The Green Onion by: Olivia

Dining at the Green Onion in Limerick is a feast for the palette and the eyes as well. The deep blues and reds of the interior recall Picasso's blue period or abstract art, yet the atmosphere is not cool, but warm. The mood is enhanced by the brass sconces that hang from windows with candles and illuminate the inner space with a glow.

Jeff the Chef, as he calls himself, has a discernible flare for all that fits well together. The restaurant is relatively pricey, but a bargain for what it offers.



Of the starters, the mussels are by far the highlight, arriving in a shallot white wine garlic and cream sauce. The mussels are extra plump and the sauce is so special, remember to request bread for absorbing the extra flavors. The walnut encrusted goat cheese salad was most memorable for its contrast of flavors. The sweetness of the walnuts balanced the saltiness of the warm cheese and the tartness of the balsamic vinaigrette, a pure harmonic experience.



My two favorite entres are the grilled Atlantic salmon and the chicken breast, both are superb. The best part of both entrees is that Jeff the Chef cooks them perfectly; they are done just to the right point, not overcooked or undercooked. The grilled Atlantic salmon comes with an herb sun dried butter sauce that contains a special pepper flake from Provenance sent to the chef by his mother. The sauce has a sweet smoky pepper flavor that is unique.

Chicken breast with a cream sauce is my favorite comfort food, Jeff's entree does not disappoint. The crisp outer layer of the chicken breast and moistness of the meat as you cut through it, is a credit to the cook. The sauce with cognac, cracked pepper, smoked bacon and wild mushrooms is ecstasy. The rich flavorful combination is quite memorable, and if you look away for a second, one might find those enjoying this wonderful dish licking their plate! As always in this part of Ireland, your entree comes with steamed seasonable vegetables and potatoes in a separate bowl; these arrived el dente and lightly buttered.

There is a 3 course price fix menu for 29.95 euros. If you order a la carte the entrees range from 18 euros to a high of 23 euros for Filet Mignon. The starters range in price range of 7 to 8 euros.

The house red and white wines are lovely and fairly reasonable at 18 euros a bottle or 4.50 euros for a glass. The wine selection though not extensive is reasonably priced at 21 to 29 euros a bottle for the white wines and 19 to 33 euros for the red wines.

My only disappoint was a sirloin steak that I had ordered medium rare arrived at the table more well done than I had requested; it was on the dry side. It was saved by the Roquefort cheese sauce that had a nice pungent creaminess that brought out the flavor of the beef.

For dessert, we tried the chocolate

hazelnut cake. Its creamy texture and perfect balance of sweetness and decadence was a fabulous indulgence to end our dining experience.

The Green Onion
Old Town Hall
Rutland St. Limerick

Telephone: 061 400710

O' Gradys In Limerick by: Olivia

O'Gradys, a cellar restaurant on O'Connell Street, has a warm cozy ambiance with wood tables and pub type decor. The food is good at a reasonable price. The house specialty would seem to be the carmalized red onion mashed potatoes that accompany the steak and chicken entrees. The steak comes with sauteed mushrooms and onions with a choice of sauces, chosen was a creamy rich brandy peppercorn sauce. One of our group, who is a concerned healthy diner, had the warm seafood salad that was filled with steamed salmon, cod, scallops and a plate full of mussels that had been cooked in garlic, lemon, wine and herbs at 11.95 euros. The crunchiness of the salad added a nice texture to the steam fish. I ordered the Grilled Darne of Salmon with lemon dill sauce and noodles at 13.95 euros. The salmon was cooked perfectly with a nice crusty sear to the surface. The problem was finding the lemon dill sauce, there was little to none to be found. I was disappointed. The last time I visited O'Gradys I was impressed with the Pot Roasted Chicklet which came with a circular mound of mashed potatoes, a beautiful piece of roasted chicken enveloped in a rich and wonderful sauce. We tried the house red wine which was smooth and had a nice finish, plus it was reasonable priced. The house white wine was a bit disappointing with a bit of medicinal taste. The house wines are reasonably priced at 11.50 euros.

To start we tried the deep fried Brie and salad appetizer for 6.25 euros, the crunchy surface was a nice combination with the creamy inside of the cheese. However, the portion is for one, not enough to share with a group. To finish we decided to try the Profiteroles for desert, which came in a lovely presentation of six golf ball shaped pastries with whipped cream and rich chocolate sauce.

The restaurant has a nice neighborhood atmosphere. Christina the hostess, waitress, and the one who basically runs the front of the house is pleasant and efficient. The restaurant has an extensive menu and something for everyone including a Vegetable Strognaff for 11.95 euros. An excellent place to dine if quality value is what you are looking for. This is a popular place for flight crews who are always working on a limited budget. The restaurant is also a comfortable place where locals come in to dine alone or for a family gathering.

O'Gradys
118 O'Connell Street
Limerick, Ireland
Phone: 061 418286