It may be tucked away down one of Limerick's history-steeped city centre laneways, but a central location is a great advantage for this enduringly popular restaurant, where sisters Liz Phelan and Caroline Kerely continue to offer clever menus and consistently pleasing dishes.
The inviting stone and brick frontage of this 19th century building draws diners in to a stylish and well lit interior, where - ever pleased to greet their guests - Liz and Caroline make you feel right at home.
Split over two floors, ground floor diners have the confident bustle of the kitchen to enjoy while, upstairs, a high-ceilinged dark-beamed room offers a different ambience - and the friendly and well informed staff tend equally to the needs of customers on both floors.
The menu offers good value, with a choice of about nine starters and nine mains and includes several vegan and vegetarian dishes; unusually, a full coeliac menu is also offered. Eclectic dishes span several continents, offering plenty of variety although traditional meat lovers will especially enjoy choices like pre-cisely cooked steaks and comforting lamb shanks.
Local produce highlighted includes Skellig mussels and cheese from nearby Clare; St Tola goat cheese on focaccia with walnuts, pear and red onion jam is a popular starter, for example, and pan-fried hake with tomato and fennel risotto or honey & soy slow-cooked pork belly with carrot and star anise puree make for interesting mains. Consistently good cooking of such tasty fare goes a long way towards explaining this atmospheric restaurant's enduring success.
Classic desserts such as a zesty lemon tart, sticky toffee pudding or a warm apple and blackberry crumble with ice cream and custard, not only round off a meal at Freddy's on a happy note, but gluten free options are available on request.
This Limerick gem has lots of character and is well worth seeking out.
