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Restaurant Review - The Riverbank Restaurant at the Absolute Hotel
ONE of those rare places where even the rain looks good: the Riverbank Restaurant at the Absolute Hotel.
Shortly after 8pm on a Thursday evening, Krzysztof from Poland pulls out a chair at a table for two by the window. In the week that is in it, it is hard not to think of the late Frank McCourt as the rain dances on the river outside.
It is weather for ducks and two of them paddle their way in unison up the Abbey river much to the delight of the American tourists inside. Good food - all the time, promises the evening menu. Well, let's see.
First for me comes the soup of the day, cream of vegetable served with brown soda bread. If there is one thing that annoys me more than getting a parking ticket, it's cold soup. Top marks for the Riverbank though - it is piping hot! The serving is generous too - and nicely presented with lots of crunchy croutons on top.
My guest is a little bid more adventurous, opting for buffalo chicken wings. However, she loses some of her daring by declining the sweet chilli sauce. Three wings down - two to go. Finger-licking good she says.
Main course next. Oh what to have? I might be small but I'm famous for finishing a steak. It is time for the 8oz fillet. Along it comes, medium rare set off with buttered asparagus, colcannon mash and served with a red onion and shallot jus.
My knife sinks into the steak with ease - just the way I like it. The adventurous one opts for pan-friend breast of chicken stuffed with Clonakilty pudding served with chive mash and a red wine jus. Krzysztof returns to ask us if everything is to our liking. No complaints. All around tables are full to the brim with couples, friends and acquaintances and tourists all busily chatting away.
A screen separates us diners from a gathering of around 70 - family and friends of newly married couple Dermot and Maria. It's hard not to get caught up in the feel-good atmosphere.
With three ounces of prime beef to go, I survey the dcor. On each table a burning candle is encased in a deep purple holder adding a splash of colour to the pristine white table cloth.
Other splashes of light come in the form of mood lighting - subtle red hues radiating from neon lights - a nice warm touch. The furniture consists of natural oak wood, province style tables and comfortable seating in leather and cane.
With the steak polished off, next up is the dessert. For me it's the special - profiteroles and cream. However, the adventurous one has taken a nose dive - oh Lord it's the camomile tea!
The profiteroles are perfectly presented, surrounding a dollop of whipped cream with a drizzling of strawberry sauce, dusted off with a generous sprinkling of icing sugar. To finish it off, I order a nice cup of tea.
None of that fancy stuff - it's the plain stuff for me. Overall impression - Absolutely fabulous!
The Riverbank hotel is offering a €5 summer madness lunch from Monday to Saturday from 12.30 to 14.30 offering everything from classic bangers and mash to fish in a beer batter served with homemade chunky chips and mushy peas ...all for just €5.
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Weather for Limerick
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
