There is a good chance that I reviewed this restaurant already under the name The flying Enterprise. Just in case, here we go:
We visited Cork while on our cruise last week. We were lucky to run into a fabulous cab driver, Chris, who took us to this restaurant after our tour of the city. We asked him to take us to a place that he enjoys and voila! we arrived at The Courtyard on Sober Lane.
I understand that the place is also rented out as a venue and I can see the allure. It's beautifully decorated with lots of vibrant flowers and shrubs. There are various tiers of tables, all with umbrellas. It was our first day in Ireland and was a great first impression.
We ordered the fried Gouda (great), a burger (not your typical burger at all, with pesto, roasted peppers and delicious!) The fish and chips were perfect and they have a great beer selection. The chips are house-made and you can tell the difference from the typical frozen product. The service is very attentive without being overly so and the food came out quickly.
We were lucky to meet the owner on the way out and my friend took a picture with him, which I'm sure she will share soon. He was very available on site and friendly. She (my friend) also said that his cologne was divine. :)
I can see why this is a favorite spot for the locals. The food and service are outstanding and the price point is very reasonable.