There is something different about summer dining in East Cork. The evenings stretch a little longer, lunch becomes something worth lingering over, and a great table has a way of turning into the centre of the day.
At The Fork & Wheel in Midleton, that feeling inspires the new All Day Menu -a seasonal celebration of fresh Irish seafood, locally sourced meats, vibrant vegetables, garden herbs and comforting dishes crafted with care by Head Chef Vasil Baci.
Designed to feel relaxed enough for lunch yet generous enough for dinner, the menu reflects everything people love about dining during the summer months: fresh flavours, local ingredients and food that feels connected to its surroundings.
A Menu Inspired by East Cork
For Head Chef Vasil Baci, summer begins with the ingredients.
With more than 17 years of experience across some of Cork’s best-known kitchens, including The Imperial Hotel and The Metropole Hotel, Vasil brings a simple philosophy to The Fork & Wheel: start with exceptional produce, respect it, and let the flavours speak for themselves.
“The new All Day Menu is built around the best of the summer season and the amazing produce we have here in East Cork. It reflects what our guests enjoy most, what the local community connects with, and the ingredients that are at their absolute best right now.” -Vasil Baci, Head Chef
The Dish That Captures Summer
If one plate perfectly captures the spirit of the new menu, it is the Fresh Irish Mussels.
Steamed in white wine with garlic and shallots, finished with cream and parsley, and served alongside toasted rustic garlic bread, the dish is light, fragrant and deeply satisfying.
“The mussels are special because they are incredibly fresh and locally sourced. We keep the dish simple so the quality of the seafood stands out. It is light, full of flavour and perfect for summer dining.” -Vasil Baci, Head Chef
It is the kind of dish that instantly slows the table down -rich with the aroma of garlic and white wine, made for sharing stories over good bread and another glass of wine.
What to Order This Summer
Crumbed & Fried Tipperary Brie
To begin, the Crumbed & Fried Tipperary Brie delivers the perfect balance of crispness, richness and sweetness. Served with crushed pomegranate, Cumberland sauce and toasted sourdough, it is a starter designed to be savoured slowly.
Seafood Linguine
Bright, generous and full of coastal flavour, the Seafood Linguine combines prawns, mussels, fresh fish, garlic, white wine, cherry tomatoes, parmesan and chilli flakes, served with garlic bread. It brings all the ease of a summer supper with the comfort of a beautifully prepared restaurant dish.
Dry-Aged Local Sirloin
For those craving something more indulgent, the Dry-Aged Local Sirloin showcases quality Irish beef at its best. Served with sautéed onions and mushrooms, wild rocket, fries, and a choice of pepper sauce or garlic butter, it is classic dining done properly.
Featherblade of Beef
Slow-cooked and deeply comforting, the Featherblade of Beef is served with squash purée, charred hispi cabbage, creamed mashed potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, thyme and rich red wine jus. A dish built entirely around depth of flavour and generous hospitality.
Local Ingredients at the Heart of the Kitchen
The new All Day Menu is rooted firmly in East Cork and the producers who make it possible.
Fresh seafood sourced from Ballycotton Seafood and Kish Fish brings the coast directly to dishes like the Fresh Irish Mussels and Seafood Linguine. Premium Irish meats from McCarthy’s and Murphy’s Butchers in Midleton feature across favourites including the Dry-Aged Local Sirloin, Featherblade of Beef, Brisket Burger and traditional carvery options.
This summer, selected herbs and vegetables grown by The Fork & Wheel’s own David Jordan will also appear throughout the menu, creating an even closer connection between garden and plate.
“Local and seasonal sourcing is very important to my cooking style. Working with local produce allows us to create dishes that are fresher, better tasting and more connected to the area around us.” -Vasil Baci, Head Chef
From the coast to the farm to the kitchen in Midleton, every dish tells a story of place.
Made for the Way People Really Dine
The Fork & Wheel is designed for every kind of occasion.
A morning coffee. A relaxed lunch that turns into another round. Family dinners. Date nights. Celebrations. Comfort food after a long day. Alongside the new All Day Menu, guests can also enjoy a traditional carvery featuring roast striploin of beef -generous, classic and served with the same focus on quality and flavour.
Served seven days a week, the menu makes The Fork & Wheel an easy destination for summer dining in Midleton.
“Whether guests are stopping in for coffee, enjoying lunch with friends, having dinner or celebrating a private event, we want them to enjoy great food made with quality local ingredients.” -Vasil Baci, Head Chef
Discover Summer Dining at The Fork & Wheel
This summer, The Fork & Wheel invites guests to slow down, settle in and enjoy the very best of East Cork on the plate.
From fresh seafood and local produce to relaxed hospitality and comforting classics, the new All Day Menu is a celebration of the season -generous, welcoming and unmistakably local.
