Monday, July 22, 2013

THE FLEET INN, KILLYBEGS

Upstairs restaurant of The Fleet Inn, Killybegs
We have eaten in the Fleet Inn in Killybegs before both in the restaurant upstairs and the bar downstairs where bar food is served daily and have always enjoyed the food and ambience there.

In April we were down in our holiday rental home in nearby Dunkineely for a couple of days decorating and getting ready for the summer season and on the Sunday evening decided we would treat ourselves and dine out instead of bothering to cook.  We headed to Killybegs, a short journey of only 5 miles (8km) from Dunkineely.

We hadn’t realised the restaurant upstairs would be open given the early time of the season and had thought we would be eating in the bar but as it turned out the restaurant was indeed open.

We had decided on the drive over that we would just have a main course and head back to Dunkineely for a couple of drinks in Mac’s, the bar which is only about a dozen steps from Daisy Cottage so naturally “our local” when we are in Dunkineely.  That and the fact that the owner, Damien, is great craic and always there to help when needed.

So, back to the Fleet Inn.  The food aromas on our assent to the restaurant were delicious and had us looking forward to our food.

The restaurant is warm and comfortable and well laid out ~ diners are not squashed in and have plenty of room and privacy to enjoy a meal without listening to, or being listened by, the guests on adjoining tables.
We were greeted and seated immediately and given our menus.  There was a gentle buzz of conversation from diners already in the restaurant and the music being played was not intrusive but well chosen and added extra ambience.

Our previous idea of having just a main course went out the door when we saw the starters available, and also because it turned out that the Fleet Inn restaurant was running an April special which was a 3 course meal and a bottle of wine for two for only €59.  We decided our visit to Mac’s would have to be postponed until a little later in the evening!

We were brought a bottle of water and our drinks (gin & fizzy water ~ new drink of choice, the tonic having been dropped by me, and a malt whiskey for himself).  We chose a bottle of the red house wine to go with the meal and asked for the cork as we would have to take it home with us after a small glass each.  

The Set Menu of €59 including a bottle of wine had the following choice of starters: "Homemade Soup of the Day", "Creamy West Coast Seafood Chowder", "Bruckelss Bay Mussels stuffed with Garlic and Breadcrumbs", "Norwegian Prawn Cocktail coated with Marie-Rose Sauce", "Bruchetta:  Garlic Bread topped with Mushrooms, Red Onion, Cherry Tomatoes and Melted Brie", and "Garlic Bread with Cheese served with Seasonal Salad". 

My bruschetta

I chose the Bruchetta:  "Garlic Bread topped with Mushrooms, Red Onion, Cherry Tomatoes and Melted Brie" and my husband chose the "Creamy West Coast Seafood Chowder".

The creamy seafood chowder in The Fleet Inn
After a short wait the starters arrived and we were so glad we went for the set menu instead of just a main course as both starters were delicious.  I love brie and garlic and indeed all the ingredients used in this bruschetta starter and the little salad served with it was dressed with a very tasty dressing.  My husband’s chowder was indeed creamy and packed with plenty of fish ~ delicious. 
  
The choice of main courses were





All the desserts are home made (I find it so annoying to have to point that out ~ surely EVERY restaurant should be making their own desserts but sadly many buy them in).  We don’t normally have dessert but the home made profiteroles tempted me.  My husband chose the “Special” of "Lemon Tart with Fruit Compote".  

Perfect profiteroles
The desserts arrived on pieces of slate, which seams to be a very popular way to serve desserts nowadays.  My teeny little profiteroles were perfect: light and delicate with a topping of dark chocolate sauce.  My husband’s lemon tart was suitably zingy and the fruit compote was fabulous.

Lemon Tart & Fruit Compote

It took a while to let all that food settle and as we relaxed the other diners started to finish up and leave which was great as it gave me the chance to bring you a photograph of the inside of the restaurant which as you will see (in the photo at the top of this post) is very attractive with it’s black, cream and white colour scheme.

THE NITTY GRITTY
Opening times:  7 days per week in the summer
Opening times at the time of writing (April 2013): Restaurant & Bar Food Thursday ~ Sunday 6pm – 9pm

ACCESS
The bar is on the ground floor so dining there for those with limited mobility is not a problem.

ENTERTAINMENT
Live music in the bar on various nights of the week.

CONTACT
Bridge Street, Killybegs
TEL: + 353-74-9731518
facebook page: HERE

No comments:

Post a Comment