After months of lockdown we were excited to be able to enjoy a Friday night out. Dinner in Vie de Châteaux is always a treat. We have visited several times and the food is consistently brilliant. The menu on offer is uncomplicated with a dish to suit every French Restaurant lover. The Burrata starter and Veal main were close contenders when it came to ordering, both are definitely on our list for our next visit.
With all Covid_19 policies and procedures in place, from the moment we entered we felt safe and secure. Vie de Châteaux also have a gorgeous heated terrace which was actually where we enjoyed our first post lockdown lunch in July.
The atmosphere was buzzy and fun. You can clearly see staff are having to work extra hard in the current climate of social distancing and all that comes with it but what a credit to them that they still make time to chat and welcome you warmly.
The wine list in Vie de Châteaux is very nicely curated. We went with a bottle of Château Le Coteau Margaux €65.00. This beautiful ruby red coloured blend was a treat in itself. Red berries, liquorice with lingering flavour, an ideal bottle to while away an evening with.
Le Canard €15.00. This dish was one of the highlights of the night for us. Smoked duck fillet & fig “tarte fine” with pan fried duck foie gras, asparagus & balsamic dressing. Ribbons of smoked duck coupled with the honey like sweetness of the fig made for many outstanding mouthfuls. This is definitely a dish that we would order again….and again.
Speaking of ordering again and again! This was not our first time to indulge in Les Langoustines €15.00. A generous bowl of Sautéed Dublin Bay Prawns swimming in delicious white wine & garlic butter with toasted bread for essential dipping and mopping.
Le Halibut €29.00. Fillet of Halibut with Paella Risotto Stick, White Asparagus and Lobster Bisque. The mild sweet flavour of the Halibut was elevated beautifully by the delicately seasoned Lobster Bisque. The ‘Paella Sticks’ provided a myriad of flavour and texture making this a delightful dish all round.
When you find a restaurant that consistently delivers a really great steak, its very hard for the carnivore in us not to order, so we ordered it. Le Boeuf – Fillet €29.00. Chargrilled Fillet Steak. Sides of devilishly good salted French fries, crispy onion rings and a creamy peppercorn sauce. The steak in Vie de Châteaux is exactly to your request, ours being medium. Tender, juicy and all round delicious.
We finished off our evening with ‘Cafe Gourmand’ €10.00, which saw us being presented with a trio of toothsome treats including a decadent Opera Cake, a crumbling creamy centred Lemon Macaron and the ultimate French classic of Creme Brûlée with that all important shatteringly delicious top, housing a creamy custard beneath.
We enjoyed a really fantastic evening of fabulous food in a wonderfully atmospheric restaurant. This is a taste of Kildare that we highly recommend upon reopening in December.
Vie de Châteaux
Harbour View,
Naas,
Co. Kildare
Tel: 045 888 478
Email: reservations@viedechateaux.ie
WRITTEN BY KEITH MAHON & OLIVIA BYRNE
