Cliff N.
Yelp
Farmgate Cafe is a must stop in the English Market in Cork Ireland , which is a foodie city famous for local cuisine that is on the 2nd floor of the English Market. The market is a bustling bee hive of produce farmers, butchers, chocolatiers, of local and organic fresh food to include spices and an abundance of gastro delights from afar. The all wood construction and arched ceiling of this 18th century building make it visually appealing to add to the sensory adventure of fresh and cooking food. Farmgate is a bit small as most European cafes are but was rich in its menu offerings! I made reservations via Open Table for lunch for myself and was greeted at the stairs as seating goes all around an atrium open air looking down on the market below. My server carefully considered my food intolerance to gluten and dairy and made sure I was ok with butter, the service was top notch, not rushed and not invasive as I sat and slowly sipped in the scenery and scents. I ordered a chicken with lentils, parsnips, and carrots and the chicken was herbed nicely, moist and succulent served over tasty lentils that were not bitter but light and full of flavor, buttery parsnips and carrots not overcooked. I had some extra vegetables as a replacement for the mashed potatoes as they have cream in them and the veggies were crisp and fresh. The menu options are extensive for the size of the kitchen and obviously benefit from having fresh seafood, butchers and produce downstairs such that they had some of everything on the menu! You can tell the cook/chef takes pride in his preparation and the presentation was artistic as well. The thick wooden tables and height ceilings gave this place a feeling of long standing history and the staff appeared pleased to work there in this historic setting, making good fresh local food to share. I highly recommend this cafe as a must do for Cork! The prices were very reasonable, the service and food came without an arduous wait, a memorable experience in a town of high food standards!