Summer is the season for eating lobster. So if you have yet to indulge, then head to one of these establishments and thank us later …
The Seafood Bar, Dublin 7
There has been a lot of chatter in the food realm this summer about the newest seafood opening in Dublin, The Seafood Bar on Blessington Street. Little sister to the adjacent Wood Fired Café, The Seafood Bar is the perfect pit stop when gorging on boat-loads of fresh Irish seafood feels like a good idea. On my visit, we enjoyed the whole lobster with garlic butter and fries for €34 which felt like a bargain. Basic chips aside, the lobster is good and there is a plethora of other options if lobster doesn’t do it for you. Go early – and often. www.seafoodbardublin.com
Dax, Dublin 2
The lobster offering from Dax on Upper Pembroke Street is something a little different but nevertheless delicious. A seasonal Iona Farm courgette blossom is stuffed with Lambay Island lobster and Dublin Bay prawns, and served with lobster sauce. Served as part of the set lunch or dinner menu (with an €8 supplement), this is a dish worth travelling for. As is the rest of the menu. There is a reason Dax has been a mainstay on the Dublin dining scene for nearly 20 years. www.dax.ie
Little Catch Seafood Bar, Tramore
Lobster rolls and a walk along the beach is the stuff summer dreams are made of and up until recently, Little Catch in Tramore was perfectly placed at the car park by the backstrand at Tramore to offer this little slice of sunny heaven. These days, you will find them at a variety of pop ups and inside the gates of the old Tramore railway station but do check hours and location in advance. Wherever they happen to be located, the trip will be worth it as you sink your teeth into Copper Coast lobster and crayfish with rocket, lemon and herb mayo, all piled into a buttery brioche roll. Sheer heaven. www.instagram.com/littlecatchseafood
Mermaid, Monkstown
Mermaid, the summer pop-up and takeaway from the terrace at Bresson in Monkstown is only around for a limited run so if lobster rolls with lobster slaw, red pepper, iceberg, spring onion, Marie Rose and Old Bay seasoning appeals, you know where to go. Oh, and it comes with chips. It’s the perfect spot for a post swim snack, or just an actual snack. Or lunch, or early dinner. In fact, whatever the reason, just go. Go for the lobster rolls and stay for the scallops, the shrimp popcorn or indeed the ice cream. www.bresson.ie
The Seafood Café, Dublin 2
Niall Sabonghi’s Seafood Café in Temple Bar has been championing Irish seafood for quite some time and is a great place to go for a casual fishy date with friends. It’s an energetic, busy spot with a wide variety of seafood, including oysters, shrimp, and of course, lobster which is served with fries and garlic butter. Bonus points for the fact that the lobster is just €25 at lunchtime. The menu changes daily depending on the catch of the day, and with all seafood sourced from Sabonghi’s sister company, Sustainable Seafood Ireland, you know it’s going to be top quality. www.theseafoodcafe.ie
Other lobster laden establishments worth exploring are Hawksmoor and The Shelbourne in Dublin for the famously indulgent ‘Dublin Lawyer’, Marghadh RHA for the lobster special with salted duck egg, fish fragrance and hijiki seaweed and the epic lobster rolls at Lir Síbín at Native Seafood in Coleraine.
