Shines restaurant in Baylough, Athlone, is a landmark premises on the west side of the town, renowned for its great menu and atmosphere.
The food is excellent and is keenly priced. The atmosphere is comfortable and relaxed and there are plenty of happy faces sprinkled around the restaurant; it’s clear that the really excellent service and great food is going down a treat all around!
The thriving business is owned by Stephen and Hazel Groarke. Food is served daily from 9am to 9pm. There are a number of specials, including lunch specials of €10 from 12pm to 5pm Monday to Friday. There is also a loyalty card available - buy five lunches and get the sixth free. The menu is varied and there is something for all tastes.
There is a wide selection to choose from. On the day we visited, for starters, there was the soup, chicken and mushroom and vol au vents, chicken wings, bruschetta, pork ribs, chicken ceasar salad and Atlantic seafood chowder. We opted for the latter and weren’t disappointed. It came with fresh brown bread and the chowder was rich with fish and vegetables. The portion was generous as a starter and it certainly whetted the appetite for what was to follow!
For the main course, we opted for the 10 oz rib eye steak and the steak burger. Both were delicious and again the portions were generous (the rib eye was huge and was good value at €19.95 ). Both came with home made chips, crisp fresh salad and really tasty pepper sauce. The steak burger, topped with cheese, came with a toasted bun.
Shines has a really good name for steaks and burgers and certainly lived up to this on our visit. We were tempted by the lasagne and the trout which were also on the menu, but were more than happy with our choices!
The dessert menu was mouthwatering, featuring warm chocolate cake, fresh fruit cheesecake, a trio of ice cream and trifle. The starter and main course portions were so huge, we opted for a lighter dessert and the trifle was just perfect. The fresh cream and custard blended in well with the strawberry jelly and fruit and the taste was just superb.
Elsewhere on the menu, the early bird two-course is €17, with three courses at €21. That is available every day except for Sunday. Starters include garlic mushrooms, homemade soup of the evening, vegetable spring rolls and barbeque chicken wings.
On the mains list are the delicious Shines 10 oz steak burger in a toasted bun, topped with bacon and cheese; the 8 oz minute steak sandwich cooked to your liking; roasted cherry tomato and spinach pasta and bangers and mash.
The dessert menu features homemade chocolate biscuit cake and cream, trio of ice cream with chocolate sauce or a homemade cheesecake of the evening.
The kids menu comes at €5.50 for the main course and includes a good selection including kiddies roast of the day, fresh fish and chips, lasagne and chips, and a pasta dish. A two-course for kids is just €8.50 and desserts include marshmallow surprise, fruit and jelly with ice cream, or kiddies chocolate cake with ice cream.
It’s impossible to fault the food or the service at Shines and this experience certainly left us very content and rounded off the weekend very well!
Shines also caters for parties. For more information or to make a booking, phone Shines of Baylough on (090 ) 6490588.
