General Chat Thread II

We don't really do many restaurant reviews on the forum (more of a thing in the past, I think…)… But I just want to throw out there that I had dinner at Achara, on Aston Quay, in Dublin, recently, and it was exceptionally good.

They're doing a range of regional Thai food, with a focus on grilled foods from the North, using a custom smoker/grill made by Smokin' Soul.

I've tried bits and pieces from them in the past at festivals, and enjoyed a light lunch there a few months back, but you've got to go for dinner to get the full sharing experience.

We shared satay prawns BBQ gambas, lemongrass and kafir mussels, wagyu beef basil chili krapao (a ground beef dish) and beef shortrib (on the bone), with nan jim dipping sauce. Some jasmine rice on the side.

Quite spicy, which I really like, and it felt like there wasn't too much compromise on that aspect. I ate with an Asian friend, and he was suitably impressed with the whole lot.

I'd quibble that the drinks list is quite poor… In terms of wine and beer… But the cocktail list is solid.

The interior is nice, kind of dark wood saloon, not much space between tables but high ceilings and pleasant overall.

Cost-wise you're going to hit 100-150 for a meal for 2 pretty easily, including a decent tip, depending on if you're also having a few rounds of drinks, but this is par for the course these days, for a buzzy restaurant.

Being on Aston Quay, it can get a little messy outside at times, with drug deals going down pretty much all the time, but sure… That's Temple Bar and the quays all over, these days. Doesn't bother me that much most of the time, but you do wonder what's going on with the city when you come outside the restaurant and there's a lad in a balaclava riding a scrambler up the pavement, it's becoming a parody of itself at this stage.

Anyway, I quite liked Happy Endings / Happy's, the Thai chicken place that was there before Achara set up, and was sorry to see it go. Here's hoping Achara lasts longer.