went here for dinner with 3 others. some were sceptical about the vegetarian concept. but everybody left more than happy. great restaurant. for starter i had the chilli, cardamom and honey aubergine with pomegranite and sesame yoghurt. it was exellent. i didnt know aubergine could taste that good. also tried the mozzarella and ravioli starters both were very good aswell. for main i had the cous cous cake which was okay but was the weakest of the mains that i tried the spiced chickpeas on the plate were very bland. i also tried the butternut squash eggroll, beetroot and goats cheese tart and the aubergine involtini. all were very good. the side of chips were so good we got seconds. large chunky fluffy chips, perfect.other side of sea kale was interesting but was little salty possibly from soy sauce. desserts were also good i had the cardamom custard with lovely poached rhubarb. 3 course menu is 40 euro which is amazing value. very good food for a very reasonable price.service was faultless and atmosphere good. im glad i went here and if in cork again would definitely return

We had a gorgeous dinner here. The staff are welcoming, the service relaxed but professional. We felt really well looked after by the one person all night. On to the food. I know some people feel it is expensive, but if you do want to eat local, organic, top quality food sourced from local artisan producers, you will love this. We started with prosecco - very nice - and took ages perusing the menu and asking questions - we were never rushed one iota, but our server was always there to help if we needed her. We tasted some wine and chose a Minervois that was absolutely delicious - fruity and spicy - I wouldn't think you would get a bad wine here - they obviously choose their wines carefully. For starters we had pecan & blue cheese ravioli and roast portobello in a wild garlic-shallot butter - absolutely delicious and a big portion - and how lovely to see a wild foraged product put to such good use - the delicate flavour of the wild garlic butter was subtle but delicious. The roast mushrooms where a lovely foil to the silky ravioli. We also had vegetable sushi with pickled ginger, wasabi dipping sauce and tempura of cauliflower & carrot, which I wasn't sure about ordering but my, the amazing fresh flavours in the sushi and the surprisingly lovely flavour of the cauliflower just barely cooked was really good. For mains we had beetroot & wild garlic risotto with Ardsallagh fresh goat’s cheese, lemon oil, sprouting broccoli & hazelnut crumb - a beautiful deep pink confection complemented by the creamy goats cheese, lemon oil and baby broccoli. We also had roast aubergine involtini of spinach and Knockalara sheep’s cheese with tomato cardamom broth, smoked almond praline, broad beans and crushed potato cake, which was roasted aubergine wrapped around a filling of spinach and that lovely Knockalara cheese - the crispiness of the aubergine was great with the silky unctuous filling and the other bits were really lovely too. For pudding, we had a really good baklava, but the star of the show was the cardamom set custa

I went to Cafe Paradiso for the first time in maybe 12 years on saturday for lunch and was simply blown away by the food! I was on my own so was able to savour every mouthful - I had the baba ganoush with tzatziki with grilled sourdough bread that had been brushed with olive oil. Each flavour was delicate and rich and much enjoyed. A glass of touraine to accompany it had the perfect level of acidity to complement the food without over powering it. My main was a roast aubergine stack served with a deliciously delicate hollandaise sauce and topped with fresh goats cheese. I found that mouthfuls that contained a piece of goats cheese were exquisite, but without the goat cheese it lacked character. To finish I had the vanilla ice cream with a shot of espresso and delicious hazelnut and chocolate cookies. Would be inspired to contrive some reason to go back to Cork ASAP to go here again - I wonder if they would do a tasting menu...

this is where i have lunch most sat. i find the staff excellent, all ways so friendly, i'm not a vegetarian but the food is so good it keeps me coming back, a starter and mains , one or two glasses of wine news paper to read what more could u want on a sat,

We went to Cafe Paradiso with high expectations. These expectations were not exactly dashed, but they also were not met. The atmosphere was nice, but there was nothing particularly interesting about it. The service was of a very high quality. The young lady who served us was accommodating both in making us aware of certain changes to the menu, and in allowing us to take our time ordering, and indeed not rushing us out (we were the last party to leave the restaurant). The food itself was good, but was not in any way worth the prices that Cafe Paradiso charge. For example, to pay 13 euro for a single spring roll is, in my view, absurd. Cafe Paradiso obviously counts itself a "high class" restaurant, which seems to entail charging high prices and providing small, well-presented, portions of food. To be clear, the food is good, it is just not worth the cost. Unfortunately I feel that this might give people the erroneous impression that vegetarian food is a luxury. I would not recommend Cafe Paradiso for anyone who is on a budget.

We headed here for the Early Bird Menu on a Saturday eveninng, we were first in at 5.30 but the place filled up very fast! Choice on the Early Bird Menu was a bit limited but we ordered a starter of fritters, a risotto and a tower of mixed veg. The fritters were very tasteless and a bit greasy, of the mains my tower was lovely, very tasty but my husband didn't enjoy his risotto at all, we also had chunky chips which were fine! We finished with dessets of a brownie with white chocolate ice-cream (this was fab!) and an orange polenta cake which was also lovely! Service was fine. Our bill came to €80 which included a half bottle of wine, I thought that this was a bit dear for what we'd had. All in all an okay meal, worth trying but we won't be back in a hurry!

Located on the bank of the River Lee opposite Jury's Hotel. Café Paradiso is a sort walk out Washington Street in the direction of UCC. It is nicely decorated with views into the kitchen where you can see the happy looking staff cooking. On this day, I brought my girlfriend with me, a carnivore with little to no experience of vegetarian cuisine. She was completely taken aback by the quality of the food. The day was fine, the place was nearly full and a couple of recognisable faces in the crowd. We got white wine with our food which was absolutely gorgeous, I wish I could remember the name of it. The server was good and knowledgeable of the menu. This is definitely the best place I have eaten this year. Can't fault it.

I have been dying to go to this restaurant for a few years now and finally got to Cork last weekend. It was definitely worth the trip! I had sushi and tempura for my starter - it was lovely and excellently rolled. My partner had beetroot (I think) and goat's cheese tartlet, which was absolutely amazing. For mains I had braised chard timbale of roast tomato, haloumi & puy lentils with new potatoes, saffron-hazelnut butter and green beans. It was absolutely delicious. I can't remember what he had for mains - I was too busy enjoying mine. The presentation was excellent on everything. I had two disappointments in the restaurant. The desserts just didn't appeal to me. My partner got a dessert which looked fantastic. It tasted pretty average. Normally, I suppose, that would be fine but I expected so much more by then! My other problem was with the heat! I couldn't stop thinking about how hot it was and I was looking forward to leaving for some fresh air. Looking at other people, I know I wasn't alone sweating. Anyway, overall it was well worth the trip. The food is beautiful. The chefs are very talented. Next time I'll ask for a table outside. :)

Superb restaurant, even my boyfriend who is a committed carnivore was impressed. We went for the pre theatre which was excellent value, the choices were good and the food great. Service was great, friendly and casual.

I went for dinner last night with 5 friends for my birthday, and I’m glad to say I thoroughly enjoyed this restaurant. The staff were helpful and friendly, recommending food they themselves had tried and just being nice overall. I had the roast aubergine for starter, and almond pastry galette of feta & spinach with coriander crushed potato, harissa sauce and sugar snaps for mains. The roast aubergine starter looked small but was just enough for a decent starter. The main course was beautifully presented with a tower of almond pastry with layers of spinach and feta mixture, potato underneath, and sugar snaps, and was quite filling so I couldn’t finish all of it despite wanting too! We skipped dessert this time around, but the dessert menu looked fabulous as well, and I’ll be sure to try it next time. The restaurant itself has a nice atmosphere, chilled out and laid back, suitable for an easy going dinner or a night out with friends. It is a little pricey, coming in at about €35 each for just a starter and a main course each when we split the bill, but to be honest, the food was worth it. The only complaint meat eating friends had was that there was none of the “standard” veggie meals on the menu they were expecting – lasagne or other pasta, so this restaurant may not be for the overly adventurous.

Visited here for the first time on a wend to Cork a few weeks ago. It was a restaurant that had always caught my eye (being a veggie) but had never visited. Anyway it was a lovely balmy evening in Cork and the restaurant was very pleasant and airy with the shutters open and tables outside. The meal was deliscious and the staff very pleasant and attentive. The nibbles at the beginning of the meal served to wet our appetite for what was ahead, and we weren't disappointed. Our starters were €13 and main course were €25 and were absolutely gorgeous. We got a lovely bottle of wine with our meal from the extensive wine list. Our bill totalled somewhere in the region of €150 which I initally thought was pricey enough. However the use of top quality food from local producers and the attention to detail easily justifies this. Would definitely like to visit again.

I was in Cork on business and ate on my own here last Thursday. The food, service, everthing was fab. my 3rd time to Paradiso and I wasnt disappointed - for starters I had shitake mushrooms, a little too heavy with the chilli for my tastes but still delicious. That was my only quibble as the rest of my meal was just heaven - aubergine parcels for mains with a potato cake, and choc tart for dessert with salted caramel, and unusual, but not unpleasant, rosemary-flavoured ice cream. With a glass of the house white (also delicious!), the bill came to 52 euro, slightly expensive perhaps, but more than worth it - I've been raving about the place since. The service was second to none - attentive and friendly -and I highly recommend Paradiso to anyone - even if you're not a veggie, you'll be converted!

Aroma was siblime from the moment we entered. We were seated quickly and served promptly. Our meals did justice to the delicous aromas! Vegetarian food often bores me as I'm a meat-eater everything was devine. A wonderful evening for both my daughter-in-law myself.

fab,fab,fab and gone to heaven top quality food with taste to match

Great to see the character of Cafe Paradiso has not changed after the recent flooding. A new lick of paint has given the dining room a more modern feel, and I prefer it. A group of us met here for Friday lunch and certainly enjoyed the experience. Mains included a tagiollini with chilli, aubergine, and goats cheese. I would of preferred more chilli and more goats cheese as the dish was fine but needed something extra. The beetroot risotto looked great, tasted good too, as did the chilli which was pretty hot. Try the elderflower cordial as a refreshing beverage if wine is off limits. Deserts looked amazing but we finished our meal with hand made truffles, a chocolate lovers dream with coffee.

I'm not a vegetarian but a friend chose Paradiso for her birthday meal and 5 of us duly went along. I had heard it was expensive (and it is) and I had heard that the portions aren't enormous (they aren't). However, despite this, the food was sublime - the vegetable sushi was gorgeous as was the aubergine main course and, as it turned out, none of us were hungry afterwards (and also didn't have that stuffed feeling you'd often have after a big meaty dinner). The 5 of us had starters and main courses, there were 4 coffees and 2 bottles of wine and it cost €50 a head, which really was OK, considering it was a birthday. Worth every penny for the imaginative use of vegetables and the fantastic flavours. Will be back!

Why oh Why has Cafe Paradiso not got a Michelin star. This has to be the best restaurant I have ever been to. The food was perfection, the atmosphere was fab, and the staff are excellent. Can not wait to visit again. Being a vegi I have heard about this restaurant so wanted to visit for years, was concerned I may be disappointed but oh boy was I bowled over. Go visit it's a must!

Went back after the flood to Cafe Paradiso for lunch on a Friday. it's great to see it looking so well and doing business like nothing ever happened, same lovely food and friendly staff. Well done.

I had a lovely night out at the Cafe Paradiso. Not only was the place nice but the food was amazing. I had the sweet chilli-glazed panfried tofu with pak choi in a coconut & lemongrass broth and my boyfriend had aubergine parcels of spinach, pinenuts & Coolea cheese with beetroot & puy lentil salsa and crushed potato cake. Both dishes were gorgeous and "different". We had the praline stuffed roasted pears with green apple sorbet and spiced caramel for dessert which was just amazing... Despite being a bit expensive, cafe paradiso is definitely one of my favourite restaurant in Ireland.

Cafe Paradiso is one of my favourite restaurants in Cork. A little expensive but very good quality food. I had the breads and dips for started and the aubergine dish for main which was full of flavour. It was very busy but the service for very good. I could not book the restaurant through Menupages.

Superb. Every item on the menu looked delicious, and the one's we opted for proved to be brilliant at showing off the quality and freshness of Paradiso's produce in perfectly balanced combinations that looked far more gorgeous, and that had far more zing and gusto, than most vegetarian places dare to aim for. It isn't only the vegetables that are excellent here. The non veg-produce - the cheeses, the olive oil, and the chocolate in the chocolate cake - were all excellent too. Certainly the best meal I've eaten in Ireland, and served in a beautiful, pretension-free dining room, by staff who actually seem like nice people, with a real interest in the food, and a genuine desire to please. Very close to perfect.

This is the best vegetarian restaurant in Ireland, and one of the best restaurants in Ireland. I love meat but the starters and main courses here are so creative and delicious, I would eat here over any other restaurant, if I lived in Cork. It is not cheap, but the food is worth every penny. The desserts are well worth tasting too!

a godsend for vegetarians. Such great food. The variety and innovation is fantastic. Could not fault the food. Very bustly-great for lunch but lacks that special evening meal atmosphere.

29-11-08 Had an excellent lunch for two in Paradiso. We shared celeriac fritters and a small salad, which were unusual, fun and very tasty. For mains I had roast pumpkin & leek gratin with herbed hazelnut & Gabriel cheese crust, lemon cream and braised fennel. This was fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We shared some chips, but they seemed more like roast potatoes and were delicious. My first impression on seeing the menu for the first time was that there was a huge array of delicious options, rather than disappointment at the lack of meat. Café Paradiso is highly recommended for fresh, interesting vegetarian cooking.

I have been to Cafe Paradiso about five times. The first time I went because it was vegetarian I thought I would be starving afterwards not the case at all I was completely stuffed. Every time I have gone the quality has always been fantastic and service was excellent. I would really recomment this restaurant because it really shows the amazing things that can be done with vegetables.

The best vegetarian restaurant in Ireland by a culchie mile. Prices are higher than your average restaurant but thats because the food is lots better. Some of the food in here is so imaginative and delicious it puts most veggy restaurants to shame. I would guess if it was not vegetarian it could possibly get a Michelin star. The one downside I would list is that some of the combinations of food dont work for me. I have been four of 5 times and I would say two of those say 15 courses I just found taste combination weird and thats why I am only giving the food 4.5. This is personal taste though so dont let it put you off.

Magnificent, I love it! Definitely the best vegetarian restaurant I've ever had the pleasure of dining in. The food is interesting, delicious and thoughtfully prepared. I found the staff friendly, attentive and efficient, and there's also a great buzz in the place. We stayed in one of their spacious and comfy B&B rooms upstairs and I have to say the breakfast the next morning was food for the gods. Splendid!

I think the presentation is excellent; the food is very exciting and innovative; I have each book now (although only for the pictures - I will leave the culinary efforts to the excellent chef). I get a small sense that I should be grateful to be there. I think the setting is perfect and the choice supurb - makes for a delightful evening.

I've been coming here for years, and the place still looks the same. The food always tastes great, but the service in the last few months is very airy fairy. It won't stop me cause the food is great but please train the staff.

I would eat here every night if I could afford to. The food is exceptional; the best vegetarian dishes I have ever tasted are unfailingly from here. It puts other vegetarian resturants to absolute shame. I have seen many a sworn meat-eater really enjoy their meals in Cafe Paradiso. My absolute favourite restaurant,and I'm not vegetarian.

Cotter may be the best chef in the country at present, food is brilliant, innovative, and fantastic to eat. Not a place of worship, a genuine restaurant where the staff (somewhat hippy vibe) are vocational about their product. I would eat there once a month happily.

Very unique restaurant. Expensive but well worth it

Nice enough place, but the menu outside the cafe is different to that inside ( a bit disappointing if you chose what you want and then it turns out they dont have it!). VERY small portions compared to very high prices! Though it was nice, wouldn't go back.

Cafe Paradiso offers fresh, inventive vegetarian cuisine in a lovely setting. I've eaten dinner here a number of times and it's a great spot for a romantic meal. Because it's vegetarian, most will not find themselves gorged afterwards, but then that's what the local chipshop is for! This place serves delicious, healthy food that won't make you want to take a nap before you order dessert. The staff are very pleasant and the overall value is excellent.

Food is brilliant. Lovely atmosphere. Staff great. A bit expensive though

As said above, this place can be on the dear side, but the food is wonderful. Inside is decorated really nicely and there is always a good atmosphere. The lunch menu is good too

This is my mom's favourite restaurant, as she is vegan. The food was lovely, but I thought it was very expensive for such small portions. It's great unless you're starving.