Bia Beo @ Menlo Park Hotel

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Directions

From M6, follow N6 (Galway City West) to third exit on Kirwan roundabout.

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Description

Whether adventuring along the Wild Atlantic Way, on a romantic getaway, or bringing the family West for a much-needed holiday, be sure to stop at the Menlo Park Hotel in Galway. Forgetting for a moment the fabulous, elegant accommodation on offer, when it comes to food and drink, the Menlo is tough to beat.

For a casual bite or indeed a casual night, their Bar Beoga or ‘lively bar’ is just the thing. Thoroughly modern, but very comfortable and inviting, the atmosphere here is perfect for any time of the day, be it breakfast, lunch, dinner or beyond. Lunchtime starters include a classic Caesar salad with cos lettuce, crispy bacon, their homemade dressing, parmesan shavings and watercress; spicy chicken wings cooked in their own secret Cajun spice blend and served with a blue cheese dip; as well as their fully loaded nachos topped with jalapenos, chilies, black olives, red onion, melted cheddar cheese and their own homemade tomato salsa and sour cream dip. They also do some great seafood starters like mussels in white wine with bacon, garlic and cream along with chopped parsley and a lemon wedge and served with treacle brown bread.

For the mains, there’s an 8oz sirloin steak cooked to your liking with sauté onions, mushrooms and their own homemade gluten-free onion rings and served with a crushed peppercorn sauce; a honey roast ½ duck on a bed of braised, shredded carrot and beetroot with a red wine jus; not to mention their “Good Aul’ Fish And Chips”, fresh cod deep fried in their own gluten free lemon and thyme batter and served with chunky chips, mushy peas and homemade tartar sauce. Delish. There’s a little menu for the little people in attendance, and they also do a really good pizza menu, if u fancy a slice! If it isn’t the grub you’re after, the bar itself is fantastic and really lives up to it’s ‘Beoga’ title with great live entertainment at the weekends. Oh, and don’t forget to grab a drink from their fab cocktail bar.

If you want to push the boat out and really treat yourself to some gastronomic delights, head for their Bia Beo restaurant, where their chefs pride themselves on supporting local artisan producers, resulting in some of the best dishes in town, and aiming to make every plate as much of a treat for the eye as the palate. They also have a very carefully selected list of wines from vineyards, both small and large, around the world.  A la carte starters included oaked smoked salmon, locally sourced from Gary Creaven fishmongers and served with boiled egg, red onion, gherkins and homemade brown bread; twice cooked pork belly, from the well-known McGeoughs of Oughterard, slow braised in cider and then broiled and served with apple, walnut and mango salsa; and a tasty sounding west coast seafood chowder of local seafood and veg and served with homemade brown bread.

For the mains, there’s lots to choose from with dishes such as a roast supreme of chicken served on a parmesan and leek risotto with butternut squash chips and a lemon & thyme sauce; pork medallion wrapped in smoked bacon with roast courgette and cherry tomato and a red wine & cherry sauce; as well as a confit of duck leg on a bed of red onion marmalade with a soya and ginger jus. There are also some great vegetarian options here with things like tagliatelle primavera with vibrant greens and pine nuts with rocket pesto, Parmesan shavings and garlic bread; or stuffed Portobello mushrooms with spicy Puy lentils, cous-cous with nuts and seeds, and tofu & cherry tomatoes.

There is a tempting range of desserts to keep you wanting more, featuring delights like a tuille basket with pistachio ice-cream and a drizzling of butterscotch sauce; a chocolate and almond fudge cake with a rum and chocolate glaze; or a mille feuille, layers of puff pastry with fresh strawberries and cream. Mouth watering. Bia Beo also does a great set menu that includes a glass of wine.

So if you’re out West, don’t miss out. Make a meal at Menlo your mission.

More about accomodation at Menlo Park Hotel