The Black Pig

Great tapas and really great wine list. Very reasonable prices. We had a great cheese plate for dessert as well. Ambience was excellent. All around a great food experience.

What a terrific wine list. A great choice of wines, many organic. The food was delicious. There was something for everyone on the menu. The owners take extra care to ensure that everything served from the olive oil to the cheeses is as fresh and as high quality as possible. The staff is attentive and friendly. What a great place!

Was in kinsale from USA last week. It was a Wednesday night and the place was packed. We were able to sit in the back porch which was fantastic. Tropical plants abound made for an intimate setting.
First off the location is great because it’s off the beaten path away from the hub of town. Kinsale is so small it’s really not that far of a walk.
Great food and service. We got a meat and cheese platter plus the pork belly over mashed potatoes. Finally someone in ireland puts the wet meat on top of potatoes to moisten them up. We went to at least 4 restaurants that serve potatos with nothing but blandness. The pork belly was scrumptious.
The chef came out at one point to greet us. Very nice place for a group or romantic evening.

You may need to book at the weekend… I said I would start at this because it was only at my third attempt I got to eat here! And it was worth it… Amazing experience… The wine list is outstanding and the selection of local tapas and your continental standard ones are amazing! Those oysters with the Korean dressing… Unreal… Worth a trip but be warned its small and you need to book on busy nights… Suppose if you in kinsale anyway you could chance your arm for a seat! You won’t be disappointed…

Adorable wine & tapas bar. Patio seating is adorable with stone waterfall and wool blankets for chilly nights. Fantastically large wine list & fresh mozzarella is the freshest I have ever had. Very romantic.

Wow! Had an absolutely flawless experience here the selection of wines, the small plates. The design and atmosphere of the place is so nicely put together. Attention to detail and unique flavors. Best meal in Ireland

The Black Pig is a special place. The owners Siobhan and Gavin have impeccable yet relaxed taste and they want to share it with all of us.
As you walk along the street towards the Black Pig, you can read handwritten food quotes by Virginia Woolf and Ernest Hemingway in strategic places, a kind of ode to great literature, food and graffiti, put in place seemingly by the local council in Kinsale. It sets the standard for greatness before you actually set foot inside.
Upon entering, the vibe, décor and general comfortable feeling that permeates are great. It’s busy, it’s sophisticated yet very familiar. The colour patterns, light and music were all perfect. Various Spanish, Latin and other great world musics were playing, then it moved to Miles Davis and beyond. Four stunning portraits of Samuel Beckett adorn the four corners, this again ads to the overall taste, thought and the style these folks are going for. Are we in their home? It seems like it.
We had a great table inside, not in the little outdoor garden which also looks perfectly natural and unscripted.
They recently won an award for best wine experience in Cork and the wine list reflects this. Very well chosen wines, many by the glass and competitive keen pricing means you will look far beyond the first one on the list. I was sitting on very comfy animal pelts which are used to cover a long wall bench. So again not at all your usual effect. It felt luxurious in an understated way. Various non matching cushions all along this wall also.
A glass of Cremant de Jura to start. Perfect.
The food! Well we had the finest bellota jamon and amontillado sherry to match (in heaven). It came with crusty bread, the olive oil on the table was delicious. Then some great local oysters (sweet meaty flavour not so salty) with glasses of Gruner Veltliner.
Then the vegetarian anti pasti board. Full of tasty marinaded, grilled and preserved veggie and cheese treats. The pacing of the meal was just right. We had a lovely long gap which was offered to us before our lightly seared locally caught wild tuna main course. This was stunning. Served rare, a great thick slab of the freshest tastiest tuna i have had. We drank a bottle of lightly cooled Barolo with it, decanted an hour previous. Match made in heaven. Decided against cheese instead shared a bowl of local strawberries.
Some port and sauternes to finish off a truly special meal experience. We spent 3 – 4 hours there as it was a special occasion and yes we drank and ate more than usual so our bill was higher than the average bill for two would be. Life is for living. Treat yourself to a long evening in the Black Pig. Order that great bottle you normally wouldn’t go for. You wont forget it.

Love this place! Excellent food – all local and fresh. Since it’s more small plates a nice break from a big heavy meal. So cute inside with a super patio out back. Had a great ravioli dish with local crab. Also had great pâté, oysters, cheese. If I had to pick two places in Kinsale I would go here and Fishy Fishy!

I am only reviewing this based on my quick trip inside on a very crowded Friday night. The place is so adorable on the inside but it was extremely hit when we walked in and very loud. We waited at the bar as there were no seats anywhere for about a good five minutes and were never approached by a waitress or bartender if we want red a drink etc. I realize it is busy but just a small signal from staff to let us know they’d get to us would have been nice. I would come back here on another night if we had more time in Kinsale but we don’t so I am only rating this on a quick experience. Wishing I could have at least tried a glass of wine. We left because it was way too hot inside and not a spot to sit even at the bar. I’m bled because I read good things about this place in Aer Lingus magazine on our flight out thru Dublin.

New place only open Wednesday through Sunday. Fantastic food and wine list. This rivals Fishy Fishy the best restaurant in Kinsale, in my opinion. Great atmosphere. Delicious catch of the day. Very detailed. A couple owns it. Think the guy we rented our house from said they just moved down from Dublin a few months ago. It’s on a back street. A little out of the way maybe hard to find but worth it! Make reservations. There are only a few tables –like most places in Kinsale. The sign on the door says they are not wine snobs. I agree. There were plenty of reasonably priced wines. They’re happy to suggest as well!