Eggcellent Easter

We'd booked brunch at Beef and Lobster but got into town early so we started off at Piglet Wine Bar on Cows Lane in Temple Bar.

We grabbed a table outside and ordered wine.

I chose Sangiovese rose which was really nice.

Want to return for food for sure!! 

Then we made our way in the sunshine to Beef & Lobster for food. 


The Beef & Lobster brunch menu:

I ordered the beef burger and lobster roll mash up with sweet potato fries. Absolutely huge but I scoffed it all!!!

Sean had the black pudding benedict.

For dessert I chose the profiteroles.

Sean had the apple tarte tatin.

We both had bottomless mimosas.

The food at brunch was excellent BUT I have to be honest.
The first time I ate here I left underwhelmed and didn't bother blogging about it cos while I enjoyed the Beef Wellington and the slaw the service let it down. Its professional but lacks warmth. In comparison I adore Cleaver East, the staff there are so much warmer and more attentive.. My bottomless mimosa seemed less bottomless at Beef & Lobster than at Cleaver East. I noticed that they do a deal for bottomless cocktails and two courses from the light and big brunch options for €35. That doesn't extend to dessert. Maybe it should? Last time i was at Cleaver East they applied the offer. Maybe they weren't supposed to? One more thing... Sweet potato fries are €1 more as a side but €2 when you substitute them?!

I've been twice now. I don't think I'll be back :(

After here we went to Against the Grain as it was a while since we'd been here. I chose to try their 
Prosecco on tap. It was v nice. 

Last stop of the day was Alfie Byrnes. I chose to have a white wine (New Zealand Sauvignon) rather than mix grain and grape. Really decent size glass! 

All told it really was an eggcellent Easter :) 

Great Granthams

A few visits later and finally writing a blog post about Granthams on Aungier Street. First walked by it around the beginning of February and the window full of sweet treats was so inviting we had to stop. Didn't go in because had already eaten.

Visited a week or two later. Had an Americano and a delicious apple twist.



Sean tried the lemon and pistachio cake.



Bought some Dark Arts Coffee for the machine at home. They always check if we need the beans ground.

Second visit (a week later!) I tried the tuna melt. Toasted sourdough goodness :)









Third visit I had an apple twist and an Americano. BTW how huge are they?





We got the window seat on that visit. A lovely spot to sit and people watch if you can get it.


Was back there this morning (April) with Sean and his parents. They had tea and the grilled cheese. They seemed to greatly enjoy it. Sean had the lemon and pistachio cake again.

I had an americano and a black pudding toastie. Black pudding, cheese and apple chutney on toasted sourdough. Damn good sammich!






The guys are always v nice and there's a lovely chilled atmosphere.

I do quite like the nod to Downton Abbey with the wifi password.



Dublin's "Lord Granthams" of coffee? Perhaps. Its bloody good anyhow.

One last thing... It's dog friendly!!!

Love Luna

Still dislike going out for dinner on Valentine's and this year Sean was going to be away so we booked an early Valentine's dinner at Luna.



Luna is located in a basement beside a car park on Drury Street. You walk down the steps and you are literally transported to Mid-20th century NYC.





Had booked to try the pre-theatre menu (€30 per person for three courses and tea / coffee) but ended up changing to the a la carte menu.

Service was superb! The servers are all suited up by Louis Copeland and in old fashioned velvet jackets.

They do offer to translate the menu but we basically winged it.

Had a glass of cremant bubbly with our starters. We shared a bottle of Nero d'Avola red wine.

I had the tuna carpaccio to start. Was warned it could be spicy but it wasn't overly so. It just melted apart.






For my main I had the fusilli. They grated an ideal amount (lots!) of parmesan over it.





I wasn't sure of everything I was eating (that's what I get for not letting them tell us!) but when our plates were cleared I asked what it was. Turned out it was kale, pork, mozzarella and caper sprouts. Fantastic!

There isn't a dessert menu on the a la carte menu. They bring out an old fashioned dessert trolley and they go through the desserts of the day.







I chose the Luna Rocher which is a giant dark chocolate Ferraro Rocher. Loved the top tip of making sure I held onto it when I sliced into it cos it could've flown off the plate.





Finished with coffee. The biscuit that came with it was so yum!!




As you can see from the photos everything was served on really pretty crockery. On their website it says they were inspired by 1950s Italian restaurants in America and they have it spot on.


I really cannot wait to return.

Tapas and wine date day

Date day started with lunch at Fade St Social for tapas.

It was really difficult to choose but eventually we chose four to share.

Salted popcorn with crispy free-range chicken cooked in tapioca flour, rolled in sumac with truffle butter.

Mini lobster hotdog, lobster meat bound in béarnaise and melted hazelnut butter, brioche roll.

Pumpkin macaroni with spring onion and parmesan.

Fine green beans rolled in cep dressing with mushroom powder, lemon zest and chervil

For dessert chose Praline doughnuts, tonka bean cream, white coffee ice cream

I had glasses of white wine with mine.

It was all fab. I'm just sorry it took so long to pay a visit here.

If you're looking for somewhere to go for a date (and you don't mind sharing food!) You should definitely put Fade St Social at the top of your list. 

From there we went to Farrier & Draper. Had some glasses of Sangiovese. Still a great spot but I noticed the bartenders have lost their Peaky Blinders hats since our last visit.

Finished at Zozimus with glasses of Picpoul de Pinet.

Sunday cravings...

*Updated November 2015*

Meet & Meat is now closed 

A craving for a good tuna melt took us to Meet & Meat located on South William St, Dublin 2. 

Have to be honest I've walked by here anytime I've been heading for Fallon & Byrne and not given it much thought but a quick search on Yelp for a good tuna melt this morning suggested here and after checking their menus online we made our way into the city centre. 

The menu is up on a chalkboard above their sandwiches and pie display. If you're interested the Hot Sandwich of the day was pork with an apple chutney. 

I chose the roast chicken & stuffing and Sean went for the tuna melt that brought us here!! 

While we waited for the food to be brought over I took some photos of the surroundings. The ceiling is high and exposed. The lighting is industrial but it's not harsh. In fact it felt quite cosy! 

Then the food arrived and there was no conversation out of either of us! 

The rotisserie chicken is perfectly juicy. The garlic and stuffing don't overpower the flavour so the chicken remains the star of the show. 

The tuna melt was packed with filling and Sean said it was really good. I assume he'll review on Yelp and go into more detail ☺️

The sandwiches are exactly how they're described on the menu but that doesn't begin to tell you that you can get a bloody good sandwich here!