Well located just off City Square, the cheery brightly painted frontage of Harry O’Neill and Kamila Bystrzonowska's welcoming restaurant would be hard to miss.They opened Momo in 2014 and hit the ground running, thanks to a great combination of lively international menus, a commitment to local sourcing, good cooking and a relaxed informal vibe.
Although the interior is laid out over two rooms, the division is hardly noticeable thanks to a large arch - and a big world map draws the eye to the back wall, a useful point of reference for many a discussion, no doubt. It's a pleasing place to chill out, and the leather covered chairs are very comfortable...
Healthily delicious just about sums up the food at Momo, as everything is homemade (right down to the stocks), homegrown, or (wherever possible) locally sourced from small producers and the wide range of dishes offered includes loads of gorgeous salads, and fresh fish that's sourced daily from Dunmore East and other nearby fishing ports.
Special dietary needs are anticipated as part of the mainstream offering, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free dishes always available. For lunch, there are soups (always vegetarian and gluten free), wholesome sandwiches and toasties (with O'Neills excellent dry cured ham, perhaps) and salad plates, alongside old favourites like chicken burger and their famous meaty hash salad, served with Seagull Bakery breads from Tramore.
In the evening, when candlelight changes the mood, meat lovers flock here for the 16 hour slow cooked short ribs and there's always a good mix of other meat and poultry dish too, many of them available in two sizes, or as part of Momo's Sharing Platters which can be made up for tables of 2-10. Home cured Asian style beef and spicy shank of lamb are offered as starter or main course portions; or there's ale brined chicken for a more traditional taste.
A great value option is the Momo Sharing Special, which comprises a sharing platter for two along with two desserts and two glasses of wine for just €50.
Momo's children's menus - Little Momo - are another speciality (tasty enough to tempt mum and dad ...) and many of the dishes on the main menu are available in children's portions too. What's more, this admirably customer-focused restaurant not only has special evenings like Taco Tuesdays, but even a Grab and Go Special (available Tuesday to Friday).
All this, plus engaging service and a very reasonably priced wine list, craft beers from Metalman Brewing, Dungarvan Brewing, and many more. And they also stock delicious Fentimans sodas, as well as locally produced Aurelia cordials.
Momo has very quickly become one of Waterford's most popular restaurants - and deservedly so.
