News Archive
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Dingle Skellig Hotel
20 December 2016
Dingle is certainly one of Ireland’s most beautiful spots, drawing holidaymakers from near and far to witness the kind of idyllic beautiful scenery that captured the worlds hearts in the classic film Ryan’s Daughter.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Cirillo's
13 December 2016
In 1977, Emilio Cirillo took over Nico’s, one of Dublin's oldest Italian restaurants, and almost forty years later his nephew, James Cirillo, has opened the eponymous Cirillo’s on Lower Baggot Street.
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Restaurant Review - Christmas chow
13 December 2016
A true Yuletide shopping spree wouldn't be complete without a festive foodie pit-stop, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, and, with so much great food and drink to choose from these days, December's diners are sure to be merry
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Restaurant Review - Wilde
08 December 2016
Set in Dublin’s fab Westbury Hotel, Wilde restaurant has had a major makeover, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, and, with its glamorous new 30s-style retro look, not to mention great food, it’s sure to be more popular than ever.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Connemara Greenway Cafe & Restaurant
08 December 2016
On a late summer afternoon, whilst adventuring along the Wild Atlantic Way, we came across the wonderful Connemara Greenway Café & Restaurant on the Main Street in Oughterard, and, feeling a tad peckish, we were more than happy to stop and check it out.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Mercantile
05 December 2016
Right in the heart of Dublin City, the fabulous Mercantile Hotel has become a buzzing local hub of good food and drink with a very popular late night scene.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Cafe en Seine
28 November 2016
After all the hard work of shopping up and down Grafton Street, Café en Seine was the perfect place for friend Mary and I to grab lunch on a recent day in town. A hotspot at any time of the day, Café en Seine is a treasure trove of great food and drink.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - House of Plates
25 November 2016
Tapas and small plate dining has taken the foodie world by storm, and, when it's done right, it’s a fantastic, social way to eat and to try out lots of different dishes. House of Plates in Castlebar, Co. Mayo is the perfect example of this.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Opium
23 November 2016
Opium Asian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar, has been hot and happening since the day it opened its Wexford Street doors. I stopped in with friend Paul when it first opened to find all sorts of cool dudes, long legged blondes and rock band types sussing it out
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - La Cucina
22 November 2016
The bar for good food and service in Dublin City has been raised so high in these past few years that you have to be really very special if you want to compete.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Soder + Ko
17 November 2016
We’ve had the gastropub and now it’s the gastroclub. I love the notion of good restaurant-style food being served in casual surroundings, so do many others, which is why Michelin starred chefs worldwide are rapidly turning to this ever-growing market.
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Restaurant Review - Campagne
15 November 2016
For whatever dubious reason, getting Michelin recognition in Ireland is like Mission Impossible, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. Fortunately, Kilkenny’s fab Campagne is one of the few to get its rightful place among the stars.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Kilronan Castle
15 November 2016
Ireland abounds with beautiful old heritage houses and castles and if many of them could speak for themselves no doubt the tales they would tell would be fantastic. One of the best is Kilronan Castle In Ballyfarnon, Co. Roscommon.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Marcel's
14 November 2016
Having reviewed Marcel’s in its original location on Mary’s Road and really liked its Franco Moroccan style colours and furnishings, I visited its new location on Merrion Row, in the buzzy heart of what's called the Golden Mile around St. Stephen's Green
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Pichet
10 November 2016
Since hitting the ground running in 2009, the fab Pichet has gone from strength to strength, keeping high the bar of good food in Ireland and continuing to be one of the hottest spots in Dublin City, and lately it’s had a major makeover.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Le Plancha
08 November 2016
“It’s amazing what a lick of paint can do to a place”, I said to my friend Mary, in the new Le Plancha in Monkstown.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Green Hen
04 November 2016
I'm rather partial to French food at all levels, which is why I love the whole extravagant French bistro vibe and ambiance of The Green Hen, not to mention the food. Located right beside the well known Old Stand Pub on Exchequer Street in Dublin City
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - McNean House
02 November 2016
Neven Maguire is far more than one of Ireland’s best-known chefs, more importantly, he is one of Ireland’s best loved chefs. His smiling face and down to earth approach, have earned him a legion of fans.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - InterContinental Dublin
31 October 2016
A true oasis of luxury and style, the InterContinental Dublin in Dublin's prestigious D4 Embassy belt, is one of the very best hotels that Ireland has to offer.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - East Side Tavern
28 October 2016
East Side Tavern is set in what was once O’Dwyer’s pub on the corner of Leeson Street and St. Stephen’s Green East. This was a real hot spot in the 60’s and 70’s with students, politicians, and literary figures such as Brendan Behan and Patrick Kavanagh
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Cox's Steakhouse
26 October 2016
Off the beaten track, in the picturesque village of Dromod in Co.Leitrim, is Cox’s Steakhouse Bar & Restaurant, where from the moment you set foot in the door you know you’ve picked a winner.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Chandpur Indian Restaurant
25 October 2016
Some of my very favourite places to go are Indian restaurants. I’ve always loved good Indian food with it’s wonderful rich palette of flavours that just can't be found in other cuisines.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Eatokyo Japanese Restaurant
20 October 2016
I’ve had a lot of bad food dished up in the name of Japan in recent years, from soggy tempura prawns to bad takeaway Chinese style stirfries. So, it was rather nice then to discover Eatokyo, a delightful new noodle and sushi bar on Wellington Quay.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Mimosa Bar De Tapas
17 October 2016
Tucked away in a side street of Carlow Town is the popular Mimosa Bar De Tapas, a bastion of tasty food that runs on the ethos of simplicity.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Girl and the Goose
13 October 2016
Tucked away, up a steep staircase, in the very heart of D4, is a hidden gem. “Who is Michael Sabik?”, you might ask. He’s not a guy who seeks the limelight, he just keeps his head down and works in his kitchen.
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Restaurant Review - The Restaurant by Johnnie Cooke
12 October 2016
With fab food and style, Johnnie Cooke has been dazzling Dublin diners for the last quarter century, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, and his latest venture, The Restaurant at Brown Thomas, is no exception.
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Restaurant Review - Rosa Madre
10 October 2016
We have lots of Italian restaurants in Ireland, though many are of the pizza/pasta fast food variety, says Lucinda O'Sullivan. However, from gnocchi to scalloppina, Rosa Madre on Dublin's Crow Street offers a true taste of Italy.
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Restaurant Review - Greenes
04 October 2016
The classic refined lunchtime took a beating in recent years in favour of a pulled pork roll or or a bowl of noodles at the desk, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. However, fab, fancy fare and lavish lunchtimes are back on the rise
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Restaurant Review - Charlotte Quay
24 September 2016
Unable to stand the heat, restaurateur after restaurateur have abandoned the kitchen at Charlotte Quay Dock, says Lucinda. Will the latest crew to house their colours here have the right brand of cool?
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Restaurant Review - Fishbone
06 September 2016
With great food and clearly a lot of effort and thought from the kitchen staff, Lucinda O’Sullivan was disappointed by the abysmal front of house service upon her arrival at the new Fishbone in Clontarf
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Clonskeagh House
01 September 2016
"Flavour is clearly the goal here”, I said to my friend Rena, as we drooled over our starters. That may sound obvious but very often flavour is lost in favour of presentation.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat – Cahernane House Hotel
30 August 2016
Set on the doorstep of the Lakes of Killarney, with breath taking views of the mountains beyond, is the beautiful and luxurious Cahernane House Hotel, with a fascinating history that goes all the way back to the War of the Roses.
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Restaurant Review - Zen
23 August 2016
There’s so much fab modern innovative Asian cuisine to explore these days, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, but a visit to Zen Restaurant in Rathmines, with all the feeling of a bad 80’s time warp, left her longing to get back to the future.
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Lunching at leisure
16 August 2016
With the sun shining brightly and the wicked month of August truly at its height, Lucinda O'Sullivan suggests 10 top spots in unique settings to help you make the most of summer, with as much great food, and fun, as possible.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat – Cream Room Curry House
16 August 2016
I love good Indian food, but unfortunately good Indian food can be hard to find, with lots of operations being of the fatty fast food variety. So, when I find somewhere good, I can’t wait to sing its praises, and this is just the case at the Cream Room.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Supper Club
10 August 2016
Kinsale has always been a beacon of great food and hospitality – Whether it’s fancy and formal or trendy and casual. Tom Kay’s Supper Club, on Cork Street, is definitely the latter. It’s laid back, funky and informal, and I love it.
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Restaurant Review - The Amber Lounge @ Fota Island
09 August 2016
Whether it’s kids or couples, Fota Island in East Cork is a great spot for a summer getaway, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, and the new Amber Lounge at the Fota Island Resort is the perfect place for a casual bite pre or post safari!
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Restaurant Review - Lady Helen Restaurant @ Mount Juliet
02 August 2016
Returning for the first time since they were awarded their Michelin Star, Lucinda O’Sullivan was once again blown away by the service, style and cuisine at the Lady Helen Restaurant in the fab Mount Juliet, Co.Kilkenny
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Restaurant Review - Samphire
26 July 2016
Social eating is the latest trend to break out in the foodie world, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. It’s about putting all the hip aspects of the food and drink scene under one roof and creating one stop shops for socialising
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Rasoi: Indian To Go
26 July 2016
The days of the mush merchant have ended with the arrival of Benny Jacob’s fab Rasoi: Indian To Go, in the heart of D6 Ranelagh.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Bare Food Company
22 July 2016
Healthy eating is where it’s at these days, and The Bare Food Company, in the centre of Drogheda, has its finger on the foodie pulse.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Pickle Restaurant
20 July 2016
There isn’t a culinary accolade in this country that Sunil Ghai hasn’t achieved. Over the past decade he has been declared Best Chef in Ireland by various awarding bodies…..
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Nine Market Street
13 July 2016
Kinsale is, and always has been, one of my favorite places in the world to be. Besides the historic beauty of the town and the wonderful summer atmosphere that it seems to maintain year round, Kinsale is a bastion of good service and great food.
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Restaurant Review - Canteen Cellbridge
12 July 2016
When James Sheridan and Soizic Humbert opened there first Canteen, in the Blackrock Market, they made a splash right away, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who couldn’t wait to get through the doors of their new Canteen Celbridge.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Church Bar & Restaurant
06 July 2016
Perhaps one of the most distinct and unique spots to dine in Dublin, The Church Restaurant at the Junction of Mary Street and Jervis Street, is a fantastic destination at which to spend an evening.
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Restaurant Review - St Kyrans
05 July 2016
Having got wind of a hot young chef, Lucinda O’Sullivan hit the road for St. Kyrans in Virginia, Co.Cavan, where she was suitably impressed by Eddie Attwell’s culinary prowess
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Restaurant Review - The Coburg
28 June 2016
When it comes to pushing the boundaries of contemporary cuisine, there's a fine line between fusion and confusion, says Lucinda O'Sullivan. Unfortunately, The Coburg at the Conrad Dublin has crossed that line.
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Cork's Casual Revolution
21 June 2016
Cork hasn’t always been a trendsetter when it comes to Irish dining, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. But, lately, they’ve been riding a wave of hip, casual, unpretentious street food that’s as tasty as it is cheap
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Restaurant Review - Cirillo's
14 June 2016
With a pedigree in Italian food, great things were expected from James Cirillo’s eponymous new Dublin restaurant, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, and with authentic food in a cool setting, she wasn’t let down
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Restaurant Review - Forest & Marcy
07 June 2016
Things got off to a slightly rocky start at the new Forest & Marcy on Dublin's Upper Leeson Street, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, but it soon became smooth sailing, as Ciaran Sweeney's outstanding food couldn't but impress
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Baan Sujittra
01 June 2016
The level of choice in this country, when it comes to varied cuisine, has really taken leaps and bounds forward. With the ever-growing foodie culture showing no signs of slowing down, we’ve never had so much choice where good food is concerned.
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Restaurant Review - Zizzi's
31 May 2016
With 143 branches in the UK, the new Zizzi pizza & pasta restaurant has just opened at Dundrum Town Centre, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. But, after her visit, she couldn’t help feeling perhaps she’d found a weak link in this chain
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Saba Baggot Street
26 May 2016
Some people don’t like Indian food, some people don’t like Chinese food but pretty well everybody loves Thai food. Saba, which means ‘happy meeting place’, is one of the great success stories and consequently celebrating its tenth birthday this year.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Fire Restaurant and Lounge
24 May 2016
Competition in Dublin’s dining scene has never been hotter and, amongst the dining destinations vying for your attention in the city centre, Fire Restaurant at the top of Dawson Street, burns as brightly as any.
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Restaurant Review - Two Cooks Restaurant & Wine Bar
17 May 2016
The Two Cooks Restaurant & Wine Bar in Sallins, Co.Kildare, is turning up the heat in the kitchen, Says Lucinda O’Sullivan, with a tip top husband and wife cheffing team proving that two heads are better than one
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Collins Bar
11 May 2016
The gastro pub revolution has seen a dramatic change in the way in which we view pub grub in this country. The bar has been raised, so to speak, and, while some establishments have not met the challenge, others have exceeded expectations.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Vermilion
05 May 2016
It’s hard to beat good Indian food. The fantastic palate of spices employed by Indian cuisine brings out flavours and taste sensations that are indescribably splendid, and really tough to find anywhere else.
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Kaya Thai
03 May 2016
Thai food has taken Ireland by storm in recent years with upscale, traditional, casual and even street food styles all being eagerly devoured by the munching masses.
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Restaurant Review - Wanderlust
03 May 2016
With a fine pedigree in Asian food, Ricky and Jules Mak have let their imaginations roam free at their fabulous new restaurant, Wanderlust, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who adored their casual food from all over the world.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Kyoto Asian Street Food
28 April 2016
Kyoto is the newest addition to Waterford’s dining scene, and the first Japanese restaurant in the city, I was told – though they do have other Asian street food.
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Restaurant Review - Nico's
26 April 2016
With 25 years between visits, Lucinda O'Sullivan, found a fab Art Deco interior, thoroughly professional staff and authentic food at Nico's on Dame Street
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Eastern Tandoori Loughrea
22 April 2016
As many of you may know, I’m partial to Indian food, and when I find somewhere good, which specialises in providing their customers with high quality, authentic cuisine, I can’t wait to talk about it.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Masala: Indian Food To Go
20 April 2016
Our passion for spicy food is ever-growing and the notion of the old bog standard Indian Takeaway has come along way with some of the newer ones offering superb restaurant standard food to eat at home.
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Restaurant Review - Aroi Kilkenny
19 April 2016
Eddie and Jenny Ong Chok Fong's Aroi eatery in Limerick hit the nail on the head when it opened two years ago, says Lucinda. So, when she heard they had opened their doors in Kilkenny, she could'nt wait to drop in...
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Restaurant Review - Saba Baggot Street
12 April 2016
It’s amazing how far Ireland’s Thai scene has come, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. With fabulous places like Saba, which has a new branch on Dublin’s Upper Baggot Street, it seems that the shameless slop houses of the Celtic Tiger are a thing of the past
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Restaurant Review - Best Italian Restaurants
05 April 2016
A good Italian meal is one of the best and undeniably most romantic ways to spend an evening, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, and luckily, in Ireland, we have a fantastic selection of ristorantes, pizzerias and trattorias to choose from
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - I Monelli
29 March 2016
I Monelli Restaurant, overlooking the Grand Canal at Portobello is an absolute haven of fabulous, authentic Italian food.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - La Cote Seafood Restaurant
22 March 2016
La Cote Seafood Restaurant in Wexford has been delighting patrons with a fine dining experience that’s both affordable and relaxed since it opened its doors in 2014.
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Restaurant Review - Pickle
22 March 2016
Sunil Ghai’s new venture, Pickle Eating House & Bar on Dublin’s Camden Street, is an authentic and absolutely fabulous taste of the old Irani cafes of Bombay, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, so book your passage to India now.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Mystic Celt
16 March 2016
In recent years, there has been a huge resurgence in people’s desire for fresh, locally sourced food that is high in quality, made from scratch and truly tasty. The Mystic Celt Restaurant in Wicklow Town answers this call.
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Restaurant Review - Craft
15 March 2016
Sooner or later, every ambitious chef wants to take a chance on their own restaurant, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. Philip Yeung’s new Craft, with the cool vibe and ambience of a little Parisian bistro, is a gamble that’s sure to pay off
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Restaurant Review - Monto Cafe Restaurant & Steakhouse
09 March 2016
With good food at good prices, the new Monto Cafe Restaurant & Steakhouse on Dublin’s Camden Street is well worth a visit, says Lucinda O’Sullivan — but sadly the waiter’s lack of warmth left a bad taste in her mouth . . .
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Restaurant Review - Heron & Grey
02 March 2016
Fine dining doesn't have to be a stuffy affair, says Lucinda O'Sullivan,and at the new Heron & Grey, in the Blackrock Market, chef Damien Grey is dishing up haute cuisine without any haughtiness
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Four Winds & Second Wind Bar & Eatery
24 February 2016
I spend a lot of time on the road looking at restaurants and hotels and when it comes to lunchtime I am always hungry. We very often travel the road between Limerick and Cork which is how we found the Four Winds Bar and Lounge in Charleville.
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Restaurant Review - Pullman Restaurant
20 February 2016
Looking for romance? Lucinda O'Sullivan says the fabulous Pullman Restaurant at Galway's Glenlo Abbey Hotel, set within two of the original carriages from the world famous Orient Express, is a one-of-kind dining experience
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Love is in the Eyre - and everywhere you look
11 February 2016
Leap Year love is in the air this Valentine's Day, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, so why not treat your better half to a luxurious leap?
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Restaurant Review - Union Cafe
10 February 2016
Things got off to a great start at the stylish new Union Cafe in Stillorgan, Co Dublin, says Lucinda O’Sullivan — however, three battered-to-death pieces of ‘hake scampi’ left her wishing she had let her husband have it
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Restaurant Review - The Seafood Bar by Wright's of Howth
05 February 2016
The dining room at the Dawson Hotel, formerly La Stampa,on Dublin’s Dawson Street, has had a lot of ambitious suitors, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, but the latest, The Seafood Bar by Wright’s of Howth, might just be ‘the one’
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Our Latest Great Place to Eat - Brambles @ National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
02 February 2016
It may have started with one small cafe, but 20 premises later, Brambles has become a household name. No two quiches will ever be the same, say Ciaran and Maeve Reid, because everything is made by hand.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Hylands Burren Hotel
28 January 2016
If, like many others today, you’re in search of an adventure along the Wild Atlantic Way, then look no further than the enchanting 18th century Hylands Burren Hotel in Co. Clare.
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Restaurant Review - Avalon
27 January 2016
The cheffing team at the new Avalon in Donnybrook did more than break a leg for opening night, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, if the nightly performance is as good as on her visit, the curtain call won't be anytime soon
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Farmhill Cafe & Restaurant
26 January 2016
There’s nothing like having a really good reliable neighbourhood restaurant on your doorstep to slip down to on a regular basis, be it for breakfast or brunch, for a casual bite in the evening or all those family occasions.
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Lucinda talks to Ciaran & Maeve Reid of Brambles
26 January 2016
Homemade and wholesome is the recipe for success It may have started with one small cafe, but 20 premises later, Brambles has become a household name, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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Restaurant Review - Angelina's
21 January 2016
The atmosphere and decor at the new Angelina's, overlooking Dublin's Grand Canal, was New York cool, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, now if only they could take the time to put taste before 'taste'
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Chapter 16
21 January 2016
On a recent excursion to the south, Brendan and I were in Kildare town looking for an early evening bite. We decided to try our luck at Chapter 16, and boy were we glad we did.
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Magnificent Irish cheese, a long way from plastic slices
20 January 2016
With so many great Irish artisan producers now on the scene, things have certainly moved on for the better, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Siri
19 January 2016
Siri Indian Cuisine is one of a new breed of fantastic venues that is supplying the very best of restaurant standard food to take out.
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Taste Kilkenny offers the best of local artisan food
17 January 2016
An enterprising group of Kilkenny food producers has formed the new Taste Kilkenny brand, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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Restaurant Review - Rage
15 January 2016
Blackrock was definitely in need of a good restaurant that appeals to families and diners of all ages, and now it has it, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, following her visit to the new Rage flame-grilled restaurant
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Belleek Castle
13 January 2016
The stunning Belleek Castle in Co.Mayo, an absolute medieval dream, was built in the early 19th along the River Moy, atop the site of a former abbey.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Menlo Park Hotel
11 January 2016
Galway has always been a very popular tourist destination and the perfect base for exploring Connemara and the Wild Atlantic Way but, over the last couple of years, it has also really stepped up its game on the food front.
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Restaurant Review - Tribeton
08 January 2016
Galway's restaurant scene has really kicked it up a notch in recent times, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, following her visit to Gerry Barret's massive new industrial-warehouse-style gastrobar on Merchant's Road
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Green Man Wines
08 January 2016
There’s something very civilised about having a nibble, on a balmy summer evening, surrounded by lots and lots of lovely bottles of wine!
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Lock 13
07 January 2016
Making my way back from an afternoon of retail therapy in the Kildare outlet, myself and a pal headed for Lock 13 Gastro Pub and Craft Beer House, on the banks of the Grand Canal in the very pretty village of Sallins, Co. Kildare
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Riba
05 January 2016
On a cold winters evening, with the wind blowing hard and the rain falling even harder, we were on our way to Café Restaurant Riba in Stillorgan, Co. Dublin.
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Don't bother with new diet books just brush off last year's'
04 January 2016
Don't go rushing to buy any new diet books in 2016, just dust off the old ones because we've heard it all before.....