The Country Squire Bar and Restaurant

Just what Cobh needed - another cozy pub claiming to serve "proper Irish fare" alongside the requisite perfectly-poured Guinness. The Country Squire Bar and Restaurant sits there, all charming and inviting, like it's not trying to make me eat my cynical words. Spoiler alert: it did, and I'm still annoyed about it.

Let's be honest - when you first approach The Country Squire in Cobh, it hits all the expected notes of an Irish pub with such precision that you almost roll your eyes. The weathered facade, the warm glow through windows that have probably witnessed centuries of local gossip, the whole nine yards. It's almost too picture-perfect, like it was assembled from a "Traditional Irish Pub" starter kit.

But then something inconvenient happens. You step inside, and despite your best efforts to maintain professional detachment, the place starts working its irritatingly effective magic.

The first crack in my armor came with the Guinness. It was served with such reverence and care that I couldn't even muster a snarky comment about the pour. The head was perfect, the temperature spot-on, and the taste... well, let's just say I've had worse. Much worse. Actually, it was exceptional, but don't tell them I said that.

The food menu reads like a greatest hits of pub classics, which usually sets off my "tourist trap" alarm bells. Yet somehow, they manage to execute each dish with an attention to detail that's frankly unnecessary for a pub in a tourist town. The servers remember your name, anticipate your needs, and worst of all, they're genuinely friendly rather than putting on that forced cheerfulness that makes you want to flee.

I particularly resent their Sunday roast. It arrives looking like it belongs in a food magazine, all golden-brown and glistening, accompanied by vegetables that haven't been cooked into submission and Yorkshire puddings that rise with architectural precision. It's the kind of meal that makes you forget to take photos for your social media because you're too busy actually enjoying it. How dare they?

The dining room strikes that infuriating balance between cozy and spacious, with tables arranged so you're not hearing your neighbors' life stories but still feel part of the pub's atmosphere. They've even managed to preserve original features while updating the necessities, proving that someone actually put thought into this place.

For families (because apparently, we're all supposed to bring children to pubs now), they offer a surprisingly decent children's menu. Not a frozen nugget in sight - actual proper food, just sized down. It's almost like they respect their younger diners or something.

The outdoor seating area - because of course they have one - manages to be both sun-trap and shelter, depending on Ireland's notoriously fickle weather. It's annoyingly well-thought-out, like everything else here.

Don't even get me started on the staff's knowledge of their beer and wine selection. Ask them anything - go on, try to catch them out - and they'll respond with an enthusiasm that's both informative and infectious. It's like they actually care about what they're serving. How inconvenient.

Here's what you need to know: They're open for lunch and dinner, and yes, you should probably book ahead, especially for Sunday roast. They accept all major cards (how modern of them), offer parking nearby (how thoughtful), and even have high chairs for the little ones (how inclusive).

Look, I came to The Country Squire Bar and Restaurant in Cobh ready to write my standard "tourist-trap pub" review. Instead, I'm sitting here, crafting what amounts to a love letter to a place that had no right to be this good. For locals looking for a reliable spot for family dinner, tourists seeking authentic Irish pub experience, or cynical food writers hoping to maintain their jaded worldview - you'll find what you're looking for here. Just don't expect to leave with your skepticism intact.

Fine. Book a table. Go experience it for yourself. Just don't blame me when you find yourself becoming one of those annoying people who can't shut up about their "favorite pub in Cobh." The Country Squire has earned its reputation, and I hate them a little bit for it.