Keeping it Kilkenny – award-winning restaurant is moving to Thomastown

By SHANE DORAN

ONE of Kilkenny’s finest restaurants, Barrow’s Keep in Graiguenamanagh, closed its doors yesterday. However food lovers can breathe a sigh of relief, as the award-winning restaurant is merely moving its premises 15 kilometres across the south of the county to Thomastown.

Owners Morgan VanderKamer and Stephen McArdle (pictured below), who are also well-known to Dublin diners from the earlier venture, Stanley’s Restaurant and Wine Bar, are currently busy setting up shop at the beautiful stone building at the end of Marsh’s Street, previously home to Bassett’s Restaurant.

The menu and ethos of the new Thomastown fine diner will be similar to the fare and ambiance Morgan and Stephen served up in Graiguenamanagh, which earned the couple the accolade of Best Wine Experience in Leinster at the 2019 Irish Restaurant Awards, albeit with a few new twists.

In a message posted on the Barrow’s Keep website, Morgan and Stephen warmly thanked all of their customers for their support since they opened in Graignamanagh, adding: “We look forward to welcoming you in Thomastown.” They also stressed any vouchers that have been purchased will be valid at the new Thomastown restaurant.

The grand opening will take place in Thomastown on Friday,  October 18.

Barrow’s Keep prides itself themselves on sourcing quality, locally produced foods, “bringing farm to table”.

Morgan sums up their philosophy: “A sense of community drives our restaurant setting and menu ethos, a love and a passion for excellent hospitality is what we bring to the table.”