McDonagh

McDonagh's Seafood Bar and Restaurant

22 Quay Street, Galway

Telephone: 353 91 565001

Considered a mandatory visit for any tourist, crowded McDonagh’s may be considered the best fish and chips in all of Galway. The fishmonger McDonagh family has been serving the finest, freshest fish for over four generations. The walls are covered in excellent reviews and letters of thanks from people all over the world, and indeed, McDonagh’s proves a fun place to get an extremely inexpensive pile of fried fish and chips with all the salt, vinegar and ketchup you need. Located in the old medieval section of the city, it's divided between an upmarket fish and chip shop and a seated restaurant. The seafood has been recognized with a range of awards and favorable reviews and the catch from the local fishermen is bought by McDonagh's only hours after leaving the boat. Also, the fresh smoked salmon is famous worldwide. McDonagh’s features an authentic maritime atmosphere (anchors and other sea-inspired paraphernalia adorn the walls), and is a local favorite. The place is divided into three parts: a traditional "chipper" for fish and chips, a restaurant in the back, and a fish market where you can buy raw fish. The menu includes salmon, trout, lemon or black sole (or both), turbot, and silver hake, all cooked to order. The restaurant seats 48 and holds a wine license, and proves a place run by, and ideal for, people who know and love their fish.

Angela Says: McDonagh’s proves an extremely versatile eating establishment. Besides being a late-night stop for scrumptious, greasy fish and chips, the restaurant part of McDonagh’s serves a wide variety of fish dishes which, though somewhat small, are beautifully presented. Though the basic fish and chips are quite inexpensive, the restaurant’s fish dishes can range up to 30 Euro. Our tabled sampled seafood curry, scallops, and monkfish, and all were very tasty and well-prepared, even if the portions were on the small side. The fries, or “chips,” were very good, and the desserts (we sampled the chocolate cake, the apple crumble, and the cheesecake), were worth their price. And diners beware, though the menu offers a HUGE selection of fish specialties, besides a kid’s chicken nugget meal, all of McDonagh’s meals derive from the sea. But, then again, why would you want to order anything but seafood at McDonagh’s anyways?!

Atiba Says: McDonagh’s! If you like fish and other forms of exotic seafood, this is your haven. They are known for their fish and chips menu, making this a prime stop for foreigners and tourists. McDonaugh’s is a two-part restaurant, one side is fast food (seated or take-out), and the other is a seafood restaurant. The atmosphere is relevant for the kind of place it is. Entering the restaurant gives you the feeling of being on a Caribbean island eating at a restaurant geared to tourists. There are motifs of fishes, nets, boats etc. all over the place including pictures of different kinds of fish on the menus. The fast food section is perfect after a night of pub-crawling when you are famished, and I have to admit, they have the best chips in town. Also, the portions are just right. The seafood restaurant is tasty and delicious, however, the portions are smaller and the

prices do not really match up. It’s pretty expensive, I’m assuming because they are the best fish-chips-seafood spot in town.

Price: $ - $$ (Food from the Takeout Bar cost around €10, while the restaurant dishes ranges from €15-30 Euro).