Restaurant Review: The Citrus, Cabestany

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With Fiona

This is a gem of a restaurant hidden away at the entrance to Cabestany and easily missed. The Citrus presents a no-frills exterior which leads into a cosy interior decked out in traditional Irish colours – and a hearty welcome from Joanne, from Dublin and Christophe, her French partner from Bordeaux.

Specializing in all things Irish and open only at lunchtimes (Sunday to Friday), their buffet-style menu from 11,00€ per person is a hit with many regulars and you really must book to be sure of a table.

Ditto for the Sunday Brunch (every other month) at 22,00€ a head – which begins at noon and can last until 3 o’clock! A tasty mix of Irish and French fare with mini pastries, pancakes, croissants, pain au chocolat, a multitude of different breads (including Irish Soda Bread, of course) and savoury cakes – all cooked and presented beautifully, plus a range of breakfast cereals and fresh fruit, but that’s only the start! Enter the continental cold buffet of various pâtés, ham, cheese, quiches, salad, rice … followed by the unmistakeable egg & bacon (scrambled or fried egg and cooked to perfection) with all the trimmings (yes, baked beans too!).

Don’t forget to leave room for desserts – miniature versions of practically everything that is naughty, but nice await on gleaming silver trays which, like everything else, are endlessly replenished.

Drinks are included in the brunch – choose from fresh juices, tea, coffee and chocolate – in abundance.

The St Patrick’s Day Special Buffet Lunch is also excellent value at just 21,00€ a head including a drink – and a chance to have a Guinness Cocktail if you fancy or if you’re driving, a refreshing non-alcoholic version. I can recommend the Atomic Freeze!

Once again the range of dishes is impressive. Everyone tucked into traditional Irish Stew (it just fell off the fork), creamy Colcannon and a rather delicious Irish Coffee Cake, but that’s not all. Around 20 different dishes included seafood cocktail and filet of salmon with a herby lemon sauce, plus several tasty salads if you’re not a meat-eater. I found the thick leek & potato soup most welcoming, given the damp weather outside whilst my boyfriend just loved the tender gammon slices slowly braised in moutarde à ‘ancienne.

All in all, well worth a visit.