From mammoth sandwiches and wagyu burgers to much-adored croquettes and the glossiest chocolate mousse, there is a lot to love about the recent restaurant openings in Dublin. This summer, be a tourist in your own city and add these new (and new-ish) openings to your must-visit list…
The Ultimate Pivot: Lotus Eaters, Dublin 2
So long Pig’s Ear, hello Lotus Eaters, the all-new Asian fusion concept restaurant from Stephen McAllister and Andrea Hussey. Described as a “more affordable dining experience”, the concept is aimed at a more casual menu in the same room where The Pig’s Ear once resided. A meal of crab omelettes, tartare toasties and Wagyu hamburger rice bowls washed down with a glass of sake feels like the complete antithesis to the current trend for Caesar salad with fries – and the chocolate Basque cheesecake looks worthy of a visit in itself. www.lotuseaters.ie
The Blast From The Past: Coppinger, Dublin 2
This weekend, the hotly anticipated return of Coppinger (the restaurant formerly known as Coppinger Row) will bring the Bereen Brothers Group empire to four, including the adjacent Row Wines, Charlotte Quay and Orwell Road in Rathgar. The original Coppinger Row closed its doors two and a half years ago to much public outcry, and while the dining landscape might have changed in that time, the appetite for the 2024 incarnation of Coppinger 2.0 looks set to be as voracious as ever. Purists will appreciate the return of spaghetti and meatballs but I’m planning a visit for the chargrilled turbot on the bone with garlic scape Basque dressing. Oh, and the croquettes. www.bereenbrothers.com/coppinger
The New York Deli Experience: Little Geno’s, Dublin 2
There are few things more satisfying than an epic sandwich and although Dublin has a few excellent sandwich options, this particular sphere of the casual dining world feels slightly lacking. Enter Little Geno’s, located in Grafter House, a new co-working space on St Stephen’s Green. Owner Scott Holder, who we also have to thank for Los Chicanos tacos, modelled Little Geno’s on the classic NY style delis found on every corner in the city that never sleeps. The branding is on point and the sandwiches are likely to cause severe challenges to your decision making skills. There are Reubens, Cubano, Banh-Mi, classic Italian, plus the New York diner staple: the bacon, egg and cheese breakfast bagel. Make haste. www.littlegenos.ie
The Elevated Thai Food Offering: Achara, Dublin 2
The team behind Crudo and Happy’s recently opened Achara, (in the former Happy’s premises on Aston Quay) to much excitement from the Thai food loving public (thanks, no doubt, to a slew of great reviews). The food at Achara centres around regional Thai dishes cooked over a charcoal grill, using the best local Irish produce. The menu showcases provincial Thai dishes, including grilled meats from northern Thailand and spicy curries from the southern region. The menu changes regularly but don’t expect to see a green curry on offer. www.acharadublin.ie
The Wine Bar Winner: Le Petit Renard, Dublin 6
Dublin certainly seems to be turning into a hub for wine bars and while they are abundant in the city centre, many of the suburban villages and towns are still playing catch up. It would be fair to say that Kimmage is not well known for the abundance of restaurants so the arrival of Le Petit Renard from Artybaker duo Romain Tessier and Suzanne Hodgkinson has certainly been a welcome addition. With a substantial selection of excellent wines available by the glass, Le Petit Renard is the perfect location for midweek tipples and if I can offer one piece of advice, it’s this – don’t skip the chocolate mousse with roasted hazelnuts and olive oil. Coming from someone who never chooses dessert, this is high praise indeed. @lprwinebar