Out To Dinner: The Stonehouse Delivers A Birthday Treat

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The Stonehouse Restaurant

The Square

Stonehouse 2

The Stonehouse Restaurant.

THE column changes from ‘Out To Lunch’ to ‘Dinner’ for the second time in as many weeks (I know, I know, the decadent life of a journalist) as there was a birthday in our little family and we decided to head down town for an early bird to a place I’ve never reviewed before.

I’ve eaten in The Stonehouse on a few occasions and always found it good. As it was about 6.30pm on a Thursday in April, I expected it to be quiet and lacking in atmosphere.

Wrong.

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I didn’t bank on it being Confirmation Day so there were two well-dressed groups of about 1o  in for a meal, as well as about three other couples when we arrived.

The decor is really inviting, with red being the a primary colour, elegantly set tables, tastefully decorated furnishings and wall pictures and atmospheric lighting. The music was a mix of Portishead-style trip-hop and Gyspy Kings-esque latin sounds, which was perfect.

The early bird menu is priced at €18.95 for two courses and €23.95 for three. The choice is good with chowder, warm chicken salad, bruschetta, deep fried brie and deep fried calamari and prawns in the starters and sirloin steak, stuffed pork fillet, grilled salmon and seabags duo, chicken roulade, monkfish gougons and fettucini carbonara for the mains.

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The desserts were chocolate fondant, sticky toffee pudding, crepe with ice-cream and chocolate sauce and apple and berries crumble.

I went for the brie and steak, the birthday girl opted for bruschetta and pork while chicken gougons and chips from the kids menu got the small one excited.

My wife raved about the bruschetta. saying the tomatoes were delicious, my brie was superb with a perfect sauce to accompany it and the five year old remarked on the delicate texture and seasoning of the gougons and said the chips were exquisitely cooked – actually, now that I think of it, she just replied “yeah” when I asked her if it was nice.

I also availed of the complimentary bread and olive tapenade which was seriously good. In the meantime, the more diners were arriving and there was a buzz about the place.

My wife’s mains was even better than her starter. She said the stuffing was especially good (she only likes her mother and mother-in-law’s stuffing), while the pork was tasty and tender. My steak came with lovely homemade chips, roast potatoes, mange tout, mushrooms and a gorgeous pepper sauce.

The meat itself was plentiful, cooked to order (medium rare), very tasty, but it was a bit sinewy in places which I sometimes find with sirloin when it’s cooked the way I like it.

Both adults were left stuffed after the two courses and couldn’t manage a dessert. The child could though and went for chocolate ice-cream with choc sticks, making for a happy little girl, who was made feel welcome by staff while we were there.

The bill came to €66 for two two-course early birds (there was a €5 supplement for the steak), three glasses of wine, and two courses for the child.

For the quality of food, atmosphere and value, it was well worth it.

4/5

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