I feel bad giving this review but the service was just really poor :( for context, I was traveling with a tour group that had a stop in Galway. I got there i want to say around 2:45 ish. I was told to grab a menu from the counter and seat myself anywhere for lunch. So I sat myself outside. Seemed like a bit of a bad sign because usually someone is there giving you the menu but I rolled with it.
After a few minutes, I walked inside to ask if I needed to go in to place my order, since I saw some people with drinks go inside and back out with drinks. Plus I didn’t see servers helping people outside too much. When I asked inside, they said someone would come to me. Since I was solo, I had to use the bathroom but held it in so I could get my order in. After about 10 minutes or so, no one showing up, I went in and said something to the effect of hey, I’m on a bit of a tight timeline because I have to meet this tour group by a certain time, can I just place my order before I go to the bathroom. I put the order in. I got my beer shortly after, although the person serving didn’t seem to know what table to go to.
I wasn’t keeping track of exactly how much time had passed but at this point, about 1/2 hour went by with no food. Sometime between, beer and the 1/2 hour point, I checked in on my order (since no one had actually served me officially, I just ordered at the bar) and was told it had been in put in 5 minutes go. At this point I was supposed to be back at my tour in 40 minutes and I wanted time to explore the city a bit and also eat. I went in and politely asked again, repeating my time constraint and explaining that I would need to leave and go somewhere else, because at this point I was worried about missing my tour group leaving. They checked and said it was on the way. Finally I got my soup, partially spilled, soon followed by a sandwich and oysters. Then I had to go in to pay the bill this way I’d have time to walk around a little (I only had 15 minutes roughly).
The food was good. But this service was just really bad, there’s no way around it. I don’t know if I’m being impatient, but in other coastal areas of Ireland (Howth, Bray, Dublin), I’ve had very fast service and thought it would be the same here because I imagine it’s heavily touristed. I feel bad, the staff were trying their best, but it was just so disorganized. I must’ve talked to 5 different people just to make sure my appetizers arrived on time and even then, it didn’t. When I was inside one time, I heard one of the bartenders saying that food was only in the back of the restaurant starting at 3:30(?) and someone else said actually it’s at 4. So I’m wondering if I was even sitting in the right area. even so, I should’ve been told that. I usually don’t mind if service is a bit slower but I would’ve liked to have gotten my order taken my somebody at my table like I was told I would. Or even if they were swamped, to at least check in with me and say hey it’s coming sorry for the delay, instead of me having to get up and check with them. Plus I told them I had a tighter timeline early on.
It’s a shame, food was great and I loved the atmosphere, but the service made it a stressful experience because it was so confusing and I was constantly wondering where my food was.
In conclusion, I’d say go here if you have time to kill, but not if you’re coming from a tour group and have a tighter timeline.
Tina Janulis
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26 August 2026
6.0
Stew really tasteful, but meat a bit tough, great service and always hopping, allowed out medium dog in the outside seating which very helpful.
Michael Heneghan
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26 August 2026
10.0
We arrived just in time to wait about 15 minutes, as a long queue started to form behind us. The service is very friendly and attentive. Although we had to wait quite a while for lunch, it was worth it, as the kitchen was full; and we were not in a hurry for anything. The food was what it should be: good and well prepared
Highly recommended.
eva poveda muñoz
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21 August 2026
8.0