George V Dining Room — Restaurant in County Galway

The George V Restaurant at Ashford Castle offers a truly magical atmosphere, especially during the festive season. The elegant Christmas decorations, the historic castle setting, and the warmth of the fireplace create a charming and luxurious ambiance that makes the visit feel special from the moment you arrive.

While the atmosphere was impeccable, the overall experience fell short in other areas. The food, unfortunately, was inconsistent. The scallops were overcooked and overwhelmed by a chaotic plate presentation, while the winter salad impressed with its fresh ingredients and creative dressing. The black sole fillet was cooked well but accompanied by two types of potatoes, making it feel less refined, more akin to pub fare than fine dining. Desserts were limited to mousses and soufflés, with no cakes or other creative options, highlighting the need for a skilled pâtissier to add variety and finesse to the menu.

Service, though attentive in some respects, did not meet the standards expected of such a prestigious venue. Key oversights included:

Coats were not taken upon arrival, an unusual omission in a high-end setting.

Wine was served only after the food had been brought to the table, disrupting the natural flow of the meal.

Basic fine dining etiquette was missing. For instance:

Serving and clearing from incorrect sides.

Crossing into guests' personal space rather than walking around the table.

Stacking plates while clearing.

Not replacing dropped napkins promptly.

Additionally, the waiting staff lacked the refinement and poise expected at such an establishment, detracting from the overall sense of occasion.

That said, we appreciated Manager Andrej's warm attention and the thoughtful anniversary treat, which added a personal touch to the evening.

However, given the steep pricing, the value for money was disappointing. The quality of both food and service does not justify the high cost, leaving us feeling that the experience lacked the polish and excellence one expects at such a renowned location.

While the ambiance and charm are undeniable, significant improvements in both service etiquette and culinary execution are needed to make the George V Restaurant a truly exceptional dining...

The food that was served to us was way below average, served in big plates with small portions. The menu is very poor with only few dishes for lunch selection. Disappointing experience, as I was expecting a lot more from a place with that reputation. This place is not something where a person can choose variety of food and it's far away from other places where it's being put.

Can't compete with real European restaurants, not even with Galway or Dublin restaurants and that's mostly because of poorly setup on the menu.

I Don't recommend this place for a lunch but the castle and surroundings are...

I was expecting a lot more from this place. The food is below average, just big plates with small portions, the menu is poor, only few dishes to choose for lunch. Overall kind of disappointing experience, this is not a place where a person can choose variety of food even though it's compared with big restaurants but it's far away from it.

Can't compare to some real European restaurants, not even with Galway or Dublin restaurants with a lot reacher menus.

Don't recommend this place for a lunch but the castle and surroundings are...