There is a lot of great food outside Galway's urban sprawl if you know where to look for it. Located only a few minutes drive from Galway, Oranmore town has a plentiful supply of well-established places to eat. Basilico, set back a little from the main street, in the Coach House Hotel, is a very popular Italian serving a wide range of traditional, homemade, dishes and classic Italian wines. For something more exotic there is a choice of ethnic restaurants and takeaways as well.
Also on the bustling main street is another elegant dining option, Armorica Restaurant. It is an oasis of good food and relaxation where French technique and the Irish landscape inspires the cooking.
Open for breakfast, brunch, and dinner, there is plenty of choice. Upstairs from the restaurant the team offer boutique accommodation. The rooms are modern and spacious and, best of all, you have Armorica’s breakfast to look forward to in the morning, from granola to creamy porridge, to scrambled eggs with sourdough, to omelettes or, if you are especially hungry, a very good full Irish.
The dining room is split into three cosy sections and every plate seems to have a bit of extra personality. At lunchtime expect dishes such as fried Toonsbridge halloumi with shallot jam, or Lyonnaise salad consisting of sauté potato, lardons, cheddar, and garlic croutons, with a poached egg on top. A cheeky chocolate moelleux with pistachio ice cream and tiny cubes of an intense orange jelly is an ideal dessert.
The evening a la carte menu is innovative with many great suppliers name checked. The team are firm believers in supporting small, rural, businesses and helping small producers of high quality Irish produce to be able to make a living by selling the food they are passionate about. This is a kitchen that surpasses expectation and stands out from others, a testament to the dedication of this hard working team, where the service is always welcoming and friendly.
If you like inventive cuisine, reliability, hospitality, and great food with an inventive twist, you will like Armorica.
Armorica, Main Street, Oranmore, Galway. Tel 091 388 343. Email [email protected].
