Oh my only thought on leaving this lovely little restaurant was "Why do I have to live so far away????".
My friend and I stopped in for lunch last Saturday. We were in Athlone for the weekend and thought we'd kick off with a bite to eat somewhere nice. She, full of the good ideas, asked a passer by where the best place to eat would be, and we were directed towards the Left Bank Bistro.
We were early for lunch. It was about 12.30 and there weren't many around. While S went off to powder her nose I ordered a half bottle of white wine. Don't ask me what it was - I can't remember. It was Chilean and it was very nice.
S came back and we studied the lunch menu for a while, my mouth watering at the terrific array of foods available. Think I'm exaggerating? Well I'm too lazy to type so just pop over to the Left Bank Menu online and see for yourself.
After much deliberating, S ordered a warm goat's cheese salad while I opted for the spinach tortellini in a basil cream sauce. Service was quick and bread and potatos were served with our main course which we both thought was absolutely divine. The tortellini was to die for. I had a small taste of S's goat's cheese which was so tasty. Afterwards we both went for dessert, S choosing the apple crumble while I, savage that I am, went for the Missisipi mud pie. We ordered coffee too, which I have to say I needed really, having consumed most of the wine on my own as S was driving. Dessert was gorgeous and there was plenty of it. By the time we'd finished we were stuffed to the gills and all I wanted to do was lie down and sleep.
Definitely a place to visit if I'm in Athlone again, and I would say that I would go as far as visiting Athlone for the sole purpose of dining here in the future.
