
Main Street
Bundoran
Co. Donegal
Maddens Bridge Bar & Restaurant in Bundoran, Co. Donegal, has one of the most beautiful settings in Ireland, being located right opposite the famous surf peak break, creating the most amazing views out over the wild waves of the Atlantic. People come from near and far to visit Bundoran and its enviable coastline, and the luckiest ones, including my surfing son and his hungry friends, find their way to Maddens on a regular basis.
Full of life throughout the year, Maddens is a hotspot in the town for great craic and fab trad music sessions, but it also has some really great food, and a meal here is certainly not to be missed. With the ocean a mere stones throw away, it’s no surprise that there is some fantastic seafood too, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
The kitchen is led by Head Chef Alan Barrins, whose career includes positions in several prestigious fine-dining establishments in London and Dubai, most notably the acclaimed Corrigan’s Mayfair. A former restaurant owner in Sligo, Alan brings a refined culinary approach rooted in seasonal Irish produce and modern technique.
Starters highlight the best of local seafood and contemporary Irish flavours. Traigheanna Bay oysters, available in portions of six or twelve, are served with a house-made chilli salsa vinaigrette. Additional offerings include in-house smoked salmon with pomegranate and cumin dressing; a poached king prawn cocktail with sweet pickled cucumber and Mary Rose sauce; amd crispy buffalo chicken with cumin yoghurt and pickled celery.
Mains include a 28-day dry-aged Irish sirloin steak with roasted onion, herb-roasted tomato, and seasoned chips; slow-cooked beef short rib with chimichurri, tenderstem broccoli, and roasted carrots; a Thai-influenced Donegal shellfish bowl; a crispy panko chicken Kiev; and a cod and salmon fish burger with kimchi and sriracha aioli.
For those with a sweet tooth, you won’t be disappointed, with sweet treats like deconstructed vanilla cheesecake, a smooth lemon posset, and a rich sticky salted toffee pudding.
Whatever the reason for your visit to Bundoran – whether it’s to ramble the local wilds, surf the world famous waves, or simply to pamper and preen on a much deserved escape – it wouldn’t be complete without a craft beer or a cocktail and a meal at Maddens Bridge Bar and Restaurant.
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