These are my favourite choices to dine out this month, from Dublin to Galway and Cork to Kilkenny …
Glas, Dublin 2
An award-winning vegetarian and vegan fine dining restaurant, Glas also became Ireland’s first fully gluten-free restaurant last year. Michelin recommended, Glas is committed to using seasonal vegetables and local produce to create sustainably sourced gourmet dishes. Two courses cost €45 (or €30 if you opt for the early bird menu), with new flavours such as flamed radishes with spiced sweet potato ice cream and burned parsley crumble to start, followed by saffron kohlrabi with braised savoy cabbage, schupfnudeln (thick dumpling style noodles), and sweet and sour romanesco. There’s also a good selection of vegan wines, cocktails and beers. No soggy veggie lasagne in sight! www.glasrestaurant.ie
Hawksmoor, Dublin 2
If you are eschewing Veganuary or dry January, but your friends are all in, Hawksmoor is an excellent choice for a please-all menu. At lunchtime, a steak and a side will set you back just €23, served with a choice of the Hawksmoor Caesar, spinach with lemon and garlic or sweet potatoes. There’s also oysters, lobster, triple-cooked fries and everything in-between. There’s also a great selection of mocktails or, for those who are ok with January indulgences, a classic martini is just the ticket to perk up an otherwise staid month. www.hawksmoor.ie
The Seafood Café, Temple Bar
Given a choice, Sunday lunch is always my favourite time to eat out, even over brunch (although I’m certainly partial to a Bloody Mary). The Seafood Café’s rave reviews reaffirm my love for lunch with a starter, main, two sides and dessert priced at between €35 to €55 per person. It also includes an aperitif (including the aforementioned Bloody Mary). This is what I call a no-brainer. www.theseafoodcafe.ie
Shouk, Drumcondra
The ideal place to meet with friends or go for a casual date, Shouk serves feel-good food, bursting with freshness and flavour. The whole roasted cauliflower has become an iconic dish and the arayes don’t disappoint, either. The Middle East feast is ideal for groups of six or more, with a range of Shouk classic dishes, served with hot drinks and sweets. The baklava is excellent, too. www.shouk.ie
Paradiso, Cork
Perhaps Ireland’s most iconic vegetarian restaurant, Denis Cotter’s Paradiso has produced excellent vegetarian food since 1993. It was dining at Paradiso many moons ago that I first began to understand that vegetarian food could be every bit as delicious as its meat-based counterparts, oftentimes better. Cotter’s cooking is likely to impress both meat eaters and plant-based diners equally, with dishes such as pumpkin and Templegall ravioli with lemon thyme butter, likely to convert even the most dedicated carnivore. There are both vegetarian and vegan menus to choose from, with six courses priced at €68. www.paradiso.restaurant
Cava Bodega, Galway
Fact: everyone loves tapas. What’s not to love? Small plates designed to be that size are mix-and-match heaven for those who have difficulty choosing (or sharing) dishes. The décor in Cava is cheerful and welcoming while the food is exciting and bright, too. The combination of excellent Irish produce with the sunny flavours of Spain is an unbeatable blend and the reasonable prices make an evening here well-spent. Daily specials keep the menu interesting and a selection of wines by the carafe is something I would love to see in more restaurants. www.cavarestaurant.ie
Nóinín, Kilkenny
Filled with vibrant dishes, brimming with the ‘feel good factor’ such as Bún Thit Nuóng – Vietnamese marinated crispy pork shoulder with rice noodles in a fragrant broth with pickled cucumber, fresh herbs, toasted peanuts, crispy shallots, chilli sauce and nuoc cham dipping sauce or harissa tagine with roast aubergine and chickpeas with herby giant couscous tabbouleh, garlic yoghurt, feta, pickled pinks and almond dukkah. Need I say more? Well, maybe just this. Tunisian orange cake served with Greek yoghurt? Yes, please. www.noininkilkenny.ie
SEE MORE: The 8 Best Gluten-Free Restaurants From Cork To Belfast