Donnelly's of Barna restaurant, Barna, Galway
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Welcome to Donnellys of Barna, one of Ireland’s most revered seafood restaurants and bars. Established in 1892, Donnellys was a thatched cottage owned by the Donnelly family. The family ran a pub and shop here for over 100 years. In 1922 The Black and Tans tried to burn down the building and there are bullet holes still visible at the front of the building.
Although recent developments have changed the shape and scale of Barna, Donnelly’s of Barna is still known as a landmark at the crossroads. Despite its last major redevelopment in 1989, just over 21 years ago, we are delighted to have retained the old stonework and woodwork of the original house, allowing us to maintain its old world charm and atmosphere.
Here at Donnellys we specialise in freshly caught fish and locally sourced meat, vegetables and salads. Whether you choose to dine in one of our snugs, or hidden corners or in our formal dining area, you can enjoy the same great menu throughout.
Our chef, Tom Farragher takes great pleasure in cooking and preparing all of our dishes to order, and highly recommends some of Donnelly’s favorite dishes. They include Moules Mariniere, pan-fried Crab Claws, Haddock Mornay, Connemara Lamb Pie, Neptune Seafood treasure, Chicken St Elgar and Fillet of Salmon in a fisherman’s net. For those with a sweet tooth our Ice-creams, Chocolate Brownies and Fruit Crumble, all made in-house, are a great way to finish your meal. To accompany your meal we recommend our ‘wine of the month’ wine selections, offering excellent wines at great value prices.
Although recent developments have changed the shape and scale of Barna, Donnelly’s of Barna is still known as a landmark at the crossroads. Despite its last major redevelopment in 1989, just over 21 years ago, we are delighted to have retained the old stonework and woodwork of the original house, allowing us to maintain its old world charm and atmosphere.
Here at Donnellys we specialise in freshly caught fish and locally sourced meat, vegetables and salads. Whether you choose to dine in one of our snugs, or hidden corners or in our formal dining area, you can enjoy the same great menu throughout.
Our chef, Tom Farragher takes great pleasure in cooking and preparing all of our dishes to order, and highly recommends some of Donnelly’s favorite dishes. They include Moules Mariniere, pan-fried Crab Claws, Haddock Mornay, Connemara Lamb Pie, Neptune Seafood treasure, Chicken St Elgar and Fillet of Salmon in a fisherman’s net. For those with a sweet tooth our Ice-creams, Chocolate Brownies and Fruit Crumble, all made in-house, are a great way to finish your meal. To accompany your meal we recommend our ‘wine of the month’ wine selections, offering excellent wines at great value prices.
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Facilities
Address:
Donnelly's of Barna
Barna
Barna
Galway
Barna
Barna
Galway
Opening hours:
Sun 12:30pm - 9:30pm
Sat 12:00pm - 9:30pm
Fri 12:00pm - 9:30pm
Thu 12:00pm - 9:30pm
Wed 12:00pm - 9:30pm
Tue 12:00pm - 9:30pm
Mon 12:00pm - 9:30pm
Sat 12:00pm - 9:30pm
Fri 12:00pm - 9:30pm
Thu 12:00pm - 9:30pm
Wed 12:00pm - 9:30pm
Tue 12:00pm - 9:30pm
Mon 12:00pm - 9:30pm
Capacity:
150
Website:
Cuisines:
Coeliac options, Healthy Eating, Seafood, Seafood
Donnelly's of Barna restaurant, Barna, Galway Reviews
2.5 Donnelly's of Barna 2.5 star review:
Went out for Sunday dinner with family after hearing good things about the place, but we were left disappointed.
Although we had booked, we were put sitting in the front of the bar, and there wasn't enough space on the tables for all of our food when it arrived. Service was slow, with wait staff avoiding looking at us. The place wasn't too busy, but the staff seemed more concerned about catching up with one another than looking after their tables.
The food was delicious, and the portions were fair, but the price of it seemed to be a bit much for what it was. After dinner, it was another struggle to get the attention of the wait staff to order dessert.
The place was a bit of a disappointment, lacking attentive service and atmosphere. The food was great, but all other factors let the restaurant down.
Although we had booked, we were put sitting in the front of the bar, and there wasn't enough space on the tables for all of our food when it arrived. Service was slow, with wait staff avoiding looking at us. The place wasn't too busy, but the staff seemed more concerned about catching up with one another than looking after their tables.
The food was delicious, and the portions were fair, but the price of it seemed to be a bit much for what it was. After dinner, it was another struggle to get the attention of the wait staff to order dessert.
The place was a bit of a disappointment, lacking attentive service and atmosphere. The food was great, but all other factors let the restaurant down.
Visited: 01/07/2012
Posted: 11/07/2012
1.5 Donnelly's of Barna 1.5 star review:
We were staying in Bearna overnight to celebrate my wifes birthday. This is an area we have been coming to for years and was a great chhence to eat in Donnollys. We wer both disappointed !. We arrived about 8.45pm and found a table. There was no atmosphere in the pub - instead everyone seemed to be lookingg at us when we came as if we were intruding on a sacred place !!!!.
We ordered crab claws between us to start and they were out to our table in about 3/4 mins -this was a bit too quick.For main meals my Wife ordered seafood salad and I went for the fillet steak to be cooked medium to well done. When one waiter took away the crab claws another waiter put my steak straight in front of me. A cold salad can be quick but This steak was terrible - it was far too quick to the table - must have been itting in the oven. it was awful. Like a piece of rubber. The mushrooms and onions on the plate were not freshly cooked - no taste. After a few triess I gave up and left it there. The seafood salad didi not look like it was freashly prepared. made up earlier to try and save time.This will be the last time I eat in this pub and got more satisfaction from my sandwich which I had in the hotel across the road afterwards
We ordered crab claws between us to start and they were out to our table in about 3/4 mins -this was a bit too quick.For main meals my Wife ordered seafood salad and I went for the fillet steak to be cooked medium to well done. When one waiter took away the crab claws another waiter put my steak straight in front of me. A cold salad can be quick but This steak was terrible - it was far too quick to the table - must have been itting in the oven. it was awful. Like a piece of rubber. The mushrooms and onions on the plate were not freshly cooked - no taste. After a few triess I gave up and left it there. The seafood salad didi not look like it was freashly prepared. made up earlier to try and save time.This will be the last time I eat in this pub and got more satisfaction from my sandwich which I had in the hotel across the road afterwards
Visited: 19/05/2012
Posted: 27/05/2012
5.0 Donnelly's of Barna 5.0 star review:
Had lunch here with 4 people. Portions were generous. All dishes looked great. We had desert also, profiteroles weren't great. Overall i'd definately go back and recommend. the atmosphere is very old man west ireland pub style. the food is fresh and mostly based around fish. And great value for money.
Visited: 24/01/2010
Posted: 25/01/2010
4.0 Donnelly's of Barna 4.0 star review:
Had lunch here recently. Food was excellent but I felt service could have been better. Also thought it was a bit expensive €23 for a main course at lunch time.
Visited: 17/11/2009
Posted: 07/01/2010
5.0 Donnelly's of Barna 5.0 star review:
I ate here last month and we got the meal for 2 for €55, that's 2 courses each and a bottle of wine which I thought was very good as we were there on the Saturday night. Food was good and service was great. We will be back.
Visited: 30/05/2009
Posted: 26/06/2009
4.5 Donnelly's of Barna 4.5 star review:
Have eaten here on lots of occasions. Food is fantastic. All food is cooked to order so you will have to wait for it but boy is it worth it. Can get very busy at weekends. Very cosy atmosphere. Good portions sizes and great value for money
Visited: 03/03/2009
Posted: 03/03/2009
1.0 Donnelly's of Barna 1.0 star review:
I had a terrible dinner at Donnelly's in Barna in January 2009.
I ordered a cold seafood platter described as "fresh prawns in a marierose sauce." I have had this type of dish many times before -- basically a version of "shrimp cocktail."
When the dish arrived, the "prawns" were white/gray lumps about a centimeter long, that tasted of soda (often used as a meat tenderizer). These supposed "prawns" did not have the usual pink stripes, or crescent shape of any fresh prawns I have ever had. I complained about them, and the waitress came back and said to me "The chef tasted it and said it is fine." And that was the end of that discussion.
The menu item was 22 euro, for which they did not offer me even a partial refund on, even though I left ALL of the ersatz "prawns" untouched. (I ate the accompanying leafy salad.)
It was possibly the most scary meal I have ever ordered, in both appearance and taste.
I ordered a child's meal of chicken breast and chips for my son. The chicken breast was boiled with no seasoning. Needless to say, he had two bites and that was that. For 8 more euro.
I could not get over the way they insulted me by dismissing my complaint entirely, as though I did not know how a Fresh Prawn was supposed to look, or taste. If these were indeed FRESH (or even PRAWN), they might have been two years ago, when they were delivered to the canning factory in Vietnam.
I would have rated it higher for atmosphere -- the typical Stage-Irish decor. It is probably a good enough pub, but I would not go there again for food. There are so many great restaurants in Galway just 10 minutes away -- no reason to stop here.
I ordered a cold seafood platter described as "fresh prawns in a marierose sauce." I have had this type of dish many times before -- basically a version of "shrimp cocktail."
When the dish arrived, the "prawns" were white/gray lumps about a centimeter long, that tasted of soda (often used as a meat tenderizer). These supposed "prawns" did not have the usual pink stripes, or crescent shape of any fresh prawns I have ever had. I complained about them, and the waitress came back and said to me "The chef tasted it and said it is fine." And that was the end of that discussion.
The menu item was 22 euro, for which they did not offer me even a partial refund on, even though I left ALL of the ersatz "prawns" untouched. (I ate the accompanying leafy salad.)
It was possibly the most scary meal I have ever ordered, in both appearance and taste.
I ordered a child's meal of chicken breast and chips for my son. The chicken breast was boiled with no seasoning. Needless to say, he had two bites and that was that. For 8 more euro.
I could not get over the way they insulted me by dismissing my complaint entirely, as though I did not know how a Fresh Prawn was supposed to look, or taste. If these were indeed FRESH (or even PRAWN), they might have been two years ago, when they were delivered to the canning factory in Vietnam.
I would have rated it higher for atmosphere -- the typical Stage-Irish decor. It is probably a good enough pub, but I would not go there again for food. There are so many great restaurants in Galway just 10 minutes away -- no reason to stop here.
Visited: 03/01/2009
Posted: 03/01/2009
2.0 Donnelly's of Barna 2.0 star review:
can have a lovely athmosphere, can be hard to get a table in the bar, sometimes all the tables are empty but reserved for later, bar staff have a great knack of not seeing you!!! just incase you might want to order food. Dont eat at the counter, your knees bang off the bar, not comfy
Visited: 01/11/2008
Posted: 09/12/2008
5.0 Donnelly's of Barna 5.0 star review:
Thar cinn! thar barr! yum yum yum!
Pub grub that'd gice any michelin star restaurant a run for its money. Delish! Tasty tasty tasty. dishes found on many menus...but done here to exceptional standard. Great atmosphere, and friendly staff. We chose to eat in the pub rather than the restaurant itself -we wanted to show our guests a bit of "real" Ireland, and we got that with some haute cuisine thrown in!!! wined and dined and bursting to the gills for under €100...for the four of us!
Pub grub that'd gice any michelin star restaurant a run for its money. Delish! Tasty tasty tasty. dishes found on many menus...but done here to exceptional standard. Great atmosphere, and friendly staff. We chose to eat in the pub rather than the restaurant itself -we wanted to show our guests a bit of "real" Ireland, and we got that with some haute cuisine thrown in!!! wined and dined and bursting to the gills for under €100...for the four of us!
Visited: 29/08/2008
Posted: 11/09/2008
5.0 Donnelly's of Barna 5.0 star review:
I was in Galway recently for a short break. I've never been to the Aran Islands or seen Connemara so I wanted to experience it. On the way out on the Spiddal Road we felt a bit peckish and so stopped in Donnellys on the way. The haddock mornay was superb and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys quality seafood.
Visited: 01/08/2008
Posted: 15/08/2008
