Herons Cove - Ballyshannon

This place is closed and would highly recommend the gaslight for excellent food and friendly staff its beside smugglers resturant

Just wanted to let your readers know that this hotel is no longer active and is up for sale. Now closed. So if you are travelling this direction just to go to Herons Cove Sorry drive on and go to Smugglers Cove .

Food was ok, nothing special. We wanted a bit more atmosphere, and higher quality food. Our server had a grumpy attitude.I don't recommend it, as the prices were much higher than the food quality.

It was by happy accident that I stumbled across the Heron's Cove restaurant just outside Rossnowlagh in County Donegal. The group with which I was travelling had planned to eat at another restaurant at Rossnowlagh but were disappointed to find it booked up so we continued on to The Heron's Cove which we had passed en route and were accommodated, despite not having made reservations in advance. The Building itself is pretty modern and the interior decor is of a very high standard. We were seated in the reception area where we ordered drinks while the waitress took our orders and made ready our table. The starter of fennel and courgette soup was beautiful. Fresh, seasonal and seasoned to perfection. This was followed by a lamb shank which litterally fell off the bone served with a lamb jus, champ and a ratatouille. My travelling companions tried the cajun chicken and smoked bacon salad and the chicken breast stuffed with cream cheese and plum. There was a separate serving of seasonal vegetables and baby new potatoes, all of which were cooked to perfection. There are very few main courses I have eaten in my life which would compare to the quality of any of the three main courses which were chosen by my group. For desert we chose the Bailey's and marshmallow cheesecake, which was evidently handmade and the perfect conclusion to our meal. Everything in the restaurant was spotless and the waiting staff were all attentive and courteous. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone travelling in the area.

We went twice to this restaurant in 2008 and really loved it so being back in Donegal for the long weekend over St Patrick's weekend we made sure to book early and had some great expectations but were very disappointed! Firstly the menu was about half of what it was last year and little to no fresh fish on offer. We had a drink upstairs and then went down for the food. The starters were ok the chowder was average and 2 very small fishcakes. However, before the end of the starter we had to ask to be moved as there was more smoke coming in to the restaurant from the fire than going up the chimney. But they moved us to the draftiest table and it was not as if the restaurant was full! Then came the mains and all you got was what you ordered you ordered the steak all you got was steak really disappointing! To make matters worse the service had also gone down hill and I had to ask twice for more drinks however when it came to desert I gave them a big NO THANKS! We did bring it up with the owner who seemed most dis interested! I wont be back!