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    The Green Hen

    3.9 (112 reviews)
    PriceyBrasseries, French, Irish
    Closed • 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    The Green Hen Photos

    THE GREEN HEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Trendy
    Classy
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - The Green Hen

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    Front entrance
    Ed U.

    The Green Hen sounded like such a charming name that it was by complete happenstance that I ended up there for dinner when I was in Dublin. I was taking pictures of the colorful doors around Merrion Square and ambling around aimlessly near Grafton Street when I came upon it as the famous Dublin drizzle started to form bigger drops. I was a tad worried that I would be too under-dressed given my rain-soaked jacket and my increasingly ragged backpack, but no, they appeared to be amenable to take my money no matter how I looked. The owner must have had a field day at some movie memorabilia convention because the walls are covered with posters from both classic Hollywood and world cinema (see photos). It would probably be most accurate to call this place a bistro although there are plenty of local dishes on the menu as well. I was fortunate that I came in during the 90 minutes (5:30-7 PM) when they offer the Early Bird menu Sunday through Thursday, a good deal of three courses for € 22. I started with the St. Tola Organic Goat's Cheese & Beetroot Salad, which made me realize I was in Ireland since it appeared to have far more goat's cheese than beets. It was tasty in a filling pre-dessert kind of way with figs and candied walnuts completing the appetizer (see photo). For my entree, I decided to choose a special off the menu, the Fish & Chips, which came on a cutting board for really no practical reason. Again the proportions seemed somewhat off with just one cod fillet, very good with a lightly crisp coating, and an overflowing cup of frites that no mere mortal could possibly finish off except maybe Ronald McDonald. It came with a mixed green salad that was difficult to eat off the plank, plus two condiments - a dab of tartar sauce (could have used a lot more of that) and a pea basil puree which could have worked with both the cod and the chips if it was thinned out a bit more (see photo). I supposed I should have ordered the Duck Confit or something more Franco-friendly, but I didn't feel right that I should leave Dublin without having fish and chips at least once. I probably should have stopped there since that was plenty of food as is, but of course, I needed to get my third course to maximize the early bird deal. Now here's a good example of being penny-wise and pound-foolish. Based on the waitress's hearty recommendation, I ordered the Passion Fruit and Lemon Tart with Black Currant Sorbet (see photo). It was puckery good but just after a few bites, awfully sweet for the generous portion that was being served. Diabetics should be forewarned. Overall I found the dining experience at Green Hen pleasant with attentive service albeit not that distinguishable from any other moderately priced bistro you may be able to find in the city center. FOOD - 3 stars...tasty, abundant portions but the composition of the dishes felt off AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...nice bistro setting with plenty of self-generating movie trivia to bore your date if you have one SERVICE - 4 stars...the waitress was very kind and attentive TOTAL - 3 stars...pretty good bistro for a random choice, probably caters most to Irish palates

    Charred watermelon. Delicious!!!
    Galina P.

    We always checking menu first cause I'm mostly eat vegan food. What caught my attention while we were checking menu on the window were "charred watermelon" I always wanted to try it. I saw on internet a watermelon charred steak ones and I thought it was the one. Even without checking the rest of the menu we went in. It is a nice small restaurant that was empty except one table of 2. I was kind of surprised when waiter said he need to check if they have a table for us(2ppl) After he sat us down and gave us menu to look at I finally realized why. People started coming in and in 5 min restaurant was full. I guess we were lucky to get in without reservation. My second surprise was that every part of the menu has fully vegan dish. They even have a vegan dessert. Waiter was a little bit confused when we said we totally didn't like the food when he picked up our empty plates. Lol. I guess he was a bit busy to react to a joke. But any way, this place has very nice atmosphere with jazz music, very delicious food and pleasant staff. I would definitely recommend to visit it. Btw, the watermelon was very delicious even though it is not what I thought it would be.( it is not a watermelon steak. But it said nowhere that it is)

    Bar
    Nan F.

    I loved this place. Music. Ambiance. Food. Service. It's French and why am I eating in a French restaurant in Dublin? Well.... because it looked so nice from outside and it was raining. I had the soup and my other half had the escargot. They both were exquisite. We shared the Gnocchi Ratatouille. They were ok. And the server we had was funny: imagine a French speaking in English with an Irish accent. He was hilarious!

    Baked Squid w/ feta and chorizo stuffing on ratatouille
    Ron R.

    Supposedly, the best place to have dinner is at the bar. Don't ask me why, the bartender just told me it is. Yes, I'm still rolling my eyes as well! Anyways, so I sat at the bar and I'm actually glad I did! I talked to a fine lonesome dame and asked her about the menu. We chatted, and she politely pointed out a few good items to try. Later on, in the night, I find out she's also the manager. Score! That's always a plus when their own employees eat there. Even on another occasion, the bartender himself ate there. I've been here more than a few times, and here's what I've tried: Appetizers: Smoked Salmon & Crab Roll €9 ~ Salmon rolls with a crab center and polenta croquettes. This was tasty, but not my favorite of the apps. It needed more pickled veggies to balance the saltiness. Seared Scallops €10 ~ Don't expect huge scallops, but definitely seared right! A nice combo! Baked Squid €9 ~ The chorizo stuffing was devine. Combined with the ratatouille and feta. Good, but also not my favorite. Organic Goat's Cheese & Beetroot Salad €8 ~ Now this was refreshing. The goat's cheese, white balsamic, and figs all made this one luscious salad. One of my favs! I'd get this again! Roasted Suckling Pig €9 ~ Talk about scrumptious! Crispy fatty tender pork belly with baby octopus confit. OMG, order this with a chardonnay. It'll satisfy the palate. Entrees: Duck Confit €19 ~This was crispy and juicy for a duck leg, sitting on top of a fondant potato. The cherries and sauce on the side really complimented the duck quite well. A confit worth trying! Pan Roast Stone Bass €24 ~I was sooo hungry for this, I forgot to take a picture. But since I know I would order this again, I recall how delish this plate was. The bass was soft and melted; I love the added capers, and remember what a great combo it was with the garlic mash potatoes. Roast Breast of Duck €24 ~This was okay, the breast was on top of a fondant potato. Duck breast can be a bit gamey versus eating a tender leg, so I'll pass on this next time. However, what I did love was the caramelized pear. Like the cherries on the confit dish, this added some sweetness! Pan Fried Hake w/ Petit Pois a la Francaise €20 ~Now how can you Hake this one! It's got bacon bits in it and a savory creamy white wine sauce. Add a white glass of wine, and you'll be in Hake Heaven! Dessert: (forgot about this one) Three cakes with sorbet €7 ~Nothing to rave over. The sorbet was good, but I didn't care about the cakes. (see pics) One last cool thing they some times hand out with the check. A Chambord and Bailey's Shot, omg this is such a cool shot! Thanks to the manager, Danu, for running a tight ship. Service was great! Tips: 1) Keep in mind, in order to drink at the bar, you have to order food. So to the uncontrollable drunk a$$ kids that walk through the door asking for a shot. Please spare yourself, and STAY AWAY! 2) Try to do the Early Bird Specials (5:30 - 7:00pm / Sunday - Thursday). 3) When the bartender Declan is working. YOU MUST order a Bloody Mary!

    Cute interior and in the festive spirit
    Sharon S.

    Yummy, yummy, yummy... I got love in my tummy and I feel like a-lovin' you! Love, you're such a sweet thing, good enough to eat thing and it's just a-what I'm gonna do! Ok, singing aside... The Green Hen is a great restaurant in the heart of Dublin, first came on my radar at Taste of Dublin and impressed even more when I visited their restaurant. Great quality food, prompt service and a lovely venue. They offer a great early bird menu, definitely worth checking out... Incredibly priced for the quality of food. The menu is well written with interesting options, my suggestion would be to order sides, the last time I was here, most of the group didn't and they felt they could have complimented the dinner plus went a little way to filling them up.

    Best Panna cotta ever
    Victoria B.

    Had a good meal here just before my flight home from Dublin. If you come for the 'early bird' it's a steal compared to the main menu- 22 euro for three courses between 5 and 7 Sunday to Thursday, which is what we did. Both my friend and I had the beetroot and goats cheese salad, followed by the chicken with pearl barley. I had the panna cotta to finish and she had the chocolate dessert. The panna cotta was seriously the best one I've ever had! The food was delicious and we liked the atmosphere, it had an old New York theme with a bit of Sinatra playing and pictures of girls on the walls. The bar is also great and my White Linen cocktail was really good. Friend had the Caipirinha. Definitely a nice atmosphere and would come again.

    Smoked salmon starter
    Sinead C.

    Dined here last night with a group of yelpers and I must say its a restaurant I will be making a repeat visit to. My starter of smoked salmon with oyster Mayo was delicious and my main of roast chicken, pal choi, butternut squash puree and bacon jam extremely tasty. My only complaint is that the accompanying champ was unbelievably salty, however that would not put me off visiting again. I had 2 champagne mojitos which were perfect and my dessert of hazelnut parfait was not really my ideal but it was tasty nonetheless. Can't wait to make a repeat visit and try out more of the menu.

    Appetizer

    Happened upon the Green Hen during a Sunday amble through city Center. This was a pleasant surprise with delightful food, warm and courteous service, and inviting atmosphere. Happily looking forward to return visit

    Scallops
    Jane V.

    Omg! The duck was to die for. Paul the owner was amazing! The old fashioned was grand!!! Whiskey knowledge and travel advice. Great vibe. Wonderful look and amazing staff. You will be well taken care of and want for nothing. Best! A must eat or have a cocktail while in Dublin.

    Scallops and Oysters

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    3 years ago

    A very lovely place to dine in Dublin. Gets you out of the busy-ness of downtown to a fun French bistro.

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    Amazing service. Great food and nice to have the Michelin rating. Perfect ambiance for a business lunch.

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    La Maison - Scallops on the shell

    La Maison

    4.4(66 reviews)
    0.1 km•South Inner City
    •€€€

    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.

    It was a blustery grey Dublin day -- one of our last in the city as we prepared to head to France…read morefor a month. What better place to celebrate than at a French bistro in Dublin? La Maison was a delight! It was rainy but we wanted to sit outside, and there's a covered outdoor area with lots of smaller 2- and 4-top tables, so we were seated there. It is on a side street in downtown Dublin, so not as busy as main streets but still lots of food traffic, which added to the lively ambience. It was cold outside, but we stayed warm under here. We had a lovely meal. We started with a bread basket and shared shrimp appetizer, which were both great. For the main course, I ordered the duck breast, which was prepared perfectly. My husband had the steak which was also cooked nicely. To drink, we had a couple of glasses of wine each; La Maison has a solid wine menu with lots of delicious French wines and a few Italian wines as well. The service was pleasant and friendly, and the prices were just about right for the food and wine quality. Overall we had a lovely experience and would dine here again.

    Photos
    La Maison - Inside restaurant

    Inside restaurant

    La Maison - Crème brûlée

    Crème brûlée

    La Maison - Bread with olives and dip, and delicious French wines

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    Bread with olives and dip, and delicious French wines

    Pichet - Beef rib

    Pichet

    4.4(124 reviews)
    0.1 km•South Inner City
    •€€€

    The absolute best meal we had during our stay in Dublin in July/Aug 2025…read more After stopping in another restaurant nearby that a local recommended and receiving the worst seats and attitude, we decided to leave without placing an order and find something else because no way.. life is too short. We walked around the corner, I saw Pichet and immediately remembered it from my trip research. I was visiting Ireland with my mother who is not an adventurous eater, so I looked at the menu online - found a lovely pasta dish that she would enjoy and she agreed to go. Turned out to be a great decision and a very memorable meal in every way. Service was wonderful... attentive, charming, and funny. Wine was perfection. And the meal was outstanding. My mom had the Knockanore cheese agnolotti with girolles, baby courgette, lovage and hazelnut pesto, and I had harissa spiced local lamb shoulder with tomato cumin puree, smoked yoghurt, roasted gnocchi, courgette and basil. We also shared two desserts, an Île Flottante with creme anglaise, Irish strawberry, strawberry prosecco sorbet, and an almond and black sesame tuile as well as the tropical themed and highly recommended coconut parfait with rum roasted pineapple, passion fruit gel, and coconut sorbet. Perfection. We chatted with a lovely local lady next to us for a bit and then two delightful & vivacious young women who arrived shortly after. One from Italy and one from Mexico. This is part of why I love travel. I recommend making reservations or arrive on the early side if you want to try your luck without one. We were able to get a seat in the bar/lounge area early as a walk in. All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better experience. 10000/10000 would go again.

    Facilities are nice, and the staff was pleasant, although service was noticeably slow despite…read moredining on a Monday at 5 p.m. Unfortunately, the food did not quite live up to the setting. The dishes were heavily sauced, and in several cases the sauce overwhelmed the main ingredient, making it difficult to appreciate the flavors and quality of the food itself. There is clearly an effort toward an elegant dining experience, and the presentation was attractive, but I felt the kitchen could benefit from a lighter hand with the sauces and a greater emphasis on allowing the primary ingredients to shine. Overall, a lovely setting with pleasant staff, but the food and service left me wanting a bit more.

    Photos
    Pichet - Inside

    Inside

    Pichet - Happy 30th!

    Happy 30th!

    Pichet - Front

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    Front

    La Cave Winebar and Restaurant - French onion soup

    La Cave Winebar and Restaurant

    4.1(40 reviews)
    0.3 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!!

    Photos
    La Cave Winebar and Restaurant - Inside

    Inside

    La Cave Winebar and Restaurant - Lamb

    Lamb

    La Cave Winebar and Restaurant - Italian wine- delicious

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    Italian wine- delicious

    Chez Max - Chocolate cake, atmosphere

    Chez Max

    4.0(56 reviews)
    0.9 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.

    Photos
    Chez Max - Chez Max storefront.

    Chez Max storefront.

    Chez Max
    Chez Max - Goat cheese filo pastry starter

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    Goat cheese filo pastry starter

    One Pico - Duck breast

    One Pico

    4.5(40 reviews)
    0.4 km•South Inner City
    •€€€€

    This great restaurant is tucked away on a one way street in a great part of Dublin. The ambiance is…read morefantastic. Lowly lit, romantic in design, and classy in service. My host tonight treated me with 5 service ensuring that I had an experience to remember. The wine list is impressive & is well chosen. Many of the options pair well with the "pre-theatre" dinner menu. For dinner I had the cured sea trout with Goatsbridge caviar... phenomenal. Both aesthetically pleasing and pleasing for the pallet. For my main I elected to have the beef cheeks. Goodness, I have never had a piece of meat so soft and delicious! The dessert, well that was quite nice. Not my favorite tho.... For those of you who love chocolate it is a great choice as it is 64% dark chocolate with a great garnish on top.

    One Pico, Dublin…read more There is something reassuring about a restaurant that knows what it is doing. At One Pico, that confidence is evident from the moment you sit down. The service is knowledgeable, friendly and genuinely personable without ever becoming intrusive. Wine recommendations were thoughtful and well paired, and the pacing of the meal felt assured. The room itself is well designed in many respects. Tables are positioned at just the right distance from one another, creating a sense of intimacy without feeling cramped, and the dark grey velvet chairs are both elegant and surprisingly comfortable. That said, the décor feels ready for a refresh. The smoked-mirror columns are distractingly dated, while the artwork feels caught between eras -- a mix of modern prints and somewhat tired landscapes that doesn't quite match the sophistication of the food or service. I found myself thinking of Le Continental in Quebec as an interesting point of reference. One Pico could embrace the same elegant moodiness while giving the room a more distinctly local identity -- perhaps through work by Irish artists. A colour wash in a moody navy, or even a shade drawn from the dark grey of the chairs, could transform the atmosphere. I would also paint the ceiling. Bringing the ceiling into the palette would make the room feel more enveloping and intimate, and would better reflect the calibre of the experience on the plate. The Food I had the pre-theatre menu, and it did not disappoint. I began with the blue cheese mousse, followed by hake, and finished with the passion fruit soufflé -- which is, without question, a must-order. The starters, accompanied by brown bread, sourdough and salted fresh butter, were memorable. In fact, I found myself thinking about them several times in the days that followed. There was something wonderfully comfortable about the food, but it was never predictable. It reminded me of an old friend who had gone away for years and returned from Paris: familiar, but somehow more interesting for the time apart. The blue cheese mousse was visually dynamic, with contrasting textures and unexpected bursts of flavour. It managed to take an ingredient that can easily overwhelm a dish and make it feel nuanced and elegant. The hake was the standout savoury course. It was cooked to perfection, beautifully plated and genuinely surprising. This was the sort of dish that makes you close your eyes for a moment simply to take in the flavour. It had the layered complexity that great restaurant cooking should have -- light while still rich, with each element contributing without competing. Which made the roasted potatoes all the more perplexing. A side of potatoes should be a simple thing to get right, particularly in a kitchen capable of producing food of this calibre. Unfortunately, these were dry, tasteless and, ultimately, inedible. They were easily the most disappointing part of the meal and perhaps the most unexpected, precisely because everything else demonstrated such care and precision. Thankfully, the passion fruit soufflé brought things back to the level I had come to expect. It was beautifully balanced: layered and complex, light while still rich, and not overly sweet. I finished every bite. A salted caramel truffle arrived afterward. I have to admit that salted caramel has been done to death, and it is something I generally steer clear of. This one, however, was worth the calories. Once again, there were layers of flavour rather than simply sweetness compensating for a lack of complexity. The Verdict One Pico delivers a polished and memorable meal, with particularly strong cooking in its starters and seafood. The portions are just right, the menu is varied, and the wine pairing was handled with confidence. The hake and passion fruit soufflé alone are reason enough to make the visit memorable. The restaurant's interior, however, is beginning to feel out of step with the quality of what is happening in the kitchen. A thoughtful refresh -- particularly of the artwork, smoked mirrors, colour palette and ceiling -- could elevate the entire experience without sacrificing the comfortable character that already works so well. And perhaps leave the potatoes off the order. Everything else suggests a kitchen operating at a remarkably high level. The food is thoughtful without being fussy, familiar without being dull, and sophisticated without losing its sense of pleasure. One Pico is the kind of restaurant that stays with you -- and, in the best cases, has you thinking about a dish several days later.

    Photos
    One Pico
    One Pico - Smoked tuna starter

    Smoked tuna starter

    One Pico

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    The Green Hen - brasseries - Updated September 2026

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