Cafe Paradiso

a vegetarian paradise, indeed!

this is one of my favourite restaurants in cork. i have never had a disappointing meal there... the wine has always been one that we've said: mmm, this is nice, let's remember this one!

last night i started with beetroot mousse and my main was risotto. both were fantastic. the wine was a new zealand sauvignon blanc, and delicious, kind of sharp, but not bitter... very fresh. the mousse was light and sweet and savoury in only the way veggies can. having tried everyone else's dishes, hearing the satisfied yum's, and my canadian guests buying a cookbook, cafe paradiso was a hit.

my only issue, and the only thing preventing me from giving this place a full five stars is the cost. lunch is less expensive, so it's a good idea to keep that in mind if you're being budget-conscious.

basically, the food is gorgeous, and being someone who hates mushrooms there are thankfully lots of choices that are free of the fungus. the decor is hippy-funk, definitely not frou-frou, and the casual atmosphere doesn't have you worrying about which fork to use, or dressing up.

it's a fun place. great food. great wines.

solid four.