The Arch Bistro

Just had a great experience at the Arch. We had a Christmas Eve special menu that provided a perfect selection. Some had the steak, others the fish and chips but I couldn’t resist the turkey and ham knowing that I’ll be having more tomorrow. The chef did a spectacular job on a moist turkey, and beautiful ham. The stuffing was to dry for me but one of the others loved it. The mash, roasties and Brussels are so traditional but I’m glad they didn’t mess with perfection ! The soup starter I had was excellent especially with their Guinness bread. Deserts of chocolate and strawberry mouse were delicious but personally I did not think much of their sticky toffee pudding.
The service always makes a difference and we found the staff to be great. They were attentive and accommodating and genuinely seemed to care about our party — thank you.
The décor was more modern than the tatch makes you expect and I do wish it was a little more homey but all up a great meal.

Awful food awful unfriendly service dont waste your money here

I had read several glowing reviews of the Arch Bistro and was looking forward to checking it out, then I came across the one on here and I was even more intrigued by the reviewer…
So I decided to book a table and see who was right.
I have to say I was really impressed with the décor. The 1^st impression from looking at the thatched pub’s exterior is that is gonna be a bit «homely». But once you go up the stairs to the restaurant its really contemporary and comfortable.
I was there with 3 girlfriends to celebrate a birthday. We were given a really nice booth table, cushioned seats with loose scatter cushions, very comfortable. The restaurant was busy (it was a Saturday night) but I did notice the tables were well spaced, not everyone squashed on top of one another.
Once we were seated the waitress came and took our drinks order and left us to peruse the menu. It was a cracking menu with 7 choices of starter, 10 mains plus the specials.
I had the seared mackerel to start and the others had the goats cheese and 2 went for the seared scallops. Everything was delicious, I sampled some of the goats cheese and it was fantastic too, the starters were on the table really quickly but we were left enough time to digest and get ready for our mains.
I have to admit we all ordered fillet steaks! They were on the daily specials list and sounded irresistible. One companion had ordered the Roast Poussin but it was sold out, she wasn’t disappointed when the steaks arrived. They were HUGH, perfectly cooked and with so many accompaniments we really didn’t need to order any extra side dishes — but we did — the green beans with smoky bacon had to be sampled. It was excellent, I normally have my steak medium rare but as I’m expecting had to order medium, I was so impressed with the cut of beef and the cooking, I do like my steak and am quite fussy about the cooking so I have to say 10 out of 10!
We all decided that as it was a special occasion we’d have deserts, despite the fact we sent back 4 empty plates! We ordered more drinks and enjoyed the atmosphere while we tried to make room for the deserts. I had the apple and bramble berry crumble with homemade custard. It was so light and delicious I was sad when it was finished :-). The others had the Orange posset, the chocolate brownie and the sticky toffee pudding. The only plate that went back not almost licked clean was the sticky toffee pudding… She was not as much of a savage as the rest of us!!!
The service was excellent throughout. We were served fast, but given enough time to savour each course before the next arrived, the drinks were replaced as soon as needed and everyone was really warm and welcoming.
I would have no reservations about recommending this restaurant to anyone and can’t wait to go back myself.
I think Gilli S was more focused on being «funny» than giving an honest review of a great bistro. Oh and excellent value for money too!

I happened to be in the area doing some research and I was recommended to the ‘pub’ round the corner and yes I made the mistake of going upstairs to the Restaurant.
I will state that the restaurant has absolutely nothing to do with the pub downstairs… or rather the pub has nothing to do with the restaurant upstairs.
Good bit — there is a car park but if you happen to notice a little old man in a green car he is a very bad driver so park well away.
Good bit — good graphics on the sign outside.
I climbed the stairs debating about going to the pub and thought no I can always write a review for Unilocal… the suffering I do for you!
Nice enough restaurant and the toilets were clean apart from having a fake plant in there (why do they do that?).
I am led to a table right down the end of the restaurant passing much nicer tables where there is another single man sitting at a nicer table. I did think about asking for another table but decided to see how it paned out… the things I do…
There was roast of the day… beef…lovely I thought I am hungry. I was never offered a drink although water was put on the table. A male person took my order — no smiles — I asked if I could have the chips instead of mashed potato.
Beef arrived, big chunky chips, some mashed up veg and squeaky green beans. You know the type as you eat them they squeak when you eat them? A little longer cooking stops this. I asked for some horse radish with extra cream. Well I got horse radish.
I started to cut in to the food carefully as I was wearing a white T’ shirt and I had a little fear about gravy (sorry jus) ending up on my chest. Cut into the beef — sorry tried to saw into the beef like trying to cut up a pair of old boots. Tried chewing the beef good job I have my own teeth. I have never had such tough beef in all my life.
Left half the meal. Waiter wafts over. ‘Everything all right for you?’ he says. Me looking at half a meal left on the plate ‘no i said that was the toughest beef I have every had may I have my bill please?’ off he trots. Eventually the ‘front of house man’ arrived and gave out to me for saying the beef was tough… how he had tried it off my very plate… how the chef had tried it off my very plate… how it was topside you know… not sirloin… what did I expect for the price (€ 8.50)…you must lead a very (charmed?) life never eating tough beef… he said.
All I could do was sit and smile politely at him thinking of the review I would be writing later.
To be honest serving tough meat at a cheap price is no excuse. That is like saying ‘Here have some beef infected with BSE. its cheap’.
I have eaten different cuts of beef but I have NEVER had beef so tough!
Got my bill — paid my bill and left for the pub downstairs for desert… I was still hungry.
Would I go back? Only if I was dragged kicking and screaming with my lips stapled so I would not have to eat their awful tough beef.
…the jus was quite nice.
Dreadful service and not very nice to be spoken to like that.