Even with all efforts to make no major plans in December, your calendar will find a way to fill itself. Between work dinners, friend catch ups and family get-togethers, it's almost impossible to avoid mass-socialising, and while set menus can be very handy for group dining, we know a lot of you hate having your arm twisted into multi-course dinners with higher than usual prices. So we've looked high and low for the restaurants sticking with their regular à la carte menu during silly season...
Forêt, Sussex Terrace
Sandy and John Wyer's brand new French bistro Forêt (next to Forest Avenue on Sussex Terrace) has no intention of messing with their menu of classic French dishes during December. Apart from being ludicrously tasty the food is very well priced by current Dublin standards, and the room above O'Brien's pub is cosy in the extreme. Read this week's once over of Forêt here.
Coppinger, Coppinger Row
It's business as usual at buzzing Coppinger - if business as usual means a steady stream of new menu additions, each looking better than the one that came before. There is a group set menu for €70pp if you want to go that way, but otherwise you can take your pick from snacks, small plates, mains, sides and desserts like you would any other night.
Achara, Aston Quay
Achara aren't going to messing with a working model just because it's getting close to Christmas. There is a family style sharing menu for the banging price of €45 per person, but you can order their mussel skewers, basil chilli aubergine and pork belly moo hong like you would at any other time of the year. With these prices you can go a bit bigger on that beautiful wine list too.
Suertudo, Ranelagh
New opening Suertudo in Ranelagh sees Amy Austin's Executive Head Chef Victor Lara installed in the same position here - a very good omen. The menu is somewhere between the more casual 777 and the more envelope pushing Amy Austin with octopus chicharron, blue ceviche, and pink mole with smoked beetroot goat's cheese, and there's no change for December.
Hawksmoor, College Green
Hawksmoor does group sharing menus year round (and check their out those private dining rooms), but the à la carte never budges, and there's bags of choice for all tastes, budgets and diets. Go big with sharing steaks from the board or keep it simpler (and cheaper) with a Caesar salad and a burger.
Bar Pez, Kevin Street Lower
Easy going Bar Pez (from the same people who own Fish Shop in Smithfield) is focused on small-plates and iconic wines, and they wouldn't dream of enforcing a seasonal set onto diners in December. Pick from dishes like beef tartare, scallop crudo, and salt & vinegar potatoes, and when it comes to wine, there's no better time of year to treat yourselves to a special bottle.
Library Street, Setanta Place
The spend per head in Library Street is probably at Christmas levels year round - just try to stop ordering those anchovy choux buns, Flaggy Shore oysters and turbot head - it's impossible. If you have a gang between six and ten you can also take over the PDR downstairs, where they'll feed you until you're fit to burst for €85pp.
Amuri, Chatham Street
We love the laidback, fuss-free vibes of Amuri, where the food is as good as what comes out of the best Sicilian Nonnas' kitchens, with zero pretension in the mix. Their seasonal menu always highlights what's best right now, and December sees no change to proceedings.
Kaldero, South King Street
Usually we don't take a lot of notice of Press Up's new culinary ventures, but with Bahay's Richie Castillo in the kitchen, new opening Kaldero has our attention. Filipino, Chinese and Indian cooking are coming together under one roof in the old Wagamama site on South King Street, and with doors only opening at the weekend, there's no chance of a Christmas switch up.
The Legal Eagle, Inns Quay
The Legal Eagle is the easy breezy gastro pub that won't put any pressure on you to eat the way they want you to, as long as your table is for one - four people. There's a snacky bar menu, as well as a full à la carte, so you can do you boo. There's also a set menu for groups of five or more.
Big Fan, Aungier Street
The OG small plates and laid back vibes venue, Big Fan has never diverged from its roots, and if boss baos, jiaozi and rare featherblade steak with urfa chilli sound like your kind of Christmas catch up, get booking - they're continuously rammed.
Amy Austin, Drury Street
Before devising the menu for brand new Suertudo above, Chef Victor Lara made major waves in Amy Austin - formerly the wine bar in the car park, now a Bib Gourmand eatery that's constantly getting name-checked by the Michelin man. It's small plates central filled with ingredients you've probably never tried before, like anise velouté, soy potato cream, and bergamot yoghurt, and portions are small and fresh so you should be able to keep going for hours afterwards.
Little Washer, Glasnevin
Despite Dublin 9 getting a flurry of new wines bars over the past year, none have made their mark with food and wine quite like Little Washer. Their meatball subs, pizza and beef shin pappardelle have been magnets for locals (and non-locals willing to travel), and there's no change for December.
Kinara Kitchen and Kajal, Ranelagh/Clontarf/Malahide
Kinara Kitchen and Kajal are giving a nod to the season with their new Christmas cocktails, like the Cranberry and Macadamia Sour, and the Chai Hot Toddy with Jameson Black Barrel. When it comes to food though it's business as usual so all your favourites like the Nehari Gosht and the Goan Fish Curry are there for the picking, with whatever starters and sides you'd like.
