Sole Seafood & Grill

Last dinner in Dublin, and got this recommendation from our Guinness Storehouse tour guide.

For food, got the scallops (would get them again), the burrata (I might not get this one again since the tomato it came with was dried tomatoes, instead of what I was expecting which was fresh tomatoes), and the seafood platter (yes yes and yes would obviously get this one again), with a side of fries. Also one of the bread they have is was soda bread which is popular in Ireland (since it is made out of Guinness). not my first choice, but when in Ireland would get it, and it was good dipping into the butter sauce of the lobster.

For drinks, got prosecco, whisky sour and pisco sour. All but the pisco sour were good (Limon has wayyy better pisco sours).

Overall great experience and vibe. Would recommend this place.

Xi’An Street Food

Went to this place in Dublin from a recommendation from a friend to try out spice bag, which is an Irish Chinese dish. It is basically a mix of fries and fried chicken with spices. It would be good as an after party food. Wouldn’t have it as a main meal (too fried for my taste).

Also tried the pork steamed dumplings. I think there was too much dough, and the pork quality was just meh.

I would come back and try their other noodle dishes (looking at good others were ordering).

Spitalfields

First dinner in Dublin (and it is Michelin star recommended).

Setting is a pub like place, but food is definitely not ordinary pub food.

For “snacks” (in Ireland it is almost equivalent to appetizers, it smaller) we got the scallops, the deviled eggs, and the oysters (which I did not try for obvious reasons). Scallops were cooked pretty good, but sauce could have been improved.

For “starters” (equivalent to appetizers) got the beef cheek and oxtail roll, and the cured yellow fin tuna. Both were great.

For mains, tried the pork schnitzel and the pork chop. The latter was great. Wouldn’t get the former again since it was too oily.

For drinks, for the hazelnut martini (which was pretty good. Sweet but not too sweet). Also got an Aperol spritz, and tried the Teeling single malt whisky, and the Dingle Founding Father’s single malt. Will say I liked the Teeling better

Ferrit & Lee

We ate lunch at this restaurant after our tour at the Midleton Distillery.

Overall, food was (more than) ok, but also could try other places as well.

Ordered an espresso martini to start. Honestly it was meh.

I did enjoy my main, which was penne with chicken and sausage. But not gonna lie it was pretty standard (probably enjoyed it since it’s been a while since I had penne since the trip).

Goldie

Our only meal in Cork, Ireland, and it was amazing.

For starters got the Taiwanese fried fish nuggets, and the mussels. It’s great choices, especially the nuggets!

For mains, did two fishes: the pan fried Brill and the Turbot. Although different fishes, what really distinguishes from each other (and according to the waitress) is the sauce that they come with. Both were great, but if I had to choose 1, it would be the Brill bases in the sauce.

And for side, got the baby potatoes and green cabbage. It’s so easy to eat.

Coqbull

First restaurant we ate at in Ireland!

We stopped by here after visiting King John’s Castle in Limerick.

Got the 1/4 chicken rotisserie with traditional sides (stuffing and mashed potatoes). It was a good combo, and would get it again.

I will say their whisky selection is limited (they have only Jameson, and 2 other whiskies). They do have Aperol Spritz thought.

ps. I did try my friend’s dirty fries, and definitely had more than a few bites.

Mumak

Tried this restaurant out while walking around Platja den Bossa in Ibiza, which is by the beach.

Food was great, but wish I could see more of the beach.

We got Aperol Spritz’s to start. For an app, got the pulled pork bao bun. To share, got the pad Thai (which was pretty good even though they didn’t really use the typical red sauce), and nasi goreng (Indonesian for fried rice).

Would get all of the above again.

L’apero

We stopped by here to get food before touring the Castle in Ibiza. It did not disappoint.

The dishes we got include the ceviche, chicken, ribs, duck, and burrata. Would get all of them again except for the duck (it was too salty, and obviously I am biased against duck). Chicken was also cooked interestingly (mixed between fried and grilled it seemed like).

For drinks got an espresso martini and Aperol spritz. All great.

5 Oceanos

We stopped by here for our last dinner in Porto (technically it is in the city of Matosinhos).

Great restaurant. Our waiter was a little assuming in what we wanted to order (ie we mentioned cod, and that order came through… which wasn’t a bad thing in the end).

To start, we ordered macallan 12 (very generous pour). Then ordered the scallops, Octopus, and fried cod. The Octopus and cod came with other things like vegetables and potatoes and chips (which made things extra filling). also chips were made by the restaurant.

Food and vibe overall was good. Would come back here.

One thing they didn’t have but we wanted to try was percpbes (aka barnacle)

Praia da Luz

We stoped by here for a beach club vibe in Porto.

Music was great (lots of tech house and John Summit like DJing). If it wasn’t windy and cloudy, experience would have been a lot better (would come back here!).

I ordered an espresso martini and Aperol Spritz. Would order both again.