Formerly The Waterside Bar & Restaurant, this prominent premises on the main street of Schull was acquired by the O Driscoll family at the end of 2019, and The Townhouse hit the ground running when they re-opened under their new branding that Christmas. A challenging period followed for everyone over the next couple of years, but their determination 'to strive for the highest standards in both food and service' has stood the the O'Driscolls in good stead - and O'Ds has settled into a well deserved niche as a go-to destination for 'in the know' visitors to this delightful seaside town.
Whether dropping in for a quiet drink, a get-together with friends or a family outing, everyone is made welcome and families are well looked after so everyone can relax. There are printed off colouring pages and glass jars of wax crayons on tables for children, for example, and table jenga and Connect 4 are also available - and the food for kids is as wholesome as it is tasty, with simple treats like deep fried fish and mash eagerly wolfed down by hungry youngsters.
Menus are wide ranging, so there is something for everyone, and favourites that bring people back include the most delicious chowder, a warm chicken and bacon salad, excellent fish and chips (a fine piece of seriously fresh haddock, perhaps, in a light batter) and a more-ish wagyu beef burger, or a sirloin steak sandwich on a sourdough baguette. Other seafood specialities that have garnered a keen following include Drunken mussels (with Stonewall cider sauce, crusty bread and herb butter) and Crab claws served with chilli garlic butter and sourdough.
Hitting the right notes for all age groups, everything is cooked to order and there's a real sense of place to both the food and the drink offering - it's worth looking at the Local Suppliers page on their website which profiles a number of their regular suppliers, including nearby Gubbeen Farmhouse (for cheese and charcuterie), Skeaghanore Duck (Ballydehob), Clona Milk (Clonakilty), Twomey's Butchers' Wagyu beef (Bantry and Macroom) and The Fish Station in Skibbereen, along with drink producers Cape Clear Distillery, West Cork Whiskey and Beara Gin.
All round this welcoming gastropub has proved a great addition to Schull for its unpretentious, flavour-focused local food, friendly service and carefully selected drinks, including Badger & Dodo coffee - and all at a reasonable price too.
