Lucinda O'Sullivan's Ireland

About The Restaurant

Cavistons Food Emporium in the seaside village of Sandycove is a legend in SoCoDu, having been founded way back in 1947 by James Caviston for £300, who bought it after a night's drinking in the pub across the road! It passed to his brother John Caviston and subsequently to John's son Peter. This is the place that would always have long queues at its fabulous fish counter, or up the street at Christmas to collect the turkey. It's display of colourful fruit and veg would draw you into its deli counter for a myriad of charcuterie and salads. Peter Caviston had been at the helm for many many years, up to recently, always to the fore with his boater hat, full of fun, chat and the occasional song, for the customers. Now running the business are the next generation, his two sons, David and Mark. 

Back in 1996, Peter opened a seafood restaurant to the side of the shop which may have been small in size but was big in atmosphere and colour, quickly becaming a destination restaurant for locals and celebrities alike, including Pierce Brosnan. However, in 2022, a few doors up the street from the shop, they opened their new super sleek Cavistons Seafood Restaurant over two floors.

The menus here change regularly, being subject to the catch of the day, however you can expect starters to include the likes of pan-seared Kilkeel scallops with pumpkin puree, barley and pickled walnut, or perhaps dressed Clare crab meat with avocado puree, spicy espelette pepper.  Their eponymous smoked organic salmon too is always a winner served with watercress pesto, Granny Smith Apple, salmon mousse and their Cavistons brown bread. For a non-fishy option, think pressed shoulder of Wicklow venison with blackberry ketchup, pistachio, and pickled shemji mushroom.

For the mains, there’s a fabulous selection of fulsome fishy dishys to tempt you, whether it’s a shellfish tagliatelle of mussels, prawns, crab claws, clams and samphire or wild Irish monkfish with smoked bacon cream, Parmesan & leek croquette, and charred broccoli. There’s wild Irish John Dory with piperade, pommes Anna, and a brown butter Hollandaise, as well as fillet of wild plaice with spinach, wild mushroom, confit potato, celeriac puree and a black pudding crumb. Carnivores need not fear, with meaty mains like an 8oz dry aged Kildare rib eye with braised onion, carrot puree and a green peppercorn sauce.

Their seafood platter of rock oysters, prawn & chorizo skewers, dressed crabmeat, chargrilled sardines, smoked haddock and Parmesan croquettes, and salmon rillete, is an an utter delight, as is their Cavistons charcuterie board, or if you just want to share a few of Kellys of Galways rock or native oysters they’re there as well individually priced.

To finish, indulge in delicious blueberry and chamomile panna cotta with amaretto biscuit, or indeed a decadent 70% chocolate and miso tart with peanut crumb and Chantilly cream.

Besides from their dinner menu, they also offer a superb a la carte lunch menu, and for all other desires a gourmand might have in their day to day munching, you only have to nip next door to their impressive and much loved food emporium.

Check out their Early Bird menu too, served Wednesday-Saturday from opening until 6.15pm.

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