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Elemental Eating —
Dining inspired by prime ingredients from a pure location
Cóigisí den scoth ón oileán

 
Our restaurant is situated in the most elementary of natural environments where the combination of clean earth, water and air provide optimum conditions for the purest produce.

We create a four course dinner that changes nightly, based around the best ingredients that the island has to offer at any given time. The restaurant is open from 7.30pm and dinner is served at 8pm to a maximum of 16 guests. Our Island Dinner costs €100 per guest, with a special reduced rate for islanders. The space offers a taste-the-view dining experience with a sweeping expanse of glass revealing the surrounding island and ocean.

These elements of environment, food, space and service have been carefully married to provide a convivial atmosphere and a unique dining experience.
 

“What is the best meal you ever had? A feast of fresh sea urchins at Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites in the Aran Islands.” Darina Allen,
Ballymaloe Cookery School
Irish Independent

 
We grow our own vegetables, salads, herbs and fruit in our greenhouse and gardens outside the restaurant which guests are welcome to explore. Our shellfish is caught around the coast of the island. We only serve wild Atlantic fish and homestead-reared meat. All of the ingredients we get from the island are prime ingredients. We place equal importance on the salads grown in our greenhouse as we do the lobster landed on the island pier.

The availability of quality produce, both wild and cultivated on the island is entirely dependent on weather, seasonality and practicality, however each year we aim to develop our knowledge and skills to cultivate, harvest and preserve more island food.

We purchased an island farm of 66 acres in late 2019. Including Ruairí's Uncle's landholding, we are currently helping to care for 100 acres of Inis Meáin's unique landscape and we breed a small herd of Angus cattle and keep Irish native bees on the farm to sustain the special island biodiversity and to give us more of our own produce for the restaurant.

In 2021 we were 1 of only 3 restaurants in Ireland to gain the first ever Michelin Green Star, to highlight our commitment to cultivating our own food and supporting the islands' ecology and small community.

Sample Dinners

 

Dinner 1

oyster & scallop tartare
—
lobster with rocket & ink mayo
—
baby carrot with lemon & chilli
—
turbot grenobloise
—
rhubarb soufflé
—
mini chocolate brownie
—

 
Each course has just two main elements, inspired by prime ingredients from our pure location. These are presented in a clean, light and fresh way to create a lasting, uncluttered sensation on the palate. It is an exercise in simplicity and restraint.

We call this way of dining Elemental Eating. This allows us to focus on prime ingredients from the island, including our own food growing and rearing.

To complete the dining experience, we have a carefully selected, and extensive wine and drinks collection, which continuously evolves to compliment the dishes we create.

Advance booking is essential. Certain limited dietary restrictions can be accommodated when requested during an advance booking. Dinner is separate to the suite rates for stays from April to August inclusive.

The nightly-changing, four-course Island Dinner costs €100 per person and is designed to nourish guests after a day of rugged island exploration.
 
 
Ruairí de Blacam

Ruairí de Blacam

“My style of cooking is clean, light and fresh. Each dish has just two main elements, and is inspired by prime island ingredients. These are served simply to allow the natural flavours from our pure environment to speak for themselves - we call this Elemental Eating.”

Press Nuachtáin

The Financial Times

"Nick Lander: My best meals of the year 2018"

Australian Gourmet Traveller Magazine

"They have quietly built up a cult following for their delicious locally sourced food"

Irish Hospitality Awards

Best Restaurant in Ireland 2019

The Irish Times

"Ireland's ultimate destination restaurant"