Mulcahys Kenmare

Mulcahys, 16 Henry Street, Kenmare, 064 42383.

Kenmare is one of the restaurant capitals of the country and really is a gorgeous place to visit. The Park Hotel, the Sheen Falls, Packies, Prego, Bricin, the Lime Tree etc.

Mulcahys has had some of the best reviews of recent times and was open on Sunday night last so we had to go. The menu seems rather conventional at first glance with steak, fresh cod, lemon sole, black sole etc. but dont let this put you off. For starters we ordered sushi and scallops and prawn terrine. Sushi was as good as any I have tasted and better than Aya in my view. I have never been to Japan or Masa in the Time Warner building so am not claiming sushi expertise but this was a generous portion, elegantly presented and just 11 euro.

My terrine was served warm (I had expected a cold terrine for some reason) and again eleganly cooked and full of flavour and great value at 11 euro.

I had dithered over ordering the black sole but decided to see what the kitchen could do with the generally inferior lemon sole which was 18.95. The sole was perfection - barely cooked, correctly seasoned and as good or better than 90 per cent of the black sole I have tasted. Cod was also perfectly cooked and steak for the 7 year old was a good hunk of perfectly pink meat, again perfectly seasoned. Veg. were proper croquettes, crispy home made frites and cumin flavoured mashed turnip - even the 7 year old ate this up. Desserts of chocolate brownie home made toffee sauce and perfect ice cream left us totally stuffed. A bottle of dry tokaii and a bill E. 135.90 - perfect...