Lucinda O'Sullivan's Ireland

Wednesday 09 August 2017

On next weekend's bank holiday, pitmasters will be firing up their barbecues and boasting of their superior cuts, marinades and salsas, craft beers and spirits, says Lucinda O'Sullivan. Grilling has never been more popular, with the recent Meatopia event at the Guinness Brewery, and The Big Grill Festival in Dublin’s Herbert Park from August 17th-20th, featuring 25-plus pitmasters and restaurants, craft breweries, and over 50 stalls. But you don't have to wait for a meat fest; there are brilliant places to eat with great grills, brilliant barbies, perfect pizzas and lots more for all the family. Here are 20 of the hottest.

Pitt Bros
Authentic American smoked BBQ is the game plan here. Think pulled pork, brisket, St. Louis Rib or a burger with a side of tasty burnt end beans, onion rings or some mac & cheese. Located on George’s Street in Dublin, these brothers in arms like to ‘cook it low ’n slow’.
pittbrosbbq.com

My Meat Wagon
A little taste of hipster heaven, My Meat Wagon on Smithfield Market Square in Dublin is overflowing with cool, kitsch atmosphere. Grab yourself a meat plate, some fries and a cold craft beer and chow down on some truly tasty BBQ grub.
facebook.com/mymeatwagon

Eat Yard
Next door to the popular Bernard Shaw Bar on Dublin’s South Richmond Street, the Eat Yard is a fab street food market showcasing the cuisines of a variety of cool vendors. They’re all about elevating the standard of Irish street food. Check out their weekly flea market and regular market events.
the-eatyard.com

777
Billed as Ireland’s only contemporary Mexican restaurant, 777 on Dublin’s South Great George’s Street offers an extensive Blue Agave Tequila menu and a host of great cocktails to compliment a menu full of bold exciting flavours. Set your sights on BBQ Iberico pork with peach mustard and fire roasted sugar snap peas, or a 24oz ribeye on the bone with pico de gallo, guacamole, chimichurri, elotes and papas fritas. Ai ai ai!
777.ie

Browne’s Bar
Fancy a freshly pressed Dexter burger with ranch dressing, 15 Fields cheddar, slaw and fries, on a brioche bun; a classic New York Reuben sambo; or Buffalo wings? They’re all to be had within the walled courtyard at Slane Castle, Co. Meath. Great menu for the kids. Rock on.
slanecastle.ie

Sophie’s
A hip rooftop restaurant, bar and terrace, at the Dean Hotel on Harcourt Street offering stunning 360 degree city views. From breakfast to dinner the cool kids are all filing in. The menu choices steaks to cheeseburgers, chicken and slaw to posh pizza, all washed down with a beer or a cocktail.
sophies.ie

Fire
Stunningly located in Dublin’s magnificent Mansion House with splendiferous ceilings and stained glass, the restaurant itself is in the former Supper Room of the Lord Mayor. Wood-fired Tiger prawns, chargrilled Jumbo Shrimp, Moroccan spiced Slaney Valley lamb skewers, and amazing steaks. Fire is definitely hot.
firerestaurant.ie

The Church
The Church Bar & Restaurant on Mary St and Jervis St, is set in the former St. Mary’s Church of Ireland. There’s a big bar and casual grub on the ground floor, while dinner is served in the overlooking galleries. Grab a table on their buzzy terrace, which always reminds me of Rome.
thechurch.ie

Galo Chargrill
The Portuguese Galo restauarant in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, prepares all of its food over a charcoal grill to give it the smoky taste that their customers can’t get enough of. There's everything from flame-grilled Irish salmon steak to char-grilled sirloin to piri piri chicken and mash.
facebook.com

Simon Lambert & Sons
Owned and run by brothers Nicky & Simon Lambert, this hot hot watering hole on Wexford’s Main Street is not just a gastropub but a micro brewery too, producing YellowBelly Craft Beer. Check out the YellowBelly Serving Tanks in the rear outdoor area and enjoy a pulled pork blaa or a tandoori chicken bap.
simonlambertandsons.ie

Bassett’s of Thomastown
Mijke Jansen and John Bassett have brought their ultra cool style to the former Hudson’s in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny. The Green Egg BBQ and wood-fired oven are sizzling away here, so you can chow down in style with a cocktail under the olive trees in their fabulous garden.
facebook.com/bassettsthomastown

Holy Smoke
Holy Smoke on Little Hanover Street in Cork is a perfect spot to enjoy a few craft beers, cocktails and some perfectly prepared slow cooked BBQ, by expert pitmasters John Relihan and Decky Walsh, who invite you to ‘fire up your taste buds’ for their unique flavours.
mardyke.com/holy-smoke

The Supper Club
Tom Kay’s hip Supper Club on Cork Street, Kinsale, is laid back, trendy and casual, with great food and an awesome drinks list. Have a mojito in the garden and tuck into Oysterhaven oysters and a 10oz sirloin from local butcher John Barrett.
thesupperclub.ie

Hamlets
Hamlets in Kinsale is always a fun bar for casual grub, craft beer and cocktails. There’s a brilliant suntrap yard, while, on Sundays, their barbeque, from 1pm-7pm, and their wood-fired pizza oven, knock out 6oz Hereford beef burgers, gourmet pork and black pepper sausages, garlic and rosemary chicken fillets and pizzas, and, oh yes, there’s live music at 6.30pm
hamletsofkinsale.com

White Rabbit Bar & BBQ
The White Rabbit, on Cork’s MacCurtain Street, is an American style bar & BBQ, serving a great selection of Bourbons and Irish craft beers. It's a great spot to grab some ribs or wings and a side of mac & cheese or fries, and wash it all down with a smooth shot of Buffalo Trace Bourbon.
whiterabbit.ie

Danno’s
Danno O’Keeffe’s bar & restaurant on Dingle’s Strand Street, in Co. Kerry, is famous for its beef burgers cooked to order by the irrepressible Danno himself on an old style grill. Have a tipple in their beer garden and consider the homemade deep fried scampi or traditional fish and chips, straight off the boats of Dingle Pier.
dannos.ie

The Smoke House
Killarney’s hottest restaurant, The Smoke House on High Street, is always abuzz, offering locally sourced meats and produce. Think finger lickin' honey glazed chicken wings, sticky pork ribs, or their ‘Really Good Prawn Cocktail’, not to mention a wide selection of steaks and seafood.
thesmokehouse.ie

The Locke
You could spend the day sitting by the River Shannon on Limerick’s biggest outdoor beer garden. Kick off with breakfast, move on to lunch, and stay for dinner and then traditional Irish music and dancing! Try the spicy Buffalo wings, prawns pill, a whopping cheeseburger with caramelised onions.
lockebar.com

The Embassy Steakhouse
Right in the heart of old Sligo, on the JFK Parade, along the banks of the Garavogue, the Embassy is a cool, modern steakhouse that still retains some classic old-world charm. It serves up some fantastic Hereford sirloins and rib-eye steaks, as well as fresh, local seafood like baked organic salmon, pan seered king prawns of fresh Mullaghmore potted crab.
embassygrill.eu

Railway Tavern & Firebox Grill
On the shores of Lough Swilly, at Fahan, Co. Donegal, in the former stationhouse of the Londonderry and Loughswilly railway company back in the 1860’s. Nowadays, it houses a casual grill restaurant doing great steaks, ribs and chicken as well as prime local fish.
fireboxgrill.com