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Cheese, we love the stuff, but feel it just doesn’t get enough love in return. Sure, mention “ Sheridan’s ” in the right company and you’ll easily spend an hour waxing lyrical about the joys of a great Comté, or competing over the strongest blue you’ve ever had, but when’s the last time you heard a song dedicated to Gruyère? Or a little poem about Brillat-Savarin? No recognition. Here's five cheesy things we want to show some appreciation to (and also eat) this week. 1) Broccoli with Smoked Gubbeen from Loretta’s Cheese and truffle are a classic combination, and this one has smoked Gubbeen cream and summer truffle in quantity. This new plate from Loretta’s is also packed with broccoli and almonds for a healthier way to eat all the cheese. 2) Lasagne Pizza from The Yarn When things go wrong in the world, it’s not unusual to turn to food for comfort. Given what we’re currently going through, we’d suggest doubling-down on the comfort food with the addition of lasagne to pizza, otherwise known as 'the lasagne pizza', from The Yarn . 3) Grillades from San Lorenzo’s Grits, traditionally made from cornmeal, have gotten a cheesy upgrade in San Lorenzo’s , with the addition of parmesan. Served with smoked beef brisket, paprika-laced gravy and fried eggs, it’s basically three meals in one. 4) Double Cheese Jambon from Storyboard What’s better than cheese? Two types of cheese. Make it all melty, add pastry, and we pretty much have our ideal meal. Will crawl to Storyboard to get one of these Parmesan and smoked Gubbeen jambons seasoned with sumac and fennel if necessary. 5) Tomato, Spinach, and Cream Cheese Tart from Daddy’s Here’s a great reason to get out from the space between your laptop and your couch for lunch. Stroll, bike or drive to Daddy’s in Rialto for a slice of their savoury tart. This one is tomato, spinach, and cream cheese. Don’t worry, your comfy dent will still be on the couch when you get back.

For anyone wondering if the critics were ever going to step outside Dublin again, you'll be glad to see a particularly wide spread around the country this week, but as always we start with the capital... In the Sunday Times Niall Toner was at Junior's in Beggar's Bush, but spends the first half of the article reviewing a dubious sounding book about how we eat, which appears to offer nothing new (unless you count 'salt might not be as bad as we think' and 'processed yoghurts are bad' as brand new information.) He was drawn into Junior's by Instagram pictures of chef Fiachra Kenny's (ex- The Old Spot ) new dishes, including the pork chop and pickled cherries , but didn't order it! They were on a small plates only diet, which included a "brilliant combination" of grilled peach, parma ham, walnut pesto, rocket, basil and bufala mozzarella, "generous ... unctuous" hispi cabbage with blue-cheese dressing, and mussels cooked in cider, which he thinks beats white wine. He says the food is well-thought out and skillfully executed, and you can read the whole review here . In the Business Post Gillian Nelis was at newly madeover Jaipur in Dalkey, unfondly remembering the days when Indian food in Ireland was "stuff to wolf down" with "grim and gassy" beer. The almost 20 year old restaurant has a new interior and new menu, and she thought their tandoori jumbo prawns were "elevated" by the addition of salted lime, pickled gooseberries and avocado raita, the Malabar fish wrapped in a banana leaf was "moreish", and the Wicklow lamb 'moore ghosht' was ideal for anyone who likes their Indian food "spicy and creamy at the same time". A pineapple upside down cake was "exciting", and she says after 20 years they're still looking well. Read her review here . There must be something about Cashel at the moment, as Katy McGuinness in the Irish Independent makes it two weeks in a row for Mikey Ryan's to bag a review. Like Tom Doorley last week , the food doesn't sound particularly groundbreaking, with vegetable soup, sriracha chicken wings (free-range though) and a burger with bacon and Cashel Blue cheese on the menu - although she calls it "a magnificent, juicy humdinger". Chips impressed too and they got extra points for homemade mayo, but a lemon dill sauce that came with hake was over-salted. She gives them 8/10 for food and says its "as sophisticated a gastro-pub as you'll find in Ireland." Read her review here . In the Irish Examiner , despite the food team coming to the consensus that they wouldn't stick ratings on restaurant reviews for the foreseeable future, Joe McNamee can't resist saying new opening 51 Cornmarket in Cork city centre might be deserving of "a perfect ten". Eggs Royale with Goatsbridge rainbow trout was "a triumph", brisket with pickled onion and celeriac remoulade on toasted ciabatta was "a sublime example of doing simple things perfectly", and a Ballycotton fish pie was one of the best he's had "in many a moon". A sample tasting (off menu presumably) of sticky toffee pudding with bourbon was "extraordinarily exquisite", and he reckons if he was scoring there would be 9's in abundance - if not that perfect ten. Read his review here . In the Irish Times Corinna Hardgrave was in Galway at Loam , finding all is well at the Michelin-starred restaurant off Eyre Square. High points from the seven-course tasting menu included new season tomatoes in a cold tomato broth, with a small oyster, horseradish cream and fermented gooseberries; squid cut into noodles with a slow-cooked egg yolk and shiitake broth; and a beef sirloin tartare with "ethereal squiggles" of smoked bone marrow butter and dehydrated onion for texture. Pointed cabbage came with "redundant" scallop, but lamb loin with turnip purée, broad beans and mint sauce was "clever cooking that catches a moment in time". The wine pairing sounds worth the €41, and she gives it 9/10, calling it "delicious, precise cooking using exemplary produce". Read her review here . In the Daily Mail Tom Doorley was at Cistin Eile in Wexford town having an "excellent lunch", but thinking it could be even better if the food was stripped back a bit. Owner/chef Warren Gillen's CV includes L'Ecrivain, and starters of vine tomato and oregano soup, and a salad of black and white pudding with pickled, mustardy cabbage and apple both got the thumbs up, but Kilmore hake was slightly over-complicated, with paprika, green beans, hazelnuts, and orange and rosemary beurre blanc - exhausted just reading that. Plaice came with choucroute, green beans and homemade tartare sauce, and a "delicate, delicious" beetroot panna cotta came with rose hips, vanilla and spicy honeycomb. He calls Cistin Eile "very good", but with the chef's "outstanding skills", less might be more. (Review not currently online) In the Sunday Independent , not even Covid can stop Lucinda's round ups - this week it's gastropubs. Making her top 20 in Dublin are Davy Byrne's , Ryan's of Parkgate Street , The Church , The Legal Eagle and The Old Spot , and this week all of them are open, which is good. Read that here . More next week.

It seems that even mid-pandemic the critics can't resist a new opening, with three out of seven reviews this weekend of places brand new to the social distancing scene. In the Irish Times Corinna Hardgrave is first in the door of Kerala Kitchen 's second outpost in Stoneybatter. She thought the pani puri were "a load of fun to eat", lamb seekh kebab had good depth of flavour, and a vegan chana saag could "recruit hardened carnivores" to their cause. A traditional fish curry (meen manga) was the dish of the night, and she says leaving without having the kulfi for dessert would be a mistake. She calls it "great Indian food", very reasonably priced and in a relaxed setting. Read her review here . In the Sunday Times Niall Toner was at another new opening, The Pier House in Howth. He says he went in hopeful that the opening of Mamó across the way ("a seismic event") would "rise all boats", and he left very happy after beautifully fresh Achill oysters, joy-inducing charred aubergine with romesco, hazelnut and kale, and the charred ray wing with brown butter, cauliflower and cockles. Read his review here . In the Irish Examiner Leslie Williams took a dive into the deep by going all the way to Skerries to eat at Potager (turns out it only took an hour from the southside and wasn't the scary experience he'd envisioned). No surprise that he left just as impressed as everyone before him (including us ), praising the "lovely attention to detail in the cooking ... from the bread to the dessert". He loved the "succulent and flavourful" Ring Farm chicken with Alsace bacon and swede, the creamy yet delicate red mullet with cauliflower and a brown butter caper and raisin dressing, and the Chocolate Marquise with Velvet Cloud Sheep’s Yoghurt Sorbet, cocoa crumbs and sour cherries - "tasty, layered and beautifully constructed". He calls the kitchen's cooking skills "legendary", saying he intends making the epic journey back soon to try it again. Read his review here . In the Irish Independent Katy McGuinness is the first critic back at Sage in Middleton since they moved from fine dining to something a bit more casual. She doesn't think it's done them any harm, with Ballinrostig cheese and Gubbeen croquettes "nicely oozing", ale-brined chicken skewers with fermented cabbage "one of the tastiest things that I've eaten in a long time", and IPA salt and vinegar onion rings in a "perfect, crunchy batter that dissolves to nothing as you bite into it." Lasagne was a bit dry, but it's the only complaint for "food that feels right, for right now." She calls it a "reinvention without compromise", giving it 9/10 for food, atmosphere and value, and the outside dining area sounds particularly appealing in the current circumstances. Read her review here . In the Irish Daily Mail Tom Doorley was at Cashel gastropub Mikey Ryan's , eating chicken wings, burgers and chips. Although it might not be breaking the mold on the food front he says it has "great charm", and it's easy to see why locals and travellers flock there. Sriracha chicken wings were "moreish", hake with green beans and salsa verde was "well cooked", and the burger was "pleasant if a little dry". Thankfully the chips were "first-rate", and a pear and frangipane tart was "exquisitely buttery" with a moist, rich almond filling. He calls it "good to know about" if you want to break up a motorway journey or have a family meal. (Review not currently online) In the Business Post it's another new opening for Gillian Nelis - Blue in Wicklow town (where The Lighthouse used to be). It's from the ex-head chef and general manager of Marlfield House , so early signs were good, and she was suitably impressed with "masterfully cooked" scallops and turbot, a salmon tartare and gravadlax cut nicely by a lime crème fraîche, and John Dory with pappardelle - her dish of the night. A baked Alaska with coconut ice-cream and passion fruit purée was "gorgeous" and she says the team have "hit the ground running". Read her review here . Finally in the Sunday Independent Lucinda O'Sullivan says we've all been dreaming of "sucking our fingers after a big, buttery lobster", which is the precursor to her "where to eat seafood" round up. Only four in Dublin make the top 20, two of which are currently closed ( The Seafood Café and Cliff Townhouse ) so that's helpful, but there's still Aqua and Michael's (below) to get your fingers greasy. Read her round up here . More next week.

2020 was the year we all became staycationer experts, and while Donegal, West Cork and Connemara are great and all, there's a LOT to be said for staycationing in your own city. There's something particularly luxe about holing up in a plush Dublin hotel and acting like a tourist in your hometown, and it's ideal for when you can't afford to take an extended break from work, or have small children you can't leave for too long. With Dublin currently devoid of tourists, this summer is the perfect time to take advantage of one-off offers in some of the city's best hotels, many with dinner included so you don't even have to leave your hotel. Here's some we'd like to treat ourselves to before summer's over. The Shelbourne, St. Stephen's Green Every self-respecting Dubliner needs to experience a stay in The Shelbourne at least once in their lives. Situated at the top of Grafton Street overlooking St. Stephen's Green, it's one of the top hotels in the city, with dining options including the very well-regarded Saddle Room restaurant, the No. 27 Bar which is now serving an all-day dining menu, or for something more casual you can also dine on their mezzanine-level terrace , which is made for curling up with a bottle of Champagne, a cheese and meat platter, and knowing our weather, a blanket. Their 'Escape' package includes an overnight stay in a deluxe guestroom for two people, a full Irish breakfast in The Saddle Room, and overnight parking for €299, and you'll be glad to hear that the residents bar is open for a pre or post dinner drink, as is the spa. Check availability and book through their website . The Devlin, Ranelagh Press Up have some really greats deals on until the end of August. A one-night stay in any of their Dublin hotels will get you a €50 voucher to be used in any of their restaurants, bars, cinemas or pubs, while a two-night stay will get you a €100 voucher. They've also just launched a midweek deal in The Devlin in Ranelagh where you can stay "9-5 for €95" - that's checking in at 09:00 and out at 17:00 the following day - so much time to lounge around. Outside of that rooms start at €159 per night (with The Dean, The Clarence, The Mayson from €179), and if you stay three nights you'll get one free - five nights and you'll get two free. All the offers . They're also encouraging people to discover more of Dublin and have arranged complimentary access to IMMA's Bharti Kher exhibition , and 30% off tickets to the Guinness Storehouse. You can also add on experiences like their ' Picnic in the Park ' - grab a bike from the lobby and set off with a picnic basket, blanket and a sweet and savoury picnic - or the ' Netflix & Chill ' - freshly popped popcorn, cocktails from Sophie’s, a box of Stella Cinema sweets and your choice of dessert delivered straight to your room. Rooftop restaurant Layla's is open for dinner, the Americana cocktail bar on the ground floor makes peanut butter and jelly cocktails, and Dime coffee bar serves coffee and pastries, so there's literally no reason to leave. Check out all of their offers and book here . The Radisson Blu, Golden Lane Another lovely deal just for ATF readers from the Radisson Blu Royal on Golden Lane, who've just opened their new Dyflin garden terrace at the top of the hotel. They've put together a summer 'Picnic in the Sky' experience, with overnight accommodation for two, breakfast and a picnic box to be enjoyed in the rooftop garden, with all the fun of a picnic and none of the hassle. They're also serving cocktails with herbs grown on the terrace, as well as wine and spirits. The Radisson is just off George's Street meaning you're right in the centre of a lot of food and shopping action, or if you want to eat in the hotel and retire to your room The Chancery Grill serves flambéed chicken livers, Clogherhead crab and steaks, with the Horseshoe Bar there for your pre or post-dinner cocktails. The 'picnic in the sky' offer is available exclusively to ATF readers from €205.00 per room per night. For more details and to book, visit www.radissonblu.com/royalhotel-dublin , select your dates and enter promotional code ROYAL , or you can call the hotel on 01 8982900. The Intercontinental Dublin, Ballsbridge The Intercontinental Dublin in Dublin 4 is another hotel that should be on your five-star bucket list. They have a few offers on at the moment, including their ' Come Dine With Me ' package, which includes breakfast, a three course meal in Seasons restaurant, access to their 14m heated indoor pool and complimentary car parking, from €302 per night for a deluxe King room, or €392 for a Queen room which sleeps three. If you're feeling flush there's also the ‘ Suite Escape ’ from €448 per room per night, including a night in a luxury suite with separate living area, a chilled bottle of Perrier Jouet Champagne on arrival, breakfast served in your room or in Seasons restaurant, access to the pool and a late check out at 14:00 the next day. Don't miss their secret garden - an inner courtyard terrace ideal for a pre-dinner cocktail or general oasis-style lounging (if the sun co-operates). See their offers and book here . The Westin, D'Olier Street The five-star Westin on D'Olier Street has been drawing cocktail-loving Dubliners to the Mint Bar for years, but their summer reopening offers allow you to get the full hotel experience, and there are few more central locations for exploring the city's museums and galleries (or blowing them off and going shopping and eating). Their 'Capital Dining ' offer includes overnight accommodation in a deluxe room with a king sized bed, a three course dinner in Morelands Lounge and Grill, and breakfast the next morning from €309. They're also offering a reduced accommodation rate of €177 per night to 'healthcare heroes', including local health authorities, medical personnel and frontline responders - ID is required. See their offers and book here . King Sitric Howth Does the sea appeal more than the city? Head for King Sitric restaurant and rooms in Howth, where B&B starts from €130 per night. It includes breakfast in the dining room overlooking Balscadden Bay, and there's always fresh fish and smoked salmon on the menu. The eight nautically decorated guest rooms have sea views, and the restaurant downstairs ( King Sitric and the more casual East Café have merged for the time being) is the ideal place for outdoor dining - but there are indoor tables too in case of a downpour. A post-breakfast Howth cliff walk will be just what you need to burn off all that food, and if you get lucky with the weather, beautiful Balscadden beach is one of the most under-rated n the city. Book on their website or email reservations@kingsitric.ie . This is a promotional article paid for by the hotels featured, but always chosen by us.

Here at All The Food, we’re fans of cafes and restaurants that can accommodate families of all shapes and sizes, including members of the four feet and waggy tail variety. While Covid continues to dominate the ways that restaurants are operating, we’ve updated our list of dog-friendly spots, but would always suggest that you check directly with the venue if you’re hoping to eat-in, as some are understandably restricting access day to day due to social distancing demands. We’ve also highlighted some that aren’t open for eat-in just yet, but recommend putting them on your list for when they’re back in action. Happy Out, Bull Island Serving coffee, toasties and treats from their beach-side container with ample outdoor seating, Happy Out is the perfect spot to get a bite before a brisk walk with your furry friend. Bread 41, Pearse Street Croissants + great coffee + that bread + pizza + custardos + dogs = the ultimate café. While dogs are normally welcome inside, Bread 41 hasn’t open its indoor area yet, but it’s nice to have some fluffy company in the Saturday morning queue before grabbing an outdoor bench. 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. While not all Bears are out of hibernation yet, they’re keeping Instagram updated as they reemerge. 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. Gaillot et Grey, Clanbrassil Street While you can’t currently bring your dog to Gaillot et Gray on Clanbrassil Street to sit-in, they are doing delicious wood-fired pizzas and lunches to go. We’re looking forward to seeing them back open in full, and would suggest you put it on your list when it does. You’ll also be a very short walk from dog-friendly pub MVP if your party animal wants to go out-out. 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. 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. Currently, they’re operating take-out only plus have lots of lovely dips, cheeses, and pastries on sale, so pop in before hitting the Phoenix Park and head for a picnic with your pooch instead. 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. Click here for more dog friendly spots, as picked by Taurean Coughlan from Two Boys Brew . Know any other spots that are paricularly great for dogs? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

If the last few months have taught us anything it’s that life is too short to be unhappy. Buy the impractical shoes, talk to strangers' puppies, and eat all the desserts. It’s also taught us that if left to our own devices, we’ll happily forego our five-a-day in favour of carbs and coffee, but these five fruity desserts give us the best of both worlds. While we can’t promise that all of these are 'healthy', we’re pretty sure that eating them will make you 'happy', and really what else matters right now. 1) Cherry Frangipane Tartlets from Tiller + Grain Cherry season is sweet but short so we’d suggest taking every opportunity you can to get your mitts on them. These almond and cherry frangipane tarts from Tiller + Grain are like a little burst of sugar and sunshine in the middle of all the wind and drizzle our weather app is predicting. 2) Sweet Mezze From Brother Hubbard North Mezze-style is one of our favourite ways to eat, mainly because we’re greedy and want to try as many things as possible at each meal. The new sweet brunch mezze from Brother Hubbard North has pretty much every angle covered thanks to the inclusion of chia overnight oats, roasted peach, caramelised brioche with labneh, sweet dukkah, and a tahini-honey sauce, and there’s even a little berry smoothie on there. It's practically a fruit salad. 3) Cherry Tart From The Joy Of Cha There was only one response when this sour cherry cheesecake from Joy Of Cha in Temple Bar appeared on our Insta feeds - swoon. We're not sure we'll be able to get through the week without diverting in for a taste. 4) Roast Banana and Coffee Mille Feuille from Woodruff Woodruff in Stepaside is back with a bang with pre-order and collection services on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and the dining room reopening for weekend dinner and lunches. Their new menu is pretty much a list of all the things we like to eat, but we would 100% start with this mille feuille of roasted banana, coffee, dark chocolate, caramelised walnuts and all the layers of crisp puff pastry. 5) Ice-Cream Sandwich From Two Pups When this popped up on Two Pups ’ Insta, it caused gasps across the ATF team. Yes, we’re a dramatic bunch, but we do love a good ice-cream sandwich. This one has homemade strawberry ice-cream sandwiched between two tahini cookies, with white chocolate and sesame seeds, and looks about a million times more delicious than anything in our fruit bowl or freezer right now.

In the Sunday Times this week Niall Toner is telling it like it is after a visit to new "art diner" Dig In , and major respect for not using this pandemic of ours as an excuse to gloss over the meal's less than perfect elements. It's the first bit of negative commentary we've seen since reviews started back, and while we all have sympathy for the industry (and many others), this is a public service after all, and where we spend our money/covid payments/redundancy (delete as applicable) has never been more important. In a nutshell, the new incarnation of Green 19 has several dishes remarkably similar to the former menu, and the new ones include some "ungenerous mushrooms" on beetroot hummus that was "employed in the torture — and eventual murder" of a piece of sourdough, prawn skewers that weren't a patch on ones he'd bought in Howth a few days previous and cooked himself, and a prawn salad that was "fine". Beef tacos were a success, and the fries were as good as he remembered from Green 19, but it's unlikely to have you running there, unless the art is more important to you than the food. Read his review here . In the Irish Daily Mail it's yet another rave for Canteen at The Marlin from Tom Doorley - possibly the raviest one yet. He says James Sheridan's (who they call Sheehan - whoopsie) cooking is as "enthralling" as he remembers from when Canteen was in Blackrock, and that there's "magic" going on there. He loved every bite, from an amuse bouche of onion and brie tart, to a starter of mackerel tartare with oyster emulsion, to a main of barbecue pork jowl topped with "the best pork crackling in Ireland". Desserts of strawberry tart and chocolate cremeux were "sensational" and "exquisite", but he wished the wine list was as interesting as the food (review not currently online). In the Business Post Gillian Nelis was having martinis and "succulent classics" at Wilde in The Westbury Hotel, including crab tartare with avocado purée, Dover sole on the bone, ribeye steak with chunky chips and bearnaise, and crème brûlée. She says it's not the place to come for "cutting edge-cuisine" or if your budget is tight, but for elegant surrounds and classic dishes. And don't miss The Sidecar 's martini cart. Read her review here . In the Irish Times Corinna Hardgrave reviews soup, sambos and cake at The Hazel House in Rathfarnham, "a café with a carpentry workshop". She calls it "a charming outdoor space for a casual bite", with food that's "unfussy, generous and well-priced". Their bites included vegetable soup with porridge bread ("good, fresh flavours"), a veggie bowl ("hugely generous"), and a spicy chicken melt ("a hefty sandwich ... nicely toasted golden"), as well as cakes with a "delicious home cooked taste". She gives it 7/10 and while it's unlikely to make your "must eat in" list, it might be a handy one to have in your back pocket if you end up at the foot of the Dublin mountains and hunger strikes. Read her review here . In the Irish Independent Katy McGuinness is at Baste , or more accurately Lil Portie 's Caribbean pop up at Baste. She gives the food 9/10, which included "simple and fresh" Cuban chicken wings, 24-hour marinated and 10-hour smoked pork shoulder, proper jerk chicken cooked over Irish whiskey barrels, and "gorgeous" mango and chilli ice-cream in a biscuit shell for dessert. She calls it "great cooking", with "top-quality ingredients" and "an outdoor space that's perfect for pandemic dining." Read her review here . In the Irish Examiner Joe McNamee uses the excuse of needing comfort and reassurance to justify a return visit to Farmgate Café in the English Market in Cork, only 18 months after last reviewing it. All was as it should be, with cottage pie "a fruity, rich stew of beef and mushroom with buttery mash", house pate of duck and Longueville brandy "creamy" and "balanced", and Toonsbridge ricotta with tarragon roasted cherry tomatoes on sourdough "lovely". He says on any given day Farmgate can be his "favourite place to dine in the world", but now "it is an especially comforting treat, a treasured link to another, less fraught time." Read his review here . Finally in the Sunday Independent , she's only back and already ditching the reviews for those summer round ups. This week Lucinda O'Sullivan's telling us about the best shacks, trucks and yards for al fresco dining. Getting a mention in Dublin are Baste (so hot right now), Happy Out in Clontarf, Riba in Stillorgan and Nightmarket in Ranelagh (below). Read that here . More next week.

Welcome to a new and slightly condensed version of the critics' reviews. Our last one was back in March , before the world as we knew it was turned on its head, and within days there was nothing to review as everywhere had shut. The reopening has been slow and, for many, painful, and the critics haven't been entirely sure how to deal with criticising an industry repeatedly said to be on its knees, but this weekend they're all back. What we can tell you is that we're unlikely to see an ounce of criticism (in the negative sense) for the foreseeable future, making the whole category that bit less interesting, and you potentially won't get the full story on a meal, as none of our newspapers give their critics enough time, or budget, to visit multiple restaurants if the first wasn't all that interesting - although if somewhere was really bad you can be sure it will be put on ice and you're not going to hear about it, not until there's a vaccine. There's also the not-so-small issue of another potential lockdown on the cards if the reproductive rate keeps rising, so who knows how long this version of normal will even last. So with all of those qualifications in places, here's who went where this week... In the Irish Times it's new restaurant critic Corina Hardgrave's third week on the job. There's been much mumbling about the fact that the IT didn't take this opportunity to make their critic anonymous, and make the whole thing a bit more interesting (is anyone ever going to do it?), but if you've spent the last few years complaining about Catherine Cleary reviewing wine bars and not uttering a word about the wine, you'll be glad to know that it's likely is feature strongly from here on in. This week she was at Andy Noonan's Baste , which she says is serving "the best barbecue in the country", singling out the sugar-pit-cured shorthorn beef rib - "incredibly good" - and the tangy Alabama white barbecue sauce - "so good" with the pork and chicken. She gives them 8/10 calling it "seriously skilled cooking", and if you're a regular IT restaurant review reader, you'll be thrilled to hear that the verdict on the music has been substantially upgraded from "nice" to actually telling us what it was - in this case "really good 70's funk". Read her review here . In the Irish Examiner Leslie Williams is back with his first post-lockdown review, and it's one of the more informative and entertaining reads this week. He chose Monty's of Temple Bar (including the disclaimer that they go back quite a while), and anyone anxious about eating out will be soothed by the extensive post-Covid measures put in place here. Along with an overview of what Nepalese cuisine actually is and the couple behind Monty's, he calls the Poleko squid "simply joyous", the Nepali dumplings (momos) the food of the Gods, and the garlic and coriander naan "probably ... the best in the country". The Examiner have decided to do away with the scoring system for the time being, but he says they left "sated and fully restored". Read it here . There's clearly nowhere else to eat in the city right now except Canteen at The Marlin , as both Niall Toner and Lucinda O'Sullivan review it this week, following Corina Hardgrave and Gillian Nelis in the past few weeks. In the Sunday Times Niall Toner liked the food more than the "trendy Instagrammable tropes" all around the hotel. All the adjectives are out to describe what they ate, including "beautifully constructed" amuse bouches, and "unctuous" lobster canneloni, and he says it was delicious, fun and they loved it. Read his review here . In the Sunday Independent Lucinda O'Sullivan broke with tradition by arriving in on Canteen's first night open. Luckily for them the food was "sublime", "perfect", "classic", "divine" and even "luscious works of art", and she calls the pre-theatre menu at €29 or €34 "the steal of the year". Read her glowing review here . In the Irish Independent Katy McGuinness had the perfect Sunday at Aimsir's new lounge , after declaring she doesn't like "boring" brunch, traditional Sunday lunch ("better at home") and afternoon tea ("too much sugary stuff and not enough wine"). Highlights from the no choice, €45 menu included, deep-fried Dexter beef tenders, meaty ray wings with wild garlic, ramson capers and foaming brown butter hollandaise, and a whole Ballylisk Triple Rose cheese between two (if you've had it you know), grilled and served with lavender and honey. She calls it "unpretentious and chilled ... perfect for us Sunday curmudgeons." Read her review here . In the Irish Daily Mail Tom Doorley reckons he's found somewhere decent to eat in Killarney (which is kind of a big deal - waits for the backlash from Kerry people). He ate at the Celtic Whiskey Bar & Larder , which as well as spirits had an "absolutely brilliant wine list", and he thought their foie gras on toast topped with poached eggs and buttery hollandaise (€11) was "one of Killarney's great bargains". A local charcuterie platter was "outstandingly good", a complicated sounding tarte tatin was "a sweet, toffee-ish treat", and he had much praise for the great value wine and sherries. (Review not currently online). Finally in the Sunday Business Post Gillian Nelis was on her holidays at the Tannery in Dungarvan, where she was impressed at the covid-related measures including visor-wearing staff and ample hand sanitiser. She was equally impressed with the food, including a Young Buck panna cotta, a baked artichoke filled with niçoise salad, and confit pork with a gooseberry confit and choucroute. She says the service was "delightful", the food "a joy", and that it's good to see the "twenty-something year old star of the Irish restaurant scene shining as brightly as ever". Read that here . More next week (hopefully).

*Updated 21st July 2020* Restaurants have reopened and we're high on life, but some people are still understandably cautious about being trapped in an enclosed space with others for an extended period of time. We know that your chances of catching Covid-19 are greatly reduced in outdoor settings, so dining outdoors will be the key factor in attracting some people back to restaurants again - just expect those tables to be very in demand. Here's where you can eat outside in Dublin - newly updated. Urbanity Al Fresco Smoothie bowls, Vietnamese noodle salads and fried chicken sandwiches are all available at Urbanity 's new outdoor space in Smithfield. Open Monday - Sunday for breakfast, brunch, lunch and very good wine. Takeaway's still available too if you'd prefer to take it to a park or back home. Book by emailing hello@urbanitycoffee.ie or calling them on 01 8747288. Saba's Secret Garden Saba on Baggot Street have added a secret garden out the back (currently open air but awning to follow) with holiday style lighting and art by Subset. It's open from 12:00 Tuesday - Saturday serving food all day, including black pepper squid, Thai beef salad and Pad Thai. There's also a pretty extensive cocktail menu with €7 cocktails before 19:00. Book online or call them on 01 5631999. Piglet Piglet might be cosy inside but outside on the terrace is as close to a Mediterranean holiday as most of us are going to get this year. Order a white port and tonic and some prawn pilpil and indulge in some prime people watching on Cow's Lane. Book online or email oink@pigletwinebar.ie . The Commons At Moli The Commons Café in the Museum of Literature, run by Domini and Peaches Kemp, reopened yesterday and has a beautiful courtyard out the back just screaming for a sitdown in the sunshine. They're open Monday - Friday from 11:00 - 15:00 (for the moment), serving lunch and cake, and it's a little slice of paradise in the city centre. Baste Andy Noonan's outdoor barbecue space on Clanbrassil Street started with mid-pandemic takeaways and has developed into a full sit down area in the evenings. They've just launched new dinner events at €50 a head from Thursday - Sunday for a sharing menu of BBQ bites, meats, sides, salads and sauces, with ice-cream cannoli for dessert, and you can book on their website . Click and collect is still available but just for takeaway. Coppinger Row Mediterranean-inspired Coppinger Row off South William Street reopens on Wednesday 8th July with reduced capacity, and you know the outside tables are going to be the ones to nab. There's an awning too in case our typical July weather takes hold. Book via their website or by emailing info@coppingerrow.ie . Charlotte Quay Coppinger Row's sister restaurant Charlotte Quay has also reopened with ample outdoor space overlooking Grand Canal Dock. Crab & crayfish croquettes, tuna crudo and gambas pil pil with a chilled glass of Saltatempo Verdicchio overlooking the water are what summer dreams are made of. Book on their website or by emailing info@charlottequay.ie . La Maison Old-school French bistro La Maison 's outdoor seats have always been in demand, but expect that to take a leap under the present circumstances. If you do get lucky enough to bag one you'll be able to enjoy moules frites, sole on the bone and tarte tatin from your terrace table while judging everyone drinking from plastic pint glasses on Castle Market. Book on their website . Bresson French fine dining restaurant Bresson in Monkstown has plenty of space and a few sought after tables on the terrace, so you can enjoy your seafood cocktail, duck á l'orange and cheeseboard with a side of seaside air. Book on their website . King Sitric Seafood specialists King Sitric in Howth have a good sized outdoor space which is usually mobbed with tourists, but we won't be seeing many of those this year so your chances of getting one have never been better. They've merged with East Café Bar, the more casual downstairs outpost, and have one menu going forward across both floors and outside. Book by calling 01 8325235 or email reservations@kingsitric.ie . Lenehan's Lenehan's in Rathmines is back open, along with two outdoor terraces. There's a large selection of small plates (just remember, no sharing you guys), and a lot of the food is cooked on their grill. Perfect for a humid summer evening in the city. Book on their website . Michael's Michael's in Mount Merrion is gearing up to reopen at the end of July but in the meantime you can feast on seafood at their 'garden tables' outside. They're open from 13:00 - 20:00 (along with takeaway) and the menu includes oysters, charcuterie and the infamous seafood platters. Just show up or call them on 01 2780377 to check if there's a free table. Suesey Street Suesey Street 's terrace is one of the best in the city and has a retractable roof for that inconsistent Irish weather. They're open for lunch and dinner from Wednesday - Friday and dinner on Saturday. Book on their website . The Terrace At The Shelbourne The Terrace in The Shelbourne Hotel is one of those city centre secrets that you'll be very smug you're in on. The limited food menu features salad, open sandwiches and platters, and it's a lovely way to while away a few hours, ideally with cocktails or wine in front of you. Book through The Shelbourne . Yarn The upstairs pizza place from The Woollen Mills is back open, with a very spacious roof terrace overlooking the Liffey and the Ha'Penny Bridge. Open from 16:30 - 22:00 seven days a week. Book on their website or by calling 01 8280835. Angelina's Angelina's outdoor tables are the ultimate in goals on a sunny day in Dublin 4. They're open seven days a week for lunch and dinner with brunch at weekends. Book on their website or by emailing book@angelinas.ie . Circa Circa in Terenure are back at it with a new chef, and are in the process of revamping their outdoor space. The new look terrace at the back will feature a roof and heaters, so the weather won't get in the way of your booking, and it should be open in the next week or two. Book via their website . Fade Street Social The rooftop at Fade Street Social has a flatbread and bar bites menu, with things like duck spring rolls, padron peppers and chiffon squid, and lots of cocktails to wash them down with. Book a table on their website .

Remember the things we used to believe? We believed our employers when they said we had to be in the office eight hours a day to get any work done, we believed our landlords when they said they had to put rents up because there was a shortage of housing, not because they could make more money on short-term lets, and we believed that the only good food in jars was available in places like Spain and Italy, which made a mockery of our shelves stacked with Dolmio. But how times have changed, and so have our jars. Here are five we want to stock our pantries with this week.. 1) Rhubarb and Raspberry Curd from The Cupcake Bloke f there was a fruity beauty competition, this jar would be wearing a bikini and telling us about how it longs for world peace. Raspberries, rhubarb, free-range eggs, and Irish butter are packed into this beautiful pink curd from The Cupcake Bloke , available for a limited time only. 2) The BBQ Sauce Collection from Chimac Oh Chimac , you do spoil us. These mega 500ml bottles of their famous K-BBQ, Korean Hot Sauce, and Sriracha Caramel pack a serious punch, and the quantity means you can pretty much add them to everything. We’re currently working our way through the sriracha caramel and it is just as amazing as it sounds. 3) Dulce de Leche from ALMA Yes, we love ALMA for their range of salads and sandwiches, but can never resist the pancakes and banana bread, mainly due to the fact that they’re bathed in homemade dulce de leche. It’s now available to buy by the jar and unsurprisingly proving to be a best seller. Get more than you need to allow for all those times that you’re going to dip a spoon into the jar as you pass the fridge. 4) The Alabama White BBQ Sauce from Fowl Play We were delighted to see that Fowl Play now sell their house BBQ rub and hot sauce to go, but the one we’re most excited about is the more unusual Alabama white barbecue sauce - a tangy marinade or dip with mayonnaise, vinegar and horseradish, that's amazing on chicken wings, barbecued meats and veggies. 5) Strawberry Red Chili Hot Sauce from Fia We’re big fans of sweet and spicy combos but haven’t had a strawberry and chili fermented sauce before, so we’re really keen to remedy that with a trip to Fia . They’re also selling their house made peanut butter and we’re convinced that both together on toast could be a ticket to success.

Usually by this time of the year, we’re either on holiday abroad stuffing ourselves with local food and wine, or we’re fervently researching local websites to help decide where’s first on our list when we get off the plane. This year however it's a time to follow advice, avoid non-essential travel, and use the time to explore our own lovely, albeit rainy, country instead. While we know Ireland has no end of great local spots, not everywhere has fully reopened, and not everyone is keen to spend as much time in cafes and shops as usual, so there may be some additional planning needed to make sure you’re eating all the best things, even if it means bringing some of them with you (note: this is particularly relevant for that isolated Air BnB in the middle of nowhere. Peace and quiet is great but being stuck for decent food is not). Here are 10 things you can stock up on before you leave Dublin to make sure you eat well when you get there. 1) The Chef's Menu From Host Host at Home has been one of the highlights of our year. At the start of lockdown they had to close the restaurant and re-open as a grocery store, selling their own signature plates to have at home. We’ve eaten our way through most of their menu at this stage (for research purposes obvs), and the duck ragu has gotten us through some of our darkest lockdown days. For the ultimate in holiday extravagance at your home away from home go for the chef’s menu featuring a 600g salt-aged rib eye on the bone, a pasta dish, starters, sides, and dessert for two for €60. It’s the ideal meal for the first night in your new surrounds as all that needs to be cooked is the steak and fresh pasta - everything else just needs to be heated or plated. 2) Cookies From Bread 41 If you were lucky enough to be able to get to Bread 41 easily during lockdown (guilty), it’s probably safe to say you have a dependency now and there’s a real risk that going a day without their fresh breads and pastries could cause serious withdrawals. We can’t have that so would highly recommend that you stock-up big time before getting in the car. Their salted chocolate cookies are legendary and they’re the ultimate in portable. Pro tip: take more than you think you’ll eat; while they’re best eaten on the day of purchase five mins in a hot oven will bring a day-old cookie back to life beautifully. You can also freeze them. 3) Agnolotti from Forest Avenue When you think of Dublin, what images come to mind? The Poolbeg Towers? Yes. The Spire? Possibly. A plateful of cheesy agnolotti under a blanket of parmesan eaten in the minimalist calm of Forest Avenue ? Definitely. They may have been the first Dublin restaurant to pivot to a grocery shop and they’ve had a queue of people lining-up for their signature pasta to cook at home ever since. It’s the ideal holiday food, cooks in five minutes, and the addition of butter and sage elevates it to a level of culinary excellence that your AirBnB has probably never seen before. 4) A Pizza Kit From Toonsbridge Dairy If you’re going to be driving all day and hate the thought of having to prep and cook a meal as soon as you arrive at your holiday rental, especially if you have hungry kids to feed, we would highly recommend you grab a pizza kit from Toons Bridge Dairy on George's Street. There’s a choice of margherita or chorizo, and each kit makes two pizza, complete with Toons Bridge’s own special pizza mozzarella. We’d recommend you leave space in your boot for lots of olives, cheese and charcuterie too. Plus, you’ll need some cannoli for the road; theirs are some of the nicest we’ve tried recently. 5) The Bacon Cheeseburger Box From Featherblade While it’s not BBQ weather, we’re nothing if not optimists. If you don’t have the foresight to make sure the house you’ve booked has a BBQ, even a frying pan will help you make the most of a burger kit from Featherblade . You’ll thank us when you’re tucking into some of the tastiest burgers we’ve found, and we did a LOT of research. Order for Dublin/Maynooth/Celbridge/Leixlip/Wicklow via www.stuffuneed.ie , or nationwide to anywhere via Featherblade themselves if you don’t want to have to find room in the car. If you do have room in the car you can also collect. Boxes are €40 plus €5 for delivery and feed six hungry people. 6) A Lunch Hamper From Mamó This one will ideally be eaten on the day it’s delivered, but what better excuse to stop halfway to your destination for a picnic. Plan ahead, order your Mamó lunch hamper to be delivered on Saturday before you set-off, and you could be digging in to Tartine sourdough, olives, soused herring, prosciutto, and lamb en-route. Beats service station sushi any day. Pre-order on their website . 7) Sugar Pit Cured Beef Rib from Baste Baste , Andy Noonan’s outdoor dining and take-away BBQ spot on Clanbrassil Street, has been flexing from just pick-up to outdoor mini-festival venue. If you’re not going to be sticking around you can pre-order an extra-large Shorthorn beef rib that’s been cured, cooked over smoke and vacuum-packed for you to reheat at your holiday destination. It’s exceptional value at €20, and there’s also 500g of cooked pulled pork for €18. Of course, there’s nothing to stop you buying a full hot BBQ box with sides and scoffing them in your car before you even leave the city. We don’t judge. Order and availability info is on www.bastebbq.com 8) Dulce de Leche Pancake Kit from ALMA There’s nothing like waking up on the first morning of your holiday when your brain snaps into gear, reminding you that you have a break from work and a whole week or two of freedom, so it’s important that you start as you mean to go on with a delicious breakfast. The dulce de leche pancake kit from ALMA ticks all the boxes - fast to prepare, luxurious, and supremely tasty thanks to the additional toppings of fruit, brandy orange mascarpone, and THAT dulce de leche to smother the fluffy pancakes in. See www.alma.ie for pre-order info. 9) A BoSsam Feast From Mister S We loved Mister S ’ weekly offerings during lockdown, and while they’re now open again for eat-in, they’ve kept the BosSam Feast on the menu, for collection or delivery in Dublin and parts of Wicklow and Kildare. Featuring a giant Andarl pork shoulder with flatbreads, pickles, brown butter roasties (which reheat surprisingly well), salads, sides and sauces, it’s a monster of a meal that would easily stretch to feeding 6-8 adults, for €80. We’ve had it, we loved it, and think it would be a great option to bring on holidays to let everyone graze at over a few days. 10) Allta Box Stocking the car to bring lots of lovely food with you is fine, but what if you’re not organised enough? Or, worse again, what if you get to your destination to find that lots of local shops and restaurants haven’t reopened yet or have erratic hours? Allta to the rescue. They ship their classic AlltaBox (plus a new shellfish box), all over Ireland so you can get bread, cured meats, pickles, pasta and wine delivered right to your holiday home door. Boxes go on sale every Saturday for delivery the following week. Details are on www.alltabox.ie .

With pub reopening dates paused for now, finding a decent bar to prop up while spending €9 on food has suddenly become very important. When it comes to pub grub, disappointment can be the order of the day, so we've picked a few of our favourite places to sink a pint without eating something you'll immediately regret. Mary's Bar In Mary's Bar on Wicklow Street, a ham and cheese toastie and a pint will only set you back €8 from Monday - Thursday (usually €5 for the toastie), so you may need to double up to reach the required spend. It won’t be a hardship, they're good and cheesy and the perfect vehicle to soak up a cold beer, so munching your way through two of them over a few hours shouldn't present any issues. If you're after something more substantial a cheeseburger from Wowburger downstairs runs at €6.45 and a side of onion rings are €3.95. FXB's At Ryan's Of Parkgate Street The downstairs bar at Ryan's is a great Dublin pub, retaining its olde worlde atmosphere without venturing into twee territory. €10.50 will get you a very generous plate of devilled lamb's kidneys with smoked bacon, mushroom and brioche, or if you go on a Sunday the roast rib of beef (€17.50) with Yorkshire pudding, creamy mash, duck fat roast potatoes, confit shallots, roast carrots & tenderstem broccoli puts carverys to shame. The Bloody Marys are excellent and good value at €8. L. Mulligan Grocer Venturing into more gastro territory, the starter plate from L Mulligan Grocer has a haggis wonton, apple and pork rillettes, black pudding croquette with Arun bakery sourdough, piccalilli and stout ketchup at €11.50. If the budget allows, the moules frites (€15) with triple cooked chips and Hoegaarden mayo are excellent. Paulie's Pizza at Slatterys, Beggars Bush The first of the pub/pizza combo’s is Slattery's in Beggars Bush who have teamed up with neighbours Paulie's Pizza to provide all the food. Truffle arancini with tomato fondue & parmesan are within budget at €9.50, or split a Zoe pizza with buffalo mozzarella, tomato sauce, nduja, pepperoni, spicy salami and fresh chili for €17. An extra topping could push this to the required €18 for two. Booking is essential online as walk-in’s will not be accommodated. Taphouse, Ranelagh In Ranelagh Taphouse wins for a great selection of nibbles within budget. A plate of Irish cheeses is €9 on the nose and both tacos and sliders are €4.50 each or 3 for €12. If you're in the mood to share, a charcuterie and cheese sharing plate is €18 for two. Book on their site . BoCo Pizza At Harry Byrne's Another pizza and beer collaboration where Harry Byrne's in Clontarf are celebrating a new found friendship with BoCo pizza and their wood fired pizza truck. In a strange move Harry Byrne's are adamant that they will not be taking reservations, but according to all the positive feedback on their social media they are allocating strict timeslots to those who risk just showing up and being ultra-responsible when it comes to covid guidelines. Pizzas start at €13. Doheny & Nesbitt An old school bar with a menu to match, Doheny and Nesbitt are back in business. Your €9 goes a long way in here (food wise anyway) with a toasted special for lunch at €4.95, leaving enough in the budget for a plate of chips on the side or a slice of apple crumble with fresh cream. For a completely retro experience, a sharing platter for two gives you sliders, chicken goujons, spring rolls, cocktail sausages and chips for €21, making it only slightly over the €9 per person budget (not recommended - unless your main priority is soakage). Book online . Blue Bar, Skerries If chicken wings are your thing then head for Blue Bar in Skerries. The large portion is €14.95 but is more than generous and would easily feed two. Add a portion of rustic fries at €4.95 and hope for good weather to soak up the seaside atmosphere. If wings aren’t your thing then a chowder is €9.95 or lemon pepper squid is also €9.95. Book online . The 108, Rathgar Part of the Galway Bay Brewery company, The 1 08 in Rathgar has reopened with quite a few options to help you part with your €9. Wings, buttermilk fried chicken and caesar salad are all €9, and halloumi fries and cauliflower wings fall just below budget, so you'll need both. Being a brewery pub there's obviously a good selection of beers on draft and if you want the party to continue after your allotted time has run out then you can take home a growler of any of their draft beers. Call them on 01 4906044 to book or email the108@galwaybaybrewery.com .

Restaurants were officially allowed to reopen three weeks ago, but many have decided it's just not viable to open their doors yet with such reduced capacity due to social distancing. Others have taken a bit longer to get up and running and figure out how to make their business work in "the new normal", and these are the latest places in the city to swing their doors back open. Gertrude After months of total silence from Gertrude we'll admit to feeling a tad concerned, but the lady is back - for Saturday and Sunday brunch only. They reopened at the weekend with reduced seating, a maximum stay of one hour and 15 minutes, and reservations are advised. They're taking details for contact tracing, if you're more than five minutes late you'll need to rebook into the next available slot, and yes the fried chicken and buttermilk pancakes are still on the menu. Fish Shop Benburb St Fish Shop Benburb Street are back as of last Thursday with a reduced capacity of eight people (ouch) and a maximum group size of two. Walk-ins are welcome but bookings are strongly advised as you'll no longer be able to wait for a seat on site - and with those eight seats likely to be very in demand you want to make sure you haven't braved the Luas for nothing. Takeaway is also available online or in person. Email 76benburb@fish-shop.ie to book. 147 Deli There are sandwiches, then there are 147 Deli sandwiches. We had our first "Dublin dip" just before lockdown and spend most of it wondering when we'd be able to have another one. The good news is they reopened yesterday, and the Dublin Dip is first up as a special. RUN don't walk. The menu is the same as before but they're adding a new toastie menu next month, and for now it's takeaway only from 08:00 - 15:00 Monday - Saturday. L. Mulligan Grocer The guys at L. Mulligan Grocer in Stoneybatter have been undertaking some epic work to make their premises as safe as possible to return to. They've taken out tables, have sanitiser on each table, staff are wearing visors & masks, there's no-touch door handles, sensor taps, new partitions, cleaning protocols and new sanitise-able upholstery. Menus can be viewed on your phone via QR codes and they've staggered bookings so you won't arrive at the same time as a load of others (so be on time please). They're starting with dinner Friday and Saturday and Sunday lunch, and they're promising lots of scotch eggs, fish and chips and craft beer. Book by emailing table@lmulligangrocer.com or calling 01 6709889. Click and collect for growlers of draught beer is still available. One Pico One Pico reopened last week on their 23rd birthday, promising social distancing and strict procedures but the same warm welcome, wonderful food and great service. They're open for lunch from Thursday -Saturday and dinner Tuesday - Saturday. Reservations must be made on their website . Clanbrassil House Clanbrassil House is back open for dinner from Thursday - Saturday with Gráinne O'Keeffe in the kitchen dishing out hot smoked trout on sourdough and hash brown chips. They're doing the family style menu only for now (no complaints here) which is €55 a head for eight dishes to share (see their website for the full menu). They're also offering 'pod dining' so you can round up a gang of mates and take the whole room at the back. Book on their website or email reservations@clanbrassilhouse.com. Bun Cha The bun cha and fried spring rolls at Bun Cha on Moore Street have been right up there with our most craved dishes during lockdown, so we almost did a happy dance when they posted that they were back open. They have plenty of protocols in place including asking people to use hand sanitiser before entering and during your meal, to book in advance, and to provide full contact details for potential contact tracing. Tables have been removed to make more space, 15 minutes is being allowed between bookings for sanitising dining areas, and staff will be wearing masks, having their temperature checked daily and be working in teams. Impressive. Email info@buncha.ie to book or call them on 01 535 8881. Junior's Junior's in Beggar's Bush had just nabbed Fiachra Kenny (ex-head chef at The Old Spot ) before we went into lockdown, so he barely had time to show us what he's got, but they're back open for dinner from Wednesday - Saturday and raring to go after having plenty of time for a menu revamp. In a very exciting development the Kilkeel crab risotto with garlic, chilli and mussels that we loved so much at The Old Spot has made the move with him, and we're also very interested in the crab stuffed courgette flower and pressed smoked pork with pickled cherries, baby turnip, roast onion and homemade BBQ sauce. Book on their website . Bang (With A New Wine Bar) Bang on Merrion Row have reopened with a new wine bar, featuring special wines at €25 a bottle from Wednesday - Friday and a snack menu featuring Iberican croquettes, anchovy with wild leek oil and a "toasted cheesy’ truffle & taleggio", which we imagine is like a cheese toastie but will stand corrected. The restaurant's available for bookings too with a new summer menu . Book on their website . Loretta's, Phibsborough Loretta's in Phibsborough is back with a new menu featuring dishes like warm duck leg salad with kohlrabi, grapes and walnut, and jerk chicken with coconut rice and mango salsa. The locals menu is €26 for two courses or €30 for three, and they're open for brunch and dinner from Wednesday - Saturday with brunch on Sundays too. Book on their website or by emailing info@lorettas.ie . Voici, Rathmines Voici Crêperie in Rathmines will reopen later this week after an expansion of their downstairs area, and will start with a few tables downstairs. Apart from sweet and savoury crêpes they also do salads, charcuterie and cheeses, as well as lots of wine. Collection is still available too. Call them on 01 5350540 to book. The Commons at Moli The café/restaurant attached to the Museum of Literature runs by sisters Domini and Peaches Kemp reopened yesterday, as did the museum, so there's another thing to stick back on your Dublin to-do list. Grilled cheese, chicken focaccia and reuben sandwiches are all on the menu, as well as coffee from Roasted Brown and plenty of cake. Open from 11:00 - 15:00 Monday - Friday (for the moment). Book a table here .

It’s official, restaurants are open and back in business. Saturday night now has meaning again and a weekend meal out with friends gives some semblance of structure to our week, but it’s not for everyone. Whatever the reason for staying in this week, whether it’s by choice or just because your babysitter is busy catching up on their own social life, here are eight new places to try at home. Tiller + Grain's Salads Last week saw the reopening (for take away) of Tiller and Grain on South Frederick street, just as some long awaited life has been injected back into the city. Online ordering is due to go live this week but in the meantime you can expect grab and go salad boxes, Imbibe coffee, matcha lattes and tahini brownies. Drop them an email if you are planning a get together and they'll look after the food while you get on with the important tasks like catching up on just how little everyone achieved over the past four months. Bibi's Dinner Boxes On Emorville Avenue, Bibi’s café remain closed for sit in for now, but you can still enjoy some of their most popular dishes. While brunch boxes have been available for a while, bake at home dinner boxes for two have recently been introduced into the fold. Available on Fridays and Saturdays, the menu changes weekly but you can expect goodies such as chicken, leek and cider pie with Hegarty’s cheddar and hazelnut crumble. The lemon squares are also top notch. Rice We Irish do love a Chinese takeaway, and newly opened Rice from the Press Up group is the latest kid on the block for your Chinese takeout needs. With a variety of old favourites (yes, there is a spice box is on the menu) along with some classic Cantonese and Sichuan favourites, we're curious to try the dandan noodles and that Sichuan staple, fried long beans. Spitalfields' Date Night Boxes Following on from the success of their picnic boxes, Spitalfields have recently launched date night boxes that are proving just as popular. Priced at €70 for two you can expect dishes such as smoked almonds and Nocellara olives, vichyssoise with smoked bacon crumb, and The Pig’s Ear lamb shepherd’s pie (the restaurant, not the animal off cut). The price also includes a side dish, dessert and a bottle of wine, making it excellent value, and the menu changes weekly. Clanbrassil House's Meal Kits For some time now we have been impatiently stalking the Clanbrassil House social media channels in the hope that meal kits or takeaway would soon be coming our way. After lots of hints dropped by head chef Grainne O’Keefe via her insta page, our wishes were finally granted with meal kits now available for collection. Menus are released weekly and the recent barbeque spatchcock chicken with chimichurri, hash brown chips and grilled broccoli with pickled walnut dressing looked very special, with nibbles, starters and dessert for €30 a head - and you can order for just one. There's also the famous Teelings whiskey aged cote du boeuf for €28.50 which will require full cooking at home, and yes, you can order extra portions of the hash brown chips. Order on their website . Allta's Shellfish Boxes When Allta revealed their Allta Box for delivery mid–pandemic, the critics were all a flutter. Not much has changed and the newest member of the Allta family, the shellFISH box will no doubt be as difficult to get our hands on. €95 buys you enough restaurant grade shellfish for four that they say would otherwise be exported, including porcupine bank langoustines, native lobster, spider crab claws, allta fish butter and allta fish sauce, along with a bottle of wine. Rick Stein would definitely approve. Order here . Kinara's Outdoor Barbeque Festivals may well be a distant memory this summer but outdoor food is still on the cards. In Clontarf, Kinara have launched an outdoor barbeque from 13:00 - 18:00 Wednesday – Sunday, weather permitting. What’s not to like about chicken tikka on naan and a mango lassi as you stroll by the sea and mentally relive the festivals of bygone days, i.e. last summer. Flip's Vegan Burger Kits Nothing says summer quite like a burger (except perhaps ice–cream) and Flip Burger in George's Street Arcade have made excellent vegan burgers at home a possibility with their new Flip @ Home box. The kit contains everything you need to make four vegan Flip burgers in your own kitchen and all the condiments you could need. Order here .

Like us, we’re sure you don’t want to needlessly over-complicate your life, but if the last four months have been an incoherent mess of work, home, parenting, and trying to stay sane, you might want to restore a bit of order. Here’s our list of 5 thing we want to eat this week, featuring sweet foods in comforting orderly layers to help you pretend that you’ve got everything under control. 1) Alfajores From Gordita's If you’re not familiar with alfajores, you need to sort that ASAP. South-American in origin, crumbly short-bread style cookies are sandwiched together around a thick layer of dulce de leche and often coated in other loveliness such as coconut, chocolate, or a crispy meringue shell. Gordita’s are currently selling online through their Instagram page, but we’ve also spotted them in Olive’s in Skerries. 2) Vegannetta From Token Vienetta truly was the queen of 80’s desserts (unless you were really posh and had Romantica), and we still hold the mint version very close to our hearts, and freezers. Token on Queen Street have created their vegan and gluten-free take on our childhood favourite with chocolate, candied walnuts, and a spiced rum chocolate ganache, and we want. 3) Hazelnut Croissant from Medialuna Croissanterie Unfortunately, we might have to wait until after this week for Medialuna Croissanterie to open for orders near Merrion Square, but they’ve been seriously teasing us on their Instagram page and we’re refreshing at an alarming rate to see when we can get our hands on the flaky pastry goods. Top of the list will be this crunchy croissant with a Nutella cream, hazelnut praline, and coconut flakes. Just. Look. At. Those. Layers. 4) The Cardi B from No Messin' Bakery In the middle of such a turbulent time for so many Irish food businesses, we’re thrilled to see yet another new addition. No Messin’ Bakery , which describes itself as “the buttery lovechild of Proper Order Coffee Co ” (everyone’s favourite kind of child) sells a range of freshly baked cookies, buns, and tarts from Proper Order in Smithfield, and focuses on using the very best of Irish ingredients. The Cardi B. (because what else would you call a cardamom bun in 2020) is made from layers of soft brioche infused with cardamom, laminated with cardamom butter, and then glazed with a cardamom syrup. We've already tried it, and we want more. 5) Cookies From Batch Cookies Let’s face it, cookies are the original layered food because it’s not like you’re going to eat just one, so save time and grab a stack. Taking orders through Instagram, and also available from Happy Out , Batch Cookies make huge cookies with a serious chocolate to biscuit ratio. Keep an eye out for the ice-cream cookie sandwich, for even more layerage.

If it’s hot in Dublin and you’re not posing with an ice-cream on your Insta, was it really even summer? While the temperatures may have dipped, our ice-cream capacity hasn’t, and we’re making a point of seeking out as much of the good stuff as we can, while we can. Here are five we want to eat this week. 1) BuJo's Ice-Cream Cookie Sandwich We do love a bit of hype (if for nothing more than distraction purposes right now), and when we spotted that BuJo are launching ice-cream cookie sandwiches that have been five years in the works, we could immediately think of nothing else. Available from this week in white chocolate and raspberry, and double chocolate chip flavours. Consider us intrigued. And hungry. Always hungry. 2) Espresso Soft Serve From 3fe Soft-service ice-cream that packs a serious 3fe espresso kick, topped with brownie crumble is pretty much the only way we can see to combine our daily walk with our need to beat the work-from-home afternoon slump and our love of ice-cream. Give the kids a Choc Ice and save this one for the grown-ups. 3) Chimac's Limited Edition Ice-Cream Sandwiches We’ve long waxed-lyrical about Chimac ’s malty, cornflakey OG ice-cream cookie sandwiches and have been known to add an additional one (or six) to our delivery order to ensure our freezer remains a happy place. A new limited edition flavour, caramel swirl ice-cream with malted pretzel and dark chocolate cookie, has been launched this week and we’re counting down the hours until we can get our paws on one. 4) Cookie Dough And Brownie Batter From Three-Twenty Ice-Cream Lab When it comes to dessert, sometimes you want a nice scoop of grapefruit sorbet, and sometimes you want enough sugar to give a small child heart palpitations. We don’t judge - you do you. Available for collection, Three Twenty Ice-Cream Lab on Drury Street now have trays of cookie dough and brownie batter to bake at home. They come with 500ml of ice-cream and sauces, proving that more is very definitely more. 5) Little Bird's Ice-Cream Sundaes As much as we’re fond of a 99, ice-cream in tubs offers maximum potential in terms of loaded toppings. These cute sundaes from Little Bird on South Circular Road come in chocolate cookie crumbs or unicorn raspberry vanilla flavour and look like an instant mood boost.

One of the biggest bummers about the current situation has been not being able to celebrate those special occasions in restaurants, with family, with friends and all the beers. We can't fix that (although every few weeks there's another sliver of relief), but in the meantime here's some options for when you need a special occasion dinner at home, and want someone else to do the cooking... Etto's Collection Menu Big news people. Etto is officially back. Their "food for collection" menu starts this Thursday and features a set menu for two people for €60. There's olives and almonds, cured meats and sourdough, then a weekly changing starter, main and dessert (although if they try to change from this week's red wine prunes and vanilla mascarpone there will probably be an uprising). The food comes cold with minimal assembly at home, and collections are available from Thursday - Sunday. See the menu and how to order here . Rosa Madre At Home Also launching this week, Temple Bar's Rosa Madre have designed a new at home menu with the most minimal of prep involved. There's a choice of three starters (straciatella, foccacia with pesto and cured meats and cheeses), then you pick a pasta (gnocchi, tagliatelle or ravioli) and a sauce (tomato and basil, puttanesca, nduja ragu or parmesan), and either tiramisu or chocolate mousse for dessert. There's also a lasagne for two, and because all of the sauces only come in two person portions (and they're very reasonably priced) you may as well order another one and save yourself cooking the next day. It will be available for collection and delivery (Dublin 1 - 24) from Thursday to Sunday, and we'd advise keeping an eye on their website and social channels this week if you want to be first to know when they go live. Bresson's Classic Collection Menu Upmarket neighbourhood French menu Bresson in Monkstown are doing a 'classics' collection menu at the very reasonable price of €24.50 for two courses and €29.50 for three. As the name suggests it's classic all the way, with seafood cocktail or Roquefort salad to start, tuna niçoise salad or daube of beef to follow, and lemon posset or strawberry pavlova to finish. Light some candles, open some fizz, job done. Collections available Thursday - Saturday. See here for all the info. Circa At Home Circa have been in and out of the takeaway game, but they're back, with a new head chef. Gareth Naughton has departed and Darryl Haynes, who had been working with him in the kitchen, has taken over. There are no starters so maybe pick up some antipasti, then choose from their famous game pitivier, wild mushroom wellington, braised lamb shoulder or pork belly confit for mains. Desserts include Cashel Blue cheese with quince jam, rye crackers and truffle honey, chocolate cremeaux with toasted hazelnut, or if you want to really destroy yourself you can have their 'Snickers' French toast with chocolate ganache, peanut butter caramel & vanilla mascarpone. Collection only from Thursday - Sunday. Order here . Potager At Home Potager is one of the restaurants we most look forward to visiting once the current nightmare is over, but for now, Potager at Home is a worthy substitution. Rarely has a takeaway menu caused so many people to exclaim "I want everything!", but when you're faced with dishes like onion and potato bread with ricotta and lovage pesto, haddock and brown shrimp croquettes, roasted chicken broth with foie gras sausage dumpling, and Jerusalem artichoke with smoked almonds, crispy bacon and truffle dressing, you'll understand why. As if that wasn't enough there's dessert, cheese and petit fours to choose from, and we think it's really excellent value for this level of food. They're taking this week off due to an incident , but will be back next week. Order here . Grano A Casa Few places in Dublin make people feel like they're in Italy the way Grano in Stoneybatter does, and after a few weeks of planning they've launched ' Grano A Casa ' so you can enjoy their olives, pastas and tiramisu at home. We're big fans of their Amatriciana Maiale Nero with black pig guanciale, tomato sauce and pecorino cheese so that would be high on our order list. Click and collect here from Thursday - Saturday. Craft At Home The residents of Harolds Cross rejoiced when neighbourhood bistro Craft reopened for takeaway, and with dishes like Toonsbridge ricotta with beetroot, asparagus and truffle honey, or crab and leek arancini with courgette, chicory and apple salad, it's not hard to see why. Collection only from Thursday - Sunday. See the menu and book a slot here . Mulberry Garden At Home Mulberry Garden in Donnybrook have come up with a five course menu where only the main requires heating. It's €65 for two and includes bread, starters, mains, desserts and petit fours, which by city standards is a good deal. There's no choice but last week included a terrine of Wicklow pork, confit salmon with a tomato and gubbeen chorizo cassoulet and a dessert of chocolate, blueberry and popcorn. Collection or delivery within a 10km radius. Get involved here . La Maison's Click and Collect Classic French haven La Maison on Castle Market are making their coquilles Saint-Jacques, côte de bœuf and tart au citron available for collection, along with baguettes, flatbreads and frites. They're also selling wine at up to 50% off menu prices, and you can collect from Wednesday - Sunday. Order through their website . Check out more options for fine dining at home in our articles on new places to collect food from , new restaurants now delivering , and new food experiences to try in Dublin .

No matter what's going on in the world, brunch will always be a constant. For a while it looked like the only brunch we'd be enjoying for the foreseeable future would come from our own kitchen, but sure enough the cities cafés and restaurants have stepped up to the plate, and now there's brunch to go, brunch for pre-order, and brunch boxes you can get delivered to your door. Here are some of our favourites right now. Circa Terenure favourite Circa are back in business with brunch (or lunch) served Thursday - Sundays from 12:00 - 16:00. The fish tacos are excellent with IPA battered cod, homemade hot sauce, red cabbage slaw, radish, lime and avocado, and you may struggle to stop reaching for the buttermilk bacon with maple mayo. Order for collection on their website . Two Boys Brew Two Boys Brew are operating a click and collect service and brunch is back on the menu. Great news for fans of their hotcakes, as the current incarnation with strawberries, lemon curd and vanilla mousse is worth the journey alone. We're also very much liking the look of their new tradie bap with free range egg, hash brown, homemade tomato & chilli relish, crumbled black pudding and rocket. Order in advance on their website . Network Network's brunch box is available for delivery across Dublin every Saturday morning, and contains their three most popular dishes - pancakes, notions on toast and the brunch bap (one for food sharers). It's €35 for two or €65 for four, and you get a lot of food. See more info and order here . L'Gueuelton Francophiles rejoice, brunch at L’Gueuleton is back with a brunch box for two people. For €15 you'll get spice bags with confit duck, crispy potatoes, onions, peppers and fried duck eggs. Get more info on their website . The Revolution In Rathgar, The Revolution has a brunch box for two available for collection or delivery, with coffee for two from Two Spots Coffee, two brunch mains, two brownies, a bottle of Prosecco and a bottle of orange juice to mix your own Mimosa’s at home. It's €49 and you can pre-order by calling them on 01 4064104 or send them a DM on Instagram . Krewe Brunch from Krewe is best kept for a day when your hunger is not going to be easily pacified or you're feeling a little delicate. The Nola chicken with waffles is a feast with all major food groups represented, and the cocktails also look like they're worth investigating. Order for collection or delivery on their website . Fowl Play At The Square Ball Another one for the chicken lovers, Fowl Play ’s brunch box feeds at least two, with starters, mains, sides, a bottle of Prosecco and orange juice or €60. There's also a quiz and a toy included. Order for collection or delivery. Full details on their website . Little Bird For a more Zen like food experience, Little Bird Cafe and Yoga on the South Circular Road are open for collection. The sweetcorn pancakes topped with black beans, tomato salsa, guasacasa and green leaves look like the perfect post workout treat (after you do your own yoga solo, that is. Booo...) See the menu on their website . Bibi's Café Just around the corner from Little Bird, neighbourhood favourite Bibi ’s are back with their famous brunch dishes (and brownies) available for collection. The Turkish eggs are probably the best in Dublin. See the menu on their website . Alma Alma are back and fans will be delighted that their famous dulce de leche pancakes are available in a kit for two at €22. And yes, you can order extra dulce de leche, now is not the time to skimp. Available for collection and delivery on their website , and if you don't pre-order be prepared to queue. Brother Hubbard For a Middle Eastern inspired brunch, Brother Hubbard is hard to beat, and fans are flocking back to the Dublin favourite since they reopened. The mezze plates and beef kofta burgers are excellent, or for something with maximum soakage the croques are all very good, especially with a side of patatas bravas and vegan aioli. See their full offering and order here . Fable & Stey Fable & Stey in Blackrock have limited amounts of their weekend brunch boxes for two for collection each Saturday and Sunday. You get six free range eggs, an avocado, half a loaf of their treacle soda bread, granola, yoghurt and compote, and two berry scones with raspbery chia jam for €28. Add on two mini prosecco bottles and it comes in at €40. Pre-order by calling them on 01 5610382. The Pigeon House The Pigeon House in Clontarf have just started weekend brunch for collection only, Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 - 15:00. Options include the avocado box with tomato salsa, a fried egg, feta cheese, dukka, harissa butter, salad and Bread 41 sourdough, apple soaked oats with vanilla yoghurt and berry compote, and buttermilk waffles with various toppings. Order when you get there - they're aiming to have food ready in 5-7 minutes. See the menu here .

Like just about everyone else in the country, we’re not loving lockdown. Yes, we know it’s important, and we’re sticking to the rules (for the most part), but it’s hard when you miss your family, friends, restaurants and going outside. We have many questions that revolve around food and eating out - when will our favourite cafes, bars, and restaurants open again? How will they manage when social distancing means that their occupancy levels are reduced dramatically? Is there a bowl of Las Tapas de Lola’s croquetas de jamón out there somewhere thinking about us as much as we’re thinking about them? When lockdown started, we had big plans. Three months later, we’re doing a lot less online yoga than the amount of time we’re spending in yoga pants would suggest, and our ginventory is running embarrassingly low. Thankfully, we’ve discovered that lots of places in Dublin are now delivering cocktails or cocktail kits to your door, or making them available for collection. Yes, we’ll remember 2020 for lots of negative things, but Negronis on demand is not one of them. Here’s who we're calling when we want the good stuff. Vintage Cocktail Club One thing we really miss is getting dressed-up and going out. We’re not saying everyone has turned into a slob overnight, but we haven’t seen a pair of heels since March and can't remember how to put on lipstick. If you want to inject some glam into your evening, the cocktail kit from Vintage Cocktail Club is a definite way to do it. They sent us one to try last week which included glassware, ice, and garnishes, bar snacks, as well as a mixture of cocktails. We tried the Condor Curley Sue, the Gimlet and the Hanky Panky - all delicious. The only thing we didn't get was the inclusion of hand-carved ice marked to highlight which cocktail they went with. Risky business in these temperatures, and they'd melted a bit by the time they arrived, then took on a wonky shape in the freezer, but overall it's a lovely gift, to yourself. Available on Deliveroo , Just Eat and Uber Eats . Mad Yolks At The Fourth Corner Let’s be honest, without booze, brunch is just a sad breakfast. Luckily for us, Mad Yolks ’ location inside The Fourth Corner bar means that lovely breakfast sandwiches can now be collected or delivered (location dependent) with a range of fresh cocktails every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Or you could forego the food and just head straight for the mojitos, passion fruit margaritas or sangria. Bonus points here for pricing too, with drinks starting from a very casual €4. Check out their Instagram page for order and collection details plus info on delivery areas and prices. Hang Dai Hang Dai has been one of our to-go takeaways over the past few months and we were very happy to see that cocktails are now available for collection and delivery via Deliveroo. As you’d expect from Hang Dai, they’re pretty extra, and come in sizes up to 1 litre. See their website for all the info. Ukiyo If you’re not familiar with Ukiyo , it needs to go on your list for when everything is fully open and operating again. Reasonably-priced sushi, bento and ramen with karaoke booths downstairs make it a popular spot for group outings (remember groups?). However, our personal karaoke rule is, if you have to do it, don’t do it sober. Available for delivery or collection, they have a lovely range of cocktails including Aperol spritz and negronis. We added a bottle of The Kneeler (basically gin with ginger in every form known to man) to a recent order and would highly recommend - we especially loved the attention taken to include ice and garnishes. You could always fire up Spotify for your own karaoke experience and order a second bottle for the wall-sharing neighbours by way of an advance apology? All information is on their website . Old Street Continuing to make everyone who doesn’t live in Malahide jealous of those who do, Old Street now have cocktails for collection and delivery - thankfully Dublin-wide. They make a great add-on to their new summer BBQ packs, or their takeaway food menu. Get all the details on their website . Bar 1661 Located just off Capel Street, Bar 1661 is now doing contactless collection, Dublin delivery every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and even nationwide delivery via some partners. Look, we’re not saying spending every Saturday in bed with a bottle of Tommys Margarita is a wise thing to do, but everything in moderation right? All details are available here . Catch Events One of the first Covid cocktail kits we saw hitting the market, Catch Events ’ Quarantini Box changes weekly and contains everything you need to make four specially-selected cocktails - even the glasses (though there is an ingredients only version). The kits, delivery only, are very cute, plus there’s nationwide delivery, so it's a great way to enjoy a drink with friends when you can’t be near them. There are non-alcoholic kits available too, and as N/A goes, they've very enjoyable. Orders can be placed through the website . Osteria Lucio Osteria Lucio on Grand Canal Quay have made lots of their menu available for collection and delivery (through Deliveroo), plus there’s a range of cocktails to go with your pizza or pasta. Their cocktail list is one of the more extensive we’ve seen and includes a strawberry French 75, passion fruit mojito, and a limoncello Collins. We’re very tempted to stock our fridge. See their website for info. Drop Dead Twice Drop Dead Twice on Francis Street has takeaway cocktails available for collection on Friday and Saturday afternoons, including the cool as a cucumber martini, and the bueno espresso martini. Details are on their website and you can pre-order. The Blind Pig It feels kind of fitting that The Blind Pig , a speakeasy and prohibition era-inspired bar on Suffolk Street, gets the opportunity to do some bootlegging through home delivery. The cocktail menu is very extensive and features extras like bar snacks and syrups for your home bar. They’re also doing pizza. Check out their website for details. L. Mulligan Grocer As you’d expect from a click and collect service from L. Mulligan Grocer in Stoneybatter, there’s an impressive range of handcrafted food and snacks, plus charcuterie and cheese boards with a heavy focus on Irish products. Provenance isn’t lost when it comes to their cocktail kits for home either - the most recent one combined Mór gin, Irish strawberries and apple molasses sugar syrup from Highbank Orchard in Kilkenny. This week it's whiskey, and feel free to add on some growlers of craft beer and black pudding bon bons. Information is available here . Dillinger's, 777, The Butcher Grill Have to admit to looking up home slushie machines when bottles of Margaritas appeared on our Insta feed - we could really do with some frozen alcohol right about now. These bad boys are available from Dillinger’s , 777 , and The Butcher Grill for collection, but you can also find them under Dillinger’s on Deliveroo and Just Eat for delivery, depending on where you’re based. Information on how to order is on the 777 website . Anti Social Anti Social , the new bar on Francis Street, barely opened before Covid forced them to close their doors, but while the rest of us were busy making banana bread, they were making cocktails. Their selection is impressively huge, and features a boozy berry slushie that not only looks delicious but possibly like it could pass for a juice on that 17:00 work Zoom. See all details here . Wigwam Wigwam on Middle Abbey Street is doing takeaway food, now with added alcohol thanks to their cocktails to collect. Dark and Stormys and Cuba Libres are available, plus pretty killer looking Espresso Martinis regularly feature, with an extra kick thanks to Vice Coffee. We feel seen. Info is on their website . The Bath Pub The Bath Pub on Bath Avenue seems to be spreading joy to locals with their pints delivery service. They also have wine and cocktails including Aperol spritz, Pimms, passion fruit martinis, and margaritas. See their website for information and delivery info. Baggot Street Wines If you’re more of a wine lover at heart, Baggot Street Wines have put together a wine mixer case for delivery. It includes six easy drinking wines along with tasting notes and cocktail recipes. See more information and order on their website .

Host 's reinvention as a grocery may have been born out of necessity, but it has meant we've been able to have pumpkin cappelletti pretty much weekly, and we're very grateful for this fact. They stock an extensive selection of their own dishes to cook at home, plus Italian pantry staples, desserts, charcutiere and cheese, and breads. Apart from the cappelletti, recent purchases have included the fried goats cheese with hazelnuts, and the pork chop with mushroom and truffle. All amazing - Helen We were sent the first night of Volpe Nera at home to try and were oh so impressed . This one is being done again very soon. Every course seemed better than the last, and the dessert of basil panna cotta with a smoked, vinegary strawberry consommé and tuile was some way to finish - Lisa Fowl Play on Hogan Place recently reopened for collection and delivery so naturally we were straight in there. The cheese and chorizo croquetas were good, but we'd have liked them a little bigger and with a lighter filling. The sticky, tender pork belly skewers were the stand-out, and the hand-cut chips seasoned in a spicy house rub pack a seriously good heat - Helen We stumbled across Old Street 's new barbecue in their outside seating area and it made for a very delicious, impromptu lunch on the grass looking out at the sea. We loved the jumbo prawns with garlic olive oil and tabbouleh, and thought it was all really well priced - Lisa We miss brunch. We miss cafes. We miss ALMA . Thankfully, they're now open for collection (and delivery within 5kms) and the queue there is like a little socially distant bubble of happiness and positivity. We had the dulce de leche pancakes, eaten in the sunshine in a nearby park. Bliss - Helen We liked our first Mamó picnic so much we had to do it again, and it was just as enjoyable as the first time round. From the perfect Iberian olives and smoky almonds, to the cheese, charcuterie and sourdough, to the packed duck pitivier, it's fantastic value at €22 a head. Adding on a litre of rosé for an additional €23 is advisable - Lisa While a Friday night takeaway has always been fairly standard, it's turning in to more of an event as a means to mark the end of weeks that seem to have no other punctuation, and we were very pleased to see that Ukiyo now deliver. Sushi and fried gyoza were really good, and we added a cocktail to our order as part of our research into the best places to get lockdown cocktails .

It's fair to say that the only thing keeping us sane right now is the weather, and eating all the food (no change there really). So it's the perfect time to combine both with an outdoor picnic (ideally with three other people now that the reins have loosened slightly). Here's where to make a stop off for provisions on the way to the park. Spitalfields Spitalfields announced this week that they were coming back, with picnic bags in tow. Their €65 offering for two looks enormous, with 13 different elements and a bottle of wine. Standouts include their famous devilled eggs, sausage rolls with Lakeshore mustard, Ballymakenny potato and herb salad, and a monster three desserts - a gateau opera, an Irish blackcurrant Eton mess and white chocolate cranberry clusters. No wonder it sold out in a day. Keep an eye on their Instagram for next week's release. Cloud Picker Launching next Tuesday, Pearse Street Café Cloud Picker 's click and collect lunchbox looks right up our street. It's €13 (or €12 for the vegetarian option) and will change each week, but includes a main like fried chicken or stuffed savoy cabbage with egg-fried rice, a potato bun, salad, sauce and something sweet. It will always contain something fermented and you can add a homemade kombucha for €4, or whatever coffee you fancy. It's available from Monday - Saturday and you can book online via their website until midnight for collection the next day. Eatyard Eatyard at The Bernard Shaw in Glasnevin reopens at 12pm today for takeaway only. Two new vendors have joined the line up, Village Pizza and 3fe for coffee and pastries, and old reliables La Cocina Cuevas, The Saucy Cow, Janet's and My Goodness return. Grab your food and go for a sit down along the canal. Mamó We've mentioned it before but we could hardly leave Mamó 's new picnic hamper out of this one. We liked it so much we did it two weekends in a row, and a picnic along the Howth cliff walk overlooking the sea is a tonic. Order one for collection or delivery in North County Dublin here . Two Boys Brew We were very impressed with a recent visit to Two Boys Brew for a takeaway lunch. You can order online and wait outside while staff bring it to you, or join the queue to order inside and pick up Belview eggs, Ballymakenny Farm potatoes and a gigantic tub of granola while you're there. We highly rate the hotcake with strawberries, raspberries, lemon curd and vanilla mousse, but everything's a winner. Don't leave without a peanut butter cookie sandwich. Take it all to the Botanic Gardens or Blessington Street Park. Fable & Stey Blackrock's Fable & Stey are back in business from Wednesday - Sunday for takeaway lunch and cakes. We've been eyeing up their puff pastry tartlet with gubbeen chorizo, cheese, roasted red pepper + basil pesto (served with dressed leaves and homemade pickles), and their white chocolate and pecan banana bread. Drop in and order or call them in advance, then take your haul to Seapoint beach or any green spot nearby. Locks We're loving the look of every single thing that's coming out of newly reopened Locks lately, particularly their Thu - Sun daytime take out menu, which begs to be eaten along the canal outside. Some recent options include tempura salt & vinegar hake with peas, mint, tartare sauce and chips, seabream crudo with salted cucumber, wasabi & sushi rice, and lobster with green beans, white peach, mint and Espelette pepper. And we haven't even talked about the tiramisu for two or the peach fool for dessert. See what's on the menu here and pop in on the day or pre-order. L. Mulligan Grocer Stoneybatter's favourite gastropub L. Mulligan Grocer are slowly reopening with a limited click and collect menu, some of which is perfect for a trip to the park. Pick up an Irish Farmhouse cheese or charcuterie board, and you can add on a beer box or wine to go. Just pack your own glasses. They're open for collection on Fridays and Saturdays (so far) from 15:00 - 18:00, and you need to order in advance here . Fowl Play The only thing better than a daytime picnic is an early evening picnic, eating rotisserie chicken, croquetas and peanut slaw while the sun goes down (craft beer/natural wine optional but recommended). Fowl Play are back in business offering a slightly condensed menu Thursday - Sunday from 16:00. Pick up a family feast and head for Merrion Square or Grand Canal Dock and soak up the last of the sunshine. Order here . The Woollen Mills The Woollen Mills have a lot of bases covered if you're trying to find something on the North side of the Liffey, from their turkey, cheddar, gherkin, chipotle mayo, crushed tortilla and guacamole sandwich, to the fish bag with seaweed salt and grilled lemon. Or go all out with their bacon and cabbage mac and cheese. The Yarn is open too if pizza in the park is more your bag. Where's your favourite place to pick up a picnic? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

While it seemed like most of the restaurant industry was paralysed for weeks, it's fair to say they've now come out fighting, and every day somewhere else reopens for takeaway, 'at home' dining or part-prep meal kits. We're counting the days until June when we can actually set foot inside one again, but until then their weekly innovations are keeping us going. Here's 11 new food experiences to add to your to-do list. Volpe Nera In long-awaited news, Volpe Nera announced this week that they too are joining the takeaway game, and the opening menu looks lush with a capital L (if you don't live within collection distance avert your eyes now). It's a set menu at €52 for two to share (which is pretty exceptional value in comparison to most other restaurants doing takeaway food at the same level), and the first week includes guinness and treacle bread with cep butter, pancetta coppata, mushroom dumplings, black olive fettucine with lamb ragu, basil pannacotta with smoked strawberry consommé, and shepherd's store cheese to finish. Just take all of our money. They sold out for this weekend in minutes but more go on sale next Wednesday. Order for collection via their site . Sona Box From Sprezzatura Sprezzatura was quickly becoming a go-to for us before 'The Event' happened, and we thought we’d have to live without their freshly-made and hugely affordable food for a long time. Luckily we can now get a weekly cacio e pepe injection, along with four other meals, for the ridiculously great price of €30 per person. Won’t lie, we were slightly sceptical (realistically, how good can a steak with chips and pepper sauce be for €6?) but have been very pleasantly surprised. The box is described as “part-prepped” and depending on what dishes you choose, can involve nothing more than opening a prepared sauce and adding to cooked pasta (the cacio e pepe), while chopping celery, onion, carrot, and simmering with passata was needed for the sausage ragu. We also had the spicy chicken ramen (which has a serious chili kick), and the frying-pan pizza. All were lovely, and just the right mix between cooking and take-out to make us feel semi-virtuous. Check them out here . (HC) Mamó's Picnic Hamper Now that we can see a whole three other people outdoors, what better time to go for a socially-distant picnic? In answer to our prayers Mamó have just launched one, and they gave us a preview last week before they went on sale. It was undoubtedly the food highlight of the week (and one of the highlights of lockdown so far) and had everything we could have possibly wanted to eat while sitting along the Howth cliff walk trying to hide our lunch from seagulls. From the gordal olives and smoked almonds to the culatella and coppa, the shepherd's store cheese and green bean salad to the duck leg pitivier, and perfect Irish strawberries with a white chocolate and tonka bean mousse for dessert, they've nailed everything. You can order each weekend for collection or delivery within North Dublin the following weekend, and it's a bargainous €22 a head - litre swing top bottles of rosé are an extra €27. The next ones go on sale at 11am this Saturday and you can check them out here . (LC) Featherblade One benefit of lockdown is, with a little careful planning, you can always be within 10m of a really great burger. Not ones to take a pandemic lying down, Featherblade have returned with the burger of all burgers - the bacon double cheese with Applewood smoked house bacon, aged cheddar, pickled red onions, black garlic mayo and dijon mayo. It's €39.99 and you get the ingredients for six burgers. We were sent a kit to try and can confirm that they’re very, very tasty. While we really liked the overall burger and all the component parts, the real MVP here is that bacon which can only be described as “chonky”. Get it delivered via www.stuffuneed.ie . (HC) L'Gueuleton The French restaurant on Fade St. launched their home delivery box recently and sent us one to try. 90% of the work is done so you’ll just have to reheat or assemble. We tried the chicken liver parfait and french onion soup (with the cheesiest crostini we’ve ever seen), and mains of gnocchi with sun dried tomato, artichoke, mozzarella and basil, and short rib bourguignon with wholegrain mustard mash, carrot puree, and baby veg. All were really good and almost eclipsed by the tangy, fluffy, strawberry cheesecake of our dreams. There are a few cheffy tricks here that do really make it feel like you’re not eating at home; the carrot puree and mash for the short rib were freshly made then arrived in boil-in-the-bag type pack to heat and pipe onto your plate, but we found it difficult to hold because it was so hot. We settled for just dolloping it on in a less than artistic manner, which we considered pretty good going after two glasses of wine. The box feeds two but portions are very generous and would definitely stretch to a couple of younger children. The dinner box for two is priced at €60 and available to pre-order and collect, or for delivery (€5 charge).There are also brunch and steak options. Order via their website . (HC) Ananda Longtime ATF favourite Ananda have started a dine at home menu featuring popular dishes like their Old Delhi chaat platter, Goan seafood curry and gulab jamun (warm, caramelised milk dumplings). There's also a tasting menu for €65 for two which will change each week. See the full menu here . Dax If you've got something to celebrate, you'll be delighted to hear that upmarket Dax is now available to have at home. It's one of the pricier options in the city right now at €43 per person for three courses, but yellowfin tuna, smoked Challans duck and Dublin Bay prawn ravioli don't come cheap. See the menu here . V-Face Vegan burger slingers V-face are finally opening their first permanent site in Stoneybatter, almost two years after bring their "Hot Chick" and "Classic John" burgers to the capital. Rarely has a dedicated vegan opening gained so many non-vegan fans, so we expect a lot of people to be hyped for this one. They start this Friday 22nd May, and will be open Fridays and Saturdays to start from 17:00 - 21:00. You can order for collection via their Whatsapp on 0838011001, or for delivery via Just Eat and Deliveroo, and their new address is 30 North Brunswick Street, Stoneybatter. Menu available soon via their social channels . Baste BBQ In exciting BBQ related news, Andy Noonan (founder of The Big Grill and Fowl Play ) has launched ' Baste BBQ To Go ' boxes, for collection from a yard on Clanbrassil Street. They've parked up their food truck and smokers and will do all the hard work for you - you just show up and take a fully cooked BBQ home. Good deal. The meat provenance is predictably impeccable, including Shorthorn beef from Peter Hannan, Tamworth pork belly from Higgins Butchers, and free range pork shoulder from FX Buckley, and they're also selling BBQ products like charcoal, smoking wood, sauces, rubs and pre-smoked chilled meats. The boxes work out at around €20-€22.50 a head, including meats, sides and sauces, and look like they'll be worth every penny. Check out the options here . Breakfast And 'Afternoon Sea' From The Cliff Townhouse Two new options from The Cliff Townhouse this week, the first of which is a breakfast meal kit for €30, including juice, fresh fruit salad, eggs Benedict, Royale, or Florentine (for you to finish at home) and other goodies like granola or breakfast buns. Also on the menu is their 'Afternoon Sea' (€27.50 a head), their seafood spin on Afternoon Tea, featuring a brown shrimp cocktail, lobster bisque with brandy cream, green asparagus with an egg vinaigrette, scallops with yoghurt, mint and lime, potted crab, Kelly’s oysters and a selection of breads including a sea vegetable brioche, brown bread and farmhouse butter. Both options are available to pre-order for collection or delivery within 10km. See more info here . Port House At Home From The Port House If, like us, you miss the atmosphere of a busy restaurant at the weekend (or literally any night of the week), the 'At Home' kit from The Port House includes a few extras that will help you recreate the buzz in your own dining room/home office/home-school classroom/gym. For €60 you get nibbles, plenty of tapas, dessert, and a bottle of wine for two people, but they’ve cleverly added a few extras such as candles, a playlist which includes restaurant noises, and a background photo of the restaurant to load onto your TV so you can get full sensory immersion. One caveat though: If you’re planning on getting one for a friend, a voucher purchased for The Port House isn’t allowed to be used for the tapas kit, as one of the ATF team discovered this week to their surprise and disappointment. Order and delivery details are on www.porthouseathome.com .

Only 41% of ATF readers say they will eat out as much as they did before once restaurants are allowed to reopen, with 22% saying they don't know. The results are part of a readers' survey we carried out this week on how people feel about going out to eat again, and what measures would make them less anxious about visiting cafés and restaurants. When it comes to social distancing measures in restaurants, like perspex dividers and temperature checks, 59% said these would not put them off going out to eat , with 41% saying it would. Perhaps surprisingly, only 30% of respondents said their level of disposable income to spend on food has been affected by the pandemic, with 70% saying it hasn't. Perhaps the Covid-19 payment is helping to keep people more liquid than they otherwise might have been. Despite just 41% of people saying they will continue to eat out as much as they used to, 53% said they will not feel worried about eating out once restaurants and cafés reopen, with the other 47% saying they will. When it came to measures that would make people less anxious to eat out, the most important aspect was adequate social distancing between customers (31%), but an additional 35% of readers want to see every measure possible implemented , including checks on customers entering the building, scrupulous hygiene, and the ability to eat outdoors. 81% of respondents have been using restaurants' new takeaway, delivery and meal kit services, with the main reasons being wanting to support the restaurants (50%) and missing eating out (28%). Mister S was voted the best at home experience, with Uno Mas and Host coming in joint first place for the restaurants Dubliners can't wait to revisit. Uno Mas / Host For the top 10 restaurants and cafés that our readers can't get to get back to, as well as their top 10 at home restaurant meal experiences during lockdown, read part one of our survey results here . The ATF readers' poll was carried out from 11th-12th May and was answered by 2,000 people.

Uno Mas on Aungier Street and Host in Ranelagh have topped a poll of restaurants Dubliners most want to return to once they reopen, with Alma in Portbello the most missed café amongst 2,000 respondents. Uno Mas, Aungier Street (Shantanu Starick) Host, Ranelagh Uno Mas and Host received an identical amount of votes, with Uno Mas ' sister restaurant Etto on Merrion Row coming in third, Niall Davidson's Allta coming in fourth, and Bastible in Dublin 8 coming in fifth. Allta, Setanta Place Alma in Portobello topped a list of cafés that Dubliners can't wait to get back to, with Bread 41 on Pearse Street in second place, and Bibi's , also in Portobello, coming in third. Alma, Portobello Over 80% of respondents said they have been using new takeaway, delivery and at home meal services from restaurants, with Mister S on Camden Street voted the best at home meal experience. Bujo 's burger box came in second place, with Allta's ' Allta Box ' coming in third. Mister S, Camden Street You can find the top 10 in each category below, and look out for part two of our survey results later today, on how readers are feeling about going out to eat again, and whether they think they will as much as they did before. Top 10 Restaurants Dubliners Want To Return To 1. Uno Mas, Aungier Street + Host, Ranelagh (equal amount of votes) 3. Etto, Merrion Row 4. Allta, Setanta Place 5. Bastible, Dublin 8 6. Variety Jones, Dublin 8 7. Chapter One, Dublin 1 8. Mister S, Camden Street 9. Sprezzatura, Dublin 8 10. Pickle, Camden Street Top 10 Cafés Dubliners Want To Return To 1. Alma, Portobello 2. Bread 41, Pearse Street 3. Bibi's, Portobello 4. The Fumbally, Dublin 8 5. Two Boys Brew, Phibsboro 6. The Pepperpot Café, Powerscourt Townhouse 7. Two Pups, Dublin 8 8. Brother Hubbard, Capel Street and Harrington Street 9. Tang, Abbey Street and Dawson Street 10. Avoca, Various locations Top 10 Restaurant At Home Experiences 1. Mister S, Camden Street 2. Bujo Box, Sandymount 3. Allta Box, Setanta Place 4. Michael's/Little Mike's, Mount Merrion 5. Shouk, Drumcondra 6. Pickle, Camden Street 7. Liath To Go, Blackrock 8. Nightmarket, Ranelagh 9. 3 Leaves, Blackrock 10. Host, Ranelagh

Life in lockdown continues, and while it won’t change what we celebrate, it has changed how we do it. We suggest it’s time to swap your slippers for your second most comfy pair of footwear, wash your hair properly (not just the front so it looks passable on work Zoom calls), and maybe even put on a pair of trousers with a waistband while we guide you through the ultimate food options for all of life’s celebratory events. Just to note, while life has slowed down, the rate at which restaurants have to adapt is at Sandra Bullock in Speed levels. Please check directly with the restaurant in plenty of time to ensure they’re offering delivery or collection on the day you need it. Cake While quarantine birthdays suck, there’s always cake. If you’re not able to celebrate a friend’s birthday with them, we suggest sending cake. In fact, if you want to be our friend, sending cake is pretty much the key to our affections at any time of year. Mud Bakery is bringing us much needed quarantine joy through their deliveries. The week’s menu is uploaded every Saturday and available until it runs out, with delivery on selected days so do plan ahead. Also, do get more of the chocolate pecan cookie sandwiches than you think the birthday boy or girl will eat because they’re delicious, and friends don’t let friends run out of birthday cookie sandwiches. We really want an excuse to order Finch and Berry 's chocolate covered strawberries, and to a lesser extent would like a reason to send them to someone else. Word on the street is they're currently working on chocolate covered strawberry bouquets, which can be mixed with marshmallows, roses, macarons, chocolate bars and fresh berries, and we'll take one of those over flowers any day. Prices start at €35 for 12. See their selection here . The Cake Café has launched a Sunday afternoon tea delivered across Dublin which includes enough sandwiches, scones, cakes, and prosecco cocktails for two for €59. Availability is limited so we’d suggest getting in touch with them well in advance so you don’t miss out. Brunch If a birthday brunch is what you’re after, there are an increasing number of cafes and restaurants offering collection and delivery. We were especially excited to see Herb Street start a collection service in Grand Canal Dock. Lots of their brunch classics are now available including monster stacks of pancakes, chicken and waffles, eggs benedict and the French toast that’s served with a dangerous amount of rum butter caramel with bananas, pecans, and whipped cream. Network Café on Aungier Street have launched brunch in a box available for collection or Saturday delivery (at a very reasonable €4) and includes hot and cold options like notions on toast (eggs and avo, natch), the brunch bap, granola, and buttermilk pancakes with lots of toppings. We've tried it and it's excellent value at €9 a head. Mad Yolks egg-based breakfast sandwiches can be delivered to your door (within 3kms of their Fourth Corner bar location on Wood Quay) or are available for collection, along with pre-mixed cocktails. Want this service to continue after lockdown ends TBH. The Big Night In If you’re lucky enough to live with family, friends, or housemates who feel like they fit the bill, you can recreate the feeling of a celebratory night out at home - without the €30 taxi fare from town, or the dodgy kebab you semi-remember the next day. The Quarantini Kit from Catch Events contains everything you need to make different cocktails each week. Send one to yourself, one to a friend, and mix them up while you catch-up on what’s not going on in each other’s lives. Perfect if you need a hug…e margarita. Pickle have lots of dishes available for collection from Camden Street or for delivery within 5kms, and for 15% less than you’d pay in-house; more of this please, restaurants. We’d suggest ordering enough to guarantee leftovers for the following morning. Quarantine goals right there. Mister S on Camden Street have been releasing a weekly menu for weekend collection which is not only amazingly tasty, but incredible value at €22 a person for three courses. If you’re Southside and can get to Michael’s , they’re still slinging out fresh seafood fresh off the boats and available for collection from Thursday to Sunday on a pre-booked basis. Northside, Old Street in Malahide are taking bookings for collection (including for their Sunday roast), and are also selling some really top wines at 50% off. Lots of our favourites are turning to delivery services like Just Eat, Deliveroo, or Uber Eats to get food to their loyal customers. Availability depends on where you live and some restaurants are only operating on limited days/evenings but some we’ve seen lately allowing you to order online are Yeeros, Sano Pizza, Lucky Tortoise (which funnily enough is operating on both Deliveroo and UberEats but the all-in offer is only available on the latter), Chimac, Mad Egg, Shouk, Featherblade and Hang Dai. Just don’t forget to add the delivery person’s tip on the app as contact delivery means they can’t always take cash at the door. Celebrate a New Arrival One of the things we’ve found hardest lately is not being able to meet new babies and welcome them to the world while we get baby snuggles. If you want to show a friend you care and make their life a little easier, a food care package is the way to go. While any of ideas listed above will help new parents get to eat without juggling a newborn and a knife, we especially love the boxes from Blacksheep Foods which are available for delivery across Dublin, or can be collected from BaaBaaCafé in Chapelizod if you’re doing a doorstep drop-off. Options range from cheese and charcuterie boxes, to breakfast for two, and you can even add a posy of fresh flowers for the new mum. Fade Street Social have started an "at home" collection/delivery service, where everything comes cold and you follow instructions (either in print with the box or via their YouTube channel ) to finish it off at home. You can order a set three courses for €30, or opt for Peter Hannan steaks or the 'healthy' option of kale and avocado salad with apple, spinach, sprouts, radishes and lime yogurt dressing, with tataki of tuna or salmon. See the menu and how to order here . If you'd rather treat them to some fresh produce, the fruit, vegetable and Irish produce boxes from Hussey's Farm will be a sight for sore, tired eyes when it turns up on their doorstep. And if you think they're in need of a meat-based treat, Rings Farm in Kilkenny, who specialise in organic, free-range chickens have started delivering across the country thanks to the decimation of their restaurant business. The birds are some of the best in the country and you can order a bumper box to keep the tired parents going until they turn the newborn corner. Celebrate An Anniversary Any of the options listed above would tick the box here, but if it’s your anniversary you may as well show you’ve made an extra effort. While a trip to Liath typically involves months of waiting, booking babysitters, and a pretty steep bill, Liath to Go , the collect and cook/heat at home offering from the Michelin-starred restaurant in Blackrock is priced at about €33 per person, but you will have to be ready because the weekly menu sells out very quickly. Allta’s Allta Box is a weekly delivery of a 5-course meal for two which involves some cooking and heating, and there’s also a wine pairing option. Again, you’ll have to do some planning as it books up quickly but there is a 2 week and 5 week subscription offer which will make a great gift for your other half that benefits you too; win-win. Boxes go on sale at 12pm each Saturday via their website . If a wedding anniversary dinner is more of a family affair, Bistro One in Foxrock has a full menu suitable for adults and kids available for collection. There’s also a bake at home range such as family-sized beef brisket lasagnes and homemade pies. Finally, if you want to cook something impressive with practically zero effort, the Cliff Townhouse have launched their 'heat at home menu', with dishes including a Dublin Bay prawn cocktail, half lobster with chilli and garlic butter, and Wexford strawberries with lemon and lime cream. It's €32.50 (there's a supplement for the lobster) and it's available for collection or delivery. See the menu here . And if you have the food sorted but want to get some quality wines or spirits delivered, check out our guide on Where to Get Drinks Delivered From .

*Updated - 6th May '20* The last few weeks can only be described as a roller-coaster, especially when it comes to the hospitality industry. One minute somewhere's open, then they're closed. Then they're doing takeaway, then they feel forced into stopping because of some bolshy opinions on Twitter on whether it's right or wrong. Then they say screw this, we've got staff and bills to attempt to pay, we're opening again. It's been hard to keep up, but as of today these 16 places are all open for business, for collections only (with a few local delivery exceptions), and they're all operating responsibly so no queues. All going well you shouldn't even have to be in the same air space as anyone else. (Also check out our list of restaurants newly offering delivery , most of which you can collect from too) Daddy's, Rialto Daddy's in Rialto have reopened from 10:00 - 15:00 Wednesday - Saturday serving sandwiches, savoury tarts, cake and of course coffee. The Turkish eggs are available to go, and look out for specials like their 'croissandwich' with O'Neills bacon, Dubliner cheddar and a fried egg. China Sichuan, Sandyford After a bit of back and forth China Sichuan are back open again with a limited menu and limited collection slots every evening. It's worth trying to get one though for the wild Irish mushroom fritters with wasabi mayo, or the fresh Irish lobster in ginger & scallion sauce on a bed of noodles. See the menu and how to order here . Bistro One, Foxrock Another place that was open, then closed, and is now thankfully open again is Bistro One in Foxrock. The menu changes daily but expect options like Kilkeel crab with brown bread, kohlrabi and radish; duck liver pate with sourdough and brandy prunes, and a shorthorn corned beef brisket bun. They also have a cook at home range with dishes like brisket lasagne, chickpea and aubergine gratin with St Tola goat's curd and wild garlic, and soon to be added - empanadas. Check them out here . Kerb, Foxrock Across the road, Kerb in Foxrock are also back open from 10:30 - 15:30 with their Middle Eastern inspired kebabs to go. Choose from crispy coconut shrimp with mango chutney, dill and curry mayo, or the buttermilk chicken flat with garlic aioli and fermented hot sauce. They also have takeaway coffee, smoothies and treats. See their Instagram page for the menu and order in advance by calling 01 2896735. The Exchequer The Exchequer on Exchequer Street and in Ranelagh are bring their Sunday roast and prosecco brunch to your home. A roast chicken for four with all the trimmings and a bottle of wine is €59 (beef €69), and a prosecco brunch on Saturday or Sunday is €40. There's also a regular menu featuring tapas, mains and a couple of desserts. See the menu and how to order here . Old Street, Malahide Old Street in Malahide launched their takeaway menu this week which will be available from Thursday - Sunday, with dishes like pulled pork croquettes with apple mascarpone, beer battered haddock and chips, and their roast rib of beef on Sundays. They're also offering their 'reserve' wine list at a whopping 50% off, which in some cases makes them cheaper than retail. Call them on 01 8455614 to book a slot and see the most recent menus on their website . Woodruff, Stepaside Woodruff in Stepaside have taken a leap into the great unknown with their new 'Woodruff at home' menu. There's dishes like Lambay Island lobster risotto, braised Andarl pork belly and white chocolate and wild gorse flower cheesecake, and you can book a collection time on their website , where you'll also find the latest menu . Cloud Café, North Strand The lovely Cloud Café in the North Strand have reopened for takeaway from Wednesday - Sunday from 10:00 - 14:30. The brunch/lunch menu features dishes like their bacon and egg butty on a brioche bun, a free-range chicken sandwich with lemon and thyme aioli and the famous power bowl. They also have daily changing cakes. Orders should be phoned in to 0892204588 and you can see the menu on their Instagram feed . Monty's, Temple Bar Temple Bar Nepalese Monty's are offering their full a la carte menu for collection at 20% less than menu prices. Try the momo's with achar (Nepalese dumplings) and the ledo bedo (traditional Nepalese curry). Call them to order on 016704911 or email your order and collection time to shiva@montys.ie. Rascals Brewing, Inchicore Rascals pizzeria and tap room in Inchicore are offering contactless collection on a limited pizza menu and soft drinks from Thursday to Sunday. See the menu and how to order here . Pickle, Camden Street Pickle launched their "Pickle @ Home" the week before last, and this week introduced delivery within 5km of the restaurant. It's available seven days a week from 17:00 on Sunday and Tuesday - Thursday, and 16:00 Friday and Saturday. Book a slot through Res Diary or call them on 01 5557755. The menu is available on their website with takeaway prices 15% less than eat in. We love the kid goat mince curry and the dahl bukhara. Richmond, Portobello Richmond in Portobello have jumped back on the horse with a limited call and collect menu, featuring a single starter, a choice of two mains, one side and a dessert. Prices are very good with a three-course meal coming in at just over €20 each, and there's a well priced wine list too. They're operating Thursday - Saturday from 17:00 - 20:00, and you can order by calling them on 01 4788783. Check their Instagram feed for this week's menu. The Fumbally, Dublin 8 The Fumbally 's Wednesday dinners are back! This time to bring home and assemble yourself, and boy do they look good. It's €15 per person and there's no choice, but last week's meal was spanakopita (McNally spinach and feta filo pie), with almond and apricot bulghar, hummus and McNally organic leaves. There's also a vegan option with soy curd, and dessert of lemon polenta cake with cardamom creme fraiche and pistachios is included. Orders must be emailed to thefumbally@gmail.com before 12:00 on Wednesday and you'll be given a collection time between 18:00 and 19:30. Liath, Blackrock In definitely the most surprisingly addition to this list, Michelin-starred Liath have launched ' Liath-to-go ', at the even more surprising price of €19 per person for two courses (we'd wager people would have paid double). The first week's menu consisted of goat’s cheese and salt-baked beetroot salad, followed by braised short rib with wild garlic and pancetta potatoes and red wine sauce, with the week after's menu featuring mushroom dumplings and pork yuk sung. It's been slowly creeping up in price and this week's is €33 per person, with orders for next week opening tomorrow at 10:00 (Friday 17th April) - fasted finger first. You can read how Marie-Claire Digby from the Irish Times got on with a trial collection here - spoiler: there's a bit of work involved. Mister S, Camden Street We almost jumped for joy when we saw that barbecue artistes Mister S had started a new collection service, with a serious amount of food for €22 per person. One of their first menu's contained those burnt end rendang spring rolls, their famous prawns with bisque butter and flatbread, a main of either smoked pork ribs with spiced glaze or beef shortribs with chimichurri, sides of beef fat chips and cauliflower cheese, and dessert of half baked cookie dough with salted caramel mousse. They're only doing 15 orders per day, and you can attempt to get a collection slot on their website . Keep an eye on their social channels for next week's menu and release of slots. Bread 41, Pearse Street After a brief pause in activity Bread 41 has reopened for collections (which must be ordered two days in advance here ) and limited delivery around Dublin 2. Otherwise you can try your luck at their hatch which opens Tuesday - Friday from 07:00 and Saturday from 08:00 until they sell out. Once everything's gone the doors are shut. Eathos, Baggot Street Healthy eating café Eathos are offering collection from both of their Baggot Street sites from 08:00 - 15:00 Monday - Friday. DM them on Instagram with your order, collection time and which location you'd like to collect from, or order via Deliveroo choosing 'click and collect'. Urbanity, Smithfield Urbanity in Smithfield have launched 'Urbanity to go', available from 09:00 - 14:00 Monday - Friday. The menu changes daily but so far there's been things like smoothie bowls, breakfast baps and Southern fried chicken burgers. Call them on 01 8747288 to order and keep an eye on their Instagram stories for that day's menu. Junior's, Beggar's Bush Junior's has turned into somewhere worthy of a sandwich pilgrimage, with options like the Katz's Deli Hot Reuben (smoked pastrami, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, dill pickle, and Russian dressing on chargrilled ciabatta), and the NY Deli Roll with roast ham, Swiss cheese, tomato, lettuce, pickle, onion and dijonnaise. Call 01 6643648 or email daytimejuniorscafe@gmail.com to order and they'll give you a collection time. 3 Leaves, Blackrock Everyone's favourite Indian 3 Leaves trialed a collection menu on Mother's Day and unsurprisingly the slots booked out immediately. They've now decided to offer it from 17:00 - 20:00 Thursday - Saturday, with the calendar opening each Wednesday at 2pm for the following week. It's been selling out super fast so set your alarm now if you want some of their samosa chaat or beef masala in your life next week. Cliff Townhouse, St. Stephen's Green Missing expertly prepared seafood? Cliff Townhouse is offering collection of dishes like prawn tempura with cider and black pepper sauce, crab claws in garlic butter and the Cliff Townhouse fish pie. Sides, desserts and wine are also up for grabs. It's available Friday and Saturday from 17:00 - 21:00, and Sunday from 15:00 - 20:00, and orders can be placed by calling 01 6383939 or emailinfo@clifftownhouse.ie. You can park outside and staff will bring your order down, place it in your boot and wipe it down afterwards. See the menu here . Michael's After killing it on the collections for a week or so Michael's put things on pause to reassess, then reopened along with "Little Mike's Fish Shack", THEN decided that wasn't working so now are back to just Michael's. Their famous sharing seafood platters are available for collection at €32 a head, as well as a short menu featuring things like wild duck & mushroom arancini with truffle aioli (€10) and Lambay Island crab claws and Dublin Bay prawns in lemon & wild garlic butter with crusty bread - see the full menu on their website . You book an order slot online, pay by card, then just show up at the correct time (no earlier or later unless you want to upset the whole system), and they'll come out and put the food in your boot, wiping the handle clean after. Keep an eye on their social media feeds for updates. The Chop House, Dublin 4 The Chophouse are serving a concise menu which is available for collection only from their Shelbourne Road location. Famous for their steaks, you too could be the proud owner of an 8oz dry-aged rib-eye, cooked to your liking with all the trimmings for €24. If that's not up your street there's a Hereford beef burger, spicy prawns or crab linguine. It's is a cash free service and you can pay over the phone before collection. Bonus points for giving a €10 restaurant voucher with each dinner order to spend in the restaurant when we have something to celebrate again. Details of today's menu and how to order can be found on their Facebook page . Mamo, Howth Mamo in Howth are currently operating ‘The Hatch’, a take away and collection service featuring some restaurant favourites and new dishes designed to take away. Lunch and dinner are available to order daily from 11:30, with that day's menu available on the website. They have ten minute intervals between collections, so if everyone shows at the right time you shouldn't be standing near anyone, and payments can only be made by card through the window. Prices are approximately 20% less than theirs dine in prices so you know where to go for your fix of 'cod chip' (€6), Lambay lobster croquettes with lobster mayo (€6.50) or confit duck salad with beansprouts, roast peanuts and sesame (€8). Find the daily menu on their website . Gaillot et Gray, Clanbrassil Street If it’s a wood fired pizza fix that you need to satisfy, Gaillot et Gray on Clanbrassil Street can fill that hole. With collection only pizza available daily from 16:00, now's the time to try that spiced lamb version with mint, caramelised red onion and wild garlic pesto that you've been dreaming about. They also have bread available for collection from 09:00. Call in advance for both. Daily updates and ordering details are available on their Facebook page . Paulie's, Dublin 4 Paulie's Pizza are operating a takeaway only service, with the full menu available and 50% off drinks. They're even doing Aperol Spritz and Negronis to go. See the menu here and order by calling them on 01 6643658. Kinara and Kinara Kitchen, Clontarf and Ranelagh Kinara in Clontarf and Ranelagh have brought in a temporary takeout menu with 15% off menu prices, available Wednesday - Sunday. They're doing starters like Aloo Tiki and Behari Kebab (marinated beef tenderloin cooked over charcoal), and mains like Jalfrezi Jhinga and Bhuna Gosht. Orders can be made from 4pm each day by calling Ranelagh on 014060066, or sending a whatsapp message to 0899619650, or calling Clontarf on 01 8336759 or sending a whatsapp message to 0899610533. If texting send your name and order along with your preferred collection time. Kajal, Malahide Also part of the Kinara group, Kajal in Malahide is also offering a reduced menu for takeaway with 15% off. We love the Tandoori prawns and the Nehari Gosht (Pakistani beef curry with fresh ginger and coriander). Orders taken by calling 01 8061960 or via whatsapp on 0899523204 between 17:00 and 21:00 Wednesday - Sunday. Do you know anywhere else great currently offering a collection service? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

*Updated - 6th May '20* It's been the strangest few weeks most of us have ever known. We've watched the restaurants we love evaporate, the majority of hospitality staff in the city (and country) let go, and chances are you yourself have been affected whatever industry you work in. Like you we are counting the days when life returns to normal, but until then what hasn't changed is we still need to eat. Many restaurants are attempting to adapt to this unknown situation we've found ourselves in by offering delivery for the first time (along with collection if you can get there), so the next time you're feeling blue about not being able to go to your favourite restaurant, take a tiny bit of solace in knowing that some of them will come to you. (Please note: this situation is changing daily so we will update this article as and when we can) Nunki Tea House, Dun Laoghaire Regional Chinese specialists Nunki Tea House in Dun Laoghaire are open for delivery or collection with a huge menu including specialties that need to be pre-booked 24 hours in advance. You can choose from stewed pork ribs with pickled cabbage; prawns with crab sticks, black fungi and wolfberries, or Nunki's special deep-fried milk custard. See the menu and how to order here . Coppinger Row/Charlotte Quay Sister restaurants Coppinger Row and Charlotte Quay have launched their 'at home' menu with dishes from both sites available for delivery, including smoked duck flatbread with grilled peach, crumbed feta and molasses; Coppinger's meatball linguine with salsa verde and parmesan, and lemon polenta cake with set yoghurt and raspberry. They're also doing bottles of pre-mixed cocktails for two (including a Fig Old Fashioned and an Aperol Negroni) for €15. See the menu and how to order here . Yamamori Stalwart of the Dublin dining scene Yamamori is now available for delivery or collection from Thursday - Sunday from 17:00 - 21:00. There's sushi and sashimi, yakisoba and katsu curry, ramen and gyoza. See the full menu and how to order here . Hang Dai, Camden Street Modern Camden Street Chinese Hang Dai have a new takeaway and delivery menu featuring favourites like their sesame prawn sourdough toast with yuzu mayo and mapo tofu with minced pork, along with their take on classic takeaway dishes like crispy, sticky sweet and sour pork with roasted pineapple and Kentucky fried kung pao chicken with peanuts and chilli. They're also doing a set family meal for €50, with two starters and mains, two kids meals and icebergers for everyone. To order call them on 01 5458888 or head to Deliveroo . Cocu, Baggot Street Healthy eating café Cocu on Baggot Street has reopened with a limited lunch menu from chef Holly Dalton and coffee from Cloud Picker. We're liking the sound of the meatball marinara with orzo and the Middle Eastern chicken salad. Find them on Bamboo, Just Eat, Deliveroo and Flipdish, or collect yourself. Open from 12:00 - 16:00 Monday - Friday. Grove Road, Portobello Canalside café Grove Road in Portobello, site of possibly the crispiest rashers in the city, are open for collections or takeaway via Deliveroo . They're doing breakfast like granola, sausage rolls and croissants, cakes, juices and coffee, and for collection they're also doing some of their most popular brunch/lunch dishes like the breakfast sandwich and the avocado and feta smash - don't forget to add bacon. Call them on 01 5446639 or find them on Deliveroo here . Urban Brewing, IFSC Urban Brewing , the IFSC brewery and restaurant are doing a regularly changing menu for delivery or collection featuring dishes like flatbreads, fish and chips and beer-brined chicken. They're also delivering a wide range of beers, including growlers (just under a litre), of their own brews, and there's some decent wines to be found there too, at equally decent prices. See here and here . Order online at www.urbanbrewing.ie/clickandcollect or call them on 01 5685989. Delivery is free from Dublin 1-8 with a minimum order of €20. Roly's Bistro, Ballsbridge Old school Ballsbridge bistro Roly's have moved with the times and are offering a collection and delivery menu, including meals to heat yourself at home. The menu isn't exactly earth-shattering, with options like fish pie, salmon with stir-fried noodles and vegetable and chickpea korma, but possibly one for the person who doesn't like their food "too fancy". Chilled meals, to cook yourself at home, are along with same lines, with things like braised beef and Guinness, chicken korma and lasagne. Call them on 01 6682611 or order on their website . BoCo North city centre pizzeria BoCo have always made their pizzas available for collection, but now they'll come to you too. They're doing pizza (numbered from 1-13, no fancy names here), sides including woodfired flatbreads and truffled mac n cheese, salads and desserts. Don't forget at least one dip for the crusts. Order from BoCo here . Featherblade Featherblade have joined the takeaway brigade in the past couple of days, meaning the lucky ones in their catchment area (around a 5k radius) can now get their 'Bacon Cheese Deluxe' beef burger with sugar pit bacon, aged cheddar and black garlic mayo on a brioche bun, or their 'Hot Stuff' chicken burger with hot sauce, slaw, pickles, blue cheese mayo and iceberg lettuce delivered straight to your door. Order here . Chimac Missing Chimac 's KimCheese burger, sriracha caramel nugs and ice-cream sandwiches? Us too. Lucky for all of us then that you can get it delivered or collect from the door if you're not city centre adjacent. It will be the best car picnic imaginable. Order by emailing info@chimac.ie or on Deliveroo . Slice, Stoneybatter Slice in Stoneybatter are operating a mainly sweet-based delivery and collection menu on Fridays and Saturdays for the time being. Minimum order for delivery is €30, and there's bread, cakes, cookies, pancakes and overnight oats to choose from, as well as bags of 3fe coffee. See the menu on their Instagram page and order by 5pm the day before by emailing slicedublin7@gmail.com. Ciamei Café, Blackrock Blackrock Italian Ciamei Café are offering delivery in the Blackrock area (as well as collection), with a selection of pizzas (€10), salads (€9) and pastas (€12) including pumpkin tortelloni with prawns, rocket and cherry tomatoes, and rigatoni with Italian sausage, mushroom and parmesan. They're operating Thursday - Sunday from 18:00 - 21:00 and you can order by calling 0868978418. The Cake Room The Cake Room in Blackrock are also offering delivery from Thursday - Sunday, with a menu of soups, stews, casseroles, sandwiches and salads. Not forgetting the all important cake. Check out that day's menu on their Facebook page and order by calling them on 0872508504. Lucky Tortoise Also new to the delivery game are dumpling, okonomiyaki and kimchi specialists Lucky Tortoise . You can order a condensed menu for delivery or collection here . Cirillo's Good news for Cirillo's fans (which seems to be all of you), their pizzas (and truffle aioli) are now available for delivery or collection from the restaurant. We very much recommend the Calabra with tomato sauce, mozzarella, nduja, Young Buck blue cheese & basil, or you can't go wrong with their classic Margherita, and truffle aioli is obviously non-negotiable. See their menu and how to order here . Shouk It's no secret that we think Shouk serves the most vibrant, joy-inducing Middle Eastern food in the city, and now you can get it delivered. Read our Shouk once over here . Order from them here . Coke Lane Pizza Coke Lane pizza have been killing it at The Circular in Rialto recently, so when the doors shut they switched to delivery. Get the 'Scarface' with ventricina, chillies and chili-infused Irish honey, or the 'Mrs Mia Wallace' with roasted chicken, smoked Irish bacon, rocket, parmesan and caesar sauce. Order from them here . Nightmarket, Ranelagh Thai restaurant Nightmarket is offering delivery within a 5km radius of their Ranelagh restaurant. It's the same extensive (often spicy) menu with a €2.50 delivery charge. See more information and their take-away menu here . Elephant And Castle Missing hot and spicy chicken wings? The good news is that Elephant and Castle are doing delivery. As well as the famous wings with blue cheese dressing, you can also have baby back ribs, Caesar salad and seven different types of burgers delivered to South County Dublin, Dublin 1, Dublin 2, Dublin 4, Dublin 6, Dublin 7 and Dublin 8. Order from Elephant and Castle here . Riba, Stillorgan Stillorgan restaurant Riba have reopened for delivery and collection only with a reduced menu. Regulars will be glad to know the Roaring Water Bay rope mussels with nduja and fennel cream are on there, as well as the fritto misto and the hand-rolled pappardelle with Italian sausage ragu and buffalo mozzarella. They're also offering their wine list at very sharp prices to drink at home. We would be going for a bottle of Jamsheed's 'La Syrah' at €32 for a weekend treat. They start tomorrow from 17:00 - 21:30 and orders can be placed by calling 01 2881999. One Society, Gardiner Street One Society have shut but are doing pizzas for delivery and collection from 16:30 - 21:00. Try the 'Sizzling Garlic Prawn' with Toonsbridge mozzarella, parma ham and fresh chilli, or 'The Farmers Wife' with Toonsbridge mozzarella, red onion, parmesan and slow cooked pulled brisket from the owner's sister’s farm. Order by calling them on 01 5375261 or find them on Just Eat here . Wallace's Asti, Drumcondra Wallace's Asti near Croke Park have a pizza collection and delivery service seven days a week covering a 2km radius from the restaurant, including Drumcondra, Fairview, Mountjoy Square and North Strand. See the menu here and order by calling 01 8847500. Lobstar, Monkstown Lobstar are doing a short, frequently changing takeaway and collection menu. No lobster on there unfortunately (for the moment anyway) but you can get a seafood chowder with homemade soda bread, oven baked salmon with lemony butter sauce and bread and butter pudding with vanilla custard. They're open Tuesday - Friday from 17:00 - 21:00, Saturday from 13:00 - 21:00 and Sunday from 13:00 - 20:00. There's no delivery charge but the minimum order is €25, and they're covering all surrounding areas including Monkstown, Killiney, Dalkey, Blackrock, Dun Laoghaire, Sandymount and Glasthule. See the menu and how to order here . Do you know any other great restaurants who've just started offering delivery? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

We're all aware of the importance of decent coffee, and one of the most challenging factors of the Covid crisis has been trying to fill the gap that has been left by the closure of our favourite coffee shops. However, slowly but surely there does appear to be some light at the end of this seemingly unending tunnel. With some clarification now afoot, a few of our favourite cafés have reopened their doors to satisfy the needs of the coffee craving public. Needless to say, all the (un)usual social distancing protocols apply. Two Boys Brew, Phibsboro Two Boys Brew has officially reopened this morning with breakfast, brunch, lunch and drinks to go, as well as all the baked treats and new products from Irish producers, like Ballymakenny Farm potatoes and Belview eggs. They're also selling their own granola, and have a new click and collect service on their website . They're hoping to introduce delivery soon too. Order in advance or when you get there, from Wednesday - Sunday, 08:00 - 15:30 with the kitchen closing at 15:00. Alma, Portobello In Portobello, Alma (those of the dulce de leche pancakes fame) reopened this week for take away coffee and cafes. There is also food collection and delivery, and yes the famous pancakes are on the menu - praise the Lord. Open Tuesday to Sunday 09:00 - 15:00. Saba, Baggot Street On the south side of the city, Saba on Baggot Street have opened a coffee hatch with McCabe’s Coffee from Wicklow and fresh Bread 41 pastries daily. You will find them from Wednesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 13:00. Groundstate Coffee On James’s Street in Dublin 8, Groundstate Coffee have reopened their doors daily from 09:30 to 14:30. Along with great coffee there's Firehouse Bakery bread, sandwiches, French toast to go and lots of treats to take away. Honey Honey, Portmarnock In Portmarnock, Honey Honey are open for business with coffee to go. There's also sandwiches, salads and treats to take away, but we're running there for the Bailies coffee - ideally with ice and a side of sunshine. Open from 08:00 - 14:00, Monday to Friday. Happy Out, Bull Island If you happen to be taking your daily constitutional on Bull Island, Happy Out is as perfect a stop off as you can imagine. The coffee comes by way of Roasted Brown and the toasties have something of a legendary following. Open from 10:00 - 16:00 Monday to Friday. Fallon & Byrne, Exchequer Street On Exchequer Street, Fallon & Byrne have coffee to go until 19:00 daily. The coffee is from 3fe so you know it’s going to tick the right boxes, and with town so quiet the queues are likely to be manageable. 3fe Five Points, Harold's Cross 3fe Five Points are open daily in Harolds Cross from 09:00 to 16:00 serving excellent 3fe coffee (obviously) and a selection of the good stuff they've become associated with. Clement & Pekoe, Blessington Street & South William Street On Dublin’s Blessington Street Clement & Pekoe are not just all about the tea, with coffee beans to take home from some unusual roasters including Climpson & Sons in London, Imbibe and Upside in Dublin, La Cabra in Aahrus and The Barn in Berlin. There are also two house espressos, filter coffees and kombucha available daily. Open Monday to Saturday 10:00 - 14:00. They're also looking into opening the South William Street branch so keep an eye on their social channels. Fia, Rathgar With Roasted Brown Coffee to go, Fia in Rathgar are open Friday and Saturday from 09:00 - 15:00. They have limited sandwiches and cakes available for takeaway, and you can expect them to go fast. Velvet Café, Portmarnock As of yesterday, Velvet Café have reopened their doors in Portmarnock with coffee and cake for all - featuring some of the best shortcrust pastry in town. Ours is a frangipane or a pear and almond tart, but the brownies are excellent too and the selection changes daily. Open from 10:00 - 15:30. Cinnamon, Ranelagh & Monkstown Both branches of Cinnamon reopened this week for take away coffee and goodies. There's a reduced food menu also available for collection, including their ever popular coronation chicken. Open daily from 12:00 until 21:00. Gerard's Deli In both Leeson Street and Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Gerard’s Deli has opened up shop again with 3fe coffee and sausage rolls galore. Open from 08:00 – 14:30. Marlowe & Co, Dublin 8 Neighbourhood grocery and coffee shop Marlowe & Co. in Dublin 8 are open from 08:00 - 13:00 with Ariosa coffee, Tartine pastries and everything you might need for an al fresco lunch later on. Storyboard, Islandbridge In Islandbridge Storyboard have reopened from 10:00 - 14:00 Thursday - Sunday, selling takeaway coffee & cake, as well as bread, eggs, their own sauces, cheeses, cured meats and vegetables from McNally Farm. Cloud Café, North Strand North Strand favourite Cloud Café are serving coffee, sandwiches, excellent cake and their famous power bowls to go. You can order in advance by calling them or face the queue when you get there. If it's sunny take your breakfast/lunch to Fairview Park and get a much needed dose of Vitamin D. Check their Instagram account for the menu.

While things aren’t back to normal yet (and won’t be for a looong time), the easing of certain social-distancing restrictions this week mean that some of us will have more access to the places we love and miss. Here are five things we want to eat this week to make life feel a little more normal... 1) Burnt Orange Curd Tart From Daddy's Open from 10:00 to 15:00 Wednesday to Saturday, Daddy’s has been brightening up our Instagram timeline with brunch classics and specials to-go from their café in Rialto. This orange curd tart looks like it might just make us forget about the real world for a few precious minutes. 2) The Lasagne Burger From Urbanity While this was a special from last week, we think Urbanity need to bring this back now that people within 5kms are able to get their mitts on it. It’s basically a big chunk of lasagne on buttery brioche. Filthy. 3) Antipasti Galette From Bread 41 Available to order this week, the antipasti galette from Bread 41 is packed with fresh cheese and jamon iberico, surrounded by flaky pastry. Breakfast, brunch, lunch, pre-dinner, dinner, snack, dessert - we can’t think of a time when we wouldn’t want to eat this. 4) Porchetta From Mister S The collection menu from Mister S is one of the best we’ve seen (and we've collectively had it three times already), and also probably the best value at €22 per person for three courses. Choose carefully and one of those courses could be this porchetta, cooked over their signature wood-fired grill. Even in lockdown, it’s perfectly acceptable to over-order for leftover sandwich purposes, yes? 5) Nduja Chicken Wings From Osteria Lucio We take a cautious approach to chicken wings here in ATF after many greasy, flaccid disappointments over the years. However, these wings which are available for delivery and collection from Osteria Lucio near Grand Canal Quay look like they pack a lot of promising heat. And surely an upside to lockdown is having fewer people to share your wings with?

Allta , Niall Davidson's city centre wine bar and restaurant, barely had four months of trading pre-lockdown, but the buzz was showing no sign of slowing down, so we're sure a lot of people will be very excited to hear that from midday today you can order an 'Allta box' for delivery, and have their charcuterie and pastas at home - and yes, the shiitake miso butter is included. It's a weekly subscription service that you can sign up to for a set period or on an ongoing basis, and it's €55 per box, which they say will feed two hungry people very generously. The contents of a typical 'provisions' box will include sourdough and shiitake miso butter, ventricina and McNally farm pickles, two pastas like Comeragh mountain lamb with seaweed pappardelle and Cáis ná Tíre, and broccoli sopressini with pumpkin seaweed miso and gemolata, and two desserts like Velvet Cloud sheep's yoghurt mousse with Ryan's rhubarb jelly, and pecan and oat cookie dough. Davidson says they think that Allta's bold flavours are better suited to a home delivery service involving a bit of "gentle cooking" rather than takeaway, and means that diners can choose how and when to eat the contents - whether that's all in one go or spread over a few days. The first Allta boxes go on sale at midday today and on each Saturday at the same time (for the duration of lockdown anyway), and will be delivered the following Thursday or Friday. They deliver nationwide and you can also buy it as a gift. There's only 100 boxes up for grabs each week so set your alarms to log onto www.allta.ie at 12pm if you want a piece of the action.