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Dublin Restaurants & Dining
Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
21 Upper Merrion Street
Tel 01 676 4192
Dining at Guilbaud restored our faith in Michelin's star rating system. The two that this restaurant within
the Merrion Hotel has earned from that famous red guide are deserved. More than any one thing, it is the orchestration
of the dining experience that puts Guilbaud way ahead of the crowd. Portion size is extremely small, even by French haute restaurant standards; the extremely pretty and generally well-prepared
food lacked the pizazz we craved. However, service, ambiance, presentation, the wine list, and the warm, attentive presence
of both owner Patrick Guilbaud and chef Guillaume LeBrun themselves made for a near perfect meal. Signature dishes include Lobster
Ravioli, Roast Challans Duck, and Assiette Gourmande au Chocolat. We enjoyed the cheese course, though it fell behind
the standard set by te nearby Bentley's. A sort of croquette filled with pork, goat cheese ravioli, grilled sea bass
atop saffron mashed potatoes, and rabbit wrapped in savoy cabbage all proved more than satisfactory.
There is an excellent, though not vast selection of wines
by the glass, and for lunch we sampled an Italian Rosso Piceno and a Macon Lugny that greatluy complimented the meal.
The extremely elegant restaurant lies to one side of the Merrion,
and has its own covered outside dining area with a fireplace. Stylish, carpeted, well lit, charmingly laid out, and with some
of the hotel's renowned art collection on the walls, inside Guildbaud's you have succesfully escaped from the outside world.
You may pause in the comfy bar before or after your meal. Young, thin, and generally tall, black clad waiters & wine stewards (we saw
just one female back waitress) provide exemplary service, describing each dish, answering all questions, and performing
each table ritual with aplumb.
Bentley's
22 St. Stephens Green
Tel 1 638 3939
Chef Richard Corrigan's Irish venture, which includes a 10-room inn, provided one of the most pleasant and
memorable of our Dublin dinners. We had perused the menu a couple of times while walking by St. Stephens Green, and inquired
about reservations for that evening only to be told they were full.
By hazard, we passed again around supper time and they had a few places at the oyster bar available. Service
at the bar was excellent since we essentially had the bar tender/waiter at our disposal the entire time. A charming conversationalist,
skilled oyster barmen, and full of at-you-disposal waiterly skills, we could not have desired more superior accommodation.
The restaurant's ambience: charmingly upscale but without pretension, with lots of mirrors and soft lighting
right out of an F. Scott Fitgerald novel.
The food: tempura of oysters; stuffed baby squid; cod with lentils; fish & chips; Irish cheeses; and
a blood-orange pudding.
The oysters came perfectly cooked in a light batter, full of delcicate sea flavours; the stuffed squid--recommended
by the barman--exploded with the rich combination of chorizo and feta. Of the main dishes, the fish & chips--made with
fresh haddock--was a unique take on traditional fare and a huge portion. The coating on the fish could have been a bit lighter,
but the fish itself was perfect. The cod served on a bed of lentils: scrumptous and elegant.
The cheese plate was the best, most well stored and served cheese course we tried in Dublin; and the pudding
more than satisfying if not overwhelming.
We will return!
Recommended Dublin Hotels for the Epicurean
The Merrion Hotel The Merrion has established itself as the epitome of relaxed elegance, welcoming Dubliners and visitors
to the city with stunningly appointed rooms, crackling turf fires and a host of facilities, including a delightful indoor
swimming pool and spa. Service is impeccable, though a bit reserved, with concierge, front desk, and housekeeping
staff always on their toes. Twice-daily room cleanings, elaborate turn down service, and charming staff in the public areas
leave no room for complaint. A social gathering place for Dubliners, guests can ease into the elegance of the spacious rooms
and extensive public areas with aplumb. The Merrion offers its guests a choice of two restaurants for eating
out in Dublin, The Cellar Restaurant and the renowned Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, Ireland’s only Two-Star
Michelin Restaurant. Bars include The Cellar Bar set in the original wine vaults and the intimate cocktail bar, No. 23.
For those truly seeking a characterful stay, rooms in one of three joined Georgin masions--the main house--are preferrable
to those in the "Garden Wing"
Upon returning to Dublin for business, our choice is The Clarence.
A
stylish boutique hotel located in the heart of the city on the famous River Liffey. Owned by Bono & The Edge of Irish
rock group U2, The Clarence is very much a reflection
of 21st century Ireland. Simple but elegant, timeless but yet of its time, contemporary but embodies the best of Irish hospitality.
The
hotel re-opened in 1996 after an extensive facelift that transformed it from 2-star dreariness to 4-star restrained elegance.
The hotel first opened in 1852, was bought by Bono and The Edge in 1992, and went through a complete re-design respecting
Ireland's quintessential heritage, with an inventive interplay of elements contrasting the spartan with the sybaritic, the
hip with the historical, and the old with the new. Inside, guests find sturdy, high quality finishes--white oak, limestone,
leather and velvet using rich cardinal colors like crimson, royal blue, amethyst, gold, and chocolate.
The
hotel's best-kept secret is Room 508--a large room done in royal blue and gold opening onto a huge terrace with panoramic
views of Dublin. A wooden dining table invits al fresco meals while decks chairs provide for a chance at respite
from the city's bustle.
We found the staff friendly and efficient, the rooms comfortable--if a bit small--the beds restful, and
the overall stay quiet and relaxing.
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Sun Shine House Chinese Restaurant 139 Parnell Street Dublin 1 Tel. 01-8779666
We happened upon this new Chinese restaurant in a tiny "Chinatown" area of Dublin not
far off of O'Connell Street. We had eaten at restaurants here before without being too impressed--just the usual "Chinese
food" found around the world outside of China. Sun Shine proved to be different.
Seasons Restaurant, Four Seasons Hotel Dublin
Seasons attracts a steady stream of locals to its elegant, though relatively unpretentious surroundings, and
this says something about its quality and consistency, for Dubliners are not undiscerning diners. We encountered friendly
and informed service from the moment they took our overcoats to the time we asked for the bill.
Seasons gives everything you would expect from the fine dining venue of a Four Seasons Hotel. Comfy chairs,
big tables, lots of space, fresh flowers, plush carpet, etc. Service here is different from, say, Patrick Guilbaud's. Performance
a la table is less orchestrated, though no less informed or informative. Extremely personable waiters and managers take
the time to chat with and engage their guests.
The wine list is impressive, and we sampled a moderately priced bottle of Chablis, which at 35 euros was at
the botton of the price scale.
Our appetizers--smoked salmon and foie gras--gave us a bit of hesitation. Good, but without bowling us over. The
foie gras, for example, came perfectly cooked, but so unpretentious it left us wanting a little something extra on the
plate.
However, with the arrival of the mains--veal cheek raviolis with shaved black truffle and slow-roasted
pheasant--the gustatory experience shot skyward. Both dishes displayed subtlety and depth of complex flavors, with portion
size perfectly executed.
For dessert we sampled a selection of Irish cheeses, served with honeycomb scented by black truffle,
which was truly remarkable, as well as a delectable quince tart.
Marco Pierre White Steakhouse & Grill51 Dawson Street
DUBLIN 2, Co. Dublin City, Ireland
01
677 1155
Chef Marco Pierre White has lent his name, concept, and organizational skills to this welcoming restaurant in Dublin. One of 14 dining venues around
the globe for this longtime celebrity chef, we have found it enticing more than once. It has a great location in the heart
of Dublin, and you can dine outside when it's warm--for lunch or dinner. A charming and popular restaurant it provides
a comfortable and lively atmosphere to enjoy locally-sourced ingredients prepared in an easily accessible style. If you are
a beef lover, you will not be disappointed. It's mostly a steak house with traditional values, though the non-beef dishes
compete very well. Oysters, tuna, and cod were all very good.Ingedients are always fresh and well prepared. It's essentially French-informed
comfort food, and there's nothing wrong with that. A solid steak house, the service staff are generally well trained
and accommodating, though on one visit they did not remove the stained heavy paper table cloth from the previous guests. The
wine list is well selected and priced reasonably.
L'Ecrivain
109a Lower Baggot Street
Tel. 1 661 1919
A longstanding Dublin eatery--pre-dating the city's boom--L'Ecrivain offers determinedly French style cuisine,
smart service, and comfortable surroundings. Their 25 euro prix-fixe lunch menu is a great value.
Food rates very highly, though service falls slightly short of excellent marks. All the dishes we sampled
demonstrated the kind of sophistication, prettiness, and complexity expected on a Michelin starred restaurant, though servers
almost uniformly failed to introduce or explain the dishes and the house wines we ordered. The ambience tends towards the
modern/post-modern divide, with classical touches like wood panelling and stained glass, but with a multi-level layout, recessed
lighting, and curved booths.
Specialty Foods, Wine & Casual Dining: Fallon & Byrne
11 -17 Exchequer Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
Tel: (01) 472 1010
Fallon & Byrne takes the prize for specialty food shopping in central Dublin. The epicurean will find fresh fish, a specialty butcher, high-end coffees, baked goods,
fine artisan foods of every kind, as well as the freshest of fruit and vegetables. The shop also offers a wide range of wines
and an eatery. The
inviting cellar has shelves lined with a thoughtful selection of more than 600 wines, many served by the glass,
all to take away. Knowledgeable staff can recommend every last one, with or without a sampling of the bar food. Staff
will help to choose wines to match a food or party. There is a special offer of just eur 1 corkage on all wines
consumed in the cellar.
La Stampa Hotel & Spa This is an excellent choice for location and the wonerful bar on the ground
level. A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the world, La Stampa is a bit frumpy. With a chic air about it, the hotel doesn't
live up to true luxury standards. Service was sparse.
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