Good non-fancy restaurant

OldMrBrennan83

Looking for a recommendation for myself and the Mrs for a restaurant. Nothing fancy but somewhere with good regular food. Regularly go to Mulligans in Stoneybatter and always found it lovely, so something along those lines, but just thought we'd see what else was out there and need the city so we can both have a drink.

Edit - that kind of food too, not an Italian or Chinese or anything. Thanks.

L1011

Mulligans food would be on the fancy side of things (while still traditional/Irish) which is the problem here. The other 'gastropubs' might be an idea, there's two opposite each other on Bath Avenue a little bit out of the city centre, The Old Spot and Chophouse.

Rmgblue

Try the Green Hen! Not a pub but not super fancy. A good balance and really good food. Early bird is great value

OldMrBrennan83

L1011 wrote: »

Mulligans food would be on the fancy side of things (while still traditional/Irish) which is the problem here. The other 'gastropubs' might be an idea, there's two opposite each other on Bath Avenue a little bit out of the city centre, The Old Spot and Chophouse.

It's not one you'd feel the need to be overly dressed up for, though I probably should have put that better. Food can be fancy enough, I'd like the place on the more relaxed side of things. Gastropub is probably spot on actually.

Og81

Depending on Food preference. Tribeca in Ranelagh.

OldMrBrennan83

Both those pubs look very nice that L1011 posted, especially the chophouse one. Like the look of the green hen menu but the Mrs said that they were there on a staff night once and the staff were woeful rude.

OldMrBrennan83

Og81 wrote: »

Depending on Food preference. Tribeca in Ranelagh.

Cheers, I'll look that up now.

Liam McPoyle

Il Vicoletto on Crow St (near temple bar). Small and busy but the food and service is class. I'm not much of a chocolate fan but their fondent is out of this world.

Bassboxxx

You ever try Lavanda around the corner from mulligans on Brunswick Street, more substance than style, in a good unpretentious way. Not a big menu, but I find that reassuring.

Samuel T. Cogley

PHX Bistro, lovely staff, relatively cheap and very easy going.

OldMrBrennan83

Business Cat wrote: »

Il Vicoletto on Crow St (near temple bar). Small and busy but the food and service is class. I'm not much of a chocolate fan but their fondent is out of this world.

Cheers but as much as her eyes lit up when I mentioned fondant it's definitely too fancy looking and a place I feel I'd need a tie and all on.

Definitely would be looking more gastro pub.

OldMrBrennan83

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

PHX Bistro, lovely staff, relatively cheap and very easy going.

That looks lovely. Definitely on the list.

seablue

I second the recommendation for The Green Hen on Wicklow street. Good food and a nice atmosphere, esp this time of year (dark interior).

Muahahaha

+! on Green Hen, always had nice meals there. Other options for non-fancy but good tucker might be Brother Hubbard on Capel St, Green 19 on Camden St and FX Buckleys Bull and Castle opposite Christchurch. Bison Bar on Wellington Quay also decent.

Tar.Aldarion

Brother Hubbard +1

Qrt

Ashton’s Clonskeagh, was there a function once and their catering was actually stunning. Their menu might be expensive mind.

PhoenixParker

Any of the FX Buckley’s would be right up your street I think.

Gavin "shels"

Muahahaha wrote: »

FX Buckleys Bull and Castle opposite Christchurch. Bison Bar on Wellington Quay also decent.

+1 on B&C.

Bison Bar probably shy of what OP is looking for - delicious spot but a bit "messy" food moreso than steak, etc...

OldMrBrennan83

PhoenixParker wrote: »

Any of the FX Buckley’s would be right up your street I think.

Had a work do there once and found the food very average. Wouldn't be far off what you'd get in a cafe.

OldMrBrennan83

Gavin "shels" wrote: »

+1 on B&C.

Bison Bar probably shy of what OP is looking for - delicious spot but a bit "messy" food moreso than steak, etc...

That's the ultimate food for me but while I've tried the others I wouldn't go near Bison because of that stupid policy of not taking bookings in an attempt to have a queue outside like Bunsen.

OldMrBrennan83

Cheers for all the suggestions anyway, I'll definitely be checking them out. Some really good pub style ones.

Gavin "shels"

Patww79 wrote: »

That's the ultimate food for me but while I've tried the others I wouldn't go near Bison because of that stupid policy of not taking bookings in an attempt to have a queue outside like Bunsen.

They definitely do take reservations. I head in there every 3 months before my blood donation and most of the tables are reserved. Maybe run it by them - especially since they've opened a whole new part to Bison with loads of seating.

OldMrBrennan83

Gavin "shels" wrote: »

They definitely do take reservations. I head in there every 3 months before my blood donation and most of the tables are reserved. Maybe run it by them - especially since they've opened a whole new part to Bison with loads of seating.

Ah right, thanks. Maybe it has changed. I remember asking if they did for the first year or two and no joy but I didn't know it was bigger now. I believe it's a lot nicer than Pitt Bros, which I found fairly average (only one visit though).

Marcusm

Patww79 wrote: »

Both those pubs look very nice that L1011 posted, especially the chophouse one. Like the look of the green hen menu but the Mrs said that they were there on a staff night once and the staff were woeful rude.

With the exception of The Chophouse’s seafood platter starter, I don’t think it holds a candle to The Old Spot.

Marcusm

Patww79 wrote: »

Had a work do there once and found the food very average. Wouldn't be far off what you'd get in a cafe.

Was that a special menu for the “do”; otherwise I can’t see any resemblance to a cafe.

Muahahaha

Have only eaten in Pitt Bros twice but didnt find it worth going back to. I think its always busy because of the location and that they do student specials.

Gavin "shels"

Never tried Pitt Bros but Bison is too good to stray away from! Bison rarely packed I've found whereas Pitt Bros just looks like carnage half the time.

miamee

Rmgblue wrote: »

Try the Green Hen! Not a pub but not super fancy. A good balance and really good food. Early bird is great value

seablue wrote: »

I second the recommendation for The Green Hen on Wicklow street. Good food and a nice atmosphere, esp this time of year (dark interior).

Muahahaha wrote: »

+! on Green Hen, always had nice meals there. Other options for non-fancy but good tucker might be Brother Hubbard on Capel St, Green 19 on Camden St and FX Buckleys Bull and Castle opposite Christchurch. Bison Bar on Wellington Quay also decent.

I visited The Green Hen recently (September) with a friend for lunch and while the food was delicious there wasn't much of it. Definitely worth trying but after a two course lunch I could easily have eaten the same again. The interior and atmosphere etc. is really lovely though so worth a visit just to experence it. Don't skip your breakfast in anticipation though

The pigs ear, very good food but not fancy.

schemingbohemia

Patww79 wrote: »

Cheers but as much as her eyes lit up when I mentioned fondant it's definitely too fancy looking and a place I feel I'd need a tie and all on.

Definitely would be looking more gastro pub.

Just on this point, and I know it's a personal thing for people but I don't think there's any restaurant in Dublin where you would need to feel you had to be wearing a tie.

I've been in loads of fancy restaurants and never wear a tie (I'm male), that attitude is well out of date.

TrueDub

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Just on this point, and I know it's a personal thing for people but I don't think there's any restaurant in Dublin where you would need to feel you had to be wearing a tie.

I've been in loads of fancy restaurants and never wear a tie (I'm male), that attitude is well out of date.

Agree 100% - there's no longer a connection between good food & dress code.

Gavin "shels"

I was in Bang Restaurant recently which seems to market itself as an upmarket spot - there was a man and his late teens son wearing tracksuits.... Dress code is definitely gone.

SozBbz

What about the Exchequer?

Cienciano

Patww79 wrote: »

Cheers but as much as her eyes lit up when I mentioned fondant it's definitely too fancy looking and a place I feel I'd need a tie and all on.

Definitely would be looking more gastro pub.

I've been to Chapter 1 and L'Ecrivain, both had people wearing runners and hoodies and jeans. I don't think anywhere in Dublin you need a tie, even Guibauds is just smart casual.

bs2014

Kingfisher on Parnell st.
A little more upper class but lovely is Rage in Blackrock

on the other hand, some people like dining in a nice restaurant to be an experience and that includes dressing up a bit and being surrounded by people who have dressed up a bit not suit and tie dressed up but smartly dressed, for example, I would not go to a place like Dax wearing a tracksuit.

Muahahaha

Gavin shels wrote: »

I was in Bang Restaurant recently which seems to market itself as an upmarket spot - there was a man and his late teens son wearing tracksuits.... Dress code is definitely gone.

What was the food in Bang like Gav, would you recommend? It always seems to pop up on the deals sites but Ive never tried it.

ongarboy

bs2014 wrote: »

Kingfisher on Parnell st.
A little more upper class but lovely is Rage in Blackrock

Kingfisher is Just a greasy spoon along the lines of Cafe Kylemore or a shopping centre cafe. Nice food, fry ups etc but not a destination restaurant for a meal out with a partner.

Plus one on dress code no longer required in any good quality restaurant.

Ruin bar in Tara St do great burgers and a surprisingly delicious gnocchi! The Workshop pub beside Tara DART station does good food too.

Gavin "shels"

Muahahaha wrote: »

What was the food in Bang like Gav, would you recommend? It always seems to pop up on the deals sites but Ive never tried it.

Not to hijack the thread too much... but ye we got a deal from my aunt/uncle for our engagement - I really enjoyed the food whereas my fiancee is a tad bit picky but still enjoyed it but not as much as me. They don't mention it, but the deal (at least our one) has a good few things excluded from the A La Carte which was a pity as I had my eyes on the vension when googling their menu that morning!

matrim

The Legal Eagle would probably fit what you are looking for

schemingbohemia

matrim wrote: »

The Legal Eagle would probably fit what you are looking for

Yes! Had forgotten that, cracking food.

Polka_Dot

Patww79 wrote: »

Cheers but as much as her eyes lit up when I mentioned fondant it's definitely too fancy looking and a place I feel I'd need a tie and all on.

Definitely would be looking more gastro pub.

Been there before myself and definitely not a place where you'd need to dress up. In a similar vein I really like Al Vesuvio on Meeting House Square.