Restaurant Guide

Seoirse · 06-10-2006 2:24am

Hi All,

I'm looking for a recommendation for a very decent restaurant to take my girlfriend out to celebrate buying our first home together. We both like Italian, she loves pizzas, I love pasta. However, was thinking of miing it up a bit, while still making it that little bit special. Rhodes restaurant interests me, but is it really worth it? Has anyone been there?

Really looking for some good tips. I'd like to make it a little romantic, although I'm not that kind of person, but nice to try now and again, but also would like to make it an evening to remember for not only for ambience, but also food and value. Not necessisarily on the value side. THough it new interest rates, I could argue about the prices with her, but I really shouldn't.

Looking forward to all your recommendations.

Seoirse.

JohnWishbone11 · 08-10-2006 8:41pm

questionable language used on website in my opinion. Check in out.
www.tantezoes.com
Good service although one waitress got a little snotty. They are addicted to pouring wine also..they're never without a bottle in their hands. Fast service.
Downstairs looked alright until you try to get up and your arse in literally stuck to the chair ..like all the guests at the dinner this was bad form considering the food was beautiful. I had swordfish and it was amazing. 23 squid not bad. Also i wonder how i would have escaped if a fire started upstairs with just one stair in and out...scary a little.

lightening · 12-10-2006 1:57pm

Seoirse wrote:

to celebrate buying our first home together.

Maybe a sliced pan in the park? Congrats, you could try the Pizza Stop around the corner from the great outdoors on chatham st? or one of the places in the Italian quater?

Seoirse wrote:

Rhodes restaurant interests me, but is it really worth it? Has anyone been there?

I think its really nice for a treat, good food, good atmosphere and not over the top on value.

catho_monster · 14-10-2006 5:17pm

Seoirse wrote:

Rhodes restaurant interests me, but is it really worth it? Has anyone been there?
Seoirse.

I just went to D7 on thursday night, and i must say i really really enjoyed it. the food was gorgeous, everyone in my party had scrumptious meals, and there was so much on the menu that i would have tried...
the service was very good, the atmosphere was lovely.
and then we went down to the bar area where there was live chilled jazz, finished off the night with some divine cocktails whilst listening to jazz. my idea of heaven.
i (lucky-for-me) went to Guilbauds for lunch the next day. i'm sure ye all know the standard of that place so i'm not even going to go into it. any yeah, if you want a fuss made, which we did, it is THE place to go. but on the food alone, if i was given a choice between the two, with the bill taken care of, i would go back to D7.

should i be taken out and shot? I dont know. but i like my food.

spacecoyote · 23-10-2006 10:24am

Have eaten out a few times over the last couple of weekends & have had quite differing experiences:

Two weekends ago myself & the missus went out to Cafe Bar Deli on Grafton Street, having heard some pretty good reports. Unfortunately neither of us found it to be a very enjoyable. There was aquite faceless & rushed atmosphere in the place. We felt that we were being shoved in wherever we could be fit. All of the tables seemed too close together & it was very loud. I did enjoy my pizza, but my girlfriend did not enjoy her pasta.

The following sunday we were in dundrum and decided we would like to get some lunch. we decided on Dunne & Crescenzi. the food was excellent, portions are not too large and the price was reasonable. it is a touch cramped, but not uncomfortably so. The service was excellent & I would recommend it as a good place to stop for lunch to anyone caught up in the craziness of a shopping marathon!!!

Finally, last Saturday we were out for dinner in Dublin city centre again. This time in The Rubicon restaurant on Merrion Row. Again I had heard only positives with regards to this restaurant & it fully lived up to our expectations. We were greeted by friendly staff were treated to a relaxing, unhurried dining experience. The menu is not extremely large, but it all sounds quite appealing. Always eager to try something I have not had before i started with the pigeon, which was extremely tasty. My girlfriend had a salad to start which she also enjoyed. For mains, my girlfriend had the chicken ,which was very good and i had the panfried cod, which i do not underestimate when i describe it as sublime. Each bite melted in my mouth. For desert i had an excellent lemon tart gf had a tall glass of vanilla icecream, tpped off with a shot of kahlua. Price was reasonable, approx €80 incl drinks. Definitely worth a look!!!

LFCFan · 23-10-2006 10:40am

we were in Saagar on Harcourt Street on Saturday and although the food was very nice, the service was extremely slow even though there was plenty of staff and not that many customers. Took 15 minutes for them to take our order and never took a drinks order to begin with and then it took nearly 20 minutes to get our bill depsite asking for it twice.

Also, what is it with Irish Indian restaurants and the spicyness of their food. Do they tone it down because they think we can't take it? I ordered the Vindaloo and it was a lot milder then a Vindaloo should be. Same has happened in a couple of other places. When we went to an Indian place in Liverpool though, the spicyness was perfect.

drdre · 23-10-2006 11:26am

LFCFan wrote:

we were in Saagar on Harcourt Street on Saturday and although the food was very nice, the service was extremely slow even though there was plenty of staff and not that many customers. Took 15 minutes for them to take our order and never took a drinks order to begin with and then it took nearly 20 minutes to get our bill depsite asking for it twice.

Also, what is it with Irish Indian restaurants and the spicyness of their food. Do they tone it down because they think we can't take it? I ordered the Vindaloo and it was a lot milder then a Vindaloo should be. Same has happened in a couple of other places. When we went to an Indian place in Liverpool though, the spicyness was perfect.

yes they keep the spice down because if someone wants it spicy they ask for it.because if they make it spicy then they donot want a complain

DominoDub · 30-10-2006 9:37pm

Just back from SaBa . ( Very Nice food and Good vibe)

A new Thai and Vietnamese restaurant off Clarendon Street ,from a former owner who brought us Diep le Shaker and Diep Noodle Bar.

First time ,,but will be back lots on the menu ( see below )that I will have to try.

http://www.sabadublin.com/index.html

Nice buzz in the place tonight , good for a bank holiday,,clean and new with chillout music playing , (sigur ros & RED Curry goes down well )

amoebaman · 11-11-2006 12:14pm

rooster-s wrote:

do you need to book this place or is it walk in....? Do you have their number?

Very late reply Rooster-S, sorry,
Its on Main Street in Swords opposite the new Penneys.
I think you can walk in normally

BreeVdK · 12-11-2006 9:06pm

Hi,

Would anyone have any recommendations for restaurants in Killarney?

Thank you.

spacecoyote · 13-11-2006 10:14am

DominoDub wrote:

Just back from SaBa . ( Very Nice food and Good vibe)

A new Thai and Vietnamese restaurant off Clarendon Street ,from a former owner who brought us Diep le Shaker and Diep Noodle Bar.

First time ,,but will be back lots on the menu ( see below )that I will have to try.

http://www.sabadublin.com/index.html

Nice buzz in the place tonight , good for a bank holiday,,clean and new with chillout music playing , (sigur ros & RED Curry goes down well )

went here for lunch on friday afternoon. Have to say the atmosphere and layout of the place was very nice. The staff were all extremely good too, not too in your face, just polite and readily available.

the lunch menu is not massive, but seemed to have a nice selection to keep people of all tastes happy. the food was good, but not fantastic and the portions do flatter to deceive a little. Overall i was impressed, but for a lunchtime meal i would probably still prefer the food in wagamama

Tazz T · 27-11-2006 12:35pm

Anyone been to the restaurant in Fallon & Byrne's yet?

If so, what was the food/menu like?

catho_monster · 27-11-2006 1:05pm

Was at F&B's for lunch on Thursday,
I'd heard bad things from old relatives of mine, and totally disregarded them deciding they were just senile or something.
i really wanted it to be good.
and was bitterly disappointed.

the quality of the products used was second-to-none, as was tasted in my steak with bernaise sauce and rocket on the side. it was to die for. exactly what i was looking for tbh - let the food speak for itself and dont mess with it.

the person dining with me was really not moved by the standard of her food, or the dishes in general.

In addition:
the only thing i could compare my chocolate tart with lemon curd to was the standard of brownie you would get on the train from dublin to cork. i mean genuinely i have never bought such godawful-tastless rubbish. to top that off, the sauce that came with it was disgusting and didnt complement the chocolate at all. in fact the person dining with me got for desert a creme brulee which was cold and therefore really not nice, with that suggery orange peel (having a brain dead day - cant remember the term) and some shortcrust biscuits. now the orange improved my chocolate (didnt make it good, but improved it from utter rubbish) and the biscuits were to die for, and went fantastically with the lemon curd.

It disturbs me that such difference of standard can come out of the one kitchen and that the chef is unable to construct dishes that work. sack the chef, thats what i say.
what a waste of good produce.
and the standard of waiting staff left a lot to be desired. i have a food allergy, and the waiters reply was 'well the sauce will be on the side anyway'. and no you cant have that, or that, or that - only for me to send him to the kitchen to find out exactly what i could have - to be told that he was wrong before, and i could have most of those things. he then proceeded to laugh at me when i asked if the bread he offered to us contained what im allergic to.

I had hoped for the equivalent to the place above the english market in Cork. i was so disappointed and will never be going back.

AND. as if i needed an AND. it was not lunch prices. not by any stretch of the imagination.

blorg · 01-12-2006 8:56pm

Soulgirl wrote:

Just wondering if anyone has been to the new place Venu ? I had a pretty bad experience there last week and would NOT be tempted to go back. What do you think of this ?

I've been to Venu and thought it extremely good value, the quality of the food well exceeded the price. No problem with the service the one time I was there. I don't particularly like the room though. In fairness, it _is_ a "restaurant restaurant" and not the sort of place that I would expect to be able to sit at a table just having wine and not eating. It can also actually be quite difficult to get a table there (I have popped in at six myself trying to book an early enough dinner for seven, and while it was _completely_ empty at six they were actually completely booked out for the evening.) So I can completely understand why they wouldn't want to have you a table drinking wine. (This is pretty standard in most restaurants in fact.)

blorg · 01-12-2006 9:10pm

LFCFan wrote:

we were in Saagar on Harcourt Street on Saturday and although the food was very nice, the service was extremely slow even though there was plenty of staff and not that many customers. Took 15 minutes for them to take our order and never took a drinks order to begin with and then it took nearly 20 minutes to get our bill depsite asking for it twice.

This is pretty common in Dublin Indian restaurants unfortunately, even when they are _completely_ empty it still can take an age. I have put it down to the culture (as the food can be very good in these very slow places.)

blorg · 01-12-2006 9:37pm

Back on topic- where in Dublin has not gone shíte with the overpriced "Christmas menu" and is likely to have a table for two available earlyish (6.30-7) tomorrow night?

AM1971 · 08-12-2006 11:52am

Was recommended Il Primo on Montague Street. Went last night.

Will never go back.

I read about the owner being a very convivial host but it's changed hands in the last while. The new owner needs to work on his customer service skills and make sure his steaks aren't made from old leather. He blamed his suppliers and was rather uppity when suggested to him that it would be a good idea not to charge for something that couldn't be eaten.

A very disappointing evening, a very limited menu for the price and we didn't even bother with dessert or coffee.

magicwine · 10-12-2006 3:45pm

Hi Drakol,
You were asking what Akasaka meant.
It's the name of a place in Tokyo, the meaning would be "red hill"

Used to live over there so feel free to ask me more.

luckat · 24-12-2006 12:33am

Has anyone been to Akasaka recently? I was looking at an online review site and there were a series of great reviews, then one devastating one - which either means that someone didn't like it or that it had changed.

I'm thinking of buying someone a restaurant voucher for Christmas, so it would be good to know where to get it for - they like japanese food.

Schlemm · 28-12-2006 8:34pm

luckat wrote:

Has anyone been to Akasaka recently? I was looking at an online review site and there were a series of great reviews, then one devastating one - which either means that someone didn't like it or that it had changed.

I'm thinking of buying someone a restaurant voucher for Christmas, so it would be good to know where to get it for - they like japanese food.

I think Wagamama on South King St do vouchers in addition to really yummy Japanese fud.

Here are some other nice restaraunts in Dublin:

L'Gueleton (can't spell or pronounce the name of that place for the life of me but the food is outstanding)

Wagamama (fried gyoza and yasi yaki soba and a fruit juice please)

Nectar (in Ranelagh...the option for when you want nice food but the money is tight)

Chapter One (the sophisticated option)

and finally...

Burdock's!!! (the ultimate in comfort food!)

quinta · 05-01-2007 6:25pm

Great reading through all the posts but the one restaurant I was looking for is not listed. El Baccarro in Meeting Hosue Square. Has anyone been?

Also does anyone have a working number for them? The number listed is no longer in use: 016714597

blorg · 06-01-2007 12:27pm

It's Il Baccaro, excellent restaurant. That number is the one in the phone book, are you sure they weren't just closed?

quinta · 10-01-2007 6:09pm

Ended up going in without a booking. Very nice place, food was fantastic, great atmosphere. Will be going back.

I actually asked them about their phone telling them I couldn't get through, they said it was always on the blink, which is nice

Pauge 2 · 31-01-2007 1:42pm

Has anyone been to the Elwoods in terenure, used to be Sayers, thinking of paying a visit and was wondering if anyone has a review, thanks in advance

still · 08-03-2007 4:23pm

Hi Folks

I'm looking for a nice place to eat in Newbridge, Kildare.

Can't seem to see anything here or google does not really help for a nice place.

Are there any nice places to eat in Newbridge or maybe should I open a new one?

sandy_claus · 26-03-2007 5:31pm

Hey guys, my aussie bf is mad about sushi and is driving me nuts moaning about not being able to eat it in galway. (He moans WORSE than a girl about it!

) However, having never lived in Oz or Dublin for that matter have never tried it. Is there anywhere in Galway we can try it (aside from the market) or eve somewhere that doesnn't take too long to drive to to give it a go and satisfy his cravings?

ri_ra · 02-04-2007 11:54pm

Well let me say that the service is not great and the ladies toilets leave a lot to be desired! They are not very clean, with overflowing bins. This is not the first time that I have seen this here. For an expensive place they could improve the service and the cleaniness in the ladies.

dereko1969 · 12-04-2007 1:02pm

Parents have friend coming over from France in a couple of weeks, want to bring him to a good restaurant. They tried booking Chapter One but it's all booked out, they particularly want a restaurant that highlights 'local' ingredients, where would people recommend? Think they were a little surprised when I pointed out the prices in Chapter One so perhaps something a little below that price level - anyone been to Mermaid recently? Or Eden? Any other suggestions?

olaola · 12-04-2007 1:56pm

Mermaid is supposed to be very good - I haven't made it there yet though!
I ate in Eden last week - it was quite good, but the service is a bit snooty!
I do like the dining room though.
Mackerel? Great fish - and they do the 'Eden Smokies' there. And if you're bring tourists, it is a lovely building.
What about L'gueleton? Peploes?

dereko1969 · 12-04-2007 4:36pm

mackerel's a good idea, wouldn't bother with gueleton as yer man is living in france and my folks would rather show him something more 'local'. the brother recommended 'darwins' but my mother has an issue with it being on aungier street - sad.

olaola · 12-04-2007 8:06pm

Yeah - prob staying away from French Ressies might be a good idea.
Hope it goes well!

tabatha · 12-04-2007 8:12pm

Pauge 2 wrote:

Has anyone been to the Elwoods in terenure, used to be Sayers, thinking of paying a visit and was wondering if anyone has a review, thanks in advance

this place is now the most overpriced worthless restaurant i have ever eaten in. it was great when it was sayers now its just crap!

i went into it one night with my husband and daughter. she asked for chicken and chips. she got, no joke, half a chicken breast and 8 small wedges. that came to somthing like 9.80. i had steak. price was 28.50 on my menu and 24.50 on my husbands. when we questioned this we were told prices had changed (gone up). it had only been open 4 weeks!!! service was crap, table was also crap (paper napkins, no table cloth).....i know this might sound mad but when you pay these prices you expect more.

winnie29 · 03-05-2007 8:22pm

1st post so not sure I am in the right place. But I was wondering if anyone can let me know if they have been to the Chili Club and if so was it a good place to bring two new friends to Dublin.

Galadriel · 06-05-2007 9:27pm

I was at the Chili Club recently, really nice food, good price also.

Pauge 2 · 07-05-2007 10:09am

tabatha wrote:

this place is now the most overpriced worthless restaurant i have ever eaten in. it was great when it was sayers now its just crap!

i went into it one night with my husband and daughter. she asked for chicken and chips. she got, no joke, half a chicken breast and 8 small wedges. that came to somthing like 9.80. i had steak. price was 28.50 on my menu and 24.50 on my husbands. when we questioned this we were told prices had changed (gone up). it had only been open 4 weeks!!! service was crap, table was also crap (paper napkins, no table cloth).....i know this might sound mad but when you pay these prices you expect more.

Just read your reply now, we (4 people) went to Elwoods just after my post in Jan.07 found it exactly like you say, no proper napkins or table cloths and the prices way over the top for what you got, the place was cold including the waiter, wont be eating there again

ActorSeeksJob · 07-05-2007 10:51pm

read a review of Elwoods in some magazine that came with the Sunday newspapers last weekend, seemed to get a decent review, although the prices seemed quite high. From the two users who have been there and posted feedback, it does sound quite bad.

dereko1969 personally id push the idea of Darwins on your parents, ive been there twice and was amazed. From outside it doesnt look great,and is small inside, but the food speaks for itself. Me and a friend went there ages ago, we h ad prawns in a batter, and a smoked salmon starter, both were delicious. I had duck breast for my main course(28euros but worth every penny) and he had a steak which was done really nicely. The duck was the best ive ever had, nothing has gotten close to it).

your friend has probably been over already, still thought id post bout Darwins as i love it. where did you go in the end?

copacetic · 07-05-2007 10:59pm

winnie29 wrote:

1st post so not sure I am in the right place. But I was wondering if anyone can let me know if they have been to the Chili Club and if so was it a good place to bring two new friends to Dublin.

another yes for the chili club, they've been going 15 years or so now and are consistently good. try the basil and chili beef..

kayasurf · 14-05-2007 3:29pm

Anyone ever been to floridita? where the old Life bar used to be.. Thinking of heading there for my B-day with a group of about 20 people.. Think its cuban food

anyone know what its like?

drdre · 14-05-2007 3:43pm

kayasurf wrote:

Anyone ever been to floridita? where the old Life bar used to be.. Thinking of heading there for my B-day with a group of about 20 people.. Think its cuban food anyone know what its like?

Never heard of it before.

raven136 · 30-05-2007 8:11pm

still wrote:

Hi Folks

I'm looking for a nice place to eat in Newbridge, Kildare.

Can't seem to see anything here or google does not really help for a nice place.

Are there any nice places to eat in Newbridge or maybe should I open a new one?

la tovalla doro and l'oliver are both excellent and decent prices.

Harrigans is a new and good thai place and the weeping thaiger is good but a small menu.Hope that helps

worded · 12-06-2007 10:07am

Alas Escape is gone ages. Theres an Italian place there now.

My two favourite places now.
Harrys1 in Dunlaoire or Harrys2 on Burgh Quay
+ The Stew Station in Smithfield (they do Currys etc for Less than 8 euros eat in!)

polarbelly wrote:

its ages since i've been there but escape in bray (vegetarian place) was absolutely excellent

i'm glad i reminded myself of that

Sleepy · 22-06-2007 11:44am

Ate in a fantastic burger joint last night - Joburger in Rathmines. Real funky resteraunt that keeps things loose, great burgers and all organic. Highly recommended and quite reasonable.

worded · 22-06-2007 8:25pm

I think I saw that place - is it accross the road from the big bike shop and subway?

Will give it a look.

Wishbone Ash · 15-07-2007 1:49pm

AoiFa wrote:

my fave restauarants in dublin are:

Chapter One parnell street
friendly service and good tasty food, a little expensive though the set menu not too bad!

I was there for the first time on Friday last. I couldn't fault it in any way. Excellent food and absolutely flawless service which also managed to be friendly rather than the snooty type often associated with many top restaurants. Not as expensive as I thought. Bill for four came to €370 (including 3 bottles of €35 wine). We'll be back! (and it's on the northside

).

ActorSeeksJob · 22-07-2007 2:24pm

My favourite restaurants would be, in no particular order : Darwins, Chez Macs, L'Guelueton, Shanahans.

Went to Mint in Ranelagh there few weeks ago, had the Tasting Menu @ like $110 per person. Have to say wasn't too impressed. The service was so slow and wasn't even that packed, we must been there for 4hours and 30mins, was crazy. Portions were ok but so very small which I really hate, and a little too snobby/posh for my liking

All in all, not too bad, but would rather spend my money in somewhere like Shanhans where I know I will love every single dish and be very full and satisfied without having waited nearly 5 hours for the meal, and would be cheaper.

kenco · 04-08-2007 8:56am

Ate here last night and while it is new and a little rough around the edges we will be going back!

Location (in the industrial estate) is a little strange but it seems to work. Its big but was busy enough and there was a good buzz around the place (live piano as well)

Starters were Soup, Asparagus, Mozz salad and Parma/Melon. All good apart from the poached egg with the Asp which was more hard boiled then anything.

Mains were seabass and beef. All top notch.

Service was a bit mixed but as they are still finding their feet I guess understandable but...... glass of white with starter was forgotten, selected red wine was then found to be 'sold out', wrong beef (well done) given to wrong person and vice versa.

Cost was not unreasonable but not every day. Starters were around €10-€13 and mains around €18-€27.

I would recommend but if trying soon dont expect perfection!

Krusty_Clown · 04-08-2007 10:13pm

My top three at the moment:
1) Mentioned a number of times on this forum (mostly by me!), Rasam in Glasthule (beside Dun Laoghaire) is a modern variation of Indian food, kind of like what I'd imagine Atol Kochhar's food might be like.. Great price, lovely setting, fantastic grub.. You'll be upset that you're full and can't fit it any more..

2) Darwins, on Aungier Street, great vegetarian, great meat.

3) My latest addition, and a big suprise, a new restaurant: Shelby's Brasserie in Bray. Finally, a decent restaurant in Bray (seeing as a certain fishy promenade-side restaurant is going to the dogs). Ate the early bird here on Friday. Excellent.. Lamb Shank falls off the bone, Pork belly is extremely tasty, Calamari is delicate and and crispy, Chocolate pud is 'melt in your soul' good.. Service is excellent (new restaurant).. I only have two gripes, the espresso was a little more like strong coffee, and soon the restaurant will be over-whelmed with punters (it's already very busy) trying to keep me from getting a table.. Don't go.. You won't like it..

burnedfaceman · 06-08-2007 4:32pm

tried mahi mahi in main street blackrock last night, really nice place, had amazing chicken wings to start and the paad thai was best i have tried outside of thailand.

globalconspirac · 11-09-2007 8:43pm

Am going out with my girlfriend for a year in October and we are spending it in Cardiff. Maybe a bit of a long shot but does anyone have any recommendations on a nice restaurant in said city.

Cheers

Mumha · 12-09-2007 12:04am

globalconspirac wrote:

Am going out with my girlfriend for a year in October and we are spending it in Cardiff. Maybe a bit of a long shot but does anyone have any recommendations on a nice restaurant in said city.

Cheers

Try La Brasserie on St. Mary's Street (the main Street down at the Train Station end, the other end from Cardiff Castle). You get your table and then you go up and pick out the food you want & they'll cook it ! Excellent food.

http://www.cardiff-eating.com/1578.htm

: 60 St Mary Street, Cardiff, CF10 1FE

http://www.restaurant-guide.com/brasserie-la-1.htm

Restaurant Guide

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