The Poacher’s Inn is the nearest eatery/pub to our house. In a previous incarnation as Ted Amber’s it was an ok pub and a pretty poor restaurant that was barely above the level of a carvery.
The place was bought maybe 18 months ago (or even longer?) and reports have been steadily good. I had a pub lunch there recently and was very impressed so we decided to try the full restaurant last night.
It started badly with no record of the booking we had made a few hours previously but they slotted us in and we were first to dine at 7pm. Service was genuinely friendly throughout with none of the fake bonhomie you often get. The place itself is above the pub with sloping roof, an intimate feel and tables not too close together.
I liked the look of the menu immediately since they were unafraid to have seafood up-front and center. A small set of starters and mains always impresses me more than the kitchen sink approach where you know the freezer and microwave are the main cooking tools.
We were both interested in similar dishes so we made sure to get different things. Missus went with a “Tapas” starter and I went for “Thai” fish cake. I put both in quotes because I’m not sure how accurate either description is. But that doesn’t really matter since both were gorgeous.
The Tapas was a wonderful selection of mussels, shell-on langoustine, salmon, goats cheese, hummus and olives. The fishcake was a big ball of crab and prawn, jam packed with flavour and with a plum sauce (more like diced plum than sauce but beautiful nonetheless).
For main I had scallops and cauliflower puree which was cooked to a tee and very tasty. D’Wife had seabass on a bed of risotto which she adored. In all cases the fish appeared to be ultra fresh and so much better for it. The side veg was a bit of overkill even tho I enjoyed one I couldn’t identify (Fennel? Celeriac?). The big chunky chips were very tasty but we didn’t need them to be honest.
Both of us were too full for desserts which did look lovely. I’d like to have seen a couple of lighter ones on the menu tho. We went with double espressos instead which were fab.
It wasn’t that cheap, coming in at €103 including €27 wine but we thoroughly enjoyed the meal, the music and the feel of the place. As I said in the summary, it is such a joy to have somewhere this good within walking distance of the house. The reputation is clearly spreading too since I have a lunch invite there for next week where the person said “the chowder is gorgeous”.
A big hurrah, Bandon is finally becoming somewhere that foodies can visit. Take that, Clon!
January 20, 2008 at 12:45 pm
i love the the poachers inn! i, too, am delighted to have an all-round fantastic restaurant here in bandon. have been there three times for dinner, and have always had a really nice evening with good service and beautiful food – from starters to main meal (the seafood pie is my fav) to desert (we usually share one). the pub grub downstairs is a real favourite for lunch with my colleagues here at work – a small but tasty menu. it’s not carvery food, it’s more like the kind you’d get upstairs at the restaurant. two thumbs up all around.
January 20, 2008 at 9:09 pm
We ate there on Fri night and I have to say it was brill. A very friendly owner was patient with my other half (who is on a strict diet – no wheat, dairy, etc) and he kindly substituted ingredients. Very professionally done. I had the steak (fish ain’t my strongest eating point) and I have to say it was on the ball. Veg was excellent and the pepper sauce wasn’t out of a packet. And a very important thing, the homemade fries were exquisite – a meal in themselves. Wine was Chilean Cab Sav and I had most of that myself. (On a sober note the great waitress told me that she would keep the cork from the bottle for me in case I didn’t finish the wine and & wanted to take it home . A pleasant service)
All in all the food was great, service was great and a good experience. Total bill with wine cam to approx EUR97 which was great value in my reckoning.
January 20, 2008 at 9:17 pm
We were probably there at the same time! We left a bit before 9.
August 25, 2009 at 10:12 pm
My wife and I have been eating there just after it opened, and we feel it is the best sea food restaurants in the area.The parking is very easy (no charge!) and a big plus, it is very wheelchair friendly,very important for me.
August 30, 2009 at 8:59 am
You are obviously a better parker than me Trevor
I find it really tight and in fact someone blocked half of it off recently by parking badly. But it’s the best they can do with the space they have I guess and there is plenty of on-street parking at the back unlike Kinsale.
My only criticisms of our last visit was that there were no daily specials and they seem to focus on white fish. Having said that, I think that they are just responding to demand. Would love to see some moules on the menu at some stage.
Poacher’s proves that the old whinge about Bandon being too close to Cork and Kinsale to have a decent restaurant was just a pathetic excuse by those who didn’t know how to create a great one. Long may they have success.
June 5, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Has a fantastic meal in the Poachers Inn Bandon last night. We has bar food not the actual restaurant but it was great. I has crab and prawn cake for starters and Crab claws for mains. My O/H had goats cheeze and a mixd safood diah. The flavours were amazing and so fresh and great value. Will be going back.
June 6, 2011 at 10:23 am
Hi Anne, I’m totally with you on that. We always try and eat in the bar for preference, much nicer buzz down there and the food is still superb. They continue to serve up great food. A real success story.