One of the biggest bummers about the current situation has been not being able to celebrate those special occasions in restaurants, with family, with friends and all the beers. We can't fix that (although every few weeks there's another sliver of relief), but in the meantime here's some options for when you need a special occasion dinner at home, and want someone else to do the cooking...
Etto's Collection Menu
Big news people. Etto is officially back. Their "food for collection" menu starts this Thursday and features a set menu for two people for €60. There's olives and almonds, cured meats and sourdough, then a weekly changing starter, main and dessert (although if they try to change from this week's red wine prunes and vanilla mascarpone there will probably be an uprising). The food comes cold with minimal assembly at home, and collections are available from Thursday - Sunday. See the menu and how to order here.
Rosa Madre At Home
Also launching this week, Temple Bar's Rosa Madre have designed a new at home menu with the most minimal of prep involved. There's a choice of three starters (straciatella, foccacia with pesto and cured meats and cheeses), then you pick a pasta (gnocchi, tagliatelle or ravioli) and a sauce (tomato and basil, puttanesca, nduja ragu or parmesan), and either tiramisu or chocolate mousse for dessert. There's also a lasagne for two, and because all of the sauces only come in two person portions (and they're very reasonably priced) you may as well order another one and save yourself cooking the next day. It will be available for collection and delivery (Dublin 1 - 24) from Thursday to Sunday, and we'd advise keeping an eye on their website and social channels this week if you want to be first to know when they go live.
Bresson's Classic Collection Menu
Upmarket neighbourhood French menu Bresson in Monkstown are doing a 'classics' collection menu at the very reasonable price of €24.50 for two courses and €29.50 for three. As the name suggests it's classic all the way, with seafood cocktail or Roquefort salad to start, tuna niçoise salad or daube of beef to follow, and lemon posset or strawberry pavlova to finish. Light some candles, open some fizz, job done. Collections available Thursday - Saturday. See here for all the info.
Circa At Home
Circa have been in and out of the takeaway game, but they're back, with a new head chef. Gareth Naughton has departed and Darryl Haynes, who had been working with him in the kitchen, has taken over. There are no starters so maybe pick up some antipasti, then choose from their famous game pitivier, wild mushroom wellington, braised lamb shoulder or pork belly confit for mains. Desserts include Cashel Blue cheese with quince jam, rye crackers and truffle honey, chocolate cremeaux with toasted hazelnut, or if you want to really destroy yourself you can have their 'Snickers' French toast with chocolate ganache, peanut butter caramel & vanilla mascarpone. Collection only from Thursday - Sunday. Order here.
Potager At Home
Potager is one of the restaurants we most look forward to visiting once the current nightmare is over, but for now, Potager at Home is a worthy substitution. Rarely has a takeaway menu caused so many people to exclaim "I want everything!", but when you're faced with dishes like onion and potato bread with ricotta and lovage pesto, haddock and brown shrimp croquettes, roasted chicken broth with foie gras sausage dumpling, and Jerusalem artichoke with smoked almonds, crispy bacon and truffle dressing, you'll understand why. As if that wasn't enough there's dessert, cheese and petit fours to choose from, and we think it's really excellent value for this level of food. They're taking this week off due to an incident, but will be back next week. Order here.
Grano A Casa
Few places in Dublin make people feel like they're in Italy the way Grano in Stoneybatter does, and after a few weeks of planning they've launched 'Grano A Casa' so you can enjoy their olives, pastas and tiramisu at home. We're big fans of their Amatriciana Maiale Nero with black pig guanciale, tomato sauce and pecorino cheese so that would be high on our order list. Click and collect here from Thursday - Saturday.
Craft At Home
The residents of Harolds Cross rejoiced when neighbourhood bistro Craft reopened for takeaway, and with dishes like Toonsbridge ricotta with beetroot, asparagus and truffle honey, or crab and leek arancini with courgette, chicory and apple salad, it's not hard to see why. Collection only from Thursday - Sunday. See the menu and book a slot here.
Mulberry Garden At Home
Mulberry Garden in Donnybrook have come up with a five course menu where only the main requires heating. It's €65 for two and includes bread, starters, mains, desserts and petit fours, which by city standards is a good deal. There's no choice but last week included a terrine of Wicklow pork, confit salmon with a tomato and gubbeen chorizo cassoulet and a dessert of chocolate, blueberry and popcorn. Collection or delivery within a 10km radius. Get involved here.
La Maison's Click and Collect
Classic French haven La Maison on Castle Market are making their coquilles Saint-Jacques, côte de bœuf and tart au citron available for collection, along with baguettes, flatbreads and frites. They're also selling wine at up to 50% off menu prices, and you can collect from Wednesday - Sunday. Order through their website.
Check out more options for fine dining at home in our articles on new places to collect food from, new restaurants now delivering, and new food experiences to try in Dublin.
