Christmas Shopping Lunches
Monday 15 December 2014
Every year, I resolve to have my Christmas shopping done by December 1, but every year I fail. Maybe it's just as well, because, had I done it earlier, I would have missed out on the amazing atmosphere that is out there on the streets of Dublin right now.
December 8 was the traditional day for the out-of-towners to bring the family to Dublin to see the lights, the Christmas windows and to visit Santa Claus. Nowadays, a visit to Dublin offers not only fantastic shopping, but food that spans the globe. From Korea to Spain, Africa to France, Italy to Mexico - Dublin has now become a restaurant city, so it's definitely worth trying something different.
The creative quarter, between Grafton Street and South Great George's Street, is filled with eateries. The Restaurant at Brown Thomas now has a menu designed by Michelin-starred restaurateur, Patrick Guilbaud, with something on the menu for everyone, from eggs Benedict to a great burger - with or without a lobster tail; what a treat. See brownthomas.com.
On Clarendon Street, Yo Sushi offers an excellent range of sushi, from €1.90, as well as hot dishes and salads. Try the soft-shell crab tempura. See yosushi.com.
Further up the street, on the left, a discreet door leads into the new Balfes at the Westbury Hotel, which has an excellent all-day menu, featuring everything from oysters to omelettes, and a daily lunch special at €15. See balfes.ie.
Further along Clarendon street, Saba does unfailingly good Thai food, including an express two-course lunch menu at €13.95. Try the Chiang Rai spicy noodles with chicken. See sabadublin.com.
On Chatham Street, at Pasta Fresca, as well as their pizza and pasta menu, they do a daily lunch special for €10, from Monday to Friday.
See pastafresca.ie.
On the corner of South William Street, you'll find Meet & Meat, a New York-style cafe and deli, who do great hand-carved sandwiches for around the €7 mark. Try the sticky ham and egg with sauerkraut, pickles and Dijon mustard.
See meetandmeat.ie.
A few doors up, Eden Bar & Grill's soup is only a fiver; small or large plates, such as duck leg confit with quince, crushed potato and creamed cabbage, are from €9.50.
See edenbarandgrill.ie.
On Exchequer Street, Fallon & Byrne's upstairs restaurant has an a la carte or a set lunch menu at €20/€25 for two/three courses, and their wine cellar offers both hot and open sandwiches as well as mains at around €15. See fallonandbyrne.com.
Cornucopia on Wicklow Street is great for vegetarian food. Small, medium or large mixed salad plates are priced from €4.95-€10.95. Try the chickpea, roast aubergine, feta and rocket with sun-dried tomato and chilli.
See cornucopia.ie.
Dunne & Crescenzi on South Frederick Street will bring a little bit of Italian style into your day, with a festive two-/three-course set lunch menu at €25/€28. Don't forget to buy their fab Italian Christmas panettone bread. See dunneandcrescenzi.com.
If you want something really different, try the new Hailan Korean restaurant on Dame Street. Korean cuisine is the hottest on the planet right now, so break yourself in gently with Korean fried squid and pork at €11.90; it's very tasty. Tel: (01) 764-5722.
Also on Dame Street is BoBo's, a source of great burgers. Try the Greek lamb burger with tomato, iceberg lettuce, black olives, feta cheese and tzatziki at €10.95.
See bobos.ie.
Ever had Nepalese food? On Dame Street, you will find Kathmandu Kitchen, which does a two-course lunch menu with coffee at €9.99, Monday to Friday.
See kathmandukitchen.ie.
For a real gourmet experience, try Amuse on Dawson Street, which has a superb two-/three-course Christmas menu at €34/39. See amuse.ie.
On Nassau Street, the Pig's Ear, which has a Michelin Bib Gourmand, has a Christmas three-course lunch menu at €35. See thepigsear.ie.
Fancy roast pheasant and a glass of wine for €14.95? Head for Davy Byrne's, which was once a frequent haunt of James Joyce. See davybyrnes.com.
Its sister pub, The Old Stand, which is on Wicklow Street, has the same offer. See theoldstandpub.com.
Another great Dublin pub for food is O'Neill's of Suffolk Street. Its carvery starts at noon and continues until 10.30pm. It is legendary. See oneillsbar.com.
North of the river, facing the Ha'penny Bridge, is the stunning new Woollen Mills Eating House. It's all-day food here, with sambo and soup combos at €9.95, as well as mains such as ox-tongue fritters (€10), or a whole roasted chicken for two (€35). They also have a three-course Christmas lunch at €25. See thewoollenmills.com.
Koh at the Millennium Walkway do excellent Thai food. Their lunch menu is available up to 5pm, offering light bites from €5, and curries/stir-fries/noodles around €11. See koh.ie.
Nearby, Bar Italia has a two-/three-course festive lunch menu at €22.50/€25, as well as cicchetti from €4.50. See baritalia.ie.
If you like Asian food, head to Parnell Street, our 'Chinatown'. Look out for Lee Kee, doing Xiang and Schezuan cuisine. It's a real gem. Nearby is Lao Hot Pot doing Korean food with a barbecue and hot-pot menu. Try the razor-clams with beansprouts, oil and chilli. See chinatowndublin.com.
Also on Parnell Street is 147 Deli, which is doing great innovative sambos such as Jamaican shredded beef, pineapple, lime and coriander salsa, with a mango and habanero hot sauce. See facebook.com/147deliparnell.
101 Talbot on Talbot St has a three-course Christmas lunch at €23. See 101talbot.ie.
Also on Talbot Street, is the popular Le Bon Crubeen, which has an extensive lunch menu. See leboncrubeen.ie.
Up the road in Clerys, try the new Doran's at the Tea Rooms, which has fabulous seafood at reasonable prices. See www.clerys.ie/food.
If you want an instant hit of healthy liquid nutrition, look out for Pog on Bachelor's Walk, who do raw juices, smoothies, frozen yoghurt, salads and wraps. See ifancyapog.ie.
Good shopping and great eating!
First Published Sunday Independent