Restaurant to bring US tourists to on a Friday night?

athtrasna

I have two friends visiting from the US on Friday, both early twenties. They are staying in the city centre and I've offered to take them for dinner on Friday night.

Have spent ages thinking about it and googling but I'm stuck. Needs to be somewhere I can book a table, ideally in Dublin 2 that won't cost the earth since I'm paying for everyone. But it needs to be fun and lively, though not so lively we can't have a conversation. Not too trendy though, they're much younger than me

At the moment I'm leaning towards Green19, good food, though maybe a little too casual. Any other suggestions?

Singer

http://stage.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057644953 was a similar thread last month, though the requirements were for an older group.

I'd go for somewhere like L'Gueuleton (pop upstairs for a drink afterwards), The Exchequer or The Bull and Castle.

http://lgueuleton.com/
http://www.theexchequerdublin2.ie/
http://bull-and-castle.fxbuckley.ie/gastro-pub

athtrasna

Singer wrote: »

http://stage.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057644953 was a similar thread last month, though the requirements were for an older group.

I'd go for somewhere like L'Gueuleton (pop upstairs for a drink afterwards), The Exchequer or The Bull and Castle.

http://lgueuleton.com/
http://www.theexchequerdublin2.ie/
http://bull-and-castle.fxbuckley.ie/gastro-pub

Thanks for the suggestions and the other thread but it's a totally different brief. These girls are 20 & 22, not company executives. I'm looking for somewhere fun but bookable and affordable rather than serious.

jd

Elephant and Castle? One of the Yamamori Restaurants?

athtrasna

jd wrote: »

Elephant and Castle? One of the Yamamori Restaurants?

Elephant and Castle isn't bookable and is at least notionally an American restaurant. Yamamori not my thing I'm afraid

Zipppy

Havana Tapas restaurant on George's Street...

jd

athtrasna wrote:

Elephant and Castle isn't bookable and is at least notionally an American restaurant. Yamamori not my thing I'm afraid

The Port House on Sth William St.?

Yintang

Try Zozimus in Anne's Lane. Nice decor, lovely cocktails and the food is v tasty and pretty reasonably priced. It's tapas-type plates, but they're actually quite big so won't cost the earth to fill you up.
And the umbrellas overhead outside on the lane are a cool feature ...!

athtrasna

Yintang wrote: »

Try Zozimus in Anne's Lane. Nice decor, lovely cocktails and the food is v tasty and pretty reasonably priced. It's tapas-type plates, but they're actually quite big so won't cost the earth to fill you up.
And the umbrellas overhead outside on the lane are a cool feature ...!

Too young for Zozimus, it's over 25 as far as I know. Their drink prices are sky high and their toilets are not pleasant in my experience.

Just found out that one off them is pescatarian so now thinking Super Miss Sue?

Singer

athtrasna wrote: »

Too young for Zozimus, it's over 25 as far as I know. Their drink prices are sky high and their toilets are not pleasant in my experience.

Just found out that one off them is pescatarian so now thinking Super Miss Sue?

Great choice!

Father Hernandez

OP, maybe try Crackbird or Jo'Burger, affiliates of one another if I remember correctly and you can book a table for each online.

They're a bit of craic, not too serious and certainly affordable for what you're looking for. Crackbirds on Dame street & Jo Burger is on Castle Market so plenty of choices for a scoop after!

athtrasna

Father Hernandez wrote: »

OP, maybe try Crackbird or Jo'Burger, affiliates of one another if I remember correctly and you can book a table for each online.

They're a bit of craic, not too serious and certainly affordable for what you're looking for. Crackbirds on Dame street & Jo Burger is on Castle Market so plenty of choices for a scoop after!

See above, one is a pescatarian!

John_Rambo

Super Miss Sue is fantastic, but you're going to get hammered (wallet wise) on drinks.

Market bar. It is what it is, a massive pub with great, reasonably priced food.

I always find Coppenger Row great. Good convivial atmosphere, lively, but you can talk.

Bear or Klaw.

Best of luck, enjoy.

Father Hernandez

athtrasna wrote: »

See above, one is a pescatarian!

John_Rambo wrote: »

Super Miss Sue is fantastic, but you're going to get hammered (wallet wise) on drinks.

Market bar. It is what it is, a massive pub with great, reasonably priced food.

I always find Coppenger Row great. Good convivial atmosphere, lively, but you can talk.

Bear or Klaw.

Best of luck, enjoy.

+1 on the Market Bar, been twice before, lovely spot. Have a good 'un.

Dial Hard

Richmond.

Would have also recommended Featherblade til I saw one is a pescetarian.

Spanish Eyes

Zaragoza. Sth William St.

Then to Dakota after.

Or Dakota for eats, and "pick a pub" after that.

athtrasna

Having a pescatarian is making things difficult as is needing a reservation. Tapas not ideal for other reasons.

So far my top 3 are Super Miss Sue, Carluccios and Boulevard cafe? Also considering The Bank on college green due to amazing setting and ok food

recipesforme

A new Fish Shack is after opening on Parliament street. http://www.fishshack.ie/dublin2

The food is great and you're next door to Temple Bar for some "real" Irish pubs

miamee

recipesforme wrote: »

A new Fish Shack is after opening on Parliament street. http://www.fishshack.ie/dublin2

The food is great and you're next door to Temple Bar for some "real" Irish pubs

I've only been here once but the food was quite noce and the service was good. It's a fairly casual setting.

schemingbohemia

athtrasna wrote: »

Having a pescatarian is making things difficult as is needing a reservation. Tapas not ideal for other reasons.

So far my top 3 are Super Miss Sue, Carluccios and Boulevard cafe? Also considering The Bank on college green due to amazing setting and ok food

Really? Virtually all restaurants have fish options. Super Miss Sue is good but probably more expensive than you seem to wish.

Why are Tapas out? Fade Street Social is decent but again your price point seems to be ruling that out.

Why Carluccios? UK chain, doesn't say much about Ireland. Boulevard is grand but you could do better.

The Woollen Mills might be a good option.

schemingbohemia

Actually The Pigs Ear might be worth trying - very good early bird available and you could get a window seat overlooking Trinity.
Nice fish options for starter and mains and looks good value to me.
http://www.thepigsear.ie/our-food-wine/

blue_blue

South William Street: Kokoro Ramen Bar
Dame Street: Chez Max, Mykonos (Greek)

athtrasna

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Really? Virtually all restaurants have fish options. Super Miss Sue is good but probably more expensive than you seem to wish.

Why are Tapas out? Fade Street Social is decent but again your price point seems to be ruling that out.

Why Carluccios? UK chain, doesn't say much about Ireland. Boulevard is grand but you could do better.

The Woollen Mills might be a good option.

Super Miss Sue was on my list, what made you think it's beyond my price point? I know most places do fish but I'd like to have more than one fish option per course.

I love the food in Carluccios and it's relaxed while at the same time being bookable. Italian restaurants also tend to have more fish options per course.

I hate Tapas as a meal style, getting the balance right in a group larger than two rarely works out.

Woolen Mills might work though I'm not a fan of the location.

boobycharlton

Wine cellar downstairs in Fallon & Byrne is nice, decent value and had two fish mains when I was there last week. I had the tiger prawn & sweet potato massaman curry which was lovely. Also had baked cod too iirc. Good selection of salads too.

athtrasna

Just to update you, got a recommendation in work for Quay 16 on the MV Cill Airne. Food was amazing. Fish and vegetarian options for the pescatarian and meat for the others. Quirky and very appealing to the visiting Americans. Half full at 8pm, think it's one of the city's hidden secrets?

cson

The toilets on there though... :eek:

Catch 22 just off Grafton St is pretty good too though slightly expensive.