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A four story multi-sensory experience, plant-based puns, and another London-based heavy hitter has a go at opening in Dublin. Here’s what’s new in the city this week... The Park Café, Ballsbridge After the recent ropey arrivals of Jamie Oliver and Anna Haugh on the Dublin dining scene, we’re not sure any celebrity chef is safe from our sceptical Irish palates. Richard Corrigan is the latest to step into the fray with The Park Café , taking on the former Shelbourne Social space in D4 from Dylan McGrath and promising a warm, casual all-day restaurant experience. The ace up his sleeve is Virginia Park Lodge , the four-acre County Cavan estate from which his London restaurant empire had been supplied until Brexit mucked it all up - more homegrown produce for us, then. The all day menu is unashamedly lush, with yellowfin tuna schnitzel, lobster spaghetti and tableside Caesar salad, as well as the Bentley's fish pie and a plate of roasted Oxford ‘Sandy & Brown’ piglet with crab apple and pickled mustard seeds. We’re quietly confident. Hyde, Dublin 2 You’d be forgiven for thinking Hyde was set to be the biggest game-changer for Dublin since Covid-19 from the tone of their social media teases . The four-storey mixed-purpose experience just off Grafton Street has a lot to take in, from the ground-floor café bar to the rooftop terrace - not due to open until Spring of next year, and their first few nights were spent wine-ing and dining every influencer, model and PR luvvie in town. The second-floor restaurant Gekko is one of the most-touted attractions, and while pitching a menu as “Asian-style” tends to put us on edge - as if 60% of the world’s population shared a single cuisine - the presence of Hang Dai alum and the man in charge of Saltwater Grocery's Raw Bar , Karl Whelan, as Executive Chef goes some way to calming the nerves. He’s dreamt up a primarily Japanese-style selection of plates to enjoy alongside the venue’s sizeable selection of high-end cocktails. Hyde is open now. Milo's, Drumcondra After six successful years in Phibsborough, the brains behind Two Boys Brew , Kevin Roche and Taurean Coughlan opened another café, Milo's on Monday, November 14th. The name of the new café was inspired by Taurean's dog who's called, you guessed it, Milo. Their Australian-style interiors, good coffee and cinnamon knots, as well as their egg and bacon brioches have all made their way over to the lucky people of Drumcondra. El Milagro, Clanbrassil Street We recently reported the good folks at 57 The Headline had kitchen space in need of good food every Tuesday, and we couldn’t be happier that El Milagro are moving in for a Taco Tuesday Takeover every week from 18:00 to 21:00. We’ve been banging the drum for these guys since they first cropped up at Malahide Marina last year, and this is top-quality stuff made with some of the best ingredients sourced from Mexican providers in Ireland and further afield. There are four varieties of taco to try, but for us the slow-cooked beef brisket birria is the one to beat. Mrs Reid's, Kevin Street The latest addition to Dublin 8’s increasingly-packed café scene, Mrs Reid’s is a new neighbourhood arrival beside Assassination Custard on Kevin Street. Affectionately named after owner Kristin Hawthorne’s grandmother, it’s a little spot steeped in the humble food history of the area, formerly home to a butchers and bakery. Open weekdays for breakfast and lunch, the small premises is starting out with soups and a simple sandwich menu including meatballs, beef brisket and a veggie delight. Coffee comes courtesy of Badger & Dodo, the artisan Irish roaster that imports from Brazil and Columbia directly into Cork. Yumgrub, Grand Canal Dock Vegan fast food joint Yumgrub is back after finding itself suddenly without a fixed abode in September, following the closure for renovations of Ballybrack’s Village Yard, and the ending of its summer popup stint in P. Mac’s in Dundrum. The plant-based takeaway is the latest arrival at Grand Canal Dock’s street food yard The Place , joining Griolladh, Pastiamo and Ciao Cannoli in the buzzy D2 hub. Seitan burgers and loaded fries are the name of the game, though we’re hearing the arancini-style Mac ‘n’ Cheeni are worth trying, even with a dodgy pun like that. Yumgrub arrives this Wednesday 16th and will be open Wednesday - Sunday each week. Benjamin's Hot Chicken, Irishtown Likewise left without a home after The Village Yard’s temporary closure was Benjamin’s Hot Chicken , but they've also found a new lodging at Irishtown’s Vintage Inn . From Thursday to Sunday each week the team will be serving up their signature menu of Nashville sandos and tendies, and keep tabs on social for their eye-catching specials. In the meantime, the classic hot chicken and prawn po boy will do very nicely indeed. Don’t be fooled by the name either - there’s interesting options for pescatarians and vegans too, with hot fish and crispy oyster mushroom sandos rounding out the menu.

We’re not quite ready to say the ‘C’ word just yet, and with the unseasonably warm weather, we’re not really feeling it either. However, we do have to admit that the lights make everything feel a little bit magical and brighten up these dark evenings – which is definitely something to be thankful for. This time of year is also great for finding cosy spots to share good food with good friends, but before the festive drinks, dinners and gatherings commence, here are a few things we’d love to get our teeth into in Dublin this week. 1) Hot Chicken Sando, Benjamin’s Hot Chicken Sometimes there’s nothing better than a hot chicken sandwich for comfort (or a hangover), and this one from Benjamin’s Hot Chicken brought our scroll to a screeching halt. Crispy Nashville style fried chicken is served in a potato bun with pickles, melted cheese, crunchy iceberg lettuce and signature special sauce. Earlier this month, Benjamin’s reopened in their new home in the Vintage Inn , after a brief hiatus when the Village Yard closed for renovations. If there was ever a reason to make your way to D4, here it is… 2) Chicken Liver, Milk Bread, Elderberry and Field Mushroom, Frank’s Frank’s is knocking it out of the park with new dishes lately, and the thought of this smooth chicken liver paté on soft, sweet, buttery milk bread, paired with aromatic elderberry and earthy field mushroom, is sending us into a spin. With over 100 organic and biodynamic wines, you won't struggle to find something to accompany it either. 3) Croissant Sbagliato, Soup Two The temptation is high to hotfoot it to Smithfield this week and get our hands on this mega watt dessert in Soup Two . Whilst better known for their ramen and Asian-inspired savoury dishes, the sister restaurant of Soup Ramen in Dun Laoghaire has also been busy coming up with this ‘croissant sbagliato’ - smoked chocolate chili ganache, opera chocolate ice cream and sesame praline, all stuffed into a freshly baked croissant. How will we ever look at a regular croissant again. 4) ‘Mr Alfred’ Croque, Madame Monsieur Good news for Westsiders, there’s a new sandwich shop in town. Madame Monsieur opened in Blanchardstown last month, specialising in the ‘croque’ - the hot sandwich with cheese and ham that's a classic French bar snack, made popular by bistro-owner Michel Lunarca in the early 1900s. Madame Monsieur has introduced an eighth croque to their repertoire this week, the Mr Alfred, and try this on for size - pastrami, garlic mayo, melted emmental, mixed leaves, crispy onions and their homemade, top secret, creamy bechamel sauce. Hold us back. 5) Pear Pavlova, Flower and Bean The lovely folks at Flower and Bean know a good thing when they see it, and they know that the Pavlova is a year-round, classic dessert (yes, this is a hill we are willing to die on). A new addition to their artisan bakery menu this week is this light and fluffy meringue topped with cream that really leans into the Autumnal season, with red wine poached pear, crushed blackberries and cocoa nibs. We feel warm, cosy and on a sugar high just thinking about it.

Increasing energy prices, economic uncertainty and labour shortages have put enormous pressure on restaurants, and every day lately seems to bring another closure. Here's where's shut up shop in the last few weeks. The Pigeon House, Clontarf The Pigeon House Clontarf has closed, with one of their chefs posting a picture of "the last dessert served in The Pigeon House" on Sunday 13th November, followed by the final ticket in the kitchen saying "that's all folks, the pigeon has flown x". The restaurant had held a Michelin Bib Gourmand award until this year when it was dropped from the guide completely. Their sister restaurant Pigeon House Delgany remain open. Cali Kitchen, Dún Laoghaire Californian-inspired Dun Laoghaire café Cali Kitchen , owned by Catríona and Steve Roberts (an ex-Ballymaloe pupil) have announced they will close for good on Sunday November 27th. They opened their colourful, healthy-eating focused café three and a half years ago after returning home from California, but say they can no longer juggle everything on their plate, and the time has come to "pass on the mantle to another great business". No news yet on who will fill the space. The Store & Yard, Greystones The Store and Yard Café at Belmont Demense in Greystones, an offshoot of Sandycove Store and Yard , has closed, posting on November 9th that their second location is not "financially viable in this current climate". Their Sandycove Store and Yard remains open. Winedown, Montague Street The closure of Meltdown's sister wine bar Winedown was announced on November 4th after two-years of trading. Owner Maeve O'Malley blamed today's the current climate, along with difficulty in making it work alongside family life. Their last day of trading will be this Saturday, November 12th, if you want to pop in for one more glass. Table Wine, Dublin 8 Table Wine & Loose Canon owners Kevin Powell and Brian O'Keefe announced on October 18th that their high profile Pleasants Street wine bar Table Wine would close in November, after just a year of trading. The pair previously ran Meet Me in the Morning café in the same location, but they swapped coffee beans for natural wine in November 2021. They blamed "everything being the way it is" as the reason for the decision to shut the wine bar, and their last service will be on Saturday November 19th if you want one last plate of pickled eggs. Circa, Terenure Circa , the former Michelin-recommended restaurant in Terenure, is the city's highest profile closure yet. They announced their time was up on October 4th, citing price increases and staff shortages as part of the reasons for the decision. Originally opened by four industry friends four years ago, they blazed brightly at the start, with Michelin awarding them a Bib Gourmand in their first year of opening, but taking it away the year after. One by one the founders left to do other things, and head chef Gareth Naughton stepped away from the restaurant mid-pandemic, leaving owner/manager Ross Duffy as the only original founder left. Circa has shut with immediate effect. Vegan Sandwich Co, Smithfield and St. Stephen's Green Both Vegan Sandwich Co. locations have closed, with owner Sam Pearson having to announce the news on his personal Instagram account on October 5th - the company's page was recently hacked and they still have no access to it. He blamed rising costs, energy prices and rent doubling in their St Stephen's Green site as the overarching factors that have shut his stores, and described himself as 'heartbroken' but 'proud'. He's also pledged to help his former employees find new jobs. Hemmingways, Stillorgan Hemmingways Stillorgan, the sister restaurant of Hemmingways Clontarf, closed on October 30th, according to a sign outside, as their social channels and website remain quiet. They opened just before the first lockdown and say they've found external challenges "impossible to overcome". Liston's, Camden Street Camden Street grocer Liston's which has been in business since 2000, ceased trading on September 16th, 2022. The news slowly trickled out on social media and was confirmed by Liston's, on their website giving special thanks to their staff, suppliers and customers over the last 22 years. No word yet on what's going to fill the space. Monck's Green, Phibsborough Monck's Green (formerly Woodstock) in Phibsborough closed on the 28th of September, after 30 years serving the local community. They seem to be doing it with a heavy heart, and their last few posts are filled with all the nostalgia. Lifeboat Beef & Reef, Skerries Blaming rising costs, seafood and meat restaurant Lifeboat Beef & Reef in Skerries has shut their doors, claiming they had no other option. Their final day serving was Sunday 2nd of October, and they haven't announced any plans to reopen elsewhere. Lenehan's Bar + Grill, Rathmines Lenehan's spiked speculation in early September, cancelling a live music event at short notice before word got around that diners with bookings were having them cancelled. A sign on the door confirmed the restaurant was no more, and they haven't been active on Instagram since. No official statement has been made but bookings are closed. Dorian, Donnybrook Dorian in Donnybrook took to social media to announce its closure on the 20th September. They narrowly missed out on a year in business, having opened in November 2021. It was a turbulent year with changes in management and a head chef replaced halfway through, and it seems that they never found their sweet spot. Hush, Rathmines Hush 's Rathmines premises appeared on the commercial section of property website Daft at the beginning of October, saying it was "available immediately." Readers also told us there has been no action there for months. Owners Jules Mak, who owns Mak in Ranelagh, and his friend and business partner Peter Burke opened their doors in August 2020, during the height of the pandemic. They've made no formal announcement, but they haven't been active on Instagram since July 4th. Spatched, Rathmines Fried chicken restaurant Spatched seems to have struggled in the shadow of older sister Sprezzatura next door, and it seems their owners felt it was best put on ice for the time being to focus on the more in-demand brand. The team are hoping to bring back Spatched at a later date, in another space. B Skewers, Bolton Street B Skewers owner Bruno Amado took to Instagram on September 25th to announce the closure of B Skewers at their current Bolton street location, with Sunday October 2nd their last day of trading. But before you weep about all the Brazilian BBQ you never got to eat, the good news is they have opened B Skewers 2.0 in Temple Bar, and ATF Insiders got the first look. Know of any other Dublin restaurant closures? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie

What should we know about Kakilang? Kakilang say their mission is ‘to bring the bubble tea culture into the hearts of the Irish’, but we think they're underselling themselves. They also serve up some of the city's best Asian street food, and the seats by the windows overlooking the quays offer some of the best people watching in the city. We were on Bachelor’s Walk, but they've recently opened a second location in Finglas . What did you have? The menu is on a looping slideshow on a screen above the counter where you order, which added an extra layer of difficulty in choosing what to order. We were debating between the Taiwanese fried chicken steak or the chicken wings, until the smiling staff told us to go for the Korean spicy chicken wings. Sold. These are the opposite of the skinny wings found in some spots which leave you struggling to surgically extract meat from between the bones. The batter was ultra crispy and they were covered in a sweet, spicy sauce made with honey and gochujang. In the cringey words of the famous colonel, they were finger lickin’ good. Among the most interesting options on the menu is takoyaki, a Japanese street food staple of deep-fried octopus balls. Kakilang's are delicious, soft and chewy, but better shared: if you're ordering anything else, even a small serving of six will leave you short of stomach space. The Taiwanese popcorn chicken and chips is a bit more standard, but no less a success: well-seasoned battered bits of chicken buried between perfectly crispy chips (we'd bet both have been twice or triple-fried) and layered with sriracha mayo. This is spice bag style at a higher spec, with the potential to become a hangover treatment of choice for weekend diners. The soufflé pancakes are made to order and take time, but good things come to those who wait. We watched them being made behind the glass like excited children, and a full forty minutes later they were ready. Several tables were served at the same time, adding to a lovely buzz of excitement on delivery. They're light, airy and soft, served with fruit and cheese foam, a cheesecake-esque sauce made from cream cheese and milk. What about drinks? We asked the staff for a recommendation and they jumped to the blue coral lemonade - “Do you like things that pop?” We do, and it tasted exactly like it looked - tart but very sweet with popping balls of green apple. The result was luminous blue teeth and a serious nostalgia for Mr Freeze. If you're feeling brave you could also try the cheese foam topping popular across Asia. We gave it a go with a mango boba and for all the curdled colours it's surprisingly tasty with a mellow flavour and a milkshake texture: a little like drinking a cheesecake. You'll want to avoid activity for a while after this one. Why should I go? In addition to the food, we really loved Kakilang 's vibe. There's an understated jungle aesthetic which goes well with the food and manages not to verge into the tacky. " Leave me be, I’m drinking my tea ", is emblazoned in neon on the wall, and they'll do just that while you people watch out onto Bachelor's Walk, and wait for your soufflé pancakes. Kakilang 5 Bachelors Walk, Dublin 1 kakilang.ie

There’s something about being perched up on a bar or a counter that we just love. Maybe it's a reminder of city-breaks to Barcelona or Lisbon where counter dining is the norm and you can have a bit of banter with the bar staff, or maybe we just like to have a nose and see what’s going on around us. When we’re dining with a partner it’s a more intimate and cosier set-up to be seated side by side, and as a solo diner, it’s the perfect chance to have a peek into an open kitchen to see the chefs in action or gaze out the window to do a bit of people watching, without being anxious about taking up a whole table for a solo visit. Whatever that special sauce is we’re into it, and when given a choice will always opt to be seated up at the bar or on the window counter. If you also enjoy the voyeuristic life, these are the best places for counter dining in Dublin. Uno Mas, Dublin 2 Taking the lead from their sister restaurant, Etto, owners Liz Matthews and Simon Barrett installed a bar as one of the main seating areas in its Spanish-inspired sibling, Uno Mas . Somehow they've also managed to replicate the convivial feel of the Etto dining room, keeping the service casual and friendly while serving top quality food and wine. We’re not the only ones who think so – the Michelin guide bestowed them with a Bib Gourmand award in 2021, which is presented to restaurants with good quality, good value cooking. Fish Shop, Smithfield Fish Shop is counter seating only, and although their bread and butter is fish and chips, this is not your standard chipper. Their fish is local, fresh and sustainably sourced and is lightly beer battered before being fried in rapeseed oil. All of their fish is served with chips and tartare sauce, and the menu is rounded out with a whole baked fish and some shellfish dishes if you’re not in the mood for the fried stuff. Their wine list is very impressive, and this is where you’ll find all the industry heads on a Monday evening when they open special bottles to be served by the glass at lower then normal prices. Clanbrassil House, Dublin 8 We lucked out on the window seat of Clanbrassil House when we visited back in October to try it out after Grainne O’Keeffe departed to start her own venture, Mae. We were very pleasantly surprised with what we found, and it seemed that James Dobson, formerly of Potager in Skerries, was wasting no time in getting his feet under the table and putting his own spin on the menu. We would go back just for the barbeque pointed cabbage, and we’d be requesting the window seat for some more grade A people watching. Note, Dublin 2 Everything we publish recently seems to have a mention of Note , our new favourite wine bar on Fenian Street, and this is through no personal bias - they just seem to be ticking every box right now, including a long and welcoming bar on which to base yourself as you get the scoop on what wines are open that evening. Their shelves are stacked with natural wines from the best producers so take a seat and let their knowledgeable staff guide you through their recommendations, while you work your way through the snack menu. The Seafood Café, Dublin 2 Something that we find lacking in Dublin, despite our obvious proximity to the sea, are restaurants devoted totally to seafood. Sure, every menu might have some mussels or prawns or a decent whole fish option, but there are only a few establishments really championing fish, and they’re mostly run by Niall Sabongi. As the man behind wholesale business Sustainable Seafood Ireland, he supplies only the best, so when you visit The Seafood Café in Temple Bar you know you’re in for a treat. It's just re-opened post-pandemic and seeing the pictures of people sitting up at the counter bar enjoying oysters and Bloody Marys made us immediately crave a long lunch propping up the bar. 777, Dublin 2 Come for the tacos, stay for the margaritas. Probably the liveliest of our list and depending on what time you visit, this could be more club scene than restaurant. 777 is all about fun and the staff are always having a good time, so if you’re perched up on the bar there’s nowhere better to soak up that energy. They’re also very helpful if you’re stuck on what to order, but you won’t really go wrong with anything – this is one of the best Mexican restaurants in Dublin. Amy Austin, Dublin 2 The team behind 777 and Dillinger’s teased the opening of Amy Austin for months before the doors actually opened in early 2020 … and then swiftly closed along with the rest of the country. It was a short but sweet stint for them, and even with some opportunities to open between lockdowns they were more affected than most other restaurants due to their tiny premises, wedged into a little space beside Drury Street carpark which we couldn’t believe they managed to transform into such a cool wine bar. They maximised the space using all counters, some facing onto the bar and others out onto the street, and they’re now back up running at full capacity - so let this be your signal to book yourself in for some small plates and wine on tap. Etto, Dublin 2 The buzzy little restaurant on Baggot Street only has a limited number of seats, so you’ll be lucky to snag any at all unless you plan well in advance. While Etto sits in the middle of the city, it has an intimate and casual feel, with a small number of low tables at the front of the room and a bar at the back which brings in more of a wine bar vibe. Host, Ranelagh Since opening in 2017, Host has been the venue of many a celebration, families and friends crowded around the table, sharing the Chef’s Menu featuring the restaurant’s most-loved dishes - like the now infamous pumpkin cappellacci which they wouldn't dare take off the menu - but our favourite visit was a midweek summers evening when we lucked out on a rare walk-in. Seated at the bar we were able to watch the chefs work away creating their Italian-inspired dishes while we enjoyed a glass of natural wine and some freshly made focaccia. Since then, the bar has been our preference when we visit, but they also have a counter facing out onto Ranelagh's main street. Read more in our once over here . Spitalfields, Dublin 8 When converting Spitalfields in the Coombe to a restaurant the owners kept the cosy pub vibe intact, including the beautiful big dark wood bar, flanked by traditional barstools which have been reupholstered in bottle green. The bar offers a direct view to the open kitchen, making it the clear choice as you tuck into the clever takes on old school classics, like devilled eggs and cock-a-leekie pie. Loose Canon, Dublin 2 There’s very little we could fault about Loose Canon , the wine and cheese shop in George’s Street Arcade, except that perhaps it could be bigger so we wouldn’t have to be disappointed so often when we try to stop by for a glass of wine. There’s something about the win when you’re wandering past and spot a free stool at their street-facing counter – even if you were on the way to somewhere important you could be swayed to just slip in for one to take advantage of the opportunity. When we have managed to nab a spot, it’s such an enjoyable experience to share a toastie with a friend (they're big enough to share!) while sipping on a glass of natural wine that the friendly staff have recommended. Forest Avenue, Dublin 4 You may remember this as Forest + Marcy, the chic restaurant on Upper Leeson Street, but since they rejigged the original Forest Avenue location around the corner to a grocer during the pandemic, this spot has now been renamed as Forest Avenue . They have also revamped the menu – in fact you won’t even be presented with a menu at all, the tasting menu dishes will just start flowing. This is a special occasion venue, with the menu coming in at €98 per person, but it is truly a special experience, and the beautiful chef’s counter is the place to watch each dish being prepared with intricate detail. Little Mike's, Mount Merrion Little Mike's is the neighbourhood restaurant that everyone dreams of having around the corner, but unfortunately it’s only the locals of Mount Merrion who hold the privilege. The wine bar and seafood restaurant opened just two doors down from their sister restaurant, Michaels, which could seem risky, but owner Gaz knew there was appetite in the area and the gamble paid off. These counter seats are coveted but proceed with caution and a good sense of humour if Gaz himself is there causing mischief in the kitchen. Soup, Dun Laoghaire We won’t pretend that the window counter in Soup is going to provide the nicest view while you eat – this ramen restaurant is located in the more neglected end of Dun Laoghaire, and it’s only in the last few years that the area is seeing a bit of re-generation with new shops and cafes opening. However there's a noticeable change, and Soup have created a little community with their restaurant - the last time we visited for a pre-cinema ramen, it felt as if everyone who walked in knew each other. It's recently been spruced up, and part of this renovation was maximising their window and wall space with a long counter, so while you might not be too interested in the quiet road outside, you can still appreciate the welcoming and warm buzz inside while you sip your soup. Read our Soup once over here . Cornucopia, Dublin 1 For the real people watching lovers among us, this is the spot to beat. Cornucopia on Exchequer Street is a mainstay on the Dublin casual dining scene, and was one of the first totally vegetarian spots when it opened in 1986. It’s a huge premises, spanning two floors, but the window seats on the ground floor are the ones to vy for. Grab your food at the buffet and you could easily while away a few hours looking out on the comings and goings on the busy street outside. The Ramen Bar, Dublin 2 As you can guess from the name, The Ramen Bar focuses on one thing, and they do it well. Their selection of ramen has to be the widest menu in Dublin, with loads of variations of broths and toppings so you can try something new every time you visit. The venue itself is a bit dark and divey (in a good way) with a counter running down the wall as you enter – the perfect place for a quick slurp or solo meal. Did we miss your favourite place for counter dining? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie

There’s no doubt that we are a nation of dog people, and by the number of doggy dedicated Instagram accounts we’re seeing popping up amongst our friends and families the obsession is only intensifying. Over the pandemic they basically became our proxy children, and with the cost of living going the way it is, this may need to become a permanent substitution. We also got very used to having our furry friends with us 24/7 over the last couple of years and now that we’re shifting back into gear, we plan on bringing them along for the ride, so here are some of the best places we’ve come across that will allow (well behaved) dogs on-site while you enjoy your meal. Happy Out, Bull Island & Donnybrook Happy Out are dog friendly in both locations, but Bull Island is the paw-fect spot to get a bite with your pooch before a brisk walk on the beach. They serve coffee, toasties and treats from their beach-side container with ample outdoor seating, and there are always tons of other dogs to make friends with. Little Bird Coffee & Yoga, South Circular Road Vegetarian neighbourhood café Little Bird in Portobello is attached to a brilliant yoga studio, so whether you’re visiting for some downward dog or grabbing some brunch with your furry friend, this place is for you. They are dog mad, so you’ll usually come across one of the ‘resident’ dogs roaming around to make new friends. Two Pups Coffee, Francis Street You can’t have a name like Two Pups and not welcome the puppers through the doors, can you? This café is a regular meet-up spot for local dog-lovers of the Liberties to grab some grub. As well as being dog-friendly, this is one of our favourite spots for brunch and their supplier list is second to none, so you know you’re getting the best. Brindle Coffee & Wine, Lennox Street We’d almost follow Brindle ’s Instagram account for the dog content alone. They have a steady stream of four-legged friends accompanying their owners while they pick up their low intervention wines and provisions, and they rarely leave without a little treat of their own. Bread 41, Pearse Street Croissants + great coffee + that bread + pizza + custardos + dogs = the ultimate café. Bread 41 are back open for sit-in with a new upstairs eatery, and pups are welcome downstairs for coffee, pastry and whatever new creations the dynamo team has come up with. The Fumbally Café, Fumbally Lane The Fumbally in Dublin 8 can almost feel like you’re in someone’s living room, with its mish-mash furniture, comfortable couches, and books strewn about for people to leaf through. So, you shouldn’t be surprised to pop in for some healthy, seasonal food and see a dog lazing by someone’s feet as if they were in their own home. Bear Market, Various Locations Bear Market was set-up by two architects and you can feel it the second you walk in to any of their locations. The shops are beautifully decked out with hardwood flooring, exposed copper pipes, and lots of light. What’s more beautiful though is how you have a really good chance of finding a dog to chat to, from a distance, while waiting for your coffee. Note: The IFSC location gets really busy so doesn’t let dogs in for now. The Orange Goat, Ballsbridge Located on Serpentine Avenue, The Orange Goat has indoor and outdoor seating and a warm welcome for those visiting with their dogs. It’s also right near the DART, for dogs on the go. Two Boys Brew, Phibsborough One of our favourite brunch spots on the northside has been hosting dogs of all sizes since they opened in the heart of D7 in 2015. They took all that they learned while living in Melbourne and sampling the best cafés they had to offer, added a dash of furry friend love and opened the ideal café for your weekend excursions. Press Café, Beggars Bush Hidden within The National Print Museum on Haddington Road is a café serving up seasonal fare with constantly changing specials. They have been a favourite of locals since their opening in 2014, and will always have a dog or two amongst the brunch crowds, either indoors or in their covered outdoor area which they opened last summer. Network Café, Aungier Street Any café that has a ‘Dogs’ highlight on their Instagram page gets our seal of approval, and they have plenty of material as their four-legged customers have been a mainstay of Network since they opened on Aungier Street in 2016. If this sounds like your kind of place, pop in here for brunch or a coffee while your pup brings you for a walk around town. We’re fans of their 'Notions on Toast' which is loaded with avocado of course, and their toasties are hard to beat. Blas, Kings Inns Street Fresh and seasonal food is the focus in Blas and your dog can join you for breakfast, lunch, or weekend brunch; plenty of pupportunity (sorry) for some bonding time. It’s a big spot so we’re hoping that well-spaced tables mean that dogs can be accommodated as easily as they were before, but there are external benches and lots of grab-and-go food options if you want some fresh air. Storyboard, Islandbridge Some dog-friendly spots fall into the “look, we’re letting your dog in so don’t expect too much from the food” category, but Storyboard is very much not one of those thanks to their seasonal food and great coffee. They're back open for eat-in now, but there's also the option to grab and go instead before you hit the Phoenix Park for a picnic with your pooch. Urbanity, Smithfield Great for groups thanks to a menu with plenty of meat, vegetarian, and vegan options, your dog won’t go hungry for food or attention thanks to the treats and puppy love dispensed generously by staff at Urbanity . Plus there's plenty of lovely shaded outdoor seating. Gaillot et Grey, Clanbrassil Street Perhaps the only 'French-style' pizza around Dublin, Gaillot et Gray serves up their crispy based wood-fired pizza which is loaded with emmental cheese alongside a menu of sourdough sandwiches and pastries. They're dog-friendly so expect a few snouts sniffing around your feet for crumbs. MVP, Clanbrassil Street MVP on Clanbrassil Street is owned by the same crowd as The Bernard Shaw, and we like to think of this dog-friendly pub as their kind of cool, laid-back little sister. While there’s usually some sort of event going on, be it quizzes or flea markets, it’s usually pretty chilled with people meeting up, dog in tow, for some hair of the dog to sort out any hungover heads. The Bernard Shaw, Drumcondra The Bernard Shaw has something for everyone – whether you’re frequenting the Eatyard food market or looking for a boozy brunch, karaoke or somewhere to watch the match, and you’ll be pleased to hear that you can bring your dog along to join in on the action. The Circular, The Magnet and Lucky's These cool spots all have the same owner, and they’re clearly dog lovers as all of their premises are dog-friendly, inside and out. So, if you’re a local of Rialto or the Liberties you’ll be spoilt for choice on your next outing with Coke Lane Pizza served in both Lucky’s and The Circular . The Old Spot, Dublin 4 There’s nothing nicer than the whole family around the table for dinner with the dog snoozing at your feet. Thanks to The Old Spot , you can do this without having to be the one to cook or wash-up afterwards. Dogs are allowed in the bar at the front so be sure to ask for a table there when booking if you’re bringing the pooch along. Brewdog, Grand Canal Dock If you're looking for somewhere to go pinting with your pooch, the Brewdog Outpost site which is home to their very own on-site brewing tank could be a winner. They have two outdoor areas but also welcome dogs inside, so no need to freeze while you enjoy your drink. They also have a full food menu, including a stellar vegan and vegetarian line-up. If that's not enough for you, take a look at Sarah Hanrahan's ( @i_come_undone ) comprehensive list of '90 Dog-Friendly Dublin Eateries' for even more recommendations, and if you know any other spots that are particularly great for dogs, let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

You know the feeling. You’re having a lovely night, the food's great and the conversation's flowing, but you've been handed the dessert menu and nothing appeals. Alternatively, you've eaten too much and are in desperate need of a stroll to break the meal and rediscover your appetite. When either happens, you've got options. These are some of our favourite spots for post-dinner dessert that open late - and if you're really stuffed but can't kick your sweet tooth, dessert cocktails are also an option. A Fianco, Stoneybatter Grano’s sister restaurant A Fianco is walk in only and serves two of our favourite Italian desserts - a first rate tiramisu and their deconstructed cannoli – creamy ricotta with chocolate chips, crunchy pastry shell and pistachios. Take a perch on a high stool, survey the buzzy room and have a mosey at their great selection of Italian wines by the glass. Chimac, Dublin 2 We are big fans of the ice cream sandwiches at Chimac and have finished off many a dinner with a stop in here. Our regular favourite has salted caramel ice cream between two chunky chocolate chip cookies, dipped in melted chocolate with a pretzel crumb, but we recently spotted their latest creation - pumpkin spice snickerdoodle cookies with cold brew ice cream, topped with white chocolate and a cinnamon crumble. Top tip: patience is a virtue. If you can wait a few minutes to let it slightly melt, the cookie texture is spot on. Also be aware - these sandwiches are huge and can easily be shared between two. Murphy's, Dublin 2 Sorbet at Murphy’s is the perfect palate cleanser option. These guys have been making ice cream for more than twenty years and the sorbets are handmade in Dingle using Irish spring water. The flavours vary by season and we love the OGs mango and raspberry. If you're in need of ice-cream, the dingle sea salt is an interesting option for those looking for something a bit different. If you have space, we recommend a combo of the brown bread and raspberry sorbet, for a cup or cone akin to an elevated jam sandwich. Ayla Turkish Foods, Capel Street It feels like you can find almost anything on Capel Street these days, with so many different cuisines represented. In Ayla Turkish Foods you can find every middle eastern ingredient you can think of (it’s where we go to get our pub piber chilli flakes), and on the sweet side they serve Turkish delight and nougat. For our money the best thing on the menu is the pistachio baklava - layered filo pastry filled with chopped pistachio, for maximum sweet, flaky goodness.  It's priced by the kilo but we're usually satisfied with a couple of pieces each (only open until 8pm). Note, Dublin 2 The staff in Note are so helpful and knowledgeable and will help you to pair their desserts and cheeses with a digestive or dessert wine. They also make their own limoncello which is a far cry from the sickly sweet syrup you may have had elsewhere in the past. Pull up a stool at the bar for the perfect end to an evening. Three-Twenty Ice Cream Lab, Drury Street Three-Twenty describes themselves as an ice cream lab, but there's lots more on offer, and they've just released their new winter menu. The Marshmallow bomb hot chocolate is a toasty accompaniment to a stroll around town, topped with a scoop of blow-torched marshmallow, or have it on the side of Belgian waffles if you need something more substantial. Due to allergy restrictions, they do have a weird rule of no mixing ice cream flavours and they don't allow tasters so you may be picking blind, but we haven’t found a flavour we didn’t like. Clanbrassil House, Dublin 8 The pastry chef at Clanbrassil House is always creating new desserts, sometimes re-inventing a classic, and always incorporating what’s in season. The restaurant is happy to welcome diners in for a dessert if you give them a call on the evening and they have space. Wigwam, Dublin 1 If you want to keep your night going but still need to satisfy the sugar craving, head to Wigwam. They have a host of alcohol laced creative desserts including a cookie dough pie served with mezcal dulce de leche drizzle, or an old-school banana foster - rum flambéed bananas served with vanilla ice cream. Bar 1661, Smithfield If you fancy a drink for dessert Bar 1661 is hard to beat. Recently voted the best bar in Dublin and we have to agree, their take on an Irish coffee (the Belfast coffee) is made with Two Fifty Square cold brew, poitín, cream, demerara sugar and topped with nutmeg. We've seen people who don't like coffee knock this back, and once you're tried it you'll want it again and again. Dolce Sicily, Dublin 2 Save yourself the flight to Sicily and head to Dolce Sicily , a Sicilian patisserie on South Anne Street, for a pistachio cream-filled cannoli. They're available in three sizes (we always vote ‘big’) and are best enjoyed with an espresso. Peruke & Periwig, Dawson Street When we saw a menu heading 'alternative drinks of a dessert nature' we knew Peruke & Periwig had to be on our list. They take an espresso martini up a notch by adding caramel and chocolate bitters, and if you have space, try the Can’t fight this Teeling anymore - a whiskey spiked milkshake made with chocolate and Guinness reduction syrup. Kakilang, Dublin 1 Kakilang is a Taiwanese style café and bakery on the quays serving up (amongst other things) mille crêpe cakes - layers upon layers of thin crepes, separated by pastry cream and stacked together to form a cake. They also make the picturesque, pillow-like Japanese soufflé pancakes. which are made to order and take 30-45 minutes, which is ideal for those of who don’t have the discipline to properly space out our courses. Sweet Churro, Temple Bar The guys at Sweet Churro have upgraded from their former market stall and now have their own premises in Temple Bar. They describe their churros as ‘crunchy clouds of deliciousness’, and you can add strawberries, bananas or crushed Oreos. The most tempting as far as we're concerned are the ‘Sweet God’ Churros, which are hollowed out in the middle and filled with chocolate, dulce de leche, Nutella or vanilla sauce. Loose Canon Put yourself in the hands of the cheese experts at Loose Canon and finish the night on a savoury note with a side of natural wine. The weekly cheese specials are in prime condition and there's always some with a bit of funk, just like the wine.

At a time when more and more restaurants across the city are sadly shuttering, it’s encouraging to see a similar number of new arrivals. At the best of times it takes courage to start a new restaurant. In times like this, it’s going to require a strong stomach and a lot of support. Whether you’re seeking high-end Irish cuisine, casual Brazilian BBQ, or some of the best fried chicken in town, consider getting out and paying these newcomers a visit over the next few weeks and months. Anna Haugh at Conrad Dublin, Earlsfort Terrace Having started out under Derry Clarke at the now-closed Michelin-starred L’Ecrivain, before moving on to a succession of big gigs in London (from working with the Gordon Ramsey group to opening her own restaurant Myrtle in London), to soon appearing as a judge on Masterchef: The Professionals, Tallaght-born chef Anna Haugh has been very busy over the past few years. It's been big news that she's returned home for a high-end hotel dining pop up experience at The Conrad , with a major focus on native food heritage, dishes that highlight various homegrown ingredients, and elevated iterations of classic Irish dishes. It’s open now for dinner, with a tasting menu prices at €90 (wine pairings an additional €75), and a similarly expensive à la carte with mains priced from €35 for a vegetable pie to €45 for Dexter beef collar. Lunch service is due to start from November 15th, and bookings are open here . Taza, Raheny Three years and a lot of satisfied customers on from opening in Artane, Northside favourite Taza has expanded its Dublin 5 operations with a second site Raheny village. Led by Karachi chef Arshad Ansari, the authentic Pakistani restaurant has a lengthy menu of tandoor and curry dishes, with the €29 early bird and Sunday lunch menus standing out particularly strong in these tighter times. With a sizeable dedicated vegan menu boasting biryani and mushroom masala and an accommodating kids’ menu offering options for any level of adventurousness, this should mark good news too for families and those with varied diets north of the Liffey, as well as anyone who's tried and failed repeatedly to get a booking in Artane. B Skewers, Temple Bar We were delighted to hear the news that B Skewers was progressing from its petite Bolton Street site to bigger and better premises on Crow Street, and it was our pleasure to pack in a full house of ATF Insiders to be the first to try it out last week (one among many good reasons to sign up ). The Brazilian BBQ joint originally opened a bricks-and-mortar base last year after picking up lots of positive attention at food markets since starting up in 2019, and it’s easy to see why: charcoal-grilled chicken, F.X. Buckley burgers and a serious range of skewers with flavours boosted by top-quality technique and delicious toppings. Read our once-over here . Daruma, Parliament Street The latest Japanese arrival in D2, Daruma quietly opened its doors late last month in the former Fish Shack site. The menu hones in on two cornerstones of Japanese cuisine: raw fish in the classic forms of sashimi, nigiri and sushi (just don’t expect a full selection); and robatayaki, charcoal-grilled skewers of everything from monkfish and king oysters to scallops and ox tongue. Edamame, karaage and a Wagyu beef-topped heap of yakimeshi or Japanese-style fried rice feature on the broader “bites” menu too. There’s a real focus also on Japanese drinks, with Asahi on tap, a selection of sake, and cocktails including a goma sour, cucumber mojito and matcha-sake mix. We’re intrigued. Chimac, Terenure We’ve been giddily anticipating this one since it first hit our coming soon list all the way back in June - Korean fried chicken champions Chimac are expanding out from Aungier Street to open a second and much bigger location in the south of the city. There’s space for eighty to eat across the two storeys here with the most exciting news the arrival of options for kids and a breakfast menu (including chicken scotch eggs, we need), distinct from the current Sunday brunch. As big fans of what this team can do with a free range chicken, we’re very envious of the people of Terenure. Artybaker, Kimmage Romain Tessier, previous head baker at Hotel Café Royal and Great British Bake Off professional contestant, brought Artybaker 's croque monsieur buns, tiramisu croissants and zebra-striped pain au chocolates to Dalkey in 2021, after an initial pop up in Sandycove Store & Yard. A successful year and many croissants later, Artybaker 2.O has just opened in Kimmage, which is a big coup for an area light on exciting food options. Coming soon... The Greedy Eagle, Glasthule The latest arrival from the Loyola Group, whose also own The Landmark and The Old Spot , The Greedy Eagle looks set to fill the same gastropub niche in the south county suburbs. Matthew Fuller, who previously opened Boqueria in Stoneybatter and Howth, is leading the kitchen. Church & Chambers, D’Olier Street We were already excited about the arrival of a modern fine dining restaurant in the iconic D’Olier Chambers building, but the news this week that the celebrated chef Mina Pizarro will be arriving from the US to lead the bread and pastry menu has us counting down the days. Church & Chambers is due to open its doors in December. Noisette, Rush Good news for the north of the county as Bread Naturally’s long-term head baker Vaarsha Baugreet is set to open her own place with partner and fellow baker Jérémy Pastor in Rush. Noisette will serve Imbibe coffee alongside a boulangerie and viennoiserie-style selection of baked goods. Hyde, Dublin 2 Offering a unique experience across each of its four floors - that’s still new-ish Three Storey seen and raised - Hyde will combine a café, restaurant, terrace and rooftop bar, under the culinary direction of Karl Whelan, he of Saltwater Grocery and Hang Dai fame. Their social posts are quite cringe, but we're keeping an open mind.

Nutbutter open their second location in Smithfield Market Square today, with the same all-day menu as their Grand Canal Dock location, some new Autumn additions, and all the seasonal Irish veg the team say they could get their hands on. The interior is just as Californian/boho as the original, with counter seating, low tables and booths (although none of those swinging chairs), and some of the highlights on the new menu include an 'Earthy Bowl' with mushroom asado, brown rice and spicy Mole sauce, and their new 'Forbidden Rice' bowl with Irish brisket. The team say they've done huge work on their sourcing and have gone to meet most of the farmers they're using in person, with red cabbage, pak choi, cucumber, carrots and mixed leaves amongst the Irish veg on the menu, from farms including Garryhinch, Iona Farms and Denis Harford. New sides include 'Autumn Greens' with coconut 'bacon' and furikake, and for dessert there's 'Coconut Sagu' with caramelised pineapple. You can see the full menu online . Nutbutter Smithfield is open seven days a week from 11:30 - 21:30, serving an all-day menu. They don't take reservations so just walk on in. Nutbutter Unit 15, Block C, Smithfield Market, Dublin 7 nutbutter.ie

Strings of cooked wheat or rice flour dough entangled in chopsticks can be as comforting as stews on a cold day (in our book anyway). Each bite may be silent or result in an audible slurp that some chefs take as a compliment, but the satisfaction that follows a meal of (good) noodles is consistent across the board. Whether served dry with condiments or doused in different kinds of broth, noodles have found a place in many East Asian restaurants in Dublin, and here's where we think -serve the best in the city. Dan Dan noodles, China Sichuan Most dan dan noodles you’ll find in Dublin use minced meat, but China Sichuan ’s version is suitable for vegetarians. Chilli oil and vinegar are mixed into the noodles, which come topped with crushed nuts. The chilli oil lends the noodles a moist quality without making them unpleasantly greasy, and the crushed nuts add a layer of texture. A bowl is enough to satiate two people if you order a main to go with it. Hand-pulled noodles with spicy lamb, Lee’s Charming Noodles A spice paste, coriander and chopped scallions add colour and flavour to the noodles and lamb that make up this dish at one of Parnell Street’s best establishments - Lee's Charming Noodles . Sichuan peppercorns are the star ingredient in the paste, making it spicy but not in an unbearable way. The freshness of the noodles is a testament to the kitchen’s competence and the chunks of lamb are cooked medium-rare. One portion is enough to make two meals for one. Rice noodles in pho, Pho Kim We feel spoilt for choice at Pho Kim , with different types of pho including beef, chicken or prawn. The rice noodles are a constant feature, though, and the heart of their Vietnamese noodle soup. Served with fresh scallions, coriander, mint and lemon wedges, each bowl of pho is a substantial meal that warms the insides. The beef version comes with sliced steak, slow-roasted brisket and meatballs. Yaki Soba, Zakura It might be the norm to visit Zakura for sushi and bento, but the yaki soba is a reason to visit too. Egg and wheat flour noodles tossed with tofu and vegetables or chicken and prawns, this yaki soba is garnished with a fried egg and shallots. The flavours are delicate with a hint of Worcestershire sauce, giving the dish a slight sweetness. A pot of hot sake makes a good accompaniment and periodic sips work as a palate cleanser. Malatang, M&L Chinese Restaurant Glass noodles and a spicy broth form the base of malatang, a kind of noodle soup that also uses tofu, sliced lotus root and mushrooms. Despite being transparent originally, the glass noodles take on the deep red colour of the broth. It’s tough to find malatang on most other Sichuan menus in the city, and M&L does it justice in multiple ways. The portion is huge and enough to make four meals for one, and the spice level is high enough to make your nose water. Fried noodles, Shi Wang Yun There are good noodles, and then there are excellent ones. The fried noodles at Shi Wang Yun fall into the latter category. Tossed with sliced onions and peppers, they’re thicker than most other noodles you’ll find in Dublin. The chunkiness is pleasant without being stodgy and makes each mouthful satisfying. Order one of Shi Wang Yun’s gravy mains to go with them and you’ll find yourself eating more than your appetite demands. Biang Biang Noodles, Xian Street Food Wide, flat noodles aren’t the norm - at least not in Dublin. However, Xian Street Food ’s biang biang noodles have taught everyone that good noodles needn’t be thin and delicate. They’re hand-pulled and mixed with a generous amount of chilli oil, and toppings include vegetables, chicken, beef, pork, lamb, duck or prawns. It’s wise to ask for a medium-spicy version if your spice threshold isn’t too high. Noodles in Ramen, Soup Ramen at Soup ( Dun Laoghaire and Smithfield ) can have kimchi, shoyu, shio, miso, satay or extra hot seasoning, but the noodles that go into all the types of broth are the same - freshly made and filling with their chicken, pork, vegetarian or vegan toppings. Garnished with scallions and a seasoned egg, bowls of ramen at Soup are always a good idea. Pad Thai, Baan Thai It’s hard to go wrong with food at Baan Thai , and pad thai is just one of the restaurant’s many strengths. With homemade tamarind sauce, a hint of sweetness defines the pad thai at Baan Thai. Rice noodles are tossed with bean sprouts, egg, scallions and ground peanuts, resulting in a pleasant mix of textures. The lemon wedge that comes as a garnish has its use too - it lends a slight tartness to the dish and cuts through the noodles well. Chicken Noodles, Wok In Noodle Bar Takeaway chains aren’t the first to spring to mind when thinking of good noodles, but Wok In Noodle Bar proves that sometimes simple is best. The noodles are the kind you’d find at Chinese buffets, although the place describes itself as “Thai fast food”. At €4.95 for a portion of plain noodles, the prices are very humble. Noodles with chicken or prawns, however, go slightly above €8. Eaten with the complimentary chilli oil, these noodles are great for when you don't have time for a sit-down meal. Chow Mein, Ka Shing Better known for its dumplings, the kitchen at Ka Shing also knows how to make noodles worthy enough to warrant a visit. A bit dry on its own, the chow mein goes well with most gravy dishes on the menu. One portion of chow mein is good enough for one person if you aren’t ordering any starters, we you can wash them down with a pot of steaming jasmine tea, which will also counter some of the grease. Pad Thai, Nightmarket The pad thai at Nightmarket is similar to Baan Thai’s because it has the same slight sweetness and comes with tofu, egg, bean sprouts and ground peanuts, but different because the rice noodles are thinner. Given that Nightmarket’s menu is on the modern side, there’s also the option to choose between rice noodles and glass noodles, and topping include vegetables and tofu, chicken or prawns. Ramen, Nomo Newcomer Nomo Ramen import their ramen noodles from Sun Noodles in the US - Momofuku founder David Chang's noodle maker of choice. The wavy, bouncy noodles come in a rich, eight-hour broth with either chashu pork, chicken or roasted tomato (vegan), as well as a free-range marinated egg, leeks, spinach and scallions. Nomo don't overload their bowls, with simplicity letting their ingredients shine.

With Halloween over we're already looking to what we're going to eat in January - we're not even kidding. There's also duck liver parfait, rainbow rolls and piled high waffles on our must have menu this week... 1) Duck Liver Parfait, Hen's Teeth We haven't seen much from Hen's Teeth recently, but this duck liver parfait with fig, pickles and chutney on brioche from new head chef Kev Milson gave us all the cravings. Their all day menu runs from 12pm till late from Friday - Sunday. 2) Galette des Rois (for next January), Go Pan We can't actually believe we're talking about eating something post Christmas, but Go Pan open reservations for their January Galette des Rois today, and we thought you might like to know. The French traditionally eat the flat, round puff pastry cake filled with almond cream on the day of epiphany (6th January), and Go Pan's will cost €50. Email gopanbakery9@gmail.com to reserve. 3) Rainbow Rolls, Wasabi We've found the solution to brighten up those cold, wet November days - rainbow rolls from Wasabi . Stuffed with crayfish, Philadephia and cucumber, with slices of avocado, tuna, salmon and white fish on top, they're crowned with wasabi mayo & masago, and if all that wasn't enough, their black zakkoku rice sets them apart from the crowd even more. 4) Weekend Waffles at The Washerwoman, Glasnevin If you're going to do a waffle, you should do it right, and this piled high 'Greek' version from The Washerwoman in Glasnevin comes with fruit compote, yoghurt, roasted nuts & maple syrup. You can also go 'Florentine' (poached eggs, spinach and hollandaise) or 'Benny' (with poached eggs, bacon and hollandaise). Find them on the menu every Saturday and Sunday from 12:00. 5) Mandarin & Dulce de Leche Layer Cake The words 'guilt free' usually fill us with trepidation, but this layer cake from Guilt Free Bites looks like it could give 'free from' a good name. Mandarin flavoured gluten-free almond sponge, lactose-free Dulce de leche, toasted hazelnuts and dairy free buttercream all add up to a cake we really want a slice of this week.

What should we know about Apertivo Cicchetti? It's the latest opening on Nassau Street from The Port House group, who are also due to open new Portugese pastelaria Lisboa in the next few weeks. They've pitched it as an Italian small plate, wine & cocktail bar, with a serious selection of Aperitifs, Negronis & Spritzes, designed to "make you feel as though you have been transported to an Italian swing joint in the 1950s." It's very intimate and atmospheric inside, with Ingo Mauer's Campari light fixtures giving the whole room a red hue, dark wood panelling and exposed brick. They've done a great job of making it feel like you're not in Dublin any more. The petite, narrow room seats just over 20, and tables are close together, so don't expect privacy. What did you drink? They have a mean drinks list, with four types of negronis and all types of aperitivo, from Venezianos to Limoncello spritz. The house negroni is small but potent, poured from a large glass bottle, and we also liked the negroni rosato with grapefruit and prosecco. The all Italian wine list also surprised us, with everything we tried over a couple of visits, from Soave to Vermentino packing a punch in all the right places. The red from Maretti is always a good bet with pasta or anything with a tomato based sauce - if in doubt, get the Langhe Rosso out. What about the food? The fritto misto stands out, with perfectly flour-dusted and deep-fried calamari, prawns, whitebait and courgette - or you can go for a full plate of any of the four. Deep-fried aubergine meatballs had great flavour, but needed a dip, while burrata with marinated tomatoes and bread was as good as you would hope, but €15 means it's a sharer. We expected an Italian small plates restaurant to go hard on the pasta, but they were the weakest plates we had, with the pasta clearly dried and bought in, and sauces leaving much to be desired. Carbonara is inexplicably poured at the table from a cocktail shaker (if anyone has the answer as to why we'd love to hear it), and cacio e pepe was a poor, dry example. Bucatini alla Vodka didn't have much going on either, but spinach and cheese tortellini tossed in sage butter was a step up, and one we'd order again. Pasta sizes are small, so one is unlikely to do you as a main. Gnocchi with fennel sausage ragu was better too (although we don't think the gnocchi were freshly made either), and 'Panzerotti' (mini deep-fried calzone) filled with nduja, Taleggio & tomato sauce were an enjoyable, hand-held snack. Vegetable sides of zucchini fritti (fried courgette) and patate al forno (roast potatoes) were great, and there's loads on here for vegetarians in general. Desserts are limited and on the simple side, but both tiramisu and affogato were hard to find fault with, so no complaints here. Why should I go? Aperitivo is fun, the all-Italian drinks list is genuinely original in a city like Dublin, and staff were by and large fantastic. It's different, casual and affordable, and perfect for an intimate catch up when you want to hear each other speak. Go big on the fried fish and veg, easy on the pasta, and make sure it's not a school night so you can do that drinks list justice. Aperitivo 47 Nassau Street, Dublin 2 aperitivo.ie

What should we know about Chequer Lane?

What should we know about Flower & bean? Flower & Bean is the latest (and perhaps greatest) addition to Dublin 8’s thriving café scene. We’ve been glued to their social media the last few weeks, and the love they seem to pour into their baked goods, and wanted to see if it had substance on top of style. The space is bright and clean clean, with paired back benches and tables giving major Scandi vibes. The website describes "baking as a science", and the tables are decorated with test tubes repurposed as flower vases. Flower & Bean is run by a team of three: two coffee experts: Henrique, and Greg, and baker Marta (who's also behind Cake Box ). Each staff member we spoke to was nicer than the last, and they're clearly excited to be here. What did you have? Flower & Bean serve 3FE roasted coffee and we had no complaints about our americanos. Beans, whole or freshly ground are also for sale. Ceramic cups are on the way for those eating in but they're limited to take-out cups for now, so you might want to bring your own. The baked goods are made in house and beautifully presented in enamel dishware, and staff were very enthusiastic and helpful when indecision struck and recommendations were needed. We had a cinnamon roll with dried roses and pistachio which was plump and soft, with flavours that worked so well together. We also had a pear and almond scone, their seasonal speciality, and you should go quick for this as it's due to change soon. It was light and buttery, with vivid almond and pear flavours, and when we asked for jam the staff told us they don’t do it, but had something better - home made cardamom butter. They win. We featured the Crème Brûlée donuts last week , and it may have had more than a mild influence on our visit. It actually involved two visits on the same day as they weren’t ready the first time we tried - commitment or what. Thankfully it was everything we hoped it would be after hanging around - the crack of the brûléed top so satisfying, the custard centre flavoured with delicate and delicious vanilla. Why should I go? We love that Flower & Bean is committed to low waste (albeit needing to sort the coffee cup situation stat). They repurpose croissants into no waste croissant pudding, baking leftovers with chocolate, salted caramel and hazelnuts. They also sell loaves of freshly made sourdough as a whole or a half, for those who don’t need as much. We picked up a half for €3.50 and this is solid sourdough. Couple a visit with a trip to Urban Plant Life (sprawling jungle-like garden centre) next door and you’ve got yourself a very wholesome morning in Dublin 8. Flower & Bean 113 Cork St, Saint Catherine's, Dublin 8 www.flowerandbean.com

- More shock closure news this week from Table Wine , who announced that their last service would be on November 19th. They originally opened as a wine bar serving small plates, before changing to a three course set menu (a sign that maybe things hadn't taken off the way they'd hoped), and now they're calling it a day. No word yet on whether they're going to keep the site, which was formerly Meet Me In The Morning - Joe's Coffee have also announced they're leaving Arnotts, while toastie makers Griolladh are moving in - D15 was devasted this week with the news that Bahay have pulled out of their Blanchardstown opening, along with plans to open a permanent spot anywhere. Read their sad post here - In better news, it's in London, Paris, New York and LA, and now Dublin is getting it's very own Hoxton Hotel . The group have raised finance to start work on the site of the Central Hotel site on Exchequer street, and hope to open in 2024 - Soon to come opening Church and Chambers look like they are not messing around with this signing - Temple bar got a new Japanese restaurant this week, Daruma , and we're cautiously optimistic - Taza have opened their second site in Raheny , and considering how difficult it is to get a booking in their Artane location this is great news for the parish - The first review of Jamie Oliver's Chequer Lane is in and Katy Mc Guinness was not impressed. "The acoustics are dreadful", "a significant number of dishes are already sold out" and in response to you lot on Instagram saying it's the type of place your Mum would probably like, she says: "Well I'm your mum and I'm telling you that she is disappointed." - Angela Scanlon got a takeaway V-Face this week and ate it on her bed in the five-star Merrion Hotel. It's a yes from us - James Corden must have wanted the ground to swallow him up this week, after getting banned from Balthazar in New York. Owner Keith McNally labelled him " a tiny cretin of a man " and "the most abusive customer", before un-banning him after Corden called him to apologise. He then got re-banned after giving an interview to a newspaper where he appeared to deny it. We're struggling to keep up. Corden's behaviour sounds pretty bad, but it's also worth noting that McNally is a loose canon and has put some indefensible stuff on social media before, including much about his arch nemesis, Sunday Times food critic Marina O'Loughlin - The start of the week just got better - Etto is once again open on Monday evenings for the first time since the pandemic - The alcohol free Virgin Mary bar on Capel Street are experimenting with plant-based mood boosters for their new cocktail menu - St. Francis Provisions in Kinsale has been added to the Michelin Guide - about time - In other Kinsale new, Michelin-starred Bastion should probably have invested in some PR advice before posting this thread about charging guests who try to cancel tables at short notice €250. It all kicked off after this article in Cork Beo, when a couple claimed they were charged full price after cancelling when they child had to go to A&E - The ridiculous reality of the energy crisis broken down by Urru in Bandon -The annual Fine Dining Lovers survey is out. Lots of interesting stuff to mull over, including whether the customer is always right, and why paying for meals in advance is cutting off a large chunk of potential customers - Sally & John Mc Kenna have launched a new subscription on Substack, including a Megabites newsletter with really interesting news and information on eating around the country. A must subscribe if you're interested in eating around the country, and supporting independent Irish food journalism. Check it out here - We were so excited to happen on this guide to where to eat Jewish food in Dublin , then we read it and realised there sadly isn't much to talk about - 64 Wines in Glasthule have announced that from now on they will only be adding wine and food to their shop from producers and brands who are making an effort to be sustainable . While these things are never black and white we love the effort - The FSAI were not impressed with Leo Varadkar's meal prep , and neither were we, have you seen it? - Pala Pizza have decided kids eat free every Wednesday and Thursday - can they get any better? - Another high class move from Bujo - Senbazuru Izakaya's Bellabot is getting into the Halloween spirit - Let the Halloween-themed food begin - That's a lot of effort ... - Scéal Bakery is back with pumpkin pies for a Halloween bank holiday bake on Friday, October 28th - Got a gin glass you drunkenly stole one night? There's an amnesty on at The Barbers - More deals at Cluck Chicken, with 2-for-1 on Wednesday wings - A snapshot of our days - Chapter one's version of 100's and 1000's for some two-starred Michelin nostalgia - Obsessing over this new dessert from Clanbrassil House - A baby Keelan Higgs - Um what ? We have yet to uncover whether Pat Shortt has any actual involvement in this - B Skewers open their new Temple Bar site this week and we're so excited for our Thursday night preview ! If you're coming see you there

We want to know where you're eating and loving lately. Send your tips and pics to info@allthefood.ie and we'll publish the best each fortnight, just for you guys... Churchtown Stores, Dublin 14 - Eva H We stopped by Churchtown Stores this week and firstly what a fantastic menu for a pub! Totally different to your average pub grub, and very well priced for the standard of food. Ian Marconi from Jack Rabbit is responsible for the food in there and serves up some fantastic looking and tasting dishes! I had the Sweet-fire Chicken - buttermilk fried chicken breast in a honey and pomegranate 'dunk', with black garlic aioli, house roasted peanuts, herby yogurt, fried shallots, pickled rainbow carrots and toasted seeds. I'd give it 10/10 for bar food - presented so well, packed with flavour and textures, which are all so well balanced, and the portion size was more than enough! Burnt Cabbage at Nell's Wine Bar, Cork - Joanne C Eaten at Nell’s Wine Bar in Cork, with chef Epi Rohan in the kitchen (ex Paradiso ). Mealagulla burnt cabbage with Cashel Blue and chili crunch. Honestly amazing. The Cashel Blue didn’t dominate and was utterly mellow. French Toast at 51 Cornmarket, Cork - Laura T The French toast with honeycomb butter and bacon at 51 Cornmarket is hands down the best thing I've eaten recently. The perfect balance of sweet and savoury - pillowy soft French toast like none I've experienced in Ireland before, Fabulous service and cosy interiors. Even better that it's in Cork!

Blackrock may not immediately spring to mind as a culinary destination due to the two prominent chain-filled shopping centres, but there are lots of independent Irish eateries once you dig a bit deeper. Now mercifully rid of its Wetherspoons, Blackrock has so many options, from spine-tingling Indian to some of the best pizza in the city. Blackrock Market has really evolved over the last few years too, and nearly half of our list is packed into its charming narrow alleys. There are our favourite places to eat and drink in Blackrock... Breakfast Hatch Coffee Home of the famous cinnamon swirl, Hatch serve up this fluffy brioche covered in cinnamon butter and topped with a vanilla cream cheese glaze, which goes perfectly with their 3FE coffee. They're also baked throughout the day to ensure peak freshness. The granola bowl is one of our favourites with pecan granola, honey whipped yoghurt, and seasonal Irish fruit (rhubarb on our last visit). Top tip: for those who live outside the city centre, Hatch have Bread 41 sourdough loaves for sale. Fable and Stey Fable and Stey is a little bit of a walk from Blackrock village but a neighbourhood spot close to our hearts. We are big fans of their sausage rolls and have been guilty of calling ahead to reserve when they’re freshly out of the oven. They serve Roasted Brown coffee alongside freshly baked goodies, including homemade swiss rolls, Kinder Bueno cookies, almond croissants and great savoury lunch specials. Lunch & Dinner Shaka Poké Shaka is our favourite iteration of the wave of poke bowl spots popping up all over Dublin. You can build your own creation or order from the house selection, and there's so much going on in each multi-coloured bowl. A classic is filled with ahi tuna, edamame, pineapple, wakame and topped with crispy onions, pomegranate seeds and their Shaka house sauce. They're really going for a Hawaiian vibe which you may find hard to manifest on a drizzly afternoon wedged between bric-a-brac stalls, but if anything's going to get you in the mood this will. Lebanese Tapas Ram, the owner and chef at Lebanese Tapas serves up homemade cuisine in this little nook within the market. The mezze plate gives you a little bit of everything - their homemade falafel is served with ghanoush, hummus, tabbouleh, stuffed vine leaves and flatbreads, dressed with pomegranate seeds and olive oil. They also serve baklava for dessert. If you're a deemed a VIP, Ram may add you to the wall of fame - currently Ryan Tubridy and Brendan Gleeson, and cash is King, as per the sign at the door. 3 Leaves We get a warm fuzzy feeling when thinking of 3 Leaves - the welcome you receive from Millie when entering is as warming as their curry on a cold day. Santosh and Millie are a culinary power couple, with Millie front of house and Santosh leading the kitchen. Their street food specials including Medu Vada (a south Indian breakfast snack) and Pani Puri can only be described as flavour explosions. We love the Pav Bhaji - pillowy bread used to mop up a spicy curry - and their biryani is very special. They do a thali plate mid-week, ideal for the indecisive as it’s a great way to sample a lot of the menu, served with their signature rainbow rice. You can taste the love in every bite. Bhonn Space From the team at Liath (one to bookmark for a very special occasion), Bhonn Space is a counter setup within Blackrock Market. They serve daily lunch specials like BBQ udon and pierogi, and small plates like salt & pepper octopus, as well as hosting pop up wine tastings. Sit at the bar, have an aperitif (we'd suggest a vermouth and tonic), have a few plates of food and pretend you're in a far more continental country than Ireland. They’ve also just announced a collaboration with the Cake Room across the way and will soon take reservations for sit down dining. Little Forest Little Forest started as a pizza take away during the pandemic, where slots were in high demand and would book up a week in advance. The same is now true of tables, and for good reason. These naturally leavened wood fired pizzas have toppings you won’t find anywhere else, including creamed corn with nduja - an excellent combination in our books. They’ve now expanded beyond pizzas and serve a selection of snacks and salads, and the savoury donut with caramelised onion and parmesan had us craving seconds. Order the garlic bread to use as a mop for the aubergine polpette sauce and thank us later. Kings Sushi You may walk past Kings Sushi with their fluorescent lime green exterior and mistake it for any other run of the mill takeaway, but that would be a mistake. Kings serve up some fantastic sushi, and we're big fans of the soft shell crab and Seafood Futomaki - sushi rolls the size of your fist, packed with crab, tuna, salmon and asparagus. Big Mikes The latest opening from chef and entrepreneur Gareth Smith, Big Mike's is his newest venture in a much larger space. You can have a drink and a snack at the bar (Mini Mikes) or book a table. The seafood is fresh off the boats daily, and their signature seafood sharing platter is a lot of people's death row meal. For meat lovers, they serve Rick Higgin’s aged steaks, which can also be added to the seafood platter for Surf n Turf vibes. Volpe Nera Volpe Nera describes itself as a neighbourhood spot, but it would fit in just as well in the city centre - in any city. The chef is ex- Etto and you can feel it in the menu. We loved the mushroom dumplings and halibut, although you may find it hard to resist the Cote De Boeuf. Dessert Sisi Gelato A chipper may seem like an interesting location to order gelato but trust us. The gelato in Sisi is as thick, soft and creamy as we’ve had anywhere in Italy. We can’t resist the pistachio but they have a wide range of flavours. Drinks Jack O’Rourke’s Jack O’Rourke’s website states they have been consistently serving creamy pints and old-fashioned conversation since 1921, and we couldn’t agree more.  Grab a stool by their fire and settle in for a great pint and a chat. El Celler Wine Bar The term 'wine cave' springs to mind when describing El Celler wine bar, tucked into the middle of the market. Aperitif options include cava, sangria and vermouth in addition to a fully Spanish wine list with some big hitters on there. Did we miss your favourite place to eat in Blackrock? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

For all the great wine flooding restaurant lists across Dublin these days, it’s another expense on top of the already-rising price of a nice meal out. That’s where BYO can come in very handy, letting you take along your own choice of drink for little or no added charge. It’s also a great option for special occasions, allowing you to enjoy that special set-aside bottle alongside some top quality food. We’ve scoped out some of the best restaurants in the city that are happy for you to bring along your own wine (or beer in some cases) and while it’s heavily stacked toward Asian and Arabic food, we think that’s no bad thing. Just be warned that most of the wine glasses you'll be presented with may not be up to your usual standard, so if it's a REALLY special bottle, you might want to think about bringing your own... CN Duck, Ranelagh A highlight of fast casual dining in the south suburbs, CN Duck seriously impressed us a few months back (read our once over here ) with the best Chinese roast meats to be found anywhere in the city. The generous starter and meat main portions are perfect for sharing (not least so you can try as much as possible) and would go down great with a bottle of something special. It's €6 for corkage. Shouk, Drumcondra Delicious, Middle Eastern, purse-friendly food in Drumcondra that's predominantly vegetable based (but don't panic, they do have meat). Pittas, falafel, mezze and flavour-packed salads are always on the menu at Shouk , as well as rotating specials. They've been working on developing their own wine list since opening, so corkage is €9 per bottle. M & L Chinese, Dublin 1 One of the few places in Dublin to get authentic Sichuan food, the dumplings and fried green beans with chilli at M & L Chinese have caused many addictions to be formed over the years (raises hand). Corkage is €6.50 but go easy on the chilli oil if you're taking something nice. Fayrouz, Dublin 8 A taste of Lebanon in the Liberties, Fayrouz has an authentic menu of mezzes and grilled meats on offer alongside broader fare like shawarma and shish. Vegetarian options are particularly good, while their tabbouleh has a reputation as among the city’s best. Corkage is free for tables of fewer than six, and nearby Molloy’s has Lebanese wine in stock for a perfect pairing option. Pho Ta, Temple Bar Delicious, flavour-filled Vietnamese food in Temple Bar with the friendliest staff. Try Pho Ta 's unusual looking (but amazing tasting) steamed rice paper rolls with prawn (above), the cold beef salad or the crispy fried rice noodles with chicken or prawn. Corkage is €5. Zakura, Dublin 2 Fancy some Chardonnay with your sashimi, Riesling with your ramen, Gewürztraminer with your gyoza? Okay, we'll stop now. Zakura ’s three south city sites all allow you to bring your own wine along to enjoy alongside their sushi and noodle-packed menus. Corkage comes in at €6 per bottle. Dada, Dublin 2 Top-quality Irish meat gets the Moroccan treatment in Dada , with a menu brimming with traditional tagines and couscous. The harissa and ras el hanout can make for some seriously spicy dishes, so be sure to pair wisely. Corkage is €4 for wine and €1.50 per beer and only available until 21:15. Pho Kim, Dublin 1 Some of the best Vietnamese food in the city with excellent savoury pancakes, Pho (noodle soup) and Bun (rice vermicelli with a combination of meat, spring rolls, fresh vegetables and herbs). Pho Kim charge corkage of €7 on wine and €1.50 on beer. Musashi, Dublin 1 Musashi now has six locations across Dublin, and the quality doesn't seem to have been affected, with sushi aficionados frequently mentioning it as one of Dublin's top spots. A hot tip is to go mid-afternoon when they've sold out of lunchtime stock and are making it fresh. Only the Parnell Street branch allow BYO and corkage is €6 per bottle. Jerusalem, Dublin 2 Hearty home cooking Arabian style, Jerusalem takes inspiration from across the Middle East in its menu but hones in particularly on Lebanon and Jordan. Makloubeh, a slow-cooked rice dish studded with veg and served upside-down, is one not to miss. Corkage is €5 for wine and €2.50 for beer. Eatokyo, Temple Bar Sushi, gyoza, katsu curry and noodle dishes are all on the menu at Eatokyo on Wellington Quay, although a couple of critics have recommended veering towards the hot dishes over the sushi. Corkage is €6. Rotana Café, Portobello Casual Lebanese restaurant in Portobello serving charcoal-grilled kebabs, falafel sandwiches and mezze platters at very good prices. Corkage is free in Rotana when you have two courses. Keshk Café, Dublin 4 Casual, no-frills Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food in Ballsbridge, with all meat at Keshk Café cooked on a charcoal grill and the lamb moussaka coming highly recommended. Corkage is free.

With spooky season approaching, it’s no accident that four out of five of the things we want to eat this week are filled with sugar. We're tempted to don a witch's hat and do our version of trick or treating, running around town grabbing one of each of these... 1) Crème Brûlée Doughnut, Flower & Bean Anyone tracking our Instagram activity would be concerned by how many times we’ve watched this reel of Flower & Bean ’s crème brûlée donut. The top of the donut is glazed like a Crème Brûlée, giving it a satisfying snap as it's torn apart, revealing a smooth custard inside. A regular jam will never look the same again. 2) Blueberry Clafoutis, Clanbrassil House The latest dessert special from Clanbrassil House looks like art and sounds like poetry. Their blueberry clafoutis (served with marizpan tuille and buttermilk ice cream) originated in the Limousin region of France in the 19th century, but for the moment you can find it at 6 Clanbrassil Street Upper. 3) Ham & Cheese Rolls, Yeeros Yeeros ’ new dish feels like it deserves a more grandiose title than "ham and cheese rolls", which evokes memories of a packed lunch at school, or a takeaway from Spar. The classic filling is rolled up in filo pastry, deep-fried and served with a side of mayo mustard dipping sauce, and we bet it beats the deli counter any day. 4) Almond Ugly, Strudel Strudel ’s new pastry creation comes with its own ugly duckling-esque backstory. The bakers take off-cuts of croissant pastry that would otherwise go to waste, bake them in a tin with brown sugar and sliced almonds, and cover them in a chocolate ganache. We'd like to give this pastry the confidence boost it deserves by not leaving a crumb behind. 5) Crushed Pumpkin, Pecan & Maple Spiced Bake, Honey Truffle Introducing Autumn in tray bake form. Honey Truffle ’s newest addition to their baked good counter is this crushed pumpkin, pecan and maple spiced bake, decorated with crumbed pistachios and caramel dipped pecans. They're obviously fans of the phrase "go Halloween hard or go home".

- A bad week for Dylan Mc Grath's Rustic Stone , whose recent closure order from the FSAI hit the press, following the discovery of rodent droppings in the kitchen. Bow Lane on Aungier Street and Lee Kee on Parnell Street were also shut down. Read the gory details here - This week's high profile closure came from Ennistymon in Clare, with the news that ' This is it ' has run out of road - Anna Haugh at The Conrad are adding a lunch service to the pop up. It starts in a month - NYC's Wildair and Contra are coming to Note for one night only , but tickets are a whopping €140 for six courses - There's a new bakery opening in Rush and it's going to be good - Rumour has it Poulet Bonne Femme are opening in Blackrock - Lucinda O'Sullivan has listed 20 restaurants she says should have a Michelin star but don't, including Roly's in Ballsbridge, Gastropub Mikey Ryan's in Tipperary (who serve burgers & chicken supreme), and of course her favourite restaurant of all time - Rasam. Right then... - Jamie Oliver was in hot water this week for discussing gender in kitchens , claiming he needs to think like a woman to cook better - We don't know where to start with last week's Great British Bake Off 'Mexican week', but the fall out just keeps coming. See this from Eater and this from the New York Times for some hot takes - Variety Jones owner and head chef Keelan Higgs made a guest appearance on The Restaurant this week - Dublin's Iveagh Markets were in the High Court this week fighting to reclaim public ownership of the historic structure, after being repossessed in 2020 by Lord Iveagh, a member of the Guinness family. The case was adjourned again until the 14th of November - Good news for midweek diners, Library street is now open on Tuesday nights - Lucky Tortoise are holding new private dumpling making classes , ideal for a 'different kind of date night' - We need to talk about this crème brulée doughnut - Pitt Bros have launched a new brunch , with four dishes to choose from. You can make it boozy too with one of their signature cocktails, like the Smoked Bacon Bloody Mary - Póg in Clontarf have started pasta and wine Fridays , yours for €20 - More deals to be had over at Cluck Chicken in Walkinstown, where if you buy one tender meal you'll get a second half price - It's officially hot chocolate weather - Together Academy's training café for young adults with Down Syndrome is popping up in Dunnes Stores Cornelscourt over midterm break - 'Grub & Gargle', a chat about pints, pubs and their place in culture takes place on Tuesday at The Circular in Dublin 8. You can get tickets here - Balenciaga has collaborated with Lays potato chips, in one of the most bizarre bag collabs we've ever seen, with a rumoured retail price of $1800 - Sonny's in Greystones is giving us vaccination PTSD with their 'Cheese Injection' burger special - Harry's Nut Butter's pumpkin spice flavour is back this week - prepare autumn mode - The most insane cookies you're going to see this week - The food in the Rotunda Hospital is better than many of the city's restaurants - This experience at Tesco in London is utterly terrifying - Is this crab in a Bloody Mary ? - Real brie vs fake brie - If you could stomach this you're braver than us - Scare-cuterie board for Halloween? - We're so excited for ATF Insiders to get the first look at B Skewers ' new city centre opening - they're putting on a feast for us. There's one table left for Thursday 27th and a couple more for Thursday 3rd, so if you're interesting in coming along, find out how to get tickets here

October's monthly 9 giveaway is live! From an incredible five-star trip to one of the country's best hotels, chances to new Dublin restaurants, food and booze hampers, and tickets to take your friends wine tasting, our nine monthly giveaways is a small way to thank our supporters for letting us stay #ad, #collab and #invite free - and we hope you prefer things that way too. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders by midnight on Monday 17th October will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Tuesday 18th October. Here's what's in this month's line up... 1) An Overnight Stay & Dinner at Hayfield Manor, Cork It's no news to anyone that Cork's five-star Hayfield Manor Hotel is one of the country's best, but last week they won yet another gong - the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Quality Assurance Award in London, designed to celebrate excellence, consistency and best-in-class experiences in luxury hotels. This month one of our Insiders will be getting a chance to experience Hayfield Manor 's famous hospitality for themselves, with a luxury overnight stay for two in a Superior room, dinner in fine dining restaurant Orchids, and breakfast the next morning. Dates subject to availability, T&Cs apply. 2) A €120 Voucher for 'A Fianco' Calabrian restaurant Grano have given us yet another reason to head for Stoneybatter, with the opening of their sister wine bar next door, ' A Fianco '. With small plates, natural wines and just 16 seats, it instantly become one of the hottest tickets in the 'batter, and one of the best wine bars in the city, and we're sending one of you off to try it out with a €120 voucher in your pocket. You can use it in Grano or A Fianco, or start in one and end in the other. Either way we're sure it'll be one of the best nights you'll have all year. 3) A NOLA Boil Experience for four at Krewe Krewe have just launched a new NOLA Shellfish & Seafood Boil, and we've got a table of four to give away so one of your can try it, along with a bar tab of €100 for a deep dive into their cocktails.. The Krewe Boil will feature all the Irish Shellfish & Seafood, including Langoustines, Prawns, Mussels, Cockles, Clams, Monkfish Cheeks and Cod, as well as smoked Andouille Sausage, boiled in a spiced Cajun broth with potatoes & corn on the cob. It's all shared in middle of the table, so bibs on & dig in. It's €100 (€25 per person) or €130 with Irish Lobster, and limited tables are available every Tuesday in November. Booking by emailing welcome@krewe.ie . 4) Irish Food & Drink Month At Home Hamper It's Irish Food & Drink Month and over 140 venues around the country (including 80 in Dublin) are offering specially designed food and drinks pairings every day, all showing the best Irish beers, cider and spirits (read about where to get involved here ). To celebrate we've got a hamper to give away including a bottle of Stillgarden Give & Take Gin; a bottle of Lambay Whiskey Single Malt; a Fercullen Falls Whiskey Collector's Gift Box from Powerscourt Distillery, two cans of Happy Days Pale Ale from Rascal's Brewery , and two cans of Dublin City Brewing Beers. 5) €100 Lunch Tab At Alfama We recently found the city's first Francesinha, and another contender for Dublin's best pasteis de nata, in new Portguese café Alfama in Dundrum. Weekend specials are all about traditional Portugese dishes, like Bacalhau com Natas (cod pie) and Carne de Porco Alentejana (fried potato with pork and clams), and desserts don't stop at custard tarts, with cream filled buns and doughnuts also on the menu. We've got a €100 lunch tab for Alfama to give away this month, meaning you'll be able to work your way through most of it. 6) Dinner For Four At Nutbutter Nutbutter have just opened their second location right in the middle of Smithfield Square, with new Autumn additions, loads of Irish veg, and the kind of soothing interiors we love to hang out in. To celebrate the opening we've got a three course dinner for four people with a bottle of wine to give away, meaning you can bring your nearest and dearest to feast on tacos, rice bowls and poke, and don't miss the miso panna cotta for dessert. 7) A Hamper From Lilliput Stores Lilliput Stores in Stoneybatter is a treasure trove of condiments, oils & vinegars, antipasti, wine, we could go on... We've been loving exploring their new cheese discoveries recently through their weekly cheese boxes , and selfishly want them to start a cheese club so we can get a monthly delivery without leaving home, but in the meantime they've given us a hamper of some of their best cheese, charcuterie, wine, olive oil, vinegar, crackers, chutney and olives to give away to one lucky Insider this month (the Balsamic di Modena will change your life). Collection only . 8) A €100 Voucher for Korean Table Stoneybatter has a new place for Korean food (can it get any cooler?) and we took it for a test drive - don't miss the Korean Fried chicken. Fresh from a rave in the Irish Times , we 've got a €100 voucher for Korean Table to give away to someone, so you can try all the banchan, bibimbap ad kimchi fried rice you can manage. 9) Tickets to the Rioja Wine Festival The ultimate wine experience for Rioja Lovers is happening at The Morrison Hotel on Ormond Quay on Saturday 22nd October, and we've got four tickets to give away for the afternoon session (14:00 - 17:00). You'll be able to learn about and taste over 80 wines (or as many as you can handle), with cheese and charcuterie boards to pair them with, and you'll also get a tasting map and a glass to take home. Tickets are €35 and you can get them on Wine Online's website here . Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for October will be automatically entered into the prize draw. 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Brazilian BBQ experts B Skewers have left their Bolton Street home and are moving into Dublin 2. They're opening on Crow Street in Temple Bar in two weeks and ATF Insiders are going to get the first look. We're taking over B Skewers 2.0 on Thursday 27th October for a €45 tasting menu featuring all of the best bits from their menu, including that famous cheeseburger, beef ribs, and a brownie with "pig's fat sauce". We kick off at 7pm, and you can see the full menu below. As we're expecting this night to sell out in minutes like our other events, the guys are going to do it again for us on Thursday 3rd November from 6-8pm, and you'll be able to buy tickets for either date on Friday. B Skewers Preview Menu Welcome Cocktail “Strawberry and Chocolate” (B Skewers take on a Spicy Margarita) Snacks Fried Yuca Snack / Matured Irish Cheddar Fried Yuca Snack / Beef Rib Croquette, served with Smoked Garlic Mayo Mains Pork Belly, served with Mashed Yuca and African Pepper Sauce B Skewers Cheeseburger South American Style Irish Angus Beef Ribs, served with Salsa Verde, Vinaigrette and Farofa Dessert Smoked “Brownie”, served with Salted Caramel Gelato and “Pig’s Fat Sauce Tickets for our B Skewers preview night go on sale this Friday at 12pm. The link will be sent to everyone signed up to ATF Insiders , and each Insider can purchase a ticket for one non-Insider to bring with them. Tickets will be sold in pairs of two. If you're not already signed up to ATF Insiders you can do so here .

- Another week, another round of closures, including the most high profile to date - Circa in Terenure. There were suspicions things weren't good after they closed off reservations for October, but the team confirmed at the start of the week that their time was up - Another shock this week with the closing of the Vegan Sandwich Co, announced by their founder Sam on his Instagram page . Both sites in Smithfield and St Stephen's Green have shut with immediate affect, and the brand's retail products have ceased too - Hemmingways in Stillorgan has also shut up shop, with the only announcement a big banner outside - 31 Lennox in Portobello have reduced their hours to try to reduce their energy bill - Dillingers took a breather in August to refresh and redecorate, and we're excited to see the results - we also hear a much loved, ex-777 chef is going into the kitchen - New opening Dos Bros outside Blanchardstown Centre are serving Quesabirria Tacos to the people of D15, and tacos in Dublin are feeling more and more like buses in Dublin - Kakilang opened their second location in Finglas this weekend. We were not expecting it to be in Charlestown shopping centre, but we'll take our Taiwanese chicken where we can get it - Chapelizod has a new café and deli. Park Lane Deli has opened selling toasties, açai and superfood bowls - A second Artybaker is on the way. We're not at liberty to say where yet but it's not near the original in Dalkey - Speaking of Dalkey, all eyes on the new opening from the team behind The Old Spot - Salsa Mexican have just opened a second location on King Street North - Food on the Edge is back next week, on Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th October. It's one of the most important food events in the world in our opinion, and if you have the time and the money you will not regret it. Check it out here - Bookings for the final two months of Allta Rooftop have opened. Get in before they get out - Katy Mc Guinness reviews Together Café in Dublin 4 this week, a training café for young people with Down Syndrome, saying "this could be a template for all cafés and put a heart back into communities". The food sounds great too - Lucinda's gone all Giles Coren in her review of Indo-Chine (formerly Le Perroquet) on Leeson Street. She gives two thirds of the piece over to the general state of the industry, with a whole three paragraphs dedicated to what she ate, which was "terrific" and "lovely" - Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen are finally bringing back their vouchers from October 18th - start hinting now - The Rock Bakery's October menu is here, and ours is a honeycomb choux bun. Or maybe a chorizo and apple sausage roll - Herbert Park pancake roll purveyors Mei Mei have a cute new food truck - Richmond served their 200th tasting menu this week - King Sitric looks like a fun place to work - Note is teaming up with Contra and heading to NYC this week - enough excuse for a last minute trip to the Big Apple? We've got plenty more if you need them - Speaking of incredible apples - Senbazuru Izakaya in Fairview have a new undersea world (i.e. fish projected onto the walls) and we can't decide if it's the best or worst thing we've ever seen - How awful was this fire that forced Neighbourhood café in Belfast to close temporarily this week - 777 is celebrating Día de Los Muertos on October 30th and tickets are on sale now - Mamó has launched a set lunch menu every Thursday and Friday for October and November, and this is your sign to try it - Baking classes are back at The Cake Café - The Washerwoman in Glasnevin should be added to your Sunday roast list - Peanut butter and beer is the collab we were not expecting - A very random competition - 2005 called. It wants its cajun chicken back - This one hits hard - There are people paying $75 for their dogs to have a tasting menu - Hands up if you'd like a Pamela Chocolate - Food wars - Silent screams - We're so happy/relieved/exhausted to have launched our website and are working our way through the last few tweaks. Please feel free to let us know if anything looks amiss or isn't working the way it should - We're hoping to confirm our B Skewers preview nights very soon, keep an eye on your inboxes for details of when bookings will go live!

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. It started at 20, increased to 25, but post pandemic we struggled to get it under 30, so here they are, in alphabetical order, with two new entries...

The first Irish Food & Drink Month has been launched by Great Irish Beverages , to promote Irish drinks businesses, meaning for the month of October you can find specially designed pairings of Irish food pairings with Irish beer, cider and spirits, in over 140 venues around the country. Loads of our favourite Dublin restaurants are taking part, like Dash Burger , Hang Dai , The Seafood Café , The Old Spot , King Sitric and Kinara Kitchen , as well as bars like The Circular , Taphouse in Ranelagh and Rascals Brewing Co . Some of the pairings we're eyeing up include Irish Lobster & chips with Dublin City Brewing Co Pilsner ( The Seafood Café ), Cashel Blue and guava wonton paired with Stillgarden gin, Omaro and fig liqueur ( Hang Dai ), and Balscadden Bay Lobster Dublin Lawyer Style, served with Writers Tears Irish Whiskey ( King Sitric ). Irish Food & Drink Month runs for the month of October, and you can find the full list of participating venues around the country and their food and drink pairings here .

What should we know about The Parlour Bar? Dun Laoghaire's Haddington House is a boutique hotel that actually lives up to the name. It's been a hotel since the 1950's, but a change of ownership in 2015 saw the accommodation, restaurant ( Oliveto ) and bar see serious investment, in all the right areas. The Parlour Bar opened in January 2022, and it's a four phase project with three rooms complete and another (the room at the front of the hotel with sea views for days) due to be renovated in January 2023. The first room is just off reception, and is all dark wood, red velvet and florals, with the main bar found through a set of green velvet drapes. Pass through for pink upholstered walls, green velvet footstools and tasseled pelmets. Maybe it's the colour scheme, maybe it's the abundance of fabrics, maybe it's the fact it's windowless, but it feels like you've entered a hidden, soothing cocktail den, and so unlike anywhere else in Dublin. What did you have? This menu will end up in a gallery some day as a piece of history, with its stories and stunning illustrations from cover to cover. Drinks look like just as much thought and time went into them, and it took 15 minutes and an internal struggle to make our final decision. The 'Vico Crest' was described as "a sudden wave breaking, sweeping you off your feet", and this was one of those rare occasions when a menu description was not overkill. Consider us swept away on waves of fruit, flowers and bitter aromatics, floating off on a bed of the plumpest, silkiest foam we've ever tasted. There is no sugar in this drink, and the balance of sweet, sour, bitter and acid is remarkable. The Parlour Bar has two house Martinis - the 'Fanny' and the 'Mae'. Fanny is their take on a classic with a lemon twist, while Mae is their take on a Dirty Martini, and it's a take and a half. As well as the key ingredients of gin, vermouth and olive brine, they add fennel powder, mint and a whole olive, and it's a salty, savoury, juicy mouthful in each sip. Love a Dirty Martini? You need to try this. Never had one? You need to try this. Not a cocktail lover? There's plenty of aperitivo, wine and beer too. Why should I go? The Parlour Bar is a clear-cut contender on Dublin's cocktail scene, so if you sniff at Sex On The Beach or roll your eyes at Mai Tais, this should be in your soon to visit folder, and it's a cocktail list we need to work our way through. With four different rooms on the go, all we could think about were reasons to throw a party here, but we'll take a midweek cocktail in blush surroundings while we think of a suitable celebration. The Parlour Bar @ Haddington House 9-12 Haddington Terrace, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin haddingtonhouse.ie

After what felt like an agonising wait (for us anyway), Pala Pizza in Foxrock have finally opened their trattoria upstairs, in the site that used to house Bistro One, which was open for an incredible 30 years. Chef Rory Shannon (son of former Bistro One owner Mark Shannon) first started outdoor Pala Pizza as a way to keep the space busy during lockdowns, and his Roman-style, topped pizzas proved so popular that the family decide it was time for Bistro One to say bye, and usher in the age of Pala Pizza & Trattoria. The menu is trattoria through and through, with house-made charcuterie, deep fried suppli and macaroni, fresh pasta, and of course those crispy pizzas Pala is famous for. You'll also find filled focaccia, prime rib and whole seabream, and this is a neighbourhood restaurant very much aimed at locals and families, with prices ranging from a slice of margherita pizza for €4 to Osso Bucco Milanese for €26. We're guessing it's going to be hard to leave without ordering their showstopper dessert of deep-fried apple calzone - definitely one for sharing. Pala Pizza and Trattoria is open from Wednesday - Sunday from 17:00, and reservations can be made here . Pala Pizza & Trattoria 3 Brighton Road, Foxrock, Co. Dublin www.palapizza18.com