January Value in Dublin Restaurants
Tuesday 08 January 2013
Today, being Little Christmas, is the last day of the Festive Season, but January and February don’t have to be dreary for it is clear from the plethora of new eateries springing up that we do really want to go out to eat in an informal casual way. There are great value menus and deals out there for January and February so go chomp yourself through the bad weather – its good for the spirits to eat out and it keeps people in employment – what goes around comes around. This is your concise guide to some of the value dining on offer in Dublin whether you are up for the ‘Sales’ or just want to enjoy yourself.
Le Bon Crubeen in Talbot Street have a Set 3-course Dinner for 2 people with dishes such as a rib-eye steak or pheasant at €60 which includes a bottle of wine, whilst the Dunne & Crescenzi Group are also offering a 3-course set menu at €30 in their restaurants which includes a selection of their wonderful antipasti to start. Their sister restaurant Bar Italia on Ormond Quay has the same deal, whilst Bar Italia at IFSC have a set 3 course menu for €25. The Gallery Restaurant at The Church on Jervis Street have a daily EB 2/3 course €19.95/€23.95 or a 3-course Set Menu at €29.95 from Monday to Wednesday all evening. The FXB restaurants at Pembroke Street, Crow Street, Parkgate Street and Bull & Castle, have 2/3 course EB menus at €19.95/€23.95. They also have All Evening Value 2/3 course menus varying between €20.50/€29.95 depending on location. Il Primo on Montague Street offer15% discount on selected wines Monday – Thursday and a 4-course meal for 2 with a bottle of wine, plus a bottle of Selvapiana Extra Virgin Olive at €78. The Whitefriar Grill offer 3-course dinner for 2 with bottle of house wine at €55 from Sunday to Wednesday.
On South William Street, Eden Bar & Grill’s ‘Early Birdy’ 2/3 courses at €20/€24.50 runs Sunday – Tuesday all night. From Wednesday to Saturday it is available for reservations from 5.30 – 7pm. Their Express Lunch menu Monday – Friday offers 1 course at €10. The Tea Room at the Clarence have an EB 2/3-course at €19/€23 from 5-7 pm, but also 2/3 course at €24/€28 from 7 pm onwards. The eponymous Coppinger Row have a Menu Del Dia at €10 for a main course and dessert - Monday – Thursday from 12 – 3pm with dishes like Lamb Ragu with Orecchiette pasta and Rice Pudding. The Exchequer Gastropub have 2/3 courses at €16.95/€19.95 Monday to Friday 12.30 – 4pm and Monday – Thursday 5pm – 10 pm. Pacino’s on Suffolk Street have a new Chef Patron, Luca Mazza, who gained a Michelin Star whilst working in a Venetian Hotel so adding a new dimension here and worth a try. Pasta dishes are €12.90/€18.90.
Moving outwards, Kevin Arundel’s cool Chop House at Shelbourne Road have a great deal on a 2/3 course menu at €23/€27 on Sundays from 1 pm – 8 pm which gives you a chance to try the Chop House “at a discounted price”. The menu includes the Chop House rib-eye steak. In Ranelagh, at Jerome Fernandes’ La Reserve Brasserie they have Tuesday – Friday ‘du jour’ 3-course Lunchbox Special aimed at those who are on the go and looking for great value. The 3-courses are served together. Think pumpkin and carrot veloute with pomegranate, chicken roulade, baby potato, pearl onions and tarragon, and chocolate mousse. Their EB 2/3 course is €19.95/€22.95 and they are also serving this from 12 noon – 4 p.m. At O’Connell’s Restaurant in Donnybrook, their EB 2/3 course menu at €22.50/€24.95 runs all evening but, listen out, here’s a first, their new Early Owl Menu offers customers sitting for dinner from 8.30 pm onwards, from Monday to Friday, 10% discount on their entire bill, including wine and drinks. It also applies on Sundays from 7.30 p.m. Roast in Ballsbridge have a Set Menu all evening 2/3 course €24/€28 and lunchtime mains at €10 including Toulouse sausages and mash. The Gourmet Food Parlours in Dun Laoghaire and Swords have a 2-courses for €15 with a choice of three options. When you avail of the above offer you can also drink their house wine for just €15. Alexis Bar & Grill in Dun Laoghaire have ‘Bistro Classics’ Tuesday to Thursday all night, and up to 7 pm on Friday and Saturday, with starters at €5 and mains at €10 including beef Bourguignon and venison casserole. Pielow's in Cabinteely have an excellent 2/3 course EB at €18.95/€22.95 with belly of pork and Rumtoph – marinated berries in Jamaican rum. Rasam Indian Restaurant in Glasthule have a cracking 3-course EB up to 7 pm daily except Saturday at €19.95 For January they also offer a 3 course gourmet dinner for two, with a bottle of house wine, at €80. The Arch Bistro in Churchtown have a great 3-course Set Dinner menu from their ALC menu at €25 available all night every night. The Lovely Food Co in Terenure have their €50 Supper Club on Tuesday and Wednesdays only – 2 people – 3 courses – and a bottle of wine. Seapoint in Monkstown have a 2-course lunch menu at €19.50 including a glass of wine as well as doing half price wines on Tuesdays and half price cocktails on Thursdays.
Jaipur Restaurant in Malahide have a delicious interesting Seafood Menu at €29.95 from Sunday to Thursday whilst Jaipur in Dalkey have a fab Tasting Menu at €45. Also in Dalkey, Benito’s Italian Restaurant have a 2/3 course EB menu at €15.90/€19.90 served all evening Monday to Thursday, up to 7 pm on Friday, and 6 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Moloughney’s in Clontarf have ‘The Deal’ available all night every night except Saturday when it is the Early Bird. It offers 2/3 courses from the ALC menu at €22/€27 or 2 courses for 2 people including a bottle of selected wine at €59. Their ‘big brother’ restaurant Woodstock at Phibsborough has 2 mains, 2 desserts and a bottle of wine at €45. The House in Howth have a ‘Surprise 1 course dinner for a Tenner’ Tuesday – Thursday with BYO wine no corkage on Tuesdays, whilst the fab Aqua restaurant have a 2/3 course EB €22.95 - €28.95. Downstairs in Clontarf has 2/3 courses at €23.95/€26.95 all night seven days a week.
Next week – countrywide value.