le other

Wok In Noodle Bar

I think I always associated life out of a sitcom with noodles from a takeaway box. I imagined life would change instantly with access to such packaging. Then Wak-In came along, the stir-fry bar of my fantasies, living up to my hopes and dreams. Once I was devouring a fresh box when a man stopped me urgently on the street. He was French. And sexy. He touched me lightly on the arm and beseeched me tell him where I ‘got  zose nood-eeeelz’. This is the Wak-In way. I guarantee it sparkles a bit of NBC magic over real life. The problem was that I finished eating and the fantasy stopped. So I never saw the man again, never casually encountered him at a laundrette or coffee shop. Maybe someday, buying another Wak-In, there’ll only be one portion left and I’ll look up and he’ll be the other customer and we’ll decide to share. Wak-In noodles - the perfect food to live out a sit-com fantasy. / Georgia

le other

Wall & Keogh

A tea shop that sells sushi, run by a man that looks not wholly unlike The Kinks' Ray Davies? Consider one's interest piqued. Tea and sushi may have a whiff of pretension but Wall & Keogh is without such redolence. Admittedly, the first time I walked into their beautiful outdoor area King Hipster was sprawled across the hospital bed-cum-seat like a Manet painting, shoes off, book in hand. But the Hipster must eat too. You can get nine pieces of fresh sushi with any pot of organic tea here for just €8. I ate like a Shogun and drank deliciously infused Brazilian Mate while admiring the decor and listening to owner Oliver's well selected tunes. At one point, King Hipster turned and nodded approvingly at me and like generations of Irish before us we silently bonded over tea. A completely refreshing dining experience. / Vernon Steel

 

le other

Saga

In case you didn't know; the hawker centre is the South East Asian equivalent of the ubiquitous Irish pub. It is a foodie Agora, social hub, and watering hole of the masses while SEAsian street food is really the best way to explore Asian cuisine. Imagine my immense Proustian pleasure when this Singapore girl was recently directed to Saga, a new Malaysian fusion restaurant found on Dublin's northside. Its menu gives a one-stop gastronomic glimpse of the region's multicultural street food, ranging from South Indian prata, to Thai Tom Yum, Hainanese chicken rice and Indonesian satay. Decor is uncluttered thus casting the perfect scene for homing in on the authentic hawker food. Best Dish: the Malay ones, especially the red chicken curry. Named I suspect, after a car: the Malaysian-made Proton Saga. / Elish Bul-Godley

le other

Konkan

restaurant

Dada

The buzz boost injected into South William street by the recent arrival of Bear has also helped shine some culinary light on Dada. Run by husband and wife Aziz and Eva Nouhl, Dada's been unassumingly delivering some scrumptious Moroccan cuisine in a charming and cozy setting. Starters consisted of the filo pastry mini cigar sardines with charmoula marinade and marinated chicken kebab and harissa dip. For mains we opted for the tagine of hake fillet and ginger marinade with scallions, tomatoes and peppers and the kofta meatballs. Plates empty, wine guzzled, it got the 2009 word du jour 'Yumsies'. Granted it was a tad on the quiet side so choose your seating carefully for intimacy rather than abandonment. However, there was pleasant and unobtrusive flamenco guitar being played this Sunday. Then retire to the wee smoking veranda and observe the Bear shifters and shapers. / Zach Joyce

le other

Ambala

There was a time in Dublin when an Irishman couldn't get 300 Indian pastries over the counter in time for his Bollywood themed wedding - we had them made by a local housewife instead. Those days are over. Cue my squeal of girlish delight and husband's relief when we stumbled upon Ambala with its glass cabinets and retro styled wooden shelving; heaving under an array of rainbow-hued south asian confectioneries and savoury treats. All ready to be picked 'n mixed into classy gift boxes or consumed in the street front cafe with a glass of Chai. Choose from Jalebi, Chamcham, Gulab Jamun or many other colourful calorie-friendly options including Ali G's favourite: Ras Malai. With Diwali and Halloween both round the corner, its a handy one for the season. / Elish Bul Godley

le other

KC peaches

Beginning life as a whole foods caterer, KC Peaches canteen-style restaurant popped up in pastel blue and mint green on Nassau Street early this summer. Occupying what used to be Fred Hanna's bookshop it has rapidly gathered a devoted and ravenous following. The idea is simple: queue up, pick a size, and cram your plate or take-away box with as much deliciousness as it can handle. The reasonably priced and generously sized portions bring to mind the childhood adage "your eyes are bigger than your belly." The food is comforting, healthy, and very filling. This, and a prime location opposite Trinity's Nassau Street gate, makes for a noisy and bustling atmosphere, cafeteria-like and somehow American. Also, coffee obsessives will be pleased to know that the coffee is good, and their coffee machine is nothing short of beautiful. / Alex Calder

le other

Keshk

Just back from our first dinner at Keshk Café Restaurant where chef/proprietor Mustafa Keshk is clearly enjoying having doubled his workload by opening a second restaurant. All you really need to know is that a diner at the next table called out, “See you tomorrow” to the staff as he left. I may join him. We started with the best falafel ever (chef puts this down to only using chickpeas and not beans) and fluffy goats cheese cubes on grilled courgette slices. Every ingredient in the oven baked prawns, okra and tender lamb tasted fresh, clean and distinct. I had the foresight to wear stretch pants; the portions are generous and the bill for two came in at around €50. For aficionados of the original 'Little Keshk' on Leeson St, often frustrated at not being able to get a table, fear not; 'Big Keshk' is just five minutes away. / Kay Scorah

food

Paulie's Pizza

Sure, it doesn't have the greasy-spoon edge that normally sets le cool salivating. But this Italian joint has bags of New York-meets-Naples attitude thanks to its frenetic, friendly staff who serve up some of the best pizza in town. And they might just give you a complimentary drop from their stash of special Italian liqueur if they like the look of you and if you obviously approve of the loud dance beats they cook along to. The doughy delights created in the open kitchen are designed to conform to real Neapolitan pizza standards by being made from Caputo 00 flour and wood fired at 450°. And they taste, well, fantastico. / Maisie

food

Good Mood Food

Oh my the pizzas are incredible. I can't get over it. How do they even get that amount of cheese on top of that crumbly base and perfect layer of tomatoey sauce. Good Mood Food is located off Leeson Street down a lane across from the Sugar Club. The building is an old cobblers, unchanged amongst silly towering office boxes. It's been converted into a bright and friendly space. Upstairs is quieter and the side area is more vibrant. Sit wherever suits your good mood. You have got to, I stress have to, try the pizzas. The salads are ace too, very satisfying, you just fill up your small or large container yourself. Mix the selection to your liking. What I really like about the food is that it all seems so healthy and fresh, even the pizzas. Oh, and they have proper coffee to be proud of and two choices of beans. Strong Costa Rican or Mild Italian. / Georgia

food

Terra Madre

All Italian women become their mothers - that is their tragedy. Almost all Italian restaurants in Dublin serve shit food - that is ours. We've all borne witness to the menu travesties of lasagne and chips, flaccid pasta and the dolours of dolmioesque tomato 'sauces'. Succour is at hand in the shape of Terra Madre, a tiny basement cafe on Bachelor's walk. Since opening, the place has been rammed with Guidos and Paddys alike and with good reason. These Tuscan brothers are serving up great flavours at modest prices. Begin with some bresaola wrapped around a fine dice of celery with good aged parmigiano. Follow that with Taglioni alla Gricia, a dish that features guanciale and pecorino. Finish with good coffee and a slice of superb clementine tart made by a big-bellied dalmatian called Mario. / Mr & Mrs Stevens

le other

Boojum

Ah the irony, that in these belt-tightening, gloomy recessionary times the Celtic Tiger's panini should be knocked off its throne by the Burrito - a whole meal, wrapped up in a piece of bread. A good blueprint of how ALL meals should be served. Boojum, in that corridor of Mad Mick Wallace owned Little Italy, is a laid back, friendly place. Where they won't laugh at you for not knowing what pinto beans are. Don't hang your head in shame, and grab your friends, a burrito and a beer, and hoist yourself up behind their benches for more banter than in an Old El Paso ad. Laugh at the fool who dares to risk the Salsa Roja when they can barely handle the Salsa Verde, and remember to purchase a bottle of water as insurance against being the one laughed at. / Kate Frances Coleman

food

M&L Restaurant

The Chinese are coming. What better way to prepare for the imminent hegemony of our fecund friends than with some of the best Sichuan food west of Chengdu. M&L Chinese, on that dismal alleyway known as Cathedral St, specialises in the great regional style famed for its use of bold strident flavours to produce deeply savoury dishes. Expect the intense umami of sesame paste, the elegant, numbing fragrance of Sichuan pepper and, above all, dried chillis employed with reckless abandon. They can be wary of round-eyes hereabouts so be sure to order from the 'chef's recommendations' if you want the real deal. Outstanding soft-shell crab, lightly battered squid, sublime dumplings. Douse the inferno with as many tsingtaos as you see fit. One day we will simply call this "food". / Mr & Mrs Stevens

le other

Neon

Neon has been flirting with me for a few weeks now. At first I noticed her neat architecture and subtle colour scheme. Then I saw her shutters being adorned with a bespoke piece of street-art, it seemed like she had eyes only for me. When finally she posted her menu on the wall and the finishing touches were put to her industrial but chic interior, I was chomping at the bit to try her take on Asian street food. Whilst the feel is casual, the food is good and keenly priced. The giant table down the centre apparently took seven people to lift it into place, and when it's crowded with people daintily choosing morsels from takeaway boxes with chopsticks it makes the place feel like it has been running for years. The free pull-your-own ice-cream machine was the final touch which won me over. / Jessica Hayden

le other

Lennox Cafe

Anyone who has stood in line to attend the Sunday service that is the Lennox breakfast can step forward and testify to its resurrecting prowess. More silver spoon than greasy spoon, the food in the Lennox comes as a price but packs more of a punch than its namesake Lewis. Now, breakfast devotees can celebrate the good news that this bistro has launched a new express lunchtime menu, for those in a lunch hour rush. Sample the sandwich and house fries (which are as big as door stops) for around the tenner mark or go the extra mile and order the saliva-enducing seabass and creamy potatoes for under €15. As with most dining experiences, the clientele are as important as the cutlery and here I ate while a lady in a fur-collared coat fed her primed toyboy and sharp suits argued the price of Orla Kiely wallpaper. Indulgent luncheon. / Vernon Steel

restaurant

Bear

Bear, on South William(sburg) St is the latest opening from 'Joltin' Joe (Crackbird/Skinfint etc) Macken and it is his most accomplished. With backing from er, Jamie Heaslip it's a grill room for people with Twitter accounts. The focus here is on chargrilled steaks and the toothsome, deeply flavoured cuts such as bavette, onglet and flank take centre stage. The room is industrially handsome, with Edison bulbs emitting a flattering glow. Start with verdant kale pesto or truffled egg mayo (served with peerless Le Levain toast) and then slice through your succulent viand of choice with beautiful Opinel knives. Service is gamine and attentive. Rumours that his next venture will be a vegan joint fronted by Michael Phelps and called Otter remain unconfirmed. / Mr & Mrs Stevens

le other

Brother Hubbard

le other

Dave's Woodfired Pizza

Home grown pizzaialo Dave Lennon has been a fixture on the farmer's market circuit for a couple of years now, and he's clearly been honing his craft along the way. We make a point of choking down a  couple of pies wherever we spot his jolly little mobile oven. Now, finally, with a bricks and mortar location, the man has raised his game. He's built a bee-hive oven in the Speak-easy cafe (formerly the ill-fated Sheebeen Chic space) and he has been knocking it out of the park ever since. This is Neapolitan style pizza, with a thin sourdough base and a pleasingly blistered cornicione (crust). The ingredients are top-drawer and seven euro for a small pie is good value. We favour the number 6, with capers and anchovies, preferably preceded by a sestet of frothy ales down the Stag's. / Mr and Mrs Stevens

le other

La Cocotte

La Cocotte is quite simply one of the most pleasant places in the city to luncheon. It's an appealingly spacious room with light streaming in through magnificent bay windows on two sides and views over the cricket grounds in Trinity. Choose from pain garnis (that's a sandwich to you), freshly baked quiche, soup, salad(e) or the plat de jour and attempt to order en Francais. There is also a monthly menu featuring regional French food. We ate shrimp salad with well dressed leaves and an authentically gallic aioli, Quiche Lorraine and a couple of super fancy desserts. Although we were jealous of the dowager at the next table with her ballon of rosé, we still left feeling replete and content. We will practice our French for the next visit. And our frenching. / Mr & Mrs Stevens

le other

Seven Social

Dublin's restaurant/bar scene has gone all ersatz living room. Whelan's has just opened a new after-show/members' space upstairs called The Parlour, which looks like what happens when someone goes mad at the Dublin Flea Market. And Emma from Donegal has opened the homely Seven Social restaurant in Smithfield where she wants diners to feel at home. With space for only eight tables and 22 diners at any one time, it's customary for Table One to be chatting with those at Table Two by closing. Emma does all the cooking for the Irish-with-a-European-twist lunch and dinner menus, a nod to her Polish partner Peter who works front of house. It's a pretty space with the city's most stylish outside loo; perfect for combining with a film at the Lighthouse. Emma's summation: 'It's a more reasonable version of The Winding Stair.' / Maisie

le other

Mr Simms

I'm chomping my gnashers with glee at the current influx of sweet shops that are popping up around Dublin. The latest offering is Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe. Candy cave comes to mind staring up at the floor to ceiling shelves that are crammed with every imaginable piece of sugary goodness. The counter is caving under the weight of boxes overflowing with coloured treats, even the exterior resembles a toffee flavoured candy cane. Sheer choice is a terrible thing, but I have my eye set on a box of Wonka's Runts, perfect for a mid-afternoon pick me up. Place is already packed with confectionery addicts and they have plans to open another four shops in Dublin in the coming weeks. Literally you have reached candy mountain Charlie, thankfully organs still intact, teeth, on the other hand, probably not... / Sarah Maguire

le other

Lilliput Stores

In the redbrick hipster-womb lalaland of Stoneybatter, there are a few institutions that keep the sense of community alive, and among them is Lilliput Stores. Packed full to the brim with major goodies that range from charcuterie to their very own The Good Olive Company, with products such as olives, oil and soap, this place is a treat not a shop. There’s also a selection of fabulously knobbly organic fruit and veg, excellent cheese and wines. But the main thing is the fuzzy warm feeling you get when you go in - chatty friendliness that will put a jaunt in your step for the rest of the day. In these sunny times that may not last long, take a Sunday morning ramble through the Phoenix Park and end up sitting on the bench outside Lilliput complete with coffee and croissant, and watch the world roll slowly by. It’s heaven. / Marie Claire

le other

South Street

Finding a decent place to eat in Dublin, after the curfew hours, with a menu that doesn’t say kebab, big mac or chips, is almost mission impossible. If there is one thing I miss about living in the Moscow megapolis it is the never-sleeping attitude. At three in the morning, you can get a table, meet a friend for a coffee, do shopping, even buy a drill. So, one night in town, not being a fan of Indian or Chinese fat smoldered take-aways, I probably would have expired of stomach frustration if not for South Street. It offered everything I love – tasty Italian food, good steaks, warm décor, reasonable prices, and staff who are courteous even at midnight. And just when the police start picking up drunk people on Dame street, my hungry fellow dancers and I can enjoy that late espresso and a gorgeous Black Forest cake after a gig. / Nadia Gativa

le other

El Toro Bravo

This is one of those hidden gems. Nestling on the corner of Portobello Bridge in a location previously occupied by various coffee shops this tapas bar offers something different from much of the fare on offer in the neighbouring Rathmines. Small and cosy it is also warm and welcoming and the staff always make you feel special even if you’ve only popped in for a glass of wine. However, that would be a shame as the range of food on offer is both mouth watering and delicious and begs to be tried. I haven’t managed to work my way through the entire menu yet but I’m slowly getting there and the reasonable prices and impressive portions make it seem rude not to keep returning. Although I’m loathe to share this place lest it becomes too packed to be comfortable everybody should definitely experience it at least once. / Frances Winston 

le other

Lolly and Cooks

I think we are all agreed that there's nothing like a good sausage in the morning. Lolly and Cooks know this and their stall in George's Street arcade have been creating a cult following with their 'savage sausage rolls' since 2008 and have now opened a second venture on Merrion Street. Perky staff and a salad selection to drool over (get there early before the flock of suits descend if you want a helping of their chickpea concoction) will ease the pain of the queue which is invariably out the door - testament to the fresh ingredients and decent helpings. Huge choices of meal deals, brick sized foccacia and daily hot pots will have you salivating, and if you're looking for something sweet try their massive range of "dublin's best cupcakes" in colours so whimsical they'd make my little pony blush. / Sarah Maguire

le other

Dublin's Best Burgers

As burger fetishists, we realised long ago that the only way to order consistently well would be to move to Manhattan. A drastic measure you might think, but there are few foodstuffs quite as satisfying as a well executed specimen of this humble sandwich. As classicists we like ours medium-rare with half-sour pickles, a slice of gruyere and raw onions. Read on for our top three in the city. All are priced around the €15 mark. At three - Fallon&Byrne - a solid, handsome burger, cooked medium and served in the most elegant dining room in Dublin. At two - Elephant&Castle - feted for its wings, their cheeseburgers are flavour-packed pucks of delight. Top of the list - The butcher burger at the Butcher Grill, cooked (whisper it) to order, these delicious buggers are up there with NYC's finest. Welcome to flavour country. / Mr & Mrs Stevens

le other

Ladurée

Food trends in Dublin seem to come and go fast these days. Last summer it was the cake on a stick and traditional pies. This year goat's meat, specialist beers and elderflower spiked everything. And according to Google, the infamous Cupcake is still on the up and up, making it the corporate go-to gift. You can't go to the opening of an envelope without an envelope-shaped cupcake being shoved in your face. Disturbing... So if you want a change and a real treat, then may I suggest macaroons. Not just any macaroons though - God no - Ladurée Macaroons.  An eye feast as well as a taste one - the packaging alone is delectable - there's a newfangled confection every time you visit. You can 'fake' a cupcake, but a macaroon is just to damn complicated . Long live Ladurée! Death to the Cupcake! / Rachel Ray

market

Dublin Food Co-op

The Dublin Food Co-op doesn’t get enough attention on a Saturday. Every week they combine their wholefoods store with farmers’ stalls to celebrate the joys of eating well. Local, organic fruit and vegetables feature heavily, along with breads and pastries, milk, cheese, yoghurt; everything you would expect from a good market. There is even a selection of fresh artisan produce. If you can’t find that particular type of Japanese mushroom you were after, then I suggest a quality caffeine supplement at the community café, or burying your troubles in the magnificent €8 vegetable plate. Everything fits snugly into the Co-Op’s headquarters, and while you won’t pick up on the trends that flea market Sundays bring, there is a surplus of community feel, which deep down is what we all really love about the marketplace. / Jerath Head

le other

Liston's

We’ve all been to the supermarket deli, tasted the bland mix of overly shiny vegetables and questionable meat, and felt the distinct need to be somewhere else. Liston's is not one of those places. The exotic aroma of a huge assortment of tea greets you at the door. The absence of fluorescent lights makes your winter tan less obvious. The staff are friendly, and with their denim overalls they give the place a farmstead vibe. You feel healthier just having walked into the store. The kitchen menu has an assortment of soups, salads and sandwiches, the ingredients for which are decidedly fresh and displayed in real bowls alongside wedges of actual cheese. My Devil’s Bite sandwich was made on a soft Turkish roll, with goat’s cheese, pesto, fresh salad and marinated roast vegetables. It’s deli food the way it should be done. / Jerath Head

Musashi Noodles and Sushi

It’s the first chichi Asian restaurant in Dublin in many ways – a necessary scout badge in order to rank as a cosmopolitan city. Situated at the bottom (as in near the river half) of Capel Street, which seems to be lapping up every good idea in town, this place is designed to look like a New York sushi restaurant. Done perhaps on the cheap, but still its very nice and squared off. The most important thing about Musashi is that its sushi rolls and selections are very fresh and beautifully light. The second most important thing is that they don’t have a booze licence but that it’s a BYOB affair. Which means it has a cosy atmosphere on top of being quite elegant and doing nice sushi. I sat next to a table of people who were having the time of their lives, one guy in particular enjoying a California roll with a side of Gin-Fanta. / Roisin Agnew

Mongolian Barbeque

The Mongolian Barbecue in Temple Bar takes the concept of the buffet, puts it on a high heat, chops it up with huge swords and serves it up to you with a bowl of rice. Yum. But before you hit the noodle goodness, remember the chief rules of food stacking. Numero Uno: Keep you flyaway foods near the bottom - yes beansprouts, I'm looking at you. Number Two: If it's relatively light but has a large surface area, CRUSH IT under a pile of noodles. Three: Remember the holy ratio 1 meat : 2 veg : Lots and lots of carbohydrates. Go mad on the seasoning and sauces, go for mild coriander flavours, hot hot hot Indian flavours or just chuck a load of things you thought would never go together, together, and you'll be pleasantly surprised. Pleasantly surprised and so full you'll waddle out of there. / Kate Frances Coleman

le other

Bite

Sometimes you don't want a load of awkward waiters hanging over you asking about the wine - the two of you fawning over a bottle like it's some invisible emperor's new clothes. Sometimes all you want is a stiff drink and a bite to eat, in a nice atmosphere.  That's just what BITE offers - 'posh' fish and chips and an array of cocktails to chase it down.  The menu is limited, but specialised, with so many tasty sides and sauces that you'll never have the same meal twice.  They're still smoothing out some bumps, but the atmosphere is cosy and personal and they also have a lovely concealed terrace if you just fancy a drink.  Perfect for a quiet date / catch-up and definitely for that Saturday morning hangover cure.  Unless you want a bad case of plate envy though, upgrade your chips to VVIP - they're epic. Get there, switch off, eat and...vegetate. / Rachel Ray

le other

Cinnamon Café

How to specify the essence of Cinnamon. Impossible, really. Among the many restaurants and cafes in Ranelagh, this place managed to sustain a buzzing crowd within two months of opening. Comprising a myriad of whatever you could desire makes their late opening hours ideal. A large square space divided by shelves of deli goods allows you to easily transition ’tween different worlds and you can spend the day dancing through flavours. Colourful wallpaper encircles lounge chairs in the chill zone, a spidery lamp lazily lighting relaxed conversations. Giant laundry pegs turns your attention to the kitchen in an elongated section for upbeat weekend brunches. Evenings in the wine corner adjourning the entrance provides the dinner setting, whilst the petite patisserie arrangement along the counter reminds you why you love Paris. / Amalie Christine Elvang

le other

Temple Bar Food Market

Saturday morning. No food in your fridge – just some beers left from last night. How to come back to life? Go get a burrito at Gustavo´s stall, or a box of noodles at Tasty Land, or shortbread at Noirin´s bakehouse. Temple Bar Food Market is a paradise for food lovers. Hotdogs, Oysters, Burgers, Crêpes, Dumplings…all kinds of dishes. If you´re a vegan, enjoy choosing the best organic products at the vegs and fruits stall. If you can´t live without meat, go to Rahara farm´s stall: Valerie will help you to decide which steak to take home. If you love fresh fish, buy it at Out of The Blue. And if your passion is sweet, don´t leave without visiting The French Bread and Natasha´s living food stalls. Slightly more expensive than Dunnes or Tesco´s, but so much of the selection is fresh, homemade, organic and/or free range. / Verónica Zumalacárregui

le other

BBQ @ The Gibson

BBQ? Totes babez. The Gibson hotel is onto something with their all weather BBQ. If you cant rely on the sun, you can rely on the quality food on offer in the typically chic surroundings of this hotel. Burgers the size of your fist, succulent baked potatoes and large sausages that will bring a cheeky smile to all around are the standard here. Those who prefer salads (weirdos) will be unable to complain, not because of a lack of iron in the blood, but because the homemade mixes are delicious. The sun terrace provides a mixed view of the city, and once you ignore the huge all seeing 'O2' eye and the haunted Anglo building, you can fool yourself into thinking that Dublin really is a metorpolitian bliss. But that's the benefit of being three floors up. Nourishing, good value and a great Sunday treat. / Sean Miller

le other

La Dolce Vita

It is almost impossible to transplant a culture into a new environment – one runs the risk of it becoming a New York style Little-something-artificialissimo or turning it into a language clique. But La Dolce Vita proves that the experiment can succeed. An Italian restaurant run by roman chef-owner Riccardo, this is the genuine article. The food is simple and Italian, no gimmicks to satisfy the Irish palette. Massively friendly, a little chaotic and quite small, the restaurant screens silent movies every night and have live bossanova nights every week. It manages to make being on the street late at night drinking wine and digestifs seem like a natural part of Dublin life. And if you’re stuck for something to eat they’ll get you a lasagna even if it’s late. So get your languid poses out and practice the art of dolce far niente. / Róisín Agnew

le other

Aussie BBQ

Often celebrated as sports enthusiasts and for their casual approach to sexism, our antipodean cousins are also rightly feted for their prowess around the barbecue. Toiling in obscurity for some weeks now, the Aussie BBQ is fast becoming a temple to all three. These guys are doing it legit, roasting whole hogs in-house and breaking them down for pulled pork sandwiches and tender racks of ribs. Burgers are cooked to order over charcoal, though you may wish to think twice about the 1lb 'Great White' - it should come with a side of colonic irrigation. There are booths at the back, big TVs and aussie beers on tap, making this the perfect spot to avoid the Bernard Shaw dilettantes. Service was quite charming, they are obviously still working on the sexism angle. / Mr & Mrs Stevens

le other

JoBurger (Castle Market)

Castle Market has always been a pleasant place to tarry, whether you're dining sur la terrasse at La Maison or just getting tight outside Grogan's. When the sun shines it becomes a sort of impromptu mardi gras for the painfully self-aware. The arrival of a new branch of JoBurger has just taken this shit to the next level. Located in the former Bedlam space, this is a restaurant that we can use. The three most important words on the menu read '...cooked to order'. Our juicy medium-rare specimens were served on over-sized Breton buns, we accessorised with excellent house-made pickles and a pert pesto mayo. The fries rank among the best in the city. Sit outside, order a bottle of 'Muriel' Rioja and marvel at the passing cavalcade of thumb-sucking fashion aspirants. Bigmouth strikes again. / Mr & Mrs Stevens

bake sale

Heartbake House

This Heartbake House sounds a tad more positive than my last one - post break up in a bedsit filled with pillowy cream cakes, whopper Belgian buns and snowy-topped London cheesecakes, with a bath, sink and assorted tupperware filled with salty tears and an Adele playlist. No fear though - the only thing that will break your heart at this event will be the weighing scales (industrial size) the next day, but who cares? Let them eat cake! For charity, of course. Monies raised will go to Spoonlight Theatre, who will also be performing samples of their work - it's nice of them really, catering to our sugar and cultural needs in one neat package! We'll be there supporting the arts in the best way we know how. [wipes jam stains from mouth]. / Cora Burke

le other

Café Brazil

My earliest memories are of balmy Singaporean afternoons spent playing to an aural backdrop of mum's Bossa Nova, Hermeto Pascoal and Samba cassettes. I remember watching the Brazilian 70s variety show Fantastico on the local TV station. My now-husband even clinched the deal on the first date by playing Jobim's Waters of March. Kismet continues to haunt me in the new hood via this cheerful orange-clad watering hole with the fab views of Portobello Lock. The display cabinet hosts an amazing array of Brazilian street finger food - savoury and sweet pastries not seen anywhere else, perfect for grazing to the free wifi. A delicious lunch menu also hints at popular dishes from their continent and Brahma beer is in stock. The girls also promised they will play more music from the home country. / Elish Bul-Godley

le other

Little Ass Burrito Bar

I remember a time - not so awfully long ago - when you'd be hard pressed to find a decent burrito in Dublin. It was a terrible age, because a) we were teenagers and because b) "el burrito" roughly google translates into HANGOVER FOOD OF THE GODS. Deprived. Stick 'em in your belly and let them soak up all the grime. As is the current trend of snazzy Rathminesian grub places, Little Ass Burrito has moved up on into the city centre. "Do we reaaally need another burrito place?", ask the doubting Thomases. "Duh", and "Shut up Thomas" replied everyone.  My lady friend recommends the Joanie Loves Chachi, but that's only for vegetarian pussies (Vagetarians). The chorizo filled So Co is the one for us the summer carnivore with Mojito hangovers (cheap Lidl Mojitos though). So tap it. Tap that little ass. Until a burrito comes out. / Karl Watson 

Wuff

I really didn't want to like this place. The increasingly conceited denizens of D7 have soured me with their carping about decent pubs, fewer stabbings and that chi-chi deli of theirs. No dice, Wuff had me at hello, and a couple of restorative mimosas banished the bile entirely. The comfortably industrial room is a very pleasant place to be, all down-pipe grey with tangerine accents. Everything is just so, right down to the tea-pots. The commendably well priced menus are concise, the dishes uniformly well executed. There was a very good breakfast, excellent fish & chips, a standby cheeseburger. Dinner is a little more ambitious, with a wine list chosen by someone who enjoys wine. This is the neighbourhood place you really don't deserve. We shall be regulars. / Mr & Mrs Stevens

Manning's Bakery & Café

Amid the squalid store-fronts of Thomas St, the smart facade of Mannings bakery shines forth like a beacon, a welcoming refuge from the hatchet-faced hawkers outside. For over fifty years now they have been doing something right. All human life is here, intersecting at the common purpose of sustenance. There are mauve-haired local crones, grateful tourists, men mouthing the headlines of their red tops and artfully jaded NCAD students called Suki. They've all chosen well, a recent infusion of young blood means that alongside the high-def bakery confections you will find some of the best sandwiches in town - try the roast beef & horseradish or the 'fresh & tangy' with chicken & fennel. Their brewer's breakfast is a tippler's salvation, smoked mackerel with boxty is delicious and unexpected. Good coffee, good pricing. Just good. / Mr & Mrs Stevens

Golden Olive

The Golden Olive Restaurant is one of the best kept secrets in the neighbourhood of Clonskeagh, frequented by non-muslims in the area as well as worshippers at the mosque it's located in because it's a self-service canteen restaurant open to the public. Eat your way through Arabia, Eastern Europe and South Asia in one fell swoop without breaking the bank. Their mouth watering halal smorgasbord of deliciousness also makes gastronomic decision making almost impossible under 60 seconds. The halal grocer next door also stocks everything you need to cook the stuff at home. You need to be patient when the brothers have to respond during the 5min call to prayer but... Alhamdulillah for new ways of Dining in Dublin! / Elish Bul-Godley

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Damson Diner

Water sorted. Doors open. Game on. Damson Diner has arrived. Almost a year since the South William shut up shop as a pub club, the salivating prospect of a new diner experience from the Bereen Brothers (Coppinger Row) and mixologist Oisin 'Wildberries' Davis is made flesh. Named after a plum which has origins in the east but can be grown in the west, this arrangement is fusing both sides on its menu too. The decor includes a herb garden wall, reclaimed flooring and exposed copper lighting. The menu is a choice of in a bowl, from the grill or bites. Front runners include the lip-smacking NY sauce accompanying the steak, seared tuna with radish, ginger and fennel and the Bangkok Chicken salad. Davis is infusing sloes, cranberries and whatever his foraging hands pick up for some select cocktails. Damnsogood so far. / Michael McDermott

food

Fade Street Social

Beware of the feeding frenzy around new restaurants. Amidst the shrill clamour for tables and desire to bask in the reflected glow of the current flavour-of-the-month chef, the food often becomes merely an overlooked bystander. This is not the case at Fade Street Social By Dylan McGrath. Here, all eyes are on the plates. In the sleek gastro bar, enthusiastic staff deliver a steady stream of pretty, petite portions bursting with colour and taste - modern tapas with an added Instagram filter. Try the pumpkin macaroni with spring onion and parmesan. They also make interesting things with fish, pork and lots of truffle oil. In time, they will open a classy formal dining room and the bar area upstairs is becoming popular for cocktails (try the ‘Strumpet City’). For now, enjoy the fact that a street space that was once derelict is now delicious. / Paul Trainer

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Asia Market

Durian fruit, live crab, a cleaver, frozen chickens feet, sea cucumber, fermented tofu, kimchee juice, a packet of dried anchovies and a giant lucky cat. Tick, tick and tick. Hidden behind a blankly glassy shop front on Drury Street, this oriental Aladdin's cave stocks pretty much everything you could need to cook properly authentic Asian food and sate your more obscure food cravings. We've spent many Sundays browsing the packed fridges and shelves, stocking up on dumplings, spices, noodles and magma-hot chilli oil while slaking our hangovers with soft-drinks that taste not-of-this-world. It probably explains the surfeit of attractively packaged, bizarrely flavored Japanese gummies in our house. Round-eyes are warily welcomed. / Mr & Mrs Stevens 

Oyster Bar at Temple Bar Food Market

It’s a Forty Foot dip, a pint of the black stuff and a Howth Head ramble. It’s the failsafe cure for the blackest of hangovers, the silver lining for my greyest of Saturdays, my guaranteed sunshine to beat the blues. Pull up a pew at Stephen Kavanagh’s oyster stall and give a nod to The Blonde. A glass of white wine appears (it’d be rude not to) and then a half-dozen plump, shiny, saline beauties, freshly shucked and quivering in naked anticipation. It’s not just that promised union of flavour and texture: heat, salt, citrus, slippery, smooth. Nor the banter. Nor the bustle. Nor the well-being creeping from inside out. It’s all of those things, all rolled into one utterly Dublin moment. It’s a pure joy. / Aoife Carrigy

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The Fumbally

For years, the corner of Fumbally Lane and New Street South bore the depressing and all-too-familiar declaration ‘Available To Let’; a derelict space with an abundance of seemingly obvious potential. Perhaps even more obvious, particularly to Luca D’Alfonso and Aisling Rogerson, was the poor ratio of hungry mouths to eateries in the area. Earlier this year they took the opportunity to rectify this by setting up The Fumbally, a hub of independent culinary and creative practices. In a few short months it has established itself as the Degrassi Junior High of Dublin refectories, a beacon for harbingers of trend and opinion. Not to label it painfully ostentatious - it’s a relaxed and unique café that serves equally well as a gallery space – but good ideas, great food and amazing coffee will always attract culture junkies. / Jerath Head

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The GreenHouse

A mini-loaf of Swedish rye and farmhouse butter echoing the comfort of sink-in chairs. Melt-away malt vinegar goujeres, ephemeral as the electric-gauze curtains which blur the speeding city. Custard-thick foie gras crème, apple crackers and smoked eel downed with a kick-ass dessert cider. Text-book cod with Parmesan mac and carmelised cauliflower. Liquorice-speared Sika deer with inky trompettes de la mort. Peanut butter brittle and citric sea-buckthorn sorbet. There’s only one place in town you could be, and that’s under the spell of Finnish chef Mickael Viljanen, a culinary magician who has wooed fellow chefs and food critics alike. Go budget for €30 three-course lunch – or go all out with a seven-course dinner and matching wines. But go. / Aoife Carrigy

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Urban Picnic

You'll know Urban Picnic even if you haven't eaten there as it is located slap in the middle of the le cool heartland of Georges Street arcade. It is the spartan day time food place where diners sit at hardwood benches pretending to listen to their companions while gazing at passersby through the floor-to-ceiling window into the arcade. What I love about it and perhaps contrary to the picture I've painted is that it is all about the food and there's not an ounce of bullshit to the place. Proprietor chef, Vinnie, whom you'll see there every day serves up a menu from panini to thai green curry at a €6-9 range that is simply the best food at this price in the city. / Joe Buck

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Dux & Co.

Previously known for being purveyors of fine food at the likes of Body & Soul and Baggot Street Bridge Market, Dux & Co have anchored on the quays. There's charm in abundance here with swings, flock wallpaper and glass frontage which gives you a wonderful view of the Ha'Penny Bridge if you bag the right table. On the food front, there are some hits and misses but all within an affordable price range. My mate, who was celebrating his Ruby Jubilee on the throne of all things hectic, plumped for croquettes and Piri-Piri on a bed of white bean mash with corn and green beans while I had opted for the crab gratin with leeks, aged white cheddar and white wine. All real tasty without scaling super stardom status. Our waitress Erin was as charming as the place itself and the bag of sweets aided our return to the cold. / Michael McDermott

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Peperina

I feel like Ranelagh is constantly trying to fatten me up. There are SO many reliably good restaurants and cafes. Peperina is slightly out of Ranelgah (located beside Mortons, Beechwood luas stop) so there's less temptation or decision to battle with and you can still remain sure of a dependably appetising and spirited meal. I had a late breakfast here, poached eggs, bacon and freshly squeezed OJ. I completely forgot that I'd just brushed my teeth and had a big gulp. Disaster. So I got a coffee too and it turns out they serve great coffee. Fun lighting fixtures as well. What else can I say? For one I really like the mix of produce for sale towards the front, gluten free, artisan pastas and well designed kitchen appliances. I just wish the weather had been nice enough to sit in the herb garden. / Georgia

News of the Curd

Kevin Powell and his girlfriend Danielle (a.k.a. the designer Robin) decided to use their Temple Bar home as a culinary hub of celebration for Irish food produce. Using seasonal ingredients almost exclusively sourced from Saturday’s food market in Meeting House Square, Kevin invites a small group of strangers to his flat every Wednesday for a simple Secret Supper. For a suggested donation of €20, you can enjoy a main and a dessert while soaking up Powell’s enthusiasm for Irish cheeses, meats, fruit and veg. Soon after their first News of the Curd supper club at home, they joined forces with Joy of Cha on East Essex Street to host Friday night Supper Clubs. As autumn approached, food writer Caitriona McBride came on board to help host suppers in unexpected spaces. Their next event is their Gentlemen’s Supper in aid of Movember. / Aoife McElwain

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Pho Viet

No, it wasn't a Siamese dream, it would appear that Dublin's Asian Quarter finally has some worthy Vietnamese food. The place, as the name suggests, is slinging out steaming bowls of Pho, the restorative noodle soup famed for its fragrant broth and subtle flavour profile. Pronounce it to rhyme with 'huh'. Their version, with rare steak and brisket, spiked with mint and chili, would do Saigon proud. Start with some textbook (cold) prawn spring rolls and finish with Che Ba Mae, a bizarre confection of coconut milk, palm sugar and water-chestnut gummis, served in a glass over ice. Excellent Vietnamese coffee, sweet and chocolatey, was soured only by our server's admission that he had also comped one to Tom Doorley. The charming owner sounds like he was born and raised down by the five lamps. He was not. / Mr & Mrs Stevens

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Wooden Spoon Café

The Wooden Spoon Cafe looms into view as a reassuring sign you've survived that blistering wind-swept climb from that coastal-surf-whacked Blackrock Dart station. She is a pair of matronly arms ready to swoop you in from the cold and stuff you with today's steaming pastries, latte or carvery roll. Previously named "Hunstons", home of the local builders' breakfast roll, it was a much-loved stainless steel-clad watering hole of Blackrock wage slaves. Now, all feminine and newly made-over with stripey awnings over outdoors decking and New England decor. Food-wise, she lives up to her Blackrock address with the likes of Ballymaloe relish pork rolls, couscous salads, gourmet burgers and sexy brownies on display. My fav touch? The plethora of personally scrawled specials that greet you. / Elish Bul-Godley

Rock Lobster

Naming your restaurant after a B52s song is both a good start and a lot to live up to. Situated above Kiely's in Donnybrook, Rock Lobster have made great use of a space with high turn-over right across the gastronomic spectrum. It's now bright and airy, adorned with graphic prints and comes complete with a staff who manage the art of friendly competence without leaving you feeling like they want to come home with you at the end of the evening. My better half & I both went for the steak half of the Rock Lobster equation and after a couple of less than satisfying cuts around Dublin lately (what can I say I'm a carnivore) my fillet left me converted. I'll definitely be back to try my hand at cracking open a lobster and more importantly sampling a cocktail or two. With several menu options to suit most pockets it comes heartily recommended. / Kate McEvoy

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Honest 2 Goodness Market

A seething wave of market envy and hipster foodie alarm radiated from us millenial Dublin 8-ers during our last excursion there. How DARE they occupy a vacant lot in a northside industrial estate all guerrilla-like outside our postcode! This foodie cool-lective boasts a chilled out Pantry cafe and toys for the kids to boot! Their motto; the au courant "Quality starts at the point of origin" says it all. Next weekend charcuterie and cheese platters, made up of market fare, will be served with wine by the glass and a wine sale continues. WholeHoggs are bringing chinese style pork ribs, Australian Farmers will be visiting and Neals Yard are bringing samples for punters dreading hayfever season. To top it off, they have also nailed it by being an indoor food market what with all the Global Weirding going on.../ Elish Bul-Godley

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Keyif

Arguments over the best kebab in Dublin could go on until well after closing time. Claiming one is better than another is as futile as suggesting there is one definitive pub for the best pint of Guinness in the city. Sure, there are preferable situations in which to imbibe the black stuff, but it ultimately comes down to a combination of factors. In terms of the humble kebab, those factors could be understood as the following: the succulence of the meat, the sauces, the salads, the setting and in the case of Keyif, the receptacle in which these bountiful temptations are served. Karol, the ultra-sound owner, is reluctant to reveal exactly what makes his homemade Turkish flatbread so divinely mouth-watering. Whatever the secret ingredient is that Karol’s grandma passed down to him, it is lip-smackingly delicious. / Simon Judge

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Dublin City Food

Monto, Pimlico, Phibsboro, Marino, Rialto, Casino (hm, technically Marino, but still...) and Portobello aren't just places in Dublin where you should hold on to your iPhone extra tight, but also as Dublin City Food's menu. Plastic primary-coloured school dinner plates have never looked so appetising...the sandwiches are grilled to toasty perfection, while the sides are criminally moreish (think red cabbage slaw). The ingredients feel fresh and bright, which you shouldn't dwell too much on, if like me, you sometimes drift into a dreamworld where the chicken you're eating is playing happily with its chickety-pals. The subway-tiled café is a slice of New York effortlessness, smugly facing Nando's with their overpriced roadkill and uninspired piri-piri everything, with staff who look and act like they're actually happy to be there, even if it doesn't get you a state pension. / Dusty