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The Ivory Tower Restaurant Reviews, Cork

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The Ivory Tower

35 Princes St, Cork, Ireland
021 427 4665
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Seared shark with banana ketchup, salsa and okra
4 visitor photos
Ranked #12 of 321 restaurants in Cork
4.5 of 5 stars 83 Reviews
Cuisines: Diner
More restaurant details
Restaurant details
Good for: Romantic, Local cuisine, Special Occasion Dining
Dining options: Dinner, Reservations, After-hours
Description: An intimate restaurant run by locally famous chef Seamus O'Connell, featuring some of the most imaginative food in Ireland. The menu includes cajun, french and asian influences, with dishes such as blackened shark with banana ketchup and veal chimichanga ensuring that Cork locals and tourists alike take the time to locate this hard to find restaurant.
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83 reviews from our community

86% Recommend
    60
    12
    3
    2
    6
Rating summary
    Food
    Service
    Value
    Atmosphere
Date Rating
Cork
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
4 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
“Wow! Inspired cooking...”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 19 May 2013 NEW

If you want a gastronomic experience in Cork there is nowhere better than Ivory Tower on Princess Street. Was wowed by the Fusion Menu there last night - an 8 course tastefest that cannot be too highly recommended. The stars of this menu for me were the rabbit and bergamo lemon terrine, the wonderful risotto and a delicious chocolate/chilli fondant... More

Was this review helpful? Yes
See 3 more reviews by TravellerCork for Cork
Zarhee, Public Relations Manager at The Ivory Tower, responded to this review
20 May 2013

Thanks for your great review, and I'm glad you enjoyed the meal so much. Just a point for anyone reading this - the 'signature' tasting menu costs from €70 to €80 and is what we are known for. But there are a few cheaper options including a Japanese tasting menu and a 5 course 'a la carte' dinner menu. Call... More

Dublin, Ireland
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
4 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
21 helpful votes 21 helpful votes
“MY FAVOURITE IN CORK”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 15 May 2013

Sorry, I am biased, but this restaurant is one of the Best in Cork! Awesome Grub and so Tasty! Delicious with a capital D Unusual and always a suprise Seamus well done! Also well done to front of the House

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Zarhee, Public Relations Manager at The Ivory Tower, responded to this review
17 May 2013

Hey, and thanks for the amazing room. We are delighted you enjoyed dining with us, and do hope you come back soon. Good point about the meal lasting hours - if anyone is reading this, book early folks. Without wanting to sound too pretentious we don't offer dinner, we offer a dining experience! More

1 review
“Amazballs”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 9 May 2013

The food was amazing you could not ask for more service, setting, value is without fail. On a busy night the owner waiter and cheif all one person was outstanding. I cannot recomend this restaurant highly enough.

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Zarhee, Public Relations Manager at The Ivory Tower, responded to this review
17 May 2013

Hey Jamie Amazball review too! Yes, Seamus always trys to get out of the kitchen and meet the clientele. He says it the only way he can get proper feedback on his food. Sometimes though I think he just wants to hear the compliments. More

Dublin, Ireland
2 reviews
“Fantastic menu”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 May 2013

Really nice old building.We were able to get a meal quiet late while everywhere else was closed.The food is incredible.Great choices.

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Zarhee, Public Relations Manager at The Ivory Tower, responded to this review
17 May 2013

Thanks for your review Barry. Glad you enjoyed the building, and especially the food. Also just a note to anyone who is reading this - we usually only serve 5-course, 7 course or 8 course meals, so if you are planning on arriving late please call us beforehand. We'll accomodate where we can, but it's not alwyas possible. More

Cork, Ireland
1 review
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“Great experience!”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 2 May 2013

We went for the the 8 course fusion menu. The food was superb, the atmosphere very relaxed and homely, and the chef, Seamus (who was also our waiter) was very welcoming and friendly. His love of food and all things eclectic is reflected within the four walls of the Ivory Tower. It really is a hidden gem right in the... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Zarhee, Public Relations Manager at The Ivory Tower, responded to this review
5 May 2013

Thanks for the great review, and please do come again. We'll be delighted to have you back. Seamus does try to get out of the Kitchen and meet the 'patrons' when he can, to find out what they thought about the food. Or so he says ... but leave it late enough and a bottle of wine might just come... More

Cork, Ireland
1 review
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“Amazing!”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 2 May 2013

What can I say but we love this this restaurant, the chef, the food, the staff, the atmosphere and the general creativity and high standards that all belong to the Ivory Tower. The Ivory Tower was recommend to us by a friend as a possible caterer for our wedding, July 2012. We had very certain restrictions that we needed to... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Zarhee, Public Relations Manager at The Ivory Tower, responded to this review
5 May 2013

Thanks Elli, it was a privelidge to cook for you on your special day. We're delighted to have played a part ... More

Paris, France
Top Contributor
67 reviews 67 reviews
66 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 13 cities Reviews in 13 cities
239 helpful votes 239 helpful votes
“STILL BEST IN CORK”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 27 April 2013

Ivory Tower in my humble opinion is still one of the Best Restaurants in Cork City, Seamus goes an amazing job here with his great waiting staff, so friendly, Recommened

Was this review helpful? Yes 5
See 4 more reviews by Tommy G for Cork
Zarhee, Public Relations Manager at The Ivory Tower, responded to this review
5 May 2013

Thanks Tommy. That's the third time you've been back (at least) so we must be doing something right! More

San Francisco, California
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
3 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
27 helpful votes 27 helpful votes
“GREAT TASTING MENU”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 20 April 2013

The Service,the Food is all WOW WOW WOW here, you might be a little put off when you enter the old building but you need to realise that this place has character by the bucketfuls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wonderful stuff Seamus and Staff

Was this review helpful? Yes 4
Zarhee, Public Relations Manager at The Ivory Tower, responded to this review
5 May 2013

Thanks Kimmy. WOW is what we aim for. Make sure you tell everyone in San Francisco next time you return ... More

Boston, Massachusetts
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
3 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
43 helpful votes 43 helpful votes
“Got the Last Table for 2 on a Friday”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 18 April 2013

Had to nearly plea with Seams the Chef Proprietor for the last table for two here at Corks Finest Ivory Tower but it was worth it, well worth it!,,,, Very busy on a Friday night, Great food.

Was this review helpful? Yes 6
Zarhee, Public Relations Manager at The Ivory Tower, responded to this review
5 May 2013

Glad it was worth it. Note to anyone reading this - Fridays are chocka at the moment. Book early ... seriously early. More

Kilkenny, Ireland
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
25 helpful votes 25 helpful votes
“GREAT LATE NIGHT DINING”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 16 April 2013

So many chefs in the country outside Dublin stop serving as early as 8.30pm but not so in Ivory Tower they might take orders after 10pm which is great if you are running late, this is perhaps one of the Best restaurants in Ireland, different and always Exceptional

Was this review helpful? Yes 6
Zarhee, Public Relations Manager at The Ivory Tower, responded to this review
18 April 2013

Hi Terry O. Thanks for the great comments, and glad you found your visit 'exceptional'. A couple of notes to anyone reading this though. If you are running late please call us. Where we can we always try to accomodate people - but sometimes it's just not possible. And that's particularly true as we move into the summer season, when... More

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The Ivory Tower
35 Princes St
Cork
Ireland
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