O'Gradys on the Pier

One of my favorite fish restaurants on Galway! Great starters, good wine selection. Prawns starter and beetroot salad was both very good. Highly recommend the sole for main course. Salmon very nice. Steak was also good. Service was friendly and efficient - especially given we were a large group. Booking is recommended.

Looking for seafood chowder then this is calling your name. We have been from Halifax to New England to all points saying their is the best. O’Gradys is in the top tier. The flavor the texture every soulful had an abundance of seafood no fillers. Though the service knew as if you were getting a great value and lost that family welcoming feeling the kitchen delivered. The oysters were best we had and I don’t just say that without knowing Fanny bay in Canada , all points in Cape Cod, they were delicious. My partner had the steamed mussels and per her comment cooked perfectly. She almost couldn’t finished . It was too good not to. It’s a destination place to go is the best compliment. My sea bass was filet and cooked perfectly. Seasoned right and was equally enjoyable every bite.

Lovely evening at O’Grady’s. Lauren, our server, was fantastic—honest about a sudden tour group rush but never missed a beat. Chowder was rich, oysters fresh, sea bass full of flavor. Sticky toffee pudding with honeycomb ice cream sealed the deal. Cozy outside with heaters. We’ll be back.

We took a taxi from Galway to eat here and then found out they have a sister restaurant right in Galway called Kirwin’s Lane. O’Gradys was so good that we ate at both of them. Terrific oysters. Large, briny. Straight from the sea to our table. And wonderfully flavored and well cooked mussels. Huge serving. Homemade brown bread was also a hit and the interior of the restaurant is quaint and well done. This was our best meal in all 7 cities that we visited in Ireland. Oh, my husband had the seafood chowder which I ordered the next day at Kirwin’s. Best chowder in Ireland. Eat here or at Kirwin’s, which was packed at lunch. A real winner.

Absolutely stunning view on the ocean, located just on the beach, with huge windows and tables beside them. Lovely atmosphere, super friendly and kind staff, constantly keeping an eye to see if you need anything. Food was way above any possible expectation: amazing fish chowder, the very best seabass ever tasted, and linguine with seafood which came plenty of seafood. The only small observation I can make, and maybe just because I sm italian and I am a bit fossy with pasta, is that the linguine were overcooked. Apart from this, I think this is one of the very best seafood places where I have been.

Fantastic place! Staff well trained and prepared. The food was excellent as the fish was fresh and the attention to details was very high. Amazing atmosphere, it was nice, cozy, and outside rainy (as usual). Congratulations to the owner and to the staff. Will come back again.

O’Gradys on the Pier is a gem by the lakeshore with stunning views. The seafood was fresh and delicious, and the coffee was wonderful. Lauren, waitress, was friendly, attentive, and made the experience extra special. Highly recommend!

I have had the pleasure of eating here a hand full of times. Words fail to describe how great it is. They serve some of the best fish dishes I've ever had the privilege of enjoying. And the hosts are an absolute pleasure to converse with.

Oysters were by far the tastiest and freshest I've had. Friendly staff as they recommended various places for dinner. Which one was a huge hit for us.

Brilliant, cosy, charming restaurant on the Barna pier in Galway Bay. My favorite spot to visit for a relaxing dinner by the water. The pan fried filet of turbot is to die for and the Connemara salmon is exquisite. Must taste to believe! Your man Michael will take good care of you with excellent Irish service and cuisine.

It's my first trip to Galway. My local friends took me to this quaint restaurant in the downtown area. I am really impressed with the level of freshness of fish to service to the ambience. Everything is perfect for a great evening in Galway!

Like so many before me I found this place to be top shelf. I stumble upon it while trying to turn around! It has a shanty kind of look so I decided to give it a try. I thought I might get some good seafood because it's right on the water. What a delightful surprise. It feels like you're eating in a Bob Ross seaside painting! Anyway, I had the sea bass. It came with two large prawn and was covered in a bernaise sauce... positively delicious. The service was spot on and very attentive. I have no doubt that many people leave O'Grady's thinking "this is the best restaurant I've had the pleasure of eating at in a very long time".

This quaint restaurant by the water was a hidden treasure! Recommended by our taxi driver... I was impressed! Frim the moment I walked up to the pier & saw the beautiful beach, my heart was overjoyed! For an appetizer I had the griilled asparagus with tomato, bacon, panko crusted hen egg... pure ingenious and HEAVEN! The combination of asparagus wrapped in bacon topped by a poached egg encrusted in pablo bread crumbs.. had me humming a melody in anticipation if every bite! The soda bread was delectable.. Having tried soda bread and not liking it, this was quite a pleasant surprise. My entree was the lobster linguine with tomato, chili, capers, and garlic! The dish was rich, bold, and daring! The lobster was fresh and the sauce spicy yet tantalizing. The combination of spice & saltiness from the capers created a beautiful symphony for my tastebuds.The dish had nice pieces of lobster meat. Dessert... ah dessert. Chocolate flourless cake with roasted hazelnuts, strawberries, and vanilla ice cream! If in Galway, Ireland this place is a MUST on your list. If you desire bold, daring, original, and captivating food you must dine here. This place is diverse in that it can be a great date night location, as well as a family place, or somewhere for friends to chill. This is indeed a winner!

Phenomenal location on the coast. Awesome people attending to the restaurant. With super appetizing dishes and wines. What more do I need to say..

Our time in the village of Bearna was fantastic (although marred by the theft of my passport and money from our room at The Twelve Hotel). We are American but live near the shore so we are seafood connoisseurs/snobs! O'Grady's was delightful! Their local salmon and the sauce (which the chef was nice enough to share with this Texan!) were delectable. If you have time and want to slow down and actually enjoy the local flavor I highly recommend O'Grady's. Their staff were so pleasant and helpful and it was a wonderful trip! Shout out to @OdysseysUnlimited for planning our trip AND to Philip (our awesome guide) and Derik (our coach driver) for delivering the trip of a lifetime to my 80-year old mother who was on a trip to search out our kin, my 36-year old son DUSTIN, and my 31-year old daughter Kennedy while we were on The Emerald Isle.

Excellent. Excellent. Excellent. This is our favorite spot in Barna. We love the menu selections and the ambiance of this restaurant that's right on the pier. It's a seaside fisherman's catch at it's best. Love to be here on a windy evening with the candles in the windows and the warm of the fireplace downstairs. The dining spaces are unique and really open and attractive; the entire restaurant has such rich character. And then there's the food ... it has never disappointed. I'd take a drive from Dubin to Galway just to have another memorable experience.q

We really hadn't spent much time thinking about dinner since we got to Ireland but read about this restaurant, and oh my, it was the perfect choice. The staff was friendly, attentive and saw to our every need. The food.... everything we chose was delicious. It was the perfect ending to a very damp day.

Exquisite dinner. Wonderful surroundings and staff. My wife had salmon with crushed peas. Amazing. I had a duo of turbot and scallops. Equally wonderful. And the oysters were sinfully delicious.

Perched at the end of a solid stone pier in Galway's quiet Barna Village, O'Grady's on the Pier is a restaurant making waves. Already reviewed and awarded many times over, our visit to O'Grady's was marked by the impressive silverware crowding for space by this vintage restaurant's front door. The friendly staff offered a genuine welcome as we shook off the blustery sunset chill. An open fire warmed the first floor dining area -no bigger than a generous sitting room with enviable daytime views of the beach and bay beyond. Here decor was kept simple, with simple accents to enrich the surroundings without backsliding into touristy shtick as seen in similar establishments in nearby Galway City. Our table was ready in a matter of minutes and, though busy, we were seen too with calm, friendly professionalism. Our first course kept with O'Grady's theme of fresh, delicious and local with his selection of resh oysters served with a fiery splash of sweet and sour ginger vinegar dip. I opted for mussels in a white wine and cream sauce, and almost regretted not ordering it as a main course; my vast pot of rich black oysters was more than enough to whet an appetite, and he was more than happy to assist in finishing them. The main course was another delight, with a plate of tangy Thai-style salmon and vegetables jostling for room on our tiny table with a whole dover sole on the bone with lemon and parsley butter. Paired with a well-chosen white recommended by an efficient and helpful waitress, the meal was both a rich and relaxing way to spend a chilly autumn evening. By the time the plates were cleared there was no room to consider O'Grady's dessert menu -a slim but rich offering including chocolate fondant, a Baily's and white chocolate pannacotta, or poached pairs in white chocolate and praline sauce to name just a few. Instead, we mustered ourselves and asked for the bill. Paying was its own delight; a glass of wine, two starters and mains was reasonably priced (as these things go) at around 80 Euro. Open year round with a menu focused almost entirely (and deliciously) on the best of Irish and world seafood recipes, such is the demand that the tiny bay-side restaurant now books two dinner seatings at 6 and 9pm. For those taking a weekend away in Galway, skip the restaurants in Galway City Centre and head just a few minutes out of town to O'Grady's on the Pier.

Best food we had on our trip. Good portions, excellent selection of seafood. Had the sea bass, wife had the halibut. Both were perfect. Lots of locals in the restaurant. Not in the city, but right on the water. Would have been a great view if not for the fog!

We were staying right on the lane so we wandered in right around opening time without a reservation. They seated us upstairs with an incredible view of Galway Bay. The food was wonderful and the service was good. We felt lucky to have been able to get a table at such a wonderful place at the last minute.

This was the best meal I've had in a long time. The photos on the website don't do this lovely restaurant justice. I first saw it on a sunny day and this cute blue restaurant is perched right on the edge of Galway bay. We strolled down the road and asked for a seat upstairs so that we could enjoy the view, the hostess was so kind and obliging and we got an amazing corner table. To start I had mussels. Oh. My. Goodness. A large black pot filled with delicious mussels in a beautiful white wine sauce arrived and thankfully I had some help to put them all away. The brown bread was great for mopping up the tasty sauce. Yum. For my main course I had the monkfish in a prawn bisque which was beyond words. Do you ever have a bit of food that leaves you speechless? The prawn that sat on top of my monkfish left me in a stunned silence. Beautiful monkfish and the sauce was delicious. Not only was the main event beautiful, but the potatoes and vegetables served with this were gorgeous too. You might imagine that we were pretty full after this, but yes, there is always room for dessert. We shared the chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream and mint tuille. A little bit of all these three on one bite was pure perfection, it was incredible. Great service, impeccible food and a wonderful evening. I'm still smiling at the thought of it.

The seafood chowder was full of salmon and other seafood. The hike had a really nice light lemon sauce. The service very nice and efficient. The ambiance-just what you want from a place like this. Congratulations on winning Best Seafood Restaurant in Ireland!

The atmosphere of restaurant was outstanding. Exactly what you would expect. Service was awesome. The staff was I invisible except when needed and then by magic they were there!!!! But the best part was the food. Done PERFECTLY!!! Taste was amazing and presentation was better yet. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!

Very nice restaurant. The kind of place to celebrate. I recommend you sit up stairs. During Summer the sunset happens at 11 pm. Any dinner time service is going to provide a beautiful view of Galway bay. I liked the fresh fish. The mussels were excellent and garlicy. The deserts divine. The service people provided great service to a family that brought their 2-5 year old kids. The Twelve restaurant across the street is much better for brining the little ones.

I came here for dinner on a few occasions and the seafood here is superb and always fresh. They change their fish menu quite often, but there is also a few meat options for anyone who isn't a fan of seafood. Most of the dishes come with steamed vegetables and potatoes as well so no need to order separately. The view from the restaurant is really nice and the atmosphere is quite subdued and formal. The only thing is that the prices for dinner here are quite steep, averaging around 18~27 euro for a main and 10~13 for a starter. The portions are not big, so dining here will cost you quite a bit. Also, the food takes quite long to come although that probably depends on how busy it is at the time, but we waited quite a while. However, the staff are friendly and the service is not bad. Overall, great atmosphere and high quality seafood at equally high prices.

We had an excellent dinner for 8. Great quality seafood and good attention to detail on the plate. Kid friendly but still get an upscale dinner out.

I've been here many times and never had a meal that was not outstanding. Very fresh seafood carefully prepared in a simple, understated style. Simple veggies and boiled spuds served family style complement, but leave focus on the entree. Great service. Oh, and there is a view :)

Fantastic eating. Beautiful setting. The personnel is friendly and extremely accommodating. Lovely seafood.

Our trip to O'Grady's took a sharp turn in the opposite direction after our delicious appetizers . My party of 4 all ordered the same meal, sea bass and gamba. However, 40 minutes in to waiting for our meal we were told that there is no longer any sea bass left and to order something else, or a substitute to the fish. There was no compensation made except for a few apologies, rather than a discount on our meal or complimentary dessert. This treatment left a poor taste in our mood for the rest of the night and led to the upset and decline in our main dish. We were extremely disappointed and the entirety of the evening did not live up to expectation, considering the high regards we had heard. We will not be returning again.

On our recent trip to Ireland we bumped into a gentleman in Cork and during the conversation He mentioned if in Galway to have dinner at O'Grady's. The food was excellent and would recommend it to anyone visiting Galway. RJ Pelletier

Yum! This was the first restaurant we went to on our recent visit to Galway. I ordered the Fish and Chips which were excellent. Everyone enjoyed their meals very much. The service was perfect. Such a quaint and delightful restaurant right on the water! Loved it!

An exquisite evening, so worth the short cab ride form Galway City Centre. Remarkably busy for a Wednesday night, we saw a steady stream of locals warmly greeted. The food was some of the best we had in our Ireland visit, let alone Galway area. The local Pacific oysters were incredible. The thyme risotto was like a dream. Our table had a partial view of the kitchen - Chef ran a smooth operation, with servers running food out and up and down stairs. We never felt rushed even though the dining room was full. With the sound of the waves, a nice bottle of wine, and memorable food and service, this was a relaxing and highly recommended evening.

Not sure what ruler the other reviewers are using, but I think this is the best fish restaurant in Ireland. Perhaps they didn't start with the seafood chowder, which everyone should. It is easily the best seafood chowder out there, and I've had it everywhere--all over the US, Ireland, UK, etc. Every meal on our table was outstanding. The fish is incredibly fresh, and the mussels better than anything I've ever had in Brussels. In fact, the mains are so good that you actually feel bad that you can't eat the sides: the potatoes and veg are also fresh and perfectly cooked. Getting a table by the window in the summer is a real treat: you can watch the sunset over Galway Bay while you're eating fresh, fantastically prepared food. Rather unusually in Ireland, the service is also top notch. Attentive and polite but not pushy, they're happy to let you eat at your pace. I can't wait to go back! As another reviewer said, skip the restaurants in the city centre and get yourself to Barna.

Tastiest seafood. I ordered the mackerel. Loved it. If you don't like to debone your own fish then I wouldn't recommend ordering but it was well worth the effort. The relish provided the right amount of tartness and sweetness to balance out the dish. They had the best brown bread too. I wasn't a fan of it until ogrady's. Service is attentive and friendly. A bit pricey but worth it.

Asked the staff at Lonergan's Pub in Galway where to go for good seafood. They recommeded O'Grady's on the Pier for the food and the best views. They told us it was just a 8-10 minute taxi ride from town. It was definitely not an 8-10 minute ride from town. We arrived without a reservation, and were taken right away to a table for 4. We inquired about sitting upstairs, for a better view but there were no tables available. No worries, our table was fine and the ambience downstairs was cozy with candle light. (Our candle was not lite however.) The selections of fresh baked bread were delicious, so much so that we ordered another basket, which was met with a somewhat rude response by the manager. (Uh, for the prices we were paying Honey, everyone should have had their own bread basket.) The rest of the service was fine. The young hostess who took our payment, was especially friendly and helpful and offered to call us a taxi back into town. The food was very good but very, very pricy. Our meal was also served with a family style serving of vegetables which were fantastic. If you're looking for good seafood, go to O'Grady's on the Pier but bring your wallet and make a reservation if you want to sit upstairs to enjoy the view.

We stopped here on a whim after exploring the bay in Barna on our honeymoon. I was a little hesitant at first because it looks a little divey from the outside, but was very pleasantly surprised once we got inside. The inside of the restaurant was LOVELY and it offered a beautiful view of the bay from the second floor. My husband ordered the Fish and Chips and said they were "amazing and super fresh". I just stuck with the Caesar Salad and the table bread because I knew we'd be eating a big dinner that night but both were excellent. I almost wish we would have just gone there for dinner because the scenery was super romantic (without being too over the top) and the food was super tasty! The service we received was excellent as well. I would highly recommend O'Grady's for a great date spot!

Outstanding food, ambiance and staff. Best fish dishes we've had in a long time. Amazing gem.

No complaints... My wife and at ate a small lunch here and had the seafood chowder. The soup was really good and the atmosphere was nice. The prices are middle of the road which is just fine. You can make a fancier experience of it if you like. All in all, good experience.

Great Fish Food!

Excellent spot. Nice fresh seafood, attentive pleasant service, and fantastic view from warm cozy space. The grilled scallops over risotto were spot on. Packed with flavor and cooked perfectly. Definitely worth the short drive from downtown Galway.

The food is fantastic. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Fantastic views. But well over priced.

Athmospheric, in a very scenic area, great food, fun, efficient staff,

Excellent food in a lovely location overlooking Barna Pier.