Gertie Brownes Bar & Bistro — Restaurant in County Westmeath

Used to eat regularly in Hatters pre-covid when in athlone. Gerties has always been our favourite bar when visiting the area. Booked the Cellar Bistro (previously Hatters) recently. We were not disappointed. Only problem was we had left it too long. Food - Prawns delicious. Thai crab claws/ mussels- bursting with flavour. Steak was perfect (decent size steak - you won't go hungry). Pepper sauce - probabky best ive ever tasted. Chicken and chorizo pasta - husband was full but refused to leave any behind - very tasty and said he'll definitely order it again next time. Staff - were relaxed, friendly and very attentive. When we started to engage, they were happy to engage in a bit of banter. We ate late and asked if possible if we could have a little break, but were aware of the fact kitchen closing shortly and were happy to go with chef. Chef sent back message that it was no problem and to let staff know when ready. We could not find fault with any aspect of our visit and the Cellar Bistro is most back on our list of faves in...

I don't like giving bad reviews, but I really wanted to like this place. The barmaid was surly with every interaction with the exception of when I was paying. We ordered cokes, they were flat, so I asked her to change them, to which we were given tiny bottles at the cost of €3.60 each!!! The food was presented well but was so bland. A friend got a burger which he described as tasting like wet cardboard, with a dip that neither of us could figure out what it was supposed to be as to also was bland and tasteless. I got beef and Guinness stew, the meat was perfectly cooked, but the sauce was so bland and runny. My daughter has chicken goujons and chips, which again we're cooked well but tasteless and cost €10!!!! I would have forgiven the flat coke as a bad tap, I would have dismissed the miserable barmaid as just having a bad day, but all put together it was a...

Disappointing. The premises is fab, the staff are lovely.

The food however, while mostly tasted good, was a rip off. Large chicken wings is just 8 chicken wings with chips. For €15. Steak sandwich with onion rings, had ONE onion ring. Two of us ordered and both had one ring. Rib eye steak was at a guess, not rib eye, but regardless, was tough as boots. (This was taken off the bill)

Finally, the fajitas was (not were) served with ONE wrap cut in half. They brought a second one after we requested/complained, but they seem to be really trying to make the most profit out of their menu to the detriment of their customer.

The fajita and steak sandwich were very tasty, the pepper sauce is really lovely and the staff are as nice as the...