Marbles - Letterkenny

The dining room is a spacious, pleasant room, the views tho are memorable so a table by the window is ideal. Service was excellent. There was a sense of occasion but servers were friendly, not too formal. The set menu was €55 pp and is reasonable value. The cube of watermelon as an amuse bouche wasn't inspiring, but the selection of breads offered next were excellent and we were encouraged to have more. The duck liver pate was nice, the portion was good but was a bit lonely; a tiny salad, a sauce or dressing to counter the richness, along with more toast, would have improved it immeasurably. This was followed by a nice sorbet, then a main course of a slow cooked daube of beef, which was substantial and tasted amazing. I had a glass of wine with the beef, €9. The rack of lamb added a €5 surcharge, but my wife was happy to have paid it. The dessert menu wasn't extensive, but we were both always going for the chocolate caramel tort, which is quite an undertaking after the very substantial meal. I barely squeezed in the petit four of chocolate truffles, finishing the meal with a tea for me, decaffeinated coffee for herself. It was a very leisurely dining experience, we didn't feel we were ever waiting for the next course, but we took well over two and a half hours. It was a perfect, relaxed dinner for two which I'm eager to enjoy again. Next time I'll afford more time, before and/or after the meal to enjoy a drink in the adjoining bar, which has huge windows to properly enjoy the spectacular views. The Shandon definitely provided my best dining experience in the greater Dunfanaghy area this visit and I will be back.

We were pleasantly surprised by the restaurant at our hotel. The hospitality, service, and food were all fantastic. We highly recommend this spot. We originally booked our stay for the pool and location, but the restaurant ended up being a great bonus. We had dined at a much pricier 5-star hotel restaurant just two weeks ago, and we would choose the better value experience at this hotel any day over the 5-star one.

My partner left an honest review, and the manager unexpectedly cancelled our reservation, citing COVID safety measures as the reason. We were surprised to find ourselves seated at a bar table with a different menu, and it took a long time for our wine to arrive, even after our food. The manager seemed uninterested in speaking with us. Thankfully, Claire was helpful in rebooking us for the following week. It appears that the manager, Carolynne, is only interested in receiving positive reviews and didn't want us to return. My partner also mentioned the lack of mask-wearing among patrons, which the manager used as a reason for us not to come back, citing safety concerns. I have encountered this type of manager before, who are usually not well-liked by locals and staff. If you can't handle honest feedback, you shouldn't be in the hospitality industry. Using the pandemic as an excuse is distasteful. We won't be returning to this establishment. My partner has brought clients here in the past, but we are now more inclined to warn them.

I had a reservation for a special evening at Marbles, which I booked online. After arriving and looking at the menu, we were surprised to find out that we were actually seated in the bar area, not Marbles. This was not indicated on the online booking. We were seated at a table in poor condition and given a different menu than the one online. I asked to speak to a manager but gave up waiting as the service was also quite poor. Our wine arrived after our food was served. Eventually, Claire came to apologize and offered us a chance to rebook, which we accepted in hopes that Shandon can make amends. Claire was very personable and professional, making up for our previous unsatisfactory experience. However, I also believe that Shandon needs to be more proactive with their mask policy. Many guests were not wearing masks while walking around the lobby or getting up from their tables in the bar area, which should not be happening given the current situation.

The food at the restaurant was incredibly delicious, the staff were extremely friendly, the ambiance was perfect, and the view was stunning. My mother, four sisters, and I had a fabulous weekend at the Shandon Hotel.