Award Winning Food, Drink & Travel Magazine

TheTaste.ie
IMG_6174
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp
Share on linkedin

Making A Splash Along The Wild Atlantic Way – Waterfront House & Restaurant Sligo Review

Waterfront House resides peacefully adjacent to the tranquil waters of Enniscrone Beach. Arriving on one of the hottest days of the year was just the start of the good fortune we encountered on this Wild Atlantic Way escape. Greeted by charismatic co-owner Daniel we were immediately in a holiday state of mind. If home from home comfort appeals to you (and why wouldn’t it) this is the place to go.

Making the short trip to our room it becomes clear that this is an establishment that is suitable for all, from the very young to the very mature. Opening our room door we were gobsmacked by the panoramic view of Enniscrone Beach that greeted us. A very large bedroom complete with 52″ flatscreen TV, ample storage space and a sparkling clean ensuite bathroom but nothing could take away from the all encapsulating views we were privvy to.

As beautiful as the view from our room was we couldn’t resist the allure of the outdoors for long. A brisk walk along the circumference of the bay in the warm sunshine the ultimate tonic for the mind, body and soul. Speaking of tonics…a cool crisp one with its scintillating sidekick Gin was a welcome treat as we sat out front of Waterfront House and drank in the dramatic seascape in front of us.

Owners Jason and Daniel along with their partners have created a bespoke experience where personal touches are plentiful. Daniel’s partner Sonata confidently  leads front of house and has honed a diligent, attentive team for whom no request is too much. Jason’s partner Yvonne is at the helm in the kitchen. This energetic, creative lady is a breath of fresh air. A genuine food lover that has forged a strong relationship with the local fishermen to ensure she provides the freshest of seafood for her patrons. Yvonne embodies all that is essential to the successful running of a busy kitchen.

The fresh sea air ensured a strong appetite was built up and we were ready to wine and dine. Entering the bright and airy mezzanine floored Waterfront Restaurant we were shown to our ocean view table. A magical vista and a menu that we could easily have ordered every offering from made for a very lovely start to the evening.

The menu in Waterfront House Restaurant is filled with local seafood as well as Irish meats, fruits and vegetables. Six starters and six main courses are the sum of the menu and honestly, it was very hard to make our final decisions as it was all so so appealing to us.

 

Finally settling on Donegal Rainbow Trout €9.00 and Organic Mooncoin Beetroot Carpaccio €7.50. In the interim we were presented with a delicious amuse bouche and a selection of freshly baked breads. Dillisk & Black pepper bread jerked our tastebuds into life along with a delectable amuse bouche of smoked chicken mousse with blackcurrant. The creamy consistency of the mousse coupled with its smokey flavour paired perfectly with the sharpness of the blackcurrant jelly. Generous wedges of white soda and traditional brown bread were feverishly devoured and God knows how we declined the offer of more bread but we had a feeling these portions would lean on the more generous side.

Our first starter of Donegal Rainbow Trout landed on the table, two fillets perched one on top of the other with a moreish topping of Crushed Liquorice & Brazil Nuts. The sweet, earthy flavour of Black Garlic along with the freshness of the Courgette Salsa married so well with the delicate fresh flesh of the trout. This starter offered everything that we adore in a dish, a beautiful piece of fish cooked and presented in a manner that in no way overshadows the exceptional quality of the star of the plate. Across the table a very vibrant plate of Organic Mooncoin Beetroot Carpaccio was packing a serious punch in both the taste and appearance stakes. Again, the theme of handling the produce correctly is fully evident here. Wafer thin slices of the finest Mooincoin Organic Beetroot in all its earthy flavoured glory are the star of this plate, complimented perfectly by the addition of some very creamy Dozio’s Garlic & Black Pepper Cheese. Walnuts, Pear & Tarragon Vinaigrette all play a well thought out part in this dish which we throughly enjoyed.

 

With the special of the evening being Lobster Thermidor, one of our absolute favourites, there was never any doubt that this would be ordered. The Lobstar was literally purchased 500ft away from the restaurant that morning. It has most certainly been said more than once in this review that the handling of the food here is everything. Uncomplicated and intelligent use of ingredients lets the food speak for itself. The delightfully meaty Lobstar topped with a mixture of fresh herbs and gruyère all seated atop a crisp garden fresh salad provided many majestic mouthfuls of pure joy.

The carnivore across the table ordered the McHale’s Slow Braised Beef Short Rib €25.00. The meat literally fell off the bone at the sight of a fork, to say this was tender is not even discriptive enough. Juicy, succulent, melt in the mouth beef that really needed nothing else however, some sweet parsnip puree, mellowed out the meatiness. Baby Spinach a great antidote to the richness of the meat. A very tasty little pool of Pearl Onion Jus elevating each level of flavour at work here to an all time high. It is also worth noting that although we ordered additional sides of Garden Salad €3.50 and Rosemary Salted Skinny Chips €3.50 there was absolutely no need as our table was furnished with more than enough gorgeous fresh vegetables. To say we had a feast in front of us is an understatement.

Our wine of choice for the evening was a beautifully crisp French Chenin Blanc, Vouvray Sec, Chateau Moncontour, 2017 €39.00. Green apple with a distinctive floral tone. We were really pleased with how nicely this paired with all our dishes, even the rich beef. Usually tempted to order a glass of red with such a dish, this wasn’t even considered. Perhaps the hot sunny day played a part in this decision too.

Although we had feasted like kings, there is definitely a separate compartment that always has room for dessert. Deciding on Rich Chocolate Cake €7.00 left us with no regrets. A decadent dessert if ever there was one. Gooey chocolatey goodness in every bite. Coffee Custard needs to be more readily available, we would have bought it by the tub to take home it was so good. A scoop of dreamy Crunchy Peanut Butter Ice-Cream was not needed but at the same time not one bite was left behind.

 

A large slice of White Chocolate & Elderflower Cheesecake €7.00 as recommended by our lovely waitress Jenny was a spectacularly good pick. Stewed Strawberries paired so beautifully, Milk Crumbs and Mini Meringue Kisses added a fabulous crunch and let’s be honest Vanilla Ice Cream is never ever a bad idea. Looking around the restaurant it was clear to see that this is a sought after spot. No need for a shirt and tie, the staff here welcome everyone equally. The standard of service is outstanding and is an absolute credit to Daniel, Jason, Sonata & Yvonne.

Falling asleep to the melodic sounds of the waves lapping the shore was an idyllic end to a truly beautiful day. This is very clearly a tightly run ship with all members of staff fully engaging with their customers at all times.

Rested and ready to get back to reality in a far more relaxed state than we arrived we made our way to breakfast. A bountiful display of fresh fruit, yoghurts, cereals, freshly baked breads and pastries sparked the old appetite back into action. Our full Irish, cooked to order was a very scrumptious way to end our stay.

 

Waterfront House has so much to offer from its idyllic location to some of the most wholesome cooking available on this little island of ours. This is a Taste Experience that we know so many of our readers will enjoy. We highly recommend a visit.

 

Cliff Road, Enniscrone,

County Sligo, Ireland

F26 P9Y2

relax@waterfronthouse.ie

Recently Added

 Receive regular updates, special offers, reviews, competitions and much more..