Toddies at The Bulman

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#7 of 52 Restaurants in KinsaleIrish, Bar, $$ - $$$

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Toddies at The Bulman

Review

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Website

+353 21 477 2131Improve this listing

About

Features

CUISINES

Irish, Bar, Seafood, European, Pub

Meal types

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night, Drinks

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

Free Wifi

Full Bar

Highchairs Available

Live Music

Outdoor Seating

Parking Available

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Table Service

Waterfront

Location

Summercove, Kinsale Ireland

Parking Available

Does this restaurant have live music

Yes

Unsure

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Hours

Suggest an edit

Closed now

• Opens at 12:30 PM

Sunday

12:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Monday

4:00 PM - 11:30 PM

Tuesday

4:00 PM - 11:30 PM

Wednesday

12:30 PM - 11:30 PM

Thursday

12:30 PM - 11:30 PM

Friday

12:30 PM - 12:30 AM

Saturday

12:30 PM - 12:30 AM

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4.5

1,120 reviews

Excellent

744

Very good

256

Average

Poor

Terrible

Michael D

Leeds75 contributions

Very enjoyable meal at The Bulman

Aug 2024 • couples

Had a lovely evening meal at The Bulman. As advised we booked and it was very busy. I had haddock and chips and my wife, sea bass. Both were very good and service excellent. Good quality food in a lovely setting comes at a price but it was not unreasonable. Would recommend and would love to visit again.

Written August 15, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

vidhusagar

1271 contributions

Restaurant and bar with a view

Jun 2022 • couples

Lovely drive from the city center for lunch matched the views across the bay seated at the restaurant. The waitress who initially took the order probably was new and did not know that Heineken and Carlsberg were not local beers. A bit funny for someone working in a bar. After initially ordering the vegetarian days special was told that it was sold out and was suggested the beetroot and durres cheese gallete which turned out to be a stunner. The crunchy veggies on the side was fresh and tasty as well. My husband ordered the lobster which he enjoyed. A nice place to dine when in Kinsale.

Written June 7, 2022

annmarie00

Dublin180 contributions

Stopped off here after walking

Sep 2020 • couples

Stopped off here after walking from Kinsale town up to Charles fort . It was a hot sunny day with plenty of people outside eating and drinking and generally seemed to be having the craic. We chose to sit inside where it was cooler. We had lobster and mussels and we were blown away by the portion for the price when it arrived. Plates were licked clean !!! So fresh and delicious. Staff were brilliant and efficent . Loved it all!! Ps toilets were spotless

Written September 25, 2020

James O

Cork1086 contributions

Would be 5 star except for the main course

Jul 2022 • none

We found the setting to be spectacularly beautiful and the servers, which I believe can be the lasting memory of many a dining experience were polite, friendly and professional young ladies. The restaurant very quickly filled on our arrival, however a busy kitchen is an aspiration of every restaurant not an excuse for unprofessional standards. The calamari starter which can very hit and miss in a lot of restaurants was simply superb, so much so that my partner on tasting mine, ordered a portion for herself. Whilst many very tasty looking main course dishes passed our table, we unfortunately both decided to order the ribs for main. The first offerings were returned as the ribs which were fridge cold and not something which had been heated and thereafter had gone cold. They were simply undressed ribs plonked into a bowl of heated sauce. I even asked the waitress to touch them as they were as stated unbelievably fridge cold ! The second offering of ribs were similarly undressed ribs placed into a bowl of hot sauce, however whilst these seemed initially at least, to be warm, they within minutes had lost significant heat and I regret to my core that I didn't also return the second offering. The kitchen should be embarrassed to have sent them and deserved to have them returned. I didn't however return them, but instead ate these barely lukewarm ribs which albeit were meaty, were also tasteless and dependant on being submerged in the sauce for any heat or flavour. I cannot state for certain that these ribs were heated (without due care or attention ) in a microwave, however I strongly suggest so, which is totally unacceptable in a professional kitchen. As stated numerous very good looking plated of food passed our table as we waited (twice) for our main course and the lack of ribs flavour was undoubtedly compounded by the lack of heat associated with such, the kitchen really should be ashamed to have sent such over the pass, not just once, but twice. The ribs looked nothing like those pictured in previous reviews. The kitchen's lazy approach disrespected the ribs as an ingredient, and to treat then with such unprofessional disinterest and distain, disrespected us as customers. In conclusion whilst I did complain post the meal to the management, which was unquestionably and humbly accepted by such, I truly regret not returning the mains a second time, the kitchen should rightly be embarrassed and ashamed to have served the ribs as they did, particularly when they were initially returned. So our dining experience ! The setting overlooking the harbour was spectacular, the servers were worthy of special mention and the calamari starter was faultless. Should we have ordered a different main I'm sure this review would have been a 5 star award, however our experience should not be dependant on getting lucky with our menu choice, and so regrettably, but deservedly its a 3 star rating.

Written August 1, 2022

Innerworldofmyown

15 contributions

Disappointment at this great pub

Mar 2022 • couples

Disappointed that this pub no longer lets dogs in. We had visited pre-covid with our spaniel with no issue. Now I was told this policy has changed, which was a big disappointment but at least they have some outside tables. I had seen people eating outside so I asked for a menu only to be told that they were not serving outside. When I challenged this the barman checked and said we could have chowders, and apologised. He’d obviously not been told. Whilst waiting for my Guinness and Chowder, I saw one of the owners who I knew (she didn’t recognise me but that’s fine). I said I was disappointed not to be able to bring my dog in. She said “Covid changed a lot of things”. Whilst we sat outside, a coach load of young lads came down the hill, presumably after parking at Charles Fort. These 30 or more lads piled inside. Having been inside moments before I knew there wasn’t space for them inside with any social distancing at all. Strangely they were allowed to stay, sing happy birthday loudly inside, etc… despite the ongoing risk of covid. If I had been inside having a nice meal before that invasion I would have been leaving as fast as I could. The logic by which one small dog on a short lead accompanying a couple ready to spend big on lunch was barred due to covid but a group too large for the pub who created a frankly unsafe environment were allowed in defeated me. We didn’t have any more drinks and walked home. Don’t get me wrong, this is a great place. But they need to get some perspective before I will go again.

Written March 26, 2022

Celtic

Carrickmacross7 contributions

Could be better

Aug 2020 • family

Recently decided to eat here while on holidays. Ideal location for tourists who wish to eat at a picturesque location with good parking nearby. A cozy establishment on the coastline. This place has great potential. However, the children’s menu is severely lacking in anything child friendly. Of the two options Thai green curry is one. Perhaps, this is due to covid and aiming to have a reduced menu, but I know grown adults who wouldn’t eat green Thai curry as a result of its spice levels. We asked the waitress could we have plain mash instead (as there was “wasabi mash” on the menu). She didn’t check just dismissed us straight away. Starters were pricey but this was made up for with a size portion to match the price. If you aren’t a lover of fish or seafood, I wouldn’t recommend eating here. Huge delay on mains which left a stale taste on the experience. We ordered the muscles which were to die for and a huge portion. Same can be said for the lobster. However, the cod was a let down. There was more batter than fish, which was like moist bread at times. We weren’t checked on during the meal. When the mains finally did arrive, they did so in bits and pieces another table was also being served. As a waiter myself, this is something I would not recommend. We asked for dessert and the waitress frankly told us to eat it in 3 minutes or to get out as another table had booked. I hope this was just a one off experience as we’d live to return to the area in the future.

Written August 18, 2020

Jim S.

Houston74 contributions

Toddies at The Bulman is everything a good pub should be.

May 2023 • couples

Great little pub with a lot going for it. The Bulman and Toddies is located outside the town center, over towards the old fort. It is a picture perfect two story building with a beautiful view of the bay. Really nice inside, with a cozy bar and plenty of inside seating, as well as outside seating on the other side of the street. If that is not enough the Toddies Restaurant has a great kitchen. They seem to have access to the freshest of the local catch and know what they are doing with what they get. I had some amazing scallops and lobster - but would recommend any of their seafood.

Written June 26, 2023

John C

1 contribution

Not family friendly

Aug 2020 • family

Not child friendly at all!!! Warning if bringing kids there is only 2 options for them, Fish and chips and chicken curry which is my sons favourite. Unfortunately though what they don't state is its actually a spicy Thai green curry that he couldn't eat. There is a Thai green curry on the main menu that stats its a "Thai green curry" so when the childs menu states its a just a "Chicken Curry" you'd obviously presume its the Chinese type that we all know as a chicken curry. Also at €10 for a childs portion its very expensive. My daughter didn't want either option so she decided she wanted mussels and chips. The only mussels they had were on the starter menu and had a chilli coconut broth. I asked could they just cook her a plain starter portion without the chilli. The waiter went to the kitchen to ask and when he came back he told me the broth was already made and they couldn't do a plain portion. Now anyone who knows anything about mussels know that they take seconds to cook and must be cooked fresh. Telling me that they couldn't cook a plain portion for a child suggests the mussels aren't cooked fresh to order and they probably reheat them if they are already in the broth. If they weren't cooked the mussels wouldn't be open so there would be no problem rinsing the chilli broth off uncooked mussels and cooking them plain for a child. Lovely place but they obviously don't want children there as they basically only have one option for kids in their Fish and chips because I dont know many young kids who enjoy a spicy Thai green curry. And I know spicy food as i love it. It was spicy. Not vindalo spicy but certainly too spicy for a 9 year old!

Written August 15, 2020

Ann D

Dublin20 contributions

Not as good as expected

Sep 2020 • family

On a recent family holiday to Kinsale we went to Toddies at the Bulman for dinner. Three of us opted for the special of the day which was turbot and scallops on a bed of risotto. At over €30 a plate it fell well short of expectations. Overall value for money was not good and will not be back.

Written September 14, 2020

Shoshdoo

County Clare23 contributions

Seafood culinary bliss

Jul 2020 • none

I dined here last Sunday evening with my teenage daughter.We had a reservation and we were seated upstairs by the window ,overlooking the bay . The view was spectacular. The service was Immediate, friendly, knowledgeable and swift .We ordered the Hot Bloody Mary oyster shots, the mussels in coconut milk, the open prawn & avocado salad and the open crab sandwich. Everything was so delicious, the oyster shots were divine, the mussels were so fresh and the coconut milk sauce was bursting with so many flavours . All accompanied by a few glasses of their house Sauvignon Blanc which was perfect. This is a beautifully run restaurant and they got everything right. Excellent value too.I can’t wait to return. It’s a 10 /10 from me. Well done and thank you all so much .😋😊

Written July 19, 2020

Paige Z

32 contributions

Amazing food!

Aug 2022 • none

We were in Kinsale late Sunday and left Tuesday late afternoon so we were lucky to be able to have lunch on our way out since the kitchen is reportedly closed Sunday and Monday. We had the reuben, oysters and the cheese board and all of it was great! The staff was very pleasant and the room is cozy with lots of wood and old photos. I highly recommend the Bulman!

Written August 6, 2022

Rosie L

14 contributions

Amazing 😁

Jul 2022 • couples

Truly do not understand why this fantastic pub and restaurant is not number one for eating out in Kinsale! We did the half hour walk around the bay towards Charles Fort and sat outside to eat probably the most delicious lunch we have had in a long time. The service was superb and the staff absolutely charming. My lobster was moist and delicious and the homemade mayonnaise perfect. Pear creme brulee similarly divine.

Written July 6, 2022

Barbara S

Liverpool23 contributions

Absolutely lovely pub for lunch

Mar 2022 • friends

Seven of us went to Kinsale for a ( Covid rescheduled) Paddy’s day visit. I really wanted to visit the Bulman so we went one day for lunch. It’s in a great spot in a lovely little harbour. Make sure you are early - there was a queue outside by the time they opened and this large pub was full after a few minutes. We were lucky and got a great spot by the fire. Despite how full it was the service was great, friendly & quick, and the fish and chips and burgers certainly hit the spot.

Written April 9, 2022

BubuE

Dublin57 contributions

Not pet friendly at all

Oct 2021 • couples

Very disappointed. We went there especially because it is advertised as a dog friendly place. Lots of old reviews also mention it. When we got there, one of the waitresses told us since Covid they don't allow dogs inside anymore and that we are free to sit outside but they don't serve food.

Written October 24, 2021

MBD5

Cork8 contributions

On a staycation in cork I

Sep 2020 • none

On a staycation in cork I decided to visit kinsale. Many years ago I would have visited the Bullman regularly so I was looking forward to returning. Such a disappointment. We ordered fish & chips. The batter was soggy & the pea purée was a mint glob. The menu is very restricted & in the gourmet capital if Ireland just doesn’t reach the standard. I was annoyed that I had wasted a night of my trip there

Written September 22, 2020