About Sage

Our story

SAGE began with a simple idea: serve great food, made with care, using ingredients we could proudly stand over.

The Beginning

Sage Restaurant

SAGE began with a simple idea: serve great food, made with care, using ingredients we could proudly stand over.

In 2007, at just 24 years old, I opened SAGE Restaurant in Midleton, Co. Cork with my now wife, Réidín. We built it—literally—from the ground up: sanding and painting tables by hand, writing menus from scratch, sourcing ingredients from local growers, and welcoming diners who would become regulars and friends.

From the start, we were driven by a love of honest, well-sourced food and a desire to create a warm, community-rooted space. In 2012, we introduced the 12 Mile Menu—a commitment to writing our entire menu using ingredients sourced from within just 12 miles of the restaurant. It wasn’t just a statement; it became a movement. We formed strong, lasting relationships with local farmers and producers, and our food began to reflect the seasons, the soil, and the people of our place.

Our commitment

simple, flavourful food done right

SAGE earned national and international acclaim, from food writers like Tom Doorley to Nicholas Lander, we stayed true to our ethos: simple, flavourful food done right.

When the world paused in 2020 during the Covid lockdowns, our dining room went quiet—but our drive to feed people didn’t. We pivoted quickly to bring our meals and condiments into people’s homes. What started as a handful of deliveries soon grew into a booming demand. With the help of “Vinny the Van,” we began supplying shops and markets across Cork.

Demand kept growing—and so did we. A bigger van followed (with our logo on the side!), and soon we were all hands on deck.

Join the movement

SAGE Products

Today, our SAGE Products range of meals and condiments is made by our team in a purpose-built production kitchen in Cork, led by myself and key members of our original restaurant crew. We’re still chef-led, still sourcing locally and sustainably, and still cooking the way we always have: with heart, skill, and flavour first.

In 2024, we made the bittersweet decision to close the doors of our beloved restaurant. But it wasn’t the end—it was the start of something bigger. Now, through SAGE Products, we’re bringing the same care and quality that defined our restaurant into homes, shops, hotels and cafés across Ireland and beyond.

This is still SAGE—just in a new form. And we’re just getting started.

What our customer say:

“

I served it (SAGE Buttermilk Ranch) drizzled generously over a warm salad of grilled peppers, onions and asparagus, with a few pieces of leftover roast chicken in the mix, and it was a quick and delicious dinner. It would also be good with chicken wings, on a Caesar salad or as dip. Its versatility is a huge plus; when I went to the fridge to get it to serve with a spicy quiche, the tub was empty ...

Marie Claire Digby

The Irish Times

“

Taste of the week - Tuscan Style Chicken by SAGE. It consists of chicken breast, spinach, garlic, red pepper, olive and sundried tomato sauce and comes with specially seasoned rosemary and garlic potatoes. Delicious!

Billy Lyons

Cork Billy Food Blog

“

Just wanted to say my dad Finbar who is 86 is buying your dinners for us this past few weeks. I've tried your cottage pie the flavours are fab, your lasagne fab, the beef and mash all wonderful to eat. I've come to love them.

Lucy O’Driscoll

“

That chimichurri sauce is absolutely awesome.

Totally addictive stuff!!!

Kate Bielinski Forresti

“

My favorite ranch dressing in Ireland! As an American who is obsessed with ranch dressing and who was missing it when we first moved here (and brought in ranch packets in my suitcase even though I knew they were not healthy) …but since we discovered your ranch dressing no longer missing our beloved ranch dressing from America! Thank you for all your lovely healthy food!!!

Anita Devery