Top 10 Irish Restaurants (that spidey visited in a week )

TreatyStones · November 10, 2018, 8:44am

I do enjoy a nice black pudding starter.
Black Pudding & Scallop

flattythehurdler · November 10, 2018, 8:45am

Shcallop

Cicero_Dandi · November 10, 2018, 8:48am

flattythehurdler:

Bang restaurant was, sad to say, worse than average. Go easy here guys, as I know I’m opening myself up for a torrent of abuse, but here goes.
Upon entering, we were shown through the restaurant by a pleasant enough lad with the haircut of a macklin-kinehan foot soldier, which resembled a cosco sized brillo pad on the top of his head, with the sides shaved completely bald in a kind of reverse Mickey d. Even more bizarrely, in a restaurant you could shout up the stairs in, he sported an earpiece like you’d see on a nightclub bouncer. Maybe he was dressed ready for later.
Anyhow through the bottom floor we went, past a couple of bins and up the stairs to a top floor which felt unloved and a bit grimey, well the stairs did too in truth. There was a very pretty red haired waitress, and you couldn’t fault the service in any way, but the ambience was like being shown into a suspiciously cheap air bnb.
We ordered off the main menu, which had the usual staples. A black pudding concoction was ordered by all, coincidentally, and arrived as a lukewarm plate of mush, suspiciously undercooked looking, and by some culinary wizardry they had managed to invent a dish that tasted like the smell of sperm (I know), and was one of the most repulsive things I had ever attempted to eat. I prodded it about politely. My colleagues cleaned their plates without comment.
Next up was a lump of monkfish you could have gently bounced on the baseline a couple of times before serving it at the opposition.
The green salad was nice. The chips were good.
The accompanying wines were good and hadn’t been open for two days which is always a worry with these wines by the glass.
We ordered coffee and one cheese platter, which was nice, but obviously just involved putting a few small pieces of cheese on a plate, and thinking of a price.
By this stage, about 10pm, the place was packed, with some quite nice scenery and about half a litre of botox.
We had a glass of house red, which was pretty decent as these things go, before wandering on our way.
We were not at any time pressured for the table.
The best thing about the place was the service, the red haired lady in particular, but it resembled eating in a mid range place in London, which is invariably hair raisingly expensive for what you get, and you leave shaking your head at how full the place is regardless.
I can only imagine that the ground rents and general costs are extortionate, which knocks onto the price.
In truth, a greggs roll is a lot nicer.

Never knew you were gay, m8.

balbec · November 10, 2018, 9:09am

Drowned in tomato sauce I suppose.

balbec · November 22, 2018, 9:10pm

@Fagan_ODowd would you be a cash tipper or a credit card tipper?

glasagusban · November 22, 2018, 9:21pm

A friend worked in one of their other places before, they’re well known for treating staff shite and have a high turnover in all their businesses. The reason behind this story is the managers taking a large take from the tips. You’d want to be an awful tosser with no taste to go in there anyway. cc @Fagan_ODowd

TheUlteriorMotive · November 22, 2018, 9:42pm

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-qV9wVGb38

Fagan_ODowd · November 22, 2018, 10:57pm

It would depend how much cash I had on me and in what denominations

balbec · November 22, 2018, 11:28pm

I’d try to have some cash on me for a tip. Don’t believe the staff ever see it if the tip goes in the card.

Fagan_ODowd · November 30, 2018, 12:22am

I had a lovely meal there in Trocadero tonight. Never eaten there before. It’s been a fixture on the Dublin scene for 60 years. I’d go back.

glenshane · November 30, 2018, 12:36am

Gerry Ryan occasionally gave that place a free plug.

Spidey · November 30, 2018, 12:42am

It’s an institution alright but always thought it was full of theatre luvvies.

Was in new spot Isabelle’s (www.isabelles.ie) on South Anne St earlier, freebie meal and drinks/cocktails as my mate’s cousin is the head chef and they did three nights of freebies to friends and family to train staff and iron out issues. Place is quality and the meal is in my top five restaurant meals in Dublin ever.
Mates cousin asked for feedback as he knows I’m a cunt for picking holes in dishes and I only got him on one thing. The chicken livers on pate and sourdough toast though perfectly cooked were just missing a small hit of sweetness to balance the flavours out. I suggested a small quenelle of quince jelly and he said he was only thinking of the same thing the day before. Ribeye main was perfectly cooked and very tasty and good wine list to match.

One for a night with the WAGs.

glenshane · November 30, 2018, 12:50am

Those were oysters

alf_stewart · November 30, 2018, 2:21am

Tip down to Piglet and try the rabbit pal… it’s fine winter fare… the pork cheek is also exquisite.

Mac · November 30, 2018, 2:43pm

I’m a big fan of this place. Lovely food and consistently good. A bit old fashioned but that adds a bit of character.

artfoley · November 30, 2018, 2:46pm

i always preferred le caprice, unfortunately now its a fucking nandos

Fagan_ODowd · December 12, 2018, 10:40pm

Caffe di Napoli there on Westland Row tonight. Good old school Italian. Enjoyed it.

flattythehurdler · December 18, 2018, 8:59am

Greggs this morning guys.

I tried to give the ladies a tenner for the Christmas but, much like my McDonald’s debacle last year, they came back with the manager and said they weren’t allowed to take cash gifts. It made me feel sleazy, but at least I wasn’t followed out into the car park by a young lass shouting after me “I can’t take this, I can’t take this” and waving a banknote like Christmas past.

Fagan_ODowd · December 18, 2018, 9:36am

Totes awks

flattythehurdler · December 18, 2018, 9:55am

Totes.