Perrotts Garden Bistro Restaurant — Restaurant in Cork

So there I was, in a 5 star hotel restaurant, waiting for my wife to enjoy and finish her company party. I had driven her 2.5 hours down in the afternoon and had a late night assignment to bring her home later that same night. It was gonna be a long night, so I went to the restaurant as I wanted some food. I walked up, got greeted by the incredibly friendly staff, and given a table. All around me were well to do people in beautiful suits and dresses, and here I was in jeans and a Reindeer Christmas jumper. I felt out of place. My server, Jelmer , let me know that the typical thing to do was to get one of each course and it included drinks and desserts etc etc. and it was going to cost far more than I was looking to spend. Here I was just looking for a plate of chips and veg. I felt like I was taking up a spot for someone willing to pay the expected amount. I nearly left there and then, apologising that I misunderstood what the restaurant was and worrying I was making a fool of myself.

However, any fears I had were quickly relieved when I explained myself to Jelmer. He alleviated my worries and worked with me through the menu and how to best take care of me. He assured me that I was just as much a priority as anyone else. I have a plant based diet and he didn't skip a beat. Without a worry or hesitation, he helped me through the menu and what I wanted.

A few minutes later, after some nice, soft bread with delicious dips, I was enjoying the FINEST vegetables and chips I had ever had. And very nice portions, too!

The service from not just Jelmer, but all the staff like Davar, made me feel more at ease, relaxed. I was smiling the whole time I dined there. What better experience can you ask for? I don't know what they do to get such great staff, but they are a credit to the Manor. I had never heard of this place before, but now it's where I will recommend anyone looking to spend a night in Cork if they want a classy, friendly and relaxed experience.

I didn't even spend €17, and I am stuffed.

Thanks Jelmar, and all of his wonderful co-workers. Including the lovely lady who helped me find a table with no prior notice given. You made me feel very welcomed and comfortable. It means...

"Disappointing Experience – Bland Food, Overpriced, and Poor Service"

We visited this restaurant with high hopes for a nice family meal, but unfortunately, it did not live up to expectations. There were four of us, and we ordered a variety of dishes to get a good sense of what the menu had to offer.

We started with the Goat's Cheese Mousse Salad, Pâté, Arancini Balls, and Chicken Salad. All were incredibly plain, overpriced, and lacked any real flavour. For starters, these dishes could have been served at any budget restaurant, but here they were marked up far beyond what they were worth.

For the main course, we went with the Duck (€40), Lamb (€40), and Dover Sole. The Duck was dry, bland, and came with just a few baby carrots and flavorless potatoes. The Lamb was overcooked and equally tasteless. The Dover Sole was completely dry and lacked any seasoning or richness.

What really left us feeling deceived, however, was the price. We would have been disappointed with the food even at a lower price point, but when you’re paying €100 per person, it’s simply not acceptable. To make matters worse, the service was lacking—staff didn’t even bother to serve our wine, and our Calypso Coffee arrived cold.

The only redeeming feature of the evening was the Margarita cocktail, which was actually quite nice.

We will definitely not be returning. When you're paying premium prices, you expect premium food and service, and this restaurant failed to...

Perrotts Garden Bistro Restaurant at Hayfield Manor Hotel is a popular casual dining restaurant, serving outstanding international cuisine for lunch and dinner, 7 days a week in Cork city. With a distinctly relaxed atmosphere and bright, airy décor, it is Cork's perfect restaurant venue to enjoy lunch or dinner with friends & colleagues or for a cosy corner for an intimate tête-à-tête with a loved one. Perrotts Garden Bistro features a wide range of Mediterranean and international speciality dishes appealing to all tastes. With food made fresh to order, Perrotts Garden Bistro also always does its best to provide for all dietary...