RESTAURANTS

Restaurants

The dining scene in Dublin is booming and has improved considerably over the past few years and much like other international cuisine hot-spots, good food can be pricey. For less formal dining, there are plenty of charming eateries for visitors to sample not only international dishes but also good old home-cooked Irish fare.

Irish cuisine consists of simple meat dishes, usually paired with boiled root vegetables such as turnip, carrot, parsnip and an Irish favourite, potatoes. Other popular dishes include mutton and beef stews, often cooked with Guinness, as well as tripe, meat and blood puddings, and sausages.

A new trend in Celtic cuisine, known as 'modern Irish' has become increasingly popular and can be described as French cuisine infused with the natural flavours of the Irish countryside and coastal waters. The cobblestone streets of Temple Bar district, as well as the Trinity College area, offer a wonderful selection of eateries where visitors can whet their appetites.

Abbey Tavern

$$$$$ | International

Renowned for its traditional-music ballad sessions, this 16th-century tavern, complete with blazing fires, original stone walls and gas lights, features a wonderful restaurant upstairs. The menu changes on a seasonal basis but features such culinary delights as crepes fruits de mer (seafood crepes), roast duckling with ginger and pineapple, or spinach and ricotta tortellini. After the meal, guests can enjoy the live entertainment downstairs in the form of some tradition Irish music. Open for dinner Monday to Saturday from 7pm to 11pm. Bookings are recommended and credit cards accepted.

Address: Abbey St., Howth, Northern Suburbs; Telephone: (0)1 839 0307

Caf� Mao

$$$$$ | Asian

The iconic Café Mao has been a firm favourite with Dubliners since its opening a few years back and is frequented by anyone who's in the mood for a little Asian flair. The exposed kitchen lines an entire wall, and the rest of the space is wide open which makes this an excellent environment for people watchers. The menu comprises everyone's favourite Asian dishes, such as Thai fish cakes, nasi goreng, chicken hoisin and salmon ramen, to name a few. Everything on the menu is delicious and it is hard to go wrong when dining here. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended.

Address: St. Stephen's Green; Telephone: (0)1 670 4899

Nosh	$$$$$ | International

This trendy laid-back restaurant is highly popular with Dubliners for a tasty weekend brunch where club sandwiches, soups and salads are the order of the day. Dinners are slightly more exotic with Nosh offering some wonderfully different dishes such as grilled filet of plaice with crabmeat. Open Tuesdays to Sundays from noon until 10pm. Closed on Mondays. Reservations recommended.

Address: 111 Coliemore Rd, Dalkey; Telephone: (0)1 284 0666

Jacob's Ladder

$$$$$ | Local

Offering wonderful views of Trinity College, Jacob's Ladder serves some of Dublin's finest Irish fare, from a rich prawn bisque with sautéed spinach for starters to a roast loin of wild boar with a tarte fine of red onions. The food and service here are excellent. And there is also a good range of vegetarian dishes on the menu. Open Tuesday to Friday for lunch and dinner. Saturday dinner only, closed on Sunday and Monday. Reservations recommended.

Address: 4-5 Nassau St; Telephone: (0)1 670 3865

L'Ecrivain

$$$$$ | French

One of Dublin's finest restaurants, L'Ecrivain offers diners a relaxed and unpretentious experience. Chef Derry Clarke's food is absolutely mouth-watering, from his seared wild Irish venison loin with caramelized pear, or seared Bere Island scallops with lobster strudel. Menu prices are changed regularly and are extortionate but L'Ecrivain gives guests the opportunity to sample some of its dishes in the form of a two-course lunch menu at a more reasonable price. Open Monday to Friday for lunch and dinner. Saturday dinner only, closed Sunday. Reservations essential.

Address: 109 Lower Baggot St, Fitzwilliam Square; Telephone: (0)1 661 1919

The Wicked Chef

$$$$$ | Local

This affordable neighbourhood eatery serves some of the most humble Irish cuisine Dublin has to offer. It's a firm favourite packed with locals who come to enjoy its flagship dish of Irish stew cooked in Guinness as well as its 'Dublin Coddle', among other local specialties. Open Sunday to Friday for lunch and dinner. Saturday dinner only. Reservations recommended.

Address: 73 Meath St; Telephone: (0)1 416 3472

The Bad Ass Caf�

$$$$$ | American

This loud and busy restaurant has been a much-loved eatery with Dublin's locals for over 20 years. The menu serves old favourites such as burgers, pasta, steaks and salads, appealing to just about everyone. This quirky restaurant, where orders are clipped to a wire before being whizzed off to the kitchen, is known as the place where Sinead O'Connor used to wait tables. Open daily from 11.30am until late.

Address: 9-11 Crown Alley; Telephone: (0)1 671 2596

Tante Zo�s

$$$$$ | Creole

Located in Dublin's very own French Quarter, Tante Zoé's serves some of the finest Creole and Cajun cuisine this side of the Mississippi. With cosy and colourful décor, calypso music and warm hearty meals, this restaurant does not disappoint. Try the fresh fillet of pan-fried seabass served with a coconut lime and chilli sauce, or the Dooky gumbo, a hearty Cajun stew with whiskey salami, Kabonossi sausage, chicken, pork & beef. Open Monday to Sunday. Closed Sunday lunch. Bookings recommended.

Address: 1 Crow Street, Temple Bar; E-mail: reservations@tantezoes.com; Telephone: 01 679 4407

Yamamori Noodles

$$$$$ | Japanese

Popular at lunchtime, Yamamori Noodles has a casual yet lively atmosphere with an exciting menu to boot. Prices range from bargain to complete over indulgence and meals like chile chicken ramen or the yamamori yaki soba with its mound of wok-fried noodles piled high with prawns, squid, chicken, and roast pork won't break the bank. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations only for parties of four or more.

Address: 71-72 S. Great George's St; Telephone: (0)1 475 5001

Juice

$$$$$ | Vegetarian

This aptly named restaurant situated in the Trinity College area offers around 30 types of juices and smoothies. With a wonderfully light and airy décor and such a diverse and exciting menu, most guests at Juice probably wouldn't even notice that it's a vegetarian restaurant. Brunches include pancakes and French toast with fresh fruit and maple syrup, while the rest of the day can be spent sampling dips such as hummus, tapenade and roasted carrot pâté with crudités. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations are recommended.

Address: 73-83 S. Great Georges St; Telephone: (0)1 475 7856

One Pico

$$$$$ | Irish

One of Dublin's most popular eateries, One Pico has becoming something of an institution in dining out in Dublin. Thus multi award winning restaurant serves delicious local fare including organic smoked salmon with pickled cucumber, remoulade and herb crème freche, and a firm favourite on the menu, the fillet of Irish Hereford Beef served with a white onion puree, parmesan fondue and crispy tempura onion. Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. Reservations essential.

Address: 5-6 Molesworth Place Schoolhouse Lane; E-mail: eamonnoreilly@ireland.com; Telephone: 01 676 0300