Tempting new additions

Bennigan’s in Juffair has updated its menu to offer a range of new dishes while keeping the familiar favourites that customers know and love, writes Charlie Holding.

Americans are known for their healthy appetite and the Irish are revered for their charm.

It is no wonder then that the portions at this Irish-American fusion restaurant are as large as they are delicious and with new items on the menu, diners are spoilt for choice.

To celebrate the revamped menu, the venue hosted members of the media and invited guests to sample the new offerings amidst a fun-filled atmosphere capped by staff dressed in special outfits, a live band and a face painter.

This is a venue that prides itself on customer service and all the friendly staff remembered photographer Ryan Bayona and I from our last visit, a testament to their attention to detail.

After spending what seemed like an eternity eying up the large new menu, my mate operations manager Marlon Padua Talamayan pointed me towards the new items.
Marlon has never steered me wrong before and I left the ordering in his capable hands.

One of the more intriguing new offerings is the Irish Dip (BD3.900), a delectable dish comprised of roast beef topped with cheese and crispy onions served up in a toasted garlic roll with a selection of mouth-watering dips and chips on the side.

In my opinion, this is going to be an instant classic and offers great value for money with a respectable portion.

Another addition is the Irish Tower O Onion Rings (BD3), as crunchy and flavourful as it looks and as tall as its name suggests. Thankfully, it didn’t lean like Pisa, but I was certainly walking lopsided after devouring my body weight in these tasty bites.

Marlon said: “We are very excited to bring these changes to the menu and hope our customers will enjoy the new dishes too. We make our dishes fresh on-site daily which ensures they taste great every time.”

One of the staples on the menu is the 1kg steak challenge (BD25). If you manage to demolish this giant hunk of beef and the accompanying side dishes in a set time, you win a free T-shirt, steak knife, a 25 per cent discount off your next meal and you earn your place on the ‘wall of fame’.

You know how sometimes you go to a restaurant and order something based on how hot and delicious it looks in the picture? Then it arrives lopsided, cold and sorrier looking than Kanye West after asking a wheelchair-bound fan to stand up during a concert.

Not this beauty, cooked to perfection and pretty as a picture it arrived with a side of chips and filling the air with a wonderful aroma.

When one was placed in front of me it made my jaw drop low enough for a trail of drool to suddenly start leaking from my mouth as my eyes bulged and my belly quivered.

Delectable, juicy and tender but it took three of us to finish it so the glory of the wall has thus eluded me ... for now.

The Irish-named menu boasts everything from salad to gourmet burgers, steak to pie, fish to pot roast and practically everything in between.

There is also a loyalty card available which entitles customers to a discount on their next order, I recommend snapping it up.

Bennigan’s is open for breakfast from 6am and closes at 2am.

For details, or to make an order for delivery, call 17813750.