News Archive
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Restaurant Review - The Old Bank
27 December 2019
Fine feathers and frippery is all well and good, but it must be backed up by the food, service and a table that doesn't make you feel like a sardine, says Lucinda O'Sullivan
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Dromquinna Manor
20 December 2019
If you’re fed up with the same old hotel routine and want to shake things up, without sacrificing your creature comforts and holiday pampering, then check out the fabulous Dromquinna Manor Estate in Kenmare.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Boathouse Bistro
19 December 2019
Set in an original 19thC boathouse overlooking the rippling waters of Kenmare Bay, when it comes to location it would be hard to top The Boathouse Bistro, on the fabulous Dromquinna Manor Estate.
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Lucinda's 20 Best Christmas Spots Countrywide 2019
18 December 2019
After sorting all the pressies, and entertaining everyone from Tiny Tim to your own personal grinch, take some stress out of your stocking with one of my 20 Best Christmas Spots around the country, for eating, drinking and being merry!
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Osaka Ramen & Bento
17 December 2019
In recent years, Ireland has been swept by the ramen wave, with Asian street food becoming an insta-fave with just about every foodie, and bento boxes have been an enormous hit with the working lunch time crowd.
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Lucinda's 20 Best Christmas Spots in Dublin 2019
11 December 2019
Our capital city is a place of wonder at Christmas, and, with hundreds of great restaurants, you're guaranteed to find a festive feast to suit. Whether it's pub grub, posh nosh, tea with auntie, a night with the girls, breakfast, lunch or a vegan feast.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Eden Cafe
06 December 2019
Airy and contemporary, with splashes of colour emphasising and enchancing the minimalist decor, and a big glass front allowing light to beam in, Eden Cafe, on Forge Hill in Cork, is a great place to wile away a few hours over coffee or some great food.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Lignum
03 December 2019
Ireland has a new culinary star that's sure to turn a small village in Galway into a dining destination, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who was blown away by Danny Africano's Lignum.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Solas Tapas Bar
29 November 2019
We were dining in Nicky and Ann Foley's Solas Tapas & Wine bar, which has been reeling in the locals and tourists alike for its great buzz and food. We quickly discovered the beat on the street was right - there are tapas bars, and then there's Solas.
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Restaurant Review - Mamo
27 November 2019
Having served his time in the kitchens of top restaurants, chef Killian Durkin has teamed up with his wife Jess, formerly of Etto, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, and the result, Mamo, on the seafront at Howth, is sure to become a hot destination.
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Restaurant Review - The Bell Tower
20 November 2019
Castlemartyr Resort has a reputation for opulent aesthetics, acres of gorgeous parkland and great food, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who was back to try the gourmet fare at its fine-dining Bell Tower restaurant.
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Restaurant Review - Spitalfields
13 November 2019
With an unstoppable swell of techy urbanites flooding the restaurant scene, even the Coombe isn't safe from gentrification, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who enjoyed the fare at the new Spitalfields.
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Restaurant Review - Bastion
06 November 2019
Having been Ireland's gourmet capital for many years, Kinsale finally has a Michelin star as its crowning glory, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who couldn't wait to sample Paul and Helen McDonald's Bastion.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Sakura Japanese Restaurant
01 November 2019
Set on the well-known McCurtain Street in Cork City, Sakura Japanese Restaurant has earned rave reviews for its top notch food and wonderfully varied menus.
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Restaurant Review - Mister S
30 October 2019
In the 1990s, Camden Street was tipped as Dublin's next hot spot, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, and now, more than two decades later, with all kinds of cool, hip venues in place, suddenly everyone wants in on the act.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Maddens Bridge Bar & Restaurant
25 October 2019
Not just a paradise for surfers, the beautiful town of Bundoran in Co. Donegal has some of the most scenic dramatic Atlantic coastline around. So, it’s no surprise that natives and visiting explorers alike flock to the town for its natural beauty.
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Restaurant Review - Lignum
23 October 2019
It's too late for this year's Michelin awards, but Ireland has a new culinary star that's sure to turn a small village in Galway into a dining destination, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who was blown away by Danny Africano's Lignum.
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Restaurant Review - Casper & Giumbini's
16 October 2019
Dun Laoghaire's restaurant scene has been on life-support for the past few years, says Lucinda O'Sullivan, who was interested to hear that a 1980s Dublin brasserie was getting a reboot on the seafront.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Avalon House Hotel
11 October 2019
Avalon House Hotel in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny is a wonderful 4-Star hotel located right in the heart of the very pretty town, and a perfect base from which to explore all that the Cats county has to offer.
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Restaurant Review - Doolally
09 October 2019
The Press Up Group has built an empire of beautiful, buzzing hotspots, but their food, while inoffensive, is usually fairly mundane, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who unfortunately found the same at their new Indian Restaurant.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Ramen Kitchen
08 October 2019
Right now, its all about ramen, and, if you’re not enthusing about it, the social media foodie crowd will think you're just so passe. After all, It's the latest star to strut the catwalks of our tastebuds.
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Restaurant Review - Ripasso
02 October 2019
When Campo di Fiori decamped from Bray's Seafront earlier this year, local Italophiles felt the sting, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, but Gabriele Recchia's new Ripasso restaurant and bar has them feeling 'molto bueno' again.
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Restaurant Review - Frank's
25 September 2019
Frank's, a hot new wine bar, and the bay brother of the well-known Delahunt restaurant, failed to impress Lucinda O’Sullivan, with its tarted up chicken wings, black pudding and unpleasant 'cow's fingers', all at premium prices.
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Restaurant Review - Le Perroquet
18 September 2019
The new Le Perroquet, with Nick Munier and hot chef Chris Fullam at the helm, should keep Dublin's posh D4 Francophiles happy, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who skipped the blogger swamped soft openings.
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Restaurant Review - Michelin Mulling
11 September 2019
We seek them here, we seek them there, but Lucinda O’Sullivan can't help but wonder how many feet the Michelin Guide really has on the ground, as she visited Co. Kilkenny, which already has two Michelin restaurants and plenty of hopefuls.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - The Montenotte Hotel
06 September 2019
With gorgeous panoramic views of the city, and with lots to see and do close by, The Montenotte Hotel in Cork is a fab place to stay. Having had a major revamp a couple of years ago, it’s bright and modern but also plush, tasteful and wonderfully elegant.
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Restaurant Review - The East Room
04 September 2019
Instagram posts from The East Room restaurant on the University of Limerick campus had Lucinda O’Sullivan yearning for a taste. So, with a free afternoon, a friend in tow and a strict 12.30pm booking, she hit the road.
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Lucinda's 20 BEST Markets & Food Festivals
28 August 2019
From bakers and butchers, jam and cheese producers, beekeepers and more, we're spoiled for choice with the fresh artisanal fare and variety of grab and go eclectic street food being served up. Throw in some live entertainment, and it's a proper day out.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Eatokyo Talbot Street
22 August 2019
Just off O’Connell Street, in the heart of Dublin city centre, is the fab Eatokyo restaurant on Talbot Street. A sister restaurant of the uber-popular Eatokyo in Temple Bar, this busy buzzy noodle & sushi bar does some of the best Japanese food around.
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Lucinda's 20 BEST Gastrobars 2019
21 August 2019
Once upon a time, all Irish pubs could offer was a 'hang sandwich' or a cheese toastie, but that's no longer the case. From beers and a burgers, to fine contemporary cuisine, or an ocean of fresh fish, there's endless variety at modern Irish gastrobars.
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Lucinda's 20 BEST Foodie Views 2019
14 August 2019
For great grub with stunning scenery, find your way to one of Lucinda's 20 Best Foodie Views for 2019, from Bray, Co. Wicklow to Ballylickey, Co. Cork, to Sherkin Island, Co. Galway and on to Portnoo, Co. Donegal.
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Lucinda's 20 BEST Seafood Spots 2019
07 August 2019
Nothing screams summertime like great seafood served up in beautiful sunny surrounds, and, here in Ireland, We're spoiled for choice. If want to know where the best plaices are for 2019, check out Lucinda’s picks for the 20 Best Seafood Spots
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Lucinda's 20 BEST Foodie Pitstops along the Wild Atlantic Way 2019
31 July 2019
There’s something for everyone to enjoy along the Wild Atlantic Way, stretching from Kinsale, to the Inishowen Peninsula. If you want to experience the best food and drink along the way, check out Lucinda's definitive list of the 20 Best Foodie Pitstops.
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Lucinda's 20 BEST Trucks & Trailers 2019
24 July 2019
If you fancy dining on fabulous food, in fun, quirky and often beautiful surroundings, check out Lucinda's definitive guide to the 20 best food trucks and trailers for 2019.
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Lucinda's 20 BEST Terraces 2019
17 July 2019
For the best of outdoor eating, both in the capital and throughout the country, check out Lucinda's picks for Ireland's 20 Best Terraces 2019.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - La Collina
16 July 2019
Uniting the foodie tribes of Galway, I’d heard nothing but great thing about La Collina, a popular Italian restaurant in Salthill. So, on a weekend escape with pal Rena, it was hot on my agenda.
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Restaurant Review - Little Mike's
10 July 2019
Having dined at chef Gareth Smith’s fabulous Michael’s in Mount Merrion many times, Lucinda O’Sullivan was excited to visit his brand new restaurant, the cool and classy Little Mike’s, just a few doors down from its big brother.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - 360 Cookhouse
09 July 2019
Connected to King John’s Castle and the beautiful WWI Memorial Wall, the 360 Cookhouse in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford has been grabbing people’s attention. Close to Davitt's Quay, it's in a great location where all the town's foodie action is happening.
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Restaurant Review - Old Post Office
03 July 2019
Feverish foodies were buzzing with excitement in anticipation of the opening of a new fine-dining Chinese Restaurant in Blackrock, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. But, with mundane menus and sky-high prices, this one really misses the mark.
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Restaurant Review - Volare by Ciamei Cafe
26 June 2019
With more and more restaurateurs setting up in innovative premises, we now have a wealth of great offbeat spots to check out, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. One such place is the fab Volare by Ciamei Cafe at the Blackrock Market.
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Restaurant Review - Capricho @ Bayview Hotel
19 June 2019
On a recent jaunt to beautiful Ballycotton in East Cork, Lucinda O’Sullivan was on the hunt for a great Sunday afternoon bite, which she found at the Bayview Hotel. She liked it so much in fact, that she went back for dinner.
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Restaurant Review - Aimsir
12 June 2019
The once glittering Village at Lyons was never quite the same after the death of Dr. Tony Ryan, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. However, the new Aimsir, with its stunning 18 course menu, may soon bring the sparkle of stars back to Lyons.
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Restaurant Review - The Eddison @ The Dylan Hotel
05 June 2019
The Dylan Hotel, in D4, has been turning heads with its fab and funky decor ever since it opened, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. Now, following some stylish revamps, it can also boast one of the chicest restaurants around, The Eddison.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Johnny's Ranch
04 June 2019
For great food these days, you don’t have to be sat in the dining room of a five-star hotel, dressed to the nines in-keeping with the white napery, chandeliers and approval of the Maitre d’.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Fish Box
31 May 2019
Dramatically beautiful, Dingle has long since been a hotspot for holidaymakers and foodies alike, and when it comes to great seafood in this popular seaside town, the Flannery family are legends.
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Restaurant Review - Eccles Hotel
29 May 2019
Having tried Chef Eddie Attwell’s award-worthy fare a couple of years ago, Lucinda O’Sullivan was delighted to be crossing his path again – this time, at the fabulous, southern-plantation style Eccles Hotel in Glengarrif, Co. Cork.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Plum Tree Bistro
28 May 2019
On a recent visit to Co. Carlow, friend Rena and I stopped for a meal at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel’s Plum Tree Bistro. The food at this hotel, on the banks of the Barrow, has always been excellent with great service too, but now, it’s better than ever.
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Restaurant Review - 30 Church Street
22 May 2019
With no new openings for ages, the foodie scene was getting a little stale in Dublin's popular Howth Village, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who was hoping that the new 30 Church Street would be the answer to her prayers.
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Restaurant Review - Circa
08 May 2019
Tired of all the grainy hodgepodge hipster plates, served with a straight face, Lucinda O’Sullivan was delighted to find sophisticated fare at reasonable prices without all the pomp and circumstance at the new Circa in Terenure.
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Lucinda's 20 BEST Sunday Lunch Spots 2019
01 May 2019
Has brunch had it’s day? With more and more restaurants switching back to the classic Sunday lunch, Lucinda gives you her best spots for roasts, racks, pud and spuds in 2019.
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Restaurant Review - Ramen Kitchen
24 April 2019
There's always a 'new' en vogue cuisine, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, and the latest star to strut the catwalks of our tastebuds is ramen. So, with Stoneybatter's casual-food boom in full swing, she was on her way to the new Ramen Kitchen.
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Restaurant Review - Liath
17 April 2019
Liath, the derivative of the former Michelin-starred Heron & Grey in Dublin’s Blackrock Market, is the most significant restaurant opening of 2019, so far, says, Lucinda O’Sullivan — who, naturally, was the first one in the door.
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Restaurant Review - Mapas
10 April 2019
The ever-popular, long-standing Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel in Killiney is still rolling with the times, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who was delighted to check in to this fab family hotel to check out their new restaurant, Mapas.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Old Spot
04 April 2019
The Old Spot, on Bath Avenue in Sandymount, is undoubtedly one of the hottest gastro pubs in the country. The Michelin man clearly agrees; given that it has featured in their ‘Eating out in Pubs’ guide for the past four years.
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Restaurant Review - Crudo at Dunne & Crescenzi
03 April 2019
Eileen Dunne & Stefano Crescenzi have been setting the gold standard for Italian food in Ireland for many years, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who was excited to see their new Dublin 4 offering, Crudo at Dunne & Crescenzi.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Pizza Yard
29 March 2019
Pizza Yard is set in what was the old Sandford Cinema in Ranelagh. A hip hot-spot with trending foodies, I was eager to check it out, but I didn’t realise, that the ‘Yard’ bit of the name meant that the pizzas are sold, like cloth, by the yard.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Casey's of Baltimore Hotel
26 March 2019
Baltimore is one of the most beautiful villages in West Cork, known for its glamorous summer sailing lifestyle. The family-run Casey’s of Baltimore Hotel, at the heart of the community, is renowned for its food, hospitality, and of course, its location.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Black Cat
22 March 2019
We were in Galway enjoying a day of food, fun and shopping. With the feet walked off us and our appetites growing, we headed out to the main drag in Salthill, where, I’d been told, there was a fab tapas restaurant called Black Cat.
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Restaurant Review - The Grill & Bar @ Lyrath Estate Hotel
20 March 2019
With hotels around the country getting kitted out for the next boom, there are lots of fab revamps to check out, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who loved the stunning new Grill & Bar at the Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Henry's Bistro & Winebar
19 March 2019
Dermot and Noreen Fetton are two of the most experienced people operating within the hospitality business in Ireland today. Consequently, their Henry’s Bistro & Winebar in Ennis, Co. Clare, was quickly proving a popular draw with local and alike.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - The Foyle Hotel By Chef Brian McDermott
14 March 2019
Owned and operated by popular Irish TV chef and author Brian McDermott, and his wife Brenda, The Foyle Hotel in Moville, Co. Donegal, should be at the top of the list for voyaging foodies on the hunt for the double whammy of great food and accommodation.
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Restaurant Review - Bart's
13 March 2019
With high/low dining taking the world by storm, well-known restaurateur Jay Bourke hasn't missed a beat, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who loved the simple-but-with-style ethos at his new Bart's bar restaurant on Dublin's South William Street.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Butcher
12 March 2019
Butcher in Kilkenny have been making a big name for themselves in foodie circles, not only for the high quality of their food, but also for their fab presentation.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Amaya Fusion
07 March 2019
Anyone who reads my work knows that I love good Indian food. The variety of flavours and textures, and the beauty of the presentation, when its done right, are magic. So, when I come across a really good Indian restaurant, I can’t wait to tell everyone.
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Restaurant Review - Grano
06 March 2019
With proprietor Roberto Mungo's winning charm, delicious authentic food, plus a little magic from mamma, Lucinda O’Sullivan had a delightful experience at the new Grano Italian Restaurant on Dublin's Manor Street.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - The Galmont Hotel & Spa
04 March 2019
Galway is a city that is always alive and vibrant with any number of fabulous festivals from arts to food to film happening throughout the year, and, The Galmont fits the bill perfectly being only a short walk from Eyre Square, the heart of the city.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Gigi
01 March 2019
Casari was as urbane and charming as ever when we arrived, shortly after Gigi opened. A number of the red-bricked D6 legal eagle and other professional Italophile types were settling in, sniffing corks and reminiscing on the summer's lease in Tuscany.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - 3 Leaves
28 February 2019
3 Leaves is a fab Indian restaurant situated in the Blackrock Market in Co. Dublin. Highly impressed with my first visit, I've returned since and found the food and atmosphere just as engrossing each time.
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Restaurant Review - Capital Cafes
27 February 2019
With Dublin's cafe culture thriving once more, Lucinda gives you her 12 best cafes for chills, chats and chowing down in the capital.
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Restaurant Review - Gigi
20 February 2019
Already familiar with long-time restaurateur Giorgio Casari's legendary charm, Lucinda O’Sullivan was unsurprised to find the master in his element when she visited his new restaurant, Gigi in Ranelagh.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Lobster
15 February 2019
There are so many beautiful towns and villages to explore along the Wild Atlantic Way, and Waterville,on the amazing and dramatic Ring of Kerry, is one of the best. It’s where the legendary Charlie Chaplin and his family holidayed for many years.
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Restaurant Review - Variety Jones
13 February 2019
Fed up with the constant arrivals of samey, corporate-controlled venues, it felt like fate when Lucinda O’Sullivan heard that chef Keelan Higgs' first solo venture, on Thomas Street, Dublin 8, was to be called Variety Jones.
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Restaurant Review - Shelbourne Social
06 February 2019
With all of the hype surrounding the new Shelbourne Social in D4, Lucinda O’Sullivan was expecting a massive Gatsby-style sprawl, not the cool, clubby venue that it is. The menu, however, requires a master’s degree...
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Restaurant Review - Uno Mas
30 January 2019
Already a fan of its big brother, the hip hot Etto Restaurant on Merrion Row, Lucinda O’Sullivan, along with lots of other foodies in the know, was excited to see what they were serving up in the new Uno Mas on Dublin's Aungier St.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - Kyoto Asian Street Food Clonmel
25 January 2019
When husband and wife team Maorong Zhuang and LingLing Shi opened Kyoto, a couple of years back, they were Waterford City’s first Japanese restaurant. Since then, they have thrived; delighting diners with an impressive selection of fab Asian eats.
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Restaurant Review - Cafe en Seine
23 January 2019
Following a massive €4m restoration job, Dublin's Cafe en Seine, has reopened, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. And, with The Ivy just across the street, it looks like the battle for Dawson Street has just begun.
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Our Latest Great Place To Stay & Eat - Roseville House
22 January 2019
The beautiful seaside town of Youghal, in Co. Cork, has long since been a desired destination for tourists. It’s a place of exceptional beauty with so much to see and do; from its historical sites, to its sandy beaches to the bustling tourist town itself.
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Restaurant Review - Loretta's
16 January 2019
The D7 suburb of Phibsborough has always been a colourful place with plenty of activity, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, who was on her way to Chef Jimmy Wiley's new venture, Loretta's, set in an imposing former bank.
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Our Latest Great Place To Eat - The Grapevine Wine & Tapas Bar
10 January 2019
The atmosphere at the Grapevine is warm and vibrant – just the place for an evening with the girls or a romantic dinner. They serve food until late and offer a fab selection wine and Irish craft beers.
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Restaurant Review - Mak at Zozimus
02 January 2019
Dery Desmond's Zozimus on Anne's Lane had lots of space and a great cocktail menu but the food was lacking, says Lucinda O’Sullivan. However, with the talented chef Jules Mak on board, it's all gotten a lot spicier.
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Lucinda's Lookback 2018
02 January 2019
The best and worst of Lucinda's year, from Michelin magic and suburb cheffing to dodgy dinners and would-be-greats that totally missed the mark.