The Springboard - Cork

We dined at The Springboard on a quiet Sunday evening, with only a few other tables occupied. The ambiance was beautiful, thanks to our seating by a glass wall... read more We dined at The Springboard on a quiet Sunday evening, with only a few other tables occupied. The ambiance was beautiful, thanks to our seating by a glass wall overlooking the river and Lee Valley. The service was polite and friendly, though somewhat slow and distracted, possibly due to the small number of guests. We were greeted with complimentary bread served with hummus, olive tapenade, and flavored butter. I chose the pork belly, which was expertly cooked and attractively plated, though the portion felt a bit small given the attention to detail. My partner enjoyed her crab meat fish cake starter. For the mains, we both selected the special Dover or Black Sole cooked on the bone, which was delicious overall. Unfortunately, my partner’s fish arrived undercooked and had to be returned. The kitchen quickly corrected the mistake by preparing fresh dishes for us both. Dessert was a highlight: my orange posset was perfectly balanced, while my partner found her white chocolate mousse visually appealing but not to her taste. As a gesture of goodwill, the restaurant waived my partner’s glass of wine, although we felt the desserts should have been complimentary given the issue with the main course. Overall, The Springboard offers a charming setting and could be worth a return visit, especially for those wanting a relaxed meal with pre-dinner drinks. However, there is clearly room for improvement in both the kitchen and customer service.

I wholeheartedly recommend The Springboard! The staff are warm and attentive, creating a welcoming atmosphere. I had the steak, perfectly cooked to my liking, w... read more I wholeheartedly recommend The Springboard! The staff are warm and attentive, creating a welcoming atmosphere. I had the steak, perfectly cooked to my liking, with a portion size bigger than expected, offering great value. Their wine list is impressive, and the salad was both fresh and beautifully presented.

The best risotto I've ever had, accompanied by a lovely atmosphere and excellent service. We've visited before and will definitely return. Sadly, we didn’t have... read more The best risotto I've ever had, accompanied by a lovely atmosphere and excellent service. We've visited before and will definitely return. Sadly, we didn’t have room for dessert this time, so we'll have to come back for that.

The Springboard offers a stunning view of the River Lee. The staff were very attentive throughout our visit. I had the hake while my companion chose the duck, a... read more The Springboard offers a stunning view of the River Lee. The staff were very attentive throughout our visit. I had the hake while my companion chose the duck, and we both thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Unfortunately, the cheesecake we shared for dessert was a letdown—the crust was incredibly hard and difficult to cut. We wouldn’t order it again.

The food and service at The Springboard are exceptional. I wholeheartedly recommend dining here. read more The food and service at The Springboard are exceptional. I wholeheartedly recommend dining here.