East Cafe - Howth

The service was exceptional, the seafood was fresh, and there was a great variety of wines and other drinks. It's a beautiful location! read more The service was exceptional, the seafood was fresh, and there was a great variety of wines and other drinks. It's a beautiful location!

I created this account specifically to share my experience. While the food at this restaurant can be quite good, the service is appalling. The waitstaff are you... read more I created this account specifically to share my experience. While the food at this restaurant can be quite good, the service is appalling. The waitstaff are young and poorly trained, leading to extensive waits for assistance. During my recent visit with a group of five, we waited nearly two hours for just two meals. Additionally, we were informed on two occasions that certain items were unavailable, despite being among the first customers to arrive on a Sunday afternoon. The food quality is satisfactory, but what could be a fantastic seaside café is significantly hindered by a mostly unmotivated staff.

The seafood chowder was thick and creamy with a lovely flavor, but it lacked actual seafood. The oysters Rockefeller were disappointing, lacking moisture and fl... read more The seafood chowder was thick and creamy with a lovely flavor, but it lacked actual seafood. The oysters Rockefeller were disappointing, lacking moisture and flavor, and seemed to contain dried-up oysters in a shell of sandy crumbs. The crab claws had a nice taste and were meaty, but they were slightly overcooked. I found it surprising that a cafe connected to a well-known seafood restaurant didn’t provide any utensils for seafood except regular forks. When we requested a seafood cracker for the large crab claws, we were informed they didn’t have any. We were offered lobster picks, but they never arrived. Additionally, the home chips we ordered never made it to our table. After waiting for 40 minutes for our food, we decided not to follow up on them. Overall, the service was lacking. We, along with a couple of other groups, stood around for about 10 minutes (the sign indicated to wait to be seated) while multiple staff members walked past us. Eventually, we had to approach someone to ask to be seated at the completely empty counter opposite the bar. When we inquired about the delay with our food, no one followed up, and we had to keep asking for updates. I appreciated the relaxed atmosphere, but the service and food left much to be desired. For the price, there are certainly better options available in the area.

The service was weak, but ordering the seafood platter was a great idea! It was enough to serve two people, and with a bottle of wine, we paid less than €40 eac... read more The service was weak, but ordering the seafood platter was a great idea! It was enough to serve two people, and with a bottle of wine, we paid less than €40 each.

It happened to be a rainy afternoon when James and I arrived Howth for our walking tour of the island. We stopped in here to escape the rain and enjoy a warming... read more It happened to be a rainy afternoon when James and I arrived Howth for our walking tour of the island. We stopped in here to escape the rain and enjoy a warming cup of coffee. They have a covered patio with a great view of the harbor.