On the Galway side of Moycullen village, a landmark corner building is home to The Forge, a large pub, restaurant and entertainment centre.
It is ably managed by AnneMarie Kelly, a professional in the hospitality business for many years. Under her direction, The Forge succeeds in catering for the disparate demands of a mixed clientele, functioning not only as a neighbourhood gathering place for functions and parties, but as a competent restaurant operation - and also as concert and entertainment centre.
The modern building houses bar with televisions and restaurant on the ground floor, while the function room is upstairs. The restaurant is comfortably set up, with well-spaced dining tables of solid bare wood offering a modicum of privacy, enhanced by lots of lamps, cosy corners with comfortable leather chairs and carpeted floors.
While menus tend towards the predictable bar/restaurant style, what makes The Forge stand out is the amount of care taken with sourcing (suppliers are listed in detail), and the standard of cooking is reliably good.
Expect tasty renditions of popular dishes like Chowder, Sirloin Steak, Fish & Chips, Bakewell Tart and Homemade Apple Crumble. It’s a family-friendly place too, with a separate Childrens' Menu and a Pizza Menu.
The short wine list is well chosen and another highlight is the service by local waitresses, which is a delight.