Monkfish on the Menu at Dunmore East Pub

Monkfish — the meaty white fish fishermen call 'poor man's lobster' — lands fresh at Dunmore East harbour most weeks, and Peter at The Spinnaker Bar serves it when the day-boats bring it in. The pub sits on the harbour in Lower Village, Dunmore East, so the catch goes from boat to kitchen in minutes. Ring Peter on (051) 383 133 or message him on Facebook to ask what's landed this week.

What Monkfish Tastes Like and Why Peter Serves It

Monkfish has dense, firm white flesh that holds together on the grill or in the pan. The texture's closer to lobster tail than cod — that's why trawlermen call it poor man's lobster. The flavour's mild and slightly sweet. It doesn't flake apart like haddock. You can char it, roast it, or grill it, and it stays meaty.

Peter cooks monkfish when the Dunmore East day-boats land it fresh. He doesn't run a fixed menu for it because monkfish doesn't come in every day — it depends on what the boats catch. When it's on, Peter posts it to The Spinnaker's Facebook page so regulars know. Ring him on (051) 383 133 to check if monkfish is in this week, or email spinnakerbardunmore@gmail.com.

Day-Boat Seafood at The Spinnaker Bar

The Spinnaker Bar sits directly on the working harbour in Dunmore East. The trawlers tie up fifty metres from the kitchen door. When the boats unload hake, plaice, sole, crab, monkfish, or whatever ran into the nets that morning, Peter buys direct. No wholesaler, no cold store, no lorry from Cork. Harbour to plate.

The core menu runs seafood chowder €13.50, prawn cocktail €12, mussels €14 (chorizo, sherry, cream, garlic bread), beer battered fish €22.50, and seafood pie €23. But the fresh catch — monkfish, turbot, john dory — changes daily. Peter writes the specials on the board or posts them live on Facebook. If you want monkfish, ring ahead on (051) 383 133 so Peter can confirm what's landed.

How Peter Cooks Monkfish at The Spinnaker

Peter runs the kitchen himself at The Spinnaker. He grills monkfish tail medallions over high heat to get a crust on the outside while keeping the centre just-cooked. Sometimes he pan-roasts it with garlic butter and lemon. Sometimes he wraps it in bacon and finishes it in the oven. The prep depends on the size of the tail and what else is on the pass that night.

He serves it with chips, mash, vegetables, or salad (sides €5 each). The monkfish itself is priced based on market weight and availability — Peter will quote you the price when you ring. It's not a menu fixture like the 8oz striploin €37 or lamb shank €27, so you book it as a special. Message Peter on Facebook or email spinnakerbardunmore@gmail.com to reserve your table and ask about monkfish.

Walk-In or Book Ahead for Fresh Seafood

Most days you can walk into The Spinnaker Bar and get a table, especially midweek lunchtimes and weekday evenings. But if you want monkfish specifically, or if you're coming Friday or Sunday evening, or if you're a group of six or more, ring Peter on (051) 383 133 to book.

Peter posts this week's opening hours and food service times on Facebook every week. The pub sits in Lower Village, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford, right on the harbour. Cold pints, Premier League and GAA on the big screen, live music on the deck at weekends (check Facebook for who's playing). If you're driving from Waterford City, it's twelve kilometres south-east down the R684. Park in the village and walk down to the harbour — you'll see the trawlers and The Spinnaker frontage.

Other Seafood and Pub Food at The Spinnaker

If monkfish isn't landed this week, Peter still runs a full seafood and pub menu. Seafood chowder €13.50 (haddock, salmon, mussels, prawns in a cream base), mussels €14 (half-kilo pot with chorizo, sherry, cream, garlic bread), beer battered fish €22.50 (usually haddock or hake, depending on the catch), seafood pie €23 (mixed fish in white wine sauce, puff pastry lid). Prawn cocktail €12 if you want a starter.

Non-seafood: 8oz striploin steak €37, lamb shank €27, beef burger €20, chicken korma €22 (rice and naan), vegetable korma €20, wings €14 (buffalo or bbq), pizzas €13.50-€21. Sunday roast on the day. Desserts €8.95: cheesecake, crème brûlée, strawberry mousse, chocolate orange tart. Ring Peter on (051) 383 133 to book, or email spinnakerbardunmore@gmail.com.