Eala Bhan

Anthony and Eilish Gray have been doing the good thing in Eala Bhan for more than a decade now, having opened their doors in 2011. Through all those years, their stylish restaurant has been characterised by rock-steady professionalism, excellent high-end cooking, and the sort of warm, West Coast welcome that is well nigh irresistible.
The cooking is centred on their love of local ingredients and, in many ways, Eala Bhan has acted both as a magnifying glass and a showcase for the strong artisan food culture that characterises County Sligo.
But the kitchen also loves to put a hip spin on those ingredients, pairing seaweed white pudding with scallops, contrasting a trio of duck with a funky Cashel Blue ice cream, serving a chorizo butter with Tubbercurry fillet steak. This engaged cooking manages to be both contemporary and classical, and the food suits the style of the room and the friendly service by the staff to perfection. Anthony and Eilish work super-hard to keep Eala Bhan in limousine condition, and they have brought mighty riches to Sligo town.

First three photos credit Julia Dunin