One of the most popular Kinsale restaurants, Tom Kay's evening venue,The Supper Club opened on Cork Street in 2016 and then moved around the corner to Main Street a couple of years later.
You should be able to look forward to good food and good company in equal measure here since, as they say themselves, "The Supper Club is a casual place to meet, eat, drink and laugh".
And indeed the social aspect is no idle aim as tourists will soon find out when chatting to Tom, who enjoys nothing better than briefing them well or a day trip to West Cork or wherever they're headed.
On the food side, it's down to chef Sean Williams who is using good local produce, including plenty of fish and shellfish, in eclectic menus. With sources named - meat by O’Connell’s, Jimbo’s Fish, shellfish from Berehaven and lobsters via Eamonn O’Neill etc - you can work out more or less where you are from your plate.
You’ll spot oyster options (hot and cold), from nearby Oysterhaven, the minute you open the menu, but be sure to check the Specials board too as you'll find not only tasty dishes such as pan-fried fillets of sole, with chorizo, bean and tomato sauce and fondant potato but, unusually, special drinks - such as an Apricot Sour (with Apricot Brandy and more), perhaps.
Quite a few dishes are offered as starter or main sized portions - Chicken Wings with Chilli Rub, Blue Cheese Tzatziki, for example, or Aubergine Cassoulet (recommended!) and, at the luxury end, half or whole Lobsters. Monkfish Tempura (Rice Wine Pickled Slaw, Oriental Dipping Sauce) and Hake (with spiced lentils) are typical of the fish options, as well as the fish specials of course, while meat-eaters will find plenty of popular options like steaks or a tasty dish of Braised Beef Short Ribs with Sesame Crusted Sweet Potato, Pak Choi, Star Anise Jus.
Fans of dessert might enjoy finishing off with something a bit unusual such as Passionfruit and Lime Tart with a creme brûlée topping - accompanied, perhaps, with one of their dessert wines.
With excellent unrushed service and time for a chat, this is a place where they really make you feel at home - a social venue, indeed.
