Seafood Pie at The Spinnaker Bar, Dunmore East

The seafood pie at The Spinnaker Bar, Lower Village, Dunmore East is €23 and comes straight from the day-boats on the harbour. Peter — the new owner — runs the kitchen himself. You get prawns, salmon, smoked haddock and cod in a white wine cream sauce under puff pastry, served with your choice of chips, mash or vegetables. Ring Peter on (051) 383 133 to book, or walk in most days.

What's in the Seafood Pie

The pie at The Spinnaker Bar is prawns, salmon, smoked haddock and cod in a white wine and cream sauce. Peter tops it with puff pastry and serves it with your choice of chips, mash or vegetables on the side. It's €23.

The fish comes off the day-boats in Dunmore East harbour — you can see them from the bar deck. The village is a working fishing port at the mouth of Waterford Harbour where the River Suir meets the Celtic Sea. The catch is landed, iced and in the kitchen same day. Peter runs the kitchen and the bar himself, so he knows exactly what's come in that morning.

The portion fills a deep enamel pie dish. The pastry is golden and flaky. The sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. The fish is in chunks, not shredded. You get plenty of prawns. It's the kind of pie you eat with a fork and knife, not finger food.

The Spinnaker Bar Location and Booking

The Spinnaker Bar is on the harbour in Lower Village, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford. It's the working end of the village — trawlers, nets, cold stores. The bar sits right on the water. You can watch the boats come in while you eat.

Walk-ins are welcome most days. For Friday evenings, Sunday evenings or any group of six or more, ring Peter on (051) 383 133. You can also email Peter at spinnakerbardunmore@gmail.com or message him on Facebook.

Peter posts this week's opening hours on Facebook every week. Follow the page to see what's on, when the kitchen's running and if there's live music on the deck. Ash and Laura play some weekends — Peter updates the page when they're booked.

Other Seafood on the Menu

Besides the seafood pie, Peter serves mussels three ways: chorizo, sherry or cream, all with garlic bread (€14). The prawn cocktail is €12. The seafood chowder is €13.50. The beer-battered fish is €22.50 — cod or haddock depending on what's in, with chips and tartare sauce.

All of it comes from the same day-boats you see on the harbour. Dunmore East has been a fishing port since the 1800s. The fleet lands whitefish, shellfish and lobster year-round. The supply is consistent. The quality is high. Peter doesn't need to freeze anything — the fish goes from boat to plate in hours, not days.

If you're not in the mood for seafood, Peter does lamb shank (€27), 8oz striploin steak (€37), chicken korma (€22) and pizzas (€13.50–€21). There's a vegetable korma for €20. Greek salad is €11. Wings are €14, buffalo or BBQ. Desserts are €8.95: cheesecake, crème brûlée, strawberry mousse or chocolate orange tart.

Why Eat Seafood in Dunmore East

Dunmore East is a working fishing village with a population of about 1,500. It sits at the mouth of Waterford Harbour, 12 km south-east of Waterford City. The harbour is deep, sheltered and active. Trawlers go out daily. The catch is landed on the pier. You eat what was swimming that morning.

The village has thatched cottages, pastel-painted houses and a lifeboat station. There's a cliff walk along Doneraile and a beach at Counsellor's Strand. It's a sailing and sea-angling base. The harbour mouth is where the River Suir and the Celtic Sea meet, so the water is brackish and nutrient-rich. The fish and shellfish here taste different to what you get inland.

The Spinnaker Bar is a harbour pub. Cold pints, fresh seafood, Premier League and GAA matches on the big screen. Live music on the deck when the weather's good. Peter runs it like a local — no fuss, no frills, just good food and a proper pint at the end of the pier.

How to Get to The Spinnaker Bar

From Waterford City, take the R683 south-east through Passage East. The drive is 12 km and takes about 20 minutes. You'll pass the car ferry terminal at Passage and follow the coast road into Dunmore East. Turn left at the village centre and follow the signs for Lower Village. The Spinnaker Bar is on the harbour.

There's parking along the harbour road and in the public car park at the lifeboat station, a two-minute walk from the bar. If you're staying in Waterford or Tramore, Dunmore East is an easy lunch or dinner trip. If you're walking the Doneraile cliff path, the bar is at the bottom of the village — you can finish the walk and come straight in.

Ring Peter on (051) 383 133 if you're planning a group dinner or coming on a Friday or Sunday evening. Otherwise, walk in, grab a seat and order at the bar. The seafood pie is on the menu every day Peter's running the kitchen. Check Facebook for this week's hours.