With so many restaurant openings in the last few months, it has been hard to keep track of every one worthy of a visit. Here are a few that you may have missed but should definitely book now…
Oxhorn Grill, Dublin 4
On Mespil Road in Dublin 4, Oxhorn Grill is one of those rare restaurants that open all day, every day with a great food offering. The lunch menu is one of the best value in Dublin, with an 8oz strip steak with all the trimmings for €19. If that’s too much for lunchtime mid-week, there is also a selection of salads and sandwiches, plus a market fish dish each day (halibut on occasion), also priced at €19. Any lunchtime main with a small soup is just €19.90 and the dinner menu, while obviously pricier, is also filled with tempting dishes such as lobster ravioli with cherry tomato, spinach, parmesan, and lemon cream. Lunch is served daily until 5pm while Sunday is roast day. www.oxhorngrill.ie
Pete’s, Dublin 6
After a long hiatus, Pete’s of Sandymount quietly reopened its doors at the end of January, much to the collective joy of locals. The reopening is likely well received due to the sudden closure of Mario’s in Sandymount a few weeks ago, RIP. Pete’s boasts the kid of menu that every neighbourhood should have in a local with a nice selection of wings, pizza, pasta dishes, grills and the burger of the moment, the smash burger. If casual ‘gourmet Italian and American bistro cuisine’ is something you have a hankering for, this could well be the place. Open Thursday to Sunday from 4.30pm with delivery and take away also available. www.petesonline.ie
Conlon’s Wine Bar, Bray
It would appear that the entire wine and small plates concept is here to stay and this makes me happy. Grazing on small plates and sipping wine by flickering candlelight is an immensely pleasurable way to spend an evening and Conlon’s Wine Bar in Bray looks like an excellent choice of venue to do just that. From peppers to pickles, parmesan to pâté, Conlon’s has nailed wine bar dining with a great choice of wines by the glass to accompany said diminutive plates. There is also a nice selection of spirits and cocktails from Dublin Cocktail Lab. This looks like the type of neighbourhood wine bar of dreams, it’s enough to make a move (or visit) to Bray seem like a very good idea indeed. www.conlonswinebar.ie
Mi Casa, Dublin 7
In the culinary hotbed that is D7, Mi Casa opened its doors last year in the erstwhile home of Fish Shop version one. The self-professed ‘bodega style’ joint offers a concise menu of tapas and small plates that tick all the boxes at a reasonable price point, and reports so far have been positive with sparkly service being mentioned on numerous occasions. Fairmental sauerkraut, Macroom burrata and Carlingford oysters are some of the heavy hitters that make the menu and an espresso martini on the dessert list is usually a good sign (as is the burnt Basque cheesecake). www.micasadublin.com
Mermaid, Monkstown
What started off as a much sought after summer pop-up has become a full time resident of the Monkstown restaurant brigade with a new menu to boot. Open for dinner from Wednesday to Friday from 5pm to 9pm and 10pm on Saturday, Mermaid also serves a brunch menu that will reignite brunch-love for even the most jaded palate every Saturday and Sunday between 11am and 3pm. If a fried gammon steak with old fashioned southern gravy, fried eggs, charred hispi cabbage, sage and mustard mash doesn’t inspire you to give brunch another go then you might just be a lost cause. Dinner wise, the focus is no longer fixed on seafood, although there are still plenty of fishy options to choose from. Traditionalists will love the hearty steak and kidney pie with a buttery baked potato while those of a less hearty constitution will no doubt enjoy the Kilkeel crab linguine. www.mermaidmonkstown.ie