Harry McKeogh's impressive modern restaurant is a favourite weekend destination for discerning Limerick residents, who enjoy the waterside location and consistently excellent contemporary cooking.
A high-ceilinged room with open beams, well-spaced, classically appointed tables and those River Shannon views, it makes for a fine restaurant - which, due to its exceptional spaciousness, is at its best when there's a buzzy crowd in to lend it atmosphere.
One of Ireland's most highly regarded chefs and well known for his commitment to using the best local ingredients, Harry is likely to be in the kitchen as you arrive - you will notice the team at work, as you are shown to a small reception area nearby or straight to your table.
A range of menus is offered - a 2/3 course early evening menu which offers exceptional value, a 5 course set dinner menu and an à la carte. Simply worded and seasonal, they all offer a well-balanced choice of dishes, with a good sprinkling of the local references that bring a menu to life - Bluebell Falls goats cheese (from Ennis), West Cork scallops, Limerick lamb and Tipperary steak, for example.
Although the food is stylish and offers all the treats of fine dining - amuse-bouche, sorbet (refeshing rhubarb and lemongrass perhaps), petits fours - and some luxurious ingredients may be used, Harry McKeogh's pleasing trademark is a direct cooking style, without too many cheffy twirls.
Fish cookery is assured and the simpler foods have always been especially good here, too - the Cherry Tree's salads are legendary, for example, and an outstanding ingredient that has inspired more than one speciality dish is their superb beef, especially perfectly cooked dry-aged steak.
Excellent puddings, each with a suggested dessert wine to accompany, might include Warm chocolate fondant with Bailey’s panna cotta
and orange ice cream - suggested wine: Elysium Orange Muscat 2003 (California) €5.25 - delicious.
There's a fine cheese plate too, and the interesting, carefully chosen, wine list includes a good choice of half bottles.
Set menus - especially Sunday lunch - offer outstanding value, and a dedicated Children's Menu offers three delicious choices on each course.
Cherry Tree Restaurant : Seats 60 (private room, 10). D 6-10 Tue-Sat (Thu-Sat in winter), L Sun only 12.30-3 (check opening off season). Early evening menu 6-7.30pm, 2/3 courses €21/26. Set 2/3 course D €32/39; also à la carte; 2/3 course Sun L €24 /€29, 12.30-3pm; house wine €19.50. Toilets wheelchair accessible. Children welcome (children's menu). Closed Mon, Tue in winter, 24-26 Dec, last week Jan, 1st week Feb. Amex, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.
