Roly's Bistro

I waited too long to review so some of the details escape me. Such as the appetizer we shared:…read moreConfit Pork Shoulder Croquettes, with quince puree, pickled shittake, and celeriac remoulade. The entrees were more memorable. I had the Fillet Of Irish Beef. I hardly ever order filet mignon but I'm glad I did. It may well be the best I've ever had. With Café de Paris butter, shallot pureé, pepper sauce, rocket (arugula), and a side of french fries. The flavor of the meat itself was incredible and the three sauces complemented it perfectly. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare as ordered. French fries aren't normally something to get excited about but these were a gastronomic masterpiece; the insides soft and sweet, not starchy, the outsides browned and subtly crisp, and I don't know what they were fried in but these had so much flavor it must have been beef tallow or duck fat. I'd come here again just to have a platter of these amazing fries! The wife's Coq Au Vin Façon La Maison (chicken breast braised in red wine, smoked bacon, mushrooms, baby onions, roast carrot, pomme purée) was equally memorable. I've never considering ordering this, thinking it too simple or plain. Not this. The red wine sauce really elevated a simple braised chicken. And how do they make even a simple carrot taste so good? We each had a wine from the ample selection of by the glass offerings and shared a gingery dessert which we both enjoyed. The service was good and not rushed. Just don't be intimidated by the waiter, who announced when he brought the bill that tip was not included; it seems this could have been handled more subtly.

Beautiful restaurant with friendly staff. We stopped here twice during our visit - one late night…read morejust for dessert, then a quick lunch. The crème brûlée was divine. The French Onion soup was the best we've ever had - since returning home, I've had to try and replicate it - So Good! Tell 'Skinny' Hello from Alabama!

Ambiance in spades.

Crème brûlée

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Bread with olives and dip, and delicious French wines

Boeuf

4.6(51 reviews)

2.5 km•South Inner City

Made a reservation for dinner. Seating was patio street side but was not a problem. Food was great…read more Prepared per our request and tasted great!

Absolutely loved it here! Irish beef with French cooking techniques make for a great combination…read more The ribeye a well marbled and flavorful cut and was cooked perfectly. Really enjoyed the way the vegetables were prepared as well. Presentation of everything was gorgeous. Mashed potatoes were just ok, I'd suggest opting for a different side. Nice cocktail menu. Servers were attentive but not overbearing. We will be back next time we're in Dublin!

Creme Brulee

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Filet mignon with sweet potato fries and creamed spinach

Chez Max

4.0(56 reviews)

1.6 km•South Inner City

The onion soup was good but expect it to be lighter than what you would typically find in France…read more Not as much cheese and onions. The moule et frites did not disappoint. Neither did the creme brulee.

We decided to try this place while on the way to Dublin Castle. It's crazy close and seemed to…read morehave good reviews. Outside was as mess, there were no chairs at some tables and other had to many with dirty dishes on them. So we decided to go in. There was no hostess nor any wait staff so we stood there like stooges. Finally ,two of the wait staff walked right by and just ignored us so we decided to take a seat. Now they want to come talk to us! I asked if this seat was ok and got the reply "I guess it will have to be as you already sat down". Should have got up then but the wife was tired so decided to stay. It was crazy warm in there with little air flow. I liked the atmosphere and ambience. Guess they wanted to make a point as we sat there for 15 mins without water or anybody coming by. Had to flag down what appeared to be a bus boy to get water. Finally had order taken by male bus boy who seemed he wanted to be anywhere else and said "I am waiting". We ordered two "specials" and the bœuf bourguignon. Two separate couples came in and were served before we received our food. So hard to eat as it was 80-85 degrees in there. The beef was good and would recommend. The two specials were chicken and very very dry. To wrap it up we had to hunt down the wait staff to get the ticket as they actively avoided eye contact. Fairly expensive for just ok food and horrible service. Customer service is not hard. A "Welcome" or "Glad you came in" goes a long way.

Chez Max storefront.

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Goat cheese filo pastry starter

The French Paradox

4.2(33 reviews)

0.1 km•Ballsbridge

Great French wine shop. We stopped by to grab a bottle to celebrate one evening. The shop attendant…read morewas very knowledgeable and helpful. There's so many options that it's easy to be overwhelmed but he was extremely helpful and even helped to open the cork for us on our way out.

If you like French wines you'll love the French Paradox. They do have some lovely wines on offer-…read morepretty much exclusively French as you would expect- but this is not the place if you're looking for cheap wines. The cheapest ones start at around 13 Euro but they are all good value for money, especially when you're trying to impress your dinner date. The French Paradox run wine workshops as well, if you feel you need to brush up on your wine knowledge. Absolutely worth checking out when you're in the area and feel like a bottle of good wine with your dinner.

Mousse au chocolat

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Chez Max

4.2(63 reviews)

2.8 km•South Inner City

Absolutely amazing. The outdoor patio is cute and was perfect on the slightly cool rainy day. Food…read morewise every bite was amazing. If I'm ever back in Dublin would probably go back for more.

A little slice of France by the castle in Dublin. The ambiance is just perfect and the food…read moreoutstanding. They have only fix price menu of 2 items (appetizer + entre) and 3 adding desert. There are 10 apps and entres to chose from, all traditional French brasserie staples. The wine list is very good with plenty of choices. The food is excellent and plenty full. We had a the escargots served in the shell (I usually prefer in crock but these were very good. The wife had the mussels and I had the duck. Both were delicious. We also tried the crème brûlée. Also very good.

Interior

Escargot

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Exterior

Marcel's

4.6(17 reviews)

1.8 km•South Inner City

So you're in Dublin and looking to take a break from the typical pubs…read more It's also New Years Eve and you're not sure where to go/didn't bother to plan. As you're walking by, an outdoor patio suddenly catches your eye. It's your lucky day. (Well, sort of. Your husband is still fighting the flu) Marcel's was exactly the restaurant/experience we were looking for while spending a few days in Dublin. The food, wine, dessert, service, and decor = amazing! Food: From the house bread to the dessert, their food exceeded my expectations. We started off the with the prosciutto and tuna tartar. The latter had apple bits, which resulted in a savory, yet refreshing flavor. The avocado cream was also done well. For the main dish, we both had the sirloin steak and it was perfectly done. My husband got it rare; I got it medium-rare. Fries were also just how I like them: not too crunchy and adequately salted. For dessert we ordered the creme brulee (my fav.) and it too exceeded my expectations. Drinks: Excellent wine list. Decor: Posh and elegant decor; dimly lit in a sophisticated way. The plates and silverware also caught my eye. A+. Service: Attentive, but not intrusive. Just right. Price: On the higher end, but well worth it for the points mentioned above. Don't think twice about coming here! ----- Bonus: As mentioned we spent NYE here. Afterwards we went to their bar (on your left after the patio) and it, too, was a great decision. The DJ was on point and chose lively songs to dance to (e.g., Michael Jackson, the Bee Gees). They also gave out glasses and headbands with 2018 as well as complimentary champagne to welcome in the new year. Memorable, fun, and highly recommended. I don't think I could have found a better place if I tried.

Spectacular meal here, from the moment we arrived right the way through to digestif, it was…read morenoteworthy. The place is broken up into different sections allowing for private dining for groups if you so wish - we had an area to our selves for about 30 people. The place is dimly lit and has a slightly modern/plush vibe, there is a smoking balcony on the first floor and an outdoor seating area that partitions the front door from the street, on a summers eve, it is perfect. I had steak, as did a number of my dining companions; each with different preferences as to how it should be cooked (lots of "I like mine rare... but not too rare... sort of mediumish with a bit well done... but blue" (I really pity waiting staff and the crap they have to put up with))... every dish that came out was exactly as requested... it is no small achievement and huge testament to both the kitchen and the waiter who translated the requests. Would go back to Marcel's in a heartbeat.

Beautiful bar. Sorry for the sideways picture.

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Leek and Watercress Soup

La Cave Winebar and Restaurant

4.1(40 reviews)

2.2 km•South Inner City

What a wonderful surprise! This was my first trip to Dublin from the USA and a local suggested La…read moreCava for dinner. My first thought was "who comes to Dublin to go to a wine bar?" but my first thought was totally wrong. I absolutely loved La Cava! It's such a cozy intimate restaurant. It gave me lots of West Village (NYC) vibes. Be careful when looking for the restaurant because you can walk right by it, It's a little place right off of Grafton St. It's also located downstairs! Such a hidden gem! We did the 3-course pre-fixe. The burrata was amazing, so fresh! The service was excellent. You were given plenty of time to enjoy your food without being rushed for the next course. The duck was perfect, and the lamb was delicious. For the dessert, the creme brulee was grand. I can't think of a single bad thing to say about this restaurant. The prices were reasonable! I highly recommend having dinner here if you're in Dublin. Note, the restaurant is small, so you'll be sitting very close to other people. Personally, this didn't bother me, but some people might not love that. But be aware, that they don't accept AMEX!

Living in the USA I travel to Dublin as often as I can. Hadn't been here in several years because…read moreof Covid. I'm happy to say that LaCave is still as amazing as ever!! I was by myself so I sat at the bar. Just a few seats and quite cozy. Perfect!! Had the pleasure of Jon taking care of me. Started with a sparkling rose' while looking at the menu. Decided on the 2 course Prix Fixe. Chose the mussels and then the fish duo. Of course had to have wine. I honestly can't get enough of this place. Can't wait to return!!

Inside

French onion soup

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Downstairs entrance

La Réserve Brasserie

4.0(8 reviews)

1.5 km•Ranelagh

The small and intimate French brasserie is situated on Ranelagh main street - an absolute nightmare…read morefor parking. It was a wet and windy night when we braved the outdoors and after a bit of a trek to find parking we were warmly welcomed into the cosy restaurant. It was early evening and we were in time for their great Market Menu deal of 2 courses for €19.95 or 3 for €22.95. Starter options included Smoked chicken and sweet potato gratin, monkfish and endive terrine with ricotta cheese and tomato, or the special for the day which was seared tuna with sundried tomatoes and ratatouille. I love tuna steak so went straight for that - a fabulous fresh and light starter and the ratatouille was a great accompaniment. Choices for main were Chicken Roulade with shallot and sage cream, Slow baked Salmon with green peas and wasabi purée & Crêpe of baked ham with organic egg, Emmental, baby potato and mushroom. I was so close to ordering the crepe but decided on the Chicken Roulade - and was delighted with my choice. This was comfort food on a plate, creamy mashed potatoes with veg and delicious soft chicken. Mam decided on the special of slow cooked rib of beef. I had more than a small bit of envy when I saw her gorgeous meat. Another dish of warm and comforting food, the red wine jus and beef were absolutely fantastic. After foregoing a starter, she decided to go for the small cheese plate for dessert with a glass of wine which finished things off nicely. The restaurant was pretty quiet during our visit - I can only imagine that the awful weather had put people off as it certainly isn't the quality of food served in La Réserve. While Ranelagh has many popular dining options I find a lot of them are of the more casual burgers and wings line of food. La Réserve is a welcome break from that with a great Early Bird to take advantage of...give it a try!

I work over in Ranelagh, and was looking for a place to quickly grab some lunch during my break…read more I've been on a health kick lately, and I didn't want anything deep fried, and I didn't want sandwiches. I walk past this place ALL the time, but never really noticed it until that day. So I popped on over and read their menu... BAM! They had healthy salads! So I stuck my head in and asked if they did take away. The very french man who was working that day said that unfortunately they do not. There were only two other people in there, and I did have an hour, so I just decided to sit down for my lunch. I ordered the salad de poulet et sesame. After sitting down, the food was prepared quite quickly and promptly brought out. Not only was the presentation nice, but the food was very tasty as well. This salad was EXACTLY what I was looking for for my lunch. The sesame dressing was lightly drizzled, and not over powering, and it was just enough food to leave me feeling satisfied but not stuffed. AND I was in and out over lunch in about 20 minutes... AND my salad was only 8 euros! I was very impressed with this place for lunch. I'll need to go back and try them out for dinner as well. But highly recommend stopping in here over lunch!

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Le Bon Crubeen

3.8(64 reviews)

2.8 km•North Inner City

Man this place is tired, like a couple of years post boom kinda tired. You can see where the…read moreinitial money was spend but now its gotten knicked here and there, a little grimy and faded. I was hungry and cold and feeling a little unimaginative myself so I went for the bangers and mash. Which managed the job of filling me adequately. This is probably unnecessary to say but I did check in, an offer of cocktail if I got two courses popped up. This was like 2.30 in the day so wasn't feeling that really but out of a sense of interest, I asked anyway. Waiter had no clue what I was talking about. I showed him the offer on the phone, he went off to speak to the boss, came back and said that that's an old offer and he doesn't know why it's still showing up. Riiiiiiiiiight, suuuuuure. Whatever man, I didn't want it anyway (sob sob)

Le Bon Crubeen is a new French restaurant located on Talbot Street. I went in for lunch after…read morehearing good reviews and I wasn't disappointed. I was impressed that such a sophisticated brasserie was located in an area of town known for being rough and dodgy. The inside was tastefully decorated with plenty of tables. French framed posters of old advertising campaigns decorated the walls. Most of the customers looked like they were on their lunch break from the office. It was quite busy and the waiter asked us to wait at the bar for a free table. We only waited 10 minutes which gave us enough time to look at the menu and decide what we wanted to eat. The food was delicious and well-presented. I order a duck spring roll and noodle salad to start and a goat's cheese and pumpkin tart for my main. Both dishes were light and healthy so I did not feel uncomfortably full at the end of the meal. The service was excellent. We felt looked after despite the busy atmosphere. I will definitely be coming back here next time I fancy French food.

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The Schoolhouse Bar & Restaurant

3.8(69 reviews)

1.0 km•Beggars Bush

Everything we ordered was amazing. Our waitress recommended the best choices. All of the bread is…read moreso fresh. Fries are yummy and not greasy.

Rolling in on a weekend at dinner time is going to mean busy busy, and Schoolhouse delivered a nice…read moreexperience and tasty food. I was alone this evening (what else is new) but still got the royal treatment and not a table in the closet. Drafts are good if you're not into the many mixed drinks those around were enjoying, and eyeing that Fresh Fig and Goats Cheese salad. Hey, they have olives, I'm happy. So as not to eat steak frites every single night (who's counting) I opted for the Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli. This was flavorful and nicely sized. Since the fries had no truffle, I went the healthy route with broccoli as a side. Dessert tonight was round-2 drink, and by the way their wine list is simple yet conclusive. Architecture-viewing and people-watching abound here, whether you're headed to or from an arena event, or just wandering in from the rain. I'll return next time I stay in Ballsbridge.