Review: Cookes of Dublin

Cookes of Dublin is a counter service restaurant in Downtown Disney that is open daily for lunch and dinner.

Ambiance

Cookes is surprisingly small.  As soon as you walk in, you are at the counters where you order your food.  To the side are about a dozen tables.  Weather permitting; there are a few outdoor tables as well.  The décor inside Cookes of Dublin reminded me of Earl of Sandwich, with portraits of the Cooke family decorating the walls.  There is also a self-service drink station and condiment station as well.  Although they do not serve alcohol at Cookes of Dublin, there is a bar called Hole In The Wall directly next to Cookes.

Menu

The menu at Cookes of Dublin is traditional Irish fare including: fish and chips, scallops, beef and lamb pie, chicken and mushroom pie, and fisherman’s pie.  American classics such as hamburgers and chicken tenders also grace the menu.  The signature item at Cookes of Dublin is their “Doh-Bar”, which is a deep fried candy bar.

Food and Drink

I had the fisherman’s pie, which was wonderful.  The seafood was cooked perfectly and the sauce was creamy and thick.  The whipped potato crust was flaky.  It was actually better than the fisherman’s pie I had at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival.  The Doh-Bar is the one thing that everyone brings up when you mention Cookes of Dublin.  Normally, I am not a fan of anything fried other than chicken.  The Doh-Bar actually is not bad.  The gooeyness of the Snickers bar and the crunchy coating paired nicely together.  Although I have not tried it, I have heard that if you bring in your own candy bar, they will fry it for you.

Service

One thing that makes Cookes of Dublin stand out from other counter service restaurants is the fact that the cast members will bring your food out to you.  Once you place your order and pay at the counter, you will be issued a table number.  When your food is ready, a cast member will bring your food to your table.  I did notice that the food at Cookes does take a little bit longer than at other counter service restaurants, so I think that is why they bring it to you.

Overall

Cookes of Dublin is a great hidden gem.  I’ve never seen it very crowded.  In fact, I don’t think that most people even know it is there.  If you are in the mood for something different while you are at Downtown Disney, give Cookes a try!

Alexia is a fan of all things Disney, especially the food!  When she is not helping plan magical vacations you can find her on Facebook or Twitter.