John Keoghs, The Lock Keeper in Galway’s westend has been named as one of Ireland’s Top 20 gastro pubs. The westend eatery and bar was named as one of the top gastro pubs in Ireland by Lucinda O’Sullivan for the Sunday Independent.
Since opening in 2016, John Keoghs has become a regular haunt for Galwegians and a new place to go for first time visitors to the city. The drinks selection with 28 gins, extensive wine list, signature beers, and of course a great pint of Guinness make it the ideal place for an early evening or late night drink when in Galway.
John Keoghs was noted for its exceptionally friendly service, vast range of seafood dishes, and of course its own nod to the share plate or bar tapas.
Food at John Keoghs is a celebration of life on the west coast, the close association with the land, and of course with an in-house pastry chef, the dessert trolley is one that keeps drawing a sweet tooth back. Lead by chef Joe Flaherty, who is from Renvyle in Connemara and has a close association with both land and sea, the bar food menu at John Keoghs shows his passion for taste and quality in every dish. “Having 20 years’ experience in the kitchen, I definitely have an understanding about what food people want to eat. The focus is on no nonsense food with a mix of old school classic and bold innovative dishes,” explained Flaherty.
The summer small plates bring the sea to John Keoghs with steamed Renvyle mussels with Dan Kelly’s cider, garlic, and cream or Galway bay oysters with a Guinness shot, lemon, and seaweed flakes. The nut crusted ham hock with a green pea, curry pineapple is perfect with a crisp Italian white wine or the vegetarian hot and cold goat cheese, roast beetroot, and Corrib honey, and then of course comes the crisp polenta chips with parmesan, siracha, and lime.
Dinner is served on week nights from 5pm and lunch from 1pm on weekends. The house specialities of course include the Lock Keepers 6oz beef burger in locally baked brioche bun with tomato relish, Irish cheddar cheese, and home cut and cooked maris piper chips. Using local ingredients is paramount to the kitchen in John Keoghs, however cooking and creating dishes using sustainably sourced fish is where the dish concept and style begins, so this is why the daily catch will change depending on the by-catch and what’s available here in Galway. The freshest of fish served in a light batter with those house cut maris piper chips. A hand rolled ravioli with Cashel blue cheese, spinach, parmesan cream, and hazelnuts is perfect for vegetarians or just as a meat free option.
The sweet spot at John Keoghs is in the desserts and sweet treats, which are all made in house daily by the pastry chef. The peanut butter parfait with chocolate ice cream and honey comb, or a warm chocolate brownie with chocolate mousse and vanilla ice cream, and then there is the fresh raspberry tartlet, served with Mascarpone cheese, orange purée, and walnut ice cream.
Get social with John Keoghs, The Lock Keeper, across all social media platforms, call 091 449431, or check out John Keoghs on TripAdvisior or www.johnkeoghs.ie Private functions catered for.
