Gulfstream - Clonakilty

We enjoyed a tasty meal at this restaurant while overlooking the beach. We started with amuse bouches and enjoyed a variety of seafood including scallops, oysters, baked crab, and lobster, followed by delightful desserts. The manager and all the servers were extremely kind and friendly.

The food and service are fantastic. Breakfast is exceptional and to have dinner in this place is a real treat.

I have already praised this magnificent hotel for their outstanding delivery of my daughter's wedding, however, the hotel's breakfasts deserve their own special mention. It is almost unfair to call what is offered a simple breakfast, it is more a breakfast banquet! The staff are chatty and engaging without ever becoming intrusive (Jackie is a diamond) and the selection of fresh and varied foods is the best I have ever experienced in any hotel or restaurant. Well done Inchydoney!

Step 1. Why to write a review? Will anything actually improve ? Will I be contacted by the hotel management to offer some kind of refund/voucher? Will steps be taken to improve customer service/ quality of food? I would answer no to all the above as this is my third visit to the hotel for lunch and it appears things have rapidly deteriorated. This is my first review by the way and I 'm not one for giving bad press but this hotel, masquerading as a 4 star establishment, needs a proverbial kick up the behind. Step 1. When entering a restaurant it is common policy to greet one 's clientele. Just a simple hello and welcome sets a nice tone for one 's dining experience. In this case our greeting consisted of What 's your name ? Step 2 Deliver the clients meals simultaneously. My chowder arrived 5 minutes later than my companion 's BLT. The aforementioned Chowder arrived minus the promised accompanying bread. A bowl. Just a bowl. A eureka moment ensued as the waitress realised that a paucity of bread existed. The aforementioned BLT comprised a tired looking salad, a stringy piece of rasher and a multitude of nacho chips (Aldi anyone? At 14 Euro. Chowder was watery, Not too bad. A tenner. So far not so good.Hmmmmmm. Step 3. Ordered dessert. The less than charming maitre d ' seemed to have a problem processing my order of a muffin (3.25 and a slice of coconut and chocolate cake (6euro Muffin eventually arrived. Tumbleweed blew through the restaurant as another 10 minutes arrived before the tart arrived. My companion commented on this and was met by a surly stare followed by a less than convincing apology. So far so really not so good at all. No offer of a free dessert, no offer of anything at all. Paid the bill. 40 euro. Serving staff should wait in the wings and observe the dining progress from a discreet distance instead of hovering around the tables, waiting to pounce on each finished plate. It disturbs the dining experience. Who is training these people? Does the management really care? Is it just all about the money? Suffice to say we will not be returning and would caution anyone not to dine at Inchidoney hotel. It is an insult to anyone wishing to have a great dining experience in what is a beautiful location. I don 't expect any response from the management nor an explanation as to the reasons behind our less than pleasant experience. Somewhere in the distance I swore I heard the call of the Celtic Tiger. Rip-off Ireland still exists, certainly down Inchadoney way.

We had breakfast here every day during our stay and dinner on 3 nights. Food quality and service are excellent.