Chef Lee McQuoid opens up bistro restaurant in Killough at The Quay
Chef Lee McQuoid (38) has taken his first step in setting up a business, his first venture, at The Quay in Killough after gaining experience working in top restaurants. He has been open just over two months now and is receiving excellent feedback from customers.
He started as a young chef at 16, and won a competition in the “Future Masters’ and later worked in five-star hotels and Michelin star restaurants in London and more recently was a chef in the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle.
But when the premises in Killough became available, he made a snap decision to ‘go for it’ and hasn’t looked back since.
(Photo: JIm Masson/DownNews©).
Lee has a vision for his restaurant at The Quay with his bistro menu of rustic and homely food, with a breakfast and brunch menu which he changes periodically. The Quay is open at weekends too for dining or you can just call in for a tea or a coffee There is a tasty range of daily specials to enjoy.
“Into the colder months we have been providing seasonal drinks and we also have a great Quay’s hot chocolate, our signature drink,” said Lee.
Lee puts on a delicious Sunday lunch with the main dish being slow cooked beef with Guinness Yorkshire pudding and peppercorn sauce or gravy, and individual fresh vegetables. And there are other specials. Lee said: “I source all of my food locally as much as I can including seafood.
“I hope to be introducing oysters and mussels to the menu at some point in the future. It’s important to support the local producers.
“Now that we are settling in, we hope to organise a few pop-up evenings with exciting menus.
“I’m also trained as a pastry chef and I bake everything daily such as scones, tray bakes, and cakes so everything is fresh every day. We also have gluten free options across the menu range.
And second in charge in the kitchen is Aaron Carson, also an experienced sous chef. Aaron has also worked in top restaurants, and there are another couple of part-timers in the team in support.
Looking after the Front of House is Elllie Lynnott, experienced in restaurant work, always with a smile, who looks after the service and provides the range of coffees and teas and freshly bakes traybakes etc.
The restaurant is closed on Monday; is open from 9-5 on Tuesday to Thursday then runs on Friday and Saturday from 9-5pm then from 6-9pm. Sunday lunch is available from 10am – 5pm.
Another interesting feature of The Quay is that Lee helps promote local artists Kieron Black from Killough and Helen Kennedy from Newcastle, who are exhibiting their works (for sale) at the restaurant.
The Quay is available on Facebook and Instagram.
Tel; No: 07564768611.
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