What’s on offer?
Elaine and Robert Hayes, owners of Naughton’s Steak & Seafood, have been running their busy restaurant in Kilkee for the past 27 years. On St Patrick’s Day this year, they launched a very smart new outdoor venue on their premises, installing an Airstream 1968 food truck from Key West and setting up a bar in an old shed. Some of the tables are under cover, others are under large umbrellas. Festival lights add to the ambience.
The menu is broad, offering fish goujons, lobster rolls, lemon sole tacos, prawns in a brioche roll, chicken fillet burgers, chicken wings, smash burgers and halloumi tacos. The fish, lobster and prawns are supplied by CS Fish, 10km away. The lobster is caught in Quilty and Doonbeg. The beef is Irish, and all buns and rolls come from Coghlan’s in Kildare. This is very much a family business, with members working on food prep and in the bar.
When you visit, it is well worth dropping into the gallery and design shop, where there are some lovely items created by Irish designers.
What did we order?
Hake goujons with chips and a lobster roll in a brioche bun with chips.
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How was the service?
You order from the bar (not the Airstream) and if you fancy, you can order a pint, which will pass the time nicely while you wait for your food to be ready. The atmosphere is very convivial.
Was the food nice?
The hake goujons were piping hot, cooked beautifully in crisp golden batter. It was a generous portion with a huge serving of chips. The chips were standard fare. The lobster roll with chips was also a big portion, with large chunks of warm lobster that had been grilled in butter with the bun, sitting on top of a little shredded lettuce. The lobster was a little bit overcooked, but the generosity was noticeable.
What about the packaging?
If you’re eating on-site, the food is served in reusable containers lined with brown paper. If you’re buying it as a takeaway, it is packaged in cardboard which is recyclable if clean.
What did it cost?
€34.50 for lunch for two people: hake goujons with chips, €14.50; and lobster roll with chips, €20.
Where does it deliver?
Takeaway only. Open Thur-Fri, 5pm-9pm; Sat-Mon, 1pm-9pm.
Would I order it again?
Yes, particularly the fish goujons, they were deliciously fresh and it was a really generous portion. The fact that there are so many options on the menu means that it is very suitable for families.
