Never one to let a global pandemic get them down, this week sees new openings from established restaurateurs and newbies alike...
Hush, Rathmines
Hush is the latest opening from chef Jules Mak, who also owns Mak at D6 in Ranelagh. During lockdown they experimented with a burger night on Tuesdays, and it was so popular that he and his business partner decided to make it a permanent fixture in Rathmines. Hush will serve sandwiches by day and burgers by night, and there's going to be a secret wine bar out the back.
Sandwiches include the classic glazed grilled ham and cheese on sourdough (check out those ham ratios), and the carne asada with grilled steak, melted provolone, crispy onion and tarragon mayo. At night there's a classic double cheese burger, a beer-battered cod fillet burger, and buttermilk chicken burgers. Hush is due to open for sandwiches and coffee by the end of this week, with the burger menu following a week or two after. Follow them on Instagram for updates.
V-Face, Stoneybatter
After a much longer delay than owner Sarah Boland anticipated, vegan burger bar V-Face has finally opened a permanent space in Stoneybatter. Their legion of fans include vegans, veggies and carnivores alike, and they've now added wings, v-dogs and loaded fries to the menu - we're very much feeling the kimchi bomb fries with lime drizzle, cilantro, sriracha, cheese, mashed avocado & sesame seeds.
The "lethal burgers without the killing" include the 'Magic Mushie' with a battered portobello mushroom, spinach, Gouda and garlic mayo, and the 'Classic John' with a beetroot and chickpea patty, lettuce, cheddar cheese, tomato, red onion, gherkins, ketchup & mayo, served on a beetroot bun. V-Face is open from 12:00 - 21:00 Monday - Sunday and you can book a table on their website.
Café On 2 At Brown Thomas
What was formerly Green Bean Café in BT's has been taken over by the unstoppable Kemp sisters (Domini and Peaches), and renamed 'Café On 2' - although this is due to be rebranded in the coming weeks. The menu however looks like a seriously welcome change for department store dining, with breakfast options including black rice pudding with mango, coconut milk and berries, lunch including pulled beef & kimchi on a brioche bun with kewpie mayo and fries, and desserts including warm banana & white chocolate bread with dulce de leche and whipped cream.
There's also a milkshake menu with options like chocolate and peanut butter brownie, banana split & pretzel and a nutella shake. Café on 2 is open the same hours as Brown Thomas, with the kitchen closing one hour before the store shuts its doors. See the menu and book on BT's website.
John's Bar & Haberdashery
John's Bar & Haberdashery has just opened on Thomas Street in the Liberties, and if you're wondering how a pub can open in the middle of a pandemic that's forcing pubs to stay closed, it's thanks to owners Press Up installing another Wowburger in there. Pints and burgers, problem solved. The building itself dates back to the 1600's, and it's named after a haberdasher, John Creeth who ran his business there in the 1850's. Expect whiskey, Guinness, traditional sweets and haberdashery bits for sale. Open seven days a week from 12pm - late.
