Comments on: Mint didn’t leave me feeling refreshed

By: Conor O'Neill

Conor O'Neill — Sat, 16 May 2009 23:36:49 +0000

The road out to Ardmore is a total pain but I think we’ll have to take a run out to the Whitehorses.

Never been in city centre Frankfurt, only the burbs. Dusseldorf when it’s not freezing is ok. A summer spent just outside Stuttgart will never be forgotten but Nurnberg is still my favourite German city.

By: JD

JD — Sat, 16 May 2009 11:08:49 +0000

Deasys of An Ring (!) is a good spot. If you’re that close why not try the fishing village of Ardmore and the Whitehorses restaurant – stunning food and no pretensions but it does get busy from here on at weekends both for lunch and dinner. I as part of a family collective have been summer holidaying in Ardmore for 34years + a nice beach and walks. But Whitehorses is worth a try. Especially the desserts!
I agree with you on Mint and its’ lack-of-space comments. It made no sense in simple economic terms.
Just back from a week working in Frankfurt and had a mother of a meal in the Chicago Meatpackers resaturant one of the nights. It’s right near the main Hauptbanhof train station and is worth a try!

By: Conor O'Neill

Conor O'Neill — Sun, 10 May 2009 18:10:29 +0000

TBH, I was shocked it lasted that long. Commentary about needing a bigger space is a nonsense considering he couldn’t fill what he had even before the recession.

We were in Deasy’s of Ring last night. Not in the same league as Mint of course but packed to the rafters despite being in the middle of nowhere!

Quality and value for money will always sell no matter what the economic conditions. That applies as much to a pub as it does to a Michelin-starred restaurant.

By: JD

JD — Sun, 10 May 2009 18:01:40 +0000

Not surprised to read Mint is no more. Mr McGrath was a disgrace to his staff (as footage of the documentary last year showed).
The chicken tenders in McSorleys are stunning and happy!!

By: Conor O'Neill

Conor O'Neill — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:30:29 +0000

Genuinely glad you had a great meal. TBH, I’m surprised they are still open in this climate. They’ve been on my deathwatch list since we ate there. Looks like they fixed most of our criticisms.

By: Mudd

Mudd — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:58:59 +0000

Ate there last week (7 months later – it’s still going). Like you, my previous “best meal ever” was Petrus. Mint replaced it. the menu was startlingly similar to yours (we did the tasting with wines also). The lamb was very different and was superb. Each course surpassed the previous (except the last passion fruit dessert – but at this stage I was getting quietly blotto because our glasses were refilled constantly so that may be the reason!). Front of house was excellent, professional, courteous, engaging. So some things have changed! We were given the same line about being out by 9:15 even though the 9 o’clock sitting was by no means full. In the event, we were last to leave at 11:15 having arrived at 7:00 and we were very happy. Granted we could have flown to London etc. etc. but….still reliving the food a week later.

By: Conor O'Neill

Conor O'Neill — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:20:46 +0000

Hmm, never heard of em. Any good I wonder?

By: allstartrainer

allstartrainer — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:18:17 +0000

it looks like Ranelagh has it all now. “”"Ireland’s Best Pizza” Pizza World Championship 2008″” Have a look at http://www.worldpizzachampions.com/team/fran_c.php

By: Conor O'Neill

Conor O'Neill — Thu, 29 May 2008 20:16:23 +0000

Call me anal but I just priced 2 x return flights ORK-STN, double room in London House Hotel and tasting menu plus wine in Jason Atherton’s Michelin-starred Maze restaurant. As I expected, it cost less than the meal in Mint. QED.

By: Conor O'Neill

Conor O'Neill — Thu, 29 May 2008 08:21:35 +0000

@allstartrainer – Only sussed that Gourmet Burger was across the road from Bewleys hotel in Ballsbridge too. But still not in Cork

By: Conor O'Neill

Conor O'Neill — Thu, 29 May 2008 08:20:17 +0000

Ah HotLips McLatex, she was special.

Can anyone confirm whether Chew n Chat is still there or not?

By: Jimmy Jam Jars

Jimmy Jam Jars — Thu, 29 May 2008 08:08:50 +0000

Fab review me ould mate. Got a couple of fab places for you to check out in sunny Devon when you get a chance to visit.
“one of my college girlfriends…!!!”….oooh you stud. The others wouldn’t have been able to work there, as a spit of hot fat from the fryer would have punctured them!

By: Conor O'Neill

Conor O'Neill — Wed, 28 May 2008 07:18:16 +0000

You’re totally right about Conrad. We ate in Peacock Alley 3 times in its heyday in both of the locations. One meal didn’t work for us and two that were the best for many years. The front of house was impeccable. Guy who ran it in Fitzwilliam still sticks in my head as one of the best Maitre d’s ever. “Tragic” is such a great word to describe the location. More China Cottage, less The French Laundry.

By: Niall Harbison

Niall Harbison — Tue, 27 May 2008 20:21:00 +0000

Having worked with both Dylan and Conrad there is no comparison. Conrad was a larakin who took his eye off the ball and got caught up in his own hype but in his pomp had total control over not only the kitchen but also the dining room. As I have said before about Dylan you can’t just rule with a stick and no carrot as he does. People like Conrad, Marco and Gordon will let loose when they have to but in reality spend more time building the confidence of their staff and training them to meet the exacting standards they demand. I only go to ranelagh for a fry up on Saturday morning and sometimes to pick up a six pack in the above mentioned spar and am astounded at the logic of placing such a restaurant in such a tragic location. I tend to agree that the end is nigh with all those tell tale signs of extra charging in place and would imagine it would have closed it’s doors many months ago had it not been for the imaginative people who came up with the Michelin Star documentary.

By: Conor O'Neill

Conor O'Neill — Mon, 26 May 2008 22:13:12 +0000

One of my college girlfriends worked there. Probably 88-89. Is it definitely gone?

By: Bannerboy

Bannerboy — Mon, 26 May 2008 21:45:11 +0000

You could do a lot worse than Chew N Chat in it’s day!!!! I assume that it is long gone now though.

By: Conor O'Neill

Conor O'Neill — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:49:52 +0000

By: allstartrainer

allstartrainer — Mon, 26 May 2008 10:45:32 +0000

Gourmet Burger has recently opened up in ranelagh, maybe you should have gone there instead?!?!?!?!

By: famron

famron — Sun, 25 May 2008 20:19:36 +0000

Fantastic review Conor. Think I’ll just pop in for a couple of starters!

By: b b in dublin ireland

b b in dublin ireland — Sun, 25 May 2008 10:09:46 +0000

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