Let's face facts. Valentine's Day is probably (okay definitely) the worst night in the calendar year to set foot in most restaurants. Jacked up prices, more courses than you want on a date night, canoodling couples at every angle, and a strictly enforced time limit on your table. No thanks. Pick any other night except the 14th if you feel V-Day isn't complete without a hand-holding trip to a restaurant, and do like we're going to do instead - buy a very nice bottle of wine, get that movie lined up you've wanted to watch for months, and get some really good food delivered. These are our top recommendations for where to order food from this Valentine's Day, with thanks to Just Eat.
(c) Melanie Mullan / All The Food
Sprezzatura, Dublin 8
Delivery areas: Dublin 2, Dublin 4, Dublin 6, Dublin 8
Sprezzatura shot onto the scene in October last year but already feels like it's been here forever. Our news story on Dublin getting a handmade pasta bar became one of our most read articles of the year, and they seem to be upping the ante every month. We loved the tagliatelle with wild mushrooms and the gnocchi with ricotta and pine nuts, but have earmarked the pappardelle with fennel sausage ragu for our next order. Read our Sprezzatura once over here. Order their freshly made pasta for delivery here.
(c) Melanie Mullan / All The Food
Fowl Play, Grand Canal Dock
Delivery areas: Dublin 1, Dublin 2, Dublin 4, Dublin 8, Grand Canal Dock
Fowl Play changed Dublin's chicken game in 2016 when they brought a charcoal rotisserie and grill, and a Texas wood-fired smoker into the back of the Square Ball pub on Hogan Place. Their commitment to only using free-range chicken just made us love them more, and it's the only place to head for when you want real deal rotisserie chicken, Louisiana hot chicken wings, and the chicken burger that John and Sally McKenna called their "dish of the year" last year. Order from Fowl Play here.
(c) Melanie Mullan / All The Food
Michie Sushi, Ranelagh and Sandyford
Delivery areas: Dublin 2, Dublin 4, Dublin 6, Dublin 16, South County Dublin
Michie Sushi has long been the place to satisfy sushi cravings. Ours is an inside out fire dragon roll with seven spice, eel, avocado and teriyaki sauce, some crispy salmon maki with spring onion and mayonnaise, and don't forget the spicy tuna temaki. They also do the ever reliable katsu curry, yaki soba and a seared beef salad in case you're in a relationship with someone who sidesteps sushi. Pro tip: pair it with a good bottle of sake or dry sherry to take your V-Day delivery to the next level. Order from Michie Sushi here.
(c) Melanie Mullan / All The Food
Yeeros Greek Souvlaki Bar, Glasnevin
Delivery areas: Dublin 1, Dublin 2, Dublin 3, Dublin 4, Dublin 7, Dublin 9, Dublin 11, Dublin 15,
Greek food is not easy to come by in Dublin, never mind good Greek food, which is why you need to bookmark Yeeros. Stick on Mamma Mia 2, turn the heating up high, and eat your fill of feta in filo pasty, stuffed vine leaves, spanakopitakia and souvlaki, with a side of Greek salad and some loukoumades for dessert (puffed doughnut rings drizzled with honey, cinnamon and walnuts). Plate smashing optional. Order from Yeeros here.
(c) Melanie Mullan / All The Food
Zero Zero Pizza, Dun Laoghaire
Areas covered: South County Dublin
In the mood for Neapolitan, wood-fired pizza, topped with tangy Italian tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella and basil? Or maybe an Nduja Bianco with spicy Calabrian sausage, basil, white onion and balsamic? Dun Laoghaire's neighbourhood pizzeria Zero Zero Pizza is your South County Dublin go-to. Originally starting as a market stall, they moved into bricks and mortar on Patrick Street in 2017, and to our immense joy they also deliver. Get picking your pizza here.
(c) Melanie Mullan / All The Food
Pasha Turkish Grill, Dorset Street
Delivery areas: Dublin 1, Dublin 3, Dublin 7, Dublin 9
When we saw that one of our favourite restaurant managers, Talha Pasha from Michael's in Mount Merrion, had been frequenting a Turkish kebab shop on the Northside we had to know more. Turns out Pakistani-born Talha and his friends regularly cross the city for Pasha's lamb shish, charcoal chicken, homemade breads and sauces, saying; "the quality of food is excellent, fresh and delicious. They also make their own breads while most places use frozen. Everything is cooked to order so it can take time but it's worth it." We are well and truly sold. Order from Pasha Turkish Grill here.
(c) Melanie Mullan / All The Food
Wow Burger
Areas covered: Dublin 1, Dublin 2, Dublin 4, Dublin 6, Dublin 7, Dublin 8, Dublin 9, Dublin 18, Dublin 24, South County Dublin
It's Friday night. You've had a long week. You just want a burger (and if you're contemplating ordering burgers on Valentine's Day you're probably quite comfortable in your relationship - good for you). Wow Burger have this situation covered, and not just with bacon cheese burgers and garlic butter fries. They've also teamed up with Ben and Jerry's for the month of February to create the 'caramel chew chew shake' - a mix of soft whip caramel ice-cream and chocolate heart sprinkles. If ordering your better half one of those doesn't say romance then what does. Order from Wow Burger here.
(c) Melanie Mullan / All The Food
Madina Street Food Co, City Centre
Delivery areas: Dublin 1, Dublin 2, Dublin 3, Dublin 4, Dublin 7, Dublin 8, Dublin 9
I'ts a scientific fact that Dublin needs more dosas. It's almost impossible to find somewhere making the Southern Indian, thin, crispy pancakes made from fermented rice batter, usually served with sambar (a lentil and vegetable based stew) and Indian chutneys. Luckily there is one place we can head for when the dosa craving hits - Madina Street Food Co. on Mary Street. Go for plain, masala or paneer, and we advise ordering more than you think you'll eat, as once you pop it's hard to stop. We're also very partial to a 'samosa chana chatt' - various types of savoury snacks (this one with samosas) usually found by the roadside in Indian - and some pani puri - gobstopper-like semoli balls filled with tamarind chutney, potato, onion and chickpeas. Order from Madina Street Food Company here.
(c) Melanie Mullan / All The Food
Fish Shack, City Centre & Sandycove
Delivery areas: Dublin 1, Dublin 2, Dublin 6, Dublin 7, Dublin 8, South County Dublin
Planning a more upmarket Valentine's night? Maybe even setting the table? Go for Fish Shack for seafood chowder, scampi or fried calamari with chilli jam. Maybe an order of shrimp nachos to share. If that all sounds too fancy you can also opt for fish and chips on the couch. Order from Fish Shack city centre here or from Sandycove here.
(c) Melanie Mullan / All The Food
Indie Spice Grill, Sandymount
Delivery areas: Dublin 1, Dublin 2, Dublin 4, Dublin 6
If you're looking for a bit of heat this Valentine's Day, but your local Indian tends to leave you in a food coma, check out Indie Spice Grill in Sandymount. They pride themselves on regional Indian food "made healthy", using lean cuts of meat and lots of pulses, so choose wisely and you'll be able for dessert. We love the Aloo Tikki Chat (crispy potato with pomegranate, ginger, green chilli, coriander and honey yoghurt), Sigri lamb chops with a trio of chutneys, and the goat's cheese and fig naan, and they'll deliver beer and wine too if you've found yourself in a jam. Order from Indie Spice here.
(c) Melanie Mullan / All The Food
This article is in partnership with justeat.ie, Ireland’s leading marketplace for online food ordering and delivery, with over 2,100 takeaway restaurants and over 40 cuisines online and on the app. Order on just-eat.ie or download the Just Eat app for delivery to your home or office. You can also follow Just Eat on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
