Cork Indian restaurant Iyer's to 'press pause' after a decade to 'rest, recuperate and recalibrate'

Pope's Quay vegetarian eatery has become an institution for veggies and lovers of Indian food in the city

IE FEATURES 04/06/2013 ... /Gautham and Caroline Iyer at their South Indian Café, Iyer's, Pope's Quay, Cork. /Picture: Denis Minihane

The proprietors of Iyer's restaurant on Pope's Quay in Cork City have announced that they will be 'pressing pause' on operations in a social media post today.

"After ten years serving the people of Cork and beyond, the Iyer's family are pressing pause to rest, recuperate and recalibrate. Thank you all for the incredible support, friendships, love & goodwill over the past decade," read the announcement.

After ten years serving the people of Cork and beyond, the iyer's family are pressing Pause to rest, recuperate and recalibrate. Thank you all for the incredible support, friendships, love & goodwill over the past decade🙏 🙏❤️
We'll see you all again soon.
நன்றி வணக்கம். pic.twitter.com/SBaZ0m6IMP

— Iyers cafe (@iyerscafe) September 15, 2022

The South Indian restaurant first opened in 2012, run by Gautham Iyer, formerly an aeronautical engineer, and wife Caroline. 

Specialising in food true to his own roots, entirely vegetarian and steeped in Ayurvedic tradition, Iyer's kept all ingredients as local and fresh as possible - with a new menu each day, keeping no ingredient in store longer than 24 hours.

Gautham and Caroline Iyer at their South Indian Cafe, Iyer's, Pope's Quay, Cork. /Picture: Denis Minihane.

In a restaurant review last year, the Irish Examiner's Joe McNamee praised Iyer's for their vegetarian focus. "Eat vegetarian food as delicious and life-sustaining as Gautham Iyer’s and even the greatest carnivore will be truly sated," he writes.

The break in action for Iyer's comes after the closures of vegan staples in Cork, like comfort-food specialists 143V, and vegan fast-food joint VeganKO.