Traditionalists will love the Shamrock. Here at their homely family run café-restaurant, the O'Riordans have been serving locals and visitors in the heart of Dungarvan town since 1981. You'll get a warm welcome, by name, if they know you; this is a place where staff talk to the customers, customers talk to one another. Offering a relaxing contrast to the competitive cooking that prevails in so many modern restaurants, this friendly spot is genuinely customer focused and they are open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner - serving good, generous food at very keen prices.
You can check out chef John O'Riordan's daily menus on their social media, as there are always changes and they make a point of posting them - and specials too - every day. Fresh fish is a speciality - some regulars come specially for their chowder - and, while there are plenty of popular international dishes (curry, stroganoff, Piri Piri...), the most memorable are the homely ones we don't see so often these days. Boiled Bacon with Parsley Sauce, for example, and the hugely popular Roast Stuffed Breast of Chicken, with mashed potatoes and plenty of gravy. The Steak Sandwich is also renowned - an 8oz Striploin in a garlic ciabatta with caramelised onions, fresh rocket and chips, the exceptionally tender and flavoursome meat perfectly cooked - a reminder of just why this modern classic is so popular.
And the desserts read like a roll call of old favourites - Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake, Bakewell Tart, Carrot Cake (gluten free), Sticky Toffee Pudding (gluten free), Chocolate & Orange Cake, Apple Tart, Rhubarb and Strawberry Crumble, Apple and Strawberry Crumble. And more, all served with cream, ice-cream or custard. And some desserts even have their own special day: Rice Pudding on Thursday, Queen of Pudding Friday... Lunch and dinner are peak times of course, but the Shamrock is a popular btreakfast destination, and also looks after everyone particularly weii in those in-between times. There's quite a choice after lunch, for example, as you may still order some items (starters and desserts) from the earlier menu. So, whatever the time of day there will be plenty to please. And all served with a smile.
