Lucinda O'Sullivan's Ireland

About The Restaurant

I’m not used to dining tout seule at the best of times, not to mention on the sidewalk, as our American cousins say, but my first visit to Coal was such, on a bright sunny day. It was a truly enlightening experience, eavesdropping on passers-by as they commented on the menus and the interiors. “That looks nice – cocktails too – and Sunday lunch.”  Needless to say they were also none to subtly looking at my plate, which certainly didn’t let the side down, as I was quite delighted with myself sitting outside and enjoying delicious food and attentive service. On that day, I’d had a superb Parmesan and pea risotto, elegantly presented, on a pea veloute with Serrano ham crisps, followed by confit duck leg with sweet honey and thyme roasted carrot, a sizeable smoked bacon and spring onion potato cake, Savoy cabbage and a berry compote. No detail was missed, all the little high end touches were there, I was very impressed.

Colm Corcoran and Barbara Bond’s Coal is a family run restaurant where Head Chef Colm offers terrific food to suit everyone, as well as  great cocktails and an extensive wine list including Champagnes. The restaurant name is a nod to both the ‘black rock’ of their location and the coals they cook on, which lend that special flavour to their steaks and other chargrilled dishes.

The menu changes but starters might include dishes such as battered salt & chilli prawns with a sweet chilli dipping sauce; duck spring rolls with fennel & orange salad with hoi sin sauce. Goats cheese & beetroot salad with candied walnuts, poached pear, pesto dressing and Balsamic reduction. There are ever popular dishes too such as chicken wings, panko crumbed deep fried Brie, plus chicken liver pate with toasted sourdough, citrus fruit segments and quince jelly.
They have terrific steaks, handpicked from grass fed prime Irish Hereford cattle. Both the 8oz sirloins and 9oz fillets are 28 Day Dry Aged, chargrilled to your liking, and served with onion rings, a choice of side order – chunky chips, cauliflower cheese, gratin potato etc – plus a choice of pepper sauce or garlic butter. You can also add pan fried gambas cooked in garlic butter to any steak.

They also do an eclectic selection of mains including 6oz chargrilled beef burgers with all the trimmings, as well as a vegetarian/vegan burger, plus Cajun marinated breast of chicken with pilaf rice and a creamy Cajun sauce. Pan roasted cod & prawns is a fish option as is pan fried fillet of seabass with prawns cooked with cherry tomatoes, garlic and lemon butter, served with gratin potato.  Posh fish n chips are there, as is spaghetti with prawns, chorizo and black olive tomato sauce, not to mention a vegan curry plus a chicken/aubergine Katsu curry.  You certainly are spoiled for choice.

They also have a 2/3 course Neighbourhood Menu which is great value for days when you just don’t want to cook – and sure why would you when Colm will do it for you?

Coal is on fire – a definite hot spot.

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