I'm no stranger to Blackrock Cottage, It has been the delicious carrot dangled at the end of the stick to reward myself and my wife Marie at the end of our weekend walks. The promise of a superb coffee and delicious brunch is the reward for having our faces scalded by the Atlantic breeze as we step-it-out along Salthill promenade. This however is the first time we have been for the evening menu so we were interested to see how it transformed for a dinner venue.
Tucked away under the shadow of the Blackrock diving tower at the end of the prom Blackrock Cottage recently celebrated its first birthday. No more than the brave swimmers that take a leap of faith off the infamous diving board, Chef Martin O'Donnell is making a splash.
Recently named as "Best Chef in Connacht" in the Food & Wine 2023 Restaurant of the Year awards. Blackrock Cottage serves tradition with a modern twist, a description of the menu that echoes the restaurant itself, the front a cosy restored stone cottage with several nooks and seating in a beautifully designed room with slate floors, wood panelling and exposed original stone walls wrapping you in warm nostalgic embrace.
A corridor then leads you on a journey through time and space as you enter the modern extension of the dining room, a panoramic glass enclosed space with a high ceiling that offers a view straight into the kitchen to see Chef and his team busily working their way through service.
For starters I opted for the Prawn pil pil and Marie chose the Confit Duck croquettes. The prawns were wonderfully fresh, cooked to perfection and cloaked in the unmistakable olive oil, garlic and chilli pil pil dressing. Crispy garlic and chorizo complete the dish served on a nice chunk of freshly baked focaccia which is invaluable as it serves as a vessel to mop the delicious remnants of the superbly flavoured oil.
Marie's Confit Duck croquettes were perfectly packed parcels of char siu flavoured duck served with a zingy ginger red cabbage and miso glaze and accompanied by a punchy sunumono cucumber salad the perfect balance of sweet and sour flavors.For mains I went with the Ribeye steak and my wife decided on the special of the day which was Halibut.
The aged Hereford steak was cooked perfectly (medium ) and was tender and flavoursome served with brown butter hasselback potato, a favourite of mine, and a wonderfully subtly smoked shallot, that added a beautiful sweetness and hint of garlic without being too overwhelming for the winter greens.
The filet of halibut was wonderfully meaty with crispy skin and dressed with tangy capers on a delicate light velouté and accompanied by perfectly parcelled hash browns that added texture and balance to an absolute triumph of a dish. There is a comprehensive wine list to choose from with options by the glass and bottle.
The wine I had paired the steak was the Clos La Coutale, an organic French Malbec, rich and medium bodied with a spicy undertone that married perfectly. Marie chose the Cantina De Negrar, Pinot Grigio, from Italy that was exquisite with the fish.The decision to narrow down the dessert menu was a tough one with an array of wonderful sounding options.
We ended up going for the Autumnal brulee apple and the passionfruit and pineapple pavlova.Underneath a wafer thin apple crisp was a tender poached apple with a sweet caramalised "bruleed" crust perched on a perfectly spiced warming ginger sponge with a beautifully delicate custard espuma and a rich apple and cider butter.
Marie's Pavlova was pretty as a picture, dressed with a Porn-star martini sorbet and a hazelnut crisp with the vibrant acidity of the pineapple and passionfruit cutting through the sweetness of the crisp meringue.I finished the meal with a decadent Frangelico coffee.
Service was overseen by the ever attentive Mathieu Teulier. Overall Martin and Mathieu have created a must visit addition to the Galway food scene that easily transcends from daytime stop-off after a prom walk for a brunch or lunch into a decadent dinner spot. With a relaxed ambience and menu that offers modern twists on familiar classics without being ostentatious. Blackrock Cottage is a gem.Booking Details:
Blackrock Cottage, Salthill Promenade, Galway. H91 KV9D www.blackrockcottage.ie Email: [email protected]one:091–399280
