With pub reopening dates paused for now, finding a decent bar to prop up while spending €9 on food has suddenly become very important. When it comes to pub grub, disappointment can be the order of the day, so we've picked a few of our favourite places to sink a pint without eating something you'll immediately regret.
Mary's Bar
In Mary's Bar on Wicklow Street, a ham and cheese toastie and a pint will only set you back €8 from Monday - Thursday (usually €5 for the toastie), so you may need to double up to reach the required spend. It won’t be a hardship, they're good and cheesy and the perfect vehicle to soak up a cold beer, so munching your way through two of them over a few hours shouldn't present any issues. If you're after something more substantial a cheeseburger from Wowburger downstairs runs at €6.45 and a side of onion rings are €3.95.
FXB's At Ryan's Of Parkgate Street
The downstairs bar at Ryan's is a great Dublin pub, retaining its olde worlde atmosphere without venturing into twee territory. €10.50 will get you a very generous plate of devilled lamb's kidneys with smoked bacon, mushroom and brioche, or if you go on a Sunday the roast rib of beef (€17.50) with Yorkshire pudding, creamy mash, duck fat roast potatoes, confit shallots, roast carrots & tenderstem broccoli puts carverys to shame. The Bloody Marys are excellent and good value at €8.
L. Mulligan Grocer
Venturing into more gastro territory, the starter plate from L Mulligan Grocer has a haggis wonton, apple and pork rillettes, black pudding croquette with Arun bakery sourdough, piccalilli and stout ketchup at €11.50. If the budget allows, the moules frites (€15) with triple cooked chips and Hoegaarden mayo are excellent.
Paulie's Pizza at Slatterys, Beggars Bush
The first of the pub/pizza combo’s is Slattery's in Beggars Bush who have teamed up with neighbours Paulie's Pizza to provide all the food. Truffle arancini with tomato fondue & parmesan are within budget at €9.50, or split a Zoe pizza with buffalo mozzarella, tomato sauce, nduja, pepperoni, spicy salami and fresh chili for €17. An extra topping could push this to the required €18 for two. Booking is essential online as walk-in’s will not be accommodated.
Taphouse, Ranelagh
In Ranelagh Taphouse wins for a great selection of nibbles within budget. A plate of Irish cheeses is €9 on the nose and both tacos and sliders are €4.50 each or 3 for €12. If you're in the mood to share, a charcuterie and cheese sharing plate is €18 for two. Book on their site.
BoCo Pizza At Harry Byrne's
Another pizza and beer collaboration where Harry Byrne's in Clontarf are celebrating a new found friendship with BoCo pizza and their wood fired pizza truck. In a strange move Harry Byrne's are adamant that they will not be taking reservations, but according to all the positive feedback on their social media they are allocating strict timeslots to those who risk just showing up and being ultra-responsible when it comes to covid guidelines. Pizzas start at €13.
Doheny & Nesbitt
An old school bar with a menu to match, Doheny and Nesbitt are back in business. Your €9 goes a long way in here (food wise anyway) with a toasted special for lunch at €4.95, leaving enough in the budget for a plate of chips on the side or a slice of apple crumble with fresh cream. For a completely retro experience, a sharing platter for two gives you sliders, chicken goujons, spring rolls, cocktail sausages and chips for €21, making it only slightly over the €9 per person budget (not recommended - unless your main priority is soakage). Book online.
Blue Bar, Skerries
If chicken wings are your thing then head for Blue Bar in Skerries. The large portion is €14.95 but is more than generous and would easily feed two. Add a portion of rustic fries at €4.95 and hope for good weather to soak up the seaside atmosphere. If wings aren’t your thing then a chowder is €9.95 or lemon pepper squid is also €9.95. Book online.
The 108, Rathgar
Part of the Galway Bay Brewery company, The 108 in Rathgar has reopened with quite a few options to help you part with your €9. Wings, buttermilk fried chicken and caesar salad are all €9, and halloumi fries and cauliflower wings fall just below budget, so you'll need both. Being a brewery pub there's obviously a good selection of beers on draft and if you want the party to continue after your allotted time has run out then you can take home a growler of any of their draft beers. Call them on 01 4906044 to book or email the108@galwaybaybrewery.com.
