I’m always suspicious of places like this. Slap bang in the centre of Cork, Amicus is a giant, heaving restaurant serving food from China to Mexico. To make it worse, they have another branch in Douglas, a few miles outside the city.
But, for reasons I’ve long since forgotten, myself and Cat crossed its threshold. We both instantly picked up on the good atmosphere here – a lively, bustling crowd seemed to be enjoying their visit. No fussy waiters, no diners afraid to speak.
It’s one of those “something for everyone” menus that invariably sends a chill down my spine. Irish Stew sat alongside Fajitas, Chicken Satay, Pizza, and Pasta. We both skipped starters. Cat went for the Sicilian Curry (€11), described as “a medium fruity curry with lemongrass, coconut milk and rice.” It was a big generous portion, served with poppadoms. It was about as authentic as you’d expect of an Italian curry, whatever that is. Seemed a little like a much better version of Knorr curry sauce, although Cat and I both enjoyed the flavours.
I was more impressed with my big durty plate of ribs (€16.99), which came with wedges and salad. You can’t beat a meal like this: sticky fingers, dirty clothes, and a big belly full of pig. Really enjoyable.
The service here was really friendly without being over-bearing, and the manager and staff seemed really keen for feedback, offering plenty of opportunities to complain or criticise. Not that we had reason to. Amicus is quite reasonably priced and – no mean feat – offers a decent selection of foods to suit all palates. I’d like to give their pizzas a shot sometime.