It pains me to say it, but there are still a lot of places I’ve yet to eat in Kilkenny, despite being born and bred here.
Some places may only be for a cup of coffee or a quick sandwich, others will be for a full sit-down experience or a night out in town. I’ve already said that we’re spoilt for choice on the food front, and the monthly lunch series kicked off to a great reaction earlier this month.
Doing a drive around Kilkenny last week, it turns out there’s still a few places I’ve yet to try. So for breakfast, lunch or dinner, I’ve come up with ten places I’ve yet to eat in. There’s bound to be more, but I will say this. Given everything that’s going on in the food world, with makers and producers under pressure, facing rates hikes, insurance increases, energy and supplier costs on the rise, now’s the time to be getting out. Whether it’s a Michelin star meal or a cup of coffee in your local shopping centre, this is the year where local food businesses need support more than ever and I’ll be doing what I can to get out and about that bit more.
The last thing you want to do is find yourself in a position where you’ve been meaning to eat or drink somewhere for ages only to find that it’s shutting its doors and the moment has passed. Seize the day and all that. So, in the spirit of frequenting some new spots (even if they’re old or long-established spots), here are ten places I could come up with in Kilkenny that I’m yet to have a meal in, all of which I aim to have scratched off before the end of the year.
Lady Helen at Mount Juliet
Mount Juliet Estate, Thomastown
I’ve been to many places and done many thing in Kilkenny on the food front, but a night at the Michelin-starred Lady Helen at Mount Juliet is not one of them. 2024 is the year I change that and this week’s announcement of their new set tasting menu looks like just the kind of incentive I need to get booking. To be fair, it’s not like you really need an incentive, more some spare cash, a babysitter and a little room to go all out. I may start looking for a dinner date…
Nóinín
John’s Bridge, Kilkenny
Sitting in the January list of places to go for lunch in Kilkenny, Nóinín has been open for just over a year but its reputation grows month on month for their seasonal, changing menus. It’s walk-ins for lunch, reservations only for dinner (Thursday through Saturday) but leaving things a year is long enough to wait around.
Lekker Food Collection
Thomastown
I can’t tell you how often I’ve driven past Lekker in Thomastown or landed outside its door too late for a bite, but that gets fixed soon. A bakery, French-style patisserie, and all with a South African twist, the sample menu shows plenty on offer with mates raving about breakfast and treats. That itch gets scratched in a few weeks. You can also find them at the Carlow market too on weekends.
Unwind
Market Street, Thomastown
A spot that’s (I think) changed use in recent years is Unwind in Thomastown, only around the corner from Lekker so this one’s a bit of a two-fer. We (as in KCLR) has a live show in Thomastown on Friday but work elsewhere left me missing out on a chance to scratch this one off my list. We’ll go again. Even as a bike stop, it could be the right spot.
Tabú Tapas
Marshes Street, Thomastown
At this stage, I may as well make a full day plan for Thomastown that’s going to conclude with dinner at Tabu Tapas, located in the building previously home to Barrow’s Keep. They’ve just been added to Lucinda O’Sullivan’s Great Places to Eat list as well for 2024, as if I needed another excuse to get out for tapas.
Blasta Wood Fired Pizza
Barrack Street / Old Mart Road (IMC)
These boys aren’t in business all that long but if their Instagram stories are anything to go by around the weekend, they might need to get a second food truck soon enough. Setting up by the IMC cinema in Kilkenny (Barrack Street), Blasta are serving pizzas 4-8pm Thursday to Sunday.
Burgers Factory & Coffee Lane
John Street
Another eatery in the city centre that I’ve yet to try. I couldn’t tell you what it was called years ago (someone from Kilkenny might help me) when it was some kind of Italian-style restaurant but the next evening we’ve a gig or something on in Set or Langtons, we’ll get the ball rolling here for a burger.
Sullivan’s Taproom
John Street
Somewhat alarmingly, I’ve not been to Sullivan’s for an early bite, late bite, or any bite in the garden. Sure, I’ve been in for launches or had a pint, but I’m yet to try the wings, the pizzas and whatever else is coming out of the back garden. With the site earmarked for more development in 2024 as brewing returns to the heart of Kilkenny, it’s another one I may scratch off the list soon enough.
The King’s Mill
Mullins Mill, Kells
The last time I was in Mullins Mill for a bit, it was still Jen’s, and that’s not today or yesterday. The Kings Mill has gone down the Mediterranean route in one of the most idyllic settings in Kilkenny. Everything’s prepared from scratch, following old, traditional recipes.
The Cup
Newpark Shopping Centre
Another spot I realised I’ve not been in to since they opened is The Cup in Newpark shopping centre. Tucked away in the corner beside Breagah Valley Meats, they’re open daily for breakfast, lunch, coffee and desserts with plenty on offer in the sandwich/wrap/bruschetta department. By the look of things, that’s just for starters.
What about you?
So what about you? Is there somewhere in Kilkenny you’ve yet to eat or always been mad to try out but simply haven’t? Every month I’ll have another six eateries to check out as part of my lunch series, but if you’ve a spot that’s a must for breakfast, dinner or any other time of the day, now’s a good time to shout. Leave a comment below or drop me a line to ken@kenonfood.com.
