West in Bearna

We had been in the West restaurant 7 years ago and that food experience left us very good memories. We have recently been in the revamped Blackthorn restaurant to celebrate a birthday and we were a bit deceived from the mains menu. Decor is great and staff is kind and welcoming. Fergal did take care of our 6 years old son taking his food order quickly and serving him first. Me and my husband had good starters. I did had tuna fish and It was really good. I had ordered a specific fish dish, which apparently was not available, I was informed so just few minutes before the starter was arriving. I had the chance to order another main, and as I preferred to continue with fish, I looked at the resting 3 fish mains options, they weren't what I was expecting in such a restaurant. I did in the end choose the fish and chips thinking it would be a gourmet version of the traditional dish. But it wasn't something special, I could eat same dish in the downstairs gastropub. There was just an odd addition of battered an deep fried sausages. My husband went for a kebab/brisket plate, he did find brisket really dry. Both dishes were served on hipster fast-food trays. On the rest of the menu there were quite popular options like cheeseburgers. And in fact at the close-by tables there was a group of American tourists, most of which ordered burgers. Although the quality of produce was good, I did find the menu of mains a bit too close to pub food, which is something I wouldn't expect from such a restaurant. It looks like the menu has been adapted to the American tourists' taste. That's a pity because I don't think I would go there a second time. Next time I will just go to the ground-floor gastropub. I guess this restaurant would be a good option for those that looks for a more privacy and a brighter environment then the pub. But if you've been to the West then I wouldn't recommend to go to Blackthorn.

We had a truly lovely meal here at the weekend. The prime rib steak was honestly one of the best things I’ve tasted in quite a long time. Menu looks expensive but the sharing plates can easily feed three. Highly recommended and would love to see it succeed.

Recently dined in at blackthorn The whole experience was a delight Food was some of the best I've eaten in a long time, kitchen really know what they are doing, floor friendly also very helpful 😀

We had the pleasure of using a gift voucher, which gave us the opportunity to try a new restaurant. Conveniently, there is a dedicated parking area, making our arrival seamless. Upon entering, we were welcomed by a very pleasant atmosphere with subtle, soothing background music. The restaurant impressed us with its spaciousness—standing out among others in Galway. The staff were exceptionally friendly and attentive. They dimmed the lights to just the right level, paired with calming, non-intrusive music. As we sipped on our drinks 🍷, the ambiance set the tone for delightful conversation while awaiting our food. Our dining experience began with oysters, which were exquisitely fresh. Following that, the starters truly shone, delivering flavors that were nothing short of outstanding. For the mains, the meat dishes took center stage, surpassing the seafood dishes in quality and taste.

Went here for a birthday dinner with my wife—first time visiting since it changed over from West. The new look is really impressive, and the food was even better than we remembered. We started with the burrata and beef tartare—both were delicious. For mains, we had the dry-aged beef, which was cooked perfectly, and the sides were honestly some of the tastiest we’ve had in a while. We wrapped things up with a tiramisu to share, which was a great way to end the meal. Service was friendly and attentive without being over the top, and the wine pairings were spot on. We’ll definitely be coming back.

Absolutamente excelente servicio y personal. No podía fallarlo incluso si me pagabas, la comida era maravillosa y el servicio era aún mejor! 10 / 10 sin duda volvería a cenar y recomendar a cualquiera cómo ama la comida innegablemente buena! Muchas gracias a Louise y Fergal por el servicio que proporcionaron durante toda la noche!

Everything about this restaurant is top class !!!! Highly recommended! Unbelievable

Absolutely brilliant, food amazing and great service.