JACQUES Restaurant,
Phoenix Street,
Cork City,
Co Cork,
Ireland
My birthday meal out this year was to Jacques in Cork City. I’ve heard lots of complimentary things about it over the years and both my sister and parents have had great meals there.It’s a little awkward to find being on a side-street of a side-street and it turned out to be much smaller than I expected and jammed full.
The room isn’t great. Very bright with spotlights on the ceiling and old pictures of the city on the walls. We both thought it lacked character and didn’t feel the place for a romantic quiet meal for two.
I loved the look of the menu and had a hard time deciding what to get. For starters I had lambs tongue which was quite tasty but nothing to go crazy about.
Catherine plumped for Asparagus and Gubbeen Salami which looked great and she really enjoyed.
Wine for the night was a decent 2005 Pouilly Fumee.
Mains were the big let down of the night. Catherine did better with some hake on greens. Nothing wrong with it, just utterly forgettable.
Mine was a bit of a disaster. I went with scallops on cauliflour puree. The scallops were ok if a bit insipid (frozen perhaps?) and the puree was good. But they burnt the potatoes in the stack and it ruined the plate. I know mistakes happen but when you burn something, you know you’ve burnt it, yet they still put it on a plate and served it to me.
I should have given it back and complained but I couldn’t be bothered. At that point we were both just disappointed with the whole experience.
Catherine wasn’t grabbed by any of the deserts and I went with dates on orange. Not too bad but a bit middle-of-the-road.
In fact I think that phrase defines the whole meal. Nothing massively wrong, just nothing to blow your socks off.
However, value was excellent, coming in cheaper than most meals we’ve eaten out in the past year.
Maybe we just got them on a bad night since I’ve only heard positive things about them but to be honest I doubt we’ll be back.
July 9, 2007 at 11:50 am
But is it good value if you don’t really enjoy the meal?
July 9, 2007 at 12:11 pm
No, that’s a fair point. I guess we just felt less ripped off than if it had cost a ton of money.
The sad thing is that shortly afterwards we enjoyed a bog standard steak and chips in a local pub a lot more. It’s a case of doing what you do well, whatever it is that you do.
July 10, 2007 at 12:18 pm
That’s true – sometimes it’s all about expectations. If you want and are looking forward to a standard steak and that’s what you get – and are charged for exactly that – then it’s all good. If, however, you are looking forward to a meal in somewhere that has been recommended to you and it doesn’t live up to what you are hoping for, I guess it’s the best of a bad deal that you don’t feel ripped off as well!
March 30, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I’ve eaten in Jacques MANY times,and have not been disappointed yet!Where else would one eat in cork????
March 30, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Have you tried anywhere else? Jacobs? Gourmandises? Paradiso? Boqueria?
March 30, 2008 at 11:42 pm
yes i have,but the food in jacques is always superb!
April 28, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Go to the Ivory Towers, quirky place but the food & service is 2nd to none! The menu changes frequently but if you see the Ox tongue starter go for it, a taste sensation
April 28, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Only been the once to Ivory Tower. “Interesting” food and the service was all over the place but I have a soft spot for it. Must head back and try the ox tongue!
April 28, 2008 at 9:17 pm
I like the informal service, it adds to the nature of the place! The menu throws so much at you that its almost an adventure. We eat out a lot & I’m a chef but I am so sick of paying over the top prices for very poor service & boring food, perhaps it’s because I’ve spent so long in the industry
June 26, 2008 at 10:44 pm
I think this is a little critising as you have had one off meal and you decide to write a nasty review,maybe you should eat their more than once and then write a review!
June 27, 2008 at 7:41 am
Yeah, I should spend another €100+ of my money just in case they get it right the second time.
Do any of the reviewers you read in magazines or newspapers eat multiple times in a place before they write their reviews?
June 27, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Jacques is a nice restraunt with friendly staff,superb food and a good selsction of wines!
To be honuest Conor the photographs show nothing but nice food,your review would not make not want to go back their on a regular occasion because what you have said in my opinion is rubbish!!!
June 27, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Well that’s the great thing about a democracy Mary. You’re entitled to your opinion and so am I.
June 28, 2008 at 2:51 pm
That’s great CONOR!
June 30, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I wonder if Mary works or is related to someone in Jacques??? Bit too defensive! The review isn’t that bad & to be honest I’ve spoken to two couples who ate there recently who were less than impressed, especially with the price.
June 30, 2008 at 5:33 pm
no im just a customer for years and know the restaurant well!!
August 23, 2008 at 7:36 am
hi connor,
have just come across your blog about jacques restaurant. i ‘m truely stunned to read such a bad report about the place! as an ex-employee of jacques i know how hard everyone works to try and make it an experience to dine there! its all about the food and supporting local producers! hence the menu that you had ,seemed to suggest an experience in itself! jacques is the kind of establisment that will try to push the boat a little, and i suppose thats why it consistentely still wins awards. as of the feel of the restaurant itself, olde pictures of the city you live in! why would you not be interested in old pictures of the place you come from? as of the wine list, maybe you do know much about wine but jacques has been consistently recongnised for its winelist
August 30, 2008 at 6:46 pm
It just didn’t work for me Gillian. Perhaps more suited to the older crowd that was there? And the burnt spuds were unforgivable.