Whilst on our Dublin adventure, we stumbled upon Cat & Cage, a charming pub right along Drumcondra in the northern part of the city. Conveniently located for us, it sat about a block from our Dublin Skylon hotel. It was a leisurely stroll along Drumcondra over to its front door. As has been our experience in Ireland, reservations were not necessary, and we were promptly seated and accommodated for our party of six.
Cat & Cage offers a blend of contemporary open-floor design with accents of traditional pub charm. The dark ambiance, lit under the glow of soft, warm lights, was perfectly suited for our last night out in Dublin.
We got the Loaded Fries Basket, Chicken Wings (Sriracha style), and Cauliflower Bites to kick off the night. Each dish was just right for sharing. However, the Sriracha-style Chicken Wings stole the show with their well-balanced heat and sweetness. I would have happily made a meal out of these wings alone.
We came to drink - we didn't have to drive anywhere, and the hotel was only steps away. And, while Ireland is known for its excellent beers, Cat & Cage's cocktails were a refreshing change. Where we started with Thyme to Re-Pear and The Pinata, the night definitely didn't end there. I commended our server on the quality of the cocktails, and he shared that they take their cocktail selection seriously, with an ongoing evolution of their offerings. The drinks we had:
Thyme to Re-Pear (2x) ~ Roe & Co Whiskey, Pear, Thyme Syrup, Lemon, and CO2.
The Pinata ~ Don Julio Blanco, Pineapple, Passionfruit Syrup, Lime, and Salt.
Pornstar (2x) ~ Vanilla Ketel One, Passion Fruit Puree, Lime, Prosecco
Espresso Martini ~ Ketel One, Kahlua, Sgar, Contour Espresso
For dinner, we had the Fish & Chips, the Na Ceithree Chais (assuming this was the Cage Burger), another Loaded Fries Basket, and Fish Tacos. All were well constructed, but the highlights were the peas that came along with the Fish & Chips - they tasted fresh, crushed (instead of mashed), with a bit of vinegar and butter (perhaps some white pepper, or I was imagining things). The other was the burger - the beef in Ireland is high quality, burgers are perfectly suited for it.
Overall, our experience at Cat & Cage was memorable - from the inviting atmosphere to the delectable food and inspired cocktails, it was the perfect way to cap off our Dublin adventure. Whether you're a local or a visitor to the city, Cat & Cage is definitely worth a visit.
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