“Across from the church and near Dick Mack’s”, the Flannery family's seafood bar and takeaway is easy to find - and it's all hands on deck at this popular spot, with half a dozen family members playing key roles in the uniquely sustainable Sea to Fork experience that they have operated here since 2018.
The family has been fishing out of Dingle since 1920 and they've had their own trawler, Cú Na Mara “Hound of the Sea”, since 2007, initially with Dad, Micheál, as skipper. Now his son Patrick has taken over the 24m boat and it supplies the restaurant and takeway with the ultra fresh fish that has become their trademark, while his brother Michael runs the restaurant side of the business. And it all makes perfect sense as their Mum, Deirdre, is a lifelong chef and she now heads up the kitchen team, assisted by Micheál (whose fish preparation skills are invaluable) and their daughter Eimear, who is also full time in the business.
Although it was an instant hit, thanks to the local family involvement, the trawler-to-table freshness of their fish and Deirdre's tasty cooking, The Fish Box - and Flannery’s Seafood Bar, in particular - soon ran into the Covid storm. But, on the ball as always, they swiftly changed course and added two rows of spanking new, well-designed private booths in the back yard that can accommodate some sixty guests. Most of the booths can take four adults (or two adults with three kids and a well-behaved dog, perhaps) and, with a fair level of comfort and a good system in place for dealing with a no reservations policy - plus top class, friendly service - it soon became one of the town's most popular destinations for outdoor dining,
Whether you eat outside or in the bright and airy restaurant, menus are based on the Cú Na Mara's catch-es - mainly prawns and monkfish, but also other fish including hake, cod, haddock, sole, and plaice, which will find their place onto the specials board as available. Regulars on the main menu range from start-ers/light meals like Dee's chowder and buffalo hake bites to mains including crispy chilli monkfish and buffalo hake bites.
There may seem to be a high proportion of battered dishes (both traditional and tempura style), which is in line with the fish & chips element of the business, but the choice goes far beyond that and - in addition to the main Fish Box deep-fried collection - the signature dishes include quite different styles such as butter-milk infused fish tacos to a red Thai wild prawn curry.
While it's all about the fish here (and chips too, excellent and freshly cut from delicious Maharees potatoes), there are other choices - a West Kerry beefburger, for example, and vegetarian options - and children's portions are available too. As to drinks, there's a short wine list and the excellent Stonewell cider from Co Cork is available too - but the trump card is that you can also order pints, of ale or stout, from the nearby micro-brewery at Dick Macks.
All round this is a super place to visit and the tasty fare and casual vibe complements other restaurants in the town very well. It's good value too, but do be careful not to over-order, as portions tend to be extremely generous.
It's also worth remembering that, if it's a very busy night and you can't get a table, you could get a take-away from the shop, to enjoy on the steps of the church across the road. Or why not take a stroll down to the waterfront with your compostable box (weather permitting)?
