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August - Open Fridays & Saturdays from 6 p.m. Closed from September. Open Christmas & New Year Please call 028-20600 / 087-9683748 or email info@waterfrontbaltimore.ie (Also open all year by prior arrangement for large group parties).
In 1969 Youen Jacob arrived in Baltimore, a small fishing village in the South West of Ireland, on a fishing boat from his native Brittany. He went ashore to Sherkin Island and met and fell in love with his future wife on the same day.
In 1979 Youen and Mary Jacob opened their Breton style seafood restaurant. Chez Youen was one of the first seafood restaurants in Ireland to serve an array of simple but dramatic seafood in the shell. The intimate navy blue and cream restaurant is still a major feature of Baltimore village today. Customers have over the decades enjoyed the simple charm of this candle lit restaurant with its solid wood furnishings and original paintings by French and Irish artists that blanket the walls.
Youen and Mary's family are grown up now and have followed their parent's footsteps. Youen Junior has learnt from his father who in turn learnt from his Breton mother and continues to carry the precise art of cooking fish into Chez Youen's kitchen. He and local head chef, Sean O’Sullivan are still serving up the original Chez Youen Shellfish Platter. Guests continue to relish this bounty from the sea appreciating the dramatic presentation, the cornucopia of colour and the fresh salty aroma of jumbo galley head prawns, lobster, velvet crab, brown crab, spider crab, Sherkin Island oysters, crayfish, steaming hot mussels or what ever the season has to offer. All this can be washed down by an excellent selection of French wines that have been individually chosen and imported from France by Youen Senior. Youen in his typical French humour explains that he only serves French wines in his restaurant because the original is better than a bad copy!
 If your appetite is not quite up to the famous Shellfish Platter then choose from a set price menu that changes with subtlety from season to season or if you are pressed for time there is an a la carte menu. You will often find on the main menu hot lobster bisque with just the right amount of brandy to warm you up or a large serving of galley head prawns served in the shell. If working for your meal using shell crackers and pickers is not your thing why not choose pan fried black sole on the bone and lemon butter that will simply melt in your mouth. There is always a couple of meat options to choose from be it fillet of beef or the classic duck confit with a wild mushroom sauce.
For desert try a delectable slice of piping hot home made tarte tatin and fresh cream, a desert that has become an institution in its own right. Customers have been known to choose their main course wisely in order to leave room for Chez Youen's tarte tatin! Finish a perfect evening with a selection of French and Irish farmhouse cheeses and freshly ground coffee or tea.
Over the years Chez Youen has been very proud to be listed in so may reputable guides including, Guide du Routard and Egon Ronay who in the past have bestowed Chez Youen with their Egon Ronay National Award “Best Irish Fish Restaurant”. In his book entitled Seafood Lover’s Guide, Rick Stein has described the fish cooking at Chez Youen as first rate. More recently Lucinda O’Sullivan in her Little Black Book of Great Places to Stay, 2009/2010 said that Youen has “continued to enthrall diners with big platters of jumbo Galley Head prawns, Sherkin Island Oysters & lobster for years.” While Georgina Campbell in her Ireland Guide, 2009/2010 said that. “The Shellfish Platter is a sight to behold”.
Come and see for yourself and unwind in the relaxed, charming, candle lit setting that is Chez Youen. June opening times are Fridays & Saturdays from 6 p.m. Call 028-20600 or email info@waterfrontbaltimore.ie for reservations.
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