Top 10 places for specialist food in Dublin
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Dublin isn't just about pub food, it has plenty more to offer to the foodie visitor. Here you will find the cream of the crop from a broad range of cuisines so that, whatever your taste, you are sure to find the perfect meal.
1 - Bentley's Townhouse - Fish
Situated on St Stephen's Green in a reserved Georgian townhouse of russet-coloured brick, Bentley's Townhouse is the top place to go for fish and seafood in Dublin. Although the menu is pricy the quality of the food makes the expense well worth it and, as long as you choose carefully, it is possible to have a luscious lunch for quite a reasonable price. The atmosphere is bubbly, with animated conversation filling the room even at lunchtime, and luxury oozes from the sumptuous sea-blue and white furnishings and over-sized chairs that simply beg you to lounge over a two or three hour meal. The fresh fish and in-season oysters are reputed to be excellent and the view over St Stephen's Green from the restaurant make a meal at Bentley's Townhouse a particularly enjoyable dining experience.
2 - La Mere Zou - French
La Mere Zou, a classic French restaurant which first opened in 1994, is situated in the basement of a majestic townhouse only a few doors down from The Shelbourne hotel on St Stephen's Green. Their simple, seasonal food is well-priced and delectable. Whatever you order, be it the pan-fried cod with sautéed potatoes, green beans and lentil puree or the steamed Mussels Mariniere, you are guaranteed a finely cooked plate of rustic charm. The lunchtime menu is exceptionally good value, priced at only 16 euros for two courses and 20 euros for 3 courses, with wine by the glass starting at less than 6 euros. The restaurant, with its red and floral green soft-furnishings, has a warm and homely atmosphere and there are more intimate booths at the rear with circular tables for larger parties.
3 - Steps of Rome - Italian
Steps of Rome, a relaxed Italian eatery in Chatham street, is the perfect place for a quick lunch or an intimate evening meal. Situated in the heart of Dublin, Steps of Rome serves traditional Italian food with no-frills. From the plain red checked tablecloths to the no-nonsense waitresses who scribble down your order within seconds and immediately whisk away your menu to hand to the next customers, you cannot but feel that the kitchen is the heart of this restaurant. If you are looking for lunch on the go order a pizette or a slice of pizza to go, but if you have more time take a seat and order one of their rich and tasty pasta dishes. The prices aren't cheap but the food is flavour-packed and warming. Don't miss the superb espressos after the meal - Steps of Rome is one of the few places in Dublin you can get real Italian coffee.
4 - Fallon & Byrne - Gourmet food and Deli
Fallon & Byrne is well-known among foodie Dubliners as the place to buy good quality groceries and deli meals. The well-stocked ground floor is stacked to the ceiling with fresh vegetables and fruit and unusual imported packaged goods. At the rear are a variety of different deli counters, offering a range of cheeses, cold meats and homemade dishes. These high-quality ready-made meals include staples such as beef stew with mash potatoes, Thai green curry with fragrant rice and quiche with salad and can be eaten at one of the tables at the front of the store or they can be packaged for takeaway. If you are looking for a more restful atmosphere than the hustle and bustle of the downstairs food hall you should try the upstairs restaurant, where they serve simple quality dishes made from seasonal fine food. For 25 euros you can enjoy 2 courses or 3 courses for 30 euros on weekday nights.
5 - Cornucopia - Vegetarian
A vegetarian restaurant serving warming food with a warm interior to match, Cornucopia has had a reputation for serving good-quality hearty meals since 1986. Their menu concentrates on fresh and healthy vegetarian food, though they also seek to cater for the dairy-free, gluten-free and wheat-free diners as well. The well-priced menu, which changes daily, offers two soups, five main courses, ten salads and a host of desserts - the brownie comes highly recommended - and they have a comprehensive breakfast menu with delights such as granola and yoghurt and buttermilk pancakes with blueberry compote. Situated on Wicklow Street in the centre of Dublin, Cornucopia is perfectly placed for a bite to eat while in town and the newly enlarged dining space is cosy and inviting, with heavy wooden furniture and deep red furnishings.
6 - Fafie's - French Creperie
Run by a French couple, Fafie's French Creperie is a real slice of France in Dublin. The funky wooden interior has a rural chic feel to it and it is a good place to go for a light meal or to catch up with friends. The menu is organic but simple - savoury and sweet crepes, waffles, toasted sandwiches and salads - but the food is delicious and the crepes are cooked right there in front of you. The savoury crepes, or galettes, are their speciality and the owners even import a particular blend of buck-wheat flour from Brittany just to ensure that their galettes have the perfect taste!
7 - Butlers - Chocolate
Butlers is a well-known chain of chocolate shops in Dublin, but their chocolate cafes still serve one of the best hot chocolates in Dublin. Deliciously creamy and decadently rich, a Butlers hot chocolate comes with a hefty dollop of whipped cream and an extra chocolate on the side, as if you need any more after a mug of sweet elixir! If chocolate isn't your thing these cafes may yet convert you. Try the Wicklow Street branch for a central spot to rest from sightseeing and shopping and indulge yourself.
8 - Blazing Salads - Salads
If you are looking for a healthy meal on a sunny day in Dublin town centre Blazing Salads is the place to go. The premises of this wholefood takeaway salad bar, located in Dury Street, are so tiny that the seating area is limited to three stools in the window; the range of salads, however, is huge. With such combinations as red cabbage with orange and apple and chickpeas with carrot, red onion in chilli/lemon dressing every taste is catered for and each salad is vegan and sugar-free, so you can indulge to your heart's delight without any need for guilt. As the portions are priced by weight, about 7 euros will get you a reasonable sized portion and for 5 euros more you can really pig out.
9 - Shanahan's on the Green- American-style Steak
With elegant service and a quietly luxuriant facade, Shanahan's on the Green is the perfect place to go for a relaxing evening meal. The owners of Shanahan's on the Green, an American family, are particularly proud of the building's heritage (it dates from the 1750s) and the restaurant is decorated in red and gold, with swags over the windows and discreet chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and the back bar, otherwise known as the Oval Room, is lined with wooden fittings and green leather chairs. The traditional menu, comprising mainly of certified Angus steaks and native Irish seafood, is high in quality and beautifully presented.
10 - Sugar Loaf Bakery, Powerscourt Centre - Cupcakes
The Sugar Loaf Bakery cupcake stall, which can be found at the rear entrance to the Powerscourt Centre in the middle Dublin, is the perfect place to pick up a bit of dessert or afternoon snack whilst out and about around town or their cupcakes also make the perfect gift for that special someone back home if you are away on business. If you are just passing by, be sure to stop at the stall as they often have a tray of samples to try, although you are almost sure to end up buying a selection! The chocolate cupcakes will always be a firm favourite but the carrot-flavoured cupcakes are especially moist and yummy.
Useful links
Bentley`s Townhouse, Dublin
Blazing Salads, Dublin
Butlers Chocolate Cafe, Dublin
Cornucopia, Dublin
Fafie`s, Dublin
Fallon & Byrne
La Mere Zou, Dublin
Shanahan`s on the Green, Dublin
Sugar Loaf Bakery, Dublin
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