Alex S.
Yelp
So I'm going to open this review with a disclaimer: I'm not sure if I am reviewing the right place. I have written down in my notes "Blake's Brasserie." And I believe this is the same place, where Blake's may be the bar and the brasserie is the other dining room. At least, I think that is how this works. I have no idea. All I know is that the time we spent here, from drinks right through dessert, ranks as one of my favorite dining experiences of 2015.
We had just gotten into Galway and had no idea where to go, what to do or, most importantly, what to eat. Fortunately, our guide suggested this place, and we were all the better for it! I do not remember it being the easiest place to find but it also was not like you had to go into a back alley, down the stairs to the basement and give someone a password. The street leading to the door here was not exactly bustling with nightlife but that might be because all the nightlife was already indoors and in the Brasserie's dining rooms.
Upon walking in, a bartender greeted us and a hostess whisked us back through a hallway to a dining room backing into another, larger dining room. We had a corner table that gave us a great view of the surroundings: plenty of tables and chairs for patrons, and it looks like all of them will be needed on a regular basis since this place gets pretty busy.
And that's a great transition for giving thanks to our server, Christine. Aside from being patient with our many, many questions about the menu, she was able to maintain a peppy attitude and efficiency despite waiting on six(!) tables at the same time. Maybe that's the norm in Ireland but back in the U.S., I've seen waiters and waitresses crumble when they have three tables to take care of. Christine doubled that and did it without breaking a sweat!
With cocktails and beers ordered, we turned our attention to the menu and found it to be an embarrassment of options. We had a hard time deciding on an appetizer and went with the lobster and baby leek ravioli, which was impossibly delicious. But you could come here 10 more times and try something new, and more than likely amazing, before your main entree arrives. Which is actually the case with the steaks. The build-your-own steak menu is a phenomenon that I am amazed has not taken off at other places. And it probably has not because kitchens are not sure where to begin with offering such choices.
In short, picking your steak, your sauce and your accompaniments is almost like a Renaissance-level awakening. One of us ordered an amazing salmon entree, while the other three of us attacked the build-your-own steak selections. Two filets and one ribeye later, we were convinced the meal could not possibly get better. And then there was dessert.
Well, sort of. I actually do not recall the desserts, other than the brownie and ice cream selections continuing the trend of the food here being exceptional. I actually went the "liquid dessert" route and got an After Eight. It looked like toothpaste, smelled like mouthwash and tasted like the mintiest slice of euphoria you have ever experienced. Hats off to the bartender for offering up a minty burst of refreshment.
And, really, refreshing is a great way to sum up (Blake's?) Brasserie on the Corner. The staff is incredible, the food and drinks offered somehow manage to be even better, and the entire experience is worth seeking out, whether you are a local or a visitor.
