Bennigans

Bennigans
Mahon Point SC.
021-4515682

Bennigans styles itself on an American diner or pub, serving up the wings, burgers and sandwiches you'd expect here. Walls are plastered with posters and tvs showing music videos. Sunday to Thursday they run a Movie meal deal, main course and a ticket for the cinema upstairs for €20 a head.
Somehow it just fails. The burger I had there last night, their BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger was pretty flat and lifeless. Ursula's chicken strips were somewhat better, but I just don't think either was worth the €13.95 price tag. They fail to capture what makes an American diner. The ability to do fast food really really well. There's a lack of effort to the food here, a lack of thought or care.
What I did like here before was the heart attack inspiring Monte Cristo; "ham, turkey and Swiss and American cheeses on white bread, then battered and fried ‘til golden. Dusted with powdered sugar and, served with red raspberry preserve". They no longer do this though it was nice to try, even if it did knock six years off my life.
The only reason to eat here is convenience to the cinema and the movie meal deal. Really though, you should be checking out the food court upstairs.

2 stars. Will I go again? Probably, but not anytime soon.

Boqueria

Boqueria
6 Bridge St
Cork

This is a tapas bar on Bridge Street I've been meaning to try out for ages. Especially since Ursula thought I called it a topless bar. Even after I repeated myself. Damn Monaghan accents. Even without the toplessness it's still worth a visit.
It's usually packed at the weekends and you have a long wait to get a seat, but on the Tuesday night we went it was quiet enough.
We ordered five mains and two desserts and they were all good. Very good. Although they do mostly wine, they have a grand beer selection to wash it all down.
At just over fifty euro for the lot, it's very reasonable. The portions were larger than you'd expect for tapas, and with all this we were stuffed, even though we were late going in and having missed dinner. We had tortilla, cheese, potatoes, salad and tarts. All very good. I would say the mains are better than desserts, so don't waste time leaving a bit of room for the sweet trolley. Your taste buds would be put to much better use trying something else off the main menu.
I'd recommend going with a group of friends, ordering half the menu and then sharing everything. We were a bit rushed when we went, but it's definitely a place I'll be back to. There's still so much on the menu I want to try.


cheap camera phone images just don't do it justice

Lennox' on Barrack Street

Lennox Chipper
Barrack Street
Cork

Not the usual restaurant for this blog, but one of those you just have to try. Arguably the best chips in Ireland. Chips, not fries. Proper spuds cut into long strips and deep fried. This chipper on Barrack Street in Cork is the one to try. Don't try the other Lennox', it just doesn't cut it. Forget all the takes of Burdocks in Dublin, this is the place. Perfect for on the way home from the pub.

The veggie burger also gets two thumbs up from the vegetarians, but a large chips is all you need to order.