Millennium Restaurant on Oliver Plunkett Street in Mullingar is Osman Kocadag’s second eaterie in Westmeath, the other being his restaurant of the same name in Moate. On arrival at lunchtime, on a miserable, wild afternoon, the restaurant promises a lot from its stylish exterior to bright pastel, cream, red and soft wood combinations. It is a comfortable restaurant with upbeat eclectic music running a loop with enough room to simultaneously be attractive to a couple looking for a quiet table or a family relaxing at a get-together. It is also a buffer to the raging storm outside.
Encouraging its customers to bring their own wine, the restaurant does not charge corkage and consequently the wine list is basic and short extending to offerings from Viña Concha y Toro, Pierre et Remy Gauthier, Gecko Ridge, Graffigna and Jacob’s Creek. The food menu is far more attractive with house specialities including beef and chicken fajitas, tournedos Rossini, Millennium-style sautéed lamb, and Louisiana-blackened Cajun chicken. The menu also offers a range of starters, pasta and vegetarian options for mains and a number of desserts including raspberry roulade, home made apple pie and chef special panna cotta. The beef is Irish and everything else is sourced locally.
Once seated and having requested tap water, a full icy jug arrived promptly. Looking for something not too heavy but substantial enough to get me through most of the day I ordered the Caesar salad and chips. It was a wet Saturday lunchtime and the restaurant filled up without much fuss, the staff gently leading others to their seats, taking and delivering orders without skipping a beat. My salad came in the time it obviously took to prepare and was a generous impressively decorated gathering of very fresh Cos leaves, bacon, Parmesan cheese and garlic croutons. Like many a restaurant, the plate was heavy on the croutons that, while certainly crunchy and tasty, could have fed Francis of Assisi’s pigeons for a week. But that is only being picky. The chips were homemade and wholesome and were more than complementary to the salad.
Overall, an enjoyable experience for under €10. Perfect lunch fare for anyone around town on a break or passing through on business.
Millennium Restaurant, 29 Oliver Plunkett Street, Mullingar (Telephone 044 - 938565 ) opens at noon (Closed Monday ), serves early bird Sunday to Thursday all day, and on Friday and Saturday from 5pm until 7pm. Live music Friday and Saturday, and a smoking deck with high stools and room for a glass of wine outback.
