Best cheap restaurant in central Dublin?

DonnaMarieAva · 12-08-2015 9:37am #1

So my friend and I are meeting up in Dublin in two weeks and we're looking for a nice restaurant for lunch that isn't expensive. In Paris you can get a three course meal for €10. Is there some place similar in Dublin? We're hoping to pay around €10 or less for the main course.

We don't have any particular preferences but it has to be easily accessible from the train or Luas stations. Or within walking distance.

Thank you so much in advance for your help!

Gongoozler · 12-08-2015 9:46am

You can get a three course meal for €10 in Paris??
Not a chance in Ireland, never mind Dublin.
You'll get a sandwich for less than €10 alright. A nice little place for a sandwich is Mes Amis on Abbey St.

You'll probably get a recommendation for Carlos on O Connell St, they do two courses for €10 I think, but I wouldn't recommend there, the service is awful and the food not good.

whiskeyman · 12-08-2015 9:50am

you'll be looking at a chinese buffet at that price.
Maybe check some of the groupon style sites that may have a nice lunch for 2 around the €25 mark if you're lucky.

DonnaMarieAva · 12-08-2015 9:53am

whiskeyman wrote: »

you'll be looking at a chinese buffet at that price.
Maybe check some of the groupon style sites that may have a nice lunch for 2 around the €25 mark if you're lucky.

Groupon is a really good idea. I'll check that out. Thanks!

challengemaster · 12-08-2015 9:54am

DonnaMarieAva wrote: »

In Paris you can get a three course meal for €10.

I think you missed a zero? You'd be lucky to get a drink for €10 in Paris.

Anyway, I'd recommend PHX Bistro.

http://www.phxbistro.com/#!lunch-menu/c1ktu

Custardpi · 12-08-2015 9:54am

There's a few places on South Great George's St that do decent specials - South St is one example. If you like curry (I know not everyone does) then the Madina Desi on Mary St is pretty good value too. Alternatively you could try somewhere in the Epicurean Food Hall, near the Ha'penny Bridge. It's a more open dining experience than in a restaurant but there's some great value grub to be had there in a variety of styles.

DonnaMarieAva · 12-08-2015 9:58am

challengemaster wrote: »

I think you missed a zero? You'd be lucky to get a drink for €10 in Paris.

http://www.phxbistro.com/#!lunch-menu/c1ktu

Ha ha I'm being serious! On Rue St. Michel in the Latin Quarter.

HeidiHeidi · 12-08-2015 9:58am

A bit out of town, but not far from Grand Canal Dock or Lansdowne dart station - http://www.keshk.ie/ Beside Baggot St. bridge.

Their mains are a wee bit above a tenner, but seriously, their starters are huge and the food is GORGEOUS.

Some of the best value grub in Dublin, IMO.

Custardpi · 12-08-2015 10:00am

challengemaster wrote: »

I think you missed a zero? You'd be lucky to get a drink for €10 in Paris.

While I think €10 is pushing it alright Paris isn't that expensive a place to eat out in, as opposed to drinking which costs an arm & a leg. Plenty of restos around Montmartre where you can get a decent meal - soupe a l'oignon, coq au vin, etc washed down with a demi-litre of Chateau de Plonc for less than €20. Nothing fancy of course but does the job. It's the pints afterwards that will kill the Irish tourist, especially if they drink at the same rate as at home.

eass82 · 12-08-2015 10:25am

Can recommend Alfie's on South William Street. Starter and main for a tenner.

http://www.alfies.ie/lunch-menu/

If your looking for something slightly different, you can get a carvery lunch in Diceys/Coppers/D2 on Harcourt Street for around the €7 mark

sweetie · 12-08-2015 10:28am

Phx bistro as mentioned. Brasserie 7. Gallaher and co have a 2 lunches for 10 deal on grabone at the moment

schemingbohemia · 12-08-2015 12:27pm

Green 19 is pretty decent http://green19.ie/

Seans_Username · 12-08-2015 12:45pm

From Mexico to Rome does a 2 course meal for €9.95 between 12 and 4, I think. It's in Temple Bar and it's decent food. If you can eat in that time I highly recommend it, it's filling and pretty tasty. I'm no connoisseur or anything, but I do appreciate good value

dudara · 12-08-2015 8:26pm

I think Beeftro on Balfe Street does some good lunchtime deals.

odyssey06 · 12-08-2015 8:36pm

Chez Max have a "Plat du Jour" that changes daily for just under €10.
If you don't fancy the special, they have a range of tartines and salades for approx €8
http://www.chezmax.ie/palace/menu/

They have restaurants on Baggot Street and beside Dublin Castle (the one beside Dublin Castle has a small outside area).

vicwatson · 12-08-2015 8:38pm

McDonalds?

odyssey06 · 12-08-2015 8:43pm

Sagaar Indian restaurant located on Harcourt Street (if you brave the steps down...)

Credit Crunch lunch available Monday-Fridays for €9.55
Poppadums & Dips | Starter | Main Course | Side Vegetables | Rice & Naan Bread

http://saagarindianrestaurants.com/home/special-offers/

Polka_Dot · 12-08-2015 8:59pm

Seans_Username wrote: »

From Mexico to Rome does a 2 course meal for €9.95 between 12 and 4, I think. It's in Temple Bar and it's decent food. If you can eat in that time I highly recommend it, it's filling and pretty tasty. I'm no connoisseur or anything, but I do appreciate good value

Was just about to suggest here, their lunch menu is very nice.

mrsgiller · 12-08-2015 9:29pm

Cactus jacks on millennium,walk way do a lovely lunch menu €10 for lots of main couses or 3 tapas for €10

DonnaMarieAva · 12-08-2015 9:29pm

odyssey06 wrote: »

Sagaar Indian restaurant located on Harcourt Street (if you brave the steps down...)

Credit Crunch lunch available Monday-Fridays for €9.55
Poppadums & Dips | Starter | Main Course | Side Vegetables | Rice & Naan Bread

http://saagarindianrestaurants.com/home/special-offers/

I just checked them out and I think that's the one we'll go for!

Thank you and everyone for your suggestions :-)

Custardpi · 12-08-2015 9:38pm

Bon appetit!

TheBeach · 12-08-2015 9:56pm

Check out govindas. There is photos of some of their dishes on tripadvisor if you want to check their fare.

tayto lover · 12-08-2015 10:16pm

Custardpi wrote: »

While I think €10 is pushing it alright Paris isn't that expensive a place to eat out in, as opposed to drinking which costs an arm & a leg. Plenty of restos around Montmartre where you can get a decent meal - soupe a l'oignon, coq au vin, etc washed down with a demi-litre of Chateau de Plonc for less than €20. Nothing fancy of course but does the job. It's the pints afterwards that will kill the Irish tourist, especially if they drink at the same rate as at home.

Feckin robbers regarding the drink.
Five of us on a visit sat outside a pub near the Eiffel Tower. I went in and ordered 5 pints and I got 2.50 out of a 50 euro note.
Same drink costs 17.50 in my local.

challengemaster · 12-08-2015 10:42pm

Actually, calling it restaurant is a bit of a stretch - but if you're open to a burrito bar - there's always Boojum. €6,50 for a burrito + drink if you have a student card, IIRC €7,65 without. It's about as cheap as you can get for really nice burritos.

Todd Gack · 13-08-2015 12:14am

DonnaMarieAva wrote: »

I just checked them out and I think that's the one we'll go for!

Thank you and everyone for your suggestions :-)

Taste of Everest on Baggot St. have a similar deal for €9.50

Neon also do any main for €10 at lunch, Zakura and Opium also do great food for around a tenner at lunch. All on Camden/Wexford St.

Day Lewin · 13-08-2015 11:24am

Wow, lots of great suggestions, following this thread!

spurious · 13-08-2015 1:08pm

Todd Gack wrote: »

Taste of Everest on Baggot St. have a similar deal for €9.50

Very much enjoyed the last meal I had there. Sometimes you worry about these places with cheap deals but it was very tasty.

dudara · 13-08-2015 1:09pm

Having seen an above poster recommend Opium, that would be my top tip for a good lunch. I think they do a main plus a drink for a set price. And it's very tasty

Confucius say · 13-08-2015 3:19pm

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

A bit out of town, but not far from Grand Canal Dock or Lansdowne dart station - http://www.keshk.ie/ Beside Baggot St. bridge.

Their mains are a wee bit above a tenner, but seriously, their starters are huge and the food is GORGEOUS.

Some of the best value grub in Dublin, IMO.

All the mains appear to be over €16 on the dinner menu. Do people consider that cheap nowadays?

HeidiHeidi · 14-08-2015 9:35am

Confucius say wrote: »

All the mains appear to be over €16 on the dinner menu. Do people consider that cheap nowadays?

I was looking at the lunch menu.

OP was asking about lunch - mains are nearly all €12.50 on the lunch menu, which for the food you get I'd consider not bad value. Starters are all well under a tenner, which IMO is definitely good value!

Cheap does not necessarily equal value!

14-08-2015 12:27pm

Go to Diceys on Harcourt St. €5 if you have a student card 6.20 without it. Its a carvery and the portions are massive, brilliant feed. The food is nice and all the "suits" who work nearby always eat there. Place does be wedged.

Another old haunt of mine is the Ripley Court Hotel on Talbot St. Big enough portions also and anywhere between €7-9.50 for lunch. Theres bargains to be had food wise in Dublin, it can be cheaper eating out in Dublin City Centre than down the country.

MemEmee · 14-08-2015 12:27pm

Salamanca on Andrews st does a good lunch offer for a tenner. http://www.salamanca.ie/phone/lunch-menu.html

http://www.caffeitaliano.ie/ do a similar deal (no wine), but not mentioned on their website for some reason.

retalivity · 15-08-2015 2:27pm

Shoukd keep this thread going as a general guide to cheap, good places to eat.

Was in town earlier and went to Hanoi Hanoi at the top of capel st across from the black sheep. Vietnamese place, think its new, had a shared spring roll starter and 2 massive bowls of pho for less than 20 quid between two. If you like your Vietnamese food its probably the best I've had in Dublin, and was some feed for a tenner. Nice decor as well(was the building a hotel before??).

Would definitely return and recommend