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The Stoneybatter Festival is back this weekend and the line up looks like the best one yet. There's a mammoth 120 events happening over three days, including a Southern Italian lunch at Grano , a tea party with Mrs Doyle (Pauline McGlynn herself), and a doggy brunch running the length of Manor Place. Residents and non-residents are invited for a celebration of all that’s good in the 'Batter hood, and even Michael D himself is dropping by. As one of the city's current food hotspots this is something you should definitely be getting involved in, and here's what we think you should make a beeline for... The Lilliput Pintxo Bar ​ The always inventive Lilliput Evenings will be turning Lilliput Stores in to a Wine and Pintxo Bar on the Friday and Saturday evenings. We haven't seen the menu but we're expecting the usual small plates and seasonal ingredients. And wine. Tavolo Social at Grano Stoneybatter’s favourite Nonna, Mamma Roma and the team at Grano are hosting Tavolo Sociale on Saturday - a 5 course family style Southern Italian lunch, served at communal tables. There are two sittings - 12:30 - 15:00, and 15:30 - 18:00. On Sunday they're doing pasta making demonstrations all day and serving Southern Italian Street Food. Tickets are €50 and can be booked through Grano. L. Mulligan Grocer's Cabaret Brunch L. Mulligan Grocer are holding a Cabaret-themed brunch with "glitz, glitter, music and a DIY Bloody Mary Bar" from 12:30 - 14:30. Tickets are €32 and include a Bloody Mary with all the trimmings, a full Irish (with vegetarian and vegan options available), and a dessert of apricot & white chocolate 'eggs' and dark chocolate brioche soldiers, all whilst being entertained by cabaret and burlesque performances. Get tickets here . The Food Village You'll need your blankets at the ready on Sunday for the Food Village on Manor Street, complete with picnic area. Stoneybatter and Manor Street will be pedestrianised for the day, and you'll find pastries from Scéal Bakery, seafood from Fish Shop and toasties from the Vegan Sandwich Company. Stoneybatter Farmer's Market is on in Pender's Yard as usual on Saturday and Sunday, and there'll also be a pig on a spit outside Mahon's Butchers. The Dog's Dinner Brunch Slice will have a table running the length of Manor Place where both you and your furry pal will be served brunch and cold refreshments, followed by a treat (for humans and canines). Tickets are €25 and can be booked here . The Touchy-Feely-Tasty-Smelly Disco Quiz There's a sensory food quiz with tasting and smelling questions at Lilliput Work and Welders from 14:00 - 16:00. Entry is €5 per person or €15 per family, and there's a prize for the best disco-dressed team. DJ Ed Smith will be playing disco tunes, and the rounds include general knowledge, tasting and smelling rounds. Email stoneybatterfood@gmail.com to register your interest. The Love Supreme Rave Be sure to look up for Charles & Anne from Koppi Fine Coffee Roasters in Sweden who will be DJing on the roof at Love Supreme like last year. What else is on? * Village Pizza are at The Belfry Friday night serving pizza and 2-for-1 Tikki cocktails * Vietnom will be at the back of The Glimmerman as usual with a side of "Dublin's randomest jukebox" inside * There's a pop-up Gaeltacht at Walsh’s Pub * Get Saturday off to a food start before all that food with 108 Sun Salutations Yoga at the TU Grangegorman Tennis Court at 11.00 * Farmer Eoin will have his working farm animals on Manor Street on Sunday from 12:30 - 17:00. * On Sunday morning Bí Urban are serving tea, toast and honey from the local 2019 crop, served on Green Door Bakery bread, with a side of environmental discussion * Father Ted’s Mrs Doyle aka Pauline McLynn will be pouring the tea and judging the best cake and biscuit at the Stoneybatter Bake Off, on Sunday from 15:00 - 16:00. And the drinks? One thing that Stoneybatter has in spades is pubs to suit whatever stage of humanity you find yourself at. From the proper old school charm of Walsh’s, the beyond categorization crazy at the Glimmerman (NB killer beer garden), to the hipster darling Belfry or food centric L.Mulligan Grocer. The Barbers in Grangegorman will be holding a busker competition and serving special gin and tonics, and. Kavanagh’s of Aughrim Street has organised a community defibrillator, in case the party gets out of hand. Stoneybatter Festival Fri 21st - Sun 23rd June www.stoneybatterfestival.ie

The Morrison Grill on Ormond Quay has created a €40 burger for National Burger Day , complete with wagyu beef, foie gras, truffle and gold leaf. The "La-Di-Da" burger will be served on a brioche bun with relish, hand cut triple cooked fries and fresh truffle shavings, and we can already hear the cries of how that imaginary animal is back and roaring. The Morrison Grill is the restaurant in The Morrison Hotel , and if your pockets aren't that deep they're also doing a two-for-one deal on their Angus steak burger, josper blackened chicken burger or Wagyu beef burger, usually €17-24 each. National Burger Day is this Thursday, 20th June, meaning you can get two-for-one burgers in loads of restaurants and takeaways around Dublin all day. Some of the places you might want to head for include 57 The Headline on Clanbrassil Street Lower, The Exchequer Gastropub , The Chophouse , The Counter Custom Burgers and Soma at The Spire . There are loads of fast food restaurants involved too, including Eddie Rockets, Captain Americas, Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Macari's. You can see the full list and search for places in your area on their website . www.nationalburgerday.ie

This weekend's reviews are a snapshot of the growing sense of excitement around Irish food, and the new restaurants taking the dining scene to a different level. We're more eager to eat out than ever before, the choice and quality of food on offer is becoming more electric by the day, and we're increasingly seeing Irish food recognised on a global level. Michelin seemed to have moved in recently , and we'll barely be able to cope with the anticipation leading up to this years' awards in Autumn. In the Irish Times , Catherine Cleary gets the first verdict in on Potager in Skerries, and it's a bold one, calling the tasting menu "the best money you’ll spend on food in Dublin". The menu, featuring predominantly food from North County Dublin, "the vegetable basket of Ireland", gave her all the feels, and their "delightful night" kicked off with potato bread and whipped smooth ricotta, with dark green lovage and chive pesto, which sounds like it would give Forest & Marcy's a run for its money. Snacks like crisp potato skins filled with cod's roe and chervil were "gorgeous things", fish cakes were "gobstopper-sized flavour bombs", and she loved everything about a Baby Gem lettuce soup with aerated cream and dehydrated bacon. Similar praise for smoked haddock, Armagh mushrooms served three ways and Howth crab with Rush tomatoes, and she ends by saying "I love Potager. It’s the best chef’s dream of his own place: all about the food rather than all about the chef". She gives them 9/10 and says Skerries has got itself a destination restaurant. Read her review here . Similarly strong statements from Leslie Williams in the Irish Examiner , who says Aimsir in Kildare "might be the most exciting Irish restaurant opening in a decade". The 18 courses from chef Jordan Bailey and team were too many to detail, but highlights included dehydrated and crisped violetta potato filled with garlic-infused Bán goat’s cheese, creamy, crispy milk-skin filled with pickled Chanterelles and St George’s mushrooms, and soda bread made with Guinness and treacle before being cooked in beef fat, with raw, salted butter. He singles out the juice pairing as being "as creative, complex and substantial as Jordan’s cooking", and says as the courses kept coming he felt akin to a new born baby: "new neural pathways were being created with each flavour, each building on the foundation of the previous one — as though my palate was being re-assembled anew — Aimsir is quite simply an exhilarating thrill-ride for the senses." He gives the food 9/10, and you can read the full thing here . From fine dining to fast food, Katy McGuinness in the Irish Independent is equally glowing about Chimac , the new Korean fried chicken spot on Aungier Street (read our Chimac once over here ). We knew they would have a head start into the critics' good books because of their commitment to free-range chicken, and Katy calls the decision "commendable". She thought the Kimcheese burger was "sweet, savoury and rather delicious" but would have liked a bit more of a kimchi kick, Korean hot wings were "vibrant, flavoursome, with great texture", and skin-on fries were as good as she's encountered anywhere recently ( we agree ). She reckons she could eat a lot of Chimac's food, and says that if they can use free-range chicken and still manage to be affordable, why can't others? Read her review here . In the Sunday Independent Lucinda O'Sullivan reckons she's unearthed another reason to head for Blackrock Market - Ciamei Cafe . She says the "buzzy, busy Italian" was full of Blackrock's finest, and their starter of fritto misto with lightly battered squid and prawns was "excellent". She's still dreaming about the pasta with blue cheese and walnuts, and spinach filled ravioli with tomato, basil and garlic sauce and Parmesan went down similarly well. Almond tart for dessert was "lovely", and she calls it "a delight". (Review not currently online) In the Sunday Business Post there's more rhapsodising over Irish food from Gillian Nelis, who was at Sage in Midleton trying their famous 12-mile menu . She calls it "a pretty spectacular experience", with standouts including fermented potato pancake stuffed with corned beef and cabbage, king oyster mushrooms with barley and fennel, and red gurnard tart with smoked bacon, apple and buttermilk - "one of the most sophisticated and original fish dishes I've had in years". She calls the food at Sage "incredible", and you can read the full thing here . In the Irish Daily Mail Tom Doorley was in The Yard in Wexford town, where he was lured in by a sign saying they had a kitchen garden (anyone else seeing a trend here?). A Thai beef salad was lacking in spice, but Toulouse sausages with mash and onion gravy (for the summer we're having) had "a Gallic simplicity and satisfaction". Battered lemon sole came with samphire and cubes of potato that tasted "potato-ish", and a steamed lemon pudding was the only real disappointment - "yellow, vaguely lemony, very sweet spongey stuff" - but it did come with "perfect" singed marshmallow and "lovely" ice-cream. Hot Portugese-style tarts were "wickedly lovely" and he appreciated the "generosity at work". (Review not currently online). Finally in the Sunday Times Ernie Whalley details a super cringe (for them) experience at The Fumbally which ended up with him walking out, before finding relief in the curries at Konkan on Clanbrassil Street. Read that here . More next week.

It's here people. We've been waiting and waiting, and the wine revolution is finally underway. This time last year it felt like there was hardly anywhere to get a decent glass of non-industrial wine in the city centre, but now we have Loose Canon , Frank's and First Draft all within spitting distance of Stephen's Green. A lot done, a lot more to do (like literally anywhere on the Northside), and if we could just do something about our horrifying alcohol taxes (we have the highest excise duties on wine in the entire EU) we'd all be able to put better stuff into our bodies, but that's for another day. For now, these are the best places to drink quality wine in Dublin... 1) Loose Canon If you're wondering what all the fuss is about natural wine, Loose Canon should be your first stop. From the same owners as everyone's favourite brunch spot Meet Me In The Morning , Loose Canon is modelled on the natural wine shop/bars that seem to be on every corner of Paris. They have a regularly changing by the glass list, or you can drink anything from the shelf at €10 corkage. Epic cheese toasties and small plates are also available, and you can carry on the party by buying more wine and cheese to take home. Read more about Loose Canon here . 2) Piglet The first city centre wine bar that got us properly excited, Piglet seemed like something of an outlier when it opened in Temple Bar in late 2015, and quickly became an industry favourite. The bottle list is where most of the interesting stuff is, so going with a gang of experimental friends is the way to go. There are few places we'd rather be on a sunny evening than at one of the outside tables sipping a white port and tonic. 3) Frank's The new kid on the block, Frank's opened in a former butcher's shop in May, with the controversial approach of selling good wine at inexpensive prices, starting at just €4.50 a glass, which is practically free by Dublin standards. It's from the same guys who own Delahunt a few doors down, and there's a focus on minimal intervention wine on tap and in bottle. It's open for drink in or take home from Wednesday to Sunday, with the kitchen serving inventive small plates every day except Wednesday. 4) First Draft Coffee & Wine Another much welcome newbie, First Draft Coffee & Wine opened last November, and it's safe to say it's the neighbourhood wine bar that Portobello was waiting for. Café by day, wine den by night, it's a super chilled place to hang out and drink wines made by real people with real (as opposed to made up for marketing purposes) stories. The usual small plates are available for satisfactory soakage, and you can buy wine to take home. Read more about First Draft here . 5) Fish Shop, Benburb Street Fish Shop Benburb Street (and their main restaurant on Queen Street) have been some of the best places to drink wine since they opened, due to having two of the most interesting lists in the city (plus sherry, there's nowhere near enough sherry in Dublin), but they've really upped the stakes with their new Monday Wine Club. Each week they pour a brilliant selection of wines at prices you won't see anywhere else, like €7.50 for a class of grower Champagne (the best of the best), which would be twice the price or more under normal wine margins. It's hard to even get a bog standard glass of prosecco for €7.50 these days, so if you have any sense you will drop all plans next Monday and go straight here.. 6) La Cave La Cave is one of the more old-school options in the city centre, but on a cold Winter's evening the cosy downstairs bar decked in red from top to bottom is a great place to shelter. They do a cracking crémant by the glass (similar to Champagne), and the bottle list is full of diamonds if you know what to look for. Staff will be happy to help you pick if not. 7) Green Man Wines Part award-winning shop, part much lauded wine bar, the €8 corkage on anything off the shelf makes this one of the best value places in the city to drink the really good stuff. The selection in here is second to none, and people travel from across the city to Terenure to buy and drink wine here. 8) 64 Wine Another diamond in suburbia, 64 Wine makes wine fiends everywhere severely jealous that they don't live in Glasthule. The shelves are crammed full of the best bottles currently available on the Irish market, and the staff are always dying to tell you the stories behind them. Like Green Man Wines, corkage on anything off the shelf is €8, which is increasingly better value the more expensive your taste. Just try to leave here without draining your bank account. We've found it impossible. 9) Little Mikes The little brother to seafood destination Michael's in Mount Merrion, Little Mike's appeared fully formed in May serving an eclectic wine selection and seafood small plates (and deep-fried gruyère - just as good as you are imagining). A regularly changing wine list with plenty of natural and unusual options (like Swiss wine and Californian trousseau gris) as well as Zalto glasses to drink them out of, make the southside an increasingly excellent place to find good wine. Read more about Little Mike's here . 10) Ely One of the originals on the Dublin wine scene, Ely has two locations - the corporate heavy Ely Bar & Grill in the IFSC, and the more chilled (but still a bit corporate) Ely Wine Bar on Ely Place off Baggot Street. In the past their by the glass list has been a bit safe for our liking, but the one in Ely Place is looking a lot more appealing these days, with some interesting sparkling and sherries by the glass. The hugely extensive bottle list is where it's at so it might be worth arriving early for a full peruse. 11) Beo Wine Bar + Kitchen A vegan restaurant in uber cool Stoneybatter might not be the first place you think of when you're thirsty for wine, but Beo Wine Bar + Kitchen has a very impressive wine list, thoughtfully selected with minimal intervention at the forefront of their thinking. Grab a stool at the bar, order a vegan cheeseboard (or not, your choice) and get stuck into it. Read more about Beo here . Did you miss any of your favourite wine haunts? Let us know by emailing info@alllthefood.ie.

The city centre has another place to head for when the sun comes out, as The Shelbourne has opened a new terrace in the middle of the hotel. It's up the stairs on the mezzanine area, and comes complete with umbrellas and heaters, for that unpredictable Irish summer, as well as sharing platters of Irish cheeses and cured meats. As well as the new terrace, they've also opened another bar next door, 1824, named for the year the hotel first opened. They're describing it as a "top shelf only", with high end spirits, cocktails and whiskeys, and say they wanted to merge the ambience of an Irish pub with that of a sophisticated cocktail bar. The terrace will open from May - September and can be booked, where 1824 is open all year round and doesn't take reservations, but having two extra drinking dens means that the queue to get into The Shelbourne at Christmas time might just move a bit faster next year. The Shelbourne Hotel 27 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2 www.theshelbourne.com

Even if it’s not sunny, which it won’t be for the majority of the summer, it is perfectly acceptable to consume iced drinks throughout June, July, August and that weird heatwave in September. Saying that, cold coffees in the city can come at a hefty price tag, some are definitely worth it and well, some are just bad coffee with ice in it. So here’s a list of our favourite places to get quality cold drinks in Dublin... Brother Hubbard Brother Hubbard serves classic iced coffee for those who want a no-fuss-I’m-too-hot-just-give-me-cold-caffeine. Try and nab a seat in their outdoor area for all the more reason to drink iced coffees, as it’ll probably be a balmy 16 degrees when you start to overheat. Vice Coffee Inc Vice Coffee’s Vietnamese iced coffee can fix any ailment. Yes it’s indulgent and yes, it’s perfect. If you haven’t tried condensed milk coffee, you’re missing out and need to fix that before everyone judges you mid-summer. Meet Me in The Morning Kind of like an evolved version of vietnamese iced coffee, the MMIM/Reference Coffee gang add some dulce de leche, caramelised condensed milk to their iced lattes. For when you’re feeling extra bougie and suffering from heatstroke and exhaustion. Clement And Pekoe Clement and Pekoe ’s outdoor bench is a fave people-watching spot of ours, if there’s any space. It’s also shaded so your lobster tinged skin can relax. They’ll put ice into any drink and you can now grab one from their new location on Blessington Street. You never really have to travel far for an iced coffee in Dublin, which is great because we’d all pass out otherwise. Proper Order's Chocolate Milk Yes this isn’t coffee, go on Twitter to complain about it. What it is, is the vastly improved chocolate milk of your childhood. Proper Order take chocolate ganache, top it with milk and shake it over ice, and they can even make it vegan if you ask. Groundstate Nothing says summer like Irish Rail pumping up the heating on their trains, so when you do finally emerge from the sweltering station mid-summer, trudge on over for cold coffee from Groundstate , because you made it this far, you deserve it. Happy Out Happy Out is a pretty dreamy spot to get an iced coffee after a long walk up to Bull Island, where it kind of feels like the participation medal after crossing the finish line. Find shade and shelter here while you rehydrate on coffee. Espresso and Tonic from Indigo and Cloth For something completely different, ditch the milk and try an espresso and tonic at Indigo and Cloth in Temple Bar. It's all the rage on the continent. The Affogato from Two Pups Think of it as a marriage between your childhood 99's and your adult craving for caffeine. Two Pups serve espresso over soft serve and it’s another one on the bucket list you need to try before word gets out and insanity ensues. Did we miss your favourite iced coffee? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

I think I can see it. It's here! Oh no it's gone again. Oh wait, it's coming back! Uh - no. False alarm. And therein lies the sounds of the Irish summer. So while we all wait impatiently to see whether the ex-Postman's predictions come true, we're focusing on all things bright, in the hope we can lure the summer to us... 1. Irish Trout with Textures of Corn from Nautilus The very under the radar Nautilus in Malahide are plating and photographing some spectacular looking dishes lately, including this Irish trout with textures of corn, avocado and lime purée and rice crackers. So many colours. That we need in our mouths. 2. The Loaded Batata from Alma Argentinean café Alma in Portobello are forever brightening up our feeds, this week with their loaded batata - grilled sweet potato topped with Argentine sausage ragu, lime sour cream, green peas, spiced nuts, fresh herbs and organic leaves, with a side of sourdough bread. So fresh. So clean. 3. The Duck Lasagne from Loretta's Has lasagne ever looked prettier? This housemade version with duck, parmesan sauce and basil from the new menu at Loretta's in Phibsborough is that perfect mix of something that looks semi-summery, but will also warm you up on a wet June evening. 4. The Buffalo Burrata at Crow Street Because what's better than burrata? Buffalo burrata. And we would happily eat cheese for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Plus the edible flowers at Crow Street look great on the 'gram. 5. The Tres Leches Cake from The Taphouse The new "tres leches" dessert at The Taphouse in Ranelagh is so bright it's practically shining. The Mexican three layered cake comes with white chocolate, salted caramel brittle and a pistachio crumb, and if we didn't want to eat it so much we might wear it for a bit of bling.

A bit of a surprising start to the weekend with Catherine Cleary in the Irish Times giving a kicking to Circa in Terenure. After nothing but glowing reviews so far, this was a bit of an unexpected one, and it sounds like she was in a bad mood from the start, referring to how "hipster creep" - harsh - is blurring the border between Dublin 6 and 8, and the fact that the bartender had a man bun. She thought the buttermilk battered rabbit was "beyond bland", pig belly "spongy and flavourless", and ray wing "watery and flaccid". Zero holding back then. She says she's bewildered by the lack of flavour, and cites the food provenance as "minimal" , which seems odd considering they've been quite vocal about all of the Irish produce they're using, something that's been noted in other reviews. This one has already ruffled a few feathers, with one critic, who previously gave the food 9/10, showing up last night in support of said man bun, but we hear that customers were also calling the restaurant yesterday to show their support and disagree with the mighty one, and at the end of the day, that's who a restaurant lives or die on. She gives them 6/10 and you can read the review h ere . In the Irish Independent Katy McGuinness took a trip to free-range (soon to be organic) egg farm Magner's in Tipperary, and they fed her scones so good she had to see where they came from. Off she went to Dooks Fine Foods in Fethard, where a lamb, sunflower seed and lovage burger had "good flavour", sausage rolls were "excellent", and rhubarb cheesecake, flourless chocolate cake and carrot cake were "all quite lovely". She gives the food 8/10 and you can read her review here . In the Daily Mail Tom Doorley marvels at how Ireland is becoming such a cosmopolitan, multi-cultural country, after a Palestinian feast at Izz Café in Cork. The family behind it spent a year and a half in direct provision, before starting to sell their food at Mahon Point Market, and they've just opened their own bricks and mortar site, complete with Darina Allen to cut the ribbon (cue lump in throat). Safe to say he loved it - the hummus was "proper", baba ghanoush "light and fluffy", and stuffed vine leaves were "freshly lemony". Baby aubergines stuffed with walnuts were "rather lovely", tabouleh was authentic, and puffed manaeesh flatbreads topped with beef and chicken were "perfectly pillow-shaped", with yoghurt and pomegranate seeds on the side "an attractive foil". Desserts were enjoyable but heavy and very sweet, and he was suitably impressed that the spread for two came to just €50. (Review not currently online) In the Sunday Independent Lucinda O'Sullivan says she found "bliss by the sea" at The Bayview Hotel in East Cork (the lady loves a hotel). She says head chef Kieran Scully is "under the radar in the shouty, show-off social-media cheffy stakes of today" (sounds of an axe being ground) and says his food his food is "top notch on all levels". She loved her ray with salsify and rhubarb, as well as "impressive" lamb breast, "superb" pan-fried John Dory and confit duck legs "falling off the bone". Hazelnut semifreddo for dessert was also "superb", as was the wine. (Review not currently online) In the Irish Examiner Joe McNamee was at Everetts in Waterford, which he says is serving "the best food in Waterford". High praise for whipped Knockalara sheep’s cheese rolled in wild garlic with roast red pepper puree and violet artichokes, and Wexford scallops in chicken jus with braised Andarl farm pork belly and pickled dried apricot; "mollifying pea puree smoothing over boisterous notes in the liaison" - the line of the week. Slow cooked shoulder of Comeragh lamb rolled in lemon, parsley and garlic with pearl barley and lamb jus won the battle of the mains, and the cheeseboard took no prisoners with "sweet, salty crozier blue, rich, creamy Ballylisk triple rose, from Co Antrim, and a bolshie honking Époisse". He calls it a "cracking little restaurant", but reckons they could dial it up to 11, and if they do, "we'll be talking about a true national contender". Read his review here . In the Sunday Business Post Gillian Nelis is lamenting the lack of value at The Green Barn in Burtown House, Kildare. Her €77 car crash lunch included less than generous starters, an hour-long wait for a main of pork that still had the string on it, and children at the next table at breaking point due to long wait-inflicted starvation. She took exception at paying €10 for a small lime and coconut slice and an americano, calling them "city centre prices", and says that while the grounds and all the talking about growing their own might be lovely, if they can't service the room, do justice to the ingredients and provide fair value, "what's the point?". Read that here . Finally in the Sunday Times , Ernie Whalley was at Michelin-starred Ichigo Ichie in Cork, and says if you're interested in food you should save up, sell your second car or empty your children's piggy bank to get there. Read that here . More next week.

Storyboard , the neighbourhood café in Islandbridge, Dublin 8 are trialling wine nights, starting tonight. The team behind it think there's a gap in the area for casual food and drinks in the evening, and the new menu will consist of small plates like Young Buck cheese croquettes and pork gyoza, with a short wine list. Chef Mark Butler says the evening menu revolves around his own experience with French and Asian cuisine, and wants to serve people food that they want to eat more of. Other dishes on the menu include Ssamjang spuds with scallion and sriracha mayonnaise, chicken yakitori with teriyaki sauce and crispy chicken skin, and kimchi and mushroom gyoza. Wines have been picked to match with the dishes, and there are eight on the short list. Storyboard's first wine night starts tonight at 18:30 with last orders for food at 21:00. They're not taking reservations so it's walk in only. Once they get up and running they hope to open from Thursday to Saturday. Keep an eye on their social media for updates. Storyboard Clancy Quay, Islandbridge, Dublin 8 www.storyboardcoffee.com

There will be some very happy heads this weekend, some not so happy ones, and some probably mortified ones. Let's just say if you shout about the fact that you're doing something, you better actually be doing it. Somewhere that clearly is doing what they say they are is Little Mike's i n Mount Merrion, the new wine bar with mainly seafood small plates from the same guys behind Michael's , a few doors down. No surprise that like Tom Doorley last week , Leslie Williams in the Irish Examiner loved it, giving the food 9.5/10 and calling it "some of the very best seafood cooking in the country". No disagreements from us . He loved it all - the wines, the zaltos, the whelks, the fact that much of it was breathing just a few hours previously. John Dory was "crisp-grilled, succulent, and just-cooked", fish cakes were "rich and packed with sweet fish", and mussels and crab claws were "tender and flavourful". He ends by saying that Little Mike's may have been opened to take some pressure off the main restaurant, but he thinks it's going to be so busy that owner Gaz Smith may have to buy the whole street. Read his review here . In the Irish Daily Mail, Tom Doorley was at Elephant and Castle in Monkstown to see if their famous chicken wings still lived up to expectations. With a headline saying "We need to talk about the Elephant in this Castle", we thought they were in for an attack on the fact that their chicken wings aren't free-range (the menu doesn't even say if they're Irish), but after reading it several times we're still unclear what the elephant was. He thought the wings were as good as ever, but spare ribs were "pedestrian" with a "why" flavour combination of molasses and ginger". Main courses were "eminently edible" - yum - with salmon and Irish lamb both cooked perfectly, but a calamari salad was "tedium". An ice-cream sundae for dessert was "splendidly old-fashioned", but a slice of lemon tart, complete with soggy bottom, was so bad he couldn't believe it had been let out of the kitchen. So overall a decent meal, but a bit of a letdown from that tease of a headline. (Review not currently online) Onto the more awkward. In the Irish Times Catherine Cleary says that healthy fast food chain Leon in Temple Bar made her feel sad, and calls it "food served up by an algorithm". Major cringe reading about the "Oirish" schtick on the walls, like a poster of organic milk from Donegal accompanied by the quote "if it’s good enough for wee Daniel". Dying. Food ranged from "bland and mushy" sweet potato falafel, to "juicy and flavourful chilli chicken", but she couldn't get past her irritation at the supposedly sustainable organisation serving everything in disposable (albeit compostible) containers. Things then took a bad turn into morto-ville, when she realised that they were tipping everything into the same bin, and that it was also going into general refuse sacks, presumably destined for a general rubbish tip. She also comments on the "vague" provenance of the "Irish" ingredients, something we were told would be revealed in the coming weeks when we wrote about the opening here . Not sure what the logic is behind keeping that a secret. She says she's sure the food is healthy, but she's not sure the model of "insatiable global expansion" is. Read about her sadness-tinged lunch here . In the Sunday Times , Ernie Whalley slates the food at new high-end Chinese The Old Post Office in Blackrock, saying it lacks authenticity, and calling it gutless and insipid. We're gagged from going into more detail but read it here . From what we've heard there may be another iteration of the same coming next week. After Catherine Cleary's 9/10 two weeks ago in the Irish Times , Aimsir are back with another two knock out reviews, from Lucinda O'Sullivan in the Sunday Independent and Gillian Nelis in the Sunday Business Post . Lucinda says it's clear that head chef Jordan Bailey isn't after just one star, he's used to three, and she calls each course an "Instagrammable gem", with the artisan cutlery and tableware worthy of a separate article. Standout dishes for her included milk skin rolls filled with mushrooms, Dublin Bay skate with with three-cornered leek and chicken butter sauce, and Achill mountain mutton shoulder, and she thought €105 for the tasting menu was "bargain basement" for the experience. She advises getting there fast before they get the stars (that's stars , plural) and the price trebles. (Review not currently online). Very similar sentiments from Gillian, who said she thought it was going to be a pretentious nightmare, but found it "lovely", and far exceeding her expectations. Dishes ranged from the "really good to the sublime", with highlights including Drummond House asparagus grilled over turf, in a hazelnut miso paste with nettle and chamomile flower sauce, and the soda bread cooked with beef fat, black treacle and Guinness, with salty butter from Tipperary - "heaven". The wine list also gets a rare 5/5 from Tomas Clancy who calls it "impeccable". Read the review here . Finally in the Irish Independent , Katy McGuinness was at Myrtle in London, the new restaurant from Dubliner and ex-Gordon Ramsay protégé Anna Haugh, finding the food "properly tasty", "impeccable" and at times "perfection". Her signature desserts including buttermilk panna cotta with rhubarb jelly and cinnamon doughnuts were "immaculate", and although lunch felt expensive, she calls it "top-class cooking". Read that here . More next week.

There’s an obligation in Ireland to constantly chit chat about the weather, while only dreaming of the Spanish sun splitting the rocks. That, and whenever the sun finally emerges, everyone must go outside and do something, anything. When the heat hits, beer gardens heave from 5.01pm onwards, every square inch of the beach is taken up while our pasty, pasty complexions bake in the sun, all of us collectively forgetting about sunscreen and water, instead relying on fizzy alcohol for hydration. This is why we shouldn’t go outside. But anyway, for when you do manage to venture outside, get too hot and don’t know what to do with yourself, here is a list of places to eat and drink to cool yourself down. 1) Sophie's Sophie’s rooftop bar is one of the best places to go for a drink on a sunny day, with views across the city. Just remember to hold onto the swing with both hands when you’re taking pictures. 2. Osteria Lucio Ross Lewis’ Italian restaurant Osteria Lucio looks over the open space of the Grand Canal, meaning you can eat your handmade pasta and pizza in the sun, and walk off your sun stroke afterwards. 3. The Seafood Café We’re stating the obvious here, but Irish people don’t eat enough seafood. Sitting outside The Seafood Cafe is the place to break that bad habit this summer. 4. Eatyard Even though Eatyard 's outdoor dining area usually gets mobbed on Friday and Saturday nights, during the day you can hit the sweet spot of breathing space, food and pints. And shade in The Bernard Shaw. 5. Las Tapas de Lola Speaking of the Spanish sun, what better way to feed that delusion than on the terrace of tapas joint Las Tapas de Lola on Camden street, eating olives and sipping fino. 6. Gaillot et Gray The hipster family dining staple on Clanbrassil street, a familiar vibe in their back garden and it’s a great summer feed. Pizza is the perfect food in hot and cold weather, and Gaillot et Gray 's never disappoints. 7. Octopussy's Seafood Tapas Start with a walk to the lighthouse in Howth, then go for seafood tapas in Octopussy's once you're at boiling point - be sure to order a few plates, you’ve earned it. Besides, if you’re not eating fish in Howth, you’re doing it wrong. 8. Jam Park Bodytonic’s new adult creche Jam Park is ticking all the boxes for summer eating and drinking with rooftop bars and free refills on some cocktails. Play in a safe and controlled environment where your family don’t need to worry about you. 9. The Belfry Stoneybatter is turning into the perfect neighbourhood on a hot day. The Belfry ’s outdoor seating and pizza from the Village Pizza offers another staple spot. 10. Loose Canon Loose Canon is right in the centre of town, making it an easy pitstop for any city trips. Offering charcuterie and cheese, cool wine, the odd controversial toastie and more, all with a romantic summer vibe. Bagsy the bench outside, or just stand on the street with wine in hand, living your best life. 11. The Cake Café A cool inner-city oasis, with leafy outside area. Invite your friends to The Cake Café and live the high life pretending you can afford a garden while renting in the city.

Things have been looking a bit bleak on the front lines of the industry this week. With the news of restaurants closing and beer gardens in danger it’s hard to know how many will survive the summer. But there’s hope to be the found with the return of the Flea Market and everyone spicing up their lives at the weekend, ensuring that the city will be haunted by bits of glitter forever. Whatever happens life must go on, and food must be eaten, and this is what's making us hungry this week. 1. The KimCheese Burger from Chimac The new Korean fried chicken restaurant opens on Aungier Street this Friday, and it’s safe to say we have the arrival of their KimCheese burger with ssamjang & cheddar cheese sauce, spring onion kimchi and gochujang mayo engraved onto our calendar. Read more about Chimac here . 2. The Pizza Special from Cirillo’s Any weather is pizza weather, and Cirillo’s pizza special with marinated tuna, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and grilled aubergine has us intrigued. 3. The Summer Salad from The Old Spot This simple salad from The Old Spot with heirloom tomatoes, burrata, wild garlic crisps and leaves is pretty much our ideal supper for the rest of the summer. 4. Amritsari Fish from Pickle Pickle have been working on bringing back lost recipes from north Indian cuisines, and the latest is Amritsari fish. Fried John Dory is spiced with chilli and lime and served with raita, crab chutney and carrot pickle. History on a plate. 5. This Riff on a Brunch from The Cliff Townhouse It’s turning into ice cream weather and we’re definitely seeing a theme with nostalgic desserts going into the summer. The Cliff Townhouse have joined the pack with their interpretation of a brunch ice-cream, and we need it in our lives.

It's the organic Italian wine cooler that's become a cult drink in New York and London and counts Kayne West, Rihanna and DJ Khaled amongst its fans, and last week Ramona arrived in Dublin. Created by US sommelier Jordan Salcito, Ramona is described as "the organic, Italian wine spritz that doesn't need a glass, a bottle opener or an occasion to drink it", and has been a surprise hit amongst wine circles since it launched in 2016. Made from muscat grapes from Sicily and flavoured with natural ruby grapefruit juice and grape must, it's a little bit sweet and a little bit bitter - a bit like Lilt for grownups - and at 7% alcohol it's what we'd call "sessionable". Creator Salcito never liked beer so wine coolers ended up being her entry level into drinking wine, and a few years ago she decided she wanted to bring them back, but cooler. Ramona's been a surprise hit, particularly as wine in a can doesn't conjure up the most positive images, but its fans range from celebrities to winemakers in Burgundy, and it's been featured everywhere from Eater , to Forbes , to Vogue , and more recently in The Irish Times . Ramona is available to drink now in 777 , First Draft , Isabelle's , The Devlin , Gertrude , Coppinger Row , The Tap House and Jam Park . You can buy it to take home at First Draft, Deveney's in Dundrum , The Coach House , Redmonds and Dollard & Co . You'll also find it at Eatyard's Cheese and Wine Festival in the Iveagh Gardens in August. Find out more about Ramona at drinkramona.com.

Chimac , Dublin's first Korean fried chicken restaurant, opens this Friday on Aungier Street, with crispy chicken in sriracha caramel, kimchi and gochujang chicken burgers, and Teddy's ice cream cookie sandwiches for dessert. Owners Sofie Rooney and Garret Fitzgerald have spent the past two years perfecting their recipe, and finding the right city centre site, and after a multitude of building delays (what's new) they're finally opening this Friday. Both have a background in restaurants, here and in San Francisco, which is where they fell in love with Korean fried chicken. After a trip to Seoul in 2016 and a move back to Dublin, they decided the city needed the spicy, sweet and salty chicken that they couldn't stop thinking about. They sealed the deal with a research trip to Korea last November where they tried 30 different variations over a few days, and Sofie calls the end result "a tribute to Korea's national pastime reimagined in an Irish context". She says that they're not striving for true authenticity as Chimac's menu is "uniquely Irish, shaped by both local produce and our own cultural experiences", but one that they hope does justice to the original. Chimac is aiming to be fun and casual without the stereotypical fast food image. Chicken is Irish and free-range, with other ingredients mostly Irish too, and sauces and pickles are made in house. There's also going to be wine slushies and a local craft beer list, which we hear is the perfect accompaniment for hot, crispy, spicy fried chicken. Chimac opens at 12:30 on Friday, and you can see the full menu below. Chimac 76 Aungier Street, Dublin 2 Sun - Mon 12:30 - 21:30. Tue - Wed 12:30 - 22:00. Thu - Sat 12:30 - 22:30. Ph: +353 1 4054960 www.chimac.ie

Feast , the former Dun Laoghaire bistro which moved to Golden Lane in the city centre last year, has closed its doors, and is offering either the business or its lease for sale. An ad on Google states that it's being offered fully equipped and that the initial investment was €230,000. A listing on Daft is offering the lease alone for €89,000. Feast opened in Dun Laoghaire in 2017 and got off to a good start, with Catherine Cleary in the Irish Times calling it "a find in a food dessert", urging people to visit and "keep the light burning in this lovely little place". In 2018 they moved to Golden Lane off Aungier Street, and Cleary was back again , saying that despite some quips she had a hopeful feeling about it. Ernie Whalley also gave them a positive review in the Sunday Times , but did add that he felt "a touch uneasy. This venue has hosted a number of incumbents over the years, yet none seems to have made the place “a destination"." Despite being awarded a Michelin plate for good cooking, the tone from Feast seemed to be increasingly desperate over the past year, with a new brunch menu featuring unlimited cocktails for €14.90, and the same deal being offered on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. A post on the restaurant's Facebook page in March stated that it was under new management, but just over two months later the doors have been shut for good. Warnings were widespread earlier this year that the VAT increase was going to be the final nail in the coffin for a lot of already struggling restaurants in Ireland, particularly in the capital where openings are back to boom time numbers . Award-winning Luna's closure last week has been the shock of 2019 so far, but we imagine there are more to come.

It's been a successful weekend for restaurant reviews, with barely a bad word said about anyone - apart from a lack of provenance info (when will they learn) and some overly rich pasta ( FWP ). There was also an interesting piece in the Irish Times yesterday about the current state of the Dublin restaurant scene and how we're back to boom time opening numbers. We say bring it on. Keep the tide rising. The struggle to get bookings in places like Etto , Variety Jones and Liath shows that the appetite is there when somewhere is at the top of its game, and new openings force everyone to try harder and go further, which is only good news for diners. Speaking of Liath , in the Irish Independent Katy McGuinness calls it "the best eating bargain in the country", at €78 for eight courses of "vivid", "luxurious", "intensely flavoursome" food. She says that while previous co-owner Andrew Heron leaving came as a shock, the new incarnation seems "less challenging, less try-hard, more confident". We recommend reading the descriptions of the dishes, just in case you're not already desperate enough to go, but the "spring salad" with a cured duck egg and a cigar of pancetta and lardo from a mangalitsa pig, Comeragh lamb with wild herb butter, and L'Etivaz with clementine and preserved walnut sound particularly good. She gives it a perfect score of 10/10 for food ambience and value, and advises trying to go before October when the new Michelin guide comes out, and Grey inevitably gets his star back. Solid advice. Read her review here . More applause from Tom Doorley for Little Mike's , the new southside wine bar from the guys behind Michael's . He says he left "enchanted", and was struck by the "orchestration" of flavours and textures on the plates. They opted for the somewhat scary looking Lambay Island whelks that owner Gaz has been touting all over twitter, and loved them in their ginger, garlic and lemon butter on toast. Turbot with salsa verde was "exquisite", and fried Gruyère with honey and onions produced an in-text exclamation of "Oh what a dish"! A seafood plate with Howth lobster, prawns and squid was "heaven", and on it goes. He calls Little Mike's "a delight" and says it's made life in Dublin that much better. (Review not currently online) In the Irish Times Catherine Cleary took a solo trip to new sustainable café INK in Dun Laoghaire, after all of her usual dining buddies were otherwise engaged, and it was mostly a success. She liked the room, but was surprised by the "meat-heavy" menu, and wouldn't touch the "Irish chicken" as there was no mention of free-range or organic - how are we still having the provenance needed conversation? Surely it's in the new restaurant opening handbook? Basil kombucha was nice but sweeter than the norm, a potato and green vegetable soup had "proper homemade flavour", and sourdough toast was "excellent". She seemed to like a fish finger butty too, particularly the house ketchup, but the breading on the fish was over salted. An orange and cranberry cake for dessert was "fine" but dry, needing some cream, yoghurt or syrup, and overall she calls it "a good start with the promise of great things to come". She gives it a score of 7/10 and you can read the full review here . In the Sunday Independent Lucinda O'Sullivan was eating in a hotel again, this time The Dylan, and the newly revamped The Eddison . She calls chef Paul Quinn's food "on trend, with cool contemporary plates", delivering not just on presentation but on flavour. Her grilled asparagus to start with was "perfectly cooked" with smoked duck, crispy poached egg (that's a new one) and truffle mayo, while chicken ravioli were "bursting with flavour". No word on whether it was free-range. Roast quail was "perfect pink and silky", and Lucinda's scallops came with her all time favourite accompaniments of capers and raisins. She doesn't actually say if she liked them but it sounds positive. A blood orange cheesecake mousse for dessert was "divine", and she says she'll be back to try the goat's cheese souffle. Clearly she hasn't read Ernie Whalley's review of The Eddison, and that soufflé. (Review not currently online) In the Sunday Business Post Gillian Nelis was at Sandymount's (sort of) new kid on the block, Crudo , which is basically Dunne & Crescenzi 2.0 from the next generation. She says they've refreshed it "brilliantly", and it's a succession of praise, with seabass crudo having a "great balance of flavours", buffalo burrata "creamy and sensuous", and pan-fried skate with mussels, capers and herbs "very well-cooked". The only slight letdown was the spaghetti with nettle salsa bianca, confit egg yolk and aged ricotta, which we've been lusting after for weeks, but which she found "a bit too heavy". Desserts and service also impressed, and she congratulates the team on a well executed update. Read her review here . In the Irish Examiner Joe McNamee was at 30-year-old Ristorante Rinuccini in Kilkenny, where the whole family was impressed by the "subterranean intimacy" of the cellar dining room, the tables "dressed to the nines" and the tuxedoed waiters. He says Rinuccini may not be part of a "new vanguard of Italian cuisine but that’s perfectly fine", with standouts (of many) including calamari and zucchini fritti with a silky lemon and anchovy aioli, and ravioli with gorgonzola and walnuts. Spaghetti with Kilmore Quay prawns, garlic, tomato, basil and chilli was "a simple treatment of good produce resulting in an elemental splendour", but duck came in an orange and liquor sauce that was "overly thin and sharp". Tiramisu was a contender for the definitive one in the country, and he says Rinuccini "delivers superbly a roster of traditional dishes, a strong hand further emboldened by the use of excellent Irish ingredients". Read his review here . Finally in the Sunday Times , Ernie Whalley found the restaurant he was trying to visit closed, so ended up in Damascus Gate in Terenure, where he found good value and interesting flavours. Read his review here . More next week.

Dublin's newest Chinese restaurant opens tonight, and the prices are not for the financially challenged. The Old Post Office (named for the building it's housed in), which has reportedly cost €1.6m to open, bills itself as an "authentic Sichuan" restaurant, with a lunchtime set menu at €45, and evening set menus from €70 - €120. Á la carte prices are equally punchy, with a starter of panko coated cod fillet in garlic sauce €22, and a cornfed chicken breast in Sichuan chilli sauce for €32. Rice is an extra €5. Four chefs have been recruited from the Sichuan province in China by the unnamed Chinese owners, with head chef Yu Shuchen formerly working as a tutor in a catering school. Despite the Sichuan sentiments, much of the menu features dishes more usually featured in Cantonese cuisine, like spare ribs, roast duck and pancakes, and beef in black bean sauce. Granted it's Skeaghanore duck and Hereford beef, but this is not straight out of downtown Chengdu. Manager Paul Malone has a background in five-star hotels like the Four Seasons, and more recently The Marker and The Iveagh Garden Hotel, and says he's not worried about a backlash to the prices, as once people taste the quality of the food and see all of the detail in the restaurant, from the oil paintings on the walls to the french cutlery and china on the table, they'll know it was worth the money. Considering that the tasting menu at (formerly and hopefully soon to be again Michelin-starred) Liath is €78, and the four course menu at two-starred Patrick Guilbaud is €135, prices seem ambitious for a chef team with no existing national or international aclaim, but the restaurant is already booked out for night one, with the team "inundated" with enquiries since media coverage started yesterday. We know at least two national critics are booked in this week (but our bet is on more), so expect some verdicts soon on whether it's worth the price tag. The Old Post Office Old Post Office, Blackrock Main Street, Co. Dublin 01 5559991 www.oldpostofficeblackrock.ie

Little Mike's , the neighbourhood wine bar from the team behind southside seafood mecca Michael's , opens tomorrow, with small plates, all the wine, and an interior that's designed to look like the inside of an oyster. Little Mike's is just a few doors down from Michael's, in what was formerly a café, meaning chef/owner Gaz Smith can split his time between the two. It will also give Michael's somewhere to send customers when the main restaurant is full or there's a wait for a table, and it's a much needed addition to the list of counter dining spots in the capital. The oyster-themed design was done by Kate Hartley Design , who also did the fit out for The Sitting Room bar at Delahunt , and the recently revamped Ukiyo . Gaz says he wants Little Mike's to be more drinks led, and about small plates of great food. Less of a three course meal experience, and more about "smashing a bottle of wine over a plate of seafood and charcuterie". Michael's manager Talha has spent months designing the wine list, and they've invested in Zalto wine glasses (some of the most fragile and expensive on the market), with the caveat that if you break it, you'll get a plastic beaker next time (tbc on whether they'll follow through on that). Wines will rotate regularly, and as with the main restaurant, the menu will be focused mainly on seafood, as well as other Irish, seasonal produce. Expect more Lambay crab, Irish Lobsters and Dublin Bay prawns, as well as Inch black pudding, vegetables from growers like Ballymakenny Farm and Drummond House and beef from Rick Higgins butchers. They'll also have Irish cheese and charcuterie platters. Since Gaz Smith took over Michael's two years ago, transforming it from neighbourhood Italian to Irish seafood destination, it's become one of the most popular restaurants on the Dublin dining scene, with people travelling from across the city to eat some of the freshest seafood in the capital and drink some of the most interesting wines. Now they have a second reason to head for Mount Merrion. Little Mike's opens tomorrow and bookings are now open here . Little Mike's 63 Deerpark Road, Mount Merrion, Co. Dublin Thu - Sun 12:00 - 22:00 Ph: 01 2780377 www.littlemikes.ie

Leon , the UK-based, feel good fast food chain opens it's first Irish location in Temple Bar at 12:00 tomorrow, and is giving away free lunch to the first 100 people through the door. Leon says it's committed to "honest, natural food", with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options at a reasonable price. The menu is broadly Mediterranean based, with burgers, meatballs, salads and wraps, and it's one of the healthier high street food options in the UK. The Temple Bar site is Leon's first in Ireland, but it's safe to assume that a wider roll out is planned. Leon was founded in the UK in 2004 and now has 63 locations - the majority are in the UK but they also have some in Norway, the Netherlands and have recently opened their first in the US in Washington D.C. Their restaurants use sustainable energy, and the majority of packing is compostable or recyclable. Like BuJo in Sandymount, they're one of the few fast food outlets to hold a three-star rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association , and were one of the founding members. Leon opens tomorrow, Wednesday 15th of May at 12:00, with the first 100 people through the door getting a free lunch. They say they're expecting a crowd so advise arriving early. Leon 17 Crown Alley, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 Mon - Wed 07:30 - 19:00. Thu - Sat 07:30 - 22:00. Sun 09:00 - 19:00. leon.co/ie

With so many openings to come over the next couple of months, including some new wine bars to spend the evening in (don’t worry, we’ll keep you posted), Dublin is going to be an exciting place to be this summer, with lots of extra places to visit. To get ourselves into the mood for the season of wining, dining and all the outside pints, we’ve compiled a list of 5 things we want to eat this week, all pretty "extra" themselves. 1. The Summer Truffle Cacio e Pepe at Crudo This is the dictionary definition of extra. Cacio e pepe is already extra, what with it only being made of pasta, cheese and black pepper, but then they went and added truffle. We keep hearing great things about Crudo and this is right at the top of the "to eat when we get there" list. 2. The Basil Chorizo Bowl from Sprout We love seeing a food business that grows their own food and works with local producers like Sprout . Their early summer menu launched last week and features the new ‘Basil Chorizo’ salad with roasted Lilliput chorizo, Sprout farm greens, bulgur wheat, buffalo cauliflower, roasted peppers, red onion, red cabbage, basil and garlic balsamic dressing. Summery vibes. 3. The Butterscotch Cream Doughnut from Reference Coffee Just think about that rare, perfect moment sitting outside Reference Coffee with one of these bad boys in hand on a sunny day, maybe with one of their dulce de leche iced lattes in the other hand. It's the sugar rush you know you deserve. 4. The PB&J from Mr Fox Mr Fox is known for their nostalgic desserts, and their peanut butter and jelly (known in this country as jam) dessert is no different, with peanut butter semi freddo, raspberry sorbet and peanut feuilletine crunch. This might be a bit different from what your Mom used to make you after school (or was that only in US teen sitcoms?) but this is sure to bring you back. 5. All the Seafood from Michael's Speaking of openings, Michael’s has a baby brother as of tomorrow in the form of Little Mikes - read about it here . Let’s face it, getting to Mount Merrion is a trek from practically anywhere in Dublin, and even though the seafood platter from Michaels is the shining light at the end of the tunnel, there’s now the added bonus of an adjoining wine bar for a pit stop beforehand.

Dax has been named "Best Restaurant in Dublin" at last night's Irish Restaurant Awards, with head chef Graham Neville also named best chef in Dublin and Ireland. Best restaurant in Ireland went to Loam in Galway. The Old Spot were other big Dublin winners on the night, taking home gastropub of the year for Dublin and Ireland, with manager Denise McBrien picking up Best Restaurant Manger in Dublin. Uno Mas were named Best Newcomer in Dublin, while 777 took home best casual dining in Dublin and Ireland - read what we thought of 777 here . 3 Leaves in Blackrock (below) were named "Best World Cuisine" for Dublin and Ireland, and you can read our 3 Leaves once over here . Other winners included Green Man Wines for "Best Wine Experience" in Dublin and Ireland, Old Street in Malahide (below) for "Best Kids Size Me" Dublin and Ireland, and Luna for "Best Customer Service" in Dublin. Two Pups took home "Best Café" in Dublin, with Urbanity in Smithfield winning "Best Free From" for their flexitarian menus. "Best Hotel Restaurant" went to The Saddle Room in The Shelbourne Hotel, and "Local Food Hero" went to Sean Hussey of Hussey Fruit and Veg (below), for his work getting Irish growers onto restaurant menus and into retail outlets like Avoca and Fallon & Byrne. "Best Emerging Irish Cuisine" in Dublin went to Forest & Marcy on Leeson Street (below), "Best Seafood Experience" in Ireland went to Fish Shop on Benburb Street, and Michael's in Mount Merrion took home "Best Digital Marketing" in Ireland, for owner Gaz Smith's exuberant use of Twitter. Doheny and Nesbitt , took home "Pub of the Year" for Dublin and Ireland, and you can see the full list of winners below. Best Restaurant – Sponsored by Tindal Wine Merchants • All -Ireland - Loam Restaurant • Dublin – Dax Restaurant • Connaught – Loam Restaurant • Leinster - Eastern Seaboard Bar & Grill • Munster - Wild Honey Inn • Ulster - OX Best Chef – Sponsored by Nisbets • All -Ireland - Graham Neville of Dax Restaurant • Dublin – Graham Neville of Dax Restaurant • Connaught – Barry Ralph of House of Plates • Leinster - Deirdre Adamson of The Fatted Calf • Munster - Peter Everett of Everett's Restaurant • Ulster - Chris McGowan of Wine and Brine Best Restaurant Manager – AIB Merchant Services • All -Ireland – Eva Ivanova of Sage Restaurant • Dublin – Denise McBrien of The Old Spot • Connaught – Eva Ivanova of Sage Restaurant • Leinster – Edwina Hynes of La Côte Seafood Restaurant • Munster – John Edward Joyce of The Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge • Ulster - Saul McConnell of NOBLE. Pub of the Year – Sponsored by Jameson Caskmates • All -Ireland - Doheny and Nesbitt • Dublin – Doheny and Nesbitt • Connaught – V.J Doherty's • Leinster - Hamilton's Pub • Munster - Levis Corner House • Ulster – Coach House & Olde Bar Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant – Sponsored by BWG Food Service • All -Ireland - Gregans Castle Hotel • Dublin - The Saddle Room at The Shelbourne Hotel • Connaught - West Restaurant at the Twelve Hotel • Leinster - Brabazon Restaurant at Tankardstown House • Munster - Gregans Castle Hotel • Ulster - Newforge House Best Newcomer – Sponsored by mytaxi Hospitality • All -Ireland - Everett's Restaurant • Dublin – Uno Mas • Connaught – Passione by the Slice • Leinster – Lily's On Church Street • Munster – Everett's Restaurant • Ulster - Hara Best Gastro Pub – Sponsored by Elavon • All -Ireland - The Old Spot • Dublin – The Old Spot • Connaught – Bar One • Leinster – The Ballymore Inn • Munster – Mikey Ryan’s Bar and Kitchen • Ulster - Clenaghans Best Customer Service – Sponsored by Lockton • All -Ireland – The Muddlers Club • Dublin – Luna • Connaught – Park House Hotel • Leinster – LENNONS @ Visual • Munster – Ballyvolane House • Ulster – The Muddlers Club Best Casual Dining – Sponsored by Just Eat • All -Ireland - 777 • Dublin – 777 • Connaught – HOOKED Sligo • Leinster – Truffles Restaurant and Wine Bar • Munster - Bodega • Ulster – The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant and Tea Room Best Wine Experience – Sponsored by Gilbeys with Bibendum • All -Ireland - Green Man Wines • Dublin – Green Man Wines • Connaught – Le Petit Pois • Leinster – Barrows Keep • Munster - The Black Pig • Ulster - OX Best Kids Size Me – Sponsored by BWG Food Service • All -Ireland - Old Street Restaurant • Dublin – Old Street Restaurant • Connaught – Shells Seaside Bakery and Café • Leinster – Tiffin by Sunil • Munster – No. 9 Café • Ulster – Oak Room Restaurant Best World Cuisine – Sponsored by HiUp powered by Olive Group • All -Ireland – 3 Leaves • Dublin – 3 Leaves • Connaught – Spice India • Leinster – Pink Salt Indian Restaurant • Munster – Iyer's • Ulster – Tuk Tuk Asian Bistro Best Café – Sponsored by Illy • All -Ireland - Connemara Greenway Café & Restaurant • Dublin – Two Pups • Connaught – Connemara Greenway Café & Restaurant • Leinster – Knockdrinna Farm Shop & Artisan Café • Munster – Good Day Deli • Ulster – Dinkin's Home Bakery & Café Best Free From – Sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro Gluten Free • All Ireland - GROW HQ • Dublin - Urbanity • Connaught - Drumanilra Farm Kitchen • Leinster - Zucchini's Restaurant • Munster - GROW HQ • Ulster - The Olde Post Inn Local Food Hero – Sponsored by Rewarding Times • All -Ireland – Seán Hussey of Hussey & Sons Fruit & Veg • Dublin – Seán Hussey of Hussey & Sons Fruit & Veg Best Emerging Irish Cuisine – Sponsored by Odaios • All -Ireland - No. 35 Restaurant • Dublin – Forest & Marcy • Connaught – An Port Mór Restaurant • Leinster – Thyme Restaurant • Munster – No. 35 Restaurant • Ulster – Wine and Brine Best Digital Marketing – Sponsored by Digital Restaurant • All -Ireland – Michael’s Mount Merrion Best Cookery School – Sponsored by Avonmore • All -Ireland – The Neven Maguire Cookery School Best Private Dining & Club Restaurant – Sponsored by Wild Irish Game • All -Ireland – Stephens Green Hibernian Club Best Seafood Experience – Sponsored by Musgrave Market Place • All -Ireland – Fish Shop, Benburb Street Best Cocktail Experience– Sponsored by Coca Cola HBC • All -Ireland – The Tack Room at Adare Manor

In the Irish Times this week it sounds like Catherine Cleary has found her vegan spiritual home in Stoneybatter, at Dublin's newest (and only) vegan fine dining restaurant, Beo Kitchen and Wine Bar . She calls it glamorous, exciting and almost brilliant, and to be fair, we've never wanted vegan food as much as we did after reading this. This is less fake fast food and more beautiful things done to vegetables and nuts by Michelin-trained chefs. She gives it 8/10 and calls it "an exciting and ambitious new idea for Dublin dining". Read the full tasting menu lowdown here . In the Irish Independent it's more vegan-friendly content from Katy McGuinness, with a list of 30 of the best restaurants for omnivores, vegetarians and vegans alike, i.e. when you want to go out to eat but that awkward friend or family member is wrecking your buzz. In Dublin the more high end places included are Forest Avenue (below) , The Greenhouse , The Garden Room at The Merrion, Peploe's , Ananda and Pickle , and for a more casual bite, Shouk , Brother Hubbard , Riba , Darwin's , Lucky Tortoise , Chameleon , The Cedar Tree , and Boxty House get a mention. Read the full thing here . In the Sunday Independent Lucinda O'Sullivan was at 30 Church Street in Howth, the latest addition to the "stagnant restaurant scene" in the seaside village, that she reckons might rattle the cages of some complacent restaurant owners. It seems like they were on a budget, as they shared a starter and skipped dessert, and things went from bad to better on the food front. They hated their "dry and unspreadable" chicken liver and foie gras parfait with cold pieces of pitta bread, which was taken off the bill, but crab claws in garlic butter were "juicy, fresh and delicious", and caramelised King scallops were "beautifully seared" with a fresh, delicate flavour. Stick to the seafood then. Review not currently online. In the Sunday Business Post Gillian Nelis reckons the food at Hang Dai is better than it's ever been, and it sounds it. Stand outs included hen of the woods with burnt onion, mushroom and black garlic sauce and a tofu custard, and a ray wing on the bone with spicy herbs and purple sprouting broccoli topped with spicy kimchi hollandaise. The "innovative" cocktails get a mention too, and she reckons that even with all the new openings of late, Hang Dai is somewhere that will go the distance. Read her review here . In the Irish Examiner , Joe McNamee praises the "old-school comfort" and "astounding value" at the Michelin-starred Wild Honey Inn in Clare. Duck and foie gras terrine was "a sublime take on a rustic classic", wild silver hake with plump Dublin Bay prawns "perfectly cooked" and chocolate fondant with blood orange "superb". He says it's not just technically perfect but profoundly satisfying, and gives the food 8.5/10, and value 9.5/10. Read his review here . In the Irish Daily Mail Tom Doorley (who's starting to give Lucinda and Gillian a run for their money when it comes to 'first in' credentials) was straight into {...} and chips , Waterford's newest upscale fish and chip shop which opened a couple of weeks ago. The upshot is that the fish was great, the chips were fine. Battered ling was superb, squid far superior to most he's had this year, and even chicken goujons were meaty, moist and tender, but the chips lacked crispness. He calls it "a delight", and suggests a take away by the sea with a cold bottle of sherry. (Review not currently online) Finally in the Sunday Times , Ernie Whalley loved the lambs' tongues and rabbit bisteeya at Marrakesh by Mindo on Capel Street, less so the marinated carrots. Read that here . No critic review round up next week. Back in two.

Cloud Picker , the Dublin-based micro coffee roasters have opened their first stand alone café on Pearse Street. For the past 9 years they've operated the café in the Science Gallery , but having been wanted to move into their own site, with their own rules. They've taken over the old projector room for the Academy Cinema just across the road, and will be open for breakfast and lunch from Monday - Friday. The breakfast menu includes things like eggs on toasted challah with seasonal greens, wild mushrooms and Cloud Picker coffee bacon jam, overnight oats with prune syrup, quince, apricot jam and toasted seeds, and Polish yeast buns with blueberries, raspberries, walnuts, cane sugar and cardamom. Lunch features schnitzel or homemade kielbasa sausage sandwiches with fermented sriracha, homemade gherkins or sauerkraut, daily changing soups and Ottolenghi-inspired salads, plus the café’s signature stew - owner Peter’s Mum’s beef goulash (he's originally from Poland). Cloud Picker was started in 2013 by partners Frank Kavanagh and Peter Sztal, who gave up jobs in graphic design and corporate banking to roast speciality coffee from around the world at their roastery on Sheriff Street. They supply cafés and restaurants around their country, but this is their first fully solo project. They're placing a big emphasis on waste reduction, and as well as a discount for reusable cups, they'll also be offering discounts for people who bring their own food containers. They're also selling their coffee beans and grinds in reusable containers, so no excuses for upping your waste quotient. Cloud Picker Café is open from Monday - Friday from 07:00 - 15:00 for breakfast, lunch and coffee, eat in and take away. Cloud Picker Café 42 Pearse Street, Dublin 2 Mon - Fri 07:00 - 15:00 cloudpickercoffee.ie

A provenance-related memo must have gone around the critic whisper network this week, as the quality of the ingredients and where they come from is the running theme of the May bank holiday weekend reviews. That and dim sum - some joyful, some watery and baggy. More on that later. In the Irish Daily Mail Tom Doorley was very quick off the mark getting into INK, the new sustainable café in Dun Laoghaire which opened last week (read more about it here ), and found some (hopefully) early days issues. Overall he was thrilled to find somewhere free of catering tubs of margarine, plastic-wrapped muffins and industrial cookies, that's cooking everything in the place from scratch and aiming to be as zero waste as possible. A chicken salad came with "spanking fresh" leaves and "remarkably good" housemade burrata, but was a bit bland and in need of a more assertive dressing, but a bowl of broccoli and courgette soup was so good he'd go back for it. A fish butty with hake also sounded worthy of a return trip, but beetroot falafel on toast "needed more thought", and ideally some tzatziki. A rich, intense chocolate tart was "excellent", service was "charming" and the room "stunning", so not a bad run out for their fourth day of service, and he says he'll be back. (Review not currently online) In the Irish Examiner Leslie Williams is the latest critic to fall for those Lucky Tortoise charms, praising their "ridiculously cheap, hugely enjoyable food". His favourites from the all-in €20 menu were the Okonomiyaki (a type of Japanese savoury pancake), peanut chilli slaw and the fluffy char siu buns. Pancetta potstickers worked, despite needing some brain reconciling of east and west, but chicken shiitake 'pillows' and five veg dumplings were better. Staff were excellent and efficient, despite a mix up over one of the wines, and he calls Lucky Tortoise "a joy of a place", saying "go soon, go often". He gives them 8/10 for food and drink, 9/10 for service and 9.5/10 for value. Read the full thing here . Lucinda O'Sullivan details a less successful Asian experience in this weekend's Sunday Independent, after a "flowery" press release brought her to the newly refurbed Orchid Chinese Restaurant in Ballsbridge - obviously the same one that brought Ernie Whalley there last week . Sometimes money is better spent in the kitchen than on PR, as they've probably now realised after their second uninspired review in 8 days. She was majorly put out to find they had no early bird menu, and even more so when the dim sum started to arrive. Crab and pork dumplings were "baggy and watery", which is about as unappetising a description as we could think of, pork and prawn wontons tasted like Christmas stuffing, and the clincher - "undercooked, slimy and revolting" scallops - 0% holding back this week. Duck was "lukewarm" and she suspected bought in, and she suggested they forgo the beautiful flowers in the new bar in order to replace the "old stained toilet bowl" in the ladies. Ever want to eat again? Us neither... (Review not currently online) In the Irish Independent Katy McGuinness was lured to Longford by the promise of excellent provenance and serious kitchen talent, from chef/owner Daniel Skukalek of Nine Arches in Ballymahon. She says they ate well, but that the kitchen could do with heeding Coco Chanel's advice about taking one thing off before you go out. Case in point, the over-complicated sounding braised beef cheek with raisin chilli chocolate jam, truffle powder, onion horseradish cream, herb salsa and crisp shallots, of which the thought alone is blinding. Rose veal tortellini were "intensely flavoursome", a 30-day aged sirloin was a "fine piece" of meat, and a rump of lamb worked well with watercress purée, fried cauliflower and bagna cauda, but Morello cherries were the aforementioned bangle that needed to be left on the dresser. A chocolate pavé with coffee ice-cream, black pepper crumble, caramel popcorn and sea salt chocolate tuille was a highlight, and she says there's serious talent here but they could do with stripping the food back and letting the ingredients shine. She gives them 8/10 for everything, and you can read the full thing here . More focus on provenance in the Irish Times where Catherine Cleary was at The Cook and Gardener in Rathmullan House, Donegal - they had her at 'walled-garden'. She said they get on with the business of "serving up the best of food from the area without the self-congratulation", and that plates are "accomplished". Mulroy Bay mussels came in a frothy white wine cream "as gorgeous as the seafood" and Donegal scallops with a chilli chicken and turmeric broth which added heat, and parma ham for a "salty crunch". Both mains of crisp-skinned brill and rump of Slane Valley lamb, both with local veg, got the thumbs up, and she finally got the rhubarb she was longing for in last week's review in the form of a specially fashioned rhubarb crumble for dessert (it was supposed to be apple but she made the request after seeing it in the garden - pro move). She says the The Cook and Gardener are putting all the beauty of Donegal, both wild and cultivated, on the plates, and she gives them 9/10. Read her review here . In the Sunday Business Post Gillian Nelis was impressed by the "top class-ingredients treated simply" at Charlie's Restaurant in The Butlers Arms Hotel in Kerry. After listing the many celebrities who've stayed there over the years, she describes what sounds like a feast of seafood, including crab au gratin, seafood pie, Valencia scallops, black sole and lobster thermidor, with "top-notch" garnishes and "very good" desserts. It was also good value at just under €56 a head with wine. Celeb food at Irish food critic prices. Read her review here . Finally in the Sunday Times Ernie Whalley was at The Eddison, the newly reopened restaurant in The Dylan Hotel. He had gripes with the menu which featured typos and talked about local suppliers but didn't name any, and a particularly stingy soufflé, but desserts were excellent. He gives the food 3/5 and you can read the full thing here . More next week.

Our bi-monthly list features the most talked about restaurants in Dublin right now. The ones the reviewers are reviewing, the instagrammers are instagramming, and where getting a Saturday (or any) night table can take military planning. These are the hottest restaurants in Dublin right now, in alphabetical order... 3 Leaves Where: Blackrock Market The tiny Indian in Blackrock exploded in 2018 with zero PR attached - just word of very satisfied mouths. Soon it was being called "outstanding" by Tom Doorley and "a revelation" by Katy McGuinness and it was firmly on the Dublin food map. Expect very tasty, very good value food, and the fact that you can BYOB is another reason it's difficult to get a table in. Read more about 3 Leaves here . Alma Where: Portobello The Argentinean café opened in mid-January with slick imagery and a very different menu to what's currently available on the food scene, and seems to have had a queue since day one. You have definitely seen the dulce de leche pancakes on social media and have probably stood on the SRC waiting for a table. No critic reviews yet but it is only a matter of time. It's got Catherine Cleary all over it. Read more about Alma here . Bread 41 Where: Pearse Street Did cruffins even exist before Bread 41 opened last September? What did we have as a 'treat' breakfast? What did food bloggers pull apart for insta story videos? It's fair to say that Real Bread fanatic Eoin Cluskey's Pearse Street bakery burst onto the scene and shows no signs of slowing down. Watch the sad faces pile up around 10am when they find out that everything's gone and the next bake isn't till 11. Check out Bread 41 here . Circa (New) Where: Terenure The new neighbourhood restaurant from four industry friends has given city diners another reason to get on a bus to Terenure, with Leslie Williams in the Examiner saying Circa's "future looks bright", and Ernie Whalley in the Sunday Times calling chef Gareth Naughton's cooking "stylish with inspirational touches". There's an interesting drinks list too. Read more about Circa here . Clanbrassil House Where: Clanbrassil Street Originally nicknamed ‘Baby Bastible’, Clanbrassil House is definitely standing on its own feet these days. Head chef Gráinne O'Keefe's food seems to be getting better and better, which was confirmed when they were awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand last Autumn. Their social media channels are on fleek and celebrity fans are many and varied . Read more about Clanbrassil House here . Crudo (New) Where: Sandymount Dunne & Crescenzi 2.0 is from the owners' two sons, who've given the Sandymount site a serious face lift. They burst onto Instagram in January with multiple images of food that made us want to run for the Dart, and as we know, provide the excellent images and the critics will come. So far Lucinda O'Sullivan , Tom Doorley and Ernie Whalley have given it their stamp of approval and we'd say there's more to come. Check out Crudo here . Etto Where: Merrion Row Etto has been dream dining since opening mid-recession in 2013. One of the most highly rated, consistent restaurants in the city, no one was surprised to see them take home best restaurant in Ireland at last year's Restaurant Awards . Katy McGuinness reviewed them for a second time last February giving out a very rare 10/10, and saying she wouldn't change a single thing about it. Read more about Etto here . Fish Shop Benburb Street Where: Smithfield Simple seafood, sherry and natural wines have been drawing the crowds to Smithfield since day one, and it's one of the food & drink industry's favourite hang outs . Catherine Cleary likened it to "a world class tapas bar", Katy McGuinness called it "perfection", and their Monday Wine Club is without doubt the best value place to drink quality wine in the whole of Dublin. Champagne for €7.50 a glass anyone? Read more about Fish Shop Benburb St here . Forest & Marcy Where: Leeson Street The second opening from the team behind Forest Avenue and chef Ciaran Sweeney is another place you'll find most of the city's restaurant staff hanging out on Sunday nights. It was originally walk in only, but thankfully they changed it and now take bookings, which is good because these are some of the hardest to get seats in town. Read more about Forest & Marcy here . Gertrude Where: Pearse Street The city waited an agonizing two years for Gertrude to open its doors and when they finally did last December their upmarket-diner-with-good-wine style was something completely new for the city. The pork tonkatsu sandwich, bacon and cabbage dumplings and fried chicken pancake stack were suddenly proliferating instagram, and Catherine Cleary in the Irish Times called the food "really lovely". Read our Gertrude once over here . Grano Where: Stoneybatter We don't remember a new Italian restaurant ever having the impact Grano has in just two months since they opened, with 5 critics in already. By January they were booking out weeks in advance, and on the two occasions we ate there, countless people were turned away all evening. Catherine Cleary called it "terrific", and Lucinda O'Sullivan said if she lived locally she'd be there every night. Read our Grano once over here . Groundstate Coffee (New) Where: Dublin 8 This seasonal café and yoga studio was put on the national map in March when Catherine Cleary in The Irish Times called it "one of Dublin's best cafés", quickly followed by Katy McGuinness in The Irish Independent who said the food was "properly tasty". Both praised the "exemplary" food provenance and cemented its place as one of the best brunch spots in Dublin right now. Check out Groundstate Coffee here . Host Where: Ranelagh Host opened in Ranelagh in 2017 and was like a corridor of London transported into a street in need. Soon the neighbourhood had a new favourite hangout for handmade pasta, sharing steak and great wine, and more than one critic complained about not being able to get a table. Host is still killing it in the popularity stakes and their fans frequently travel across the city to eat there. Read our Host once over here . Liath Where: Blackrock When Heron & Grey announced they were splitting up late last year, anyone who's eaten there (or was never lucky enough to get a booking) sobbed inwardly, but when Damien Grey announced he was opening the restaurant under a new name, 'Liath', sighs of relief were heard across the city. It opened last month to raves all round, and expect reservations to sell out in seconds for the foreseeable future. Read our Liath once over here . Lucky Tortoise Where: Aungier Street The dim sum pop up that started in Ranelagh has been on a bit of a travelling tour of Dublin for the past year, but after what was supposed to be a two week pop up on Aungier Street in September went so well, they decided to make it their permanent home. The €20 all in menu has been attracting the masses since day one, and the new €12 lunch deal is one of the best deals in town. Good food, good music, good wine, good vibes. Read more about Lucky Tortoise here . Michael's Where: Mount Merrion Not knowing about Michael’s is a major faux pas on the Dublin dining scene. Serving some of the freshest seafood you can get in Dublin right now, often straight from the boats, the place is constantly booked out, but fear not, they’re opening a wine bar next month to deal with the spillover. Practically every food critic has been through the door in the past year, each one leaving more infatuated than the last. Read more about Michael's here . Pi Where: George's Street Pi was the instigator of "the great pizza debate of 2018", which we may have started after declaring it the best pizza in Dublin . A summer of hotly contested opinions followed, with Catherine Cleary agreeing with us in September, and Leslie Williams says it's as good a pizza as he's ever tasted. There was a point where the queues got a bit nutso but it's settled into nice hum, partly in thanks to the clever new queuing system that lets you go for a beer until they text to say your table's ready. Read our Pi once over here . Two Pups Where: Francis Street Casually going about their breakfast, lunch and brunch business since 2016, Two Pups is still one of the most sought after brunch spots in Dublin, and if you go on weekends prepare to queue. They're single-handedly responsible for one of the world's greatest pairings - avocado and garlic peanut butter, and the French toast with plum compote and white chocolate reached legendary status. Read more about Two Pups here . Uno Mas Where: Aungier Street The second, Spanish-influenced opening from the guys behind Etto almost kept us waiting as long as Gertrude, but from the day they announced they were opening at the end of November there's been a steady stream of critics, bloggers and just breathing humans coming out awestruck at the gildas, the mussels, the flan. It also has some of the best bar seating in town and some is saved for walk-ins. Jackpot. Read more about Uno Mas here . Variety Jones Where: Thomas Street The first solo opening from chef Keelan Higgs opened five days before Christmas with no fuss, they just got the fire going in the hearth at the back and swung open the doors. Pretty soon reports were coming in about some of the most exciting cooking in the city, and all seven national critics had paid a visit in the first two months. Almost all left very satisfied. Read our Variety Jones once over here . Ones to watch... - Ottolenghi style Tiller + Grain on South Frederick has been steadily gaining fans for their flavour packed salads and sandwiches - Niall Davidson 's new restaurant opening's been pushed back until late summer. Expect that to be big news - Chimac are due to bring Korean Chicken to Aungier Street in June. We're excited - Little Forest, the new Italian in Blackrock from the guys behind Forest Avenue and Forest & Marcy seems to be a bit delayed, but we're eagerly awaiting news of an opening date - Frank's , the new wine bar from the guys behind Delahunt should be open in the next few weeks, and we're hearing very welcome rumours about lower than average wine margins - Little Mike's, the new neighbourhood wine bar from Michael's in Mount Merrion is also due to open in the new couple of weeks. Viva la wine revolution

We first made a guide to the Batter in late summer last year, and since then the area has had a sizeable refresh when it comes to food. Scéal have left Penders Yard to fill their rightful spot at the Fumbally Market on Saturdays, Cotto closed in February, and it's become the unofficial vegan capital of Dublin... If there was ever a poster-child for gentrification in Dublin it's Stoneybatter. The working class neighbourhood has transformed into one of the most sought after property locations in the city, and the number of great places to eat and drink has exploded in the past few years. While very close to the city centre, it has a neighbourly and community driven feel that's hard to find, illustrated by the brilliant Stoneybatter Festival in June. It’s a great place to stroll around on the weekend, with a glut of food and drink spots to visit, and if it's somewhere that's alien to you (most likely because of Dublin's woeful transport links), we think it's time you got to know it a bit better. Morning Start the day off with a coffee from Love Supreme on Manor St, a staple in Dublin’s coffee culture, where they use Koppi coffee from Sweden. If you happen to miss the market, grab a sausage roll or croissant from their mini bakery and sit in their very instagrammable interiors. Lunchtime The plant-based cafe Kale + Coco settled in to a permanent home in Stoneybatter back in February. Grab yourself a smoothie bowl, or if you’re looking for something savoury, get a nourish bowl with a heavily pun-intended name, like ‘Miso Hungry’. Stroll into Lilliput Stores on Rosemount Terrace for a browse around the greengrocer, deli and coffee shop, where most of their artisan products are sourced locally. They stock their own range of oils and vinegars, as well as pestos, salads and olives, and serve sandwiches, soups and stews all day, using seasonal produce. Bordering Stoneybatter is the Phoenix Park - a prefect place to take a picnic from Lilliput. They've also started a small plates evening offering on Thursday and Friday nights which looks excellent. Evening Grano burst onto the scene at the end of last year and was almost immediately being talked about as one of the best Italian restaurants in Dublin. The menu has a strong Calabrian influence, fresh pasta made in house and a great wine list, and would make you jealous of anyone living in Stoneybatter who has constant access to it. Read our Grano once over here . You could also head to L. Mulligan Grocer , one of the best gastropubs in Dublin, with an incredible selection of beers to choose from. There's a big emphasis on local Irish produce, with dishes like raw Irish cheese bon bons and salad from their allotment, and wild boar chops from Cork, and they offer a beer pairing for every dish. V-face , the vegan burger spot, is still in and out of The Belfry , but is in the process of relocating to a permanent site in North Brunswick Street, becoming the first vegan burger bar in Dublin. That should be open in the next month and we'll keep you posted when we know more Another fast, purse-friendly option is Vietnom in the beer garden of The Glimmerman pub, which serves predominantly vegetarian Vietnamese food with some Mexican influences, and which Catherine Cleary in The Times called "some of the best street food in Dublin". The Glimmerman is worth a trip alone to see its mental interior, including a bed hanging from the ceiling with Margaret Thatcher and Charlie Haughey in it. You could happily while away a few pints taking in the eclectic decor. Read our Vietnom once over here . When if comes to drinks, vegans have a new watering hole since Beo Wine Bar + Kitchen opened last month. They offer a full vegan menu with cheese boards, fermented foods and various tasting menus, and are open for brunch at the weekend and dinner from Thursday - Sunday. Whether or not you're vegan they have a great wine list, so it's one of the best places in the area to grab a glass of something interesting. And if you like your pubs without a side of half-naked politicians, as in The Glimmerman, head to Walsh's , which was named "Best Pub in Ireland" at last year's Irish Restaurant Awards . They're known for their cosy atmosphere, friendly staff and cheaper than average top-shelf whiskey prices, and it's the perfect place to finish a great day of eating and drinking. Have we missed any of your favourite Stoneybatter spots? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

Daniel, the coffee shop from 3fe on Clanbrassil Street, is closing for eight weeks and coming back as "Daniel 2.0" - with wine. Owner Colin Harmon announced the news at the end of last week, telling customers that opening Daniel and their first proper restaurant Gertrude in such short succession meant that Daniel had gotten left behind, and now that Gertrude's up and running they want to reassess exactly what they're doing with the neighbourhood café. They plan to expand their limited offering of toasted sandwiches and pastries during the day, and have secured a wine licence, so will be introducing some interesting food and wine options at night alongside the café offering in the daytime. Cult London neighbourhood wine bar P Franco has also been name-checked, which will be music to a lot of people's ears. They say they want to create a casual community space with coffee, bread, wine and really good food (sounds like our kind of place), and have invited any of their customers, locals or suppliers to weigh in on what they would like to see Daniel become by emailing them at daniel@3fe.com. And before panic sets in, there is currently nothing to suggest that the black and blue toastie is being turfed off the menu. Daniel is due to reopen at the end of June. More news when we get it.

Is it even April if we don’t get orange weather warnings after an extremely hot and enjoyable Easter weekend? In the same way that everyone micro-plans their escapes to warmer climates when looking out the window at dreary weather, this time of year makes us think about all of the summery food we want to eat, even if dining al fresco in Ireland means needing both a jacket and SPF50. 1. Brother Hubbard's Ginger Bear Like most of the cold drinks on their menu, Brother Hubbard make this non alcoholic ginger beer in house with fresh ginger, lime, spices and honey. Ice cold fizzy juice on a hot day can cure anything. Anything being overindulging in wine late into a warm summer’s evening. 2. The Kilkeel Crab Roll from Loose Canon No addressing the elephant in the room here, so in other news, we’ve got our eye on Loose Canon ’s crab roll with lemon aioli, slaw and sunchoke chips. Looks much better than a toastie anyway. 3. The Salads from Groundstate Coffee The yoga classes they hold in Groundstate Coffee in the evenings further add to the summery vibes that they give off. They know how to work with flavour, and their roasted beetroot salad with quinoa, goats cheese, blueberries, pomegranate, walnuts and a citrus dressing is case in point. 4. Asparagus, Courgette & Strawberry Salad from Tiller + Grain Tiller and Grain is turning into one of our favourite places for a light meal in Dublin. The yellow brick road theme and salads like this one with charred baby gem, strawberries, yellow courgettes, asparagus and watercress will trick you into thinking that it’ll be sunny once you step outside. It probs won’t be. 5. Poke from Akaka Poké There’s a 99.9% chance of rain on any given day in Dublin, so the best thing for it is to eat some poké and pretend you're in Hawaii. Akaka Poke ’s ‘Beet It’ bowl with beetroot, carrot, wakame, mango and balsamic looks dazzling enough to have you reaching for the sunnies, but there's plenty of fish options too.

There were some very happy restaurants sharing their reviews on social media this weekend, and a couple that were probably wishing theirs would just disappear. But first up, the good. In the Irish Independent Katy McGuinness is back at Fish Shop, Queen Street , three years after her last review , and the score's gone up. She said the four course no choice tasting menu left her in "food heaven", and gives the food and ambience 9/10, with value getting a perfect 10/10. The experience started with a failed attempt at getting into their more casual venue on Benburb Street for wine and snacks, which she says was "less charming" than when she visited with a press group a few weeks previous. Ain't that always the way. The food sounds flawless, with snacks of pickled gurnard, salt pollack salad, and deep-fried turbot trimmings - "fish without the chips", a first course of North Dublin razor clams, a second of turbot with beurre blanc and Irish vegetables, and to finish roasted rhubarb with buttermilk ice-cream. All the yums. They added on an extra course of Killeen goat's cheese at the end, not wanting to leave, and she says that Fish Shop are preparing impeccable ingredients simply. Read her review here . More love from Lucinda O'Sullivan in the Sunday Independent, for new neighbourhood restaurant Circa in Terenure, who by all accounts have gotten off to a flying start with both Ernie Whalley in the Sunday Times and Leslie Williams in the Irish Examiner leaving very impressed, as did Lucinda. Despite being wary of the "museli-millennial generation behind the stove" (whatever that means), she thought the food was "sublime", at great prices. Everything sounds like a highlight, including tuna tartare in a seaweed vinegar, organic chicken and foie gras terrine, pressed pig belly with wild garlic, and Toonsbridge mozzarella with pumpkin seed praline, prunes and butternut squash. A Kaffir lime parfait for dessert was "stunningly flavoured", and she calls it "high-end food at low-end prices in a casual setting", saying "what more could you want?" (Review not currently online) Somewhere that probably weren't as happy flicking through the weekend papers are Dolce Sicily , who recently moved to a bigger premises on South Anne Street. It's fair to say Tom Doorley in the Irish Daily Mail probably won't be running back, describing the starters in particular as "not good". Fritto misto was too salty with overcooked vegetables and grey, overdone tuna, and aubergine parmigiana reminded him of his own after it had been reheated a few times... Awkward. Mains were better, with a red wine and radicchio risotto "perfectly cooked", and pappardelle pasta with guanciale, porcini mushrooms and leeks "deeply savoury". Tiramisu was "adequate" if over sweet, and a nutty chocolate mousse looked like "something one of Italy's gelato companies do". Not exactly a home run then. Sounds like he should have stuck to their amazing canoli. (Review not currently online) In the Sunday Business Post Gillian Nelis calls Andy Noonan's fire-focused joint Fowl Play "barbecue heaven", applauding the decision to only use free-range Irish chicken, and enjoying the "lovely" rotisserie chicken and the "sexy, messy and glorious" chicken burger. The hand-cut chips were the only real downer - "soggy, wedge-style things" - and she praises the interesting selection of beers, ciders, stouts and spirits. Read her review here . In the Irish Times Catherine Cleary gives a deft appraisal of the restaurant at the five-starred Sheen Falls Lodge in Kerry, saying it has "real kitchen talent", but not enough of the place on the plate. It's summed up with a dessert of dark chocolate parfait, milk chocolate mousse and passion fruit sorbet which left her sad, because it could be served anywhere from Dubai to Dunboyne, saying "I’d kill for some back garden rhubarb, buttery shortbread and clotted cream from a soot black Kerry cow." Unusually she dined alone, so we only get a snapshot, but for the most part food was "brilliantly executed", with "beautiful" langoustines, "perfect" Dover sole, and the only oddity an amuse bouche of carrot and cumin soup - that the best you got? She reckons if the kitchen can put more of the place on the plate Sheen Falls will be "perfect dining". Read her review here . In the Irish Examiner Joe McNamee reviews O'Mahony's of Watergrass Hill , a fourth-generation gastropub in Cork, with "a commitment to using the very best of local, seasonal Irish produce in the kitchen". He calls it "solid cooking, very tasty fare", with standouts including "gorgeously caramelised" Ballycotton ray wing in a Longueville cider cream, Kilbrack celeriac with ramsons, Ballyhoura mushrooms, and cured egg yolk, and a lamb rack with a fritter of pressed lamb shoulder, peas, charred onion, salsa verde and "terrific" homemade chips. Desserts of panna cotta and treacle tart were pleasing, and only the "anaemic" wine list let things down, but he's told it's a work in progress - it sounds like the non-alcoholic offerings were better. He gives it 8/10 for food and 9/10 for value, and you can read the full thing here . Finally in the Sunday Times Ernie Whalley revisits Orchid Chinese Restaurant in Ballsbridge, and it sounds mainstream in the extreme. He calls it watered down and serviceable, despite some pleasant dishes. Read that here . More next week.

A new café focused fully on sustainability and starting a "culinary movement" opens in Dún Laoghaire today. It's from FoodSpace , who up to now have only operated contracted catering facilities in workplace and colleges across Ireland, but wanted to spread their ethos further and wider by opening a site that the general public could visit. Despite only being set up in 2016, FoodSpace was awarded three stars by the Sustainable Restaurant Association in 2018 - their highest award - and to date are the only Irish catering company who've achieved it. Their focus in the new Dún Laoghaire café is on local suppliers, farmers and fishermen, and seasonality, with the majority of the food coming from within 50 miles of the site, and 85% from Ireland. All meat is Irish from FX Buckley, all fish is landed in Dublin, and menus are written depending on what vegetables are available that week. The only imported items are things not produced in Ireland, like coffee, tea and spices. Wine and prosecco comes from sustainable vineyards, and beers and ciders are Irish and from small brewers. They're also trying to completely eliminate waste, with all fresh food delivered in reusable crates, no single use plastics (including clingfilm), and menus are pinned onto cardboard from deliveries. That goes for food waste too, with fruit skins and cores fermented to make vinegars, vegetable skins dehydrated and turned into powders for seasoning and sauces, and overripe fruit used to flavour kombucha. Used coffee grounds will be used to make a FoodSpace version of pastrami, and as compost for growing their own herbs and salads. INK in Dún Laoghaire opens this morning. They don't have a website but you can keep up with them via their Instagram account below. INK dlr LexIcon, Haigh Terrace, Moran Park, Co. Dublin Mon - Sun 09:00 – 17:00, Supper Club Fri - Sat 18:00 - 21:30 www.instagram.com/inkcafe.dl