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You’ve got friends or family coming to Dublin and you want to show them what the city has to offer, or you’ve been asked to give bushy-tailed tourists some recommendations on what should be on their hit list. Here at All The Food, we know how critical food can be to a city break (it dictates all of our city breaks), and Dublin has its fair share of tourist traps, shilling barely passable stews and coddle, so it's no wonder that one of our most asked questions is "where can I bring a visitor for Irish food?" As a nation we're still more well known for our imbibements than culinary prowess, but there's no question that's changing, and we feel it’s our patriotic duty to show visitors just how incredible the food in Dublin is. Consider this list as your go-to guide next time you want to show that Dublin is a whole lot more than fish & chips, full Irish breakfasts and spice bags (no disrespect to any of these fine dishes). Breakfast Bread 41, Pearse Street Whether you’re planning to stock up on pastries and bread for a breakfast picnic in your hotel room, or you’ve managed to snag a table Bread 41 has now reached iconic status in Dublin for anyone looking for the highest quality baked goods available (like these seasonal Semla beauties). The brunch menu is top notch too – we're big fans of the kimchi fritters - and you’re super close to Pearse Street dart station and Trinity College if a visit to The Long Room is on the list. Blas, Kings Inn Street This gorgeous, high ceiling-ed cafe is located on the ground floor of the arts space The Chocolate Factory (which was an old sweet factory). Blas is a great spot for stopping in for a leisurely breakfast or brunch, and they've also got a pantry section and shop where you can pick up Irish food products, as well as a small Irish design shop concession which is perfect for picking up some solid souvenirs. Daddy’s, Rialto A lovely ray of sunshine in Rialto, Daddy’s has been championing local Irish produce since they opened, and the menu is a who's who of Irish food producers. Get your ‘big breakfast’ here for the full Irish experience with a free range and organic twist, alongside Turkish eggs, ‘croissandwiches’ and awesome granola. Pop across the road to The Cupcake Bloke afterwards for some traditional Irish brack and giant mikado biscuits, or non-traditional pasteis de nata. Two Pups, Dublin 8 This lovely spot on Francis Street has been a Dublin go-to for breakfasts, brunches and lunches since it opened in 2016. Incredible coffee and the highest quality food, including top-tier sweet treats, has made Two Pups a must for city visitors. It’s a mere skip and a jump from the city's main thoroughfare, and close to lots of famous landmarks like St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Christchurch . The Pepper Pot Café, Powerscourt Town Centre Bacon, pear and Hegarty’s cheddar on pillowy white bread makes up one of Dublin's most famous sandwiches, and if you don't follow it with a slab of Victoria sponge you're not doing it right. The Pepper Pot Café is situated right in the centre of town in the Powerscourt Townhouse , perched on a balcony overlooking bougie boutiques and galleries below. You might also get lucky and be treated to a live pianist tinkling away on the grand piano in the atrium. ALMA, Portobello This family-run, Argentinian café should be top of on your list if you’re rambling around the Victorian redbricks of the leafy suburb of Portobello. ALMA has got your breakfast and brunch needs taken care of, with a Latin American twist, including chimichurri steak, choripan and dulce de leche pancakes. Delicioso. Slice, Stoneybatter A morning in Stoneybatter is a morning well spent in our books, and we love nabbing the window seat in Slice , perusing the weekend brunch menu of hash brownies with crumbled maple bacon, and buttermilk pancakes with lemon and vanilla ricotta. It's a great stop en route to Arbour Hill Cemetery or Dublin Zoo . Two Boys Brew, Phibsborough Another Dublin brunch staple is Two Boys Brew , for great coffee, hotcakes with vanilla and maple roast plums, chili eggs, and all the sweet treats to fight over. There’s usually a queue, but leave your name and pop into the Phibsborough Public Library to while away the waiting time in this gorgeous art deco and Georgian style building. You’re also not far from the Botanic Gardens and Blessington Street Basin , a drinking water reservoir from 1810 until the 1970s, that became a public park in 1994 and is known as Dublin’s secret garden. Shhhh… don’t tell anyone.... Lunch Loose Canon, Drury Street There are few better fuss-free lunchtime options than sipping on natural wine and eating our body weight in Irish cheese in the guise of a toastie in Loose Canon . Situated on Drury Street, right beside George’s Street Arcade , it's a fantastic pitstop for hungry city-trippers, and great for people watching too. Grogan’s, Dublin 2 No trip to Dublin is complete without at least one pit-stop for a pint of the black stuff, and Grogan are famous for pairing it with the an old-fashioned ham and cheese toastie (don’t forget the mustard). Sit outside, or grab a cosy corner inside and enjoy the various works of art adorning every inch of wall space. Assassination Custard, Dublin 8 This incredibly unique and teeny tiny café serves some of the most exciting food in Dublin. A ‘sort of Italian’, with strongly Mediterranean small plates, the hand-written menu at Assassination Custard changes daily and is based on seasonal produce and the tastiest recipes known to man. Be sure to order everything off the paper bag menu. You can ask Ken and Gwen, the couple who run this magical operation, to tell your visitors the story of the restaurant’s name – which involves James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw and an unfortunate stabbing incident. Fallon & Byrne, Dublin 2 Upmarket food hall Fallon & Byrne is a stone’s throw from Grafton Street and a great refueling station for city wanderers – there’s a deli counter with sandwiches and wraps, and the cheese counter is always generous with its tester slices. The wine cellar also has a strong selection of charcuterie, pastas and pizzas if you’re looking for a more substantial (and boozy) lunch. Tiller + Grain, North Frederick Street Down the road from the National Gallery of Ireland , and across from Trinity College tucked down a side street is the wonderful Tiller + Grain . Run by an ex-Ottolenghi chef, you know the salads are going to be mega, and the sandwiches are on point too – all popping with flavour and made with seasonal Irish produce. The Commons at MoLI, Stephens Green There’s nothing we like better than a good museum or gallery café, and The Commons at MoLI nails it. Located in the basement of the Museum of Literature Ireland , this cafe serves all day brekkies, salads and soups – and we love the external courtyard terrace which feels like an urban oasis. You’d never think you were in the centre of town, right beside Stephen’s Green and the Iveagh Gardens . The Place, Grand Canal Dock If you’re around the Grand Canal area, The Place 'Proper Street Food' is, well, the place to be. This little enclave of street food trucks is an ideal spot to sample the diversity of what makes the Dublin food scene so great, with Dosa Dosa and Pastiamo Trucktorria (voted Best Food Truck by the Irish Times in 2022) among your options. Sampling a little bit of everything is the best way to do it. Bang Bang, Phibsborough This Phibsborough spot is as much a social movement as a café, run by a sister and brother who are constantly campaigning for causes they believe in. Bang Bang - named after a famous local Dublin character - serves Silverskin coffee and sandwiches with Arun bakery bread, and is a great place to hang out with locals, amongst good music and extremely good vibes. Dinner Etto, Merrion Row This part-Italian, part-Irish restaurant with a stellar wine list is always on our list of top picks for dinner in Dublin. With a relatively limited capacity for seating, it can be hard to nab a table at weekends especially, but it's oh so worth a bit of planning. The cosy, bistro space is the perfect place to unwind after a hectic day of sightseeing and there isn't one thing we wouldn't order on the menu. The Etto signature of red wine prunes with vanilla mascarpone dessert has reached cult status at this stage – and deservedly so. Franks, Camden Street The natural wine bar (a sibling to Delahunt ) is a one-man kitchen, serving seasonal small plates on a single long table running the length of the room. Frank's is definitely a great spot for a deep-dive into natural wine, while snacking on delicious local produce and rubbing elbows (literally) with locals. Uno Mas, Aungier Street Spanish sister to the aforementioned Etto, Uno Mas serves all of the Iberian classics like padron peppers and tortilla but with a refined and superbly executed flair. Choose from their nibbles ‘para picar’ to start, and as with its sister, the signature dessert here (flan de queso) is legendary. The only downside (like Etto) is that you have to order three courses including a main, so it's not one for a light bite or tapas style eating. The Pig’s Ear, Nassau Street Overlooking Trinity College ’s playing grounds, this is a great location for groups with multiple private dining options, and well situated for a post museum afternoon meal - the National Museum , National Library and Dead Zoo are all close by. The Pig’s Ear ’s menu caters for all, with an Irish slant (including one of the only lamb shepherd's pies worth eating in Dublin), and has great nostalgic desserts on offer. Note, Fenian Street One of the buzziest newcomers to hit the Dublin food scene, Note delivers on the hype. The wine bar/bistro serves great quality food with a Mediterranean feel, and recently introduced a two course set lunch for Saturdays and a four course offer for Sunday, as well as creating more space for walk-ins and those looking for a quick drink and some specialised snacks at the bar. Spitalfields, Dublin 8 Sister to The Pig’s Ear, Spitalfields pub and restaurant situated in the historic Liberties serves upmarket yet classic feeling restaurant cooking in a cosy upscale pub setting. Grab a booth or a counter spot on the ground floor and get a front row view of the kitchen in action, and don't miss the beef cheek & ox tail parker house roll with bone marrow gravy. Old Spot, Bath Avenue This cosy gastropub is the perfect place to tuck into a great Sunday roast. The Old Spot in Beggar’s Bush also comes Michelin recommended and its cocktail and wine lists are worth making a dent in too. Forest Avenue, Sussex Road Forest Avenue should be one of your top choices for modern Irish cooking with big flavours in an intimate setting. Offering a two or three course set lunch menu, and a set tasting menu for dinner with the best seasonal produce, it's a treat. Lock’s, Portobello With tables overlooking the canal, Portobello restaurant Lock’s focuses on creative fine dining with the best Irish ingredients and a strong wine list. Their menu features Guinness and treacle bread with cultured butter; hash browns with dulse seaweed, cods roe and shallot; Castletownbere scallops with preserved sea buckthorn; and saddle of Sika deer with ‘bratwurst’ boudin - it's like a culinary tour of Ireland. The rooms upstairs are perfect for private dining if you’re there with a group. Fish Shop, Smithfield A small place that packs a big punch, Fish Shop seems to be a stop off for everyone serious about food and drink who sets food on Irish soil. Not only does it do what it says on the tin, serving a daily changing menu of the best locally caught, beer-battered fish, they also do incredible small plates featuring tonnes of Irish shellfish, with one of the best natural wine lists in Dublin. Military Planning Needed Chapter One, Dublin 1 For one of the best dining experiences in the country, and Irish fine dining at its finest, nothing compares to two-Michelin-starred Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen . They were awarded their first Michelin star in 2007, but entered a ‘new era’ in 2021 when Mickael Viljanen took over as head chef and co-owner, quickly catapulting them to two. It’s one of the most unique dining experiences in Ireland, in one of the most beautiful restaurants, and Viljanen’s use of classical French techniques combined with subtle modernity and creativity make dining here an unforgettable event. You'll just have to set your alarms three months in advance for any chance of getting a table. Grano, Stoneybatter One of the best Italian restaurants in the city – Grano is southern Italian cooking at its best. Book well in advance if you want a table at this neighbourhood restaurant - at the time of writing they were booked out six weeks in advance. Seriously authentic dishes, with regular specials, but we find it hard to turn our heads away from the pistachio ravioli. They’ve recently opened A Fianco , a wine bar, or vineria next door, serving small plates and great wine, and it's walk-in only so perfect if you can't get a table in the original. Variety Jones, Thomas Street The doors to Variety Jones opened in 2018 and Michelin awarded them a star just nine months later. Head chef Keelan Higgs runs a family-style dining experience, with a chef’s choice sharing menu (no veggie or plant based menus here), and while his fire-cooked food doesn't come cheap, it's an experience like few others. The wine list is packed full of natural, organic wines and deserves to be fully experienced. Library Street, Dublin 2 Newcomer Library Street opened its doors at the end of 2021 and immediately became one of the most sought after tables in town. Chef Kevin Burke's choux buns with horseradish and Cantabrian anchovies, crispy stuffed chicken wings, and Paris Brest with stout, yuzu and espresso have diners coming back again and again, and if you want a weekend table you better join the wait list.

You can keep your three for €10 Nestles, when it comes to Easter Eggs we're going hard or going home. Yes some of these might seem like a monumental cost for a chunk of chocolate, but think of the work that's gone into creating each perfect piece, the moulding, the filling, the hand-painting. Plus we have no upper limit when it comes to quality chocolate. Here's what we're hoping the Easter bunny leaves behind this year. Bon Chocolatiers The ATF team are majorly crushing on Bon Chocolatiers at the moment (run out of Athlone by young couple Georgia Quealy and Daniel Linehan), with each bite of their bonbons eliciting gasps and sighs and "why doesn't all chocolate taste like this?", so top of our must haves are their layered, OTT in all the right ways Easter Eggs. Choose from Pretzel crunch filled with caramel crunch truffles; Sweet and Salty filled with salted caramel, crunchy caramel and malt biscuit pieces; or Blackberry and vanilla filled with blackberry caramel and dark chocolate crunch, among others. Eggs are €43 - €50, and mini filled ones are €11. Check them out here . If you needed any more convincing about Bon Chocolatiers , feast your eyes on this egg break video. Temptation Patisserie An Irish chocolatier we haven't tried yet but plan to, Temptation Pâtisserie was set up by twin sisters, Kate & Ruth O’Hara, from Laois in 2021. They're self-taught chocolatiers, and each of their hand-painted bonbons takes three days to make. Their Easter eggs are €45 and come in sea salt caramel; hazelnut and almond praline; banoffee; and salted pistachio, and they also do mini eggs (€4) and mini bunnies (€3.50) if you want to bulk up your order. Bakeology Argentinean bakery and café Bakeology in Dublin 8 is doing something a bit different, with their cake and dulce de leche filled eggs. Choose from chocotorta (thin chocolate biscuits), marroc (a layered chocolate cake), brownie or alfajor, and orders can be collected on Friday 7th, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th. A medium egg serving two is €15, and a big serving three or four is €20. Order by sending them a DM on Instagram . Hazel Mountain Chocolate Hazel Mountain 's Wild Atlantic Easter egg (€29.50) is one of the most beautiful on the market, and there's a choice between milk and dark (and the dark is very, very dark). Controversially we think their salted caramel Easter bunnies (€15.95) are even more delicious, so don't forget to add on a box. Shop the range here . Bean & Goose Bean & Goose 's chocolate hares and geese (€22.50) are synonymous with Easter at this point, but this year we've also spotted milk and dark sea salt caramel goose eggs in the range (€19.50). See their Easter collection here , and you'll also find them in Lotts & Co . Koko Kinsale Koko is one of Cork's most loved chocolatiers, with their picture perfect chocolate shop a must visit when in Kinsale. Their hand-painted, milk, dark and white chocolate shells (€20 - €28) are on the simpler side of Easter options, but creme eggs, bunnies, and eggs in cups can be added on too. See Koko's range here . Grá Chocolates Another eye-catching option, Grá Chocolates ' Easter eggs are super-sized versions of their truffles, in flavours including Lil' Bit Salty, Nuts About You, and Bee My Honey (€45). The hand-painted, thick chocolate shells are filled with caramel, nuts, praline and honeycomb, or there's a more basic range filled with truffles for €25. Check them out here . Sugar Loaf Bakery Sugar Loaf 's spoonable Easter Eggs are more dessert than chocolate, with options including Kinder Bueno, Strawberry Bombom, and Lemon Pie.. They're priced at €25 - €30, and they're also doing truffled shells for €20. You can order everything for collection online here from their Dorset Street or Pearse Street locations. Santo Eggs @ Sfuso Chef and baker Domenico Santo's Easter eggs are sold exclusively through 'Italian Gastronomia' Sfuso in the Italian quarter. The handmade eggs come in three flavours - 66% Mexican chocolate; Zephyr white chocolate and Sicilian pistachio; and Zephyr caramel chocolate and hazelnut, and are priced at €30-€35. Order online for collection only. The Proper Chocolate Company Dublin's bean-to-bar chocolate company Proper Chocolate 's eggs come in three options this year - milk chocolate and salted caramel (which they've nicknamed the giraffe); dark chocolate with Achill Island sea salt; and a speckled egg with salted caramel and cocoa nibs. They're €22.50 which feels like a good price in comparison to some others, and can be delivered nationwide or collected from their stand at the Honest2Goodness Market in Glasnevin on Saturdays. Shop here . Lorge Chocolatiers Kerry chocolatier Lorge is a longtime favourite of ours, and their eggs come filled with the truffles we find ourselves eating year round. You can choose from small, medium or large, hollow or filled, and prices range from €9.70 for a small hollow to €40.70 for a large filled. Shop here . Skellig's Chocolate Irish chocolatier Skellig's are getting a bit of flack since being bought by Press Up, but their filled, solid eggs were one of our highlights of 2022, and we can't see them having changed much. Small eggs start at €13, while the filled ones are €30.50, and they can be bought online or from plenty of good retailers like Sheridan's (whose concessions in Dunnes usually have them too). Have we missed any great Easter eggs? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

*This event is now fully booked* ATF Takeover of Volpe Nera - Wednesday 31st May with two sittings at 6:30pm & 7:30pm Even since Barry Sun moved from Etto to Blackrock to open his own restaurant in 2019, Volpe Nera has had some of South Dublin's most sought after dining seats. His signature style came with him, with his dumplings, handmade pastas and dressed oysters drawing diners from all sides of the city. All The Food are taking over Volpe Nera for one night only for a tasting menu of Barry's best dishes from the past few years (and new some ones), including Blue Fin tuna with ponzu and sesame, rabbit cavatelli, and those cep dumplings with aged soy, fennel and herb oil. Manager Darren D'Arcy has also put a short list of wines that will pair perfectly with the menu, or you can choose your own from their extensive wine list. The menu will be priced at €68 including a welcome cocktail and some surprises on the night. As it's a small restaurant seating is very limited so we'd strongly advise setting an alarm if you want to be eating all of the below in a few weeks. The Volpe Nera Takeover Menu Welcome drink Flaggy Shore Oysters Crispy Suckling Pig, Violet Mustard Cep Dumplings, Aged Soya, Fennel, Herb Oil Rabbit Cavatelli, Morels, Broad Beans, Truffle Bluefin Tuna, Cucumber, Coriander, Ponzu, Black Sesame Salt Marsh Lamb, Mammola Artichoke, Smoked Yoghurt, Rosemary Gariguette Strawberries, Basil, Balsamic, Muscovado Cheese, Seasonal Selection, Homemade Seeded Crackers, Quince Jelly All The Food's takeover of Volpe Nera takes place on Wednesday 31st May at 6:30pm and 7:30pm (if you have a time preference please state it in your email and the team will do their best to accommodate you). Booking details will be sent to everyone signed up to ATF Insiders at 8pm on Wednesday 10th May . Tickets are first come first served and very limited, and the team will contact successful diners as soon as possible to confirm your booking and take a 50% deposit ( please include your phone number when you email to book ). Bookings can only be made for tables of two, and each Insider can bring one non-Insider with them. If you're coming with friends just let the team know and they will seat you together. Sign up to ATF Insiders here .

We may not manage to get more than two days' heat at a time, but believe it or not the summer is almost upon us, and you'll be wanting to plan ahead to avoid the mad scramble for outdoor space once it comes. We've scoured the city for the best outdoor dining options you can book in for now, plus a few walk-in only options to chance your arm in. City Centre Library Street, Setanta Place "Everything is made to be shared" says the sign over Library Street 's door, and that goes for the sunshine too. They've set up a scattering of outdoor tables for wine and small plates that's sure to be a very hot seat of a summer evening. Book online . Note, Fenian Street One of the best new additions to the city's outdoor dining scene of recent years, Note 's terrace out front is a heavenly spot for wine, small plates and a bit of a buzz on a scorching day. You can book online for a table inside or walk-in for a weather dependent outside one. Tang, Cumberland Place Just across the way from Note, sustainable and climate-conscious café Tang has a super suntrap of a garden area that's one of our favourite city spots for a quick coffee and food to makes you feel good. They’re open from 08:00 weekdays and from 10:00 on Saturday for brunch – walk-ins only. F.X. Buckley, Pembroke Street F.X. Buckley are making the most of their Pembroke Street premises with not one but two outdoor areas, including a gorgeous two-storey section that opens out onto the front. It's conveniently close to Merrion Square Park and Stephen's Green, for the walk you'll be needing after this feed. We recommend calling 016764606 or emailing pembroke@fxbuckley.ie to nab the good seats. Loose Canon, South William Street Loose Canon is perfectly sited to lap up the best of the midday sunshine and take in the buzz of Dublin on a summer’s day, so it’s no surprise their walk-in only outdoor tables are always in hot demand. They’re worth waiting for, with a glass in hand of course. Davy Byrne's, Duke Street The Ulysses destination pub's linen-laid tables on the terrace are always popular with Grafton Street shoppers when the sun is shining. Book online here to beat the crowd and get your fill of gorgonzola sandwiches and bottles of Burgundy. Big Fan, Aungier Street Big Fan 's outdoor dining area on Aungier Street has stayed popular all year, with the heated patio full throughout the winter, but there's no doubt it's at its best when the sun shines. Get in for a feast of bao, jiaozi and lots of other outrageously delicious plates by booking here . Órale, Dame Street The city's best new Mexican spot inside Pawn Shop on Dame Street, Órale have added a few tables to the laneway outside. When the sun lines up just right it's hard to beat a taco with a cool beer in hand. Walk-ins only. The Seafood Café, Temple Bar It won't be long now until lobster rolls are back on the menu at Niall Sabongi's Temple Bar institution, and the little sheltered seating area outside The Seafood Café is the ideal place to tuck in while watching the world go by. If that wasn't excuse enough, oyster happy hour is from 16:00 - 17:00 daily, with naked oysters €2 and dressed or torched €3. Book here . As One, City Quay Health food focused As One have sunshine filled seating for breakfast, brunch and lunch on the quays. Book a table for some gut-friendly food on their website . The Commons at MoLI, Stephen’s Green Opening out into the Iveagh Gardens, the open area to the rear of the Museum of Literature now plays host to The Commons ’ garden terrace, a beautifully secluded spot to enjoy their all-day breakfast menu and range of toasties. They’re walk-in only, and what a walk. Hang Dai, Camden Street The covered, heated terrace of Hang Dai 's rooftop 'Gold Bar' offers a great view out over the Camden Street action, as well as a buzzy area to enjoy some of their unique cocktails and tasty Chinese dishes. Book online here , and if you're out of luck there's also a limited amount of ground-floor outside seating available for walk-ins only. Osteria Lucio, Grand Canal Quay With a small number of high-stool and barrel setups, as well as some covered low tables, Osteria Lucio is one worth booking ahead for. Chef Ross Lewis has taken the lead in the kitchen here since handing over the Chapter One reins to Mickael Viljanen, and the result is worth savouring in the sunshine. Book online . One Society, Gardiner Street Blocked off from the busy streets with planters, One Society ’s sizeable covered outdoor section is a great choice for a weekend brunch or pizza and pasta on a sunny evenings. It's strictly walk-in only. Row Wines, Coppinger Row We've spotted a few barrel-top tables posted outside Row Wines , the new venture from the team behind Orwell Road and the late, lamented Coppinger Row, and we'll wager they'll soon be some of the most sought-after seats in summertime Dublin. Chez Max, Palace Street Palace Street feels distinctly classier with the Parisian chic vibes Chez Max brings in summer. They've just reopened their courtyard terrase after a few weeks' work and it's a lovely spot to sit back and forget you're in Dublin. Book here . Urban Brewing, Custom House Quay Urban Brewing offers an ideal summer setup with tonnes of outdoor seating outside the CHQ building. The menu in the Hop Garden Terrace is built around tapas and larger plates (raciones), and the sun trap bar will be taking walk-ins for drinks and/or snacks. Book here . Two Pups, Francis Street The weekends are always heaving at walk-in only Two Pups - and for good reason, with the sheltered tables out front and the courtyard within offering up some of the nicest spots around the Liberties to grab a sunny, always delicious bite. Drury Buildings, Drury Street T he gorgeous garden courtyard in Drury Buildings is serving food and summer cocktails seven days a week, and the balcony tables overlooking the garden will be the ones to nab if you're very, very lucky. Look for a table here . Korean Table, Stoneybatter Korean Table have created a lovely little spot in Stoneybatter to enjoy kimchi and bibimbap in the sun with hanging lights and plenty of greenery. They’re walk-in only but it’s never too long a wait to get seated. Las Tapas De Lola, Wexford Street An outdoor table at Las Tapas de Lola is always a tall order so plan this one as far in advance as you can. Last minute cancellations may also be your friend here - call 014244100 or email book@lastapasdelola.com for enquiries. 777, George's Street 777 went all-out last year converting a car park into their "777 afuera" (meaning 'outside'), complete with a margarita-serving airstream. They run a special sharing menu outside at €38pp, with tortillas, taquitos and tostadas. You can only book for tables of six plus here , otherwise it's walk in only. The Champagne Terrace At The Shelbourne You can go all out and treat yourself to one (or all) of four champagne cocktails at the Shelbourne this summer, with the return of their Champagne Terrace , sponsored this year by Moët & Chandon. There's oysters and seafood platters going too if you want to really indulge. Open Fri-Sun only. Charlotte Quay, Grand Canal Dock Charlotte Quay has ample outdoor space overlooking Grand Canal Dock that gets the sun all evening. The lunch and dinner menus have plenty of smaller sharing plates so be sure to bring a crowd, and don't forget about two for one brunch cocktails. Bookings available online . L'Gueuleton, Fade Street Fade Street French bistro L'Gueuleton have considerable outside space, mostly covered. It's prime real estate for people watching, small plate eating and Champagne drinking. Book through their website . Fade Street Social Fade Street Social is open outside with a wood-fired menu seven days a week. There's a solid vegetarian selection as well as the expected meat options, so plenty of variety to satisfy a mixed crowd. Book a table here . Nomo Ramen, Charlotte’s Way A big bowl of ramen isn’t our first instinct on a summer’s day, but Nomo have been introducing plenty of lighter bites like their pork bao and shitake chashu korokke we’d happily snack on from their seated area out front. Walk-ins only. The Woollen Mills, Ormond Quay The Woollen Mills has a spacious first-floor roof terrace overlooking the Ha'penny Bridge and Liffey Street. They're open for lunch and dinner seven days a week as well as weekend brunch. Book on their website . Brother Hubbard North, Capel Street Brother Hubbard have lovely terraces at both their Capel Street and Harrington Street locations, with tons of seating to handle the high demand they always attract. Brother Hubbard North is taking reservations here , but Brother Hubbard South remains walk-in only. Saba's Secret Garden, Baggot Street Saba 's secret garden out the back of their Baggot Street location has canopies and heaters, holiday style lighting and art by Subset. It's open seven days a week serving food all day, including black pepper squid, Thai beef salad and Pad Thai. There's also a pretty extensive cocktail menu. Look for a table here . Piglet, Cow's Lane Piglet is one of the few outdoor spots in the city serving lunch seven days a week, and it catches the sun perfectly right around that time of day. They've got two and three course fixed menu prices for the same for dinner, all washed down with an excellent selection of wine. Book online . Ukiyo, Dame Court Ukiyo ' s outdoor terrace on Dame Court always has a lively buzz on the weekend, but they're open for lunch and dinner all through the week. Bring a group if you can - this is a lengthy menu you'll want a hand in making your way through. Book here . Glas, Chatham Street Vegetarian and vegan Glas have a very Parisian (and appropriately green) vibe going on outside their Chatham Street restaurant. The added planters, new since last year, make for better insurance against the ever-unpredictable Irish weather. Book online here . Suesey Street Suesey Street 's terrace is one of the best in the city and has a retractable roof to deal with whatever the elements happen to throw at you. They're open for lunch and dinner every day but Sunday, serving up Irish cuisine with a focus on local ingredients. Book on their website . South Dublin 31 Lennox, Portobello 31 Lennox in Portobello are offering Italian-inspired breakfast, lunch and dinner outside throughout the week with an all-day brunch at the weekend. Their semi-covered outdoor space down the side lane is a lovely quiet oasis near the heart of the action. Book here . Hen's Teeth, Dublin 8 One of the city's best gallery cafés, Hen's Teeth has a heated and covered outdoor terrace that's one of the hottest spots for weekend evening dining. Their ever changing menu is without doubt one of the most innovative and interesting in the city, and most importantly it delivers. Book for lunch and dinner here . Alma, Portobello The seats outside Alma are some of the loveliest in Portobello, and an iced dulce de leche latté in the sunshine while you wait for brunch is as perfect a morning as we can imagine. Check for tables here . Gaillot et Gray, Clanbrassil Street French pizzeria and natural wine hang out Gaillot et Gray is open for lunch (mainly sandwiches on their own bread) and dinner (pizza) on their terrace out the back. You can book by calling them on 014547781 or they'll be taking walk-ins if they have space. Lucky's, Meath Street Liberties hotspot Lucky's has added some seating out front as well as their always in-demand courtyard with delicious pizza from Coke Lane . They're open seven days a week and you can make a booking enquiry through their website . Rascal's Brewing, Inchicore Rascal's pizzeria and tap room has become an Inchicore institution since opening in 2014, and their bustling outdoor space has grown into a really atmospheric evening spot across the course of several pandemic re-openings. Look for tables here . Daphne's, Rialto Daphne's has plenty of covered tables on their terrace available for dinner Wednesday to Sunday and weekend brunch. Their early bird on weekday nights is particularly good value at €28 for three courses. Email info@daphnes.ie or call 015521708 to book. Angelina's Angelina's outdoor tables are the ultimate in goals on a sunny day in Dublin 4. They're open seven days a week for lunch and dinner with brunch at weekends. Book on their website or by emailing book@angelinas.ie . Fairmental, Grand Canal Street Upper D4’s fermentation lab and deli Fairmental is making very smart use of the space out front with some cosy tables set out to enjoy your rice bowls and kombucha from. It’s open for weekday breakfast and lunch and Saturday brunch and it’s walk-in only. Asador, Ballsbridge Asador 's impressive (covered and heated) terrace reopens is available to book for lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday each week for smoked venison tartare, fillet steak and fire-roasted chicken supreme. Look for a table here . Nightmarket, Ranelagh The D6 destination for authentic Thai food, Nightmarket has a fully-heated side terrace "tunnel" open for outdoor dining, so you can stay on to sample the cocktail menu long after the sun sets. Book online . Oliveto, Haddington House There might not be a better spot to enjoy a perfectly clear day than Oliveto 's gorgeous garden terrace perch in Dún Laoghaire serving equally beautiful-looking food. Plus they've got plenty of parasols to escape the intensity of that heatwave sun, if it ever comes... Book here . Soup Ramen, Dun Laoghaire & Soup 2, Smithfield Soup in Dun Laoghaire and Smithfield, with their special ramen, deep-fried kimchi and super cute cocktails have outdoor dining in both locations. Book on their website . Grapevine, Dalkey Grapevine in Dalkey are open for outdoor dining and wine-ing from Tuesday - Saturday for lunch and dinner. They've an all day menu and shelves packed with wine. Book here . Volpe Nera, Blackrock Volpe Nera have only a small number of tables available on their covered, sheltered terrace so an advance booking is definitely recommended. They've been leaning into the season heavily with their heavenly limoncello spritz - you know you want one. Book here . Riba, Stillorgan Riba 's outdoor, covered and heated terrace is open for dinner Wednesdays through Mondays as well as weekend lunch, with an early bird special running up to 18:30 every day. The menu is Italian-influenced with loads of local and Irish produce. Bookings online here . Bresson, Monkstown Bresson ' s lovely outdoor courtyard with white linen tables is open for dinner served Tuesday - Sunday and lunch Thursday - Sunday. It's an appropriately seasonal choice with plenty of summer veg to enjoy in the sun. Check the website for availability. North Dublin Mamó, Howth Mamó 's miniature terrace out front is another pristine spot to savour sun and sea in the company of great food. Their focus on seafood fresh-off-the-boat and ingredients from around North Dublin makes this one of the most memorable al fresco experiences in the city, and we've never had a dud dish, wine or service experience there. Limited menu on the terrace and in the downstairs bar, with the full shebang upstairs. Book online . Milo's, Drumcondra The second opening from the Two Boys Brew guys, Milo's has filled a major gap in Dublin 9 for great coffee, thoughtful food, and all the effort you probably won't make a home. Their outside area seats around 12 and diners move fast so you shouldn't be waiting long for a table. King Sitric, Howth The Howth institution has hands-down some of the best seats in the city for the right kind of summer day, especially after an afternoon's walk on the hill working up an appetite for their seafood selection. King Sitric are very child and dog-friendly too, if you needed another excuse. Book online . Old Street, Malahide Neighbourhood restaurant Old Street in Malahide have a covered and cushioned outdoor area open from Wednesday through Sunday. Book online here . Shouk, Drumcondra Our love for Shouk runs deep. The food, the staff, the prices, the food - and absolutely the outdoor space. Their mid-pandemic expansion out further into their yard was great news for fans of Middle Eastern food, and makes it easier than ever to grab a table. Demand still runs high though, so be sure to book . Honey Honey, Portmarnock Expect a fight for the limited outdoor seats outside Honey Honey in Portmarnock, but if you can get them you'll feel like you've won the jackpot. The simple menu is always done just right, the coffee is faultless, and if all else fails you can take it to go and head for the beach. Did we miss your favourite spot for outdoor dining? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

It's the return of the ice-cream cookie sandwich and Irish lobster rolls, and the invention of baked tiramisu and Irish Zabaione that has us raring to get out this week, as well as one of Kildare's finest pizzas making a one time appearance in Dublin... 1) Zabaione, Pala Pizza & Trattoria Pala Pizza & Trattoria in Foxrock just keep churning out the new creations that make us want to go back again and again, and the latest is this Zabaione. They say that the Italian boozy custard is having a resurgence of popularity in Rome right now, and they're serving theirs with stewed rhubarb and raspberry, rye and wholemeal crumble, and a malted whipped cream to finish. 2) Baked Tiramisu, Dolce Sicily Baked Tiramisu you say? We're game. Layers of mascarpone cream, chocolate sponge and coffee are wrapped up in a shortcrust pastry shell and dusted with sugar and cocoa, for an original occasion cake from Dolce Sicily . It's €45 and you can order online or in store. 3) Lobster Rolls, King Sitric Lobster rolls at back at King Sitric in Howth, which means: 1) summer is here, and 2) we're going back to King Sitric. 4) Ice-Cream Cookie Sandwich, Nobó The Nobó cookie sandwich is back, with their vegan salted caramel ice-cream sandwiched between two chewy chocolate chip cookies. Find these little works of perfection in their Ranelagh freezer all summer. 5) Grá Pizza, Merrion Square If you've been lusting after Grá pizza thinking, "I wish I lived in Kildare", wish no more as they're popping up in Merrion Square this weekend for the International Literature Festival , so now's your chance to try those specials like fennel salami with gochujang vodka sauce, mozarella and pickled fennel.

What should we know about The Morning Bakery? Brian O’Keeffe and Kevin Powell’s The Morning Bakery lives in the former home of once go-to brunch spot, Meet Me In The Morning. That turned into Table Wine in November 2021, but closed in November 2022, with the guys going back to their pastry and coffee roots. The dog-friendly bakery and specialty roaster café now serves great coffee and baked goods seven days a week. Where should we sit? There's seating downstairs for 15 or so people, another two tables outside, and at the weekend they open the upstairs area with space for around 20. What should we have? To the right of the café they operate a takeaway hatch, which had five kinds of focaccia and all of the same baked goods as in the café. As you enter the café there’s a counter with the wares of the moment displayed on parchment paper, with names and prices written in marker. We arrived around 9am on a Saturday, and were told that they bring different items out throughout the day. This is smart, as it makes us want to come back at different times, and the law of scarcity kicks in and makes us want everything, but we started with the berry glazed poppyseed cake - dense and moist with a lovely sweet and zesty tang from the glaze. The sourdough buns (cinnamon and chocolate) were delicious, sweet and buttery, with just the right amount of icing – the fermentation process giving a greater depth of flavour to balance the sweet with the sour. An oat cookie was made rich with the addition of chocolate, but crunchier and more substantial with the oats and cranberries. We loved the dark chocolate and sea salt cookie too, perfectly chewy, salty and sweet in equal measures. The only sweet bum note was a chocolate and almond friand which was disappointingly dry. We asked about the focaccia having seen them next door, and they told us they usually serve one or two ‘more substantial’ ones in the café, so when they brought them out, we thought it would be rude not to try them. We had a spicy mushroom and olive with shichimi togarashi, (a Japanese 7-spice seasoning blend), and a green pesto and parmesan, and wow. The flavour punch was real, and the bread was soft and fluffy on the inside, with a nice crunch on the outside. Both were incredibly tasty, but the mushroom got our douze points . We’d go back for his alone, and to try the other versions next door (broccoli and parmesan, oregano and leek with lemon balsamic glaze, and lemon and rosemary). What about drinks? It’s all about the caffeine here. Coffee is sourced from producers KB Coffee Roaster s, and they serve chai, mocha and hot chocolate. For warmer days, there's iced ‘dulce de latte’, and regular iced lattés and Americanos. Why should I go? As written on their glass counter-top, ‘We don’t do brunch :)’, so don't ask for avocado toast. It is however the perfect spot to while away a morning drinking good coffee and eating the most delicious of baked goods. The ‘no laptops’ rule means you won't be working here either – they’ve set their sights on creating a community vibe, and they've done it. The Morning Bakery 49/50 Pleasants Street, Dublin 8 themorning.ie

What should we know about Krewe? The "New Orleans-inspired" restaurant opened on Capel Street at the end of 2019, with their bright colours, amped-up music and "fast food but make it fancy" menu drawing a crowd of predominantly younger diners. They're always busy, and whenever we check their availability for ATF Insiders in need of food they're usually fully booked - and it's not a small space. We had planned to do a full once over of Krewe , but honestly the food wasn't good enough to bring us back for a planned second visit. We still wanted to tell you what to expect though. What did you have? It's a big menu (which makes us anxious), with starters, "Nola friend chicken", mains, "dirty fries", sides and desserts. There are 45 dishes in total. We'd seen a review saying the buffalo cauli bites were "the best ever", but more fool us because they were not. They're unbattered and came nicely al dente, but were swimming in a mouth-shrivelling sauce of what tasted like Frank's Hot Sauce and vinegar - finesse this was not. The vegan ranch on the side was pleasant, but our mouths felt like they'd been attacked and we left half behind. Nicely battered and cooked softshell crab came sitting on a creamy corn bisque with red pepper jam in the middle, and all was going well until we got to its body, which was so unpleasant we spat it out again. The only thing we can guess is that maybe they didn't remove the gills (Deadman's fingers), because we can't imagine what else would cause such a grainy taste offensive. A buttermilk hot fire chicken burger (none of their chicken is free-range) had meat that should have been juicier in a nicely crunchy batter, with hot sauce, house pickles and Krewe slaw on a brioche bun. The flavours were good, but the bun disintegrated fast, and within minutes was a soggy mess. Bang Bang shrimp tacos with lime slaw, chow chow relish, corm, avocado crema, chipotle, coriander and sesame was pretty tasty (the shrimp in particular) but had a lot going on, and once again the tacos got soggy pretty fast. Eat quick and it won't be an issue. Beignets for dessert were passable but heavier than we were expecting, and the accompanying chocolate sauce tasted cheap - caramel was better. What about drinks? There's a full bar with a big focus on cocktails, mostly draught commercial beers (with a few craft cans), and a wine list that won't get anyone excited, but most bottles are under €40 - so maybe that will get you excited. Why should I go? Clearly not everyone holds restaurants to the same elevated standards as the ATF team because Krewe is swarming, and the food isn't bad, but could be better. Some reasons you might want to go: a) The prices. We paid €50 a head for two courses and two drinks each, a shared side and dessert. As good as it gets in Dublin right now. b) Staff were lovely and food came out fast. c) There's loads of space and it's ideal for groups. There's plenty of choice and the varying price options mean it should satisfy everyone. d) It's very child-friendly, noisy enough to drown out tantrums, and what child wouldn't get excited by posh chicken tenders and chips. Krewe 51-52 Capel St, North City, Dublin 1 krewe.ie

May's monthly 9 giveaways have dropped! And this month we've got a nautical-themed hotel stay, loads of restaurant experiences, a hamper, a wine tasting, even a coffee making course. Being automatically entered into our monthly giveaways is just one of the perks of being signed up to ATF Insiders - our premium service that allows us to operate independently, with no #ad, #collab or #invite across any of our channels. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders by midnight on Wednesday 17th May will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Thursday 18th May. Here's what you could win this month... 1) An overnight stay with dinner at the Titanic Hotel, Belfast The multi award winning Titanic Hotel Belfast is giving one lucky ATF Insider the chance to experience the historic hotel, including the Heritage Tour. You'll be taken back in time to when the Drawing Offices housed the designers of some of the world's most impressive ocean liners of their time, and transported to the telephone exchange where the call of RMS Titanic's fate was taken. You'll enjoy dinner in the Wolff Grill Restaurant , eating from a menu created by Nigel Mannion (named Yes Chef 'Chef of the Year' just last week), and before you check out and have the opportunity to explore Titanic Quarter, you'll enjoy a Titanic sized breakfast. (Transport to and from Belfast is not included. Dates subject to availability and prize can be claimed between Sunday and Thursday.) 2) Dinner for four with drinks at Juno, Drumcondra When we asked our readers about the best things they've eaten recently, Juno in Drumcondra came up again and again. From the same crew as Happy's on Aston Quay, the bar and restaurant in Dublin 1 has a menu we'd struggle to choose from, including a black pudding and thyme battered sausage, bacon and cabbage arancini, and a hot fish sandwich with jalapeño tartar and pink pickles. Their cheese and onion fries with Cashel Blue crema, pickled and crispy onions also got special mention. We've got dinner for four at Juno to give away this month, with a €50 bar tab so you can dive into their cocktails and craft beers too. 3) A €100 voucher For Okky New opening Okky on Aungier Street (formerly Lucky Tortoise ) is Ireland's first Okonomiyaki bar. As well as the Japanese savoury cabbage pancake, they serve tamagoyoki (Japanese omelette), gyoza and sides, with recipes coming from their Japanese chef Haru, whose grandparents were one of the first Japanese people to bring Okonomiyaki to Brazil in the 1960s. They're hoping to add more unique Japanese dishes like Omurice and Onigiri to the menu in the future, but for now they've given us a €100 voucher so that one of our Insiders can visit and try it all. 4) A table for two at Café en Seine's FORAGED dinner Café en Seine is hosting a special FORAGED dinner with Glendalough Irish Gin on Friday 2nd June, and we're sending one of our Insiders off with a guest to experience three courses of wild and foraged foods from head chef Stephen Gibson. They'll be paired with carefully curated gin cocktails from Glendalough, whose gin is made using wild botanicals collected by their full-time forager. Tickets are €58pp (excluding booking fee), with two sittings at 17:30 and 20:30, and can be bought here . 5) Dinner for four with drinks from Kinara Group Now in its 22nd year of business, the Kinara Group comprises three of Dublin's leading Pakistani and Eastern restaurants - Kinara Clontarf , Kinara Kitchen in Ranelagh , and Kajjal in Malahide , and their early bird is one of the best ways to experience maximum flavour for minimal spend. At €29.95 a head for three courses, it's available from 4pm to 7pm every Wednesday and Thursday, and we've got an early bird table for four to give away including two cocktails each, worth €220. 6) A 'Best of Bakestone' hamper Bakestone Café & Pantry in Cork (Carrigtwohill and Fota House) have just celebrated 10 years in business, offering an all-day menu with a focus on high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients, in their buttermilk pancakes, French toast, salads and quiches. The ' Bakehouse Pan try ' sells products from over 150 Irish producers, as well as homemade chutneys, jams, pickles and relishes, and we've got a hamper full of Bakestone treats worth over €100 to give away this month including their brand new coffee blend with Badger & Dodo - Common Grounds . 7) A Cool Hand Coffee Class For Two Cool Hand Coffee Roasters now have three locations in Dublin to discover coffee from around the globe, explore flavours, and create your own bespoke blends, and they've just launched three new coffee workshops, perfect for beginners. Their ‘Brewing’, ‘Latte Art’ and ‘Roasting’ classes (€50 - €75) are a mix of facts and hands on experience, and are a great grounding in all things coffee. Workshops are on every Saturday at 12pm in their Baggot Street location (places can be booked here ) and this month one of our Insiders is going to win a class of their choice for them and a friend, plus coffee to take home. 8) An Urban Brewing x Estrella Galicia tasting menu for two Urban Brewing is teaming up with Estrella Galicia for a tasting menu featuring local, seasonal ingredients cooked by head chef Dan Keane (see the menu here ), paired with Estrella Galicia beers, including some special bottles you might not have come across before. The dinner takes place on Saturday 27th May from 18.30, priced at €65 for all food and drinks, and tickets can be bought here , but we've got two to give away to one lucky Insider this month. 9) Two Tickets to The Corkscrew's Sauvignon Blanc Showdown On Monday 12th of June, The Corkscrew are holding a " Sauvignon Showdown, Loire Valley V New World " wine tasting, upstairs in Amuri restaurant. They'll be pitting Sancerres and Pouilly Fumés from the Loire Valley against some of South Africa, New Zealand and Napa Valley's best, and it will be up to the tasters to award points and crown the champion. It starts at 18:30 and tickets (€55) can be bought here or over the phone, but we've got two to give away, so if you're a Sauv Blanc fan cross your fingers. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for May (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 Wednesday 17th May. 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.

Even though we're still in "the hungry gap" and summer crops aren't quite ready, we're seriously impressed by the amount of colour and invention going into Dublin dishes right now. Woodruff baked Alaska, buffalo chicken focaccia, asparagus and Young Buck galettes - here are the five things we most want to eat this week... 1) ' The Buffalo Gal' Focaccia, Bread Man Walking Gerry Godley is bringing the wings/hot sauce/blue cheese trifecta to a focaccia, and we could not be more excited. Bread Man Walking 's 'Buffalo Gal' sees sourdough foccacia get a foundation of Frank's hot sauce before going into the oven, with marinated chicken thigh and cherry tomato shoved into the nooks and crannys. After coming out there's more Frank’s and blue cheese two ways - a crema and some Cashel Blue. Scallions, Maldon salt, celery seed and shards of crispy chicken skin finish it (and us) off. On the menu now. 2) Bibimbap arancini, Space Jaru It's the Korean/Italian fusion food we never knew we needed. Space Jaru are taking their bulgogi beef, adding some nori and pecorino, and turning it into their version of arancini with a gochujang relish. Clever. 3) Asparagus and Young Buck galette, Elliot's There's a new galette on the bench in Elliot's in Phibsborough. It's got new season asparagus, McNally Farm rainbow chard, herby béchamel, Young Buck and Coolcush cheeses, pea shoots and three cornered leek flowers. Almost ALMOST too pretty to eat. 4) Ryan's rhubarb & woodruff Baked Alaska, Woodruff Woodruff in Stepaside love to use their namesake in dishes - the sweet herb with flavours of vanilla, cardamom, and cinnamon - and the latest is in this rhubarb baked Alaska. We generally can't get enough rhubarb or baked Alaska, so there are a lot of boxes being ticked here. 5) Rhubarb and blood orange panna cotta , Fallon & Byrne We did say we can't get enough rhubarb. Fallon & Byrne 's have just added this dish to their dining room menu of pink rhubarb and yogurt panna cotta with blood orange, poached rhubarb and jelly, confit zest and citrus shortbread. We NEED.

We’re reliably informed that summer is just right round the corner - not that you'd know it lately - and we’re already making plans for those long evenings of BBQs and bottles in the great outdoors. It’s the time of year when the city really comes to life, no more so than in the food and drink scene, so here’s our rundown of some of the best events taking place over the summer months. Cinco de Mayo (5th - 7th May) This annual big bash as it’s come to be celebrated might be more of a Mexican-American invention than a strictly traditional thing, but we’ll take any excuse to indulge in a ton of tacos. Firebyrd in Ranelagh have a special two for €5 deal on the day itself with the same pricing on bottles of Corona, while across the river Kalabasa Market is throwing a free but ticketed big bash with karaoke, food and drink on Sunday night. There's also a party in All Good Wine Bar on Friday night with the talented folks from El Milagro dishing up the tacos. Whiskey Live Dublin (19th - 20th May) The Celtic Whiskey Shop’s celebration of all things Irish whiskey returns to the RDS in mid-May. Whiskey Live ’s exhibitor list is a who’s-who of the Irish distillery scene, along with international appearances from as far afield as China and India. Taste the latest releases, tag along to a masterclass, or try out a whiskey cocktail at any of the dozens of stands. There are afternoon and evening session tickets available for both Friday and Saturday at €40 a head, and all samples as well as bottled water are included, so you can really do the rounds. Moldova Uncorked (24th May) A great opportunity to get a taste of some lesser-seen wines, Moldova Uncorked brings over 50 of the country’s diverse bottles to the Camden Court Hotel for this event. The Moldovan Embassy is on a mission to promote its native grape varieties and the sustainable viticulture practices gaining ground across the country, and at just €15 a ticket this might be one of the best-value tastings of the summer. Best of the Summer Wine (1st and 15th June) Need some inspiration for BBQ season drinks? Neighbourhood Wine will take care of that. Their summer tastings - June 1st in the Arnotts store and 15th in Churchtown - are a showcase of their favourite seasonal styles, from fizz right through to chilled reds. Tickets might seem a touch steep at €50 a head, but with the range and quality of wine in stock here, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to get your money’s worth. Taste of Dublin (15th - 18th June) The capital’s flagship food festival Taste of Dublin is back in the Iveagh Gardens this June, with some of the city’s best restaurants setting up camp to cook a range of their signature dishes. Among those so far announced are Bahay, Bar Italia, Hakkahan and Dosa Dosa, while guest chefs giving demos in the masterclass kitchen include Jordan Bailey, Kevin Burke and Trisha Lewis. There’s four ticket tiers with a price range from €17 to €62, and yes you'll probably complain about it afterwards, but you're still going to go. Summer Foraging Walk (16th July) Just a short skip over the county boundary to Meath is Sonairte , the National Ecology Centre, whose visitor eco-centre with a walled organic garden and nature trail is a great spot for a day out any time of year. This July they’re offering a summer foraging walk , hosted by Rerooting the Future and focused on all the best natural seasonal produce to be found in the wild. Tickets are €20 and can be purchased here . Eatyard Crisp Festival (20th - 23rd July) Surely one of the more niche entries on the food festival calendar, Eatyard at the Bernard Shaw’s annual Crisp Festival is back at the end of July. With eccentric events including blind tastings and sandwich making contests, it’s an ideal day out for the crisp-obsessed among you for just €10 a ticket. Not a fan? Firstly, who hurt you; secondly, you can sample a lot more at the Eatyard Motel 's “summer dining experience” every other weekend throughout the season. The Big Grill (17th - 20th August) We’re still a few weeks out from the announcement of the lineup for this year’s Big Grill , but on the strength of the last few years it’s worth grabbing an early bird ticket now. The annual event sees some major names in international cooking descend on D4 alongside plenty of local talent trying their hand at cooking over fire. Wander the stalls, drop by the “Bastecamp” demo stage, or test your mettle at an eating contest - either way, come hungry. Different ticket tiers available ranging from €20 to €40 are available here . Rumbullion (2nd - 4th June) / Tequila Town (4th - 6th August) Wigwam are paying tribute to two of their favourite spirits over the summer with their Rumbullion and Tequila Town festivals in June and August. The jam-packed schedules include events like drink-and-draw, drag brunches, cocktail competitions and mixing masterclasses, with Rumbullion offering a dining in the dark (& stormy) blind tasting menu that sounds like a messy blast. General admission tickets are €10 and include a cocktail to kick things off, and the blind tasting is €50. Did we miss any great upcoming food events? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

Date night. We all love it. Whether you want to impress a new love match, recapture the magic of life before kids, or ensure it's known that you're still making the effort, sometimes a romantic restaurant is necessary to set the scene, but food is always numero uno at ATF so no red-draped, candle-lit, rubbish food serving establishments may apply. Luckily, we’re in no shortage of cosy, dimly lit spots in Dublin city, where the food is incredible, the wine is top notch, and the acoustics are just right, with enough chatter to not feel like everyone around you can hear everything you’re saying (very important). Here are some of our top picks for date night in Dublin City Centre... (We're also big fans of the solo date, perfect for when you want to bask in that main character energy. See some of our favourite solo dining spots here . Amuri, Dublin 2 Relatively new on the scene, Sicilian restaurant Amuri opened last summer, tucked away on Chatham Street just above The Corkscrew wine shop – all you’ll see from the outside is a doorway with the restaurant’s name painted on Sicilian-looking tiles. If you’re looking to reminisce about that romantic trip to Sicily, this is the place to do it, with specialty ingredients like Red Tuna Bottarga, olive oil and pasta imported from top Sicilian producers. It's an authentic experience that we think you’ll fall in ‘amuri’ with. (It's also this week's Once Over - read it here ). Frank's, Dublin 2 The natural wine bar serving small plates on Camden Street is the perfect location for the informal dates that don’t require the full-blown three courses, but still feel special. Most importantly, Frank’s serves great food and wine, from couple David Bradshaw (chef) and Katie Seward (wine and front of house). You’ll join a communal table for your small plates from a regularly changing menu, and Frank’s is walk-in only, so ideal if you've been put in charge of booking and left it a little too late. Fish Shop, Smithfield A go-to restaurant for industry folk for quite some time, Fish Shop on Benburb Street gets it all right. Our favourite thing to do is order everything on the snacks and shellfish menu – the gilda and anchovies and russian salad are musts – but you’ve got your also got your pick of the beer battered catch of the day, with a choice of fish like hake, haddock, plaice or brill. It’s a cosy place with bar-style seating so be sure to reserve a table, and with some great bars close by ( Fidelity is a few steps away), and its proximity to the Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield, it’s a great option for a movie, dinner and drinks night. Terra Madre, Dublin 1 Nestled in the basement of a Bachelor’s Walk building, Terra Madre feels like stepping back in time to a traditional Southern Italian trattoria. The restaurant is what you might call intimate, with only space for around 15 or so diners, and it's a great setting for authentic Italian dishes and decent wines. The menu features antipasti, primi piattis of great quality pasta dishes, and secondi featuring wild boar and slow cooked beef cheeks, with a choice or two or three desserts. The ravioli del ‘Plin’ (handmade pasta from the Piedmont region, made using a traditional technique known as ‘Plin’ or ‘the pinch’) with black and truffle and cheese fondue is one of our go-to orders, and we reckon it will be yours too once you've tasted it. La Maison, Dublin 2 Nothing says romance quite like a French restaurant – one of our favourites in the city has to be La Maison , the French brasserie on Castle Market. In the summer there’s outdoor dining, but it’s also a cosy restaurant setting for those dark winter evenings when only a hearty French meal like confit duck paired with a good Pinot Noir will do. There’s lots of traditional dishes to choose from here, including Coquilles St Jacques, Coq au Vin, and a 30oz Côte de boeuf for two, if you’re sharing. You’re also perfectly located right next to Grogan’s for that pre or post-dinner drink, when you don't want the night to end. Piglet, Dublin 2 Wine-bar/restaurant Piglet on Cow’s Lane feels just the right distance from the hubbub of the city without being too far removed, and their wine list is a so-called ‘carefully selected mess’ of natural, biodynamic and organic wines alongside classic European picks. Seating indoors or at the bar is an ideal option for date nights on chillier evenings, and their outdoor terrace complete with heaters is a great spot year round. There’s a set two or three course menu, or you can go à la carte, and the food has a Mediterranean influence - but we're really there for the wine. Lock's, Portobello Be sure to ask for a table overlooking the canal on your next date night at Portobello restaurant Lock’s . It's always a solid choice for creative fine dining with the best Irish ingredients, with dishes like Guinness and treacle bread with cultured butter; hash browns with dulse seaweed, cod's roe and shallot; Castletownbere scallops with preserved sea buckthorn; and saddle of Sika deer with ‘bratwurst’ boudin. A stroll down the canal post-dinner on a summer’s evening would be the ideal ending. Library Street, Dublin 2 Located on Setanta Place, adjacent to Kildare Street, Library Street has been one of the most sought after tables in town since it opened. Try the choux buns with horseradish and Cantabrian anchovies, crispy stuffed chicken wings, and Paris Brest with stout, yuzu and espresso. It's the perfect way to round off a cultural day-date with your other half if you’ve been enjoying the National Library, National Museum or Gallery, all within a hair’s breadth of the restaurant. Note, Dublin 2 Buzzy wine bar/bistro Note will definitely deliver for date night – tables for two are against the window, and the warm wooden paneling and relaxed room setting give us serious Copenhagen vibes. Note serves top quality bistro style dishes, and their wine list is next-level. They’ve also had some very interesting pop ups including welcoming the Wildair + Contra team from NYC for a six course tasting menu, and Irish chef and author of the Ómós Digest Cuan Greene for another. Fallon & Byrne's Wine Cellar The basement of upmarket food hall Fallon & Byrne on Exchequer Street is the perfect candlelit location for a romantic rendezvous. Its walls are lined with over 200 of wines from around the world, so you’re guaranteed to find something you both like. Even better if your date night lands on a Sunday - there’s just €1 corkage from Sunday to Tuesday which is some of the best wine value in the city. For food there’s a good selection of charcuterie, pastas, pizzas and desserts to nibble on. Etto, Dublin 2 You'll be hard pressed to find a list of best restaurants in Dublin that doesn’t include Etto , but this Italian/Irish bistro with a stellar wine list is always top of our minds for a cosy date night too. With relatively limited capacity for seating, you can nab a table for two or bar-seating and definitely make sure to book well in advance because it's as popular as ever. You may not leave without ordering their signature of red wine prunes with vanilla mascarpone dessert – two spoons please. La Gordita, Dublin 2 Newcomer La Gordita is our latest entry for date night dining. From the people behind Las Tapas De Lola , La Gordita is like their sophisticated older, cooler sister who always wears great jackets you want to steal. Pick a table for two or bar seating, with some in the front offering great people watching out onto Montague Street. Pitched as Spanish ‘bodega style’, it’s more a place to really get settled into a three-course meal (and they stipulate that you must order a main so unfortunately you can't just gorge on tapas), and we loved the pan con ajo (their version of garlic bread), and the fried aubergine with sugar cane honey. Bastible, Dublin 8 Dublin 8’s Bastible is contemporary Irish dining at its best and has been one of Dublin’s most in demand restaurants since it opened its doors in 2015. Since earning a Michelin star in 2022, it’s also been even harder to get a table, so this is for a special date night that requires a bit of advance planning, but it will be worth it. Offering a five course tasting menu, complete with snacks and petit fours, it’s substantial and delicious in equal measure, with a strong Irish influence. D'Olier Street, Dublin 2 If you’re looking for fine dining in Dublin city centre, in a beautiful setting but without the fuss, D’Olier Street should be high on your list. It feels special without being serious, the ten-course tasting menu features incredible breads and desserts from a renowned, formerly New York based pastry chef, and the restaurant happens to be in D’Olier Chambers - one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, in our humble opinion. Bar Italia, Dublin 1 The god-tier carbonara will have us coming back to Bar Italia again and again, and for a cosy date night grab a table by the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking Millennium Bridge. Its chiefly Roman-staffed kitchen has been really bringing the goods for the past year, with top quality house-made pasta, pinsas (Roman pizza) with 72-hour fermented dough, and an extensive wine list. You’re also only a short walk to Bar 1661 where you can enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail in a very romantic (and award-winning) setting. From Bar 1661 to Bar Italia - that’s our kind of bar-hopping. Margadh RHA, Dublin 2 The newest addition to the Mamó empire (also a great date-night spot in the 'burbs), Margadh RHA is located in the RHA Gallery on Ely Place (the clue is in the name). It's a wonderful way to round off a cultural date spent checking out the latest exhibition, and following your meal you can take a little stroll around Stephen’s Green to walk it off. The tasting menu is some of the best value in town, and the wine list is a joy. Uno Mas, Dublin 2 Etto ’s Spanish sister, and also a permanent resident on those best restaurant in Dublin lists, Uno Mas is a top-tier date night choice, with some of the best counter-dining in town. All the Spanish favourites are here to choose from – gildas, padron peppers, that tortilla, Morcilla Ibérica, and their flan de queso (even if you don’t think you like flan, you’ll like this) is cult-status level at this stage. One Pico, Dublin 2 This is old school dining with a distinctly French flair, all in a warmly lit setting with crisp white tablecloths and plush seating. One Pico on Molesworth Place is Dublin institution-level at this stage, but with new head chef Zhan Sergejev taking the reins in 2022, it’s been given a new lease of life. The food looks as skillfully produced as ever, and it's clear the kitchen is aiming for Michelin star level food. Pickle, Dublin 2 Camden Street’s Pickle is our go-to for great Indian food that feels elevated and sophisticated, and is a solid date-night option as long as your other half doesn't mind spice. This is vibrant, authentic North Indian food packed with freshness and flavour, with dishes like tandoori guinea fowl, goat keema and wild boar vindaloo. Head chef and owner Sunil Ghai is one of the foremost Indian chefs in Ireland, and has the awards and legions of fans to prove it. A Fianco, Stoneybatter Next door to Grano (another great spot for a romantic date night – but we thought we’d give their wine bar a nod this time), A Fianco is an Italian-only wine bar serving small plates from caponata to Calabrian-style anchovies, and 40-month aged red cow Parmigiano. It’s a cosy spot, with just 16 seats, or you can pitch up at one of the standing areas. A Fianco (meaning ‘next to’) takes bookings for their counter or window space, so be sure to reserve a table in advance. What's your favourite date spot in Dublin with great food and wine? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

When we think of holidays in France we usually think of a food and wine filled weekend in Paris, lounging around by the sea in Nice or Biarritz, maybe a Michelin-starred city break in Lyon, but unless you're an avid skiier the chances are you probably haven't considered venturing to the Savoie, just over the border from Switzerland at the base of the Alps. Here you'll find Alpine towns like Grenoble, Annecy, and Aix-les-Bains (called the riviera of the Alps), and cuisines spanning French (from Burgundian escargot to juicy Côte de boeuf), Swiss (all the fondue) and Italian (freshly made pasta and pizza in every town - you'll be less than two hours from the Italian border everywhere you go). Here's where we went, and what we ate, on one of the best food trips we've ever taken... Chambéry We were based in the countryside (there's lots of it around here) and our closest town was Chambéry, a 15-minute drive away. It's a typically quaint French town, with loads of restaurants, shops and a market to pick up groceries, as well as museums and historical monuments, including the former home of the writer Jean Jacques Rousseau. Marché Des Halles, Chambéry The central market in Chambéry is open from 07:00 - 12:00 Tuesday - Saturday, and while not as sprawling as some city markets, it has everything you'll need for self-catering, including fresh French vegetables, meat, fish, terrines, and more local cheeses than you can imagine exist. Boulangerie Hexagone, Chambéry One thing you won't have to look far for in Chambéry (or France in general) is bread, pastries and patisserie. Bakeries seem to be on every corner, but we recommend a stop at the seven-day operation Bourlangerie Hexagone , for sandwiches on freshly baked bread, Marie-Antoinette brioche buns, and creamy tonka bean flans. Don't miss "the Brexit" - ham, egg and cheese in a buttery croissant-type pastry, and the display cabinet is also filled with pizzas to eat in or take home. There are a few seats outside, and serviceable coffee if you want to sit and eat, and it's a great one to have in your back pocket if you haven't made a lunch reservation, because restaurants fill up fast around here and most will wave you away if you haven't booked in advance. La Mezcla, Chambéry Rustic bar and bistrot La Mezcla specialises in no fuss cooking at prices that can't be argued with. A set two course lunch is €18, with three courses €22, and the short menu isn't lacking in interest. We loved the cream of leek soup with two pieces of blue cheese flan sat in the middle, the "butcher's piece" steak with chips and mushroom sauce, and the chestnut and chocolate meringue for dessert. Staff are charming and happy to speak English, the place is busy and buzzy, and the wines were good too. They don't have a website or online booking so call to make a reservation. Italoria, Saint-Alban-Leysse Things we were told about Italoria , the restaurant in the Hôtel L'Or du Temps, a 15 minute drive from Chambéry: "They don't take reservations." "Get there at 12pm or you won't get a table." We lucked out with a very dull and rainy day, so showing up delayed (and panicked) at 12:30 resulted in success, and much sighs of relief as we had no back up plan. At only an hour and 20 minutes from Italy, at the base of the Bauges Massif, it's as close as you can get to the real deal without crossing the border. Fresh pasta, pizza, Roman pinsas, risotto, meat and fish dishes are all on the menu, with daily specials, and a deep-fried burrata salad that was a revelation - why have we never seen this before! Get the pinsa with minced beef and mustard cream, the fettucine with duck ragu, and a glass of Montepulciano to wash it all down. Cedric Pernot @ Au Fidèle Berger, Chambéry Part patisserie, part chocolate shop, part historical monument , Au Fidèle Berger is the oldest shop in Chambéry and has been a pastry shop since 1832. P âtissier Cedric Pernot moved in in 2011, and his creations will have your head spinning from side to side from the second you walk in. Entrements, petit gâteaux, macarons, chocolates, pâte de fruits - if you don't walk out of here laden down with boxes and bags we'll be worried about you. Les Caves Du Château, Chambéry Chambéry has more quality wine shops than you'd expect in a town of its size, and local Savoie wines proudly take centre stage everywhere. Les Caves Du Château specialises in the natural variety (our favourite), and lovely staff are only too happy to tell you about their favourites. Try local white grapes J acquère and Altesse, or the local red M ondeuse, or treat yourself to some grower Champagne at relatively (in comparison to Ireland) knockdown prices. Le Fournil de Victor, Chambéry A bakery on the outskirts of town that's worth getting in the queue for is Le Fournil de Victor , famous for Tarte Tatins, raspberry tarts and lemon meringue pies (in small and large versions), and you're going to want one of each. Freshly baked bread is cut to order, and while savoury options are limited to quiche and rectangular tartes topped with lardons, onions, tomatoes and cheese, everything in here is achingly good, and you will definitely eat too much of it. Aix-les-Bains The "Riviera of the Alps", beautiful waterside town Aix-les-Bains sits alongside t he Lac du Bourget, France's biggest natural lake. In summer the lake is a hive of swimming, sailing, rowing, wake surfing, boat trips, pedal boats and fishing, but all year you'll find Alpine walkers and cyclists taking in the fresh mountain air. Le Philybert, Aix-les-Bains There are no shortage of restaurants in the region serving 'specialités Savoyardes', and Le Philybert on the town's main road is one place to go if you want fondue, tartiflette (potatoes, lardons and local Reblochon cheese) and escargot de Bourgogne in garlic butter. It's the only place we came across serving fondue for one (it's usually for two minimum), and it's also a steakhouse so expect burgers, beef tartare and a variety of meat cuts, from bavette to entrecôte. The outdoor seats are the ones to nab if the sun's shining. Momo Maisonnette Takeaway only (we discovered to our dismay, then quickly recovered when we tasted the food) Momo Maisonnette is the Vietnamese eatery in town. You'll find the dishes you love like Bun Cha, Pho and summer rolls, as well as ones you might not like Mi-Xao and Pho-Xao (both noodle dishes), and everything is prepared completely fresh in front of you, so there might be a bit of a wait. Less fast food, more slow food to eat on the go, and a perfect stop on the way to or from Geneva airport. Grenoble European Green Capital 2022 , Grenoble has been described as an "exemplary metropolis", taking sustainability, respect for the environment and well-controlled development of the city very seriously. But apart from all of that, it's just a stunning place to walk around, with some seriously good food to boot. Don't miss taking the cable cars up to the Bastille for some of the best views imaginable - but skip the food up here. L'Ardoise, Grenoble L'Ardoise is that perfect bistro you fantasise about when you think about going to France. Customers talk animatedly in red leather-backed booths, the menus are all on blackboards, and the service is upbeat and trés efficient. When it comes to the food? This was the best meal we had in France. We're still scratching our heads over how this bone marrow could taste infinitely better than any we've had before, how they can do a three-course lunch including a Côte de boeuf and chips for €36, and how they can make biscuit, pineapple jam and pear mousse look exactly like a real pear. L'Ardoise was faultless in our book, and if we'd had enough time there would have been a second, third, maybe a fourth visit. Bonnat Chocolatier, Grenoble Sometimes you just need a hot chocolate, and when the craving strikes head for Bonnat Chocolatier . Pick from 65%, 75% or 100% chocolate, with options to add Chartreuse liquor or Chantilly cream. One pot is easily big enough for two, and there's plenty of chocolate to take home as a souvenir. Super Ravioli, Grenoble If you're cooking in and need a break from traditional French food, head to Super Ravioli for freshly filled pastas, arancini and sauces, as well as Italian cheeses and charcuterie. The burrata and lemon stuffed mezza luna are the pasta to beat, but it's all good in here. Maison Bochard, Grenoble Chocolate shop Maison Bochard are famous for their chocolate covered mandarins and orange slices, but the choices of obscenely expensive chocolates and patisserie extend well beyond those two options. Saying that, you really don't want to skip those mandarins and orange slices, you'll be throwing your money at them for more. Annecy Picture-perfect Annecy, often called "the Venice of France" because of its canals, seems to be kept secret by people who've visited - we had more than a few messages scolding us for broadcasting about it to the people of Ireland. Dramatic mountains rise up behind Lake Annecy (famous for its ultra clean waters), it's a cyclist, hiker and water sport enthusiasts' dream, and we can't even begin to imagine how busy it gets here in the height of tourist season, so visiting off peak is definitely the way to go. Ying Ba, Annecy French and Vietnamese cuisine have longtime links since France occupied Vietnam in the 1800's, so expect to find much of each cuisine in the others' country. Sometimes in France you've had enough steak, terrines and soufflés and are in desperate need of something fresher and lighter, and that's where somewhere like Ying Ba comes in. Order your nem, pho or bun cha at a screen, take a buzzer, then wait till it goes off. It's fast, it's inexpensive, and it's one of the few place you won't need a reservation for lunch. Phew. Par Faim Bio Glacier, Annecy Annecy seems to have more ice-cream shops than people, but if you're looking for something a bit more pure, Par Faim Bio 's ice-creams are organic and freshly made in front of you. Just pick your fruit, pick your size and the owner will turn it into a refreshing cold dessert as if by magic. These are definitely more on the sorbet than the creamy side, but if it's the latter you're looking for... Les Glacier des Alpes, Annecy This ice-cream hatch on one of Annecy's medieval streets wasn't just the best ice-cream we tried in France, it's some of the best ice-cream we've tried ever. We dove on it and devoured it so fast we forgot to take a picture, and then had to go back up and order more (and forgot to take a picture of that too, we were practically hypnotised at that point). Chocolate, salted caramel, mango - it was all better than ice-cream should legally be allowed to taste, and if you visit one place in Annecy make it this one. Getting there We found flights for around €130 per person via Aer Lingus to Geneva and drove from there, but Swiss fly there too and can be cheaper depending on the dates. Another option is to fly to Lyon and cram in a few Michelin-starred lunches and dinners - which doesn't sound like a bad alternative.

What should we know about Yang Guo Fu? Serving up malatang, a popular street food which derives its name from the spicy numbing sensation of its Sichuan and chilli pepper sauce, Yang Guo Fo has the same same as the 6,000-strong international franchise, but despite some initial confusion, it apparently has no connection to the original Chinese brand - coincidence or copy you decide. A little bit like a faster and less communal answer to hot pot, malatang usually uses a pay-by-weight system where punters fill up a bowl with ingredients and hand it over to be cooked in a bone broth and finished in the distinctively fiery mala sauce. They quietly cropped up on Marlborough Street earlier this year (with no website or social channels), and after hearing some approving noises from the Chinese diaspora, we had to give it a look. What should we have? The world, or Yang Guo Fu at least, is your oyster. Though oysters are one of the few things you won’t find among the 40-plus options laid out here. On arrival you’ll get a friendly word of intro from staff to assure you that malatang is something very special and walk you through what you need to do. Don’t be shy about asking what everything is - the container labelling is wildly inconsistent and there are plenty of things more squeamish eaters will want to know about before popping it into their bowl. Your mixture will be charged at €3.80 per 100g, so canny diners can skew toward the lighter ingredients for a cheaper meal. The buffet starts with a variety of leafy greens like spinach, pak choi, broccoli and Chinese cabbage alongside six kinds of house noodles. If you want to add in the packaged chicken-flavoured instant noodles from the baskets up top (the staff will keenly urge you to do so) we advise passing on the others to leave room for some of the more interesting ingredients. Chief among those are the mushrooms, like white fungus, wood ear and the distinctive enoki, and meats from safe bets like mini sausages and spam to adventurous options like stomach, tripe, and curdled pig’s blood (we warned you). Plenty of varieties of tofu and rice cake are available too, and seafood spans fish balls, crab sticks, and several types of squid. Once you’ve finished, hand over the bowl and select your spice level before weighing in and paying up. When it’s ready just a few minutes later, you can tweak the taste at a condiment station with sugar, satay, chiles and vinegars. Why should I go? There’s a huge variety of possible combinations here and no two bowls will taste exactly alike - for our part we found it a deeply soothing meal we can imagine playing all the better on a cold winter's day. It’s ideal to add a little of everything you’re comfortable with, not only to try a wide variety but also to enjoy the fun of finding something new to explore in every ladle. Our top tips are to try a few fish balls, don’t skimp on the seaweed, and definitely stick with just one kind of noodle, but at Yang Guo Fu it’s all about doing your own thing and putting your own twist on a real Chinese street food experience you won't find anywhere else in Dublin. Yang Guo Fu 27 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1

Oh how we wish every Irish restaurant welcomed our mini diners with open arms, realised that if they don't get opportunities to eat out they'll never learn restaurant etiquette, and understood that food-loving parents are the perfect 5pm table-filler, back out the door before seven to tackle bedtime (which good food and wine may make marginally easier). We have a way to go to compete with cities like Sorrento, Seville or San Sebastian, where younger diners are welcomed with more gusto than their parents, and everywhere from corner cafés to Michelin-stars, well-behaved children sit calmly for meals, their parents enjoy a carafe of wine, families catch up, all is well in the world. The good news is there are plenty of Dublin restaurants choosing not to freeze out the next generation (and their tired caretakers), trusting parents not to let their child run riot, throw food, or ask for chicken nuggets when it's not on the menu. We have our favourites, but also asked you guys where you and your little ones feel welcomed and looked after, and we aren't mentioning chains because you know about them and we don't eat in them (sorry not sorry). This article isn't about places serving margherita pizzas and chicken goujons. It's about where we want to eat, where taking kids doesn't make you feel like a pariah, with places that have high chairs, and either changing facilities or enough space so that you can change a nappy without baby and/or Mum/Dad having a claustrophobic meltdown. Osteria Lucio, Grand Canal Dock The constantly heaving Osteria Lucio at Grand Canal Dock opens at 17:00, perfect for an early evening bite with the family (although you'll have to fight the dockland workers for tables). The predominantly pizza/pasta based menu is made for sharing, there's high chairs, and it's so buzzy that any outdoor voices at the table will be nicely drowned out. Nightmarket, Ranelagh Nightmarket have always been the ideal setting to introduce younger diners to the spice, sweet and sour of Thai food. Their children's menu contains the most minor of compromises with zero dumbing down or freezer food, and they're always happy to see families coming. Ian's Kitchen, Kimmage New opening Ian's Kitchen in Kimmage claims to have the best value kid's menu in D12, and it's hard to argue with eggs on toast for €3.50, banana bread French toast for €4.50, and free pancakes for kids on Sundays (with an adult who's eating). Their sister fried chicken truck Cluck also feed kids for free on Sundays, making it even more appealing to take the family out for food. Coal, Blackrock The owners of Coal in Blackrock have two young children and say they know how important it is to promote a healthy diet for them, and that everything on their kids menu is "100% real". This is the only reason we've let somewhere serving chicken goujons make the list (at least they're not from the freezer), but there's also burgers, penne with cream and bacon, roast chicken, and garlic prawns in lemon butter. Their three course kids menu is €15 (supplement for the prawns), including garlic bread to start and a dessert, and our readers rave about the treatment younger diners get. China Sichuan, Sandyford Despite being closer to the fine dining category than most Chinese restaurants in Dublin, loads of you told us you love taking your children to China Sichuan , praising staff's happiness to adjust dishes to cater for them, and make sure younger diner leave as happy as the older ones. Pala Pizza & Trattoria, Foxrock Pala Pizza is trattoria by name, trattoria by nature, and that means families are their number uno. Children eat free between 17:00 - 18:00 on Wednesdays and Thursday (for real) while Mom and Dad can chow down on antipasti, carbonara or pork Milanese, all accompanied by something from their excellent wine list. It's busy, it's buzzy, and every dish will have all ages fighting over it. Bar Italia, Dublin 1 Another Italian that will welcome your little ones with open arms is Bar Italia on Ormond Quay. The giant pinsas (Roman pizzas), pasta specials and steaks shouldn't elicit any cries of "I'm not eating that", and it's spacious and busy enough so that any mini tantrums shouldn't make you want the ground to swallow you in one bite. Lucky Tortoise, Temple Bar Lucky Tortoise in Temple Bar have just introduced a children's menu, with chicken noodles; chicken strips and rice; and pork dumplings and rice priced at €8-9. If it was us though we'd just go for some adult "all in"s (€31pp) and share the lot. There's plenty of space and it's so central that it should be easy enough to make a quick dash home for bedtime once you're done. Krewe, Capel Street When we asked where our readers have had great experiences eating with their children, Krewe came up again and again. Accommodating staff, the type of food kids love, and a buzzy, music-filled atmosphere so no hiding under the table if your little darlings are a little too vocal. Daata, Glasthule The kids menu at Daata is just like a mini version of the main menu, but at €14 for three courses. Samosas, chicken tikka skewers, coconut curry, and chicken tikka masala all feature, with a brownie and ice-cream for dessert. Flower & Bean, Dublin 8 All parents, but especially parents of young children, need great places to go for coffee and cake, and Flower & Bean surpasses all expectations when it comes to catering for kids in cafés. There's a children's corner with books, games and a blackboard to draw on, and even a children's toilet set in the bathroom, so no possibility of falling into the bowl while toilet training. You're guaranteed at least ten minutes peace. Risorante Romano, Capel Street Romano' s on Capel Street looks like it hasn't changed a beat since opening in the 1980's, complete with crispy paper tablecloths, a gauche colour scheme and terrible wine glasses. It's Italian through and through, and that includes their attitude to younger diners, who will be fawned over and treated like the real VIPs. The pizzas and pastas are good (if not the best in town) and the prices are low - especially the early bird. FX Buckley, Various Locations Steak loving parents have told us that FXB is the place to be with kids, with accommodating staff, extra sauces (what sane children wouldn't try to drink the béarnaise) and never being made to feel guilty for bringing a child out to eat. We've also been told they don't rush slow eaters, and if necessary will move families to the bar or garden for dessert. Grano, Stoneybatter Walking into Grano in Stoneybatter is like walking into Sicily, so it's no surprise that they're just as welcoming to younger diners as they are to the older ones. Curious children staring over at the pasta making station are often welcomed over to make their own, with owner Roberto sending them home with their creations. Hen's Teeth, Dublin 8 Hen's Teeth serve food from 4pm on Thursday and Friday and 12pm on weekends, including the rarely seen but always welcome Sunday roast, which brings all the boys and girls to D8. The good news is that they can bring their little boys and girls with them, as the lovely team are more than happy to wheel out the highchairs and move things around for hungry parents. Charlotte Quay, Grand Canal Dock Charlotte Quay serves Mediterranean small plates and mains, and sitting outside on their terrace on a warm day with a glass of fizz in hand (and baby firmly strapped into high chair as there's water everywhere), is maternity leave lunch goals. Sprezzatura, Dublin 8 & Rathmines What's cuter than a baby eating spaghetti and meatballs? A baby eating cacio e pepe. Sprezzatura 's casual atmosphere, small plates and carb heavy menu makes it an ideal choice for families, and a monumental step up from the Italian chains frequented by most families. Las Tapas De Lola, Dublin 2 Las Tapas De Lola is Spanish in food, and Spanish in attitude, so expect babies to be fawned over by the lovely staff. Tapas are also the perfect way to introduce your mini-gourmet to loads of different flavours. Old Street, Malahide Old Street in Malahide have made welcoming children a cornerstone of the business since day one. They've long offered half portions of adult dishes, high chairs and baby changing, and on Sundays there's a kids size roast, and activity books to keep them busy at the table. Full Moon Thai Full Moon is the perfect casual spot when you've got a craving for papaya salad, laab moo and whole deep-fried fish. Just beware blowing baby's head off with anything too spicy, because they don't hold back in here. Riba, Stillorgan Southside neighbourhood restaurant Riba know the importance of catering for families, and even have children's cutlery - that's next level effort. With fritti, arancini and chicken wings, there's plenty to put into little hands to keep them busy. Balfe's, Dublin 2 Somewhere mentioned by you guys a lot was Balfe's beside The Westbury, whose staff went over and above to cater for younger diners and their parents. The all day menu covers a lot of bases, and there's breakfast and brunch too. As One, Dublin 2 As One is ideal for nipping into when baby is asleep in the buggy and you're in search of sustenance. Loads of space means you can manoeuvre your contraption with ease, while great coffee and a menu focused on making you feel good will refuel you for the rest of the day. Overends Kitchen, Dundrum Overends Kitchen , on the grounds of Airfield Estate, is the ideal place for helping the next generation make the connection between farm and fork. Order the garden greens shakshuka, then go outside and see where they're grown. Five Points, Harold's Cross Five Points was another place that you guys raved about when eating out with your kids, for the food, atmosphere and general welcome. With pancakes, bacon avocado toast and house made granola on the menu, there shouldn't be any issues about finishing their food either. Loretta's, Phibsboro Sundays at neighbourhood restaurant Loretta's are all about snacks and sharing plates, which we think is the best way to eat with mini diners. Try them on ham hock & smoked eel croquettes, or grilled chicken leg with Alabama white BBQ sauce, before moving onto a double cut pork chop with nectarines and salsa verde. There's also tonnes of space for wobblers who can't sit still to have a wander. Soup, Dun Laoghaire & Smithfield We love Soup for little ones, and they love it back. Let them lift the bowl to drink the last of the delicious ramen broth, or get their hands sticky in the deep-fried kimchi. There's plenty of space in Smithfield in particular for buggies/books/toys on the table, and it's noisy enough that you won't feel self-conscious if anyone's using their elevated pitch. Bread 41, Dublin 2 The upstairs eatery in Bread 41 has been jammed with brunch bookings since opening, so you'll need to plan your visit (and reserve your highchair) in advance, but once you get there you'll find brioche French toast with homemade ice-cream, breakfast naans, and croissant benedict, and a kid's menu priced between €4.50 and €5.50 a dish. Yoi Izakaya, Dublin 4 If you want to introduce your mini-me to sushi, head for Yoi Izakaya in Dublin 4. There's plenty of space of buggies, a long dining room to pace with wobblers, and lots of food made for eating with your fingers. Gaillot et Gray, Dublin 8 Wood fired French style sourdough pizzeria, with an outdoor terrace, and a bookshelf bursting with kids books, colouring pencils and paper. Serving artisan breads, pizzas, speciality coffee, indigenous herbal teas, wine and beer, Gaillot et Gray is one of the most kid friendly restaurants in Dublin. Neon, Camden Street Neon is fast food with flavour at affordable prices. Serving fresh, Asian street food, wine and beer, it's relaxed, very kid friendly and totally informal. The free ice cream cone policy goes down a treat with the little ones, and they've got baby changing facilities. Pi, George's Street Pi , with its super stylish decor and queues often seen down the street at weekends, is very child-friendly - both in atmosphere and food. Pizza toppings are exceptional, with a mix of Italian and Irish ingredients, and with a limited menu it's the perfect fast casual stop in town. Dunne & Crescenzi, South Frederick Street Dunne & Crescenzi serve simple Italian food with quality ingredients, authentically Italian hospitality and excellent wines. There's lots of buggy space, highchairs and they'll serve half portions for kids from the main menu. It's the perfect spot for a decent family lunch or dinner in town. The Woollen Mills, Dublin 1 Quintessially Irish, local and of its locale. Overlooking the Ha'penny Bridge and the River Liffey, The Woollen Mills a great place to grab everything from coffee and cake, to multiple courses of potted Lambay crab, crispy Howth mackerel and spicy pork meatballs with coconut harissa. There's a children's menu, and it's a great choice if you need somewhere on the Northside. Bujo, Sandymount Neighbourhood burger joint BuJo cook their grass fed, chargrilled burgers fresh to order, and it's one of the best burgers in the city. They're the only fast food restaurant in Ireland and the UK to hold a 3 Star rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association, they take their environmental responsibility for the local community and the planet very seriously. It might be more expensive than Maccy D's, but it's worth every cent. There's a great kids menu, and it's counter-service so no need to book. Shouk, Drumcondra Shouk is our favourite Middle Eastern restaurant in Dublin. They love to see children, we love to see their mezze, their chicken shawarma, their arayes, and it's all perfect for sharing. The terrace is a dream for outdoor dining. Press Up Venues Press Up get a lot of stick for the quality of their food, but their venues were mentioned over and over by you guys when it came to eating out with kids. You mentioned welcoming, adaptable staff, excellent facilities, crayons and paper, and plenty of space for buggies in Angelina's, Mackenzie's, Union Café and more. Did we miss your favourite place for eating with children? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

Summer was that you? No? Okay, we guess we can wait another few days/weeks/months for outdoor dining, park picnics and daily ice-creams. In the meantime we’ll just have to make do with Kingfish ceviche, savoury Maritozzis and coconut dulce de leche croissants... 1) Norwegian Kingfish, chilli and kumquat, Margadh RHA There’s a new chef at Margadh RHA in the city centre, and he’s shaking things up with dishes like burrata with brown butter almonds and XO sauce, and this Norwegian Kingfish with kabousu honke chilli, kumquat and roast clementine. Kyle Vaughan was previously in Sydney’s Rockpool and head chef at the Bentley Group, and there’s a definite blast of sunshine coming from his food. 2) Savoury Maritozzi, A Fianco We’ve given you the classic Maritozzi , we’ve give you the Queen of Puddings Maritozzi , now we offer to you, the ossobuco-filled Maritozzi. A Fianco just can’t stop giving us reasons to hop on the Luas in the direction of Stoneybatter, and this fluffy, meat-filled brioche with Calabrian saffron and parmigiano sauce (a perfect match with their Calabrian reds apparently) is just the latest. 3) Vegan Delight Sushi, Izakaya Where exactly does vegan sushi get off looking this good? Is it the black rice? The deep-fried exterior? The pickled wakame on top? Whatever it is we’re adding one on to our next order at Izakaya . 4) Coconut and dulce de leche tart croissant, Medialuna We ran to try Medialuna ’s pastel de nata croissant tart after multiple messages from our readers telling us we should, and now they’ve gone and upped the ante with a coconut and dulce de leche version. Good thing we don't concern ourselves about things like bikini weather. 5) Imbibe Coffee & Pecan Praline Cruffins, Noisette We love a cruffin in most forms, but an Imbibe coffee and pecan praline one? Where do we queue. Rush. That’s where we (and you) will have to queue if you want one of these, and we strongly recommend going early because Noisette is drawing the crowds from the time they open and selling out early.

Let’s face it, eating out can be a struggle on the wallet, particularly in Dublin. We’re one of the most expensive cities in Europe – the third most expensive, pricier than London, Paris and Rome, according to a recent report - and we're all feeling it. The same report also found that the average cost of a three-course meal for two was €80, and when we saw that figure our first thought was - "where can two people eat out for €80?? "Which we guess confirms the findings. The price of *waves hands around* literally everything , coupled with the cost of living and the housing crisis bringing rents sky-high, can make the financial impact of eating out burdensome, but we strongly believe that the pleasure of enjoying a meal in a restaurant is one that should be accessible to everyone – regardless of budget. With this in mind that we set out to find some of the best spots in town where you can enjoy a two or three course meal and a drink that won’t leave you eating beans on toast for the rest of the month. Sprezzatura , Dublin 8 & Rathmines Now with two homes – the O.G. in Camden Market, Dublin 8, and the latest iteration in Rathmines – Sprezzatura is our go-to spot for an extremely good value pasta dish (or two). They offer small plates, arancini, fresh pasta and gnocchi dishes, and there’s a few delicious desserts to choose from too. Almost all of their ingredients are sourced in Ireland, there are nice little Irish twists on Italian classics, and pastas start at €6.95 for tomato basil spaghetti, to €13.95 for pappardelle with Jane Russell sausage fennel ragu. Aobaba, Dublin 1 A classic pit-stop for anyone who knows what's what in the Capel Street area, Aobaba is a casual Vietnamese serving the only handmade Vietnamese-style noodles in Ireland. There’s a fantastic selection of phos (you can get a small portion too if you’re budget-conscious starting at €8.50), and lots of great value street food staples like banh cuon, banh mi, and bun cha, priced from €6 - €10.50. You can grab a Vietnamese coffee, bubble tea or smoothie to wash it all down and still have plenty of change in your pocket. Bambino This NY-style pizza shop might not be a sit-down meal, but if you’re lucky you’ll grab some free stools and perch yourself at a counter to enjoy a slice or two of seriously good pizza, and enjoy a glass of wine along with it. With roughly ten different slice options, from triangular to square, red to white, and daily specials, there’s something for everyone in Bambino and lots to choose from. Try the blue cheese and leek for €5.50 a slice, or the burrata square for €6.50. Dillinger's, Ranelagh We haven’t been able to stop thinking about this midweek Dillinger’s deal since we heard about it. The Ranelagh restaurant has recently introduced a Tuesday / Wednesday night special of Dover Sole for two with a choice of two sides for €45. If that’s not a reason to get out of the kitchen and down to this US-style neighborhood restaurant, we're out of ideas. Shouk, Drumcondra We bleat about Shouk in Drumcondra enough, but usually it’s about the quality of the food and the fact that we believe it’s some of the best middle eastern food ]in Dublin. What’s even better is the price point, with pittas ranging from €9 - €14.50 and main dishes like the Batata, Arayes and Shakshouka ranging from €12 - €15. There’s also a tasting menu if you’re undecided and want to try everything for €34 per person. Freshly squeezed juices, cocktails, draft beer and wines are all on offer too, and corkage is €8 per bottle of wine. All in all a bargain night out`in our books. M&L Chinese, Dublin 1 The Szechuan province is in focus at this properly authentic Chinese restaurant off O’Connell Street. M&L Chinese has been serving reliably consistent, must-have Chinese dishes (green beans with pork, and homemade dumplings to name a couple), with fantastic chef’s recommendations that won’t hurt your wallet too much - our last meal worked out around €25 a head ex-booze. There’s a wine list, soft drinks and Chinese soft drinks available, but at €6.50 for corkage, this is some of the best value around for BYOB. Mister S, Camden Street A live-fire BBQ joint from the folks behind Featherblade, Mister S is a meat-lover’s dream, and we’ve been clamouring for a Friday lunchtime table here since they introduced their steak frites lunch deal for €19. Available until 16:30 every Friday, there’s usually another lunch special on the go for the same price point. With the best of Irish produce, great wines and cocktails, this is super value for a late lunch / early dinner - if you can nab a table. Pho Kim, Dublin 1 One of the best Vietnamese restaurants in town, Pho Kim serves steaming bowls of pho €14.50 - €15.50, Banh Cuon (a rice flour pancake filled with ground prawns, pork and mushroom, €14). We're very partial to some Banh Xeo (a crispy savoury pancake with prawns, pork and veggies served with lots of fresh and zesty herbs, €15), and a bowl of 'Bun Tom Thit Nuong', with marinated pork and prawns, rice vermicelli noodles, peanuts, carrots, coriander, crispy onions, cucumber and a tangy sauce - €16. Bunsen Burger, Various Locations Bunsen is a great option if you're in the mood for a straight-up burger (FX Buckley beef accompanied by the classic American hamburger bun - the Amish dinner roll), fries (shoestring are our choice but they’ve also got hand cut and sweet potato), and a drink (beers, wine, milkshakes and soft drinks). Since opening, they’ve expanded to multiple locations around the city including South Anne Street, Wexford Street, Dame Street, Temple Bar, Baggot Street, Ranelagh and Blanchardstown, and you can get in and out for under €20 for a cheeseburger, fries and a milkshake. Lee's Charming Noodles, Dublin 1 Based on Parnell Street, Lee’s Charming Noodles serves up some of the best hand pulled noodles we’ve had, from various Chinese regions including Sichuan and Chongqing. We love their sesame king prawn toast and crispy aromatic duck pancakes for starters, followed by Lanzhou hand pulled soup noodles, chow mein or pan fried noodles – the Szechuan spicy lamb noodle is not for the faint hearted. With starters hovering around the €6/7 mark, and noodles around €13, Lee's is great value and always extremely tasty. Sfuso, Dublin 1 This chilled little spot is tucked away on Bloom’s Lane in the ‘Italian Quarter’ just off Dublin’s northside quays. Sfuso , meaning ‘unpackaged’, is a deli-restaurant-winebar serving Italian dishes in a cosy setting. Nab a table in the dining space or outdoor seating area, and on the little blackboard at your table you’ll choose from a mains like parmigiana, gnocco alla romana, lasagna and sides of grilled veggies, roast potatoes and Insalata Russa (all served by weight), as well as the option to have boards and nibbles – the lazy platter is a mix of cold cuts and cheeses, arancini and cantabrian anchovies with burrata and crostini. There's a daily lunch option for €10, and wines by the glass start at €6. Just Chubby's, Clontarf Based in Clontarf, Just Chubby’s food truck has become a destination for the taco lovers of Dublin. From the people behind 147 Deli , we knew it would be good, but the chicken, beef, and veggie tacos they have on offer surpassed all of our (high) expectations. The sides are great too – nachos, corn ribs and fried jalapeno cheese rolls – and at just €5 per portion of tacos, and €8.95 per (generous) side, this is great food for great prices. Lucky Tortoise, Dublin 2 For a fun night and a great deal, check out the ‘all-in’ menu at Lucky Tortoise on Aungier Street (now also in Temple Bar). This is some of the best value in Dublin, with plates of okonomiyaki, scallion pancakes, pancetta potstickers and more for €29. They’ve also got an ‘all-in’ veggie and vegan menu for €28, as well as a lunch deal for €15 (€14 for veggies/vegans), with rice, kimchi, slaw, miso, okky and siu mai / sweet potato. 777 Sundays, Dublin 2 Since its darkened doors opened in 2012, 777 has been heaving, in no doubt down to its fantastic cocktails and innovative, ever-changing small plates. Visit on a Sunday when selected dishes are €7.77 (see what they did there?), as are selected cocktails. It's a fun spot, and the ‘afuera’ outdoor area behind the restaurant is always the life and soul of the party. Xi'an Street Food, Dublin 1 & 2 Located on South Anne Street and North Earl Street in Dublin, Xian Street Food has serves a taste of Xi’An, one of the oldest cities in China. This casual restaurant serves hand pulled noodles, and their signature Biang Biang Noodles, a popular dish from the Shaanxi province. The noodles are named after the sound they make as the large belt-like noodle dough is slapped against the counter when they’re being pulled. Noodles are priced between €13 and €16, with plenty of other Chinese dishes to sample - we recommend the Roujiamo, Xi’an burger, a multi layer crispy bun and possibly the world’s oldest hamburger, dating from the Zhou Dynasty. Featherblade, Dublin 2 For great value steak in the city, Featherblade on Dawson Street is it. You can get a perfectly cooked featherblade here for €14, massive burgers and really good sides. Before 4pm, for €11.50 you can get your hands on a steak sandwich, or a smoked bacon BLT for €9.50. There’s also a set menu option for €35 which includes starter, main, side, sauce and dessert (with a supplemental charge for pichana and ribeye). Piglet, Temple Bar The go-to wine bar and restaurant tucked away on Cow’s Lane that transports you to a little Italian village, Piglet is an industry favourite for wine, wine and more wine. They change the menu regularly but you'll find small bites as well a lunch menu (running from 12:00 - 15:00) with two courses for €29.50, and a dinner menu (served from 17:00), with a two-course option for €37. Just don't say we didn't warn you if you spend your food savings on wine. Hang Dai, Dublin 2 Still one of the buzziest places in town, Hang Dai ’s woodfired duck, family style feasts, great music and cocktails all set against a neon subway carriage backdrop, make for a great night out. If you’re looking for a good value sharing feast, the €40 tasting menu will serve you well, featuring some of the best the menu has to offer including cheeseburger spring rolls, sesame prawn toast with yuzu mayo, and Irish Wagyu steak with ponzu cured egg yolk. And best of all no horse-trading over what to order. Osteria Lucio, Grand Canal Dock For solid Italian cooking centred on quality ingredients, Osteria Lucio in Grand Canal Dock should be on your visit list. This is an Italian eatery by way of Michelin (Ross Lewis formerly of Chapter One and Luciano Tono whose Italian restaurant held a star for ten years). This sounds like it’s going to pinch my pocketbook, I hear you say, and you can run up a sizeable bill, but there’s a €55 per person ‘ Big Lucio Sharing Menu ’ that runs until 20:30 every night. For tables of maximum six people, you'll get a taste of the whole menu, so as long as you don't go too crazy on cocktails and wines you should be able to get out at a reasonable spend per head, especially based on what you're getting.

April's monthly 9 giveaways have arrived! And this month we've got mega restaurant vouchers, food and wine hampers, a whiskey experience, coffee, meal prep delivery and more! Being automatically entered into our monthly giveaways is just one of the perks of being signed up to ATF Insiders - our premium service that allows us to operate independently, with no #ad, #collab or #invite across any of our channels. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders by midnight on Monday 17th April will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Tuesday 18th April. Here's what you could win this month... 1) A €200 voucher for Eleven, Loughlinstown What was formerly the restaurant upstairs in Whelehans Wines in Loughlinstown has been taken over by John Farrell (777, The Butcher's Grill, Dillinger's), and suddenly South County Dublin has a new wood-burning grill worth making a beeline for. Eleven (named after the N11 it sits on) has a 45-seat dining room, bar seating for up to 20, and a high top table area seating another 30. A terrace at the back will be open by summer for outdoor dining. Eleven opens from Wednesday - Saturday for dinner, with brunch on Saturday and daytime dining on Sunday (featuring the eternally in demand Sunday roast). You can drop in for cocktails at the bar, have a few small plates (like charred prawns with lardo, bisque and sorrel) or book in for the whole hog (like handmade pasta, BBQ monkfish and C ô te de Boeuf). Their Oyster Happy Hour (weekdays from 17:00 - 19:00) is another good reason to visit, with €2 oysters and €2 off cocktails. Eleven have given us a €200 voucher to give away to one very lucky Insider this month, so you can do your worst on all that flame-grilled food and cocktails. 2) A €200 voucher for Pearl Brasserie Pearl Brasserie in Dublin 2 opened its doors an amazing 23 years ago, and chef-owner Sebastien Masi and team have been delivering French fine dining in a warm and welcoming atmosphere ever since. You can visit Wednesday - Friday for their two-course €39 lunch, or go in the evening for their à la carte or tasting menus, and t hey've have given us a €200 voucher to give away to one of you this month, so the choice is yours (we'd do lunch and go all out on the wine). Check out Pearl Brasserie here . 3) A Dunne & Crescenzi Italian Hamper Worth €200 Dunne and Crescenzi , on Dublin's South Frederick Street, has just been been nominated for best wine experience in Ireland at the Irish Restaurant Awards , and to celebrate they've given us an an Italian wine and food hamper worth €200 to give away. In it you'll find a bottle of Dei 2017 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a bottle of Elio Grasso 2013 Barolo, and lots more treats like pasta, coffee and Italian biscuits. Since opening in 1999, Dunne and Crescenzi has been sourcing wines from producers from every region in Italy, and today their list features over 200 different bottles, that can be enjoyed at their city centre, Dundrum, and Kildare Village restaurants. Check them out here . 4) €100 Voucher For Network & All Good Wine Bar Network has long been part of the Dublin coffee and brunch hit list, but then they turned it into All Good Wine Bar on Friday and Saturday nights, and there was yet another reason to amble up Aungier Street. We've got a €50 voucher for Network and a €50 voucher for All Good Wine Bar to give away this month, so you can head in early for 'Notions on Toast', then come back later on for natural wines and tunes from their weekly changing roster of DJs. Check out what's coming up here . 5) Two Tickets For Whiskey Live & A Single Malt Masterclass Whiskey Live , Ireland's premier whiskey tasting event, is back at the RDS on the 19th and 20th of May, Tickets are €44 (ex booking fee) and include all sampling once you're inside, along with a welcome pack, and bottled water throughout, so the only extra cash you'll need is if you want to buy food, purchase a full bottle to bring home, or buy an exclusive rare dram at the ' Dream Dram Bar '. We've got two tickets for Saturday evening to give away, along with two tickets for the Bushmills Single Malt Masterclass , including rare and unreleased drams that have been quietly maturing in their warehouses. Check out the the weekend's line up here , including masterclasses from some of the world's best whiskey brands, and a minimum of €10 from each ticket is being donated to Down Syndrome Dublin , so you can feel even better about your sipping. 6) €100 Voucher For Brickyard Loved Dundrum gastropub Brickyard reopened last month after undergoing a transformation, but regulars were relieved that the menu is mostly the same, with a couple of new additions. The chicken wings, mac-and-cheese bites, and burgers have survived, with newbies including broccoli pakora with coriander chutney, mint yoghurt and fermented jalapenos, and 10 hour braised iberico pork cheek with mustard mash and caramelised onion gravy. Dinner is served seven days a week, with brunch on weekends, and with 25 beers on tap and an updated cocktail menu, you'll have plenty to spend this month's €100 voucher on if you win. Check out Brickyard here . 7) Two Weeks Of Healthy Meals Delivered From Parallel Meals Eaten too many Easter eggs and need to get back on track? When we reviewed meal prep services last year Parallel Meals came out on top for sheer deliciousness, and they've given us two weeks of breakfasts, snacks and a main to give away to one of our Insiders this month. There's a new menu every week featuring dishes like peanut butter cup protein oats, spinach and ricotta lasagne, and coconut chicken curry, and this is a meal prep service that feels more like a treat than calorie-restricted torture. Check out Parallel Meals here . 8) €100 Worth Of Coffee From Imbibe Coffee Café, restaurant and customer favourite Imbibe Coffee turn the big 5 on May 1st, and they're celebrating with a very special Coffee Club . Through their monthly club they bring coffees to Ireland that have never been here before, and for their fifth birthday it's the very rare "Wush Wush" (around €25 per 100g). It's from an award winning farm called El Placer in Colombia, who they rate as one of the best in the world, and say "this is coffee that doesn't taste like coffee." Imbibe donate 1% of all revenue to Women's Aid and 1% to origin projects, but for their fifth birthday they're upping this to 5% on all coffee club sales to each. They're also giving us €100 worth of coffee, including Wush Wush. to give away this month, and you can check out their great work here . 9) A €100 Voucher For Camile Thai Camile Thai recently celebrated Ireland’s first National Good Mood Day, with the launch of their new Good Mood Honey Duck Stir Fry. A source of mood and energy boosting vitamin C, their new stir fry features honey roast duck, stir fried with broccoli, pomegranate, spring onions, and mint in a ginger-sesame sauce, with the sweetness of locally sourced, OpenHive honey, produced by Camile Thai -supported native Irish honeybees. For the month of April, customers can also enjoy 15% off the entire menu using the code GM15 , and one All The Food Insider is going to win a €100 Camile Thai voucher - that will definitely put you in a good mood. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for April 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 Monday 17th April (to be entered in this month's draw). 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.

The one-time epicentre of the culinary world, Copenhagen’s fostering of the New Nordic Cuisine in the early 2000s earned the city pride of place in modern gastronomy. Much of that revolves around Noma, René Redzepi’s three-star restaurant that recently announced its shock closure in winter next year, but that’s only one of a huge constellation of great places to eat in the Danish capital. Here are 10 places we loved on a recent weekend break... To Eat Hija de Sanchez An absolute must-stop on any food pilgrimage to Copenhagen is Kødbyen (literally “the meat town”), a former meat-packing district whose various shops, stalls and slaughterhouses have been converted into a trendy hub of casual eateries and microbrewery bars. Put time aside to stroll down the laneways and see what catches your eye (Kødbyen’s Fiskbar is a great shout for fish lovers); for our money, you can’t do much better than Hija de Sanchez , a low-key taqueria with a stripped-back menu that puts all the focus on what these guys do best. These tacos are divine, delicious packages of flavourful beans, shredded cabbage and tender, succulent meat piled up on proper quality corn tortillas. An ice cold cerveza on the side is an essential addition. formel B Noma may be the most famous of Copenhagen’s Michelin-starred restaurants by some distance, but there’s another 14 spread throughout the city - they’re a lot easier to get a table at, and they won’t do quite as much damage to your pocket. One of our favourites is formel B , which hones in on local food and sustainability, with a mostly all-Danish list of small producers providing their seasonal ingredients. The 10-12 menu dishes can be mixed-and-matched to your liking in anything from five to nine plates each (overlong tasting menus be damned) but you’ll have a really hard time whittling it down. We were lucky enough to visit mid-truffle season and the two dishes including it, an aged cheese and whey emulsion, and a kale tartlet, were nothing shy of sensational. Don’t miss this one. Norrlyst For all the innovations of New Nordic Cuisine, much of Copenhagen’s food remains grounded in a proud sense of tradition. That’s seen most clearly in the omnipresent open sandwich smørrebrød, sold everywhere from high end restaurants to contemporary cafés to corner tourist traps. One of the best places in Copenhagen to sample it is Norrlyst , an unassuming little city centre spot with giant jars of pickles and ferments all along the windowsills proudly showing off the care and attention that goes into every plate here. Their lunch offer is about as good value as it gets in a city this expensive, with two smørrebrød of your choice and a plate of Danish cheeses coming in at just under €40. We tried the signature beef tartare with a mountain of microcress, and the spiced herring with a miso emulsion, salted cranberries and kale, and they hit the smørrebrød spot. Søllerød Kro Stray about 20km into the north city suburbs of Copenhagen and you’ll find Søllerød Kro , a rural treasure of a restaurant and a real institution on the Danish culinary scene - the first eatery on this site opened in 1677 and the current iteration has held a Michelin star for 35 years. But while the French-inspired menu, white linen tablecloths and smartly-dressed staff might give an initial sense of traditionality, the cooking in Søllerød is anything but. Head chef Brian Mark Hansen was recently awarded the prestigious world chef championship Bocuse d’Or, and his cooking is bracing, brilliant stuff - we have not stopped thinking about the pigeon wellington, green strawberry and radish, and the TWO types of butter we got. The Sunday Lunch menu of three courses with a glass of wine, coffee and petits fours for just under €150 is exceptional value. Montergade We’re not through with smørrebrød yet. Right in the heart of the city is Møntergade , a Danish-French brasserie that specialises in offering an elevated interpretation of the beloved national dish. Around lunch time it’s buzzing with people in to grab a quick bite - they tend to turn things over quickly so it’s well worth trying your luck at snagging a bar seat. The herring here is the main event, with the curry version our pick of the bunch: a plump fillet of fish topped with a spicy-sweet sauce, pickled onions, capers, cress and a soft crispy egg. This is about as good as smørrebrød gets. To Drink 1105 There’s a real air of exclusivity about 1105 , easy to miss tucked away in the corner of a public square and opening up before you as you push the heavy curtain back. This high-end cocktail bar is specifically aimed at the thirty-something crowd and tends to fill up fast. Their intricate, creative drinks are a joy to behold in the making; the friendly staff are more than happy to walk you through the regularly-rotating menu to help find the right flavour for your taste. Ancestrale A cosy, compact space decked out in distressed woods and lined by rows of interesting bottles, Ancestrale puts serious emphasis on sustainability in its choice of both providers and the slim selection of small plates it puts on to bring out the best of its cellar. As one of the city’s few wine bars that opens on a Monday night, it’s particularly popular with the trade - while we were in we couldn’t help eavesdropping on a table of restaurant staff gossiping about the Noma bombshell, and who is and isn’t followed by Redzepi on Instagram (no really). La Fée Verte Its name a reference to “the green fairy” absinthe, La Fée Verte is an eclectic space that specialises in the once-banned spirit, alongside a roster of cocktails and beer. Describing itself as a “psychedelic rock bar”, its colourful walls and music-themed artwork make this an otherworldly escape to step into from the Frederiksberg streets. True to form there’s a vinyl-only policy when it comes to the tunes; visitors are encouraged to bring along their own too, as long as they fit the vibe. Pompette If the priciness of Copenhagen is starting to chafe, you’ll be very glad to get to Pompette , a cavernous oasis of an all-natural wine bar that offers by far the cheapest (good quality) by-the-glass options of any we came across - at just about €8, it’s almost half what you’ll pay in many other spots. The concept is as simple as the bare, flaking-paint walls: one daily red, white, orange and rosé to choose from. Their sister company Poulette next door serves similarly stripped back fried chicken burgers, if you rack up an appetite. Ruby “Like most good things in life we are not easily accessible” boasts Ruby , the canal-side cocktail bar that opened in 2007 and quickly grew to become one of the most sought-after seats in Copenhagen - not least due to placing six times on the World’s 50 Best Bars. Booking is highly advised though not always essential, and on quieter off-season nights there’s no harm trying your luck for a table. The drinks menu is shaken up at least four times annually, and each new iteration is every bit as complex and considered as the surrounding décor. Dig in.

Hot cross buns, masa waffles with fried chicken, and a raspberry rose sponge we're dying to make. Here's the 5 things we most want to eat in Dublin this week... 1) Hot cross buns, Flower & Bean It's hot cross bun season, and time to cram in as many as possible before they disappear for another year. Of course Flower & Bean in Dublin 8 have taken things to another level, with their spice, raisin, cranberry, ginger and candied orange peel-filled mixture, but they don't stop there. They brush them hot with magnolia flower sugar syrup and top with edible Irish flowers. If you're gona do it, do it right. 2) Masa waffles & fried chicken, Órale Introducing the most random sounding brunch dish to hit Dublin in a while. Órale are gearing up for some daytime fun in Pawn Shop on Dame Street and are kicking it off with this dish of masa waffles, fried chicken, ancho blueberry jam, agave pear & jalapeño pickle, lime mascarpone, pomegranate seeds and almonds. There's a lot going on here, but after our recent visit we have no reason not to trust them. 3) Asparagus with manchego and hazelnuts, Volpe Nera We can practically taste the cheesy, crunchy snap of a spear from this pic. A new starter at Volpe Nera , new season asparagus comes with Manchego cheese, hazelnuts, vinaigrette and lovage. Green goodness is right. 4) Wild mushrooms with green curry on sourdough Urbanity have just launched some new dishes for April and we were stopped dead by these wild mushrooms with green curry, ajat thaeng gwa (Thai cucumber relish), puffed wild rice, pickled chili and peanuts on Tartine Organic sourdough. All the big flavours. 5) Raspberry rose Victoria sponge, The Gathered Table This one is sadly something you'll need to cook in your own home, but how impressed will you be with yourself afterwards. This jaw-dropping raspberry rose Victoria sponge is Aoife Noonan's contribution to stunning new cookbook ‘ The Gathered Table ', with proceeds going to the Peter McVerry Trust. It features one beautiful recipe after another, from Ireland's top chefs, food writers and producers, each one a taste of home to them. Buy it here .

Our 30 hottest list features the most talked about restaurants in Dublin right now, based on column inches, Insta love and the general pain involved in getting a booking. There are the restaurants with all the buzz, in alphabetical order, with eight new entries... * This list doesn't include cafés or lunch only options, everywhere here is open for dinner at a minimum

In news that will come as a hallelujah to Northside brunch lovers, Two Pups have opened their second location in Fairview. The menu is short but they describe it as "banging", with the homemade granola that’s so popular in Dublin 8, a sandwich version of their eggs on toast with miso butter and hot sauce, and "a super bold dish" with hash browns, caramelised onion, fried egg, cheese sauce & crispy onions - ideal hangover material. Bacon, sausage and black pudding sides are from the award winning McCarthys of Kanturk. There's also homemade pastries like a caramelised Granny Smith, custard and crumble danish, almond croissants, and veggie mushroom jambons. Coffee is from Square Mile (espresso) and Farmhand Coffee on Capel Street (filter). Two Pups in Fairview will open Wednesday to Sunday from 07:30 on weekdays and 9am on weekends, until 15:00/15:30. Two Pups Fairview 30 Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview, Dublin 2 twopupscoffee.com

What should we know about Indian Tiffins? Indian Tiffins call themselves an Indian food joint dedicated to serving culinary gems from South Indian cuisine. There's a definite authentic vibe on Dublin's Parnell Street, with modern Indian Telugu music videos playing on the TV screen, and the room heaving with Indian expats when we wandered in on a random Tuesday evening. What should we have? Laminated menus are on every table, and service is efficient. Food here is fast, served on paper plates and foil trays with plastic spoons. As we ordered, we were warned after at least two or three items that they were ‘spicy’ - not an issue for us, but the spice averse might be happy to be steered in a particular direction. We ordered samosas which came out first, served with three small slightly charred green chili peppers. The little veggie snacks were decent, but would have benefited from a chutney or dipping sauce. Next, the chicken biryani arrived with yoghurt raita, pickled red onions and a shorba, or biryani gravy, made of tomato, onion, spices and herbs. The rice was fragrant and the full chicken pieces were marinated nicely, but there were only two, a thigh and wing, that while delicious felt a bit mean for €16.99. The masala and pav bhaji dosas arrived alongside the biryani - two crispy filled pancakes folded and served with a creamy and spicy coconut chutney and a sambar (tomatoey veggie stew). The masala dosa was the winner here - deliciously crispy dosa stuffed with red chili paste and spiced potato. The pav bhaji was good, stuffed with spicy veggies and red onions, however the ingredients weighed it down, resulting in it being quite soggy. To end the meal, we ordered a masala chai, served in a small paper cup and so hot we couldn’t touch it for a while, watching the milk form an unappetising layer on top. Once we could drink it, it tasted like the ones we've had on our Indian travels, and definitely seemed to be the most popular drink in here. To finish we tried the Gulab Jamoon – a dessert ball made with milk solids, flour and leavening agent, soaked in a warm sugar syrup. This was ultra tasty but don’t be fooled by the picture on the menu showing a generous bowlful - a single serving is one ball. What is there to drink? Coffee and tea is served all day, as well as the traditional masala chai. The soft drinks menu has the standards, with the addition of Thumbs Up and Mango Frooti. Having spent time traveling throughout India, the Thumbs Up (the most popular cola soda in India) immediately stirred nostalgic memories, so it was a must-order for that alone. Why should I go? If you want to experience authentic South Indian cuisine in the heart of Dublin, Indian Tiffins should be on your list. Although we felt some things were slightly overpriced, and there's a disappointing use of plastic and paper plates, the turnover in here is no joke, and the Indian community in Dublin is frequenting it in droves for a reason - a taste of home. Indian Tiffins 143 Parnell Street, Dublin 1 indiantiffins.ie

What should we know about Mr Croqueta? Originally arriving on the scene in 2020, Mr Croqueta set out to bring the authentic flavours of one of the most typical tapas dishes to Dublin homes, delivered frozen to deep-fry at your leisure. They were also available ready to eat in A Taste of Spain ’s Camden Street premises, where steady word of mouth has led to the opening of a sit-in setup on the first floor. What should we have? As good as they are - and you should absolutely try them - the croquetas are far from the main event at Mr Croqueta . We went in with a healthy dose of scepticism - too often before we’ve seen a solid specialist food business set up shop and falter with a menu padded out by extra items that don’t pass muster - but we came out very pleasantly surprised at the skill tucked away in this little kitchen. The chef (it’s very much a one-man band) spent ten years cooking in the Basque country, and there are few better places to learn your craft. We’re big fans , so trust us when we say this is the real deal - excellent quality ingredients allowed to shine with simple treatments. The chorizo in cider might be the best example - sizzling slices of softened spicy meat in a salty broth you won't be able to stop eating. Get extra bread. Chunky prawns have much the same effect, lightly tossed in a garlic and chilli oil to bring out their meaty, juicy best. The patatas bravas could have been a little crispier, but the spiced tomato sauce doesn’t put a foot wrong, nor the garlic aioli on top - you’re very likely to clash forks over the last few. The classic tortilla is an essential order, with its oozing, gooey texture and delicate, lightly caramelised onion; it’s as good as any we’ve had outside Spain. Onto the croquetas, there are six varieties available in plates of four, eight, or sixteen. The best are the Basque cod and the jamón serrano with generous chunks of flaky fish and salted pork oozing out of their well-seasoned bechamel binding, as the crisp crumb coating gives way under a fork. It’s worth trying the lot. For dessert, our eyes opened wide to see the name "La Vina" crop up before cheesecake - this is one of San Sebastian's many little pintxo bars, famed for the cheesecakes baked en masse every day. It's a literal slice of Basque cuisine here in Dublin, so make sure to save room for this creamy, not overly sweet ending. What is there to drink? Not much worth noting, in Mr Croqueta's one bum note. Considering A Taste of Spain 's host of quality imported bottles are sat right there within touching distance, it's disappointing to see the wine menu looking so slim, especially on the white front. The Artuke Rioja makes for a passable pairing with most plates, but this is one element of Mr Croqueta that could really use another look. Why should I go? Go for the croquetas, stay for everything else. The tapas field is crowded in Dublin (mostly badly), but here's a new standout - as close as you can get to the Basque country without hopping on a plane. Mr Croqueta 60 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2 instagram.com/mrcroqueta.ie