I've been living and cooking in Westport now for close to a year and have passed alot of restaurants daily wishing to go in but never having the time - untill now.
First on my list was Sage.
Sage is a nice relaxed and cozy...restaurant. Not pretentious in any way, but you know from when you walk in and get seated that the standards are going to be higher than the usual fare.
The first to arrive to my table was the bread course and I must say it was well done.
A selection of three house made breads and three accompaniments - the butter was particularly nice aswell as the brown bread.
Shortly after came my Scallop and Pork Belly starter, It was presented very neatly and unfussy on a frilled black plate that almost resembled a scallop's shell. The scallops where cooked just right - though could have used a touch more salt, but the flavours all worked well.
Next I was surprised with a little Rum and Coconut Sorbet pallete cleanser that was served in a cool miniature mason jar that you had to pop open - a very entertaining touch, and the sorbet was very clean and refreshing. I'm a big fan of mid meal surprises.
A few minutes after that, I was served my monkfish and oxtail course. Again, the cooking of the monkfish itself was spot on.
When I read the menu and it said Curried oxtails I was sort of expecting a spoonful of oxtails somewhere on or under the monkfish, but I can only assume they where in the sauce as I couldn't see any anywhere, or pick up a strong oxtail flavour in general.
The other aspects of the dish where very good, but I just found it a little hard to pick out individual flavours, but as a whole it was nice.
The side was a sort of melange of different vegetables and baby potatoes in a generous portion - but I couldn't help thinking that thinly sliced carrots, Courgettes, onions and mange tout was a strange selection but it was nice all the same.
Next up was my personal highlight - The Baklava and Pistachio Icecream. As far as I know that was the first time I've experienced Baklava and I really enjoyed it. A nice quaint portion size and the Pistachio Icecream was gorgeous. Really nice to have with an after dinner latte I thought.
Finally came the complimentary petit fours. A variety of four ( Dark Chocolate, Ladybird Biscuit, Jelly, Waffle) in my opinion is plentiful selection and a great way to finish up the meal experience on a high note along with the complimentary digestif of Peach Shnaps.
I would gladly eat here again - thanks for a pleasant evening!More
