The Quay
Dingle
V92 TC93
Co. Kerry
A hip and hot Pan-Asian seafood restaurant by Nicky Foley & Ann Connell of the fab Solas Tapas, Fish Factory is a stunning addition to Dingle’s dining repertoire. With a pedigree that includes Bentley’s in London and many other high end establishments, Foley knows how to deliver on really top notch food, and on first opening Solas, he took the culinary world by storm, with people travelling from far and wide for a seat at his table.
Located in what was indeed the old fish factory overlooking the water, the restaurant opens in the evenings from Wednesday to Friday and throughout the day at weekends, they also offer a great take-away service too, whether you want to enjoy their great fare at home or indeed dine by the water’s edge on a sunny Saturday or Sunday.
From the moment you arrive at Fish Factory, you’ll know you’ve made the right choice. With a modern airy vibe and a delightful staff at hand, you’ll feel relaxed and welcome from the get.
The menu in the FF features dishes of all sizes – small, medium and large – so eat at will. Snacks include the likes of house fermented kimchi, steamed edamame beans with Dingle sea salt & chilli as well as a seaweed salad with peanut & sesame ‘Wakame’ honey and ponzu. They also offer great sashimi style cured salmon served with pickled ginger and apple with soy & mirin.
The small plates here come under two headings – Fried or Steamed. From the Fried selection, you can expect dishes such as Korean style chicken with pickled cucumber, gochujang and Dingle yoghurt; Hake and noodle spring rolls with satay sauce and toasted sesame; or Annascaul belly of pork with a pineapple and mint salsa and an Asian salad. There are some tasty veggie options too like tempura broccoli with honey, chilli and ginger jam or veg dumplings with a jalapeno dressing. As for the steamed dishes, there’s crispy chicken bao buns with pickled cucumber & ginger with a nori aioli not to mention some prawn, seafood and green onion dumplings.
In the mood for a more substantial serving? Then check out their mains, which include hearty dishes like an Atlantic prawn and Thai-spiced coconut curry with pineapple and sweet potato on steamed rice; seafood ramen with a shellfish and miso broth, soft hen’s egg, pak choi, seaweed, sesame & pickles; as well as chow mein noodles with broccoli, mushroom, pak choi and crispy onions. The crispy confit duck leg with steamed pancakes is always a treat, not to mention their fab Katsu-style seafood burger served with kimchi mayo and Asian slaw on a brioche bun with a side of hand cut fries.
For dessert, think mango sorbet with a chilli and pineapple salsa; citrus tart with a pumpkin seed crumble and white chocolate mousse; or even an ice-cream burger with Dingle sea salt caramel.
Whether you’re an Asian aficionado or a lover of great seafood, this place is sure to tick all the boxes. Check it out for yourself!