Wrights Findlater Howth — Restaurant in Fingal

A small intimate engagement party I made a reservation for 10 people to celebrate an engagement party.

We arrived a little earlier than the booked time, to have some pre dinner drinks. That's where it all started to go wrong.

To get 10 drinks took an eternity, but we got them, and we chatted away.

The orders for dinner were then taken. A while after the orders were taken the waitress retuned to advise that there was no chowder, 1 person ordered this, and gave us the menu to re-consider.

She promptly forgot about us then and she had to be called to come back and take the order. Minutes later she returned to the table to say that there was none of the soup that 3 people had ordered and asked if they'd like to re-consider. They did.

Then the starters rather than being delivered to the table together for all 10 people arrived in waves, with some people finished theirs before the soup arrived. The soup on arrival was only warm, not hot. We complained, and it was removed, only to be returned 5 minutes later. I asked the waitress were they fresh bowls of soup, she lied and said yes, they were. Yet it was in the same bowls we sent back, the spillages proved that, as did the piece of brown bread in one of the bowls. They offered to not include it in the bill. WOW.

A starter of mussels also arrived with butter and no bread, and when I enquired about it, I got an apology ... but no bread.

The mains arrived as it should ... together, but alas the damage was done, as all we wanted to do was finish up and leave. The whole experience left a rather sour taste on what was to have been a lovely evening celebrating a life changing event, but we will remember our trip to Findlaters for all the wrong reasons I'm afraid.

As we left, we seen an advert in the window for experienced waiting staff. They certainly need them, and they should get some chefs too, Chefs who know how to cook and serve food to a party. In good order and condition, served together and on time.

We declined desserts, teas, and coffees as we were mindful of the length of time allocated to us under C19 rules, and we simply wouldn’t have had the time, so that made it all the more disappointing.

The receipt shows the waitress’s name as trainee … imagine tasking a trainee with serving a party of 10. Unbelievable.

Would I go back? I very much doubt it as having spent a hefty sum; I'd expected a lot more.

There is serious improvement required here

So after a call from a member of the management team, a failed promise to revert and in a series of written messages where I was accused of being defamatory and I was accused of spaying the restaurant I feel it’s time to draw a line under the whole affair. They got my money following a succession of failings. That’s what they are interested in. Nothing else. I suppose the best way to summarise this restaurant and it’s employees is that both of them are glorious tribute to inefficiency. My advice is to avoid the place, there are way better places in Howth where you can spend your money and obtain a seriously better service...

Very disappointing compared to eating here a few years ago. The mushy peas with my fresh cod & chips weren’t proper mushy peas but a tinned brand of watery processed peas just crushed. The majority of chips were overcooked. Fish was just ok batter was very greasy. My 9 year old sons chicken wings were covered in a sickly sweet sauce that was supposed to be Bbq. The wings themselves looked and tasted like they’d been cooked some many hours previously, they tasted like reheats, chicken meat was as dry & dehydrated as the bone they were on & bland. Had to have them replaced with another meal which the staff kindly did. Other 2 peoples food were a kids sausage (sausages looked almost deep fryed to death) and chips, adult fish goujon wrap (which was ok). Waited for what seemed an eternity for 4 desserts, 2 bowls of ice cream for kids, a strawberry meringue for 1 adult, which were ok, but sadly my cheesecake was shocking, a poor excuse for a vanilla cheesecake on a soggy soft base of who knows what. Sadly really terrible. Staff were pleasant and helpful but that’s the only positives. Sorry about leaving a negative review but when you are paying hard earned money for a family lunch what we got today was poor. From the overall experience today I couldn’t go back anytime soon, sorry I know you all probably work very hard but nothing there today would entice me back, the quality that I’d experienced once before, sadly wasn’t...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Findlaters, and I can confidently say it was one of the best experiences I’ve had in a long time. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, with a perfect blend of elegance and comfort.

Our waitress, Clíodhna, was absolutely fantastic—attentive, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. She went above and beyond to ensure we had everything we needed, offering great recommendations and making us feel genuinely welcome. It’s rare to come across service that feels this personal and effortless.

The cocktails were another highlight of the night, thanks to the amazing bartender, Ryan. Every drink was crafted to perfection, balancing flavors beautifully. He clearly has a real passion for what he does, and it shows in the quality of the drinks. Whether you're a cocktail enthusiast or just looking for something refreshing, you won’t be disappointed!

Of course, the food was exceptional—delicious, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. Every dish we tried was cooked to perfection, making it clear that Findlaters takes pride in both quality and creativity.

Overall, it was an outstanding experience, made even better by the exceptional service from Clíodhna and Ryan. If you’re looking for a place with top-notch food, drinks, and a welcoming atmosphere, Findlaters is a must-visit. Can’t...