Maybe you plan to mark Cinco de Mayo with tacos and margs or perhaps a more chilled, restrained affair is called for. Whatever your pleasure, there are plenty of great places to dine out this weekend. Here are just a few worth serious consideration …
Row Wines, Dublin 2
You may have missed the boat on the genius Negroni and Ceviche Supper Club at Row Wines last week (as did I), but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t visit over the bank holiday weekend. Go for the beef tartare. Go for the folded flatbreads. Go for Gilda. Go for all the nibbles and stay for all the delicious cocktails, the wines and the general good mood enhancing atmosphere. With DJ til late on Friday and Saturday. www.bereenbrothers.com/row.
El Silencio, Dublin 2
On the subject of tacos and margs, there is no better way to mark a bank holiday weekend (and Cinco de Mayo) than a visit to the very cloak and dagger El Silencio to indulge in their two house specialties. The ambiance verges into dive bar territory, the drinks are strong and the music is loud but once you take a sip of the legendary Smoky Rita, you won’t notice or care. There are margaritas of all persuasions (eleven in total), the corn tacos are gluten free and made in Dublin and if you need a post-bank holiday pick-me-up, Tuesday night is Tacolicious Tuesday with all tacos just €6. Lean in, it’s worth it. www.instagram.com/el_silencio_fff.
Greene’s Restaurant, Cork
Speaking of leaning in, Greene’s restaurant in Cork has reopened with a brand new look, and a new menu to match. Reading the menu is like perusing a ‘who’s who’ list of Cork producers with dishes such as beef and Beamish stew, English Market chicken supreme, Jack McCarthy’s spiced beef, you get the idea. With produce like this on your doorstep, this is undoubtedly a no brainer and the interior revamp also looks fresh and verdant. www.greenesrestaurant.com.
Brighton Road, Dublin 18
The location of Brighton Road has seen a lot of flux in recent years, with Bistro One and Pala, but this restaurant appears to have settled into the space just fine. The neighbourhood restaurant of dreams, Brighton Road’s recent wild garlic chicken Kyiv special looked seriously good and is the perfect example of my kind of comfort food – but as a matter of fact, the entire menu is appealing. Lucky locals can avail of a small collection menu which runs five days a week and includes a pink rhubarb pavlova that I would brave the M50 at rush hour to try. Worth a trip this bank holiday weekend. www.brightonroad.ie.
Chili Club, Dublin 2
Located on Anne’s Lane, just off Grafton Street, The Chili Club has been a firm favourite among Irish restaurant goers since opening its doors in 1991. Over the years, it has amassed legions of fans who return time after time for dishes such as the comforting classic Thai green curry, the tamarind duck or one of the zingy Thai soups. Neatly falling between fine and more casual dining, the candlelit space is cosy and intimate with a touch of retro charm, making it the perfect place to unwind over the bank holiday weekend. www.chiliclub.ie.