Thanks to Deirdre Walsh at Radio Kerry for having me on the lunchtime Talkbout show.
A few listeners have mailed to ask me for details of cheap eats around Kerry, so here’s a few. Most of these were recommended by friends who live in Dingle or Tralee.
Tralee:
- Brats: Whisper it, and don’t tell them we sent you. Brats is one of Ireland’s best kept-secrets and, from the sounds of it, they want it to stay that way. The food in this vegetarian and vegan restaurant is so good, according to my secret source, that the owners have written to several guide books asking to be removed. I guess they don’t want to be swamped. It’s around €7 for a lunch and we’re told that the food is always imaginative, well-presented and reliable. You’ll find them at 18 Milk Market Lane.
- Bella Bia: This popular Italian eatery delivers pizzas, pastas and the rest at decent prices. There’s an early bird menu from 5-7pm: three courses for only €13.50. That’s bloody good.
Goat St Cafe, Dingle
Dingle:
- The Goat Street Cafe: Several people have been raving about the breakfast here. It includes such drool-inducing items as French toast with Melted Brie and Maple Syrup and Smoked Salmon and Scrambled Egg on Rye Toast. They do beautiful lunches at €10-14. Dinner is from 6-9pm, where most mains will set you back about €15-20.
- Lord Baker’s: A well-regarded spot for fish, the Lord Baker is not exactly cheap but three friends tell me it is very good quality. They do an early bird – 3 courses for €26.
- An Cafe Litreacha: One of the nicest cafes in Ireland and never given as much attention as it deserves. What could be nicer than spending a few hours in this cafe-bookshop, having a bite to eat and a few coffees, and getting stuck into a good book.
- Hot dog stand, Dingle Marina: I’m reliably informed that the hot dog stand is one of the best cheap eats around Dingle. Take it on a walk.
Killarney:
- I’ll come out with my hands up: I’ve only eaten in one place in Killarney. That’s GB Shaws in the luxurious Muckross Park Hotel and Cloisters Spa. Again, not exactly cheap, and probably full up for Valentine’s. My main course of Grilled Black Sole on the bone with lemon caper butter had the unmistakeable flavour of fish straight off the boat. It might be one of the best fish dinners I’ve ever had. Keeping the cost down, you could try the bar food in Monk’s and treat yourself to a massage in the almost otherworldly spa.
- Our reader SJ recommends Murphy’s ice-cream shops in Killarney and Dingle. This is run by Kieran Murphy, who blogs at IceCreamIreland, and whom we often link to here at CheapEats. SJ says: “They might not be cheap but they are quality.”
Big thanks to everyone who emailed or listened in to the show. Readers, over to you: any other Kerry tips?
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Tags: Kerry
