Oar Restaurant

Oar Restaurant

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+353 65 704 7990+ Add website
Hours
Sun
17:30 - 21:00
Wed
17:30 - 21:00
Thu
17:30 - 21:00
Fri
17:30 - 21:00
Sat
17:30 - 21:00
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MICHELIN
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Travellers' Choice Best of the Best 2024

RATINGS
Food
4.9 of 5 bubbles
Service
4.8 of 5 bubbles
Value
4.7 of 5 bubbles
Atmosphere
4.5 of 5 bubbles

MICHELIN Guide's Point of View

In the rural heart of The Burren, with views out towards the Cliffs of Moher, you’ll find this well-frequented restaurant with a clean, modern interior...
Read more on MICHELIN Guide
Is this restaurant romantic?
About
Rustic fine dining Restaurant
PRICE RANGE
€7.00 – €30.00
CUISINES
Irish, European, Contemporary
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Dinner
FEATURES
Reservations, Seating, Serves Alcohol, Table Service
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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles241 reviews
Excellent
225
Very good
7
Average
0
Poor
2
Terrible
7

Ewan D
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 solo
As a solo traveler, experiencing Ireland for the first time, I booked a reservation at Oar before my travels in Ireland began. I felt very welcomed by Kieran and the servers at Oar when I arrived. I experienced a delicious and wonderful culinary experience with a three-course meal as well as extra items that they brought such as an oyster and another dish that was a palette cleanser. Experiencing Oar was a delight during my birthday week and a special culinary experience. Overall, the service was excellent, the restaurant is elegant, and the food was absolutely delicious, and a delight to experience. It was a true treat to experience the creative prowess and wonderful dining experience at Oar. I am grateful. The food combinations and culinary creativity were incredible. Thank you, Kieran and all Oar staff for a memorable and incredible experience.
Written 2 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

carriglea
Blessington124 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 family
We had dinner on a Friday evening for a family celebration. It was perfect from beginning to end. The dining room was bright and relaxing and with a full house, had a great atmosphere. The service was very friendly and relaxed but yet very professional. There was something on the menu for everyone and it was very accessible for young and old. Without exception, everyone cleared their plates! I had the St Tola goats cheese salad for starters which was beautifully presented followed by a perfectly cooked rib eye with the most delicious pepper sauce I have ever tasted. Soufflé for desert with passion fruit sorbet. All of this was preceded by a perfect amuse bouche and an amazing basil and tomato based palate cleanser between the starters and mains. It is clear that Kieran and his team are clearly so proud of what they are doing at Oar and so they should be. Their menu is very reasonably priced for dinner and the wine selection is well chosen and without a huge mark up. They deserve at least one Michelin Star.
Written 19 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

J2024
Cork185 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 solo
So I have wanted to come to this restaurant for ages but a combo of poor planning on my part and the fact that oar is both popular and not that large meant that my last minute attempts to get in before didn’t succeed. This time I specifically came down for Oar. I am glad I did this restaurant may not have a Michelin star bit it definitely deserves one. I had the tuna tartare high quality perfectly spiced, followed by the scallops I am old and fat so ordered the venison as a second main ( they didn’t have to accomadte me Kieran had made it clear when I was booking they needed the table back by 8 but they did and very much appreciated) I ah the milk chocolate ganache as dessert. All superb with friendly efficient service. Drinks I had two glasses of the house Sauvignon floral, sharp and tasty and two glasses of the house Malbec heavy on the dark berry flavours solid if not extraordinary I had th muscat for dessert ( again depends on your familiarity with dessert wines people often find too sweet I thought it was superb.) followed by a Irish coffee solid if not mind blowing. Look the restartunt relatively speaking isn’t cheap but it is amazing and to me at least good value I would have love to done the tasting menu but wasn’t on offer when I sat ( again solo and they were kind enough to accommodate) next time - I want to come back to Doolin to do homestead cottage and a 2nd night at Oar I willl ask when booking if they can accommodate. Service high standard somewhere between Casual and Formal, ambiences Oar is set in a large house not my favourite setting but wouldn’t stop me from coming back.
Written 19 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kathy B
4 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 friends
I was very excited to book a reservation at Oar in July, 2024, for our trip in September, 2024. We had a handful of restaurants that we were eager to try on our 3 week trip to Ireland and this was one of them. It was a blustery, rainy evening the night of the reservation and the restaurant accommodated an earlier arrival for us (which we appreciated) at 5:pm, the time of opening, because they were expecting a large party at 6 pm. There was one other couple seated when we arrived. They sat us at a table next to the service door with a view of the dishwasher. My view was of staff coming and going from there, an unpleasant experience. We appreciated the oyster amuse bouche from the chef but could not eat it because of allergies. We thought it odd that they took it away but did not offer a replacement. Our first courses were fine but my entree was a small portion of haddock smothered in too much sauce. The service was inattentive and the food mediocre. We also noticed that not only did the large party not arrive while we were there, and only one other couple was seated during that time. Our expectations for this restaurant were high, based on reviews and comments from locals, but they stumbled on delivery the evening we dined with them.
Written 22 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kieran OHalloran
Hi Kathy. Thank you for your feedback. Im very sorry you did not enjoy. If i could just explain a few things that you may have not considered before writing your review. Your booking was at 7pm. You changed it last min so we had to rearrange our table plan for you. I had spoke with you numerous times and never did you mention any allergies. The oysters are a gift from us. I came to chat and was not engaged with. Also we do not serve haddock in our restaurant. Maybe the dish you are talking about was the Halibut. We work extreamly hard day in day out to give the best to all our customers. Kieran
Written 22 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

CeilingsPA
Lansdale832 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 couples
Read various reviews about Oar and chose it for a special celebration, well glad to say it’s reviews were accurate (very good) Nice welcome by Kieran as you enter restaurant, seating was comfortable and spaced enough to not feel crowded. Appetizers were a work of art with great tastes, the salmon and the tuna were very memorable. Main courses we chose the ribeye and the lamb, both perfectly cooked and a good selection of vegetables (not always the case with fine dining establishments) wine choice was extensive and the glass price very reasonable. We enjoyed our evening and our chat with Kieran, they do a good job and you can see why they do so well.
Written 16 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wayton
Ikast105 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 family
A family oaccasion brought us to Oar on an October evening. The menu was somewhat different from the sample menu on the internet but it was a sample menu but perhaps promised more creativity than what we got. But the food was fine - and we enjoyed. Only setbacks was the pre-printed wine list turned out to include wines not available. The service was kind and helpful but the lack of presentation of the cheeses served when you picked the cheese board left an impression of staff being too busy or ? Overall a pleasant experience
Written 29 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cosmopolitan140354
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 couples
Food is delicious, but dining room cold & lacking in atmosphere. What really lets the restaurant down however is the unhinged & arrogant owner Kieran (who swung from super friendly to unhinged the second any negative feedback was given) & the uninspiring & rude Roxy. It’s disappointing that a restaurant with food of this standard is let down by its customer service. Arguing with customers is really never a good look. The chef here is superb and needs to go out on his own. I can’t imagine what Kieran must be like to work for. No doubt Kieran will have a smart defensive response to this review!
Written 28 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kieran OHalloran
Im going to keep this short as you dont deserve my time. You dont mention that you were 30mins late? You turned up with a bigger number than you booked for. You were rude to Roxy and that was the final straw so i did not want you in my restaurant after that or ever again. Please take time to read all the positive reviews for Roxy and then maybe take time to see that there is no place in any restaurant for rude and arrogant humans like you
Written 30 July 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

SDal1
County Dublin35 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 family
Wonderful dining experience. From a warm welcome, to advice on wines (extensive selection), fabulous menu choices, superbly presented dishes to wonderful taste experiences. This is the best. Thanks to Kieran and a special word to Roxy. Chef take a bow. Can’t wait to return. Proably the best dining experience in Ireland.
Written 16 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mary
32 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 couples
This gorgeous restaurant ticked all the boxes for me. The food was superb with enormous attention to detail by the chef. Everything was beautifully presented and tasted delicious. I liked that there was an option of a la carte as well as the tasting menu. The ambience and decor is very relaxing and we didn't feel rushed to get off the table. The staff are so lovely and friendly and from the initial contact to reserve a table with Kieran by telephone I felt welcomed and at ease and was looking forward to our visit. It is quiet unusual to have such a warm welcome in a restaurant these days and Kieran made us feel at home throughout our visit without any fuss or effort. It comes so naturally. We felt appreciated as customers and will definitely be returning. Don't miss it if you are around the area because it certainly delivers. It is good value for the food provided and the wine menu is reasonably priced. Everything about it is 5 star. Thank you everyone for a lovely night.
Written 16 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Przemyslaw Z
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 couples
We had our anniversary dinner in the Oar restaurant. The service was amazing, really listening to our order. My wife has vinegar and wine allergy and they went above and beyond to ensure nothing they serve has these ingredients. The food was first class. All the dishes were composed with a lot of thought and mixing various tastes and textures. Ingredients were fresh and visually the food was also very impressive. The restaurant floor was quite small, but cosy and.tha ks to the size wasn't too loud from too many people. Overall a very pleasant experience and would highly recommend for any foodie.
Written 14 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Matt D
18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 none
Oar Restaurant Doolin on a very recent trip to Dool;in, we were invited to the Oar Restaurant for dinner on Saturday evening. We were guests to celebrate a 60th birthday. As it was a private party, the restaurant was booked for the occasion only. we were well received and shown to the restaurant area, there is no ante room for drinks, so the tables were set out and place names. A very nice quant room, nice linen tablecloths, linen serviettes, and nice table dressings. Wine was served immediately, and a very nice chilled Chardonnay, and topped up all evening. Menus were quickly offered, and a good selection on offer to suit all palates. The orders were taken, and explained to the guests. Amuse Bouche was served before the dinner, and a very good selection was on offer. So tasty. A lot of TLC from the chefs. The Food was excellent, lovely presentation, and the Sole was to die for. The rib eye beef was a popular choice. As was the fillet of lamb, and loin of pork. The service was prompt, served by very pleasant staff, and topping up the wine through the dinner. The basil sorbet was a nice touch, before the main course was served. Desserts were of equally good variety, and the cheese board was excellent. Booking is advised, and the menu offers a two or three course, €50 to €70. There are lots of parking, and very secure. The Oar ,also offer accommodation. Room only, so there is coffee/tea making in the room. Breakfast is available in the local Doolin cafe, which is just down the road. Good value at €9.5 for mini breakfast, which is substantial enough. With lots of replenished tea and toast.
Written 4 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

teresa mcgann
13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 friends
We went to Oar with two friends for dinner on Valentine's night and it was amazing. Complimentary oysters were served to begin with, followed by delicious starters. Sorbet next and for mains three of us had steak and one person had scallops, all cooked to perfection. The restaurant was busy but the service was excellent and Kieran made sure all his customers were very well looked after. Looking forward to our next visit already!
Written 15 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

David S
54 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 couples
We didn't use the restaurant but stayed in the apartment for 3 nights on a mini break to Doolin. We only booked a room but were given a 2 bedroom 2 storey apartment for the same price. Very comfortable and spacious, beautiful surroundings and views, we even saw the Northern lights from our bedroom window one night! Great location, just a minute's walk to the "main road" (don't worry, it's actually a very quiet road but it's the road that goes right through Doolin to the harbour), so only a stroll to the nearest pubs and shops. Plenty of toiletries and the tea, coffee, milk, ad sugar were replenished each day. Spotlessly clean, friendly staff, and sad to leave.
Written 18 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Traveler91956
Edmonton47 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 couples
We were directed to The Oar by Marion from Sheedy’s B+B, an excellent place to stay! (Please see our review!) The owner guided us to our table and was very attentive. The food was absolutely amazing as was the choice of wine. We had a Slovenian white which was wonderful. The whole experience was incredible and it was such a delight to find a restaurant of this quality in a small town. It is well worth seeking out but you will need reservations as it is, quite understandably, very popular.
Written 11 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Pat C
Dublin1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021 family
Three of us visited the Oar Doolin last Saturday. From the moment we walked in the door we felt warmly welcomed and at home. The front of house staff hit the exact note of professionalism and friendliness and there is none of the stiff formality that you would normally associate with such a high standard restaurant. Every course was a surprise and a culinary masterpiece. The fresh crab melted in the mouth. The different flavours offered in every dish came through all complimenting each other perfectly. We would have willing paid for the complimentary surprise sorbets ( a speciality of the chefs) they were so tasty. The halibut was so fresh it tasted like it was fished out of the sea an hour before. The duck was cooked to perfection. The carefully chosen accompaniments for each main course were beautifully balanced and really flavoursome. As the service was nicely paced we were well up for dessert we chose the dark chocolate truffle cake and lemon tart. simply stunning. I was the only one drinking that evening and I chose the house wine by the glass. Some of the best house wine I have ever tasted, I did note a Lebanese wine on the wine list a rare offering and one that I was tempted by. The wine by the glass was incredibly reasonably priced as was the whole meal. Coming in at an unbelievable 60€ a head including coffees, tea and soft drinks. I had 3 glasses of the house wine. As if it couldn’t get any better we had an added delighted of meeting the owner Ciaran. Talking to him and hearing of his love for what he does it all becomes clear as to why the restaurant is as outstanding as it is. His passion for food and wine goes back a long way, his commitment to excellence and care for his customers shines through his warm and engaging personality. It was a joy to meet him and his team. One of us comes from Derry and the other two from Dublin and we would willingly drive back in a heartbeat for an experience of such a meal again.
Written 24 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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OAR RESTAURANT, Doolin - Restaurant Reviews, Phone Number & Photos - Tripadvisor

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