Rather a poor canteen than a fast food or a restaurant...
I have been yesterday in Howth for lunch to test this restaurant. After reading some reviews I have chosen to go to Beshoffs of Howth. This was the only place I have never been before so I have said to myself that it can't be that bad... I'll give it a try.
I went there at around 1pm. The place was just starting to get busy. There were only two people doing their best to serve at the tables for both outdoor and indoor tables.
I have been sited at a table rather fast, received a menu and I have placed the order quickly.
I have ordered for starter crab claws with garlic and chilli (price 11.50EUR) and for main the daily speciality lobster risotto (priced at over 16Eur) and some drinks.
The starter came relatively fast. There were around 6 tiny crab claws in a very oily mixture with chilli. No bread was served. Two of the claws were undercooked. There was no taste of garlic whatsoever. One could only taste the chilli and the oil. I would never recommend that dish in that restaurant. The product is way overpriced and the quality extremely, extremely poor. Value for money is not worth it...
After some time the risotto came...A small portion. I could see lots of oil floating in the plate on top and near the rice (one could have easily distinguish at least 5 spoons of oil on that plate). The lobster meat was very little and was mixed with an undercooked rice. This could have been a great dish if cooked properly but, for some reason that did not happen.
After struggling to crack the rice with my teeth I decided to return the dish. Since there were only two people for all their tables it took quite a long amount of time to have it returned. The staff seemed to be overwhelmed. At some point another person from their shop next door came to serve with dirty cloths. That kind of put me off from eating...
I was asked if, I wanted something else in exchange and as I was very hungry, I have decided to go for their daily pan fried fish. I have received the fish after some time with capers, broccoli and potatoes. Potatoes were nice, broccoli was nice, the fish was cooked well but, it was served in some odd mixture of capers salty water with oil (chilli oil?-not sure) which overpowered the fish transforming a beautiful meal into something greasy and fade.
Did not bothered to order desert there as I feared that who knows... maybe that will be greasy as well since apparently the oily food seemed to be the lunch theme in that restaurant.
Since there were only two people serving, it took a long time until I got the bill and have made the payment.
If, I were to rate this place, it is by far the worst on the west pier. The staff is friendly and they are nice but, only two people who serve at rush hour...that does not work for a decent customer experience. The food quality needs to be simnifically improved. It lacks quality and taste. read more