Linnane's Lobster Bar — Restaurant in County Clare

NEVER AGAIN! Came here with my family of 4 to enjoy fresh seafood by the coast… never again. We completely understand that the restaurant was busy, hence we patiently waited for our food and didn’t say anything. However, it is nothing but disappointing and unacceptable to be waiting 1.5 hours for our main courses to be served from the starters… One of the members of my family ordered a pint of Guinness, the waiter took down the order. He brought everyone drinks except the Guinness. We patiently waited. Finally, after asking the waiter a total of four times – the drink came AFTER the starter was consumed… We ended up getting charged for 2 pints. The waiters attitude was “yeah yeah I know” no apology, nothing. The waiter explained they are short staffed which is why it took so long for our food to come out. However, somehow – a group of 4 who where sat down beside us at the exact same time had already have had their food brought out and they had finished it all. Another party that came a while after us already started eating their food too before we even got ours. The managers attitude when the issue was brought up was “the others people’s food probably took less time to prepare”.

The experience was just purely upsetting. We felt completely forgotten by our waiter while he served food to people who came after us. If a table is not receiving their food for a long period of time, it is the waiter’s duty to raise a query to the kitchen to see where the food is and inform/ apologies to the customers. It is not the customers duty to go hunting for the waiter to ask why they have been waiting over an hour for their food.

Furthermore, 3 members from the 4 who consumed food at this restaurant fell extremely ill from consuming crab, chicken goujons and the haddock fish and chips. After consulting with our GP that all the symptoms are symptoms of food poisoning (severe stomach pains, vomiting, headaches, etc), the restaurant merely offered a voucher for our next visit… With such severely over-priced food, rude staff, and food not fit for consumption, I highly doubt we will be returning...

Had dinner last night. Let me start by saying that the food is awesome. Calamari, chowder, seafood pasta, monkfish curry were all outstanding. However, the overall experience was not. We arrived at 7:30pm (had booked) and only 2 tables were left, in the bar side of the premises (there is a bar side and a restaurant side). Bad luck. Both tables were either side to a table of 7 or 8 rowdy drunkards (mixed group, pub customers, no food, drinks only, by the looks of it had several already). They were literally screaming. Another couple arrived later and got sat on the table on the other side of the pissheads. After a while, around 8pm, when we had just finished starters, a couple left the restaurant and we asked to be moved inside, just to be told, by a rude waitress, that more bookings were expected and she couldn’t move us. Obviously higher quality bookings, because we were a booking too! Main courses were served and finally, one of the staff told the drunk table to keep it down. Not sure what prompted it, since nothing had changed in the last 45 mins. Half the drunks left shortly, a couple of them visibly staggering. The rest moved outside. We exchanged looks of relief with the other couple that had been sat on the other side. I went to the toilets, crossing the dining room. Predictably, it was half empty, which means we could have been moved earlier, but someone just couldn’t be bothered. We finished our mains in about 15 mins, ordered dessert (creme brulee) & the bill. It cost upwards of 90 euros (no alcohol) but the food was worth it. Zero tip. Never going back. A restaurant is more than just the food. Even if it is really a...

What a disappointment. I've eaten here a couple of times in the past. Before last night I was here a little over a week ago and had a great experience. Yesterday, however was poor. Two stars only because of the previously good time here.

There was a lack of Managerial presence and experience from what I observed. Our order was taken, starts came promptly. The Chowder wasn't great, usual restaurant trick lots of Potato in it and very little Fish. Calamari was like rubber which indicates it's over cooked.

We then waited 45 mins for our Mains to arrive. During this time we felt like we had been abandoned, no checking up on how we were doing, no asking did we like another drink and our drinks were empty for at least 10 mins before we had to ask about getting another one. No resetting of the table as we had used our knives and forks for the previous course.

I did ask after 30 mins where our Food was since we saw other Tables who ordered afterwards getting theres. We were told that it's coming next. Again waiting another 15 mins and asked again. Simply not good enough. Yes, the place was busy but not super busy like the previous week.

The Staff on this occasion were a bit rude, from the previous week of leaving a generous tip the same Waitress, this time she had a dismissive attitude towards me when I was asking some valid questions.

Going forward, I don't think I'll return. Nearly a 2hr round trip from Galway City to put up with that total lack of service when as a customer you're paying a premium price I expect premium service. I'll keep my money in my pocket and go elsewhere in Galway or...