Lucinda O'Sullivan's Ireland

About The Restaurant

Man Friday Restaurant is undoubtedly one of Kinsale’s most famous and popular restaurants, and indeed probably its oldest restaurant. There is always a fantastic buzz to the place and great food to boot. It was taken over in 1978 by Philip and Joss Horgan who ran a tight ship in the most welcoming and hospitabl way. Now, after 40 years in the biz, they handed over the reins to their son Daniel, who has cheffed in the coolest places in London and brought this fresh vibe home to Man Friday.

There is a distinctly tropical feel to the place as you go down the palm covered walkway to the door before perching yourself on the palm tree stumps for a pre-dinner drink at the bar. You sort of feel you are escaping from reality for a few hours. The restaurant is called Man Friday because both the author of the story, Daniel Defoe, and the subject of same, Alexander Selkirk, sailed in and out of Kinsale. Defoe came in 1690 as part of John Churchill’s expeditionary force to capture the harbours of Cork and Kinsale, and Selkirk sailed from Kinsale in 1703. It has a great location overlooking Kinsale’s stunning inner harbour. The decor is really hip and cool and they also have a great terrace with stunning views. 

Anyway, to the food. One thing one could always be sure of at Man Friday was the best of locally caught seafood. I have had over the years cracking sole on the bone which for me is the King of Fish. They serve it either simply grilled on the bone, or as a classic sole Colbert, filletted, lightly dusted, fried and served with parsley butter and lemon.  They also do a great turbot dish with Ballycotton crab and a light peppercorn sauce as well as a delicious hot seafood platter. But to get back to the beginning. The food here is top of the range whether you have crab au gratin to start or maybe a half dozen oysters. Scampi comes with tartare sauce; hot oysters are poached in their own juices in a beurre blanc sauce; smoked salmon rolls are stuffed with prawns. If you are not into fish there is deep fried Brie with plum and Port sauce or maybe savourty mushrooms stuffed with a spiced lamb filling, pickled cucumber and an organic leaf salad. Something for everyone. Apart from their beautiful seafood they do cracking sirloin and fillet steaks which you can have plain or “au Poivre” or with Bearnaise sauce or Bourguignonne sauce. They also do a lovely herb crusted rack of new season lamb with red wine and rosemary jus and Duck Armagnac which is with a nectarine and Brandy sauce which is to die for. Vegetables are included with main courses and are always lavish and scrumptious – the gratin potatoes – wow. 

You can follow up, if you have room, with maybe flourless chocolate torte with West Cork cream and salted caramel, or sticky toffee pudding with vanilla icecream. Their classic creme brulee with seasonal fruit and a tuille biscuit is superb and they also have a great cheese board.

Day or night, Man Friday is a hard act to beat. 

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