I’ve recently been making my way around all of the restaurants on Howth pier and the Oar House was my final one to tick off the list. This is not because it was least appealing, but every time I’ve tried to visit it was absolutely jam packed! Being on the ball for once, we booked a table for lunch. Inside, the decor has a fish shack feel to it which I love and it’s very cosy. It was quite busy on our visit on a Saturday afternoon so if you want to visit I’d highly recommend booking.
There was a great selection of specials available which I always like to see. I had to deliberate over the menu for a while due to such an excellent choice of seafood dishes (and also some non seafood options). Although I am a huge fan of prawn cocktail, I went for buffalo prawns with a blue cheese dip which were excellent, albeit a bit heavy on the buffalo sauce. There was four of us so we also tried some calamari, which was one of the best I’ve had and Dublin Bay prawn cocktail which I didn’t taste but I was assured it was delicious.
Mains from the blackboard were very tempting, and I was torn between a few options, but eventually went with monkish medallions with crab claws with a chorizo and sundried tomato butter (€25). This was one of the most delicious mains I have had in a while, the butter not being too overpowering and the crab claws deliciously meaty. We also tried the halibut with scallops (€29), again a delicious combination. Its accompanying mango and smoked salmon salsa offered an excellent freshness to the dish. The salmon from the main menu (€20) was a very generous portion and cooked perfectly, served simply with some spinach and creamy bearnaise sauce.
We managed one dessert between us, an excellent apple and berry crumble (€6.50). The Oar House was my final spot to try on the pier in Howth and possibly my favourite. They also offer a great value early bird menu which you can find here.
