Quay West in Donegal

Ah lads… Hold up there. I know that we are blessed to live in a country where fresh produce is abundant, and good chefs are numerous… BUT… when you’re lucky enough to eat somewhere that has both of these things, the result is the culinary holy grail. Quay West in Donegal Town is most definitely one of these places… A beautifully diverse menu that showcases the best of Irish beef (Brazilian, Brashmillion…) delicate Italian pasta dishes, and even ventures into a wonderfully fragrant Indonesian curry. Being as close as they are to Killybegs, I couldn’t pass the freshness of the Kinnegar battered Haddock, with fresh tartar sauce and pea purée… Christ. That’s all. The fish must have hopped out of the water of his own accord, and got a taxi from the pier in Killybegs straight in to the Quay West kitchen, and begged to be battered… and being in Donegal, what better battering than a Kinnegar batter?!?! It was utter perfection, complimented by a perfectly tart tartar, and smooth pea which was definitely in several of the 40 shades of green. Also at our table were dishes of Chicken Parmigiana, curry, and the most incredible zesty crab and courgette linguine… I’m not sure what magic was worked to make this sooooo light, but Angels definitely wept. The delicate lightness of the lobster cream was unreal… if this was the base for a chowder or bisque, it would be unbeatable. If you happen to be lucky enough to be in Donegal at dinner time, do NOT pass this place by. The staff are friendly without being too overly attentive, and the view is nearly as perfect as the food. THIS Quay West, is much better than the other Key West, and doesn’t take as long to get to. 13/10 for fresh fishiness. Will dine again. Nomnomnom…

Really great restaurant in Donegal Town. We were looked after from the moment we walked in the door and right throughout the evening. The menu was wide and varied with plenty of choice for everyone. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable and despite being busy, everything was under control and there was no long wait for our food. Hadn't eaten there before but will definitely be back. Really nice atmosphere. Thanks to Jo and team for a lovely evening.

Beautiful restaurant fantastic meal an staff highly recommend a visit to quay west restaurant Donegal town very good value for money thanks guys really enjoyed my stay

Stepped in for a bite with a vegan pall and wasn’t disappointed. Patatas bravas and wings nice. Lots more choice so will defo be returning

Food was fantastic and the service 11/10, cheers to Jo & Co for looking after us. Will be back for sure

Had a wonderful meal and experience, Jo was an absolute ⭐ took such good care of us down to every last detail ! Will be back again soon ! 😇

The service was amazing and the owner Joe(f) was beyond welcoming. We had been walking the square for 40 min trying find a place that didnt require a reservation. She took one look at us, smiled and said," I know ypur good people" and let us in 1. The food was amazing. My wife and brother had haddock and the hake fish dishes. I had the chicken chorizo rigatonni and all the dishes were super fresh and delicious. 2. Service was impeccable and gracious. Joe herself came by with a kind word and a smile 3. The atmosphere was pleasant and warming. Cozy without bumping elbows or overhearing others conversations. After the meal we talked with the owner for 5 min. Just the nicest woman you could ever hope to meet. Will always go back when in town!!!

We came upon this place from a recommendation from someone we met on the street. This place is a gem just off the beaten path of main street. We came in close to closing time, but we were accepted as if they just opened up. Quite the change from other places. The food was great and the service was nothing short of outstanding. We had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with Jo the owner, and I must say, you will not find a more caring soul. She has passion for what she does, but more than that, she is a great person with an infectious smile. If you are cranky, don't bother coming, as Jo only accepts good people with a positive disposition. I would highly recommend Quay West, and we will definitely be back. If in Donegal, ask for a good seat from Jo!

We just had an amazing night celebrating my brother-in-law‘s 60th birthday. The four of us were ignorantly playing it by ear for dinner reservations in what we thought was a slow time and Donegal, unfortunately we were sadly mistaken. Luckily our new friend Michael Gallagher called his friend Thomas and with a little bit of patience he and Jo were able to get the four of us an amazing table. We had so much fun with the staff and each other. This is an authentic restaurant not a tourist driven restaurant although the tourists are certainly welcome. The ambience is probably the best I’ve seen in Ireland over the last several weeks. I love that the staff works as a team. Thomas runs a tight ship and Jo keeps everything running so smoothly. Even though it’s incredibly busy, they both take time to share some craic with you. They make amazing cocktails, and have an impressive, fairly priced wine list. We enjoyed their salmon special as an appetizer as well as the bruschetta and chicken wings. For dinner two had the haddock and I had the chicken Kiev. The chicken kiev was done perfectly and was very special to me as that is something my mother always made for our family as a child. I had had not had it in probably 50 years. I give them the highest recommendation!

very tasty food and big portions. i ate the haddock, it was tender, the batter was crispy. under the piece on top, there was a smaller one under it. i changed the chips to black garlic and parmesan fries