Lough Derg House The Lake Cafe - Nenagh

I visited on 11 August. We had no difficulty getting a table although weather was too cold for eating outside. We had a toasted sandwich, Club sandwich, and home made soup. It was just what we needed. You can either order at the counter or at your table. Service was just what we needed. We finished off with lemon cake for desserts which were good.

Lovely setting on the lake and we were lucky enough to get a lovely seat outside. Staff were very friendly and helpful. This cafe has so much potential but unfortunately the food was very average and not good value for money. The sandwiches portions were very skimpy and just not what you would expect in a busy spot like this.

I ordered spaghetti bolognese and found a large twig in it, about 4cm long. I asked the manager what it was, and he said it was basil. I returned the meal and he agreed that I would not have to pay for it. I started to feel sick thinking about what else could have ended up in the food by accident. The rest of the day at Dromineer was enjoyable, with great weather. I am confident that I will save money in the future by avoiding restaurants like this.

To celebrate my birthday, I took a day off work and asked my elderly mother where she would like to go for a drive. She chose Dromineer, which is about 40 minutes from home. Upon arriving, we went to the Lake Cafe as my mother was hungry. As a vegan, I did not have high expectations of finding anything suitable on the menu, and unfortunately, there were no options for vegetarians either. I settled for the usual fallback of chips and salad. When my mother mentioned my dietary needs to the proprietor, he proceeded to make jokes at my expense, loudly mocking veganism in front of all the customers. This made me feel embarrassed and upset. Despite my mother attempting to defend my diet to the proprietor, he continued to express his negative views. It was a disappointing and uncomfortable experience, which ultimately ruined my birthday outing with my mother. As someone who has been a vegan for 12 years, I have faced ignorance before, but this encounter was exceptionally disrespectful. I hope in the future, the proprietor will show more sensitivity and refrain from making derogatory comments towards customers with different dietary preferences. And, to top it off, the chips were undercooked.

I had a very good breakfast in July. I checked the restaurant's website for their opening times, which are listed as March to October. I assumed they were closed today, so I didn't go. Are they actually open?