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