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Why would I fly in and out of London in one day? Okay hear us out. It's the most exciting city for food in Europe (will fight anyone on this). Accommodation prices are off the wall. Maybe you have a child/dog/elderly parent that it's hard to leave for too long. There's no hanging around a hotel waiting to check in, no luggage to carry, and you can take advantage of duty-free prices. Plus, it's a fun-filled adventure, and for some reason feels even more boujee than if you stayed over night. How would I do this? The trick is finding cheap flights at the perfect times. You don't want to fly too early or you'll be the walking dead. An 08:00 flight (so a 06:00/06:30 airport arrival) is optimum, and should ensure a decent night's sleep (granted this is easier the closer you live to the airport). Look to get a flight home at around 21:30 and you could be home in bed before midnight. As of today you could do this wild day out on Saturday 27th April with those flight times in and out of Gatwick for €48.74 via Ryanair . What's holding you back? How should I plan where to go? The trick to making this all work is picking an area that's easy to navigate, and not trying to do too much. We suggest going straight from the airport to brunch, lolling around for a few hours shopping or being cultural, then heading for a late lunch, a cocktail somewhere suitably grand, and hightailing it back to the airport. What would you suggest? There are loads of areas you can hone in on, but we did London Bridge - Soho - Waterloo - London Bridge . You could also base your day trip on Shoreditch or King's Cross - both easily accessed from London Bridge. Travel Get the fast train (around 30 mins) from Gatwick to London Bridge. Head straight for brunch (all going well you'll make an 11am booking). If hitting the shops in between meals appeals, we'd suggest somewhere in Soho so you can saunter up and down Regent Street to work off your food, taking in all the brands you can't find here, as well as department stores like Liberty London . The Jubilee line goes from London Bridge to Green Park in six minutes, then it's a short walk past The Ritz to Piccadilly Circus. Brunch We brunched at Fallow (just around the corner from Regent Street), because once we saw these salmon belly royales there was an itch that needed to be scratched. It's on every brunch hot list right now, with its focus on "conscious gastronomy" and a room that seems to drip in coolness, so booking weeks in advance is necessary. Can't get Fallow ? Try Mount Street for breakfast Martinis and caviar omelettes; The Colony Grill Room for leather booths, duck egg hash and homemade viennoiseries; or Scarlett Green for a more low key, Aussie-style breakfast. (Mount Street, The Colony Grill Room, Scarlett Green) Late lunch Just around the corner from Liberty London (the perfect place to purge your bank account) you'll find newly Michelin-starred Mountain , which every Dublin restaurant owner seems to have eaten in over the past few months. Tomos Parry's second restaurant has the same 'food cooked over fire' DNA as his first restaurant BRAT in Shoreditch, and it's a Wales meets Basque country mash up, with Anglesey produce given the Spanish treatment. There's an in house butcher and baker, and bread, cheese and ice-cream are all made on site. This kind of commitment doesn't come cheap, so budget accordingly, Can't get Mountain ? Try Noble Rot Soho for miraculous wines by the glass and one of the best set lunches in London; Andrew Edmunds for the glorious London classic that never fails to deliver; or Bob Bob Ricard for British and French dishes in London's most glamorous dining room - complete with a "press for Champagne" button at each table. (Noble Rot Soho) (Andrew Edmunds | Bob Bob Ricard) Cocktails Stroll down through the theatre district, past Trafalgar Square, and cross the river over to the Southbank (or download Uber and book a cab). There you'll find Lyaness in the architecturally swoony Sea Containers Hotel - currently 54 on The World's Best Bars List . Ryan Chetiyawardana is said to be the world's most awarded bartender, and the cocktail menu here (called the "cookbook") is a drinks geek's dream. You probably won't even know what much of that season's key ingredients are (try mallow root, goose fig and rice-cream on for size), but that's all part of the ride. Then it's out the door and a 20 minute walk along the water to London Bridge for your train back to Gatwick. This is best done before the clocks change in spring for the full night-time skyline, but it's a beautiful sight year round. A 19:00 train will have you in Gatwick for 19:30, perfectly timed for your 21:30 departure. Can get Lyaness ? Try Bar Termini in Soho for the city's best negronis served by waiters in white jackets; Nightjar on Carnaby Street for the iconic East London speakeasy's first foray into central London; or The American Bar at The Savoy Hotel, to visit the oldest surviving cocktail bar in London, in very five-star surroundings. (Bar Termini) (Nightjar Carnaby | The American Bar at The Savoy) Then it's home to bed wondering if that perfect day out actually happened, and wondering if you could do it all again next weekend. Would you like us to do more London in 12 hours itineraries for different areas? Let us know on social or by emailing info@allthefood.ie .

What should we know about Georgian Delight? Even the savviest of this city’s food lovers might not have ventured into Moore Street Mall, the cavernous treasure trove of diverse eateries that sprawls out below Dublin’s famed fruit sellers. Mo(o)re’s the pity - this thriving basement arcade’s array of Brazilian, Bolivian, Balkan and more, consistently throws up top-tier value, so when we got word of a new Georgian arrival we couldn’t wait to get in. What should we have? We’ve waxed lyrical in the past about khachapuri, courtesy of Talbot Street bakery Ella’s Heaven - this bubbling boat of molten cheese crowned with wads of butter and a fresh egg yolk has rightly taken on the mantle of Georgia’s national dish. The steaming symphony of salty-sweet cheese and fluffy dough is regularly held up as a surefire cure for even the most stubborn of sore heads – it’s easy to see why. That most famous Adjaruli khachapuri is just one of the three varieties Georgian Delight offers, along with other stuffed breads that use the same dough. Lobiani was another we tried, this one rolled thin and loaded with a pinto bean mash, grilled to a blistered crisp and glistening with hot oil. It’s not in the same league as khachapuri – what is? – but it’s a good option for anyone seeking a lighter bite.   Khinkali are a great example of Georgian cuisine’s cross-continental influences at the intersection of Europe and Asia - these soup dumpling-style knots of thin dough come filled with ground meat in a hot broth. The traditional technique for eating is to hold them by their topknot and gnaw off a corner to suck the steaming liquid through. It might take some practice though, you’ve been warned. Speaking of steaming: there were gasps all round at the volcanic pot of lobio that arrived to the table next, bubbling with a vigour that made it look likely to erupt at any moment. This spiced red bean stew, thickened with ground walnuts, is a flavour feast we found ourselves fighting over, all desperate to get to scrape down the clay pot’s walls. We finished on kharcho, with chunks of seared and stewed beef swimming in a broth flavoured with cherry plum puree. This is surely the most distinctly different thing you’ll taste in Georgian Delight and mileage may vary – for our part, we couldn’t get enough of the intermittently sweet, sour, salty sensation. If not for the carby excess of the khachapuri and lobiani leaving us struggling for breath we’d have welcomed lavash flatbread or mchadi cornbread to mop it up – if you’re in for a more sensibly restrained lunch than us, be sure to get some on the side. Why should I go? For exceptional value, first and foremost - all of fed three to excess for just €45. With khinkali at €2 a piece and the most basic khachapuri costing a tenner, this is up there with the best bang-for-buck lunch offers in the city centre right now. The owners are actively seeking premises for a dinner spot, and based on our visit we should all be crossing our fingers it comes to pass. Georgian Delight Moore Street Mall, Dublin 1 instagram.com/georgian_delight

Ah, the business lunch – where handshakes meet gourmet plates, and negotiations unfold over plates of culinary excellence. If you're in charge of entertaining clients, sealing that lucrative deal, or just finding a place to celebrate the latest number crunch, look no further. We've circled back through our rolodex to bring you our guide to Dublin's best restaurants for those all-important business rendezvous... When you need to keep things formal: Dax, Dublin 2 Dax is a well oiled machine when it comes to the business lunch. With slick, professional service and quiet corners, it's perfect for those business meetings when you want to impress, or if you need a semi-private dining option. They offer set menus for lunch with two courses for €42, and three for €58, featuring chef Graham Neville's classic, French/Irish dishes, using top tier Irish ingredients from some of the best producers in the country. One Pico, Dublin 2 Another ideal option for a formal business lunch is One Pico , just off Dawson Street. Their silver service and linen tablecloths, complete with waiters who crumb your table, make it the perfect spot to go for a luxe lunch when the occasion calls. With a couple of set menus to choose from, you can have two courses for €39 or three for €49, or if someone else is paying, go for the premium option, with two courses at €59, and three at €69. If your group is over ten (that's amount of people, not age), the Polo Room upstairs holds up to 40 for private dining. Glovers Alley, St. Stephen's Green Just off Stephen's Green, upstairs in The Fitzwilliam Hotel is Michelin starred Glovers Alley . The service here is eminently professional, and Andy McFadden's menus are sure to impress any client from Ireland and beyond. Lunch options range from €65 for three courses to €80 for four, and there are lots of private dining nooks for those all important business meetings. When you want to show off Dublin's increasingly cool food scene: Forest Avenue, Leeson Street Forest Avenue  's tasting menu is the perfect silencer for anyone who thinks all we're good for is pints and potatoes. They open for lunch from Wednesday to Saturday with a three course lunch menu for €49, and a set menu means less faffing, more entertaining. Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen, Dublin 1 If you can manage to get a table, Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen is the  go to spot to impress clients from abroad. With two Michelin stars, Irish cooking doesn't get any better than this, and your blow ins will be well and truly blown away. Their three course lunch menu goes for €85 (which is pretty good value considering the dinner menu is just under double) and whatever you do, don't forget to summon the Irish coffee trolley at the end. Etto, Merrion Row Etto  have been knocking it out of the park since 2013 with their consistently great food, and we've yet to have a bad dish there. Bring your out of towners to show them just how impressive Irish cooking can be, and dispel once and for all the rumours that it's all boiled bacon and cabbage. Open for lunch from Thursday - Saturday, and be sure to book in advance in this 38-seater dining room is where dreams are made. Uno Mas, Aungier Street Like super cool sibling Etto , nobody leaves Uno Mas unimpressed. The Spanish leaning menu is full of dishes they'll be talking about for a long time afterwards, and you won't be distracted by any issues with service, wine, or anything else that could possibly go wrong. Amy Austin, Drury Street A wine bar is probably not the first place you'd associate with a business lunch, but recent entrants to the Bib Gourmand world, Amy Austin , open for lunch Thursday and Friday from 12:30. If your group is six or more, take the stress out of figuring out what to order by going with their group menu at €40 a head with their canapé style menu. A great way to bond with your visitors, as well as getting to sample lots of the menu. The Seafood Cafe, Temple Bar If you're looking to show off Ireland's incredible seafood, take your guests to Niall Sabongi's Seafood Cafe  in Temple Bar. From classic fish and chips, to a whole Irish Lobster, with some Kristal caviar thrown in for good measure (sure you're not paying), there's no way your visitors won't be impressed with fish this fresh. Open for lunch everyday from 12:00, you can also show your comrades the classy side of Temple Bar. When you need to celebrate something: FX Buckley, Various Locations With multiple locations open for lunch across the city, including Temple Bar , Pembroke Street , and Bull and Castle , FXB is a great spot to celebrate all things work related, from closing those important deals to retirement lunches. If one of their   world famous   steaks doesn't float your boat, they have plenty of options on the non red meat side of things, and it's an overall crowd pleaser so no need to worry about picky eater Sharon in accounts. Hawksmoor, College Green London giants Hawksmoor  know how to show people a good time and with their range of lunch menus, this place is a celebration no brainer. They offer their full à la carte menu  at lunch as well as an express lunch available Monday – Saturday until 18:00, with two courses for €29, and three for €33. With plenty of seafood and a vegan option, you can celebrate in peace knowing that everyone will be catered for. Cellar 22, Stephen's Green Perhaps you've hit your targets for the month, sealed that all important deal, or are in need of a well deserved "team building" lunch - whatever it is, it sounds like a glass of wine (or three - let's be honest) is in order. With over 25 wines by the glass and all the picky plates to go with them, Cellar 22  is perfect for a mid-day celebration. Grab a couple plates of their homemade charcuterie, pop them in the middle of the table, and let your hair down. God knows you work hard enough. Pickle, Camden Street With some of the best Indian food in Dublin, head to Sunil Ghai's Pickle  when you're looking for an excuse to get the work gang together to celebrate over a well deserved (company bought) lunch. Running Wednesday to Friday from 12:00 to 14:15, their two-course lunch menu is a steal at €28.50 a head - so no excuse for the boss not to treat their staff. When you need to get back to the office: Brother Hubbard, Capel Street Brother Hubbard's OG premises on Capel Street is a great shout if you're looking for good food, but need to be in and out. With zippy service and lots of seating (thanks to their expansion a couple years ago) there's lots of options for veggies, vegans, and meat eaters. Not to mention, they serve one of the best cups of Joe on Capel Street. Featherblade, Dawson Street Open for lunch Monday to Friday from 12:00 - 15:00, Featherblade is perfect for a sit down meal to impress, but when you have to get back to the office afterwards. They offer a steak sandwich and a smoked B.L.T as part of their lunch menu, or if you have more time you can opt for their starter-main-side-sauce-dessert menu, which at €38, is very good value. The Legal Eagle, Dublin 1 Just next to Dublin's Four Courts, The Legal Eagle have a dedicated lunch menu with options like posh sambos and soups that make for a quicker dining experience. With a focus on Irish food, they have daily specials featuring Dublin coddle, Irish stew, and seafood chowder - perfect if you're entertaining folks from abroad but don't have heaps of time. The Old Spot, Dublin 4 The Old Spot  is ideal for when you need killer food in a traditional setting, but don't have all day. With "express lunch" options like beer battered fish and chips and a wagyu and nduja sub, you can be sure to make it back to your desk on time after a impressive feed. Lunch runs from 12:00 to 15:00, with group menus available from €50 a head. Did we miss somewhere? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie .

Has any Dublin restaurant and wine bar encapsulated Dublin's rising cool factor like Note ? Since opening in October 2021, head chef and owner Essa Fakhry's bistro-style, casually cool cooking has made every Dublin hit list, gaining a listing in the Michelin Guide , and having The Guardian's Jay Rayner calling their food " bold and satisfying ". The natural-leaning wine list is reason in itself to jump on a stool at the bar, and along with Note's two other owners, Essa's brother Ahmad Fakhry (a restaurant designer - handy) and friend Andy Collins (who owns indie clothes shop Indigo & Cloth in Temple Bar), the trio have created a drinking and dining experience that's one of Dublin's most in demand. For our (stretched) money, Essa's food is some of the most exciting in the city - never boring, often unexpected, always distinctively delicious - so we're taking over Note for a special Sunday dinner on the 7th of April at 5pm. The kitchen will be serving their favourite dishes from the past few years, and if you've been stalking their Insta page but never actually made it in, you don't want to miss this recap of their best bits. This is an omnivore event (but the next event after this one is veggie friendly!), starting with blood orange and sumac margaritas, before moving onto our favourite aguachile, homemade pasta, that smoked eel dish and more (see the full menu below). Each ATF Insider   will be able to book for them and a guest - if you want to come with friends who are also signed up, just pop a note on your booking and the team will seat you together. The seven-course menu with a cocktail and coffee at the end is €65, with an optional wine pairing on the night at €65 also, or you can drink from their extensive cocktail, beer, softs and wine list. Here's what you'll be eating... Bookings for the ATF takeover of Note on Sunday 7th April open at 8pm tomorrow (Wednesday 20th), Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders will receive a booking link in their inbox. Don't forget to set an alarm if you want to be there as we're expecting this to go quick. You can sign up to ATF Insiders here .

March's giveaways are live, and with Easter around the corner we had to go hard on chocolate - and only the best will do. There's also Japanese brunch, an at-home pizza feast, all the pastries, and loads more. Our ATF Insider service is how we remain ad free, pay our writers, pay for our meals, and operate independently to give you the only advice you need about eating out in Dublin, so if you enjoy our content, you might consider signing up... Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders by midnight tomorrow, 17th March, will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on the 18th March. Here's what we've got lined up for you this month... 1) An Easter Chocolate hamper from Temptation Chocolates Award-winning, luxury Irish chocolatiers Temptation Chocolates are right at the top of our Easter egg wish list, with twin sisters Kate & Ruth O'Hara perfecting their Irish dairy/French chocolate combo. Their large, ultra-luxe, hand-painted Easter eggs come in flavours like sea salt caramel, banoffee and salted pistachio, and they've got filled mini eggs and bunnies too. We've got a ‘ Chocolate Lovers Easter Bundle ’ to give away this month, complete with luxury triple layer Easter egg; filled mini eggs and bunnies; the ' Chocolatiers’ Choice Collection ' hand-painted bonbons; and their luxury classic hot chocolate. You'll be working your way through it until Halloween. Check out Temptation Chocolates' Easter collection here . 2) A €100 voucher for Izakaya Japas & Sake We love brunch, and we love getting bang for our buck, so Izakaya 's new brunch offer, with five plates for €45 (regular value €65-70) is right up our avenue. It's available on Saturday and Sunday from 13:00 - 16:00, and you can pick from 14 dishes including ebi chilli, potato korokke and curry udon. There's also cocktail pitchers for €35, like sake punch, and lavender and lychee spritz, and loads of add-ons in case all of that isn't enough. We've got a €100 voucher for Izakaya to give away this month, and reckon brunch is how you should spend it. Check it out here . 3) A chocolate hamper from Clo Chocolates French chocolatier Clotilde Rambaud studied patisserie and chocolate making in France, ending up at a two Michelin-starred restaurant. After travelling through Europe she feel in love with Ireland, and her partner Tomasz in Sligo, so the couple bought a small bakery, Le Fournil . Shortly after she launched Clo Chocolates , using local Sligo produce and winning multiple awards from Blas na hEireann . Clo's Easter collection is now on sale with nationwide delivery, and we've got an incredible hamper worth €130 to give away this month, with mallow and caramel bunnies, Easter bars, gold medal whiskey truffles, a chocolate and marshmallow teddy, a sheep, a hen, and a large egg. You won't need to buy chocolate for a year. 4) A €100 voucher for Noisette Bakery in Rush It's hard to imagine what the people of Rush did for bread and pastries before Noisette opened exactly one year ago - you've got to be an early bird to get the good stuff around here, and expect a queue at all times. Owners Vaarsha Baugreet and Jeremy Pastor are busy baking new creations every week, like black sesame and blackcurrant cruffins, lemon maritozzi, and crème brûlée danishes, and if you don't live within reaching distance, a trip here may have you considering a move North. We've got a €100 voucher to give away for Noisette   this month to celebrate their phenomenal first year, and many more to come. 5) A €100 voucher for Toca Tapioca Those beautiful humans at Toca Tapioca  in Temple Bar have just reopened with a brand new menu, upgraded interiors, and an increased commitment to inclusive dining - there's new wheelchair access and spaces, and dimmer switches for Autistic visitors or anyone else who struggles with bright lights. We love this shining chink of positivity  in the centre of tourist town, and have a €100 voucher to give away this month to keep one of you in tapioca wraps, açaí bowls and guava cake for weeks. 6) A Sunday roast for two at Searsons Legendary Baggot Street pub Searsons has everything you could want from an Irish boozer, including a cracking Sunday roast. Choose between medium-rare Hereford striploin or a vegetarian nut roast, with roast veg, mash, cauliflower gratin, roasties and Yorkshire puddings. We're sending one of you in for a roast for two with starters, your choice of roast, dessert, and a bottle of house red or white wine, and we recommend bringing the papers and settling in for the evening as live jazz starts at 6pm. What a Sunday set up. 7) A €100 voucher for Umi Falafel Umi Falafel have been serving Dublin with the most wholesome, delicious Middle Eastern food at the best prices since 2013 - we never fail to be amazed at the quality:value ratio on offer here. They're now up to six locations in Dublin, as well as one each in Cork and Belfast, and if you need a reason for a revisit (or first visit) check out their new Umi burger, with a crispy falafel patty, creamy baba ghanoush and caramelised onions. The majority of their menu is vegan, so it's one of the city's best options if you're trying to avoid meat, or just add a bit more veg into your diet. 8) A chocolate delivery from Praline Award-winning Praline chocolatier, Norma Kelly, has just expanded her Mitchelstown café with a new  twenty-seater  confectionery concept. The Pastry & Chocolate Café (eh, hello) has an eye-widening patisserie range with desserts like hazelnut and chocolate mousse; and her award-winning Praline opera pastry. The chocolate counter is the other reason to visit, where Kelly's homemade truffles, ganaches, and caramels (featuring Munster produce like Galtee honey and O'Neill's Atlantic sea salt) can be enjoyed with coffee or boxed up to take away. We've got two of Praline 's handmade Easter Eggs (usually collection only) plus a gift box with €50 worth of her signature chocolates to give away this month, to celebrate the newest reason to visit Mitchelstown. Shop chocolate for nationwide delivery here . 9) €100 to spend on the new at-home pizzas from Dublin Pizza Company Dublin Pizza Company haven't set a food wrong since opening their Aungier Street hatch in 2016, and before Pi, Bambino and Mani got all the plaudits, DPC was the original go-to for Dublin's best pies. The hatch is busier than ever, but if you're not in the collection/delivery catchment area, you can now get that DPC goodness anywhere with their brand new at-home range, featuring some of their most popular pies. New stockists are being added each week, but you can find them in Fresh the Good Food Market, Higgins in Sutton, and Fallon & Byrne, who are also stocking an exclusive collab with their development chef Hugh Higgins. We've got a €100 voucher to give away so you can try the full range. Everyone signed up to   ATF Insiders   for March (new and old) will be automatically entered into the prize draw - you don't need to do anything. If you're not signed up yet join here  before midnight on the 17th March to be in with a chance of winning. You'll be supporting independent content in Dublin and beyond, and be able to get answers to all of your burning questions about eating out, here and abroad, directly from us.

Spring has sprung (mother effing finally) and we are beyond over the misery that was winter (including last week's springtime snow). With Easter falling in March this month along with Mother's Day and Paddy's Day, there are all too many reasons to get together and celebrate. We've rounded up a list the best places to eat over March, because lord knows you'll need them... For the grand aul stretch in the evenings: Bonobo, Dublin 7 Beer gardens are back baby! Well... very nearly. Enjoy the slightly longer evenings under the heaters on Bonobo's outdoor terrace with one of their killer cocktails (or a beer from their extensive list) while chowing down on some of the best pizza this doozy of a city has to offer. For some national pride on Paddy's Day: L. Mulligan. Grocer, Stoneybatter You'll be hard pressed to find a traditional Irish restaurant that's a) not gimmicky af, b) frequented only by tourists, and c) actually decent. We love Mulligan's dedication to the cause, with an Irish leaning menu full of the best producers our little green teddy bear of a country has to offer. From their All Irish Negroni featuring Valentia Island Vermouth ) to their black pudding arancini, Connemara moules-frites to bacon and cabbage the way it should be done, this eatery disguised as an old man pub is the perfect spot to celebrate our national holiday. To help rejoice our lack of snakes: The Winding Stair, Dublin 1 Another restaurant where you can embrace our nation's cuisine is the Winding Stair , who try to keep the produce on their menus as Irish as possible - and they do a darn good job of it. The menu features McCarthy's Black Pudding Croquettes, Irish charcuterie boards and Macroom Buffalo burrata, as well as Móinéir Irish Strawberry Wine, which you'll find on only a handful of wine lists in the capital. Grab a seat by the window and feel smug while watching the flocks of tourists crossing the Liffey to pay €10 for pints. To support the ladies on International Women's day: La Gordita, Dublin 2 Anna and Vanessa are slowly creating a Spanish empire in Dublin, and their second restaurant La Gordita was recently awarded a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide, which was no surprise to anyone. Go here, sit at the bar, order a bunch of small plates ( do not skip the fried aubergine with honey) and champion the chicks of our city for International Women's Day on the 8th of March. The Northside spot to bring your mammy for Mother's Day: The Washerwoman, Glasnevin A couple of minutes up the hill from the Botanic Gardens is the Washerwoman , brought to you by the same folks behind the The Winding Stair and The Legal Eagle . Head here with the woman who birthed you and treat her to brunch, with options like baked egg shakshuka, pancakes, The Washerwoman fry, and eggs Florentine. Added bonus of views of the beautiful Met Éireann spaceship/ building across the road. The Southside spot to bring your mammy for Mother's Day: Orwell road, Rathgar Another spot to be added to the Michelin Guide, Orwell road are pulling out all the stops this Mother's Day. This Rathgar restaurant are offering FREE MAIN COURSES for every mother that dines on the 10th of March. Hop to it, this one is bound to book out faster than your Ma used to raise a wooden spoon to your arse when you gave her cheek. For an Easter celebration: Eleven, Loughlinstown No other weekend of the year screams Sunday roast more than the Easter bank holiday, so head to Eleven in Loughlinstown and avoid all of the washing up. There's no lamb on the regular Sunday roast menu, but we're hoping they'll rise to the occasion. In case they don't you can dive headfirst into beef, chicken or pork, with Yorkshire puds, duck fat roasties, gravy, stuffing, peas and carrots. Be sure to start with the tuna tostadas - there is no trip to Eleven without them. (P.s. for parents, their website says they only welcome children over 10 but they've told us all are welcome and they need to change that.)

You can keep your supermarket bulk buys, when it comes to Easter Eggs we're going all in. Yes you might not be spending this much money on an egg for a smallie in your life, but you definitely should be on yourself (or on someone who'll share with you). The work that's gone into each of these is far beyond the Cadbury's factory - the blending, the moulding, the hand-painting, the truffles hiding inside - and we for one think you've earned one. Here's where to get an Easter egg to make everyone else's look rubbish... Bon Chocolatiers All year we wait for the magical day that Bon Chocolatiers release their Easter egg collection, but there's no wait as long as the one until Easter Sunday when we can break that Sweet & Salty open (okay we didn't quite make it to Easter Sunday in 2023 but we're really going to try this year). Their large egg range (€43 - €50, no price change since last year) features other flavours like Preztel Crunch and a gold covered Hazelnut Rocher , and new to their range this year are tiny eggs, in golden crunch and nutty whip (€16.50). Much of their mini-filled eggs are already sold out so hop to it. And here's the sweet and salty in all of its gooey glory. Temptation Chocolates Temptation Chocolates in Laois was set up by twin sisters, Kate & Ruth O’Hara, in 2021. The self-taught chocolatiers hand paint everything by hand, and their large Easter eggs (€45) come in sea salt caramel; hazelnut and almond praline; banoffee; and salted pistachio, and are available for pre-order only. They also do mini eggs (€4.50) and mini bunnies (€4), which also need to be pre-ordered. Bakeology Argentinean bakery and café Bakeology 's spoonable eggs are back for the third year, with chocotorta, brownie and alfajor options. They come in medium (€15) or large (€20), and can be ordered for collection from Friday 29th - Sunday 31st by DMing them on Instagram . Hazel Mountain Chocolate Hazel Mountain Chocolate have retired their famous Wild Atlantic Easter egg this year, with 42% milk and 70% dark eggs taking its place - the milk has sold out already, soz. They've got super cute Easter carrots too, and thankfully our favourite salted caramel Easter bunnies haven't gone anywhere. Shop the full range here . Bean & Goose What is Easter at this point without a Bean & Goose chocolate hare or geese (€25.50, up from €22.50 last year). There's milk and dark sea salt caramel goose eggs too (€22.50 up from €19.50), or there's a Hop Into Spring bundle if you really want to spoil someone. See their Easter collection here . Koko Kinsale Koko is the must stop chocolatier in Kinsale, and their hand-painted, milk, dark and white chocolate shells are the same offering as last year (with the same prices too from €20 - €28). They're on the simpler side of Easter options, but creme eggs, bunnies, and eggs in cups can be added onto your order. See their Easter range here . Grá Chocolates Grá Chocolates ' Easter eggs are super-sized versions of their truffles, in flavours like Lil' Bit Salty, Nuts About You, and Bee My Honey (€49 up from €45 last year). The hand-painted, thick chocolate shells are filled with caramel, nuts, praline and honeycomb, or there's a more basic range or dark, milk or white shells filled with truffles for €25 (same price as last year). Check out the range here . Braw Chocolate We're crushing on Limerick-based Braw Chocolate 's Golden Rabbit , with 40% Colombian milk chocolatem, a white chocolate and hazelnut filling, and an edible gold dusting coating. There's also Bren the Bear for the less flashy, with 40% Colombian Milk Chocolate and a biscoff rocky road centre. The Proper Chocolate Company Dublin's bean-to-bar chocolate company Proper Chocolate 's eggs come in two basic options this year - milk chocolate and salted caramel, and dark chocolate with Achill Island sea salt; for €22.75 (a mere 25c increase on last year). The b ean-to-bar chocolate company is made in micro-batches in Dublin, and t here's free shipping within the ROI on orders over €50. Lorge Chocolatiers Kerry chocolatier Lorge is an ATF fav, and their eggs come filled with the chocolates we don't need Easter to enjoy. Their hollow or filled eggs come in small, medium or large, and prices range from €10.65 (up from €9.70) for a small hollow, to €44.75 (up from €40.70) for a large filled. Shop here . Skellig's Chocolate It seems to be business as usual for Irish chocolatier Skellig's after being bought by Press Up, with their filled, solid eggs continuing into 2024. In a bizarre turn of events, filled eggs have done down a euro in price since last year and are now on sale for €29.50 (an ominous sign?), while you can get a small hollow once for €13 (the same price as last year). There's also a range of hampers available, including the ultra premium " Shell-Shocked " for €150. Buy them online or we're expecting good retailers like Sheridan's in Dunnes to have them too. Clo Chocolates Sligo-based Clo Chocolates was set up by Clotilde Rambaud, who learned chocolate making back home in France. After working in Michelin-starred restaurants and travelling the world, she fell in love with Sligo (and her partner who she met there), and opened a bakery and chocolate shop. The small business has won loads of awards, and their Easter collection is really well priced, with sheep, hens and unicorns from €14.50 - €15.95, and shipping at just €5 nationwise. Fallon & Byrne If you don't want to commit to a single producer, upmarket Dublin grocery Fallon & Byrn e have a smorgasbord of Easter eggs from everyone from Charbonnel & Walker (the former Queen's chocolatier) to a one off special made by Bon Chocolatiers of a dark chocolate shell with a chocolate salted caramel filling (€39). Shop their monumental Easter collection here . Have we missed any great Easter eggs? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

What should we know about Boeuf & Frites? That it’s something Dublin has never   seen before. That’s if the TikTok-happy duo behind this new sister venture to Boeuf and Boeuf & Coq  are to be believed (let’s not get into the irony of pitching a third link in a chain as a novelty.) "It’s the pared-back, price-conscious model that’s brand new!", they’ve impatiently insisted  across a flood of videos pushing back at the many sceptical comments that met their efforts to drum up excitement. All publicity is good publicity it’s said, and these two have made that their whole marketing strategy.

A power house collab, iconic Italian pasta in the form of a croissant, and a cosy fish stew for this freaky weather we're having. Here's what we most want to eat this week in our little ol' city.... 1) Massaman Curry Chips, Chimac X Nutshed The brand new addition to Chimac's menu is a collab with the peanut butter gals over at Nutshed . They're using Nutshed's Very Crunchy Peanut Butter to create the base for a massaman curry, adding chillies, lemongrass, garlic, spices and coconut milk. The curry sauce is drizzled over hand cut chips and topped with twice-fried, free-range Irish chicken breast, pickled daikon, roasted peanuts and chillies. Comfort food but make it high end. 2) Cacio e Pepe Croissant, Bread Naturally Bread Naturally have listened to the people of Dublin (who are currently all aboard the Cacio e Pepe train) with their newest creation. They've baked garlic, black pepper, Parmesan béchamel and mozzarella into a croissant. And once it's out of the oven, it's topped with more Parmesan for good luck. Cacio e Pepe everything please. 3) The Uncle Paulie's, Leroy's Sandwich and coffee truck Leroy's over at Merrion Cricket club is known for killer coffee and towering sambos. This week's addition to the menu is the Uncle Paulie’s, with Milano salami, nduja and lemon aioli, pickled chillies and iceberg lettuce, served on Tartine Organic Bakery ciabatta. Consider us bowled over. 4) Rhubarb and custard mille feuille, Elliot's Elliot's micro bakery over in Phibsborough know what's what when it comes to baked goods, and this rhubarb and custard mille feuille had us in a chokehold this week - just look at all those layers of super thin, crispy pastry and creamy rhubarb and custard filling. Get yizzerselves to Phibsbrough stat. 5) Bouillabaisse, Brighton road Brighton road in Foxrock's have just added that famous fish stew from the South of France, Bouillabaisse, to the menu, and theirs uses halibut, prawns, scallops and cockles. It looks like the perfect remedy for these chilly March days we're having. Pair with a crisp glass of white and picture summer incoming.

The last couple of years saw the closure of some of Dublin's best vegan / veggie establishments, like Kale + Coco, The Vegan Sandwich Company and Sova Vegan Butcher. Not great news for the plant based peeps, but we're here to assure you that there are still loads of great options out there, and most of them aren't strictly veggie. From casual cafés to fine dining experiences, we've rounded up the go to list for meat and dairy free meals... Cafés Bang Bang, Dublin 7 Bang Bang is among the cooliest cafés in Phisborough, with consistently good coffee, sweet treats and sambos, and they're always thinking of the meat and dairy free brigade. Each day they have different veggie and vegan options that are always killer, like falafel sandwiches and veggie brunch burgers. Little Bird Café and Yoga, Dublin 8 No prizes for guessing the two activities taking place in this spot - yoga and food, what's not to like about that combo. Little Bird  is a neighbourhood café in Dublin 8, with all food made on site using seasonal, mostly organic ingredients. Their menu is all vegetarian with plenty of vegan options so you can enjoy a feast after you’ve worked through your sun salutations. Our pick is the mushroom toast with a spiced carrot dip and toasted hazelnuts. It's A Trap, Aungier Street It's A Trap  is a fully plant based café on Aungier Street serving cakes, toasties and wraps which we can hardly believe are all vegan. They're famous for their cinnamon buns (check out their ASMR video ), which they took three years to create the perfect recipe for. Shhh - the meat eaters will never know. Urban Health, Ranelagh Just at the triangle in Ranelagh you'll find Urban Health - a health conscious café with plenty of options for all the veggies and vegans out there. Allergens are clearly listed on the menu and they have everything you could ever want to eat pre-dinner including granola, porridge, açai bowls, breakfast wraps, scrambled eggs (or tofu) on toast, salads, pancakes, toasties and waffles. They also offer juice cleanses, if you're feeling up for the detox. The Fumbally, Dublin 8 The Fumbally Café  is a true community of food lovers who come together to make delicious things. As well as a café and shop, the premises hosts classes, workshops, supper clubs - you name it, they’re probably doing it. The menu is always creative and chefs are generally given free rein, which has led to a number of our favourite products coming out of their kitchen (looking at you Harry’s Nut Butter ). It’s not totally vegetarian but has a nice mix of meaty and vegetarian dishes with options to veganise some menu items. Casual Bite Brother Hubbard, various locations Brother Hubbard  was one of the first cafés to fill the brunch gap that foodies were crying out for in Dublin when it opened in 2012. Since then, many others have opened but Brother Hubbard have kept their loyal following and reputation. Their bread and (dairy-free) butter is breakfast and lunch, but they've also branched out to dinner in two of their locations. Yves is their pop-up in Ranelagh, with a focus on French and Spanish cuisine, while dinner at their Capel Street location keeps in line with their Middle Eastern influence. There are tons of vegetarian and vegan options across their menus for all your meat free needs. Pho Kim, Dublin 1 Parnell Street restaurant Pho Kim  are a family run restaurant who moved to Ireland in the 70's, and have been serving up some of the best Vietnamese food in Dublin since 2012. They have a full vegan/vegetarian menu to cater to the herbivores, from spring and summer rolls to a veggie Bánh xèo. Govinda's, Dublin 1 The veggie Mecca of Dublin has been operating since 1997 with a Hare Krishna centre upstairs, but has long been a food attraction for non-Hare Krishna followers. Govinda's vegetarian and vegan Indian-inspired food is served buffet style, and is some of the best value around with very generous portions for €10 - €15 a plate. Shouk, Drumcondra Shouk is the type of place to bring your meat eater friends and family members to surreptitiously sneak some more veggies into their life. They serve up authentic Middle Eastern food in a funky space, and while there is meat on the menu, the vegetarian and vegan offerings take the biscuit. Order the 'Middle East Feast’ (vegetarian and vegan options available) so you can try a bit of everything – a steal at €35 per person when you see the amount of food that arrives. Umi Falafel, various locations Umi Falafel  is a mainstay of unfussy Dublin eateries at this stage, consistently delivering top quality food at very good prices. Their main offering is (you guessed it) falafel, and apart from a bit of cheese (halloumi cheese fries anyone?) the menu is predominantly vegan. It’s always a great option for a quick bite and they now have six locations in Dublin - three in the city centre, and one eacin Rathmines, Drumcondra and Ballsbridge. Nutbutter, Grand Canal Dock & Smithfield A Californian-inspired menu made with local Irish ingredients is right up our street, and Nutbutter gave us just that. Largely plant-based, their menu will make your mouth water with fresh and healthy tacos, rice bowls and salads, plus there's a plant-based soft serve for dessert. Lucky Tortoise, Temple Bar Lucky Tortoise  in Temple Bar is a straight up vibe - where you can get all sorts of delightful dim sum, from okky, to bao buns, dumplings to ramen. If you're feeling adventurous (or indeed, indecisive) - opt for their "all in" menu which is also available vegan or vegetarian. And at €26 a head, it's one of the best value meals in the city. Cornucopia, Dublin 2 An institution since 1986, we can’t imagine a list of vegetarian restaurants without the only decent option for Dublin’s non-meat eaters for many years. Cornucopia operates cafeteria style, serving plentiful hot dishes and salads in their spacious yet cosy restaurant. They operate every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so tonne of opportunities to get your veg on. Kerb, Foxrock Kerb  was opened by owner Shona McCabe after years of working in restaurants across Australia and New Zealand, picking up inspiration from the diverse cuisines there. On returning home she decided to focus on giving Middle Eastern food a modern, healthy twist, with a focus on kebabs, using the best of Irish ingredients. Kerb opens for breakfast and lunch with plenty of options for both veggies and vegans, and they have some of the best coffee in the locality. Maneki Sushi, Dawson St On Dawson Street, amidst the suit shops and string of bars that may as well all be Café en Seine, is Maneki Sushi , a cute little sushi spot that comes with a separate plant based menu. From vegan squid rings to Japanese hot pot, vegetarians and vegans won't go hungry here, and with on site karaoke you'll have an excuse to work up an appetite. Street Food Dosa Dosa, Grand Canal Dosa Dosa  started as a food truck in January 2020 (possibly the worst timing in history) but they made it work touring around Dublin serving Southern Indian dosas to the masses, and they did it so well they're now operating from two permanent locations - The Place Food Yard at Grand Canal Street , and The Crossings in Adamstown. They have a great variety of vegetarian and vegan food at excellent value, and we love their vegan potato masala dosa which will set you back just under a tenner. Janet's, Eatyard Eatyard  is generally a treasure trove for vegetarians and vegans, and Janet's  should be one of your top stops. Within their small range of dumpling and bao buns they've included some very tasty vegan options so no one's left out, and we love their vegan gyoza, aswell as the tofu bao. Shaka Poke, Blackrock & Baggot Street We've been big fans of Shaka Poké  since their festival and food market stall days, and we were thrilled when they set up permanent shop in Blackrock Market, and then expanded to Baggot Street last year. Somewhere specialising in Hawaiian raw fish might not be the obvious place to look for vegan food, but their ‘No Catch’ menu item omits any fishy additions, and they also have beetroot and marinated hoisin tofu to bulk out your bowl. Fast Food Token, Smithfield The arcade restaurant we all know and love has some of the best vegan fast food the city has to offer. Token have created a menu where pretty much everything that's available for meat-eaters is also available for vegans, including their nuggs, mac and cheese and even the garlic mayo, so you can feast freely before you work it all off on the dance machine. McGuinness's, Camden St McGuinness's is the vegan go-to post club haunt to chow down in after a night on the dance floor, or after a few too many Shirley Temples. With all the usual chipper fare for carnivores, they also have a separate vegan menu that includes the legendary Philly cheese steak made with seitan and cashew cheese. Who said vegans don't like to party? The Saucy Cow, Temple Bar We love the story behind The Saucy Cow  and totally understand where owner Roisin Lawlor got her inspiration – on her return from New York she was pleased to see an array of new vegan items on menus but nothing with sauce which can be tricky to ‘veganise’. She took matters into her own hands, creating a range of sauces and from there a vegan fast-food stand, then restaurant, serving burgers, fries and desserts. Read our two minute review of The Saucy Cow here . V-Face, Stoneybatter Another option for when you're craving a durty burger and fries, V-Face  describe themselves as "Animal Burgers made with Plants" and we would have to agree with them on this - these burgers are animal and we would easily choose one of these over a traditional meaty burger if we were in the area. Not to mention they have ice cream sambos, and six different flavours of milkshakes. Winner winner, seitan dinner. Flip Burger, George's Street Arcade Flip Burger (the brainchild of another vegetarian favourite Blazing Salads) opened in January 2020 after they received really positive responses to their vegan and vegetarian burgers at music festivals. They have a variety of plant-based patties served on organic seeded buns, and we loved them when we visited - particularly the focus on vegetables as opposed to pretending to be meat. Blazing Salads have now shut their Drury Street shop (hello Mani Pizza ) and are in here too. Special Occasions Fallon & Byrne, Dublin 2 While the Exchequer Street location is home to one of our favourite food halls to roam around and a cosy wine cellar, Fallon & Byrne 's upstairs restaurant is where you’ll find their best vegetarian offerings. There's a full plant-based menu available, using all of the great produce from the supermarket below, and with ex-Allta head chef Hugh Higgins now working there in development, we'd wager it's better than ever. Glovers Alley, Dublin 2 Michelin-starred Glovers Alley  has both a full vegetarian and vegan tasting menus , and is no doubt the boujiest on this list. With vegan dishes such as ‘beet tartare, hazelnut and dill’ and ‘mango, pineapple, lemon verbena and mint’ we would be tempted to forgo the carnivorous tasting menu for the veggie option ourselves. Priced at €120 per person it's one for those celebration occasions, but we reckon veggie tasting menus don't get better than this. Delahunt, Camden St We love restaurants that rise to the challenge of preparing a vegetarian tasting menu, and Delahunt does exactly this, but you need to pre-order so they can prepare. They say they can accommodate most dietary requirements and food allergies with a good bit of notice, and rightly so when punters are paying €80 a head. Another one for the special occasion list, but you won't be disappointed. 3 Leaves, Blackrock Indian restaurants are usually a solid option if you're dining with vegetarian friends, and 3 Leaves  in Blackrock is one of our most loved. They're closed Monday - Wednesday, with only two dinner services on Thursdays and Fridays, and we love their ‘Taster Thali’ menu, which there are vegan and vegetarian versions of. If you haven't already been it will take about two seconds for you to realise what all the fuss is about. Glas, Dublin 2 Glas  was once the only fully veggie restaurant in Dublin to make it onto the Michelin Guide (they haven't been included since 2023), and their menu changes seasonably (be sure to get the polenta fries if you can catch them). There's enough cheese on there to keep the non-vegans happy, and the terrace outside is a dream on a sunny day. Gursha, Dublin 2 Gursha started as an Ethiopian supper club, holding intimate evenings in the Cloud Café on North Strand Road. Luckily for all of us they moved into a permanent premises on Poolbeg Street, and don't expect demand to lapse anytime soon. Ethiopian cooking and curries use very few meat products due to religious practices, so Gursha is naturally vegetarian and mostly vegan bar a bit of egg. Big Fan, Dublin 2 Another cuisine that tends to work well for your vegetable loving friends is Chinese, and Big Fan  on Aungier Street are really going the extra mile for meat-free dining (heaf chef Alex's Mum is vegan so he's used to getting creative with vegetables). Their aubergine and beyond meat bao are every bit as good as the more traditional pork, the okra in ponzu sauce is outrageous, and you'll be thinking about the enoki mushrooms with garlic and chili for a long time after you've left. Hang Dai, Camden Street With a separate meat-free menu (you need to ask for it), Hang Dai is a solid option for the veggie and vegan diners. Their salt and chilli tofu is insane, and we've been stalking the nameko mushrooms with truffle rice for months. No need to feel like you're missing out here when you're giving the meat a miss. The Merrion Hotel, Dublin 2 If you're feeling foncy, get your glad rags on and head to The Merrion Hotel  for a meal in their Garden Room. Best-selling cookbook author Holly White has collaborated with them on a vegan menu that changes with the seasons, and they have some interesting options including a green gazpacho with a chipotle crema, a cauliflower steak with roasted red pepper and olive salsa, and a strawberry mousse with vanilla sable for dessert. Ring a ding ding. Did we miss your favourite place for vegan or vegetarian food? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie .

The pizza slice that says it's spring, a zingy crudo by the sea, and Bib Gourmand bites are some of the dishes that stopped our scroll this week. Here's the 5 things we most want to eat in the capital... 1) Scallop Crudo, Mamó We keep going back to look at just how pretty this new dish from Mamó is. Irish sea scallop crudo, pickled chilli, blood orange and coriander are served inside a stunning scallop shell, and once again proves that these guys know what's up when it comes to standout seafood in Howth. 2) Turbot Rib, Amy Austin The Bib Gourmand Babes aka Amy Austin are now open for lunch, and to celebrate, they have added a turbot rib with a Thai green sauce, organic puffed rice and coriander to the menu. Book early - they've been out the door since they joined the elites. 3) Spring Greens Slice, Mani Mani have gone full spring with their latest slice, aptly named Spring Greens . A spinach béchamel base is topped with tender stem broccoli, sugar snap peas, walnuts, Cashel blue cheese, and garlic & thyme honey, and mamma mia it looks good. 4) Basque Cheesecake, Featherblade This creamy burnt Basque cheesecake with blackberry compote at Featherblade looks almost sultry. Go for the €14.50 steak, but leave stomach space for this. 5) Prince of Persia, Beechpark Eco Farm Right next to Clonsilla train station is Beechpark Eco Farm - an organic fruit and vegetable farm, that's just starting serving sandwiches at the weekend between 12:00 and 15:00 - and what sandwiches. Check out 'The Prince of Persia', with Persian spiced carrot and onion fritters, beetroot borani, sumac mayo and pickled peppers on sourdough and beyond focaccia. Brb - hopping on the train.

What should we know about Benjamin's Hot Chicken? Benjamin's Hot Chicken took flight in lockdown when chef Ben Lowney found himself out of a job with plenty of time to experiment in the kitchen. He loved fried chicken, particularly the Nashville hot kind, and felt there was a gap in the Dublin market. They started serving 'sandos' at The Village Yard in Ballybrack, quickly earning a local fanbase, but when that closed in Autumn 2022 Benjamin's moved into The Vintage Inn in Irishtown, a lovely local boozer that hadn't been serving food, and probably needed to with more and more pubs saying their businesses aren't viable without it. What should we have? Pick between 'sandos' (thigh meat) and 'tendies' (breast meat), and there's always specials. There's white fish and vegan sandos if you're not a chicken lover, and sides consist of fries and slaw, with dips also. A special of tooth-crunchingly crispy BAM ( Black Axe Mangal ) wings came dusted with the London restaurant's spice mix, topped with roast garlic tahini, pickled jalapenos, coriander and shallots. It's a good dish, not lacking in flavour, but would have been better with a more generous hand on the tahini, which might have helped the shallots to stick instead of ending up in the bottom of the tray.   We had every intention of ordering the original hot chicken (mild, medium or spicy), but at the last minute swerved to the Middle East Feast. This chicken thigh came dusted with za'atar, and was topped with roast garlic tahini, sumac onions, parsley, pickled burnt chilli, shankleesh (Middle Eastern cheese) and zhoug (hot chilli sauce). There was nothing to fault about this burger, except that it was difficult to pass to anyone else for a bite. Every taste receptor in your mouth will go off with this one, from the juicy meat to the pickled onions, the creamy cheese to the chilli heat - there's no flavour left untickd. They have the batter, brining and frying down to an art form, and if someone could invent a bottom bun that didn't get soggy it would be perfect. Ranch fries come with 'secret and spicy seasoning', ranch dressing, pickled onions and bacon, and were hot and crisp, the ranch playing off nicely again the onions, with the bits of bacon like buried treasure coming up with every other forkful.   The one draw back of Benjamin's is that the chicken isn't free range. If Chimac , Cluck and Mad Egg can do it, so can everyone else. Chimac and Mad Egg's burgers are both around €2 more, which we'd pay any day for a better provenance bird. What's the seating like? The pub has plenty of seats (high and low) and even its own little snug. They also have a couple of big screens for sport and a nice outdoor area which we imagine is bursting on sunny days. Why should I go? Food options in Irishtown aren't plentiful, and being able to get pub food this tasty is a challenge citywide. It's a great stop the next time you want a few pints with some fuss free, flavour-filled food, and dog owners will be delighted to know that well behaved pooches are welcome. Benjamin's Hot Chicken @ The Vintage Inn Thursday - Sunday 74 Irishtown Road, Dublin 4 instagram.com/benjamins_hotchicken

What should we know about Karen’s Diner? It’s the stuff of marketing intern nightmares - your Boomer boss, investing more faith than finance into their basic bitch product, pops their head around the door and asks the dreaded question - “how do we make it go viral?” You want to cry out that engagement can’t be engineered, but apparently it can, because how else could Karen's Diner have clocked up over 32 million likes on Tiktok (and they boast over THREE BILLION views on there).

February's giveaways are now open for business, and between Michelin-anointed restaurant experiences, nights out with all the cocktails, and premium steaks, there's a hell of a line up as usual. Your support through ATF Insider s keeps us ad (and nonsense) free, and allows us to pay our writers and pay for our meals, giving you independent features and reviews about eating out in Dublin. In return we promise a host of benefits, including the chance to win one of these... 1) A tasting menu for two at D'Olier Street to celebrate their Michelin Star Dublin's got a brand new Michelin star, after D'Olier Street were added to the very small, very elite club , just over a year after opening. They've joined Variety Jones, Bastible and Glover's Alley in the capital's one star restaurant list, and with chef owner James Moore previously head chef at two-Michelin-starred Atera in New York, the writing was on the wall from day one . To celebrate the team's amazing achievement, we're sending one of you in for dinner for two, to feast on Michelin-starred French toast with Mimolette and lardo, and yuzo kosho cream with octopus and lobster. See the full menu here , and book here . (Prize redeemable Tuesday - Thursday) 2) A €150 voucher for Amy Austin to celebrate their Michelin Bib Gourmand No award matters to chefs and restaurateurs as much as a nod from the Michelin Guide , so it's safe to say the team at Amy Austin cracked open a few bottles of Champagne last week to celebrate their brand new Michelin Bib Gourmand . They join restaurants like Uno Mas, Spitalfields and Richmond in the category for restaurants offering good food at reasonable prices, with inspectors praising the quirky restaurant's "detailed, precise cooking for a reasonable price tag." We've got a €150 voucher to give away for Amy Austin this month which should get you all the black cod fritters, langoustine tails and black bean tamales you can manage. 3) A dumpling-making class for two at Lucky Tortoise - with four winners We're always looking for new things to do, and activities involving food are high on the priority list. Lucky Tortoise in Temple Bar are known for their great value, €26 all in menu, but groups can add on a dumpling making class too. They cater for up to 50 people, and for €59 each you'll get a welcome drink, chef demonstration, roll your own dumplings, and enjoy what you've made along with the rest of the menu once you're done. Vegans and vegetarians can be catered for, and enquiries can be made through  eat@luckytortoise.ie . We've got eight spots for their dumpling making experience this month, so we're going to pick four lucky winners ! 4) Feasting menu for two at Yves with wine from Redmond's Brother Hubbard 's Ranelagh pop up Yves seems destined to be more than a fleeting experiment, with feedback suggesting they'd be mad not to stick around. As if the €37.50 French/Spanish feasting menu wasn't good value enough, you can pop next door to Redmond's of Ranelagh to pick up a bottle of wine and enjoy it for just €10 corkage. You know we love a good deal, so we've got the feasting menu for two at Yves to give away this month, and you can head into Redmond's to choose any wine up to the value of €40 to bring in with you to enjoy with your Socca, Bombas and Beef Pot Au Feu. 5) €100 voucher for 9 Below How better to spend a dark, damp, Dublin evening than in a basement speakeasy sipping 'Black Pearls' and 'Flight Clubs'. 9 Below is one of our favourite cocktail bars, hidden away in the basement of the former Stephen's Green Hibernian Club, and its four intimate, art deco rooms offer plenty of options for having all the private chats while lounging on velvet sofas. We've got a €100 voucher for 9 Below to give away this month, which will get you through most of the cocktail list - just make sure you've eaten first. 6) €150 to spend at Warehouse's brand new supper club Warehouse Food Market has been serving the good people of Harold's Cross with groceries, breakfast, lunch and great coffee since opening mid-Covid. When we held our Bahay Filipino Feast  for ATF Insiders there it was such a great, laid back space for dinner, so it made total sense for them to start their brand new Saturday night supper club . It's all the fuss free, comfort food you could want on a chilly weekend night, with dishes like gruyère croquettes, shepherd's pie and gnocchi, and a beer, wine and N/A list. Three courses will set you back around €32, so the €150 voucher we've got to give away this month is going to go a long way. 7) The St. Patrick's Day experience for two at Urban Brewing With the lack of a strong national dish, we never know what we're supposed to eat on Paddy's Day. Bacon and cabbage? Beef and Guinness stew? Taco cheese fries? To take the pain out of March 17th, Urban Brewing are serving an Irish Classics menu that looks a lot better than your average Irish pub, with dishes like steamed Irish mussels with white soda bread, and Irish ham hock crubeens with mustard cream. The special St. Patrick's menu runs for two days from Sunday 17th to Monday 18th March, and we've got a table for two to give away, with an Irish dish, a Paddy’s Day cocktail, an Urban Brew beer and a brewery tour included. See more about St. Patrick's Day at Urban Brewing here . 8) A premium steak hamper from Francis St. We've got a Francis St. ultimate night in hamper to give away this month, with two of their large sharing steaks, candles, Achill Sea Salt, and a Francis St. chopping board to serve it on. The new premium steak brand (exclusively stocked at Tesco) have partnered with Mae owner/head chef Gráinne O'Keeffe, and when you scan the QR code on the front you'll be taken to a cook-a-long video filled with tips and tricks on how best to cook your 35-day matured Côte de Boeuf, or your 14-day matured chateaubriand. Check out Francis St. here . 9) A Dublin Coffee Festival prize pack Dublin's first ever coffee festival is taking place from Friday 1st - Sunday 3rd March at The Complex in Smithfield, with over 30 specialty brands to explore and taste, as well as treats to go with all that coffee. There's a full programme of events with talks and panels, a coffee competition, tasting room and workshops, and it's child and dog friendly. We've got a bumper prize pack to give away to one of you, with two tickets for the Sunday session of your choice, a DCF tote bag, t-shirt, cupping spoon, and a selection of microlot coffees from Bailie's - some of the best coffees in the world made in tiny quantities. Check out Dublin Coffee Festival here . Everyone signed up to   ATF Insiders   for February (new and old) will be automatically entered into the prize draw - you don't need to do anything. If you're not signed up yet join here  before midnight on Saturday 17th February to be in with a chance of winning. Winners will be picked on Sunday 18th.

What should we know about Rustic Honey? Deep within the concrete jungle of Cherrywood business park is a little sanctum in the form of Rustic Honey . Coffee nut Anna Shipley started off serving cups of Joe from a hole in the wall, before expanding into a full on bakery and subsequent brunch spot. They supply baked goods for places like Grounded , Glovers , and Two Fifty Square , and serve all day brunch on the weekends, as well as breakfast and lunch during the week. What did you have? Rustic Honey's brunch menu is well rounded, with options from eggs Benny to Turkish, French toast to waffles, as well as some sandwiches. There's also a bakery counter up the front with lots of pastries and sausage rolls (vegan and non vegan). We started with two items that came in roll form, the cinnamon and sausage. The cinnamon roll (which happens to be vegan) didn't scrimp on the delicious filling, but the dough was a little too dense. The sausage roll on the other hand had perfect, flaky handmade pastry, with well spiced sausage and a healthy serving of Ballymaloe relish. No better way to start the day. We find it hard to pass on Huevos Rancheros, and Rustic Honey's has crispy cubes of potato, chorizo, roasted tomatoes, fried eggs, sriracha mayo, and chilli honey. We had all the hopes but it fell a little short, with chorizo few and far between, and eggs fried hard, making it all a bit dry (god bless the drizzle of sriracha mayo). This felt more like a potato side dish than a main event, and at €14.50, we couldn't help feeling slightly swizzed. It's not often that porridge grabs our attention on a brunch menu, but Rustic Honey top their slow cooked oats with maple syrup, banana, berry compote, mixed seeds, and crushed biscoff. It tasted ultra comforting, with the berry compote giving it a nice fruity zing, but it could have been a little more elevated for the price (€8.50), by caramelising the banana or amping up the toppings. The brioche French toast on the other hand got a sizeable thumbs up, with the fluffiest, cloud-like bread topped with bacon, maple syrup, fruit coulis and fresh berries. The portion was a leeettle small for the price (€14.50) but it was a brunchtime dream. Their Smoky Joe sandwich was disappointingly back to missing the mark. Slices of chicken breast topped with applewood cheddar, slivers of chorizo and rocket on a ciabatta all felt a little nineties, and there was nothing remotely smokey about it, but it does beat Subway or Starbucks next store. What about drinks? Coffee is Imbibe so you should be in for a good time (barista permitting), and they serve the somewhat hard to find matcha, (as well as a blue version). Their soft drinks are pretty standard, with vit hits, san pellegrinos, and kombucha. Oh and a selection of monster energy drinks, if you're feeling spicy. Why should I go? Rustic Honey is a well needed addition to the area, and while the food is not something we'd travel miles for, it's definitely the best option and the most solid cup of coffee around. Rustic Honey Unit 5, Building 5, The Campus, Cherrywood Business Park, Dublin 18 rustichoneyfood.ie

Thank God. The longest month in the solar system is over, and now we can get on with looking forward to a bank holiday a month from here until June. From brand new Michelin stars to aperitivo hour by the sea, here's where you need to be eating in February... For that newly-crowned Michelin magic: D'Olier Street, Dublin 2 Dublin's got a brand new star. D'Olier Street has been added to the little and lauded gang of Irish restaurants with one Michelin star, and this is a team that's going to be buzzing for all of February (and beyond). What better time to bag yourself an early table (because that's all that's available) and sit through their 12-course, €96 tasting menu, with dishes like rabbit, char siu and salted daikon; foie gras custard with English muffins; and the now iconic seeded pretzel bread course. For the Michelin buzz on a budget: La Gordita, Montague Street Las Tapas de Lola 's sophisticated little sister La Gordita arrived on the scene almost a year ago, with its dimly lit bar, Bodega-style barrels, and creative takes on Spanish cooking. Head chef Maria Luisa Moraleda has bags of flavour talent, and Michelin agree, as they've awarded them a Bib Gourmand for 2024. The second most famous award from the big man recognises friendly restaurants serving good food at moderate prices, and ensures an uptick in business, so you might need a little more planning to get a seat there these days, but good things (like gildas, prawn tortillas and crab salad with crispy chicken skin) come to those who wait. For getting in early to the new kid on the block: Bootleg, Drury Street The cool kids have a new place to hang out, while eating sourdough with chicken skin butter; Iberico ham scotch eggs; and all the gildas from their * gilda menu *. Bootleg is more bar than restaurant, with DJs and Italo Disco nights, but with the head chef from Big Fan behind the food, we reckon it's going to be a party for your mouth as well as your ears. Get in quick before everyone hears about it. To be spoilt near the sea: Oliveto & The Parlour Bar, Dun Laoghaire We did it. We got through the month that's 562 times longer than all the other months. You deserve a little treat. Jump on the Dart to Dun Laoghaire and make your way onto one of the pink sofas in The Parlour Bar in Haddington House. Get there between 5 and 6pm for Aperitivo hour , and a complimentary snack with your exceptionally good cocktail. Then head across the lobby to buzzy Oliveto , for housemade charcuterie, gnudi in a brown butter sauce, and wood-smoked halibut with beurre blanc. Bonus points for booking in enough time to get a window table. To say goodbye to Dry January in style: Old Street, Malahide If you're finally off the dry, and have Grower Champagne tastes on a San Pellegrino budget, head to Old Street in Malahide on Wednesdays for a very generous 50% off the entire wine list. You're going here to go big, so maybe a bottle of Marguet Blanc de Blancs Champagne for €87.50 when it's usually €175, Matthiasson's Californian Chardonnay for €60 when it's usually €120, or Jean Foillard's Morgon for €32.50 when it's usually €65. Combine it with an early bird of three courses for €39 and leave feeling very pleased with yourself. For getting your pancakes in early Tang, Cumberland Place It's T-6 days until pancake Tuesday, so get planning before it's on top of you and you're overwhelmed with all the choices . Tang serves some of the city's best pancakes year round, so you get your fill at any point in February, and you can expect them to come drowned in seasonal fruit, yoghurt, honey, nuts, and their God-tier nutbutter. If it's a sunny day you might even brave their outdoor seating in lovely Cumberland Place for all the spring feels. For welcoming home an old favourite: Mamó, Howth The team at Mamó in Howth took January off for some round-the-world travelling, and are back this week full of 2024 energy and fresh ideas. From the team who brought us the cod chip and langoustines larger than a human hand, we're in for whatever they're cooking in February.

One of our favourite beats to cover about town is new openings , with the variety we see always giving an interesting insight into the industry headwinds. Sadly right now, nothing says more about what’s going on than the growing tide of closures. With difficult post-pandemic conditions only coarsening, a raft of changes that took effect in January, from increased minimum wage and PRSI, to a hiked hospitality VAT rate, has seen that tide start to grow to a flood, and it’s not just quiet newcomers hitting the wall. Here ’s the big news on what’s shut up shop in Dublin lately... Luna, Drury Street Originally opened by John Farrell, Luna never quite found its feet after reopening in mid-2021 under new management, with a series of pivots suggesting a restaurant struggling to find its niche. With stiff competition around that stretch from Farrell’s Amy Austin and taqueria Masa , it’ll be interesting to see if anything else steps up to the plate in this stunning space. P. Mac’s, Stephen Street Lower Candlelit fixture P. Mac’s shocked everyone with the news that it was packing it in last week after 11 years – if the gig is up for a place this established and busy, a lot of quieter places are going to be looking around nervously. It quickly emerged though that the space is to be handed over to the people behind Bonobo  and Kodiak , who will no doubt take the food and fun to the next level. The current form will close on the 11th February. The Square Ball & Fowl Play, Hogan Place Just a few weeks on from opening their latest venture in the form of Clanbrassil Street’s Board , BodyTonic have closed the curtains on The Square Ball, the Hogan Place sports bar that often ploughed a similar board game furrow outside of match times. Their other outlets Bernard Shaw , Back Page  and Wigwam  all look to be carrying on apace; meanwhile this site will be under new management in the coming weeks. Their barbecue chicken restaurant Fowl Play is also gone, but you can still find it in The Back Page in Phibsborough. Peperina, Ranelagh and Portobello Peperina ’s short-lived stint in the city has come to a sad end, with the new Portobello space folding just six months in, and taking the Ranelagh OG, open for all of twelve years, with it. The newer site had got off to a rough start with mixed reviews and poor passing trade, but both going down wasn’t one we saw coming. Their website says they're closed for renovations, but staff have been let go. Michie Sushi, Ranelagh One of the longest-standing outlets to fall in recent times, Michie  has said goodbye to its home in Ranelagh after a staggering 17 years. Fans of its sushi offerings have some relief as the other locations in Dun Laoghaire and Sandyford remain open as usual. Bread 41's Eatery, Pearse Street Fear not: Bread 41  is going nowhere, with the bakery as busy and bustling as ever, but they’ve decided to call time on their upstairs eatery serving brunch and lunch and head back to basics – not that basic is a word you’d ever associate with baking like this. It’s as grim a sign as any on this list, given the sit-down space was always hopping - the sums just aren’t stacking up for all too many. Duck, Fade Street Duck on Fade Street announced their closure just b efore Christmas, saying that " the space limitations and practicalities of the property have made it too difficult to operate and remain compliant at the level that the demand requires without some major changes. " There was much sadness amongst their fans, until the news came out that they were closed down by the HSE for a litany of health and safety infractions (that you won't want to read about while eating). They say they hope to reopen in a new form. The Baths, Clontarf The Baths in Clontarf had a chequered start, with locals protesting that the restaurant opened while the swimming baths remained closed. The restaurant had mediocre reviews over its time, often criticised for being over-priced for its offering, and it closed before Christmas for "renovations". It's now been confirmed that the site has been sold to a hospitality group with restaurants and hotels in Dublin and Belfast, and several sources have told us it's Nolaclan , the group behind House and 9 Below. Mario's, Sandymount Mario's Italian in Sandymount quietly stopped trading in the middle of January, and initially the news spread that all three of their restaurants (Ranelagh and Terenure also) had shut, but the latter two have continued trading. On OpenTable the Sandymount listing says " We are very sad, but due to the economic climate unfortunately we have to see striding (sic - we presume they mean stop trading) . We would like to thank all of our customers for their support throughout these years. " Tolteca, various locations We’re long past canaries in the coalmine with high-profile casualties like this - burrito chain Tolteca posted losses of nearly a quarter of a million last year across its four Dublin outlets, and after a decade of solid business they’re not seeing much light at the end of the tunnel. That this kind of once-reliable model is stuttering too now says it all. Stone, Stoneybatter Stoneybatter pizzeria Stone was one of the unlucky few to open what felt like just days before Covid landed in 2020, but managed to weather that storm and build up a decent following once things got back into the swing. Even so, the same owners are repackaging the space as a Korean restaurant, with a banner outside declaring “Stone Korea coming soon”. It’s probably more trading on the name than promising a fusion joint – though we’d absolutely give kimchi-filled crusts a go. Storyboard, Islandbridge After seven years serving up great quality brunch and lunch to the residents of Islandbridge’s Clancy Quay development (and plenty more who came on foot of the good word), Storyboard has called it a day. Another example of a place where there weren’t exactly an abundance of empty seats, we can only assume costs got too much to manage. All My Friends, Meath Street Bad news for Dublin’s LGBTQ+ community as the city’s newest bar brings down the shutters for the final time, not much more than a year on from opening its doors. All My Friends had big plans to expand its food menu beyond the excellent toasties it offered, but the multiple increased costs 2024 brought put paid to all that. They didn’t hold back landing the blame squarely at the government's feet. Drip Coffee, Clanbrassil Street Barely six weeks after taking over the space previously home to Clanbrassil Coffee Shop, Drip Coffee have announced their exit, citing frustration at the insecurity of the rolling monthly lease they’d been offered. They’re actively on the lookout for a new, more reliable home. Kale + Coco, Stoneybatter The emotional toll behind every one of these closure blurbs was well summed up by Kale + Coco owner Rebecca Feely in this article , who rightly fears a future of chains being the only operations who can afford to survive in this environment. The pressure of making ends meet has forced her hand in shutting the Stoneybatter site, which is due to see new tenants set up soon. Sal y Pepa, Cornelscourt Cornelscourt food truck Sal y Pepa  had one of the sadder sayonara posts we’ve seen of late with this screengrab ad of the trailer up for sale. Maria Garcia’s tapas venture had racked up some impressive reviews over its less than a year in operation, before saying they were closing in November . We were hoping they would reappear elsewhere, but it seems it wasn’t to be. Know of any other Dublin restaurant closures? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie .

Dublin has a new Michelin-starred restaurant, as D'Olier Street joins Variety Jones , Bastible and Glover's Alley in the acclaimed club after this evening's 2024 Michelin awards ceremony. Owner and head chef James Moore had previously been head chef at two-Michelin-starred Atera in New York, so expectations were very high since he opened the restaurant with wife Jane Frye (who diners will know from front of house) and business partner Anthony Smith (who also owns Mr Fox ) just over a year ago in December 2022. The guide said the restaurant "boosts Dublin’s dining scene with visually striking and technically accomplished dishes." A second new one star went to The Bishop's Buttery in the five-star Cashel Palace Hotel, lead by head chef Stefan McEnteer. The guide said the restaurant " offers top-quality produce and great natural flavours to Cashel Palace Hotel. " A third new one star for Ireland was awarded to Homestead Cottage in Doolin, which only opened last summer. Owned and run by Robbie McCauley, formerly head chef at Gregan's Castle , inspectors praised his " delicious cooking (which) makes a visit to the rural west coast all the more appealing." The country also has a new two-star, as Terre in Castlemartyr Hotel in Cork was upgraded from last year's one, which it was awarded within months of opening. The guide said, " Vincent Crepel and his kitchen team have made impressively quick work of crafting a bold, assuredly two Stars experience." Despite predictions from many sides, Library Street , Allta , Uno Mas , One Pico , Mae , Lignum and more continue to be passed over for a star, and the inspectors have yet to decide Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen will be Ireland's first three-star restaurant - something critics have been shouting for since it opened. No restaurants in Ireland have lost stars this year, but Aimsir in Kildare has been removed from the guide as it's not currently open. The Wild Honey Inn in Clare is still listed as having one star in the guide, despite the fact that the website says they will not be serving dinner this season. Someone must have forgotten to tell the inspectors.

What should we know about Tacos Lupillo? Just a month on from opening, Tacos Lupillo has built a strong following off the back of overwhelmingly positive Mexican expat reviews, and a snaking queue leading from an unmarked pink door that can’t but catch the eye of anyone passing by. Tacos were the family trade of chef and owner Jose Guadalupe Zamudio back in Mexico, and now he’s sought to bring those true-to-home flavours to this unlikely Inchicore outlet. What should we have? A smart plan for when to visit, if the evening and weekend crowds that gather here continue. Tacos Lupillo has taken off at furious pace, and if you time things badly you could be a long while waiting to get your order in, You’ll also have next to no chance of snagging one of the four small seating spaces inside, although Cleary’s, the old-fashioned boozer beside, has smartly agreed to allow Lupillo patrons bring their food in – it hasn’t been this lively in years. There’s starters of a sort in the form of nachos, quesadillas and baked potatoes, though the tiny, two-manned kitchen is so frantic you shouldn’t expect to get things in any order other than when they’re good to go. We tried the regular nachos and aside from the cheese, which seemed more standard issue squeezey sauce than the melted cheddar the menu claims, these were great: proper crunchy homemade chips buried beneath mounds of moreish guac and tangy sour cream, with a welcome blast of heat from pickled jalapenos.   Not on the board but also available is a bowl of beef consommé, like a spicy oxtail soup with strands of super-tender beef swimming throughout. If you take just one tip from us today, do not miss this. From the grandmotherly figure who descends the back staircase with two bowls at a time, to the intense umami hit that blasted through the January cold, this is the dish that best sums up Tacos Lupillo’s homely appeal. The main event involves your choice of six fillings in any of six dishes, from burritos and alambre bowls to sandwich-like tortas and fried tortilla volcanes. Given the name, we had to go in for the tacos – it’s the dish that’s most often attracted the expat stamps of approval too – with al pastor. The house special marinade gives the pork a deep flavour that’s well balanced with sliced red onion and coriander, though we found the optional house salsas were needed to avoid everything feeling a little too dry.   Gringas are flour tortillas draped over a cheese and onion-laden filling fried on the grill, before being wrapped and seared themselves, and it's one of Lupillo’s standouts. The minced beef barbacoa had succulence to spare, and was superb laden with more of that salsa. It’s a substantial portion too; any one of these dishes would be more than enough of a meal for most right-minded diners. Why should I go? Against some solid options for Mexican food scattered throughout the city, Tacos Lupillo stands out first and foremost for its bare bones authenticity - this is a menu that knows there are no frills needed when the basics are this good. Don’t be surprised to see this place land a bigger outlet before long. Tacos Lupillo 53 Sarsfield Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8 instagram.com/tacoslupillodublin

The crisp and toastie pairing that Irish dreams are made of, the seasonal special highlighting some of our best food producers, and the prettiest Turkish/Georgian set menu mash up. Here's the five things we want to eat in Dublin this week... 1) Ham, Coolea cheese and leek pizza,  Coke Lane Coke Lane Pizza owner Dave Holmes made a new year's resolution to use their monthly pizza specials to highlight Ireland's best food producers, and January's went live yesterday. They've taken free-range ham hocks from Whole Hoggs , given them the roasted honey and mustard treatment, and paired it with Coolea cheese, roasted celeriac and organic baby leeks from McNally's Family Farm . Find it on menus now at Lucky's and The Circular , both in Dublin 8. Up with this sort of thing. 2) The Tayto toastie, Hawksmoor British giants Hawksmoor have given the ultimate nod to Ireland by teaming up with the people's prince of Ireland, aka Mr. Tayto. Until the end of March, the ham hock and four cheese toastie in their bar will come with a side of Tayto Cheese & Onion, topped with scallion mayo and more ham hock. The collaboration has already gone viral so show our country some pride and make it your civic duty to hop on over to the bar at Hawksmoor for one of these bad boys. De Valera would be proud.... 3) Shortrib flatbread with French onion dip, Row Wines Right, we're well into January and the urge to be good is wearing thin. This short rib French onion dip from Row Wines is your sign that it's time to resume regular programming. A 24-hour braised short rib is loaded onto a torched flatbread, with a creamy celeriac remoulade, and topped off with a lil cornichon pickle. Paired with a French onion dip on the side, this looks like one of those dishes that could get seriously messy, but in the worth it kind of way. 4) Smoked Gubbeen croquettes, Slice Let's face it, Dublin loves a croquette, and we're at peak croquette with these smoked Gubbeen beauties from Slice in Stoneybatter. Who doesn't love fried cheese, let's get real. Served on a bed of roasted veggies and McNally greens, it's the perfect deep-fried yet colourfully healthy dish for this dreary month. 5) Scallops with walnut and coriander zagismari, Margadh RHA These scallops served on a walnut and coriander zagismari sauce, dotted with basil and chilli oil are part of Margadh RHA's Black Sea inspired January tasting menu. Georgian cuisine is only starting to become a thing in Ireland, and trust us, you need to get on board. Don't even get us started on the wine.....

For some reason, Dublin has historically lacked a proper Sunday roast culture, particularly in comparison to our friends in the UK. There have always been notable purveryors of course, fighting the good fight to keep us in beef striploin and roasties over a pint and the Sunday papers, but they've been more of a rarity than found on every corner. Dublin's roast game however is on the up, and several new openings over the past year are finally giving Sunday lunch the treatment it deserves. Here's where to go when you're raring for a roast... City Centre Hawksmoor, College Green The Hawksmoor Sunday Roast is without doubt one of the best, and best priced in the city. For €23 you'll get a couple of slices of dry-aged beef rump, beef-dripping roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, roasted carrots, buttered greens, roasted garlic, and bone marrow gravy, with optional add-on sides like macaroni cheese. Or you can pick a sharing steak from the blackboard (they recommend prime rib or chateaubriand) and add on all the trimmings for €7 per person. ATF Insiders got a first look when it started and we can confirm this is a great roast, plus, that dining room... FX Buckley (Dublin 2, Dublin 7 and Monkstown) FX Buckley offer their famous Sunday roast in all of their venues - Crow Street in Temple Bar, Pembroke Street near St Stephen's Green, the Bull & Castle near Christchurch, Ryan's in Stoneybatter, and FX Buckley in Monkstown. For a great price of €22.50 they're serving roast rib of beef (cooked medium) with Yorkshire puddings, mash, duck fat roast potatoes, confit shallots, roast carrots, tenderstem broccoli and gravy. Bloody Mary's, made with spicy F.X. Buckley seasoning, tomato juice, fresh lemon and vodka are €8, and you won't go wrong with either. The Legal Eagle, Inn's Quay The newly reopened Legal Eagle on Inn's Quay have a (current) choice of lamb rump, half chicken or Black Angus striploin for their Sunday roast (priced from €24 - €27). All are served with roasties, green cabbage, honeyed carrots and parsnips, turnip and carrot purée, stuffing, Yorkshire puddings and gravy. We gave it the once over in November and the root veg was the surprising star - have a read here . Bovinity, Capel Street A rare Saturday roast option as well as Sunday, steakhouse Bovinity on Capel Street have a similar offering to competitor Hawksmoor, with a choice of roast beef or a sharing steak with all the Sunday trimmings. If you go for the classic it's dry-aged rump served with creamy mash, beef-dripping roasties, seasonal vegetables, Yorkshire puddings and gravy (€23 per person), or go for a spendier cut from the blackboard with sides an additional €5 per person. Roasts are served from 13:00 - 16:00. Fade Street Social, Fade Street Fade Street Social have great options if you're sick of roast beef (but they do that too if you're not). You can go for stuffed roast pork with Pink Lady apple compote; chicken, ham hock, duck liver and tarragon pie (both €20.50); and there's even a veggie pie (€19.50) for non meat-eaters, all served with roast potatoes, Yorkshire puds and seasonal veg. The classic roast sirloin of Yearling beef (€24) comes with caramelised red onion marmalade and fresh horseradish. Brookwood, Baggot Street Brookwood on Baggot Street is another great option when you just want the classic striploin, although it's one of the priciest roasts in town at €29. Their Irish beef comes with Yorkshire puddings, roast carrots, smoked cheese & pancetta cabbage, creamy mash and gravy. South Dublin Lottie's, Rathmines Sunday lunch at Lottie's is ideal when you have a mix of roast lovers and haters. The lovers can pick between Sheelin roast striploin or Andarl Farm pork belly with all the bits. The haters can have bavette, sea bass or gnocchi, and with €10 corkage on Sundays it's a great excuse to crack open a special bottle at not much more than at home prices. There's also a goujon-free kids menu with mini roasts, bavette, fish and more. The Dunmore, Rathmines Plush Rathmines newcomer The Dunmore got straight in there with their Sunday roast offering, with a choice of dry-aged roast beef (€27) or roast free-range chicken (€25). All come with duck fat roast potatoes, seasonal greens, confit garlic & gravy, and either onion & sage stuffing for the chicken, or buttermilk Yorkshire puddings for the beef. The Old Spot, Beggar's Bush It's Pat McLoughlin's chicken or beef at The Old Spot on Sundays, all served with duck fat roasties; roast carrots; greens; cauliflower cheese; sage, onion, walnut & apricot stuffing, and gravy. No likey roasts? No problem. There's a full a la carte menu to choose from too, in cosy pub surroundings. Brighton Road, Foxrock The €42 three-course Sunday lunch menu at Brighton Road in Foxrock (formerly Pala Pizza & Trattoria and before that Bistro One ) features roast beef and chicken, or you can go rogue with fish & chips, plaice or wild mushroom risotto. Look out for specials like crispy roast duck with stuffing, and there's a generous amount of starters and desserts to choose from so rest assured you'll find something you like. Yew Tree, Terenure The former owners of 57 The Headline (known for superb Sunday roasts and a wine list a step above your average pub) sold up and moved out last year, but Clanbrassil Street's loss has been Tenerure's gain. They've now opened neighbourhood restaurant Yew Tree , and they didn't dare leave the Sunday roast behind. Pick from Black Angus beef or free-range chicken with roasties, carrots, sage & onion stuffing, green beans and gravy. A roast will set you back €26, or you can add a small plate like crispy calamari or pork terrine for €33. The Butcher Grill, Ranelagh Meat specialists The Butcher Grill (it's in the name) have three roasts on the go every Sunday. Pick from Irish beef striploin with horseradish (€27), corn-fed chicken with chicken sauce (€24), or free-range pork rack with apple sauce (€24). All come with yorkshire puddings, duck fat roasties, gravy, stuffing, peas and carrots, and you can start with seafood starters and cocktails if you're settling in for the afternoon. Oxhorn Grill, Dublin 4 Dublin 4 newbies Oxhorn Grill are keeping it simple with chicken or beef for their Sunday roast, but they've got some of the best prices in Dublin, with striploin and bearnaise for €22, or half roast chicken with mushroom jus for €19 (it's not free-range though). They both come with Yorkshire puddings, duck fat roasties, baby vegetables and red wine jus, or you can do like the other steak houses and ditch the roast beef for a sharing steak. Eleven, Loughlinstown From the same group as The Butcher Grill (as well as 777 and Dillinger's), Eleven has injected some serious life into this site in Loughlintown on the edge of the N11. As well as serving lunch and dinner from Thursday - Saturday, Sunday lunch is a big deal in here, with the same options as The Butcher Grill - beef (€27), corn-fed chicken (€23) or free-range pork rack (€23). All come with Yorkshire puddings, duck fat roasties, gravy, stuffing, peas & carrots, and the wines and cocktailsshouldn't be missed, so best to travel here by public transport, or bring a designated driver. Bresson, Monkstown Bresson in Monkstown offer a roast as part of their Sunday lunch menu , with two courses for €40 and three for €46 (or €32/€38 without the €8 roast supplement). It's Hereford prime roast beef around here, with duck fat roasties, veg, Yorkshire puddings and gravy; or a very posh 'Poulet' from free-range Feighcullen Farm, with pork, apricot and chestnut stuffing, sprout tops, roast carrots, duck fat roasties, roast chicken jus, and bread sauce 'Anglais'. Served Sundays from 11:00 - 15:00. North Dublin Old Street, Malahide Sunday lunch at Old Street in Malahide has been a thing since day one, with Roast Rib of Beef and all the trimmings for €26, or the less classic Chorizo-Crumbed Chicken Supreme, with pumpkin and sage purée, chantilly baby carrots, preserved lemon and tarragon piccata, and fermented black garlic mashed potato (€25). There's also fish, burgers and pasta for any non roast lovers. L Mulligan Grocer, Stoneybatter L Mulligan Grocer serve their Sunday roast from 13:30 until they're sold out, with a choice of organic chicken with sausage meat stuffing (€24.50), organic pork collar with black pudding bon bons (€24.50), or for the veggies there's an organic courgette & squash nut roast with tofu bon bons (€19.50). Each comes with s easonal veg, roasties, mash and gravy, and you'll need a scotch egg to start. The Coachman's Inn, Cloghran We wouldn't have considered ourselves carvery connoisseurs - in fact we were quite happy to leave them behind in the 90's with Glenroe and dial-up internet - but Emer & Esther's Sunday Roast podcast had us wondering what we were missing. Their trip to The Coachman's Inn near the airport drew us in with talk of home potato croquettes "the size of sliotars', expert gravy ladling, and Emer giving it a massive 9/10 scoring, and with a full portion €14.95-€15.95, and a half €10.90, it's one of the best value options around for the very hungry. Fagan's, Drumcondra The other Northside carvery to beat is found in the pub made famous by Bertie Ahern - Fagan's in Drumcondra. €15.50 will get you a plate with beef, turkey, ham, multiple types of potatoes and all the veg you can handle, and it's the loveliest pub to while away a Sunday in. Did we miss a great Sunday roast? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie .

The low/no alcohol life is swiftly becoming not just a January thing but a movement that’s gaining serious traction on social media ( hashtag sobertok). Popular with the Gen Z-ers - it’s finally becoming less taboo to ditch the booze, without being asked if you're pregnant/driving/in recovery. Thankfully there's an increasing amount of spots in Dublin that are embracing the sober buzz with really good alcohol-free options - be gone concentrated fruit juice medley "mocktails" that cater only towards a child's palette for €9 a pop... Board, Dublin 8 The newest completely booze free bar to grace our fair city is Board - a board game café-slash-bar. Their mocktail list is very impressive, featuring house made cordials and premium non alcoholic "spirits" from Lyre , Three Spirit and Siegfried . Not to mention they have one of the largest selection of non alcoholic beers in the city, and they're outwardly child and dog friendly - hop to it! Bar 1661, Dublin 1 Swiftly moving from a completely non alcoholic bar to a very alcoholic bar, Bar 1661 shake up some of the best cocktails around, so you know you’re in good hands when it comes to perfectly made mocktails. We like the look of the Birdie, with green tea, peppermint, rhubarb, plum and bitters, and you won't miss the booze with drinks this good. Bull and Castle, Dublin 2 FXB’s Bull and Castle location near Christchurch has non drinkers surprisingly well covered. Zero proof wines by the glass to pair with their ( world famous if you don't mind ) steaks, along with a dedicated non-alcoholic cocktail list that actually looks good - we're talking smoked old fashioneds made with cherry wood smoke and a 0.0 Guinness reduction, along with salted caramel espresso martinis. No need to feel like you’re missing out here when you’ve ditched the hooch. The Old Spot, Dublin 4 The Old Spot is a sober friendly spot. With one of the most varied selections on this list, they have red and whites by the bottle, a nice selection of beers, and a whole non-alcoholic cocktail list, as well as low abv cocktails. Lots of options for those who want to dial things back, or skip the hangover altogether. The Shelbourne, Dublin 2 Probably not on most people's N/A radar, The Shelbourne  is the ideal place for those off the grog. They've recently partnered up with   Lucky Saint   - a non alcoholic craft beer brand who are passionate about 0% beer that actually tastes good. So passionate that they've stuck to the traditional brewing methods, and operate out of a 400-year old Bavarian brewery. It's not just beer to be had at this boujie Stephen's Green hotel, they also have N/A wines and a full cocktail menu taking advantage of Lyre's   non-alcoholic spirits. This ain't a January thing either, the Shelbourne are keeping them on year round. D'Olier Street, Dublin 2 In one of the finest tasting menu restaurants in the city, you won't have to sacrifice the full dining experience if you've cut out the booze. As part of their twelve course tasting menu, D'Olier Street offer a full non alcoholic cocktail pairing to complement each course. What a time to be alive. Astopia, Dublin 2 Stay dry by going to Ireland's premiere cyberpunk Asian fusion mocktail bar - Astopia on Aungier street. Their exciting mocktail list features interesting elements from a frozen blooming flower, to a cheesy cream foam. Go for the menu descriptions of the mocktails alone, you won't regret it. Read our two minute review here . Shouk, Dublin 9 Shouk 's aura reads wholesome. Their menu is packed full of vibrant dishes heavy on the veggies, and you can expect the same vibe when it comes to their drinks. For those off the sauce, they have a sophisticated selection of freshly squeezed juices (we love the green apple, carrot, and ginger), virgin cocktails, homemade mint lemonade, and a decent selection of gazoz - that's fruit flavoured sparkling water to you. Did we miss somewhere with a great non-alcoholic drinks selection? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie .

Oh lads. The blessed month of January is upon us. If like us you overindulged, spent too much and drank all the booze, we got you. Whether or not you're on the dry, doing Veganuary, or after all the stress of December you just need a little treat, we've rounded up our go to spots for January, and as a post Christmas win, there are plenty of deals to be had. For the boujie January bargains: Hawksmoor, Dublin 2 2024 so far is shaping up to be the year of the bargain, (ok maybe the €2 coffee on Drury Street got us excited) and Hawksmoor  are starting this list off with guns a-blazing. This month they're going in with a double January whammy - aka balanced boozeless bargains. They're offering a lean rump steak & a side for €23, and three interesting looking non-alcoholic cocktails specials for €6 a pop. Their steak and side deal runs Monday to Saturday from 12:00 - 15:00, and again for the 17:00 sitting for the early birdies. Get on this stat. For the cheap, cheerful, and calorie conscious: Nutbutter, Smithfield & Grand Canal Dock Got the January blues? Nutbutter will sort you out. . A solid option for a quick lunch, or if you're in need of a healthy dinner spot they open again from 16:00 - 21:30. There's a small selection of beer and wine, but also kombucha and juices for those on the dry. The menu has lots of great options from tacos to poke bowls, tostadas and pho. Guilt free goodness right here. For a veggie friendly January treat: Yves at Brother Hubbard, Ranelagh Brother Hubbard ’s Yves ' French-inspired casual dining menu in Ranelagh has some really nice veggie and vegan options for those taking it easy with the meat this month. Save a few pennies too by opting into their BYOB deal with Redmond's wine shop. They open Wednesday to Friday from 17:30 and hold a small number of walk-in tables nightly. To get us through this cold snap Andhra Bhavan, Marlborough Street Andhra Bhavan snuck up on us relatively recently and we've been hearing really great things about this new Indian oening. With a focus on the southern part of the country, they describe themselves as "pioneers of authentic South Indian breakfast", and boast a good variety of dishes, including dosas, idlis, vadas, uttappams, and peserattu. All mains are under €20, which is great news for the current month we're in. God knows we all need a bargain. For when you're doing Dry January: The Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin 2 For those in their mocktail era, The Shelbourne have added a bunch of new low and no alcohol drinks to their menu and have recently partnered up with Lucky Saint - a non alcoholic craft beer brewed in a 400-year old Bavarian brewery. Their cocktails are made with Lyre's   non alcoholic spirits, with some pretty interesting options (we like the look of the blood orange spritz), and the menu is available not just for January, but year round. Livers rejoice. For when you need a bit of flavour after all the turkey and ham L-Blanc Mezzes, North Strand On Friday and Saturday nights, North Strand's favourite coffee shop Cloud Café turns into a brand new mezze restaurant, with the food at L-Blanc looking whopper and their set menus a serious steal - one main, two mezze and a glass of vino is €35. Hearty Turkish dishes, along with a varied selection of mezze plates, make this spot a great place to go with a group of pals. Share the whole menu and get those veggies into ya. For when you need one more January deal: BAH33º, Dublin 2 This month, Brazilian bastions BAH33º are including two glasses of house wine with two Gaucho Rodízios BBQ experiences - a four course menu where you pick your meat option from the servers walking by. There's lots of interesting options including rump, flank, fillet wrapped in bacon, chicken hearts, twelve-hour ribs, and cinnamon smoked pineapple. Sounds like a much needed fun injection over the next few drab weeks.