Scenically located overlooking the River Nore and John's Bridge in the heart of Kilkenny, this recently opened restaurant is proving to be one of the city's most desirable dining venues.
Noinín ('Daisy') was opened in late November 2022 by sisters Sinead and Maeve Moclair, who have since wooed customers with their tempting daily menus and pleasing style. The freshness and simplicity of its name says a lot about the restaurant and its ethos. Behind a red and white traditional shopfront, the room is cosy and bright - and, with friendly staff and colourful chairs and fresh flowers on the simple wooden tables, it's a warm and welcoming place to be.
The chef is Sinead, who trained at Ballymaloe and spent some time in Dublin's Fumbally and running Baidin in Clifden before coming to Kilkenny. While short, her interestiung menus are very well constructed and there's always something for every taste - and, although menus have a world influence, the emphasis is very much on showcasing Irish and local foods (with suppliers listed).
West Coast Mussels, for example, is a huge bowl of plump little mussels with crispy toasted breadcrumb, chopped herbs and it's served with Seagull Bakery sourdough, which is perfect to mop up the tasty broth. Or, for a cold night, Wild Venison Stew is a perfect winter dish - Waterford venison slowly cooked in red wine, tomato and rosemary is served with creamy parmesan mash and salsa verde, making a hearty meal that's full of flavour.
And who could resist classic desserts such as Tunisian Orange Cake with Greek Yoghurt (you may recognise this moistly delicious gem as a Ballymaloe treat), or Dark Chocolate Brownie with fresh whipped cream - a perfect example of this all-time favourite...
A small but interesting wine list is offered, carefully selected by the famous Kilkenny wine store, Le Caveau, to match the cooking style and fair pricing.
All round this is a charming and very welcome addition to the Kilkenny dining scene. Combining freshness and simplicity with terrific cooking and genuine hospitality, it looks set for many years of well-deserved success.
