Sad news as West Cork restaurant shuts after less than a year in business
It was an exciting addition to the West Cork dining scene.
But after less than a year in business, Clonakilty fine dining restaurant Lil’s has closed permanently.
Award-winning Cork chef Sam Cronin opened Lil’s on Connolly Street in January, naming the restaurant, his first, in honour of his beloved grandmother. The dinner menu featured a four-course set-price meal with an amuse-bouche, starter, main, and dessert, with a more casual offering at the weekends.
The Lil’s team also staged a successful pop-up on the town’s Asna Square, treating customers to 16-hour slow-cooked featherblade of beef katsu burger and hand cut chips, and enjoyed sell-out success at the Clonakilty Street Carnival.
Alas, the positive reviews from diners were not enough to sustain the fledgling eatery, which joins hundreds of other Irish restaurants to close this year – 150 in just the first quarter of 2025 – due to rising business costs,
“Lil’s is now permanently closed in Clonakilty.” the chef posted on Instagram, sharing the sad news.
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“We’d like to thank our amazing guests who supported us and understood our vision and dreams – it won’t be forgotten. Anyone with vouchers leftover, get in touch and they will be refunded.”
