Restaurant Name:Les Gourmandises
Location: 17 Cook Street, Cork, Cork City
Food Type: French
Price Range: High
Rating: 5/5
Description: This is certainly a restaurant for special occasions. I say that not because it’s prices are on the higher side of the range but also because it feels like such a wonderful treat going there, that you couldn’t possibly spoil that by doing it regularly. No matter how much you want more of that amazing food!
I was there for the first time last weekend for me and my boyfriend’s two year anniversary. This was a very special occasion for us, so we really didn’t want to be disappointed. I have to say the restaurant exceeded my expectations from the moment we walked in the door. We were seated in a comfortable waiting area while our coats were taken, we were warmly greeted and asked if we would like wine or champagne while we ordered. We went for the champagne to mark the occasion. This was brought down to us promptly along with some curry popcorn to nibble on while we pursued the menu and the wine list. The waitress came over to ask if we had any questions about the menu and to tell us about the chefs recommendation which was cod. Now I have not eaten fish in years, except for salmon as I generally don’t like it. But I have been wanting to get back into fish lately. To see if my taste for it has changed. So I decided to be daring and go for it. I figured that if this place can’t make fish that I will enjoy then no one can.
We asked the waitress to recommend a red wine to go with what we ordered, but instead of recommending one herself she went and got the sommelier to do it for us. A sommelier is not something you get often in most Cork restaurants so to be given the proper attention to the wine list and actually thinking about what would go best with our specific order was fantastic. She made an excellent choice too. I only wish I could remember the name of it!
So all of this was done before we ever made it to our table. When we were seated it had a nice view of the surroundings but was intimate too. My boyfriend and I differed in our opinion of their choice of art but the restaurant is generally wonderfully decorated and make diners feel comfortable and at home. Our starters were quickly delivered along with the wine and water. Which was great as I was starving! I had duck and fois gras loaf, and my boyfriend had the mixed platter. Both were impressive and very tasty. They gave us a little time to let the starters go down before brining us the main course. The cod has converted me from saying, “I don’t eat fish” to, “I do eat fish, if it is prepared as it is in Les Gourmandises!”, it was simply that good. All the sauces and the accompanying potato gratin were also excellent. For desert we had the creme brulee. It was a first for me and I enjoy it immensely. All dishes were immaculately presented. The food was served in perfect proportions for my taste (not too much, not too little, so you eat everything on your plate but are very satisfied and need no more).
I can’t wait for the next special occasion so I can go back there! In fact we already booked it! Go do the same NOW!
