Elbow Lane Brew and Smoke House

Visiting Cork for long weekend and had a 5:15pm online booking but our flight was delayed. Called Joel, no problem to change to 6:00pm (we eventually made it by 6:30pm but no problem as we let them know), and so glad we made it. Great service, atmosphere, food, and beer. Highly recommend their own stout as one if the best around (don’t drink the mass-market stuff if you’re a stout fan). We had ribeye with a side of French beans, plus rack of ribs with chips. Both were excellent. One of the best parts was a thick hot towel at the end to clean messy hands. Super nice touch.

I had my birthday in this beautiful place with wonderful people who serve you wonderfully well. I have no words to thank you. This day became wonderful with wonderful service and wonderful food. I would not recommend this place enough 10/100000000, that's why it's so busy. I've been trying to go to this place for over four months and it was worth all the wait. I can't wait to go back and I recommend it to everyone. As a good Brazilian, I love meat. I can say that the meat in this place is wonderful and of good quality. And the pork, please try the pork. Wonderful.

We enjoyed an absolutely amazing evening. Our server was Flores and she was very kind and informative! Her recommendations on which foods to pair with the beers was excellent and very helpful. Matt was wonderful at getting us a table and helping us celebrate us being Newly Weds by sending us a glass of champagne. The food was GOOD! I would say you truly cannot go wrong and definitely order the pork belly and the ribeye!

I am behind in writing this review as we visited in May, but I still think about our meal here! Perfect service, incredible food and drink and great vibe. Loved being able to watch the cooks do their magic, especially with the steaks. Brûlée a steak? Awesome! Everything is made in house, including their beers and the ice cream that I still dream about…Burnt honey & bourbon ice-cream, pecan & Korean chilli brittle 🤤 Definitely make a reservation while in Cork!

Lovely set of dishes at Elbow Lane - burrata to start and lamb / ribeye for mains to share. Espresso martinis for dessert were also delicious.

Visiting from Buffalo, NY, and this was hands-down one of the best meals I’ve had in Ireland! Elbow Lane Brew and Smoke House absolutely nails it — tender, smoky meats, fantastic in-house craft beers, and a cozy, inviting atmosphere. The staff is next-level amazing — special shoutout to Ryan and Joe for making us feel so welcome. Incredible flavors, warm hospitality, and service that’s second to none. A must-visit in Cork! Pro tip....don't skip out on dessert 👌

Went here because of the reviews and it was really good! Steak was cooked absolutely perfectly. Enjoyed it very much and the dessert was killer! Stays very busy so reservations are a must.

It has already become one of our favorite restaurants in Cork. We usually go there on special occasions. Everything is always delightful—the service, the cocktails, the perfectly cooked and super flavorful meats… but for us, the real star of the night is always the dessert. It’s like tasting a piece of heaven! I highly recommend it to everyone.

We arrived early for our reservation and were offered seats at the bar, close to the open fire kitchen area. It's a fantastic place to sit and watch the amazing chefs at work. The live theatre of the kitchen adds a fun and busy ambiance, and the staff were friendly and welcoming, and ready to explain menu and dishes and make recommendations. Drinks arrived fast, and the cocktails were clever and tasty. They have a good wine selection as well as house beers from their own brewery. But the food is jaw-dropping - the best meal we had the whole trip without doubt. I suspect anything from the menu would be delicious, but the blue cheese greens and the baby new potatoes were the perfect accompaniment to the steak. Portions are very large, so we shared everything and still couldn't finish. We happened to be there on the night there was a fire evacuation, and had just paid our bill when the alarm sounded. Full credit to the incredible team for their swift and calm reaction, evacuating the restaurant (and the sister location next door) - it's heartbreaking that they'll be closed for a few weeks, but I can't wait to return and see them open and thriving again. Evacuation aside, our meal was a such an amazing experience and the Elbow Lane team are a credit to the company and to the Irish fine dining community.

Another amazing restaurant not to miss if you're in Cork! I wish I could've tried all of this restaurant groups' restaurants because the two I did were some of the best meals I've had. Service is great here. They are friendly and helpful if you're trying to decided between menu items. I had the ribs, and graten which were both delicious as well as the chocolate mousse dessert. I also did the beer flight so that I could try their beers on tap. The restaurant is cozy and also loved the decor. One thing to note is that they take reservations (even for the bar seats which are more like normal seats). They were able to squeeze me in night of with about an hour wait, which I was able to do at the market lane bar next door (which has amazing cocktails).

The best meal of our entire trip. This is a must visit if you are in cork. The restaurant does all the little things right and it shows. From sourcing locally, to crafting their own beer, to open fire cooking visible to the dining room. The food, service, and decor were exceptional. Absolute highlight was the perfectly cooked, impeccably seasoned steak we had here. But you can't go wrong in any direction

One of the best places I've dined since moving here! The restaurant is rather small, so I would recommend a reservation if you aren't dining alone. What it lacks in size, though , it makes up for it food quality and service. This is seriously one of the best steaks I've had in Cork. Merciful heavens!! The babyback ribs are also sensational!! I think I left with some rib shrapnel in my nose. Well worth it! The sides give main character energy as well! Definitely was feeling the oyster mushrooms and baby potatoes, which are items I don't typically order when I eat out. ( Because they are so cheap to make well on your own). But no! They've got some special sauce magic over here with these! Cocktails are also delicious too. I was on the hunt for a good bramble as the city was in some strange and saddening creme de mure shortage, and the bartender was able to come up with a lovely alternative! Fantastic place that I ALWAYS recommend.

Food was fantastic!! Service great and we were there for the last reservation of the evening! Best food we had around!

The Elbow Lane is a smaller restaurant that you will need to book in advance for. Generally they don't have walk ins available. The T Bone steak was delicious, it was cooked perfectly. The meat had a little more fat than I expected and a better steak knife would have been useful. The service was excellent, they explained the local brews made in house and the special items on the menu. We tried a few of their drinks and they were excellent. Price wise it's the most expensive place I ate in Cork, though it was the best steak I had as well. I'd definitely come again.

Great place! One of the best steaks I've had in a long time. I am alway very picky about my steaks and usually pass at most restaurants because at home mine are much better but Elbow Lane was perfectly seasoned and cooked. Well worth a try.

#1 restaurant in Cork according to Trip Advisor and they may not be wrong! Their sister place Goldie across the street may give them a run for the money. Book in advance as this is a fairly small place and seems to be always full. That wood burning grill is the star here -- as it seems most of dishes have a nice char and smoke to them. I went for the big one -- T-Bone steak with filet next to the bone and smoked butter on top! Tender and delicous with a smoky flavor. The whole fish of the day was mackerel and was cleaned to the bone (see photo). Forgot -- we started with a lovely carrot starter with lots of additions and SOFT -- not hard like many place serve roast carrots. Presentation, service, and food quality was outstanding -- so was their home brewed beer! I would've tried almost everything on the menu but we'll have to come back next time. Thank you Elbow Lane!

Excellent food in a cozy setting with great staff. My wife had the sea bass special and I had the lamb. All was great. The mushroom side with chorizo was amazing as well. Beers were very good and my wife's cocktail was really wonderful. No room for dessert, but it looked great coming out for other tables also. Would absolutely go back next time we're in cork. For the review complaining about them finding a seat for a single, we were there on a Monday, couldn't get a reservation until 9, and it was packed the entire time. If you want to eat here, make a reservation. It's well worth it.

O.M.G! Get the T-bone steak!!!!! It did not disappoint. WOW. It was topped with melted butter sauce. I asked for medium and it was perfectly cooked. This restaurant had everything - excellent service, great atmosphere, cool open kitchen, and fantastic food. Highlights: - T-bone steak: read above. Perfection. - Pigs in a blanket - this was also very good. The sauce it came with was amazing. The dough around the little piggies was flaky and so yummy. - I sat at the bar and got to watch the bartender make some beautiful drinks. I kinda wish I had gotten a fancy cocktail - Presentation for the drinks and all the food was beautiful. They really take the time to make every little detail in the food and drinks perfect. - Open kitchen was super cool and something you don't see everyday. There were only two chefs and boy were they busy. I'm impressed all the food came out so quickly. - Ambience is nice. It's a somewhat small restaurant.

My favorite restaurant in Cork! Great food, great service, and a fun atmosphere. Highly recommended!

This review is for the beers only. I ate next door at their sister property Market Lane and this is how j viewed their beers as of May 2016. Glad to see some craft brewers hitting the Irish beer market. The beers overall had a good mouth feel with solid ingredients. I think these guys know how to brew craft beer right. Arrow Weiss - solid for the style. I'm not a Weiss fan but it did well Elbow Lager - perfect lager and compares favorably against the European lagers I've tried. Jawbone Ale - good flavored. I enjoyed this one pretty well and would have a full pint when I return Angel Stout - now this is winner winner chicken dinner. This was a fabulous stout and totally pint worthy. Good chocolatey flavors but not overly. And easy drinking. Bravo guys. NOTE/Warning: As of May 2016, they cannot sell you beer without food (a licensing issue). So if you want to try their beers come hungry or try with food next door at the Market Lane

If you are a foodie this is a must visit. The food is ridiculously perfect, imaginative and flavorful on a scale that competes with some of the best restaurants I have dined at. And yes I have dined at Michelin Stat restaurants, it is damn good. There are no reservations, and a 2-3 hour wait. Here's a tip for you, wait, or dine at the bar it is the beat anyways. I have nearly tried everything on the menu. Check my pictures. The beer is amazing, the food is amazing, the atmosphere is amazing and the people are amazing. This is a must visit. I cannot emphasize this enough. Give them a shot!

I can't say enough great things about my dining experience here. Our concierge had recommended Elbow Lane to us, and it did not disappoint! This small spot is right next store to it's larger sister restaurant, Market Lane. The lighting was dark but suiting, and there were no more than 15 tables inside. Because we decided on an early (5 pm) dinner, we had no wait to be seated. We sat right by the open kitchen and enjoyed watching them cook up some amazing food next to us. I ordered the fish special which was probably the best meal I enjoyed during my 9 day trip in Ireland. To accompany my fish, I got the 4 beer sampler, which were locally brewed Elbow Lane brews. The service was wonderful! Everyone who helped us, from the host to the server and food runners, was kind and provided excellent recommendations. The host even provided us with local bars to check out after dinner. If I could come back here regularly, I would! Unfortunately I am 4,000 miles away. Thank you Elbow Lane, not just for a delicious meal but a memorable experience!

It's a little ridiculous they can't find a seat for 1 person for TWO HOURS. Seemed overpriced anyway. Walking to White Rabbit instead since I know their prices are reasonable and their food is great!

Cork has definitely changed since the last time I visited a couple of years ago. 3 of us got to elbow lane on a Wednesday evening and we were doubtful of getting a spot as there was a queue of diners waiting. Odd number made it easy to get seats at the bar. I settled on stonewll cider, steak special of the day with grilled asparagus. The food was really good, but I was disappointed with 5 asparagus for what 7 quid. The desert of dark chocolate with toasted marshmallows was tasty. Staff were very hip and friendly. Dinner for three including a drink each was just over €90 which was really good.

A cosy, hip joint to munch a perfectly cooked steak. This place knows who to prepare a savagely tasty slab of meat. I highly recommend this spot.

If I could leave six stars I would! James Beard should take notice. Everything is cooked on the fire grill. Our aged steak cooked to perfection with an amazing smoked flavor that was complimentary, not overwhelming. A creative chocolate mousse dessert (I can't describe, but it was so good!) finished the evening. Adding to the experience was the micro brew taster. The service was friendly and knowledgeable about the food. +++. Just go and enjoy!

Our dinner here was fantastic. It was a Monday night and was completely packed, so I can't imagine trying to get in on the weekend without a reservation. The only table left was a table outside, so we had to huddle under the heat lamps once the sun went down but it was worth it! We tried a number of dishes between us, starting with the smoked pork neck and brisket roll. Both were really good but special mention goes to the pork neck - the soft poached egg was perfect with all the flavours. In fact, it was one of the highlights of the entire meal. Their fish that day was a hake served with samphire and lentils in a light broth. The finesse of these dishes really exceed the quality you'd expect from a place that claims to be a "brew and smokehouse"... however, it is a smokehouse after all, so of course we had to get the ribs and a steak. For a bit of vegetable variety, we also ordered the king oysters mushrooms and grilled asparagus with parmesan cheese. I sampled their beers, which are quite nice, but wasn't really in the beer mood. Luckily, they also have an excellent wine selection, so we shared a bottle of red (is there anything they don't do?). I wish I lived closer to make this a regular spot!

A small hip joint on Oliver Plunkett street, Elbow Lane is a must-know for any half decent foodie in town! Their menu is impressive and their staff are knowledgeable about food. Our waiter/barman (we sat on bar stools) knew all about how the fish of the day (seabass) was prepared and we were completely sold - not only because of the perfect moustache. All I can say is that meal made me a fish fanatic and inspired many dinners since. I won't try to reproduce their flame grilled marshmallow brownie things - yes, they were actually burnt, by flames, in front of our eyes...but if you have a foodie to impress, this is the place to take them. I'd recommend booking a table for dinner as the place is really tiny!

Great service, beer, etc. candle lit ambiance in a modern hipster setting. The food was straightforward and masterfully plated and presented. Down to earth staff and excellent beer.

4 beer sampler: We ordered the lager, Wisdom Ale (red ale), stout, and Weiss. They were all fantastic. The Weiss was by far the most interesting of the bunch and my husband's favorite so he ordered a pint (went with the fish). He subsequently ordered a Wisdom Ale to go with the steak. Fish of the day: whole sea bass. This may have been the best whole fish I've had in my life! Seared over a wood fire, cascade butter, lime juice. If you like fish and don't mind bones, then you must order this. You will not regret it. My husband "wasn't in the mood" for fish, but once it arrived and he tasted some, we split it 50/50. That's how good it was! T-bone steak: we ordered it rare and it came rare. The Irish know how to cook their steak! Perfectly seasoned, it left us speechless as we happily enjoyed each mouthful. We claimed we were too full (because of the fish) to finish the second half of the steak, but lo and behold, the entire steak was too delicious to stop eating and it quickly disappeared into our bellies. PS I am writing this at the end of a 9-day trip in Ireland. I can now officially say this was THE BEST MEAL IN IRELAND that my husband and I had. YOU MUST EAT HERE!

Really swanky brew and smoke house! Great craft beer selection and although we didn't eat dinner here we did have dessert. Orange and chocolate tart and a creme Catalan! Superb! Must try!

Candle lit casual elegance. The squid and smoked haddock ragout blew my mind. They really should make an entree size portion of that masterpiece.

Unusual combination of excellent food prep, their own beers, and friendly staff. For a hungry American the grilled ribeye was a treat. The side of pickled watermelon rind was an unexpected delight. Comfortable atmosphere with good music only enhances the atmosphere.

Cork was really bumming me out, and then I came here! There was a wait but we were able to go to their sister restaurant next door and have a drink. They came and escorted us when the table was ready. Ordered the steak, which was cooked perfectly to my order and tasted wonderful. Then had some digestifs and the chocolate mousse for dessert. Both were wonderful! In the end, it was all cheaper than I expected for such a quality meal. Very happy, and would be pleased to visit again if I ever make it back to Cork.

Great service and really great atmosphere. Steaks were cooked just right. The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is that we had just had a steak in London that was cooked the same way and slightly more tender.

If there's a better steak available in Cork I have yet to experience it. I travel to Ireland on business several times a year and fitting in an evening here is always an essential part of my itinerary. Space and seating is limited so try to arrive early.

Upscale Food, Great Tasting Friendly Staff! Rated #2 Restaurant in Cork & deservingly So! Would Deff. Eat here again!

Three stars are for service. I had the steak which the brag as Irish beef. Should have been billed as Irish gristle. Asked for medium rare got close to raw. Very little was edible. Wife said her salad was good.

Completely unexpected. Last thing I expected to eat in Ireland was a rack of ribs washed down with some craft brew. It was wild. We walked in w/o reservations on a sleepy weekday. The place was full and lively. We noticed a funky smell, but it was so dark we couldn't tell what it was. In retrospect it was just the open kitchen. We were seated and waited on quickly. The tall open candles a bit precarious, that smell could have been toasted hair, but we did see a menu nearly go up in flames. Ordered a bunch of small plates from the menu to share as well as a full rack to share. Everything was above our expectations, as if one told me there were great ribs in Ireland I would have laughed earlier. Highlights included the Brisket Roll & Oyster Mushrooms (think mushroom fries). The ribs were incredible - slow cooked/smoked, tender, and falls of the bone cleanly. Not to mention the in-house brewed beer was spot on. Finally, if you get a table with a view into the kitchen - watching the one guy work his but off to ensure all orders are delivered is truly a treat.

The smells entice you and the menu closes the deal! We had about an hour wait, yes a little hefty but being in a great area with pubs at every corner we surely didn't mind. Waiting to be called on my cell to alert us that our table was ready didn't happen. I, with my hunger pains decided at around the hour mark to check in at the restaurant and within 15 minutes we were seated. The intimate open kitchen is like clockwork and very hard not to stare at the precise rhythm of the two chefs creating delicious hot plates of ribs, steaks and more! The whole restaurant was as quaint and happening as a pub and maybe even a bit smaller than you would imagine SO now I understood why the long wait! A couple tables met you on the way in if you happen to enjoy the night air while dinning. We were seated near a narrow bar that was full up. The lighting was dim and the music was loud and on repeat, towards the end half of the dinner I noticed I had heard the song playing the entire time we were there! Funny, because when we left all four of us were humming it. We ordered steaks and ribs they all were scrumptious cooked perfectly! The seasoning was spot on and the house made bbq on the ribs were finger licking good!

This was a fantastic experience. It started off with the best Amaretto Sour and then went to the pigs in a blanket. We had the Ribeye and ribs. Both were cooked perfect. The device was great and entertaining.

I'd heard about the place from a friend of a friend. Very friendly peeps. Great food in an intimate setting. Put your name in and then go do something for an hour. Place fills fast and stays filled!!!

Small place but great atmosphere and service. Beer is brewed in house and food is cooked in an open kitchen. Bar selection is impressive. Get there early as the place fills up quick

Doesn't get any better than this. I almost thought I was in New York. The food here is stellar - ribs with an amazing bbq sauce, perfectly seared scallops, steaks with garlic butter done to perfection. But what really makes this place is the service. The staff have in-depth knowledge about every dish and beverage, and to a level of detail I couldn't have imagined. There is an amazing guy at the bar who answered every question we had at length, all while making amazing cocktails on par with the best that NYC or Boston has to offer. Smoked apple sours, yes!

We just ate here while on vacation the food and stout were very good. If we ever get back to Cork we will definitely visit the Elbow Lane again !

This place needs more rave reviews. Atmosphere, service, drinks, and most importantly food were all top notch.

What a fantastic place. This "smokehouse" has excellent cooking, much of it over a wood fired grill and beers brewed in house; delicious both. The atmosphere was fun and more like the sort of thing I'd expect in Brooklyn. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable and made us feel at home immediately. We came on a Sunday evening and the room was packed with happy customers, including us.

If you are into craft beer and open kitchen, modern style cooking, definitely go to this place. Beer was outstanding. Would fit right in in San Francisco or other food capitals. Felt like I hit the jackpot by happening upon it.

Had a magnificent meal here. The staff were super friendly and smiley and welcoming. I had the briscuit and hubby had the pigs in a blanket to start-both presented beautifully and very delicious(and filling). Then we both had the sirloin steak. Hubby had his medium-was perfectly delicious. I made the error of asking for med-well and it came out very well done, it was still nice but was my own fault for being too cautious. (The green beans in tempura batter were Yum, could have eaten just a plate of those alone.). Highly recommend their own brew: Arrow Weiss beer, never had such a unique tasting beer, hints of banana and vanilla. Very smooth and drinkable, no chemical taste like a lot of other small batch beers. I had the White Chocolate Martini dessert cocktail. It was divine! Loved every morsel we ate and we were treated so nicely. Look forward to returning. (They explained proudly their menu is changing a little so I can't wait to check it out). It was not pretentious and it did not try to imitate. This is how to do Irish food right!!! Go there! (Be warned-it's very busy, be prepared to wait, it will be worth it).

Amazing baby back ribs. Sauce was sweet but not overpowering. Blue appetizer served with pomegranate and artisan bread also delicious. Every part of this meal was enjoyed. I am traveling from US so I won't be back but wish I could come back. Service was great.

Elbow Lane is an experience which every foody should have. The restaurant is small, smoky and dark which sets an intimate and relaxing atmosphere. It has a fab smell as well. The staff are excellent and make everything in front of you with care and precision. Menu is very different but take a risk because it is delicious. Cocktails are also lovely. It is very good value for money and well worth the wait to get in sometimes. I wouldn't usually like to sit at a bar to eat but it was so fascinating watching them work and the seats were so comfy I didn't mind.

The atmosphere was charming. The ribs were fantastic. The staff was delightful.

Enjoyable atmosphere and brilliant quality food, but the service got the 5* from me. Kept the drinks flowing all night, never hurried us, we arrived a little early and our table wasn't ready so took a number to call us when it was - allowing us to wander down to the nearest pub for awhile. Very small and not good for kids or groups, but our table of 4 had a good time.