Cedars Grill - Donegal

I enjoyed both dinner and breakfast at Cedars Grill as part of an overnight stay package. The restaurant has a typical hotel layout with standalone tables and c... read more I enjoyed both dinner and breakfast at Cedars Grill as part of an overnight stay package. The restaurant has a typical hotel layout with standalone tables and cozy booth seating, all offering stunning views of the beautiful castle grounds. The menu isn’t extensive but is thoughtfully curated, providing enough variety to satisfy most tastes. Portion sizes were just right and the food was cooked to perfection, showcasing a wonderful mix of textures and flavors, all beautifully presented. The wine list is impressive and diverse, though on the pricier side, with bottles often exceeding 60 Euros. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and exceptionally attentive throughout the meal. Strict Covid-19 safety measures were also clearly observed. For those dining outside of a package, a three-course dinner (excluding drinks) costs around 100 Euros for two people, and breakfast is priced at 26 Euros per person. I look forward to returning to Cedars Grill in the future.

My husband and I celebrated his birthday at Cedars Grill while staying at Lough Eske Castle. The menu featured a diverse range of superb options, and we were ve... read more My husband and I celebrated his birthday at Cedars Grill while staying at Lough Eske Castle. The menu featured a diverse range of superb options, and we were very impressed. The food was flavorful, the wine list remarkable, and the service impeccable. I highly recommend Cedars Grill!

We were excited to find a fine dining restaurant in a 5-star hotel that offered a vegan menu. Visiting Donegal for a special occasion, we reserved a table and l... read more We were excited to find a fine dining restaurant in a 5-star hotel that offered a vegan menu. Visiting Donegal for a special occasion, we reserved a table and looked forward to a memorable evening. Unfortunately, the experience did not live up to our expectations. The restaurant itself was adequate but hardly fine dining, and instead of a lake view, we were faced with a disappointing view of the car park. Our waiter was friendly, and the bread starter was tasty, but the subsequent dishes fell short. For starters, we ordered the beetroot salad, potato rösti, and quiche. Priced at €12 each, we expected creativity and finesse, but received a very simple presentation—just a few slices of beetroot, orange, and watercress on a plate with minimal effort. For the mains, the aubergine steak and butternut squash tagliatelle looked and tasted more like student meals than dishes worthy of the €30 price tag. The meat eater in our party enjoyed the beef, but it came with a small bowl of cold, hard vegetables and cost €49. We had two glasses of Malbec, which were acceptable, but overall, the quality did not justify the high prices. I rarely comment on cost, but this meal felt excessively overpriced. After sharing our concerns with the manager, he kindly reduced the bill by half, but even at €105, it still felt steep for what we received. We had hoped to celebrate a special occasion here, but the experience was profoundly disappointing. I cannot recommend Cedars Grill.

For our anniversary dinner during a recent trip to Donegal, we chose Cedars Grill. The appealing menu and excellent reviews had set our expectations high. The r... read more For our anniversary dinner during a recent trip to Donegal, we chose Cedars Grill. The appealing menu and excellent reviews had set our expectations high. The restaurant offers a charming, old-world atmosphere with spacious seating, cozy corners, and bay windows overlooking the castle grounds. Our server, Anthony, was attentive and thoughtful, even surprising us with glasses of Prosecco to mark our special occasion. We opted for the à la carte menu and were thoroughly impressed. Each dish was perfectly balanced in flavor and texture, both delightful and beautifully presented. We left Cedars Grill completely satisfied and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a memorable dining experience.

Our experience at Cedars Grill was disappointing. We waited at the entrance before a staff member finally came over to escort us to our table, which also took l... read more Our experience at Cedars Grill was disappointing. We waited at the entrance before a staff member finally came over to escort us to our table, which also took longer than expected. There was confusion regarding my wife’s gluten-free requirements, leading to repeated explanations. The service was inconsistent and often slow, with a 20-minute wait for our main courses after finishing appetizers. While the duck was good, the other dishes were either mediocre or small in portion. Prices were high, though that is somewhat expected at a hotel restaurant. Overall, we left unsatisfied. With limited dining options at this hotel unless you have a car, we’ll be trying the pub next time. Reluctantly giving three stars.