In Galway City, Freddy’s isn’t just another Italian restaurant, it’s a place full of flavour, authenticity, and the kind of welcome you don’t forget after a single meal. Inside, the pace is brisk and the mood electric. Dishes arrive at tables from the open kitchen with a smile. And behind each plate is a team with stories as rich as their sauces. Meet the team behind the magic here...
“It’s like having an open door to Italy,” says Giulia, the sous chef. “You get to taste authentic Italian food without taking a flight. You’ll feel very cuddled by all the staff members, from the kitchen to the floor.” That welcome is something guests feel immediately. Whether it’s a quick espresso or a relaxed, indulgent dinner, it never feels purely transactional.
When asked how they arrived at Freddy’s, almost everyone has their own special connection. A friend’s recommendation. A chance encounter. A pasta primavera that changed the course of someone’s afternoon, and their career path. “It’s actually a funny story!” says Elisa Mahé, supervisor. “I came in just for a coffee at first. But then, I ended up staying for lunch. I ordered the pasta primavera and completely fell in love. After that, I went up to the counter and asked if they were hiring. A year later, here I am!”
At Freddy’s, Alessandro, the Head Chef, has brought a sense of home to the kitchen through his family’s recipes, while Luigi Talamo, the General Manager, holds the reins with an ethos focused on human connection. “I started out as a waiter,” Luigi reflects. “What gives me joy is going to bed at night with the feeling that, in my small way, I made someone’s day better.”
“Non è solo mangiare, è stare bene.” It’s more than just food — it’s an experience. That’s how Luigi describes it. And it’s true. There’s a rhythm to Freddy’s that feels familial. “Energy, warmth, relaxation, family, laughter, and good vibes,” Renzo, the assistant manager sums up when asked to describe the dining experience. There's pride here, not just in the food, but in the service surrounding it. And while every staff member has their favourite dish (pasta pesto, seafood linguini, the margherita with buffalo mozzarella, the house bolognese, that life-changing primavera), Luigi puts it best: “My favourite dish? It’s always the next one I’m about to serve… That’s where the magic is. The next dish, the next smile — that’s my favourite.”
Freddy’s stands apart in Galway’s restaurant scene in a way that’s difficult to replicate. “We’re unique,” says Alessandro. “Most of us are Italians. We know what we do, and we love what we do.” There’s no arrogance here, just craft, camaraderie, and a shared commitment to excellence. And what does the job give back to the people who make it run? For some, it’s the chance to connect. For others, it’s personal growth, or a sense of identity. “This job gives me the opportunity to serve quality Italian food to the people of Galway and also to the many tourists that visit us.” Balázs Nagy, supervisor reflects. “It makes you feel like you’ve done something noble for the day.”
“It’s a place with soul,” Luigi adds. “Like sitting at a big Italian family dinner, just with a Galway vibe. There’s heart, there’s quality, and a genuine desire to make people feel good.”
Visit Freddy’s at 15 Quay Street in Galway, & check out their menu at www.freddys.ie.
All photos by Ciarán MacChoncarraige.
