The trad music and general buzz in here made it feel like a proper Irish pub. Guinness was poured well and the spice bag had a decent kick. Seats near the window were a bit tight though.

Been coming here for a while now and the steak sandwich keeps me coming back. Thick slices of beef, proper gravy, and that portobello mushroom on top just works. Loaded fries are decent too but the sandwich is the one I always order. Still as good as the first time I had it.

Stopped in for dinner on a whim. Place was clean and the guy at the counter was sound. Got the burger, it did the job. Nothing fancy but you know, solid enough for what it is. Wouldn&#39;t mind going back if I&#39;m in the area again.

Nice cocktails and a menu that&rsquo;s got plenty of options without being too much. Prices are a bit steep but you&rsquo;re paying for the quality. Solid spot for a proper dinner.

The coffee&rsquo;s decent but nothing to write home about. The free chocolate with your drink is the real winner though&mdash;always makes me stop in when I&rsquo;m passing.

The smoked duck breast was spot on&mdash;properly pink, decent fat render, and that cherry glaze actually cut through instead of just sitting there sweet. Cocktail list looked interesting but I stuck with a pint. Portion size was fair for the price. Wouldn&#39;t mind going back just for that duck again.

The lamb stew was spot on again&mdash;fall-apart tender, just like every other time I&#39;ve been here. That pie special was decent too, though the stew&#39;s the reason I keep coming back.

Popped in on a wet Monday and grabbed a flat white. Proper coffee, nice and warm in there too. The girl behind the counter was sound, didn&#39;t rush me at all. Price was fair, which is always a relief. Just what I needed to get out of the rain for a bit.

Grabbed bar seats without a booking and the corned beef was proper tender. Staff were sound to chat with too. Decent feed in Cork.

The castle view from our table was unreal &mdash; proper postcard stuff. Food was decent, nothing mind-blowing, but you&#39;re really paying for the setting. Enjoyed it though.

The lamb was tender and properly seasoned, no fuss. Room was quiet enough to actually enjoy it. Service got a bit lost at the end, but they were slammed.

The eggs benny with spinach never misses, and those roasted potatoes with hollandaise are proper good. Pastries are the real draw here though.

The cod was done right, flaky and tender. The ceviche crostini were a nice little starter, fresh and zingy. They give you proper homemade bread with farm butter, which I always appreciate. Portion sizes were decent for the price, not huge but fair. Felt like they actually put thought into the menu. Would go back if I&#39;m in the area again.

Stopped by for a quick bite. Place has a decent vibe, staff were sound. Got the ribs though and they were a bit of a letdown&mdash;pretty bland, barely any sauce on them. Maybe I just picked wrong, but I&#39;d probably try something else next time.

The chicken Maryland is still as good as ever &mdash; proper old-school takeaway feel. Glad the new owner kept things simple.

Been coming here for a while now, and the chimichanga never lets me down. Got the pollo with mushrooms and sauce this time too, still solid. Place gets a bit loud inside, but the music keeps it lively. Good spot if you know what you&#39;re after.

The lamb shank was the standout &mdash; fell right off the bone, proper rich gravy. Had the chowder first, decent enough but a bit thin. Waiter mixed up our order but honestly didn&#39;t care, the main dish made up for it. Would go back just for that lamb.

The slow-roasted lamb was decent, but honestly the portions are what sold me. Generous for the price, and the chicken curry was a solid pick too.

Lamb shank was spot on. Owner knew his stuff about the local food, that was a nice touch. Service was grand, not in your face.

Stopped in for the steak sandwich with chips and peppercorn sauce. It was gorgeous, exactly what I needed. Staff were friendly enough, no complaints there. Place had a decent buzz about it, not too loud. Solid spot if you&#39;re after a casual bite, I&#39;d say. Might be back again sometime.

Stopped in for a club sandwich and a smoothie. Sandwich was solid, chicken was fresh. Staff were sound, had a bit of a chat while I was waiting. Place was busy enough for a Tuesday. Smoothie was cold and thick, just what I needed. Might head back if I&#39;m in the area again.

The popcorn tofu at Koto was really good&mdash;crispy outside, soft inside. Portion sizes are generous too. I&#39;d go back just for that dish.

Early bird menu is decent value, food came out quick enough. Staff left us alone which I appreciate. Place had a nice buzz even on a quiet evening.

Stopped in for dinner last week and ordered the fish of the day. Really fresh, cooked simply, no fuss. Got a window table which was nice for people-watching. Service was friendly enough, though we did wait a bit between courses. Portion size felt right for the price. I&#39;d come back if I&#39;m in the area again.

The mix doner platter was a proper feast&mdash;lamb and chicken both tender, plenty of flavour. Sides were decent too. Finished with tiramisu, which was nicely balanced, not too sweet. Prices felt fair for what you get. Only thing is the place gets busy, so you might wait a bit for a table.

The tagliatelle al rag&ugrave; was proper Italian, not the usual tourist stuff. Reminded me of my nonna&#39;s cooking. Pasta had the right bite.

Stopped in for a late lunch and the lamb really caught my attention &mdash; cooked properly, still juicy, not overdone like most places do it. Staff were sound, no fuss. Menu&#39;s simple enough, nothing fancy, but that&#39;s grand. Place has a relaxed vibe, though it did get a bit busy around 1. Wouldn&#39;t mind going back for that lamb again.

The Penne Arrabbiata here is proper comfort food&mdash;you can tell they don&#39;t mess around with the ingredients. I popped in on a Saturday evening and there was live jazz playing, which made the whole place feel a bit special. Only thing is it got fairly busy, so we waited a little longer for the food. Still, I&#39;d go back for that pasta.

Taco fries were solid, really tasty. Chicken shawarma&#39;s pretty basic though, mostly purple cabbage, but still good. That 2-for-1 kebab deal between 12 and 4 is the real winner. Can&#39;t argue with that price.

Find the best places for Lunch in Cork. Explore 205 spots with authentic reviews from real users, compare menus and photos, and plan your perfect dining experience.

The Best Lunch in Cork

The Oliver Plunkett

CoqBull

Camile Thai Bishopstown

Granville's Bar & Grill

Butlers Chocolate Café Cork

The River Club

The Farmgate Cafe

Nectar Coffee

Market Lane

The Castle Blackrock - Neighbourhood Restaurant

Isaac's Restaurant

Bakestone Cafe Carrigtwohill

Jacques Restaurant

Barry's of Douglas Restaurant & Bar

Golden Fry

Cafe Mexicana

The Wilton Old

Monk's Lane

Market Place Restaurant

Ballymaloe House Restaurant

Paddy the Farmers

The Pantry

Koto

The SpitJack

Liberty Grill

Nosta Restaurant

Marcello's

Mabel Crawford’s Bistro

Ristorante Rossini

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