around the harbour.
The Windmill serves very good food, with charming staff to pull it off. A great place to eat in a lovely seaside town.
