Temple Spa, Garden Room Restaurant, Moat Co Westmeath
Horseleap, Moat, Co. Westmeath.
+353 57 933 5118
Price:
€
60-120
(for two with wine)
Hours:
Dinner Tuesday to Saturday, Sunday Lunch.
Restaurant Review
Temple Spa has been a hideaway for those in the know for years. A recent expansion and the opening of the restaurant to the public, makes this utopia more accessible. Organic produce, fine meats and seafood prepared with care and simplicity and served with flair make it a winner, but do stay over if possible, the treatments and general ambiance make Temple Spa very special indeed.
I went down for the weekend with my wife, having been told of Temple Spa by the GM of one of Ireland's most prestigious hotels. "Only an hour from Dublin, give it a go, you'll love it", says he who must not be named. So we do, and we do, and you will.
For the past four months we have had constant work done on our house, starting with the addition of a conservatory, followed by a lot of 'while we're at it's'. This means we are on the waiting list for St. John of God's - as soon as we are well enough to go! In the meantime a weekend in this oasis of calm near Moate in Co. Westmeath will help, so on a Friday afternoon we head west and are indeed in rolling countryside within an hour and ten minutes. The building is new, with a central courtyard and contemporary design. Twenty rooms including suites, all to the highest standards. We are shown to our room and after freshening up, taking tea in the lounge and a walk in the grounds, we head into the Garden Room for dinner.
The room is long with wooden floors and coffee cream walls. The simple contemporary design is evident here as well, softened by good quality linen and comfortable chairs. Tables are well spaced out and offer privacy sometimes missing in the city. It would probably be possible to squeeze ten more tables in, but they have resisted the urge. Our walk left us hungry and we were soon presented with good breads and sparkling water while we made our choices.
There are six starters on offer including Temple Fish Plate, Tea Smoked Pigeon with Celeriac Remoulade, Newport Mussel and Smoked Fish Chowder, and a Salad of Baby Gems, Pink Grapefruit and Asparagus with Chilli and Lemongrass Dressing ranging in price from 7-10. There are a similar amount of main courses which range from 23-29 and include Organic Lamb Loin, Pan Fried Salmon Darne, Seared Medallions of Beef Fillet and Spicy Tiger Prawn and Beef Brochettes with Fragrant Jasmine Rice.
This is a chill out weekend for us, so we stick with the water, and the menu reminds us that where possible they dispense with fats and dairy products in the cooking. Deirdre uses this to remind me of my (prehaps) overuse of butter, and leaves me wondering will the food be worthy but prehaps not as luscious as possible, but I needn't have worried. I had chosen the Temple fish plate comprising a fish cake, pan fried scallop with pancetta with smoked salmon and cream cheese. This selection was beautifully presented, the scallop delicately cooked and the fish cake small but perfectly formed and light as can be. Organic salmon and rich cheese complemented each other, helped with home made brown bread. Deirdre had chosen the goats cheese with cherry tomato salad and hazlenuts. In an organic restaurant you shouldn't go wrong with a salad, good ingredients almost guarantee success and the goats cheese was obviously of the quality artisan variety. Fruit added more flavour and Deirdre squeezed her lemon on top and enjoyed it tremendously.
I had to try the organic beef for the main course, and the medallions of fillet steak were flavoursome and well cooked, accompanied by grilled sweet potato and aubergine. Deirdre's organic loin of lamb was equally good, and the service throughout was friendly and helpful. We shared a chocolate plate for dessert, a brownie in chocolate sauce.
Temple Spa is a true find. The tranquility of the place has to be experienced and the restaurant is excellent. Even if you can't make an overnight stay, the food is reason enough to take a trip, and I have no doubt that you will be seduced into returning again soon.
I went down for the weekend with my wife, having been told of Temple Spa by the GM of one of Ireland's most prestigious hotels. "Only an hour from Dublin, give it a go, you'll love it", says he who must not be named. So we do, and we do, and you will.
For the past four months we have had constant work done on our house, starting with the addition of a conservatory, followed by a lot of 'while we're at it's'. This means we are on the waiting list for St. John of God's - as soon as we are well enough to go! In the meantime a weekend in this oasis of calm near Moate in Co. Westmeath will help, so on a Friday afternoon we head west and are indeed in rolling countryside within an hour and ten minutes. The building is new, with a central courtyard and contemporary design. Twenty rooms including suites, all to the highest standards. We are shown to our room and after freshening up, taking tea in the lounge and a walk in the grounds, we head into the Garden Room for dinner.
The room is long with wooden floors and coffee cream walls. The simple contemporary design is evident here as well, softened by good quality linen and comfortable chairs. Tables are well spaced out and offer privacy sometimes missing in the city. It would probably be possible to squeeze ten more tables in, but they have resisted the urge. Our walk left us hungry and we were soon presented with good breads and sparkling water while we made our choices.
There are six starters on offer including Temple Fish Plate, Tea Smoked Pigeon with Celeriac Remoulade, Newport Mussel and Smoked Fish Chowder, and a Salad of Baby Gems, Pink Grapefruit and Asparagus with Chilli and Lemongrass Dressing ranging in price from 7-10. There are a similar amount of main courses which range from 23-29 and include Organic Lamb Loin, Pan Fried Salmon Darne, Seared Medallions of Beef Fillet and Spicy Tiger Prawn and Beef Brochettes with Fragrant Jasmine Rice.
This is a chill out weekend for us, so we stick with the water, and the menu reminds us that where possible they dispense with fats and dairy products in the cooking. Deirdre uses this to remind me of my (prehaps) overuse of butter, and leaves me wondering will the food be worthy but prehaps not as luscious as possible, but I needn't have worried. I had chosen the Temple fish plate comprising a fish cake, pan fried scallop with pancetta with smoked salmon and cream cheese. This selection was beautifully presented, the scallop delicately cooked and the fish cake small but perfectly formed and light as can be. Organic salmon and rich cheese complemented each other, helped with home made brown bread. Deirdre had chosen the goats cheese with cherry tomato salad and hazlenuts. In an organic restaurant you shouldn't go wrong with a salad, good ingredients almost guarantee success and the goats cheese was obviously of the quality artisan variety. Fruit added more flavour and Deirdre squeezed her lemon on top and enjoyed it tremendously.
I had to try the organic beef for the main course, and the medallions of fillet steak were flavoursome and well cooked, accompanied by grilled sweet potato and aubergine. Deirdre's organic loin of lamb was equally good, and the service throughout was friendly and helpful. We shared a chocolate plate for dessert, a brownie in chocolate sauce.
Temple Spa is a true find. The tranquility of the place has to be experienced and the restaurant is excellent. Even if you can't make an overnight stay, the food is reason enough to take a trip, and I have no doubt that you will be seduced into returning again soon.
