Man Friday

Heard very good things about this restaurant, so went down to try it out with my wife. I started out with the mussels stuffed with buttered bread crumb and garlic, and my wife got the deep fried brie with plum and port sauce. They were both fantastic! The brie was comfort food to a new level. The breading gave it texture and the brie gave it substance. Every bite had three, distinct flavor progressions that made it a brilliant and pleasurable dish. The mussels were absolutely bursting with flavor, and though I had a full plate, I found myself craving more when they were all gone.
The main course that I ordered was the Grilled Fillet of Hake with lemon, parsley, and parmesan crust served with a leek and white wine butter sauce. It was a delicious dish! The fish was cooked perfectly. It was flaky, hot, and moist. The crust gave it a complex texture and the sauce provided an extra burst of flavor. My wife got their Man Friday Fish Pie. It certainly did not lack for fish, and appeared to have at least 3 different kinds. It was a tad bit soupy, but it was absolutely delicious. The main course was served with veggies, potatoes au gratin, and chips. The chips were so perfect, I could hardly believe that they were real. I have never had chips cooked so perfectly. Wonderfully crispy on the outside, but soft and hot on the inside. They also had the salty flavor that was exactly how I always thought chips should have. It was like eating chips straight from a dream. The veggies were fresh and crisp. They complemented the whole meal well. The potatoes brought an extra impact of flavor to the meal, serving to provide a distinct variety and balance.
We finished up with a Sticky Toffee Pudding. It was definitely worth saving a little room for this. The pudding was served with ice cream and fresh whipped cream. It was very sweet, but not too sweet. It is one of the best I have had in the British Isles. Topped off the meal nicely.
Top notch restaurant. I would give it 10 stars out of five. The service was great! We got to meet the owner, and she was such an amazing woman. Really cared that we enjoyed ourselves. The staff was very nice and very courteous. Hard to beat this restaurant. It has to be one of the best in the Europe. Above and beyond all expectations!

Get a reservation during their «early menu» time. The early menu is amazing food at great prices! We enjoyed mussels, chicken wrapped around spinach feta prosciutto, and grilled hake in a lemon white wine reduction. We also had a wonderful bottle of sauvignon blanc at a very reasonable price.
The service was very friendly and accommodating. We asked our B&B to make a reservation for us and that worked out well.
We didn’t use the patio, but it looked fantastic; it would be especially good if you were just having a drink or cocktail. I’m not sure I’d want to have my whole dinner out there, because it seemed to get a lot of sun. But the views of the bay are awesome!

Very nice menu and an interesting island/​upscale restaurant hybrid atmosphere. We called an hour ahead on a Friday night in July and got a reservation right away; I had heard reservations were required, so it’s probably not a bad idea to call.
Kinsale is a really nice town, and the walk to Man Friday gives you a nice view of the bog/​harbor. It can get a bit loud – especially when you have two hen parties going on – but we luckily managed to get a table far from the larger crowds.
We had the crab au gratin appetizer, which was good, but I expected it to come with some form of bread, like most au gratin appetizers I’ve had. I had the turbot entrée, which was excellent, and my wife went with a steak, which came with an au poivre sauce she didn’t order, and didn’t want. A minor mistake, but still something that turned her off a bit. For dessert, the strawberry shortcake, which really didn’t have much of a shortcake; it was more like wafers and strawberries. Not totally thrilled with that.
Prices are a bit high, but did not seem out of line with any other higher-​priced restaurants in Ireland. Overall, I would go back again, if I am ever fortunate enough to have the money, time, and resources to make it back to Kinsale.

Beautiful summer evening weather in Kinsale, Ireland. I ate dinner with a business friend on the terrace of the Man Friday restaurant. It was a lovely view across the water to the quaint and hilly town. The food was excellent. Homemade seafood chowder and a really good steak au poivre. The staff were attentive, friendly, and helpful. The meal was prompt but not rushed. Highly recommend the Man Friday restaurant in Kinsale — especially on a nice sunny evening.

Great food an fun atmosphere. Great service!

My wife and I went to Ireland Oct 2011 (we’re American) for two weeks for our one year. We stayed in Dublin, Kilkenny, Cork City, Kinsale, Killarney, Dingle, and Galway, and I gotta say, Kinsale was one of our favorite towns, and in part because of the food. Great seafood here, fresh, and most restaurants can tell you who (that’s right, who!) caught the fish.
Man Friday was our favorite restaurant experience in Ireland. The seafood here was great and fresh, the crab dip for appetizer was delicious, and the deserts were to die for. My wife got crème brule — classic dessert, but done so right!
What else made this restaurant great was the view of Kinsale town and the harbor, as well as the fact that it appeared to be a popular spot with the locals. There were some obvious tourists there, but appeared to be outnumbered by the residents. That’s how you know any place is good when you travel anywhere, in my opinion.
Opinions may be different by locals in Kinsale, but when you live 7 hours from the nearest coastline in the US (we’re from Tennessee), and you can’t always bet on fresh seafood at restaurants, even if they are in a coastal city in the US, a place like this is a real treat. If you are visiting Ireland, make a point to stay a night or two in Kinsale, Cork Co., and if you plan on splurging anyway for dinner, Man Friday is a safe bet.