Whether you're popping in for a freshly baked scone or a bite of lunch while exploring the wonderfully unspoilt Sheep's Head peninsula, or coming for a 'proper dinner', you'll be glad you found this surprising restaurant in the charming village of Kilcrohane.
What's unexpected about it in this away-from-it-all location is the modern style and polish of the former creamery building, and also the range and quality of the food that's been offered here each summer since 2014, when this imaginative project was first opened by the O’Donovan family.
Smartly set up with banquettes lining the walls, modern darkwood dining chairs with fretwork backs, interesting artwork and glass doors leading out onto a riverside seating area, it's an attractive room and equally well suited to its daytime use as a casual café and more formal service for dinner in the evening.
Eleanor O’Donovan, formerly head chef at the lovely Seaview House Hotel at Ballylickey (always known for its good food), is the chef and her sister-in-law, Mary Ann O'Donovan, the restaurant manager. Between them, the two women run a very pleasant and customer-focused operation.
As far possible all meat, fish, vegetables and cheeses are locally sourced and, while the drinks list includes well priced wines (from around €22), local beers and cider are also offered.
While every dish from lunchtime salads to evening main courses is given equal care, baking and desserts are a particular strength. Everything is made daily in-house and special diets are enthusiastically catered for, with gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options available.
Local diners quite rightly consider themselves very lucky to have a restaurant like this in such a small village, and there is more - a corridor links the restaurant to the interesting Sheep’s Head Producers’ Market and Shop, next door.
Just the place for a browsw before leaving - and you can even hire a bike here if you wish.
