Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
UNICORN €€€
ITALIAN
( 01-676 2182;
www.unicornrestaurant.com
;
12b Merrion Ct, Merrion Row; mains €20-28; Mon-Sat; all
city centre)
Saturday lunch at this Italian restaurant in a laneway off Merrion Row is a tradi-
tion for Dublin's media types, socialites, politicos and their cronies who guffaw and clink
glasses in conspiratorial rapture. The extensive lunchtime antipasto bar is popular, but we
still prefer the meaty á la carte menu - but there are pastas and fish dishes to cater to all
palates.
DAX €€€
FRENCH
(
01-676 1494;
www.dax.ie
;
23 Upper Pembroke St; mains €19-31;
lunch & dinner Tue-Fri, dinner Sat;
all
city centre)
Olivier Meisonnave, convivial ex-maître d' of Thornton's, stepped out on his
own with Irish chef Pól ÓhÉannraich to open this posh-rustic restaurant named after his
home town, north of Biarritz. In this bright basement venue, serious foodies will be able
to sate their palate on seared fillet of Atlantic sea bream, braised Irish pork cheek or
mushroom risotto.
BANG CAFÉ €€€
MODERN EUROPEAN
( 01-400 4229;
www.bangrestaurant.com
;
11 Merrion Row; mains €25-29; lunch & dinner; all city centre)
Fashionistas and foodies alike have been aficionados of this stylish spot for over a decade,
which changed hands a few years ago (legal troubles, don't you know) but still continues
to turn out top-notch contemporary Irish fare, including smoked venison loin and a deli-
cious Wicklow Mountain woodpigeon.
ELY €€€
( 01-676 8986;
www.elywinebar.ie
; 22 Ely Pl; mains €15-29; lunch & dinner Mon-Sat; all city centre)
Scrummy homemade burgers, bangers and mash, or wild smoked salmon salad are some
of the dishes you'll find in this basement restaurant. Meals are prepared with organic and
free-range produce from the owner's family farm in County Clare, so you can rest assured
of the quality. There's a large wine list to choose from, with more than 70 sold by the
glass. There are two more branches on either side of the Liffey.
WINE BAR
DOBBINS €€€
FRENCH
( 01-676 4679;
www.dobbins.ie
; 15 Stephen's Lane; mains €19-31; lunch Mon-Fri, dinner Mon-Sat; all
city centre)
Completely refurbished after 25 years as a stalwart of the city's top-end dining
