The Fallons have been involved in the hospitality business in Kildare since 1922 and, when their much loved Newbridge hotel, The Red House Inn, was destroyed by fire some years ago, Brian Fallon (of Fallon & Byrne in Dublin, see entry) brought the whole team to this well known premises in the attractive village of Kilcullen.
Following major renovations throughout, the building emerged with a beguiling interior - a stylish blend of old and new that will be familiar to anyone who remembers The Red House - and a very relaxing atmosphere.
The smartly understated olive green exterior is highlighted by simple gold signage, a promising sign for first-time visitors, who will also warm to the welcoming fire on chilly days and a prompt greeting from pleasant staff, who guide you to the atmospheric restaurant or to one of several eating areas in the buzzy bar - which is smartly and comfortably set up for dining, with wooden-topped tables and a mixture of upholstered banquettes and painted chairs.
Menus read really temptingly - and not only because the dishes themselves sound so delicious although they certainly do – but also because of the quality of their ingredients. Who could resist dinner menu starters of crispy Grangebeg organic eggs with pea veloute and seared ham hock or Glin Valley chicken wings with hot sauce, garlic and herb mayo? Mains offer seafood linguini with crab and prawn and famed local butcher James Nolan supplies the mince for the 10 oz prime Irish burger with smoked applewood cheddar, warm Waterford blaa, and tomato chutney.
Lunch offers some light bites – rustic sourdough with Kassler bacon, white cheddar, sundried tomato and mayo, for example, or warm goat’s cheese ciabatta with red onion marmalade and rocket. Alternatively, Fallons special chunky seafood chowder has a following, and many would vouch for the seafood pie with leek, parmesan and herb crumb.
If desserts are top of your list, then you're in the right place, although it may be difficult to choose between Fallons taste of lemon cheesecake deconstructed, the rich chocolate brownie with strawberry & mint compote with vanilla bean ice cream or the rhubarb and mascarpone sponge with cinnamon tuille
Everything about Fallons is good – the cooking, the generous portions (as befits this sporting area), the staff and the value for the quality offered. It’s no wonder their happy customers keep coming back for more.
