2010 Award Winners SEAFOOD CIRCLE RESTURANT OF THE YEAR 2010

Ahernes Seafood Restaurant - Youghal County Cork

The BIM Seafood Circle is a programme highlighting the best places to buy fresh fish, and to dine out on seafood. The hospitality element endorses good seafood restaurants offering a high proportion of indigenous Irish seafood with a bias towards seasonal local fish and shellfish. A second element of the programme focuses on retail outlets. 

The FitzGibbon family’s renowned East Cork bar and restaurant with accommodation is a big magnet for seafood lovers and they are previous winners of the Seafood Bar of the Year Award. However, while many casual diners are happy to drop in for a bite of their excellent bar food, the restaurant has come into special focus this year. 

Following a revamp, the elegant restaurant has emerged with a calm, sophisticated and romantic atmosphere – and David FitzGibbon’s cooking is right on form. Outstandingly good breads set the standard from the outset and are brilliant with local Yawl Bay smoked salmon – and, although there are other choices (roast lamb, fillet steak), it’s for the ultra-fresh seafood that comes straight from the fishing boats in Youghal harbour that Aherne’s is rightly known, and it’s pointless to resist. 

A wide range is offered, including treats like hot buttered lobster, and their famous Hot Seafood Selection with two sauces; but also, more frequently these days, David is offering whole fish cooked on the bone: classic sole on the bone, of course, but also others - a dramatic whole seabass, perhaps, complete with head and curling tail. 

Perfectly cooked fish and classic saucing are the hallmarks – but servings are impressively generous too, a point which won’t go unnoticed in these budget-conscious times. Lovely service, a good wine list and and good classic desserts too – and, for overnight guests, an excellent breakfast to round off the stay