Call it what you will – a value menu, early bird or a pre-theatre – we all know the deal. Now is the time to take advantage before December hits, when the big bucks menus come into play …
Rosa Madre, Dublin 2
The self-appointed ‘Wolf of Crow Street’ knows a thing or two about self-promotion, but let’s be honest, Rosa Madre has earned a well-deserved reputation for the food and ambience, just as much as the theatrical sabrage. The pre-theatre menu at Rosa Madre offers two courses for €38 or three courses for €45 between 5pm – 6:30pm, Tuesday to Thursday. There are four starters, four mains and two desserts to choose from, with only one supplement for the Delmonico steak, which feels utterly fair. There are vegetarian options in both starters and mains, but I’m ordering the spicy pan-fried prawns with spinach and roasted cherry tomatoes, followed by the cavatelli with slow-cooked ragu and aged parmesan. Oh, and tiramisu. www.rosamadre.ie
Marco Pierre White Steakhouse, Dublin 2
At Marco Pierre White on Dublin’s Dawson Street, the early bird menu runs from Sunday to Friday from 4pm until 6.30pm, with two courses costing €39.95, and an additional course priced at €12.00. There are four starters to choose from (including one vegetarian option), five mains (also with a vegetarian option) and three desserts. My pickings would be the classic prawn cocktail, followed by the chicken paillard with frisee, confit tomato, aged parmesan and frites. No regrets. www.marcopierrewhite.ie
Ananda, Dublin 16
One of the reigning best Indian restaurants in Dublin, the early bird menu at Ananda is gracefully named, The Set Menu. The only hint at its value status is its time limit and even that is pretty generous. Offered from Thursday to Friday from 5.30 – 9.45 pm, Saturday from 1pm – 2.45pm and Sunday from 1pm – 7.45pm, three courses cost €45, which is pretty good value. Starters consist of a choice of two sharing platters, vegetarian or regular, followed by a choice of seven main courses (three of which have supplements) and two desserts. Rice and naan are included. www.anandarestaurant.ie
Glás, Dublin 2
Whether vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free, Glás has the menu for you. Oh, and there is also an early bird menu to throw into the mix. It’s a slim timeslot here, though, available from Sunday to Thursday, 5pm until 5.45pm (last booking). Two courses cost €30, or three courses cost €35, with a choice of three starters, mains courses and desserts, including a cheese option. Options include fried cauliflower with buckwheat hummus, almond crumble, celery and truffle vinaigrette and fried Jerusalem artichoke goat’s cheese frittata with braised turnip and mustard cream, which feels entirely seasonally appropriate. www.glasrestaurant.ie
Hugos, Dublin 2
One of Dublin’s most enduring restaurants, the pre-theatre menu at Hugo’s offers two courses for €37 between 5pm to 6.30pm, Monday to Saturday. The inclusion of Saturday (or Friday) is somewhat unique, considering most places stick to weekday value menus. While the menu is small, like most, it covers a lot of bases. Choose from a choice of three starters and main courses, although there is no vegetarian option for the main course. For my money, it would be the soup of the day (it is soup season, after all) with Guinness and black treacle bread covered in Murphy’s seaweed butter, followed by the braised Irish Hereford short rib with pomme mousseline, crispy onions, pickled cucumber and red wine jus. There is no dessert option on the pre-theatre menu and tables must be vacated by 7.30pm. www.hugos.ie
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