Terre Restaurant — Restaurant in The Municipal District of East Cork

Has to be up there with the best in the world! We enjoyed a 5 hour journey through the amazing experience provided at Terre. From the moment you step into the preserve hallway you sense something special is about to happen. This is the start of the first ‘chapter’ in the Terre adventure. After being guided into the kitchen area to be seated at the chefs table you start with a number of ‘snacks’ which commence with a delicate floral bite sized creation escalating in intensity and flavour after each piece is served. Ranging from citrus notes to smokiness and seafood it’s only a teaser for what’s to come. You are almost overcome with the atmosphere , the presence of the Head Chef Vincent Crepel, the music and the activity levels. You also get a tour of the food and it’s provenance before being seated for the next phase of the experience the website refers to his style as being precise and based in nature and this is evident from the start as the assistant describes ingredients from Ballycotton to Kilkenny and then to France, Spain and Japan . Chapter 2 takes place in the serene surroundings of the dining room which is quiet and sparse but beautifully furnished. Each dish is more amazing than the last in perfectly sized portion that each offer a sensory experience in their own right. The wine pairing is a must with rosè’s whites and reds carefully selected from small artisan producers from Spain Italy and France. Finally Chapter 3 regretfully concludes in the salon where by an open fire you enjoy some bespoke tea or coffee accompanied by a tantalising selection of baked delicacies in an intimate and peaceful surrounding. The staff are so helpful well informed and attentive. Any questions are answered and any required background information provided on the food and wine accompaniment. Afterwards we went for a short walk on the beautiful Castlemartyr Estate to reflect on what just happened. It was like being invited on a tour of a different world before finding yourself outside again bewildered at where the time had just gone! Terre will not have its one star for long it’s well on the way to its second and maybe...

The food is outstanding and we have no complaints whatsoever on that front. It was very special. However, we felt ‘scammed’ regarding the wine list. At the start of the meal you are brought into the kitchen, a sort of chef’s table. The music is pumping and they really make you feel like you have an exciting night ahead. You are then presented with a glass of champagne and it’s not clear if you will be charged extra for this or not. To be clear, you certainly are charged for this. About €26 per glass. The waiters are very nice but have strong French accents. This, coupled with the loud music, results in it being very difficult to discern what exactly you are being told about the drinks. Next, you are presented with what you think is the wine list. It gives an option for tasting wines at €240 for those who know their wines, or €110 for a more ordinary wine pairing. Lastly for those who dont want alcohol there is on option of ‘tea pairings’ for about €78. I don’t particularly enjoy wine pairings and would have preferred a simple glass or two of wine but it seemed like the pairings were the only option so we went with it. At no stage is a normal wine list offered or produced. So off we went with a wine pairing which didn’t particularly suit us and which added very significantly to the bill. Later we discovered there is indeed a wine list but you must ask for it. On reflection in the days after our meal we realised the whole business model is to get you on the hook at the outset for the champagne and the wine pairings. We felt really hoodwinked by the whole thing and honestly it has ruined our memory of the meal and the evening. It has left a bad taste in my mouth. If Terre were ever to come up in conversation, my abiding memory will be that we felt conned on the aperitif and wine side of things. Another reviewer on this forum describes the same issue with drinks. The Irish Times review of Terre several months back issues the same warnings absout champagne and...

4.5/5 if I could give a more accurate score! Impeccable dining experience with unbelievable flavours, textures and creativity with food. I got a pescatarian variation of the menu which was just sublime and almost happily equated to the normal meat menu. The service of course was professional to the highest degree but also very personable. I would highly recommend doing the garden tour before dinner. Thank you Kevin, you’re a legend! And they surprised us with the nicest kefir water I’ve had to date (including Ballymaloe’s) and we got to try a few little bits from his garden!(rhetorical kitchens garden) The only few things we noted were that they got the water order wrong for two of us at the table and kept mixing their still and sparkling water despite being told of same and the experience is of course very expensive. But that’s just it, it’s fine dining with amazing food AND an experience, a memory. We went for the wine pairing which was very nice and paired quite well. We did wish the dessert packed more of a punch, it seemed too light as a dessert and didn’t leave a lasting impression with us and the same went for the petits fours at the end. A little bit disappointed on that front. The rest though was truly exceptional. Bravo Vincent...