It's officially summer, and while we're waiting on that heatwave to arrive, we recommend hitting places that will give you all the holiday feels this month, as well as some brand new arrivals to the city, and an excuse to hop on the train and head for the seaside. Here's where you should be eating in June...
For something brand new:
Daalo, North Frederick Street
East African/Somali food isn't something we see a lot of in Dublin, so new Northside opening Daalo has been getting a lot of interest in foodie groups, with early reviews praising their beautiful food, big portions and warm welcome. Try the lamb haneeth (slow roasted lamb), injera with tibs (Ethiopian flatbread with stir-fried beef), or ugali with hilib (cornmeal with goat meat).
For a shiny new update:
Proper Order, Smithfield
Coffee obsessives Proper Order opened their brand new, substantially larger space in Smithfield yesterday, meaning a lot more room to enjoy some of the most premium pour overs in the city, alongside some of the city's best baked goods from No Messin'. This isn't just another café, it's a five-star coffee and pastry experience...
For all the holiday feels:
Crudo, Sandymount
Whether you're counting down to your summer holiday, or kicking yourself for not booking one, you can get all the Roman/Venetian/Sicilian feels at Crudo in Sandymount. Their scampi risotto has been Irish-ed up with a Dublin Bay Prawn bisque, and the prawn oil and crème fraiche on top are the cherries on a truly lovely plate. Get similar holiday feels with the bruschetta with marinated Datterini tomatoes, and the pappardelle with slow-cooked meat sauce and aged Parmesan.
For the hit of the summer:
Row Wines, Coppinger Row
We don't think anyone is capturing the food and drink zeitgeist right now like Row Wines. Practically every day we see another plate or glass that makes us want to rush in, with seabass ceviche, folded flatbreads, and peach, parma ham and ricotta salad keeping that terrace out front nicely busy. Join the cool kids and reserve a table here.
For a tasting menu train adventure:
Ingredient, Skerries
Andrew Kelly and Kate Kettle have been shaking things up in Skerries with their pop-up restaurant Ingredient, currently operating out of Olive Deli. Their six-course tasting menu is €70, or there's an à la carte with nibbles, snacks, small and large plates, like scallops with truffle foam and pickled shimeji mushrooms. If you want a taster of what they're up to you can take a table outside with some snacks and a few glasses of natural wine, which we think sounds like the ideal ending to a day at the seaside.
For not your average sandwich:
Toast @ Silk Purse, Nassau Street
The Pig's Ear team have been putting a multitude of ideas through their paces in their Silk Purse space underneath the restaurant, and the latest is Toast - a wine bar with Korean-style brioche sandwiches. There are four flavours to choose from - pork bulgogi; shrimp cocktail; egg and cheese; and marinated tofu, and they're serving the famous Pig's Ear cheesecake for dessert. Swerve your usual ham and cheese for one of these.
For the mega menu update:
Amy Austin, Drury Street
Chef Victor Lara from Amy Austin has just launched his brand new menu at the Michelin Bib Gourmand wine bar on Drury Street. If you thought what we ate when we reviewed it sounded god, wait till you hear about the prawn agua chile with blue corn tostadas; Iberico pork cheek with a gooseberry glaze; and white asparagus with black garlic aioli. We might need a do-over.
