Detailed feedback below, for all the buzz/rating and so on, I was far from impressed. You would get a very different experience for equivolent 1 star restaurants in Paris, London, etc. - Upon entry, had to ring buzzer and wait for being greeted, not classy and a little confusing for such an establishment - Immediately we were greeted pleasantly but pushed into bar area to wait for table with pre-dinner drink. This lasted for 28 minutes, my reservation was for 7:30 sharp, this was too long a span and ordering meal from bar area was not sophisticated. We wondered if we were going to get served in the bar area. If clearing pre-theatre tables is a problem, staff should only accept reservations from 7:45 PM onwards or set an expectation as to when the table will be free. - Assumption by main waiting staff that we were from out of town, based off our race, not ever good to assume anything. - Moving to table, candle should have been lit and table properly prepared, not consistent with experience - Staff asked twice to take coat, 1 clear 'no' from a customer should suffice. - Extra effort asked to lock up laptop bag, this was appreciated but tone/style was not acceptable - Bread should have been sliced further, portions too big for small plates and style names of bread did not match. For example, a brioche is a french pastry so it was confusing when presented as a bread. - Wine selection process and help was much appreciated and professional. Very good recommendations were given by the glass and by the bottle for different courses. Sommelier very personable and accomodating. - Starter 1 - Ravioli was excellent, Irish Coffee (asparagus, truffle) was fair at best. - Starter 2 - Mackerel was too pickled, not that great. Duck breast was expected to be warm, it was cold and seemed out of place in texture since the jelly was also cold and congealed. - Entree - Hake was incredible, highly recommended. Halibut was below par, too crispy on outside parts in how it was baked, sauce was good but not wonderful, too much cevenne onion below as the base layer. Asparagus stuffed with Iberican ham was lovely. - Deserts - Mousse was rich, very tasty. Carrageen was too sour due to strawberries and was imbalanced on the palate. - Experience - had to specifically ask to order dessert after making eye contact and motions with 3 members of wait staff, waited 18 minutes. - Bill - presented, staff called out how to tip which was obvious on the device and a leading question to the customer. - Upon exit, specifically asked for manager and owner card for contact details, was provided with generic card. As we all know Ross Lewis and Martin Corbett own this establishment, their information should be provided readily. Notably no awards were achieved in 2011. read more

Maitre'D was incredibly welcoming when we ate here on very busy Wednesday evening. I suspect there were some kitchen troubles as proceedings were delayed substantially. Restaurant was very apologetic to their credit and remedied the situation without us saying a word. Felt the food was lacking in any kind of wow. Given how hard it is to get a booking here (and the universal acclaim i hear from others) I suspect it could have been just a bad night and will give it a second chance in the future. read more

A Must for Foodies Visiting Dublin! Wow! What an exceptional meal! Our visit to Chapter One was spectacular. The service was phenomenal, down to the personable waitress and knowledgeable sommelier, and the food was simply outstanding. We chose to do the four-course dinner, simply because in the past, we have found larger tasting menus too much food for us. My husband and I both had the Japanese tapioca to start. The earthiness of the mushrooms, paired with the creamy tapioca -- prepared risotto style was exceptional. For our second course, I had the delicious mackerel and eel selection. It had a sashimi influence -- however the fish was like butter and the sauces were flavorful, but yet subtle enough to not over power the fish. My husband greatly enjoyed the artichoke selection. For our main course, I chose the lamb and my husband had the duck. Both were fantastic. The duck is paired with a bacon and an apple - giving it sweet and salty notes. The preparation of the lamb is so soft -- I've never had anything like it before. It had the texture of a fillet of beef. Dessert was also terrific -- with the taste of Ireland's Milk and Honey being the standout. The wine selections paired perfectly with our meal, and the pace of the dinner both allowed us to leisurely enjoy our food without feeling like we were ever waiting. I strongly recommend this exceptional establishment. read more

Pre-theatre dinner on Saturday evening. A surprise for my Mom. Fabulous staff, great food (but for the desert was beautiful but bland -except for the mousse which was very nice). The mashed potatoes were lightly smoked - clever and it really worked. read more

What an experience! We had the taster menu and it was phenomenal. We were greeted at the door by the host, seated at the bar with no pressure on us to take our seat. They explained every course, gave us a tour of the kitchen and seated us in a romantic corner that made us feel very special. The food was outstanding, and the whole evening felt like food theatre. Well worth a special trip read more

Chapter One is a big deal. With a reputation for serving the very best of Irish-inspired cuisine the anticipation before we went inside Chapter One was immense. The materials used within the restaurant, whether it be that which covers the chairs or even the carpet just radiated opulence. This nicely contrasted the otherwise ashen granite on the walls and fine art, that was indeed as select and first-rate as the 'fine' would suggest but not too imperious or overbearing but instead a refined touch to merely contribute to the overall milieu instead of effectually shape the direction of it. What sets Chapter One's pre-theatre menu apart is that it is being served in what has to be one of the most revered restaurants in the country. We were sat down at 6pm on a weekday to take advantage of a three course menu priced at €37.50 each. I was pleasantly surprised to see Escabeche of red pepper and oven dried plum tomato jelly, smoked Ardsallagh goats cheese, asparagus and basil on the menu after having had something very similar this summer in Peru with poached fish. This is quite a litigious dish, like marmite I have found people either love it or hate it owing mainly to the acidic marinade which can often be overly vinegary. In this case however the balance was spot on and I relished in the way it nicely complimented the traditional Irish farmhouse Ardsallagh, the creamy texture of which was wholly succulent. After this delectable hors d'oeuvre the charcuterie trolley pulled up once more to offload our mains of choice, mine being Rabbit stuffed with parma ham farce, cepe purée and glazed summer carrots. This really was technically faultless yet still bursting with a certain spirit, a certain soul. What I like about the food here is that the produce is locally grounded hanging on to a good sense of Irish authenticity yet the final dish harbors a sophisticated finesse. This mishmash really results in a mouth-watering offering. For dessert I enjoyed a truly lip-smacking Poached meringue, lemon curd, confit citrus fruit zest and strawberry compote which I thought had some spices in it that were not specified on the menu. I was pleased blackcurrants were not included as the flavour tends to dominate when I have previously eaten a compote. My friend who I was dining with who had previously eaten in Chapter One a year before told me that when they were last there they enjoyed crepes suzette for dessert which were cooked on a chaffing dish right beside their table in full view of the whole restaurant. When the Grand Marnier was poured over it the flame roared up towards the ceiling - an exciting retelling indeed. I was only sorry this was not on the menu whilst we were there. Polished but not precious, Chapter One's cuisine is a raucous excursion to the summit of Irish sophistication via some French sway and helped on its journey by unimpeachable service. read more

Splendid restaurant and marvellous food. Chapter One is a great spot to celebrate a special occasion: my boyfriend reserved a table here to celebrate my birthday. Both the food and the presentation were just wowing, acureted and class. Lovely elegant atmosphere was a plus. read more

Went here for the pre-theater menu, and it was phenomenal. Got the feta beet mousse as a starter, which was so unique! I wish the dish had more beets though. As a main I didn't get an an option, but it was still amazing - parmesan stuffed ravioli on a bed of pureed mushrooms/leek sauce. That was truly delicious. Also, one of the managers was really very nice and came over to talk to our table for quite awhile and gave me some good tips for other vegetarian restaurants in ireland during my vacation. I was suprised how friendly the restaurant was for such a formal establishment. One star off for the desserts - just wasn't doing it for me. If i'm back in dublin, i'd be sure to return! read more

Our very best experience in Dublin. Coming in out of a cold, rainy night we were immediately made at home by staff, found a spot for at the bar, served up refreshments and enjoyed a lot of banter with the staff. We were early and had given up walking around on Bloomsday searches in hopes of finding reception at Chapter One. Aside from the great hospitality the food was over the top. We had the 4-course meal, which included the tapioca pea pudding, smoked salmon, ravioli, rib-eye steak and halibut; all fabulous and we compared against several of the other top restaurants in Dublin. Surroundings were cool and comfortable, delivery was expert and expeditous, and we were totally at home. Wine list is very solid, forget about finding California wines in Ireland, but the selection of French, Spanish and Argentinian is excellent. Not a thing wrong here. read more

Dined here last night. Impeccable dining experience start to finish. Early bird is ridiculous value.

Lived up to its reputation. Food was delicious, service excellent without being stuffy. We had the Three-Course Pre Theatre menu which at €35 I think is excellent value. They also offer to pick up tickets from the Gate Theatre nearby if you are going to a play. Highly recommended. read more

Very friendly and attentive staff. A great deal for the pre-theater dinner, and they even picked up our tickets for us at the box office while we dined. The food was phenomenal and the dishes were presented artistically. The duck had a perfect meat-to-fat ratio and the outside was crisp. The lamb was also great because it was tender and flavorful and came with a surprise pistachio and lamb log that took me a while to figure out what it was. I just knew it was delicious. Dessert was obviously the best part, but I regret not getting Irish coffee at the end. They bring out a copper cart and set stuff on fire! Overall a great experience (if your parents are paying). read more

Lunched here with my fiancé earlier in the week. We have wanted to dine here for quite some time. We went for the lunch tasting menu which is seven courses for €50pp. Have to say food was excellent but service in my opinion wasn't fantastic. Excluding drinks four different waiters served us & they forgot about our dessert. They seemed to be always serving two tables of two at the one time. I'll explain, he'd bring out the four dishes together on a tray. Bring two dishes over to one table & walk away without saying a word. Serve the other diners their dishes & explain the dish. Then come back & without apology explain our dish. This continued throughout. Just didn't live up to my expectations. At €180 for lunch for two now granted that included a couple of bottles of wine it's certainly not cheap. At that price point I certainly expected better service. I for one was just expecting a little bit more. read more

Chapter One - Daube of beef. - French Near Me - Dublin, D

Highly awesome and welcomingly Irish. The Tapioca starter was delightful and full of flavor. The hoppy Ice Cream Sandwich desert seemed to contain what I can only describe as "pop-rocks in cream form" - surprising and delicious. The friendly staff presents you with Irish coffee, essentially prepared in front of you Teppanyaki style. I stepped out full and delighted. read more

This place is fantastic. We went with another couple and had the tasting menu with the pairing wine menu and it was absolutely fantastic. Staff were friendly and helpful but not over the top the food was to die for. It was not cheap but oh so worth it. I really felt like I had a treat like a mini holiday :) we booked for 7pm and did not leave till 12. I could find no fault. read more

Had a fab meal here before going to the theatre nearby. Concierge recommended it and got us a table. Steak was perfect and our server was fantastic. One of the best meals we had in Dublin ! read more

My friend Annete and I were in Dublin for a work training course last week. We were out for a walk and as we walked by "The First Chapter", we got chatting to Mr Corbett. He invited us in to see his restaurant and he gave us a tour of this famous and historical building. We enjoyed complimentary tea and coffee. The staff were all very friendly. We will have to return soon to sample the fabulous menu! read more

amazing food, great staff, just felt something missing for prices charged

recently dined here with a party of 6 while on vacation. We were able to book a month ahead, but could only reserve the pre-theatre seating at 5:45pm. Pre-fixed menu options for $40 a person at a Michelin star restaurant? What great night, and affordable! They were very attentive without being overbearing and we greatly enjoyed every dish that was presented to us. They also did not rush us out when our reservation time was up, which was nice not to feel pressure to leave. Would recommend to anyone looking for a higher end dinner, or fancy date night. read more

Accommodating wait staff. Attended to by a variety of waiters and a waitress. Reasonably executed food. Disappointing bread. Terribly casual. Extremely loud and not at all romantic/intimate. read more

Well worth trying the food at least once - even if it is just the pre-theatre menu (great slow cooked beef, and desserts). Good service too.

We have been coming to Dublin for the last dozen years or so. We always wanted to try Chapter One but either could not fit it in or were unable to get reservations. All the stars were in alignment as we had the time as well as the forethought to reserve in advance. But, perhaps, I had built up the experience too much in my mind as I came away only modestly impressed. We were a few minutes early and ushered in to a small waiting area for drinks. The drinks were well mixed (very hard to get a good martini in Ireland) and there was a selection of olives for nibbling. The menus were provided for perusal, or so I thought. Suddenly we were pounced upon and asked to order. Now I admit that I should have held off, but having just arrived in Dublin from a long tour of the country with university students I was a bit off my guard. So I ordered quickly, as did my wife. We noticed that many others were not so rushed. It was so hurried that I really did not recall what I had ordered. My wife felt similarly. We were seated and again the race was on. To their credit, once I noted that we were feeling a bit rushed the pace slowed down. I, frankly, don't recall the first course and had to ask the waiter to describe the second. It was halibut, I believe, smoked with crab, seaweed and other garnishes. The main course was venison, which was very flavorful and perfectly done. Unfortunately my wife's beef filet was bland at best - it was done properly however. The last course was a rhubarb dish that, again, was very flavorful. Espresso was good and there was a lovely assortment of après sweets. I left feeling very full. The reason I subtracted a star was the lack of an haute cuisine experience. Having dined at many exquisite restaurants over the years I felt this fell short in the hospitality portion. Perhaps because we were Americans and not regulars they thought we could be given the "Dublin rush." So, it remains a chapter one in my book - the very beginning but not a fulfilling book. read more

A waiter got very impatient and brusque with me when I asked a simple question about the menu. I've literally never experienced such bad treatment in any restaurant before -- never mind a Michelin starred one. Despite the magnificent food, this hung over me for most of the evening. It was a shock when I was expecting exceptional quality in all respects. I won't be going there again. read more

We went for the pre-theatre meal. Excellent choices. Best wine list in Dublin. Service was very good. We finished in plenty of time to walk to the Abbey. Dinner much better than the theatre. read more

We go to Chapter One every year to treat ourselves to the tasting menu. It is, plain and simple, Dublin's best dining experience. The staff is really nice and explains every course in detail. The food is amazing and I've always felt that it was great value. read more

This has long been my favorite restaurant in Dublin. The food is amazing, service impeccable, and it's actually a really decent price for the level of quality you get here. I usually go for the evening meal vs pre theater but this time I just couldn't get a reservation other than 5:30 pm. That being said, I was certainly not disappointed. The menus change all the time so I don't have a "go to" thing I always order, but I will say that I always miss the onion bread they make there! For my meal this time around I had a corn chowder (I wanted to lick that bowl clean it was so good, I nearly did!), a seared monk fish (perfectly cooked, seasoned, and melted in my mouth), and I honestly don't recall the dessert other than it has some type of lovely yogurt sorbet berry flavor. For you Irish coffee lovers out there, if you come here you must order it. The server makes it at your table and watching them caramelize the sugar and flambé'ing (if that's a word) with Jameson is awesome! I wish I liked coffee, I took a sip and the top was very creamy, it was delish. I didn't go deep into the coffee though I'm just not into coffee but everyone else loves it, especially the show. If you are ever in Dublin (I only go there once in a while), you should absolutely eat here, but book far in advance since they fill up quick. This time I called two months on advance on could only get a 5:30 pm on a Saturday. I'm sure weeknights would be easier. read more

David Byrnes sweet corn soup w/ aged parmesan ravioli was the best dish I had in Ireland, hands down! It was amazingly delicious!

Excellent restaurant. Enjoyed a lovely meal for 6 there last night. 3 lovely courses each. We picked quite a wide variety and it all worked well. The lamb plate got particular praise. Exclent wines too. Good setting, discrete service. Would go back if have reason sometime. read more

This is now our 4th time to dine in Chapter One. We went last night & ordered the full tasting menu, whilst the food & cocktails were good we found the smoozing of the so-called "host" to be extremely disingenuous. When we arrived first we sat at the bar with a cocktail, he notably hit off my chair with his foot but no apology was issued. When we went in to dine, he spent time at every table but ours, we got a quick "are you enjoying everything?" and he was gone before we had barely time to reply. All the tables around us were offered a complimentary digestive except for us. When we were leaving (after spending close to €250) he was standing right beside us but didn't even offer a "goodnight". Despite all his shortcomings our waiter & the sommelier were lovely. We're just back from NY where we dined in quite a few one star Michelin restaurants & Chapter One could learn a lot from them. There certainly won't be a 5th trip to this restaurant for us. read more

You really can't help but be charmed by Chapter One. I had one of the best caramelized sweet breads of my life here, and they literally define immaculate, friendly service. Compared to the Michelin standard in America its one Michelin star should be transformed into two immediately. read more

We came to Dublin with just one reservation in hand...Chapter One. We had great expectations to share another fine dining experience with our 18 year old son before he goes off to college. Perhaps it was the fact that this was the last night before closing for two weeks...but were unimpressed. The service was stilted and formal. The food was good but not spectacular and the cost was over $500. The price was not a problem...its just what it bought. We've been to most 5 star restaurants in the US so we are used to fine dining and great service..at a high price. All this had was a high price...and someone stole our umbrella to boot! read more

got a voucher as a gift for my birthday and it took me a while to book and arrange , after booking I noticed it said valid for 6 months on the back of the voucher , i mailed to check this was ok as it was 10 months approx and I didn't want an embarrassing situation in the restaurant . on arrival we were greeted by the owner and the manager who were both extremely friendly and helpful also the lady at the front of house was lovely and helpful too , the meal surpassed anything i have ever tasted it was nothing short of amazing , i had carpaccio of tuna to start it was like a painting on a plate and lamb for main course which was delicious , I was asked would I like to see their kitchen which I did and i was delighted , we were moved into front of house for dessert and given a free glass of champagne and petit fours to bring home , it was a brilliant night and we both left very happy and well fed , the staff are the star of the show in here for me they make you feel so welcome and are friendly . plenty of time to talk to customers and chat I have been several times now since and its my favorite restaurant in Dublin by far for every aspect of things its an experience not just a dinner read more