The weekend was relatively quiet as my parents were visiting and ‘helping’ me move. Unsurprisingly they loved my new area and dad even toyed with the idea of moving somewhere similar. Confirming my worst thoughts about the Cocoon atmosphere of the estate. On Saturday we decided to do some family dining. As the new “South Bar and Restaurant�? in Sandyford has got such an obscene amount of publicity we decided to check it out. After some wrangling for a table I managed to secure one and even got them to pick us up in the chauffeur car. Mum was ecstatic to have a man in uniform drive us to the restaurant and I could hear the wheels turn as to how she could drop this into conversation when next at the golf club.
We decided to pop to the bar first which is downstairs and has a VERY LOUD jazz band. We all ended up sitting in a line at the bar, which wasn’t great for conversation. Also the bar is on the thoroughfare to the loo’s. Not really the ambience you want for a pre-dinner drink. We moved to our table soon after, which was subject to sporadic gales every time the main door was opened. Thankfully we didn’t capsize so a large scale rescue mission wasn’t initiated ( local joke ). Service was enthusiastic but sporadic. Half way through our starters we asked where the wine might be. Still in the cellar was the answer as they had misplaced our order.
After some delay our mains and wine finally arrived. Each main was on the cool side of warm. Acceptable if you were prepared to eat very quickly. The staff, all 5 of them who seemed to be serving our table, were really helpful and apologetic but correct temperature food should be a basic, new restaurant or not. We didn’t order sides, but it became obvious they were needed and they arrived just before the end of the meal. We attempted to order another bottle of wine, but they were sold out of our choice ( after 2 weeks! ). However the sommelier recommended a wonderful replacement, which was far better than our original choice. As we were a somewhat troublesome table we were given complimentary digestifs, which was a nice touch. Although not charging for the barely warm mains might have been a nicer touch. I know you aren’t meant to judge a restaurant so soon after opening, but if they are going to charge full price then I believe they deserve to be judged.
I haven’t focused much on the food as it was lost among the poor floor design and bewildered service. Mum best summed up the experience the next day;
“So, what did you think of dinner?�? me
“The chauffeur car was really lovely.�? Mum
She was right, it was the highlight of the meal. Although I think it will grow into a good restaurant at the moment it is still on a provisional license.
Assuming you are very drunk, in a dark room and squinting - a lot. Email me on Irishflirtysomething at hotmail.com
July 8th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
I feel your pain, Flirty. At the opening of our new Marsella’s the chips were cold and somewhat greasy. The smoked cod turn out to be hake! Can you believe it? Worse still, the smellier (of the two servers) couldn’t locate the fine diet Coke we ordered.
They have improved much since then, so don’t give up hope.
July 8th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
How often I’ve had that experience of wait staff bowing and scraping and apologising profusely but not coming up with the goods. They can apologise till doomsday but if the food is lukewarm, the wine order vanished up someone’s bum and your table is gale-swept, so what? My advice - don’t go back, they’re far too sloppy. They might improve, but then again they might get worse. Give your custom to places that deserve it.
July 8th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
Primal - oh dear, do I sound like nobby mcnob of the clan mcnob
Nick - will wait til someone I trust gives it a good report and then return.
Lyons - sorry will delete now, if I can figure out how…
July 9th, 2007 at 6:30 am
Wrangling a table; chauffeur driven car; mains; sommelier; Stillorgan in-jokes - eh, just a teeny weeny bit.
I hope you’re not falling for the claptrap these outfits spin, Flirty - Making a big deal of getting a late table when the place is only half full; a sommelier who did a 1 day course on wine and a 2 day one on fake French accents; a lad dressed up in a cheap uniform and paid minimum wage to drive the owner’s car in the evenings. You know too much about marketing to fall for that bollixology.
July 9th, 2007 at 8:32 am
Their website is completely invisible in Firefox due to some plonker putting in a check for IE in the Flash object javascript. Sloppy in the extreme…
July 9th, 2007 at 8:59 am
Never you mind them Flirty. Ms 73man’s sister is moving there later this year and I’ll check it out once she’s settled. Not that she’ll be buying you understand….
July 9th, 2007 at 9:03 am
Primal - ah yes but you forget how very easily impressed I am!
Caro - not sure what that means but sounds annoying.
73 - look forward to your review.
July 9th, 2007 at 10:01 am
Er… if I haven’t forgot me geography that place’d be beside the centra in the industrial estate? Opposite the Beacon clinic back door? They must be banking on Microsoft expenses and the 1000+ new residents being trapped in there every time the Luas breaks down!
July 9th, 2007 at 10:02 am
Ah shur I know ya are, missis. Didn’t you even say I was a nice fella once ;o)
July 9th, 2007 at 10:10 am
i love our new website flirty.
i agree about new restaurants - wait until someone else has been before you go again, if you go at all
July 9th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Food, schmood; service, schmervice - what about flirting Flirty?
I know you were with the folks and all, but you surely managed knowing looks, knowing you, no?
July 9th, 2007 at 10:33 am
sorry, your website. had week off and am now completely unable to type…!!
July 9th, 2007 at 11:47 am
Conan - weird location but very few nice restaurants in area and around a million apartments so may work?
Primal - why aren’t you a nice fella?
Towny - welcome back!
Eolai - yes there was flirting at the weekend but that will be tomorrow’s story.
July 9th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
I hate that kind of experience. It makes me feel like I should just hang out at home.
July 9th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Hmm, the gazillion apartments are still being built. God help that place if Microsoft ever decides to move east.
Yup, there’s a shortage of good cheap eateries and the new ones down the road in Dundum are for posing rather than eating in. What’s the Italian place in Dundum village like? Near the gda stn?
July 9th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Thanks for boldly going etc Flirty…think I’ll add it to my maybe in three years (if its still open) list.
Only you could make Sandyford sound like it had some spark of life…even if its old folk life.
hats off again!