La Bucca Dunboyne

Last night I met up with two long-time friends for a night out in Dunboyne.

 

I have known Ann & Louise since my very first job in TSB Bank (1998) and we have kept in touch ever since.  It helps that our birthdays are all within 4 days of each other (isn't that co-incidental) so even if we have not seen each other for a while we always get together for our birthdays.

 

It was not our birthdays but we were overdue a catch-up so last night was arranged a couple of weeks ago. 

 

We originally intended on going away for a night - Ann had found a great deal for a hotel - room, dinner, breakfast, spa & 1 treatment - so we were all excited about that.  But then poor Ann fell down her stairs while rushing to get ready for work and ended up on crutches with a broken foot!  So because the spa would be no fun for Ann we are deferring our night away until August when we can all enjoy it properly. 

Instead we decided to go local to La Bucca and Brady's pub in Dunboyne - which is always a fun night.

 

Louise's starter of chili chicken skewers

 



Ann's starter of bruschetta a la funghi

I started with peri peri chicken wings - very nice!

And then I had a amazing shrimp termidor for my main.

 



Louise always has the chili beef salad!

Ann tried the shredded duck salad for the first time and really enjoyed it.

 

What is great about the mains portions is that you can choose between a starter size or a main size.  We always get a starter and then a starter portion which works perfect.  If you were skipping a starter then then a large main would work perfect too.

The chef makes a different special dessert each week.  This week it was Toblerone Cheesecake and it was a very good intense luscious chocolate dessert.

We also shared a sticky toffee pudding with caramel sauce.  Our server (who was a lovely girl) kindly bought us three spoons and a portion of ice-cream each.

After dinner we were offered a complimentary shot.  Ann & Louise took a Limencello and I took a sambucca.  I had a slight pain in my stomach and I always think sambucca aids digestion - that's my story and I am sticking to it! :-)

 

And finally (how lucky are we!) the manager Dan sent us over a glass of prosecco.  We think this may have been because Ann is a regular there with her family.  Thank you Dan!

At the recent Irish Restaurant 2013 awards La Bucca were nominated for multiple awards including Best Casual Dining and Best Customer Service.  On the night they won Best Casual Dining - completely justified and very well deserved in my opinion!

 

And considering the service we got from our lovely young lady and Dan the manager I think Best Customer Service would have been warranted too :-)