A place that needs no introduction, The Clybaun Hotel has a long established history for comfortable, luxurious surroundings, pleasant staff and delicious food, creating standards that are set to become even higher with the addition of The Lounge Bar, which incorporates everything The Clybaun excels in.
Decorated beautifully, The Lounge Bar provides a treat for the eyes with the large expanse of light coming through the wall of windows and the furnishings which could be described as eclectic minimalist, incorporating colours, patterns and accent pieces while keeping a very clean, sharp minimalist base. The room feels modern and comfortable and semi private booths give an air of intimacy, making it ideal for dates, family dinners and any event where you want to feel like there is a bubble encapsulating you, only opening to allow delicious dishes to come inside.
The man behind these delicious dishes is Head Chef, Priyanka Cooray. With over 20 years experience in hotel restaurants both in Galway and in London, the menu Cooray has created features the traditional dishes we all know and love as well as modern exciting offerings which entice. Cooray's passion for simple, delicious food and presentation shines brilliantly, with each delectable dish looking like they were lifted from a food photographer's portfolio. Cooray's collaboration with The Clybaun Hotel's General Manager, Fintan Loftus, goes back two decades, with the duo having previously worked together in Marriott Hotels.
The menu for The Lounge Bar at The Clybaun Hotel has something for everyone, with classics like '10oz Cut Sirloin Steak' and 'Chicken Supreme' to 'Pork Bon-Bon', 'Vegan Curry' and 'Seafood Linguini', the varied nature of the restaurants offerings are well thought out, creating a plethora of options that presents opportunities for familiarity for those who want it, or novel for the adventurous among us.
Flavour you can savour
The food itself is delicious, with the quality of the ingredients adding a great depth of flavour. The 'Atlantic Seafood Chowder' could not be classified as a unique addition to a menu for a location in the west of Ireland, but when it is as beautifully created as this, who needs unique? A combination of fresh fish and diced vegetables in a creamy velouté sauce result in a moreish, rich and butter flavour profile that is taken to the next level with homemade Guinness bread. As a lover of good brown bread, I am hard to please, a childhood filled with baked goods made with love by my grandmother means that my standards are very high, but the freshness of the Guinness bread combined with the rich stout undercurrent and hint of treacly brown sugar helps to elevate an already exquisite chowder.
The 'Breaded Camembert Wheel' is a no contest starter for cheese lovers. Presented beautifully the camembert filing was the perfect consistency, gooey and oozing onto toasted crispy breading that helps to balance the velvet richness of the cheese itself. Accompanied by cranberry compote, spicy apple chutney and a seasonal side salad, the tried and tested combination of cheese, bread and sweet chutney never fails to delight.
The main course of 'Pork Bon-Bon' is an interesting offering, featuring BBQ flavour shredded pork with black pudding fashioned into balls, breaded and deep fried. This cooking style is unusual, but it pays off, with the rolled breaded exterior adding a very welcome crunch to the texture of the plate while also keeping the pork interior moist. Served with mashed potatoes, sautéed kale, rocket pesto and spiced port wine syrup. The flavour profile of the dish is well though out, with the rocket pesto adding a hint of piquant element which is further elevated by the sweetness of the spiced port wine syrup.
A king of curries, the 'Butter Chicken Curry' does not fail to delight. A very common dish in India, also known as murgh makhani, the creation of butter chicken is attributed to restaurateurs from Dehli and is incredibly popular in Northern Indian cuisine, and has been represented well in The Clybaun Hotel, Galway. Accompanied by seasoned rice and naan, the chicken itself is very moist and delicious, with balanced flavours and spices resulting in a delicious dish that is a pleasure to eat.
If you can have room for dessert, the dessert menu, like the starter and the main, has firm favourites of ice cream and warm apple pie, as well as 'Bakewell Raspberry Tart' and rich 'Chef's Chocolate Brownie', all of which are tasty enough to firmly tip you into feeling deliciously full.
High class service
An element that helps any meal is good service, the staff at The Lounge Bar were consummate professionals, knowing when to stay away and give you space and when to pop over and check that all is OK. Polite and friendly, they know the menu well, answering questions fluently as well as being able to offer suggestions if asked for.
Eating at The Lounge Bar was incredibly enjoyable and each aspect; decor, food and service, maintained high standards resulting in a lovely evening.
The Clybaun Hotel is aptly located on the Clybaun Road and is a stones throw from both Galway and Salthill. If you are looking for a new favourite dinner place or somewhere to celebrate something special, make sure you check out The Lounge Bar.
