Taste Matters opened in October 2011 and has since built up a large following of locals, and also visitors to this charming lakeside town.
Housed in a large commercial building on the edge of town this is a no-frills operation with plain wooden tables and chairs and bare timber floors, yet it has a certain style and a quality feel to it and the cream walls feature interesting paintings by local artists.
The stated aim of serving ‘honest, fresh tasty food in a friendly casual environment’ is refreshing and, under the direction of Slovakian chef Michal and his front of house partner Jirka from the Czech Republic, they combine to make this a cheerful and hospitable restaurant with friendly, welcoming staff, good food and a small but excellent wine list.
They describe their food as ‘mostly a European fusion, with influences mainly from Irish, French and Italian cuisine” and, among the starters, there may be a very well made chowder (recommended), also a ham hock terrine, confit of duck, avocado and prawn salad and spiced monkfish.
As the menu changes regularly, according to what is available locally in season, main courses might range from grilled organic salmon to meats like beef fillet medallions and roast loin of lamb or pork fillet with a grape stuffing, apple and chilli sauce.
Good poultry dishes may include a very tasty grilled breast of duck with parsnip purée and a red wine and plum reduction, while a perfectly cooked pan-fried ray wing with ratatouille is a typically delicious nightly special.
Desserts include a good crème brulée served, perhaps, with a banana cream and a zesty lemon tart.
The compact wine list contains just 17 wines and is well chosen with 10 wines at €25 or under. Most are served by the glass and half carafe and a novel idea is the " Wine Flight ": three 100 ml glasses of white wine, one each from France, Italy and Spain and reasonably priced at €12.
