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We didn't plan on uttering the C word at the end of September, but you're already asking us where you should go for your work dinner/friend meet up/family meal out, and we live to solve your dining dilemmas. Here are 20 places we would go for a group night out during the festive season, with private rooms, private areas, and just generally group friendly spaces... * Bear in mind that many venues increase menu prices in December and enforce group menus for Christmas gatherings, so the details in this article might change. To avail of better value book your gatherings for pre or post-December! Private Dining Rooms The Wine Cellar at Amai by Viktor, Dublin 2 You know we love the food at Amai by Viktor , but did you know they have a private wine cellar downstairs that's just screaming out for your next group dinner? They can seat 20, or cater for up to 30 standing, and can tailor the menus and wines to your gang and budget. Sign us up for a cellar lock in. Library Street, Dublin 2 Possibly the loveliest private dining room in the city, Library Street 's PDR lies underneath the main restaurant, sits 6-10 people, and feels totally removed from the buzz upstairs. You can put on your own playlist or listen to their perfect choices, and the group dining menu with a bit of everything is €89 - they'll happily work around dietary requirements too.   Hawksmoor, Dublin 2 Hawksmoor is PDR heaven, with two closed off rooms at the sides seating up to 14 and 18 people. There are proper man cave vibes in here, with dark walls and tan leather chairs, and if you have non-steak eaters, there's always a good fish and vegetarian option. The three course group lunch menu is €45, while a three course dinner is priced from €65 - €103 depending on the number of courses and what you want to order. Check out the menus here .

A seafood twist on the steak-frites commotion, a bulging platter of Brazilian meats, and a supergreek salad for when you're not quite ready for Autumn soups and stews. Here's what we're thinking about too much this week... 1) Seafood-frites, The Seafood Café Bualadh bos for The Seafood Café capitalising on all the steak-frites drama with their own stamp on the French (or not) classic. Their swordfish au poivre-frites has just hit the menu, as well as a Thai curry moules-frites. Both are available at lunchtime priced at € 14. 50 , and for genuine, un-copied food this sounds like a steal. 2) Smoked pork and anchovy ragu bianco gnocchi, Hera Everything that comes out of the kitchen in Hera in Drumcondra lately seems to be gold, and the latest dish calling us back to D9 is this hand-rolled gnocchi with smoked pork and anchovy ragu bianco. Has a Dorset Street pub ever served a more compelling list of ingredients... 3) Chapa Mista, Rei Momo Meat fiends assemble. Rei Momo 's 'Chapa Mista' features everything from the churrasco (wood-fired grill) section of their menu for €50 a head (minimum of two people). We're talking peri peri chicken, moqueca prawn skewers, picanha steak with chimichurri, lamp chops, pork chops with pineapple and more. Did we mention the caipirinha menu too? Ours is a coco verde. 4) The SuperGreek salad , Sprout Sprout 's super fans all have their favourite salad, but we think this new Greek unveiling might convince them to take a punt on something new. There's roast chicken, lemony rice, cos lettuce (from their farm), tomato & cucumber salad, pickled courgette, feta, crispy pita chips and a charred red pepper & olive salsa, and while it doesn't come this beautifully assembled in real life, we bet the taste will take you back to Sifnos. 5) Caramelised apple mille-feuille, Library Street Tis the season for pumpkin carving and apple bobbing, and we'd quite like to bob for the caramelised ones in this new mille-feuille at Library Street . The thinnest, crispiest pastry is also sandwiched with white chocolate, tonka bean namelaka, and a green apple and lime sherbet. We don't quite get how the engineering here stops the pastry from collapsing onto itself - we'll need to take a closer look in person.

What’s the story with Mrs Reid’s?   It’s not only the name, paying tribute to co-owner Kristin Rowe’s grandmother, that gives Mrs Reid’s  café a certain old-school sensibility. It’s the dust-flecked crowd of construction workers outside too, the no-fuss, no-frills ingredients spread behind the counter, the crusty soft rolls from Liberties institution Catherine’s Bakery up the way. Intrigued by Rowe’s mission to serve up the best breakfast roll in D8, we’d been meaning to get in here for a while before the sight of a Sloppy Joe special  pushed us over the line. What’s on the menu?   Not that Sloppy tragically – we’ve learned we need to pounce quicker next time - but if we half-heartedly bit into the breakfast roll (€8) with a sad sense of second choice, what sweet reprieve it made. This is every inch a main event in its own right, a loaded lump of a thing we wolfed down in record time. Spreadable white pudding is a big part of what makes D10’s Ger’s Deli our IYKYK go-to in the breakfast roll stakes, and it’s slathered on here too with such relish that we may have a new challenger. There’s literal relish to boot – homemade too – spiking the meaty monster with just-right peaks of tartness and sweetness. Washed down with a cup of the fresh, full-bodied Upside Coffee they've switched to   in recent months, it's as good a start to the day as we've had in a while. If breakfast rolls aren’t your thing, firstly seek help, and secondly try the brisket (€11). We didn’t know whether to gaze lovingly at the juice oozing out of this or lap it up off the paper, so natch we did both – this is overflowing flavour not to be missed. Peppery kicks from plentiful rocket and Dijon mayo cut through the sweet richness of slow-cooked beef and a caramelised onion jam. This is indecently messy stuff, and we’re here for it every step of the way.   Buffalo chicken (€10) needed just as many napkins, with gushing gluts of house hot sauce and garlic aioli leaving us streaked – a business lunch venue this place is not. It’s the spicy slaw that gives this one the edge with that crisp cabbage crunch, a fresh foil to the overflowing excess of punchy, creamy sauces. With either of these two a side of just-right roasties (€4.50) is a must to mop up all that mess. It’s only the meatball sub (€10) we’d skip on return – for all the layered flavour of the rich red pepper and tomato sauce they’re simmered in, these mixed pork and beef blobs were too dry and drab to hold a candle to anything else we tried. That’s especially as contrasted with the white pudding-studded sausage roll (€4), one of three varieties available, loaded with more of that relish and deliciously juicy through every last, flaky bite. Why should we go?   With hyper-local sourcing (meat also comes courtesy of Meath Street) and a cheerily casual vibe, Mrs Reid’s sits pretty on this street corner like the kind of good neighbour we could all do with a few more of. These are top-tier sammidges, plain and simple.   Mrs Reid’s Kevin Street Upper, Dublin 8 instagram.com/mrsreidsdeli_dublin8

What’s the story with Tang #4?   It would be an easy argument to make that Tang is Dublin's favourite café, with their sites on Dawson Street, Abbey Street and Cumberland Place known for having crowds most business owners dream of. This is site #4 in the Windmill Quarter near Dublin's docklands, and a big deal because there's an on site bakery facing out onto the street, and a development kitchen where loads of Tang's food prep is being moved to. Like Abbey Street and Cumberland it's a modern, minimalist, high-ceilinged space with plenty of glass to let the light in, but this one has a warmer feel with blush walls and warm wood floors. Counter seats are along the windows, there's a long table in the centre of the room for groups, and other tables are for two or four. Is the menu different?   Breakfast, brunch and lunch menus stay the same across all sites, with seasonal specials popping up, weekly changing salads, and new baked goods often appearing on the counter.   Coffee is from Upside in Fairview and we've never had one that faltered - no change in Windmill Quarter. We went for breakfast and have had almost all of these dishes before so can recommend it all, but we have a long-time love for the granola and pancakes.   Swerving the sweet, and because Tang's Executive chef Keith Coleman has been showing off his hummus skills, we went for hummus eggs (€12.75), and this is the silkiest, smoothest hummus you could possibly picture. It comes topped with zhoug, feta, nut dukkah, spring onions, chilli and two North Wicklow free-range eggs, with hunks of toasted, fluffy sourdough. Eggs on toast ( €8. 95) is similar, with the major differences being no hummus or feta (tahini instead), and Lebanese pesto instead of zhoug (although the green sauces looked identical). This is feel good food, packed with flavour and nutrition at good prices - it doesn't take a hospitality consultant to work out why Tang is so popular. Don't resist the harissa, honey and feta babka (€3.50) if you see it, because this sweet and spicy knot is a counter star. Tang's gluten-free fudge brownie with tahini and halva (€3. 95) is another good choice, and would only be improved with a quick burst in the microwave. The chocolate chip cookie (€3.25) is a win too, crispy on the outside, soft in the middle, but the banana bread (€3.95) was dry and dense. Toasted and slathered with butter it would be a different story, but naked by the slice we want something soft and squidgy. Lunch is a mix of filled flatbreads or a selection of salads, and they never fail to hit their marks - the fact that you can get either for under €10 in the current climate is another large reason why these guys are killing it. Why should we go?   Tang are showing everyone that it's possible to serve responsibly sourced food, leaping off the plate with flavour, at fair prices, from staff who seem very happy to be part of a growing food movement, and that soon to be up and running window-fronted bakery space is just going to draw in even more passing customers. Tang (Windmill) Windmill Quarter, Dublin 2 www.tang.ie

We're officially here to uplift your September, with a giveaway of nine more great prizes for our paying subscribers , including all the restaurant experiences! Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders goes automatically into the draw, you don't have to do anything else to enter. As an ad and invite-free platform , ATF Insiders is how we're funded, ensuring that recommendations are made without influence, unblemished by invites and free food. Everyone who signs up for ATF Insiders by midnight tomorrow, Wednesday 17th September will be entered into this month's prize draw, and winners will be selected on Thursday 18th September. Are you feeling lucky? 1) The chef's menu for two with drinks at Kaldero Chef Richie Castillo and Bahay partner Alex O'Neill wasted no time ripping up what came before them at Kaldero once they were handed the reins (read this week's once over for more on that), and their latest addition is a brand new chef's menu, along with updated wine and cocktail lists. It's a supremely tasty way to see what they're all about, with star small plates, a choice of mains, and sides and dessert to share, and we're sending one of our ATF Insiders in with a buddy to enjoy the lot, along with drinks on arrival. Book Kaldero here . 2) €100 voucher for Amai by Viktor We've been harping on about this one a lot over the past few weeks between reviews , reader take-overs and special ATF Insider offers , but now we're going to throw a €100 voucher out to one of you too! It's enough to get you the full tasting menu and a caipirinha totally FOC, and once you've experienced Amai by Viktor for yourself, you'll get why the buzz is so big right now. 3) €100 voucher for dim sum at China Tang The Peking duck might have stolen all the headlines at China Tang in Monkstown, but don't sleep on their dim sum brunch. It's served daily from 12PM to 5PM, with everything from delicate Har Gow to savoury Xiao Long Bao to golden Crispy Croissant Egg Tarts freshly made in house by their expert dim sum chefs. We've got a €100 voucher for China Tang to give away this month so you can stick a serious upgrade on your avo toast. Check out the menu here . 4) A steak dinner at FX Buckley to celebrate their wine award F.X. Buckley has just gotten a big award for its wine list from one of the most influential wine publications in the world! Wine Spectator has given their collection its " Best of Award of Excellence " for the third year running, marking it out as one of Ireland's leading dining and wine destinations (feast your eyes on a sample list here ). We've got a two-course meal at The Bull & Castle Steakhouse in Christchurch to give away this month to celebrate the award, with a sharing steak, all the sides, sauces, a bottle of their exclusive Webersburg red wine , desserts, and Irish coffees to send you on your way. 5) €100 voucher for Bread Naturally   Bread Naturally in Raheny is having an exciting few months, between moving space to a larger location next door , and owner Simon May handing over the reins to his two former employees, Niamh McHugh and Hayley Caprani. The girls are determined to keep growing and building on the 10-year old bakery's success, and we're hoping that means a few more outlets coming soon. We've got a €100 voucher for Bread Naturally to give away this month, which will get you a lot of pain Suisse, pistachio croissants and stuffed brioche. 6) €100 voucher for Keshk Restaurant Open in Dublin 4 since 2008, Keshk 's locals were dismayed when they closed their Mespil Road location at the end of 2023 after 15 years serving Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food with FREE corkage - always a big draw. So there were whoops and clears when owners Mustafa and Aneta announced they were reopening in a new location on Merrion Road just last month. The menu is the same, the BYO policy is the same, and the welcome is as warm as ever. Check out Keshk here . 7) Dinner and drinks at Clash Bar and Bites NYX Hotel Dublin Portobello is opening a brand new bar and dining concept on Portobello Harbour - CLASH Bar and Bites . They're promising an eclectic menu with dishes like BBQ chimichurri wings and crispy bacon flatbreads, a curated drinks list with riffs on the classics, and a steady rotation of live music, DJs, and local artists. Their  Bottomless Brunch Series   is coming back too on select Sundays, and to celebrate the opening we're got a three-course dinner for two to give away, with either two cocktails each or a house bottle of wine. 8) A Grazing Board worth €140 from 'By Addie' Is there anyone on earth who doesn't love a grazing board as one of their main meals? After 15 years in the restaurant industry, Addie knows what makes a food experience memorable, and that was the driving force behind ' By Addie '. She takes care of all of your charcuterie, cheese and sweet grazing needs, while making her own pesto and hummus, and sourcing from Irish suppliers like Sheridan's, Healy's Honey and The Punnet. We've got one of her large grazing boxes to give away which will comfortably feed 12 people, with cheeses, cured meats, dips, breads, crackers, fruits, and sweet bites, perfect for your next party. Check out 'By Addie' here . 9) Two tickets to the opening night of Fired Up's Oktoberfest Fired Up Pizza in Goatstown is bringing the Bavarian buzz to Dublin this autumn, with Oktoberfest taking place every Thursday - Sunday in October. There's going to be German-themed pizza specials with bratwurst, sauerkraut, beer cheese drizzles and pretzel infused crusts, as well as warm pretzels, currywurst, beer-battered onion rings and other German bites. There'll be steins of beer, craft bottles and special cocktails, and each weekend will have live music, competitions and games to get the party started. We've got two tickets to the invite-only opening night party to give away, with all of your pizza, pretzels, drinks and cocktails included! Reserve your table here . Everyone signed up for ATF Insiders in September (old and new) will be automatically entered into the prize draw. You don't need to do anything. If you're not signed up yet, join here before midnight on Wednesday 17th September. Your support promotes independent reviews and news in Dublin and beyond, and allows you to get answers to any dining questions directly from us.

Fine dining deals you can't turn down, Swedish buns, and oysters on overload are just some of the things you'll find us running for this month. Here's where's on our monthly hit list for September... For a brand new bakery in town: Tang, Windmill Lane   One of Dublin's favourite cafés has opened location number four, and this one has a bakery attached. Tan g 's latest café and restaurant opened yesterday in the Windmill Quarter, a couple of streets over from Pearse Street station, with a bakery out front so you can see all the action, and a development kitchen at the back. They say it's going to give them even more scope to level up their food offering, and we are chomping at the bit to get in there.   For the most unique dining experience you've had in ages: Amai by Viktor, Harry Street Amai by Viktor appeared across from The Westbury Hotel perfectly formed just seven weeks ago. We were shocked at how polished our experience was, so much so that we rushed to take a lucky group of ATF Insiders back with us for an unforgettable evening . If you haven't been yet now is the time, before the hype builds even more, and with ATF Insiders getting 15% off the whole bill on Wednesdays in September, how could you need any more convincing.   For following in celebrity footsteps: Alma, Portobello   Have you been in to Alma 's new location on Curzon Street? Harry Styles has. He booked in under a pseudonym on his recent trip to Dublin - he must have heard about the dulce de leche pancakes and choripan Argento. The new site looks very London, with beautiful seating inside and out, and there's mimosas and bellinis too if you're easing yourself into Autumn.   For food plus fashion: Arket Scandinavian clothing and homewares brand Arket has come to Dublin, but the thing we're most interested in is the in-store vegetarian café . Buns are big in Arket, and generally in the concept of Swedish fika - a cultural ritual which involves taking a break with tea or coffee and something sweet, while spending time with friends or colleagues. Arket have cinnamon, coco dulce de leche, apple, and a new cherry almond bun on the counter, and some Autumn browsing following by some fika sounds right up our street.   For indulging in oyster season: The Shelbourne   September is oyster month, and if you're going to do these things, you might as well go all in. The Shelbourne has long been one of the best places to go big, and this year their No. 27 bar will have daily specials with fresh oysters, Bloody Mary oysters, or tempura truffle oysters if you prefer yours cooked. They're also doing a spin on the famously rich lobster dish "Dublin Lawyer", with "The Shelbourne Lawyer" featuring half a dozen oysters with Liscannor crab and a Green Spot whiskey glaze. They recommend pairing with a classic gin martini or a glass of Champagne, and we think that sounds like a marvellous idea.     For BYO in an old favourite: Keshk After announcing two months ago that they were coming back ( with this odd AI-generated video ), Keshk is back on Merrion Road, after shuttering their previous Dublin 4 location. To say their fans were thrilled is an understatement, and to their relief, while the address might have changed, the Mediterranean/Middle Eastern menu hasn't. The reasonable prices and NO corkage charges on beer and wine make this a no brainer for an inexpensive meal out.   For even more matcha: Matsukawa Matcha Café   We were not expecting superior Smithfield sushi restaurant Matsukawa to jump on the matcha train, but that's what last week brought to George's Dock, next to the CHQ building. Matsukawa's " second chapter " is " a space dedicated to the quiet elegance of Japanese matcha ", with the team saying they want to bring the depth of this Japanese tradition to Ireland. It's hard to say when the green tea bubble will burst, especially with Japanese growers unable to meet global demand , but if you're going to drink it, you may as well get it from the professionals. Read our two minute review here .

In Ireland especially, it’s always so hard to let go of summer – not least because it never seems to last as long as advertised. As with so much else in life, we turn to food for consolation, so as the evening light dwindles and the mercury plummets precipitously, we take solace in all the good that autumn brings. From an early glimpse at game season to a first peek of pumpkin spice, tons of tomatillos to a feast of fresh figs, here’s where to go to fully embrace autumn’s onset... Burrata with figs and grilled courgettes, Brighton Road We sometimes like to think of the seasons as a kind of relay race, with produce that spans the gaps handing off to each other in a constant, comforting cycle. Courgettes and figs are are a prime example, and as the former’s peak season comes to a close, the latter is just starting to be at its best. Brighton Road  celebrate them both with a big ol’ ball of burrata.   Scallops and salsa verde, Sea Shanty The giddy yelp out of us at first spotting tomatillos at the farmer’s market in recent weeks must have resounded all around Dublin - nothing eases the passage from summer into autumn quite like them. Sourcing theirs from Abercorn farm and pan-searing before the salsa verde treatment, Sea Shanty  serve them with scallops and a mango puree. We don’t need a wine pairing to twist our arm – but it helps.   Venison Loin, Richmond It’s early days yet for game season but Richmond  are quick out of the traps with this roast venison loin. Pumpkin puree amps up the autumnal airs of things, with a bone marrow mash (surely no better trio of words exists) adding to the comfort food vibes as the nights close in. All we’re short of is a roaring fire and a large glass of red.   Autumn focaccia, Scéal The sensual squidge of focaccia is a year-round treat we never deny ourselves, but something about the plummeting temperatures bring its comforts to the fore. Scéal ’s thin-sliced and crisp-edged potato slices layered over tangy taleggio make for the exact indulgence we need at this time of the year.   Pumpkin spiced halloumi melt, Tír Deli Just when we thought we’d reached peak pumpkin spice, along comes Tír Deli  to bring us right back to the table. Toonsbridge halloumi goes a long way to help, studded amidst a squash and pumpkin pâté (!) and roast mushrooms, slathered with fermented hot honey. Nobody does veggie sambos quite like these guys, and while you're in there be sure to grab a pumpkin spiced latté - we've yet to find better.   Courgette and aubergine parmigiana, Urbanity One of our favourite things about season-spanning produce like courgettes and aubergines is seeing their use slowly transition from lighter summer salads to heavier autumn fare, and what better dish to sum it up than Urbanity ’s parmigiana. We can practically taste this from the intensity of colour alone.   Fig and burnt honey danish, Elliot’s Rapidly rising up the ranks to become one of the most cited bakeries in our seasonal surveys is Elliot’s , and with drops like these it’s really no wonder. We would stuff our faces with any one of these pastries, but sweet lord above - that fig and burnt honey Danish may have triggered the most indecent yelp of pleasure out of us on sight.   Thai sausage and tomatillo relish, Chubby’s Barry Stephens’ gleeful embrace of each season’s givings has long been a hallmark of his cooking style, and with the glitzy kitchen fitout at latest venture Chubby’s he’s getting to really let loose. Look at the skin blistering on that smoked tomatillo and tell us you’re not dripping drool down your chin. It’s for reasons like this there’s not a single table to be booked as we write, but look out for the weekly releases of late-night tables.   Kelly’s native oysters, The Seafood Café The old adage that months with an R are the only ones to eat oysters in only holds true for wild ones (praise be for farmed gigas to get us through the summer), so when September rolls around we can’t get our greedy hands on Kelly’s natives quick enough. Rightly famed the world over for their distinctive taste, we’re very lucky to have these plump beauties right on our shores, so get shucking. Apple hand pies, Bread Naturally Nothing says autumn like the scent of Irish apples wafting from the oven, and we’re big on bringing in the season with simple treatments. Bread Naturally and their staff favourite hand pies seem to feel the same – with ingredients this good, who needs anything more than flaky pastry and a little Demerara sugar coating to make it sing.   All things Autumn, BaaBaa Chapelizod café BaaBaa  lean into every seasonal change with admirable aplomb, and this new menu drop is delightful - boughs weighed down with ripe-and-ready apples, burnt-edged wedges of spaghetti squash, bulging blackberries topping thyme and walnut tarts. Fresh figs heaped on their chai spiced waffles seal the deal - here’s the place to hurtle headlong into harvest season.

What’s the tea on Matcha Matsukawa?   We’ve really reached peak matcha when a second  dedicated café is opening up… is what we’d think if any other name but Matsukawa  was above the door. Figuratively, that is - they opened this so quick the signage isn’t even in yet. The people behind Dublin’s first omakase experience  revitalised the bang-average image of sushi you’d be forgiven for getting from the city’s erstwhile offerings two years ago, now here they come again to wrest back a Japanese cultural icon from the TikTok trend that’s trying to commodify it beyond recognition .   Is it really any different?   With bold colours and health benefits that cater to the visual and body-image nature of quick-cut social media, it’s small wonder matcha’s popularity has exploded so intensely that it’s threatening the very culture  that kick-started the trend to begin with. Stepping into Matcha Matsukawa feels like turning back the tide, less the crass craze cash-in of all the matcha lattes about town than a reclamation of the reality all this is spun out of.   That starts with the Japanese hospitality, so forthrightly friendly it makes the prized Irish welcome seem cold by contrast. We practically leapt out of our skin with fright at the five figures that together chanted MORNING at us on our opening time arrival – if you’re groggy first thing, this is sure to wake you. So’s the tea, with three hot potted varieties (€5.50) on offer beside the (hot or iced) lattes (€6.50), all organic and prepped fresh before you in sadō ceremonial style.   Steamed sencha is most popular in the morning, with the highest caffeine content and a bitterness to boot; genmaicha is mixed with roasted rice for a more muted midday cup; the roasted hojicha bears a subtle sweetness best for evenings or alongside a treat. With plenty of desserts coming we opted for the latter and found its mellow, caramelised flavours so soothing we’d easily have slipped back off to sleep again.   And we might well have been dreaming with desserts like these, picture-pretty with that pop of green. The tart (€7) is a top tip for the matcha sceptic, its earthiness balanced out with the sweetness of piped cream and the zing of fresh berries, all cupped up in a delicate crisp casing. The more adventurous should make for the mille crêpe (€9.50), with more assertive flavour nestled among the dainty pastry and cream layers. Tiramisu (€8.50) is one for the matcha-mad only, with soaked sponge, infused cream, powder dusting, and sharp shocks of jelly going all-in on umami flavour. We loved it, but not everyone will.   Why should we go?   If the less convincing iced latte and strawberry sandwich (€7) feel like concessions to the craze, we’re willing to allow it for the effect Matcha Matsukawa might have on those lured in. You ’ve seen the memes, now relish the reality. In its emphasis on ritual, from the multi-stage prep that plays out before you to the tantalising tea timer whose slow-sinking sands preach a patience and presence in the moment, this little ceremonial oasis in the heart of the IFSC is an escape we’re all in need of. Matcha Matsukawa Unit 3, George’s Dock, Dublin 1 instagram.com/matsukawa_matcha.ie

Brand new sandos, crack chicken burgers, and crab flatbreads - it's all go on menu for Autumn! And here's what we can't stop staring at this week... 1) All the sandos at Sando Paradiso They've been teasing it for a month, but Hen's Teeth's new Sando Paradiso pop up is finally opening this weekend. We've got our eyes on the free-range egg salad sando with kewpie mayo, and the chicken katsu sando with tonkotsu sauce, but you can see the full menu here . 2) Crab flatbread, Angelina's There's a new brunch menu at Angelina's in Dublin 4 since Daniel Hannigan took over the kitchen, and this crab flatbread is top of our wish list. It comes with romesco, marinated red pepper, poached eggs and dashi hollandaise, and you can try it at their brunch event this Sunday from 10am-3pm, where there'll also be an oyster station and a new Bloody Mary menu. 3) Ali's Crack Chicken Burger, BuJo Bujo are describing their latest creation as "if a neon Bangkok backstreet and a classy Dublin burger joint had a baby" - we're sold. Fried chicken comes with kimchi mayo and sticky fish sauce caramel in a charcoal bun, and we see burnt scallions and chillies in there too. Find it at Bujo until the start of November. 4) Irish tuna with pickled watermelon, Osteria Lucio We first spotted this eye opener at Osteria Lucio in early summer, and it's just about hanging in there if you want one last bite of the cherry/watermelon. Irish caught tuna comes with pickled watermelon, kohlrabi and Fèlsina olive oil, and if you sit in the windows out front you might get lucky with some autumn rays. 5) Sloppy mince, Mrs Reid's It might not have the most appealing name, how how good does roasties topped with mince, house cheese sauce, scallions, siracha and lemon mayo sound? Like taco fries, but all grown up. Mrs Reid' s in Dublin 8 are known for next level flavour combinations, and this tasty bowl looks like just the ticket for our next chilly day around town.

If you're one of those people who equates sherry to little old ladies sipping from miniature glasses on Christmas day, you need to extinguish that cliché from your mind and get up to speed on one of the most fascinating drinks in the wine world. Whether you're ready for a deep dive or not, Spain's "sherry triangle" of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Jerez de la Frontera, and El Puerto de Santa María is a step back in time to old Spain, far far away from seafront resorts selling inflatables and English breakfasts. Sanlúcar de Barrameda, (c) Cadiz Turismo Apart from the chance to nerd out on one of the regions wine lovers get most fanatical about, this trio of towns is an oasis of fried shrimp fritters, tuna fresh from the boat, and ice cold manzanilla (which costs less than juice). There's no flurry of tourists crushing past, you'll hear little English from the Sanluqueños , and the prices? It's like going back twenty years. Jerez might have a few more headline-grabbing restaurants, but we think Sanlúcar de Barrameda (Spain's gastronomy capital for 2022), has the most going for it, When to go Spring or Autumn is the perfect time to visit if you want to avoid sweltering temperatures and having to stay out of the midday heat. May and September are ideal, but Sanlúcar is a great place to visit at all times of the year. Getting there You'll need a rental car (or be prepared for numerous changes in transport). Fly to Seville and it's 1 hour and 15 minutes away, or just over two and a half hours from Malaga airport. We'd recommend a two stop holiday, incorporating either of the cities you land in - both are incredible places to spend a few days eating, drinking and taking in all the sights. Where to eat and drink Casa Balbino Plaza de Cabildo with its palm trees and large fountain at the centre is the focal point of Sanlúcar, surrounded by bars, restaurants, and ice-cream shops, with outdoor seating covered by canopies, complete with misting machines for those hot summer days. There is nothing as relief-giving as a cooling mist to the back of the neck in 30c while you crunch on tortillitas de camarones - the dish Casa Balbino are famous for. They're known for no reservations but it's a huge space inside and out, and the food comes fast, so don't be put you off. Those shrimp fritters should be your first order (and maybe your second, and third), and we're still thinking about the patatas aliñadas (potatoes marinated with vinegar and tuna) and adobo de pescado (fried dogfish marinated in vinegar). Go inside and look in the fridges if you want some tapas inspiration, but it's all good. Everyone is drinking very chilled Manzanilla, and at €1.70 a glass, so should you (a pineapple juice is €1.80). Our greedy lunch bill for four with four sherries and two juices came to €61.40. That is not a typo. Casa Bigote Another Sanlúcar must is Casa Bigote which has been open down at the seafront since 1951. The more casual standing/high stooled tapas bar (La Taberna) faces the ocean, while the more formal restaurant with its high-ceilinged dining room sits just behind it. Both are an altar to the region's tuna, with endless ways to try the rich, meaty fish. Try red tuna tataki, fillets in Amontillado sherry sauce, or grilled tuna ribs. The taberna focuses on fried fish, small portions of stews, and plenty of seafood specialities, while the restaurant has larger, more refined plates like white prawn carpaccio and those famous Spanish red prawns (carabineros) sold by weight. Wines are local and staff are lovely, and whether you go casual or formal you won't go far wrong. Doña Calma Gastrobar If you're looking for somewhere to escape from the beach for a lazy lunch or a post sun-bathing dinner, Doña Calma Gastrobar is the one. It's known as one of Sanlúcar's most contemporary food options, daring to serve dishes like tuna tacos, cuttlefish empanadas with lime aioli, and tuna tartare with bone marrow served in the hollow of a massive bone (you'll be thinking about this until you're dead). Nothing here is a gimmick, everything has the kind of flavour you'll be trying to recreate long after your meal - utterly beautiful to look at and to eat. Drinks are local, simple and once again Manzanilla reigns supreme, and the glass covered, air-conditioned wrap around space is a heavenly retreat from the heat. El Espejo For something that's more adult night out/special occasion territory, book a table in the plant-adorned courtyard at El Espejo , in the Posada de Palacio hotel. It has a Bib Gourmand for good value cooking, but at €18 for a Carabinero prawn and €50 for a beef chop this isn't exactly bargain territory. The contemporary cooking is however in delicious territory, with the ingredients local, and a stellar sherry list to match. (c) El Espejo Mirador de Doñana A few doors down from the always thriving Casa Bigote you'll find Mirador de Doñana , which as the name suggest offers expansive views across the Doñana national park across the water in front . Sanlúcar prawns, lobster gratin and red shrimp tartare are all must orders, and the terrace outside has the tables to grab if it's not too warm, but the upstairs dining room has equally good views. (c) Mirador de Doñana Entrebotas, Bodegas Hidalgo la Gitana Set in the courtyard outside renowned sherry bodega Hidalgo la Gitana , Entrebotas is one of those rare occasions when the winery restaurant is as much a draw as the winery. The " Sanlúcar DNA" menu is a seafood extravaganza for €65 including drinks (water, wine and sherry), or slum it with some tapas and a sherry tasting at the bar. Tours of the bodega are also available and recommended. (c) Entrebotas Taberna der Guerrita Taberna der Guerrita , in the Bajo district, has become a place of pilgrimage for sherry lovers. On entering it might looks like your average spit and sawdust tavern, but ask to be taken to the rooms in the back and you'll find bottles piled high on shelves from floor to ceiling, with some you won't find anywhere else in the world. It's like a sherry museum, and you can spend more than you thought possible on some of the old and rares, or just ask for more affordable recommendations. The bar food out front is wholesome and simple and just waiting for a special bottle to be plucked from the shelves to enjoy with it. Dessert Helados Toni Toni has been selling ice-cream in Sanlúcar since 1896, and if it's taken that long to achieve something this perfect, it was worth the wait. The family run business is now in its fourth generation, run by sisters Lorena and Rosana, and this has to be some of the best ice-cream in Spain, let alone Sanlúcar. There's two on Plaza de Cabildo, but go for the one nearest the corner for the widest selection - and we mean wide. You'll need 10 minutes just to read through all the flavours. (c) Helados Toni Mr Cheesecake A cheesecake break is a must while exploring Sanlúcar, and Mr Cheesecake has the good stuff. From cheese-based flavours like the goat's cheese Payoyo or the sheep's cheese Roquefort, to countless options for those with sweeter teeth like fig, lemon and pistachio, you never know what you'll find in the fridge, so multiple trips are easily justified. (c) Mr Cheesecake Wineries to visit The bodegas best set up for visitors and online booking are Hidalgo La Gitana (home to Entrebotas above) and Barbadillo, both in the city centre, and both offering various tours and tastings. Visit La Gitana starting at €20 six days a week, while Barbadillo has a Manzanilla Museum you can walk around at your leisure (everything's in Spanish so you may need Google translate), with guided tours and tastings taking place six days a week, also starting at €20. (c) Bodega Hidalgo le Gitana For more boutique options check out Bodegas Yuste , with visits and tastings ranging from €15 - €85 depending on how serious your interest is. Bodega Argüeso is another great choice, estimated to be over 250 years old, and Delgato Zuleta , which claims to be the oldest winery in region.

Do you feel the chill in the air? We weren't sure we were ready for what's been a stunner of a summer to end, but we think we can get on board with the promise of whiskey-smoked pork sandwiches, hun bun chicken burgers, and Autumn walks with a coffee in one hand and a pain au raisin in the other. Here's what's been raising our eyebrows this week... 1) Smoked Trout, D'Olier Street Need a little treat? Something to set yourself up for a September reset? (Mentally, not diet wise, obvs). Book yourself into Michelin-starred D'Olier Street for their €135 tasting menu, with dishes like this smoked trout with heirloom tomato, yuzu kosho and basil. It's been a tough summer of outdoor dining, beach trips and clocking off early from work. You've earned it. 2) Brioche de Bogavante, La Gordita La Gordita threw this lobster brioche thirst trap out there before casually announcing they were off on holidays for a week - how rude. So you'll have to wait until next week to get your hands on this brioche de bogavante with salpicón, prawns, cucumber, shallots and goatsbridge trout caviar, but we reckon the anticipation will make it all the sweeter... 3) Hog & Hen Hun Bun, Cluck Chicken Cluck Chicken 's monthly hun bun is a special one this month. The "Hog & Hen" comes with double fried chicken thigh, BBQ sauce, bacon jam, slow cooked pulled pork, American cheese, lettuce and chipotle mayo, on a toasted, seeded sour dough bun from Coghlan's bakery. The most important thing though, is all hun bun sales from this week (total, not profits) are going to this lovely little girl who's fighting a brain tumour. Find it in their Walkinstown location for the month of September. 4) Pain au Raisin, Bread 41 We've been sleeping on the pain au raisins with all the ultra glam pastries available around town these days, but Bread 41 are showing us what we've been missing. Theirs has tea soaked raisins and almond cream wrapped in the most buttery sourdough pastry, and it's available in all locations, every day. Firmly cemented on our Autumn eating list. 5) Whiskey smoked pork ciabatta, Tír Deli Tír Deli seems to appear in this feature every other week, and can you blame us with them throwing these kinds of shapes? Their new Autumn menu has a ciabatta with smoked pork shoulder that's been cured in Spot Whiskey for five days, along with pork crackling, a whiskey glaze from the marinade, Abercorn Farm cucumber pickle and Irish greens. This one's a monthly special running for September, but we bet if it's a hit they'll keep it around longer.

Seafood is for life, not just for summer. As much as we love eating oysters al fresco and cracking open in-season Irish lobster as the sun shines down, there’s just as much great fish and shellfish on menus year round that should be celebrated. From fresh-as-it-gets seaside spots, to Spanish-style conservas, omakase sushi to Sichuan sea bass, here are the best places in Dublin to get the best seafood all year round...   Fish Shop, Benburb Street We’ve lost count of the times we’ve sat down in Fish Shop  and savoured a gilda and manzanilla while agonising over what to order next – name a better way to start a meal. The city’s best fish and chips has racked up raves from international outlets aplenty in recent years, cementing it firmly on the tourist radar, so be sure to book ahead if you want to be guaranteed a seat. Bar Pez, Kevin Street Fish Shop’s Spanish-style little sister specialises in seasonal and seafood-heavy small plates, with their crab sandwich and scallop toast now infamous for good reason. With a recent pivot to a seven-day service, Bar Pez  is now comfort food and benchmark wines to fall into the arms of every night of the week. Matsukawa, Smithfield Two years on from its arrival in Smithfield, Matsukawa  eight seats are still a struggle to book – you need to book well in advance, dine solo or be ready to pounce on cancellations to enjoy this omakase sushi spot. From melt-in-the-mouth otoro to torched John Dory, every last morsel here is worth the advance planning.

What’s the story with Jehan’s Heaven?   Caucasian cuisine? Reddit threads  and puzzled head tilts every time we've passed Jehan’s Heaven  make it necessary to clarify that: no, it does not mean white people food; and yes, it is properly seasoned. This new arrival from the people behind Ella’s Heaven across the road brings a deeper dive into the cuisine of the Caucasus – Armenia, Azerbaijan and the owner's native Georgia. What should we have? We’ve long loved the khachapuri in Ella’s Heaven , one of the most satisfying lunches in town, and they’ve upped the game here with twelve varieties, most available in two sizes. We went classic with a “small” Adjaruli style (€12), the hot, fluffy boat-shaped bread a dream to dip in the molten mess of salty Imeruli cheese and rich raw egg yolk. The pitch of “Georgian pizza” doesn’t do justice to this cheesy, carb-fest. We're long time fans of a cabbage roll, and ever curious to see how it differs across Europe and Asia. Jehan's dolma (€15) aren’t about to dethrone Romanian sarmale from our top spot, with a filling of minced beef and rice a touch dry – yogurt and a thin tomato sauce go a way to help. The price of beef is bananas right now, but that price point for two pieces felt striking. Especially when compared to the bountiful bang-for-your-buck beef in the chanakhi (€16.90), a clay pot stew studded with aubergine and green pepper. Delicious, silky, slow-cooked flavour soaked through every last tender chunk of meat, and the generous bread on the side only added to the sense of relative value versus the cabbage, as it mopped up every morsel baked onto the base. Caucasian cuisine a Turkish grill ain’t, but between the billowing charcoal centrepiece by the door, and curiosity about what an Azerbaijani lule kebab is, their signature sharing platter (€65.90) had to be tried. Cumin and paprika distinguish the lule's lamb from the chilli flake-flecked adana (also included), but not enough to stop the two feeling samey – chops or fillet would have gone a long way. The same problem holds for the chicken, with wings and breast ending up as overkill, despite the black char sealing in some seriously good juice. So-so side salad and sauces seal the deal on landing this platter in the "skip-it" space. Great grills are plentiful in Dublin these days, and Jehan’s has neither the goods nor value to stack up against established hits like Reyna or new challengers like Sofra . Only above-average chips and a delicious Georgian pear lemonade (included) stood out. We've tried the baklava, kadayif and Turkish delight ( different to what you might know as Turkish delight ) before and it's another area they excel in, so get some to enjoy with a coffee afterwards, or take some home to be the most popular person in your house. Why should we go? Not least for the fact that its impressive fitout has replaced one of those tourist trap Paddywagon places, Jehan’s Heaven is a good addition to the North inner city, with loads of space to enjoy flavours from a truly tasty part of the world. Just skip the grill and stick to the Caucasian food. Jehan’s Heaven 10 Talbot Street, Dublin 1 instagram.com/jehans_heaven

If you read our review of Amai by Viktor a couple of weeks ago you'll know how much we loved this new fine dining Brazilian restaurant with All The Views off Grafton Street (watch a snapshot of our meal here ). They tell us they've been inundated with ATF readers since, and have given us a ridiculously good deal to take you back there with us for the full experience (and then some). Chef Viktor Silva's food is something brand new for Dublin - never have we seen Brazilian dishes and ingredients executed at this standard - and watch this space, because the Michelin men will be ringing that doorbell very soon. Did we mention the people watching from those five-star tables at the windows? It's what end of summer dining dreams are made of. Amai by Viktor have given us an incredible offer for our ATF Insider takeover, of the full tasting menu (usually €79), plus extra courses including a sneak peak of their new Autumn duck dish, AND a welcome caipirinha, for just €60! We're not sure you could spend that amount of money on anything better in Dublin right now. We're taking over Amai by Viktor on Tuesday 9th September , with early tables from 17:00 - 17:30, and late tables from 19:45 - 20:15. As usual with our events the team, including chef Viktor, will be on site all night to welcome you, serve the dishes, and answer your questions. This is an ATF Insiders -only event - sign up here  for €6 a month if you know what's good for you. Each Insider can book a table for two, and bring one non-Insider with them.  If you're coming with friends who are also signed up and you want to sit together, just make a note on your booking. Bookings for our Amai by Viktor takeover on Tuesday 9th September go live tomorrow, Friday 29th August at 1pm . Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders  will receive the booking link directly to their inbox. If you're not already part of Dublin's best food club, find out why all the cool kids are below.

Throw a brick around Dublin city centre and you’re likely to hit a pub grub menu with chicken burgers, Caesar salad, Thai curry and carbonara – the tourist trap starter pack. But while such places still plague the streets, dig a little deeper and you’ll find a bustling culture of bars doing great food all over the city. From food trucks smartly slotting into outdoor spaces, to restaurant quality kitchens around the back of boozers, here’s where to find the best pub food in Dublin...   NORTHSIDE   Sister 7 @ Fidelity Studio, Smithfield   Bustling craft bar Fidelity hasn't stopped heaving since opening at the end of 2022, and with the arrival of Sister 7 in the neighbouring Studio space they’ve only got busier. One taste of the food and you'll know why – a partnership between Big Fan and Whiplash , the menu’s spent grain crackers and beer reduction sauces make for a creative collab in one of the coolest spaces around. They open Wednesday to Sunday, and walk-ins work out at quieter times but we’d recommend booking. Read our review here .   Bonobo, Smithfield   Bonobo ’s big beer garden is thronged at all times of the year, and the top-tier pizza’s a big part of the draw. We’ve wiled away many a night sharing a few of their wood-fired specials over a round or two of their rotating craft taps and upmarket cocktails. A prime view of the kitchen magic happening from the beer garden is great for nosey eaters too. Hera, Dorset Street   There’s pub grub and then there’s this. Hera  pounced onto the scene earlier this year with a quality of food that could outdo most restaurants around town – no surprise from the team who brought us Crudo  and Achara . The lamb scotch egg and yeast butter spuds have yet to leave our mind’s eye since. Be sure to book well in advance if you’re going for dinner, or settle into the Juno bar space and pick away at the snacks menu. Read our review here .

It's the last few hazy weeks of summer, where crisps come topped with anchovies, a Sunday roast means barbecued fish, and you need to load up on the best strawberries before they're gone. Here's what we're spending a lot of time thinking about this week... 1) Parmesan linguine, Margadh RHA Margadh in the RHA can't do much wrong in our eyes, and this Parmesan linguine with creme fraiche and lardons looks like it hopped straight out of Parma ready to be swirled around a plate near St Stephen's Green. Order it a la carte or as part of their new tasting menu. 2) McNally's potato crisps, Woodruff We love a little something to snack on while we make those all important ordering decisions, but Woodruff in Stepaside are taking the humble crisp and sending it stratospheric. They make them in house from McNally Farm organic potatoes, and right now are topping them with white anchovy, nduja & teriyaki, for a crunchy, salty, spicy start to dinner. And the best bit? You can get a free portion if you're signed up to ATF Insiders . 3) Rack of halibut with chicken butter, The Seafood Café The Seafood Café 's Sunday lunch is one of the best ways to spend your day of worship. It's priced on your main, from roast racks of fish for €65pp to whole Dover sole for €70, but you get a welcome cocktail, snacks, sides and dessert, so it's a hell of a feed. This rack of halibut comes with chicken butter and girolles - our kind of summer Sunday roast. 4) Coconut and strawberry mille-feuille, L'Gueuleton The clock is ticking on strawberry season, and what a way to see it out. L'Gueuleton 's crispy mille-feuille sandwiches coconut ganache, strawberry compote and coconut sorbet, for all the French summer holiday feels. 5) Banana bread, Copper + Straw Banana bread can be meh or marvellous, but we're gona bet that Copper + Straw 's is the latter after it reached the finals of the Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards. Their new in-house kitchen has only been up and running for five months, and head chef Faye's recipe is made with a base of chopped almonds, cashews and walnuts, and topped with peanut butter ganache, dark chocolate drizzle and banana crunch. We're filing this plus a pumpkin spice latté away for early Autumn scenes.

What's all this about a secret food and wine pairing?   In an era of being bled dry with every step, we're permanently hunting for good value. While looking for somewhere on a quiet Tuesday we came across Ely Wine Bar's "secret pairing" experience, and thought €64.50pp for three courses and wines (hopefully good ones) was worth investigating. Where are we sitting?   Down to the cellar you go - not ideal on a muggy summer evening, but will be 10/10 on a cold, blustery night coming soon. When we booked there were only high tops available, but low tables were free, so either they had cancellations or their booking system is awry. What's the secret pairing all about? They're at pains to explain it's not a three course meal , but snacks, starters and a main. Our snacks were Cooleeney cheese fondue with roast garlic sourdough (funky and crunchy, but the crispy bread we pointed at here looks even better); chicken pie croquettes (loved), and Manzanilla and Kalamata olives (not the city's finest and too many for two). So far, so good though. "Starters" were even better, with a bowl each of two perfectly cooked scallops with borlotti beans, tomato, basil, artichoke and EVOO poured at the table. We were told our substantial mushroom risotto to share had had chestnut, shiitake and morels, but we found no morels. Hazelnuts, Parmesan and lemon on top stopped it feeling too heavy. At this stage we were pretty full (stinginess not an issue), so when a board of shatteringly crispy chicken arrived with foie gras stuffing, crunchy mange tout and a buttery leek sauce, we had to undo buttons. A (bigger than necessary) bowl of ratte potatoes on the side was bland in comparison, with no real reason to finish them. We didn't need dessert, but were told at 21:40 they needed to let their chef go home and panicked. The "peach bellini ice-cream sandwich" (€7) wasn't worth it - we're not convinced the choux was homemade, and the unripe, crunchy peach was a travesty. What about wines? When it comes to wine, tell them your likes or dislikes (the same goes for food). We said interesting, natural, not overly commercial, and it paid off. A, soft, fruity, Portugese pet nat was beautiful with the snacks, and a Sicilian orange Catarratto stood up brilliantly to scallops and risotto. A Portugese white made from local grape varieties, aged under flor like sherry, was interesting with the chicken too - you'll leave here with added wine knowledge and new bottles to look out for. Any low points? It was very wintery food for July, with too many heavy ingredients leading to "I've over done it" discomfort - we were crying out for a salad. They also whipped away a glass with that precious last sip of wine in it, and when alerted said it had been empty. Nothing like a bit of he said she said to end the night on a bum note. Why should we go?   €64.50 a head for this amount of food and wine feels like a steal of a deal these days, and will be even better on an Autumn/Winter evening when the food and room better suit the mood. Ely Wine Bar Ely Place, Dublin 2 elywinebar.ie

What’s the story with Lucy?   When we think of front lines, we tend to picture trenches, not plates, but war is waged not just in uniform, but in culture too - in language, in literature, even in food. We know a thing or two about that in Ireland - they know a lot about it in Ukraine.   Baker Mykola Kuleshov has named this new Clanbrassil Street café Lucy (where Clanbrassil House used to be) after his grandmother, from whom many of the recipes first came. Like many of her storied generation, she remains in Ukraine, not willing to cede her culture. In sharing and celebrating it here in her name, Lucy offers its own act of resistance.   What should we have?   Get your pyrizhky orders in the minute you sit down. These gold-crusted stuffed brioche buns (€4), made by hand here in several variations, are shocks of (sometimes literally) jam-packed flavour waiting to be torn open and gulped down. We loved the ruby-red cherry with a sharp sour tang to balance out the bread’s sweetness. It’s just as good a pairing for savoury flavours, with a juicy, salty ground chicken and mushroom stew seeping through its soft crags for chewy, meaty mouthfuls. Varenyky (€14) bear a lot of resemblance to Polish pierogi, and share many of the pyrizhky fillings – a well-buttered and salted mashed potato was our choice. Take the optional fried onion, mushroom and sour cream in abundance - these toppings might look like mere dressing, but there’s an intense, earthy flavour and creamy texture that the dumplings need to really deliver. Ukrainians know their way around a spud just as well as the Irish, and in deruny (€14) we have their answer to boxty. More of those mushrooms offer another savoury kick alongside the salty slap of crisp bacon – there’s fun to be had combining forkfuls of crisp-skinned soft potato pancake with both to your perfect balance. As a heaving brunch plate this will go a long way to starting the day – a sprinkle of sharp chive to cut through the rich layers would improve it further.   Cakes are a cornerstone of the bustling business Kuleshov and his wife Viktoriia Horbonos built up before opening a sit-down site, delivering much-missed tastes of home to Ukrainians across the city. One bite of honey cake (€7) makes the fanbase easy to understand - richly sweet from artisan Irish honey, its fourteen layers of thin-rolled dough sandwich sweet cream in a delicately delicious slice.   Raisin-studded cottage cheese makes a more sour-sweet treat of the babka (€6), its grainy texture coated in Belgian dark chocolate. Versus the light and lively honey cake it’s a far denser dessert, best suited to coffee and cake rather than a full meal finale. The caramelised cream cigar that is the waffle milk (€4.30) meanwhile... Sure it’s only a small thing, we couldn’t say no - neither should you.   Why should we go?   In the floral crockery smuggled out of seized Ukrainian land, just as much as the delicious food Lucy serves on it, there's culinary history heaped high here, and a proud sense of a cuisine and a culture worth fighting for.   Lucy 6 Clanbrassil Street Upper, Dublin 8 instagram.com/lucy.dublin.ie

We're ending the summer on a high by giving away nine more great prizes to our paying subscribers , including THREE overnight breaks away, and vouchers to visit some of the best new openings in the city. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders goes automatically into the draw, you don't have to do anything else to enter. As an ad and invite-free platform , ATF Insiders is how we're funded, ensuring that recommendations are made without influence, unblemished by invites and free food. Everyone who signs up for ATF Insiders by midnight on Sunday 17th August will be entered into this month's prize draw, and winners will be selected on Tuesday 19th August. This could be your month :) 1) Overnight stay in Aloft Dublin City with breakfast & dinner One of our lucky Insiders is off to Aloft Dublin City for an overnight staycation, with breakfast and dinner in Tenters , their cosy gastropub. The modern 4-star hotel is in the heart of the Liberties, with some of our favourite restaurants nearby, like Two Pups, Notions, Spitalfields and Bakeology In. With spacious rooms and stunning views, Aloft Dublin City is an ideal bolthole for exploring Dublin's food, culture and history - check them out at www.aloftdublincity.com . 2) An overnight stay and €150 voucher for The Pumphouse, Wicklow Wicklow has a new go-to for food, just an hour from Dublin on the Kildare border. The Pumphouse , a new family-run contemporary bar & restaurant, opened in Dunlavin last month, an hour’s drive from Dublin and perfect for a food-focused day trip. Surrounded by Wicklow countryside, head chef Gavin McDonagh (ex-Dylan McGrath group, Brioche in Ranelagh), is showing off local ingredients like Hollywood Farmhouse Cheese, Feighcullen Farm free-range chicken, and Dunlavin Honey, in a menu that's been designed for maximum appeal. To celebrate the opening, The Pumphouse  has given us a foodie break for two, with a voucher for €150 to spend in the restaurant plus an overnight stay locally that you can enjoy on a date of your choice (subject to availability). Check out The Pumphouse   here . 3) Overnight stay with breakfast and cocktails at The Croke Park hotel The Croke Park hotel has partnered with   Penguin Books   and the  Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI)  to create the ideal Dublin stay for bookworms . From Swift to Sally Rooney, Beckett to Binchy, James Joyce to Naoise Dolan, Dublin’s writers have always captured the city’s wit, grit and soul, and the specially curated Penguin bookshelf in the lobby library is stocked with dozens of books for you to dive into. The stay also includes tickets to  MoLI , the museum dedicated to Irish literary greats, and the works that shaped Irish culture, and we've got an overnight stay to give away with breakfast, cocktails in The Sideline bar and tickets to MoLI on a day of your choice. Check out The Croke Park 's "A chapter in Dublin" breaks here . 4) €100 voucher for Hawker, Rathmines It might the most anticipated takeaway opening Dublin has ever seen, with Hang Dai Chinese deciding to make their covid-time takeaways a permanent fixture in Rathmines. Our dine in preview of Hawker next week sold out in minutes, and it's fair to say excitement is at fever pitch ahead of their official opening on Wednesday 27th August. To celebrate the opening we've got a €100 voucher to give away to one of you this month so you can have all the prawn toast with yuzu mayo, cheeseburger springrolls and Xinjiang lamb skewers in the comfort of your own home. 5) Two tickets for "Chef Stories" at Roe & Co Distillery   One of the hallmarks of summer in recent years has been Roe & Co 's summer food and whiskey experiences, and this year the focus is on some of Ireland's top chefs and their individual stories. JP McMahon ( Aniar ), Aisling Moore ( Goldie ), Melissa McCabe ( Feast ) and Graham Herterich ( The Bakery by The Cupcake Bloke ) will take over for a weekend, to cook a five course meal designed to spark memories and tell stories. Courses will be paired with Roe & Co  Irish Whiskey cocktails, with tickets for food and drink costing €110. We've got two tickets to give away this month to an event of your choice, taking place until the end of September. Check out more here .  6) €100 voucher for La Strada The cute little Aungier Street terrazza from Lucio Paduano (ex-Manifesto in Rathmines) is a slice of regional Italia in the middle of the city, and we loved our visit there  for mortadella, burrata and pistachio pizza, with a side of buffalo blue cheese mousse and strawberries. La Strada  has just gotten their wine licence, so Lucio's renounced taste in Italian wine can once again be showcased. They're halfway through their summer menu, with the Autumn menu starting in October, and this is hyper-seasonal food (expect chestnuts, pumpkin, Jerusalem artichoke, radicchio), with so much imported from Naples. We've got a €100 voucher for La Strada  to give away this month so you can plan your own Italian date night. 7) €100 voucher for Dosa Dosa in Rialto The Dublin 8 food scene is proving unstoppable, with Dosa Dosa the latest addition to the neighbourhood. Their first permanent restaurant has just opened in Rialto (where Daphe's used to be), and it's not just dosas anymore (although we still recommend making a special trip in their honour). As well as a street food menu featuring dosas, uttapam and kathi rolls, there's an extensive new menu with dishes like manga fish curry, apricot lamb rack, and gun powder idly - choosing might be an issue here. We've got a €100 voucher for Dosa Dosa this month, and with their great value prices you'll make a decent dent in the menu. 8) €100 voucher for Akaka Poke Akaka Poke  are turning 8! To celebrate their big birthday they've given us a €100.00 voucher so one of our Insiders can enjoy all the Ahi Tuna, Spicy Salmon and Teriyaki tofu poke bowls for them and anyone else they're kind enough to share their prize with. Find Akaka Poke  on Liffey Street in Dublin 1, and Clonskeagh in Dublin 6, or order online or on Deliveroo . 9) A Grow with Aldi hamper and a €100 gift card ALDI have just announced their 30 finalists for Grow with ALDI 2025 , after a nationwide call out for Ireland's best food and drink entrepreneurs. Fifty-four new Irish products will be available in ALDI stores nationwide for two weeks from Thursday September 11th like Garnacha salsas , Sadie's Kitchen bone broth , and The Good Dairy Company's artisan ice-cream . Shoppers will have two weeks to get their fill of the selected products, before ALDI will select the winners to be stocked in store for the rest of the year. To celebrate the Grow with ALDI programme, we've got a hamper packed with Irish products from the finalists to give away, as well as a €100 gift card so you can top up your favourites. Everyone signed up for ATF Insiders in August (both new and old) will be automatically entered into the prize draw. You don't need to do anything. If you're not signed up yet, join here before midnight on Sunday 17th August. Your support promotes independent reviews and news in Dublin and beyond, and allows you to get answers to any dining questions directly from us.

Hawker , the new high end takeaway from Hang Dai Chinese , opens in Rathmines on Wednesday 27th August , but we've got an exclusive preview for ATF Insiders the weekend before. On Saturday 23rd August , Hawker will host two sittings (with seats!) for our subscribers, where you'll get to taste through most of the menu for €45 including a welcome drink - around 25% off regular prices. Prefer to eat at home? On Sunday 24th they'll have special ATF x Hawker bundles priced at €35pp (again a 25% discount) available for delivery or collection from the restaurant, with optional add ons of Hawker cocktails, beer and wine. Both will be limited, and both will be exclusively available to ATF Insiders . For the dine in preview on Saturday 23rd there will be two sittings at 5pm and 8pm. Tickets cost €45 for the full menu (regular or vegetarian) including a welcome cocktail. Each Insider can book for them and a plus one, and look at what you'll get to try if you're fast enough to grab a space (the vegetarian menu needs to be requested in advance) . For the takeaway/collection option , a bundle to generously feed two (with a vegetarian option to be requested in advance ) will cost €70 (again around 25% off regular prices), with optional wine and cocktail add-ons. Delivery will be available to Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8, and will take place between 4pm and 8pm (a time will be confirmed in advance). There will also be a limited amount of orders available for collection from the restaurant for anyone not in the delivery radius. Here's what you could be enjoying at home on Sunday night. This is an ATF Insiders-only event - sign up here  for €6 a month if you're not already part of the best food club in Dublin. Each Insider can book two spaces and bring a guest with them , or book a delivery/collection bundle for two. The links to book both the dine in preview and Hawker's first delivery service will go to everyone signed up to ATF Insiders tomorrow, Thursday 14th August at 10am . If you're not already signed up you can do so below.

After months of speculation about what is going into the old Loretta's site in Phibsborough, we can finally reveal that it's BORGO , a new "osteria locale" from restaurateurs Sean Crescenzi and Jamie McCarthy ( Hera , Crudo , Achara ). And the best part? ATF Insiders will get access to a soft launch a day before opening, with 20% off the bill. BORGO will be a neighbourhood Italian in the beautifully restored Old Bank Building on Doyle's Corner in Phibsborough — built in 1900 and "full of Venetian architectural charm" according to its new owners. They say its inspired by the deep culinary traditions of Italy, and restaurateurs whose travels have shaped their love for regional Italian cooking, like handmade pasta, wood-fired grilling, sourdough breads, and pizzette (not pizza!). They're calling the menu "a love letter to Italy", from Bologna's pasta dishes and Parma’s legendary cured meats, to Venice's laid-back lagoon dining and Abruzzo's farm-to-table ethos. They want to blend traditional techniques with top-quality Irish ingredients, and while plenty proclaim to do the same, these guys have already put their money where their mouth is in multiple award winning sites, so we have no doubt they'll do the same here. The menus still being finalised, but here's some highlights: BBQ'd padron peppers with Taleggio custard Burrata with spiced and burnt plums Wood-fired "carbonara" oysters 7-inch sourdough pizzettes flatbreads, perfect for sharing with antipasti, including 'nduja butter & Cais na Tire', and 'Guanciale, lemon ricotta & Cloonbook Reserve' Pasta made in house using organic free range eggs, including "THE" Amatriciana (a nod to Sean's Roman heritage) McLoughlin's BBQ bavette Whole fish Wild boar chops Lunch and breakfast will follow once they've got their feet on the ground, and they're aiming to be a seven-day affair like Crudo . They say want to give the neighbourhood a new venue for all occasions, offering the best value possible for the quality of food on offer, and we think this one's going to go down very well with locals, and the rest. Borgo officially opens on Friday 22nd August , but ATF Insiders get can access to an exclusive preview night on Thursday 21st , with 20% off the menu. We'll send out more details in the next few days, and ATF Insiders will get the booking link directly to their inbox.

From the best in seasonal Irish seafood to new ventures from our Eastern European friends; great value lunch to late night dinner; date night Italian style to a perfect summer sun spot while it lasts; these are our top spots to tick off in August... For a taste of Ukrainian food: Lucy, Clanbrassil Street   Keen to repay the kindness of Ireland in showing such welcome to the Ukrainian community, couple Viktoriia Horbonos and Mykola Kuleshov set up a market stall bakery business last year named for the latter’s grandmother to showcase the culture and cuisine of their homeland. Now they’ve made the leap to a sit-down spot on Clanbrassil Street called Lucy , serving pyrizhky (stuffed buns), varenyky (dumplings), cabbage rolls and waffle cake. With old school Ukrainian plates on the tables and portraits of Lucy herself on the walls, this looks like exactly the kind of wholesome spot we need more of in Dublin.   For best in season Irish lobster: The Dalkey Lobster Festival   Peak Irish lobster season is always worth celebrating, and Dalkey’s the place to do it this August, with the south Dublin village’s annual festival taking place on Saturday 23 rd and Sunday 24 th . Almost all the local outlets get in on the act, with stalls stringing the streets from blow-in vendors too, so whether you’re craving classic burgers and rolls, fancier plates like paella or thermidor, or even a Thai or Indian twist, there’s options to suit every taste. There’s also a packed programme of music, family-friendly activities and cooking demos to keep you entertained as you pause for breath between bites.   For great value lunches all made in-house: Honest to Goodness Café, Liberties   The name says it all at this homegrown café, which relocated from the city centre to the Liberties earlier this year. The candid socials   at Honest 2 Goodness taking on complaints about pricing (as if €10 for a sandwich was anything that raised an eyebrow these days) have caught our eye almost as much as the bulging servings themselves, and with homemade breads, sauces and fillings, we say that ranks as pretty good value for Dublin these days – you get what you pay for. The Friday sloppy Joe special   looks like the stuff of self-indulgent dreams.   For a great value dinner for night owls: Glas, Chatham Street   We all know the drill, you’re searching around for a great value deal with prices the way they are and all you can find is early birds that pack it in by 6pm. Well here’s veggie hotspot Glas leaping on the popular New York and London trend for “late bird” offerings – no more nipping out of work early to make it to town on time for a deal. Their menu has four options in each course at €32 for two or €36 for three – with a difference like that, who’d skip dessert? It runs from 9pm to 9.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays only.   For an Italian date night without the plane ride: La Strada, Aungier Street   If peak season pricing is putting a quick jaunt to la bella vita out of reach, you could always plop yourself down at La Strada and use your imagination – with the warmth and light of a late evening at this time of year, it almost works. The new pizzeria from Lucia Paduano, former owner of Rathmines institution Manifesto, has one of the cutest fitouts in town, with its cobbled floor and hanging foliage, and plenty of food that’s just as pretty, with a focus on seasonality and provenance that we’re all about. We see a new date night favourite in the making - read our two minute review here .   For a Mediterranean dinner in the sun… while it lasts: Tang, Cumberland Place A lot lesser known than the ever popular breakfast and lunch salads and flatbreads available across all of its branches, is Tang ’s Thursday and Friday night dinner menu in Cumberland Place. That’s good news if you want to nab one of their lovely outdoor terrace tables to lap up the late summer sun for as long as it lasts us. Especially given the wealth of great suppliers they work with, from Toonsbridge and Lilliput to Rings Farm and Ennis Butchers, the value here is top-tier with plates from €13 to €18 as high as the Middle East-inspired menu prices go.   For a happy sign of the times in diversifying Dublin: Jehan’s Heaven, Talbot Street   We’ll always give a little whoop of excitement when one of those Irish American tourist horde-courting Paddywagon places pulls down its shutters, but it’s even better when they’re replaced by something like this. Ella’s Heaven, the Talbot Street Georgian bakery whose selection of sweet treats and khachapuri puts it squarely among our best bakeries in town , has leapt on this space right across the road to open Jehan’s Heaven , with a charcoal grill and doner rotisseries adding to the ample pastry choices from over the way. It’s a sizeable space and a serious step up, and we can’t wait to get in.

Our 35 hottest list (formerly 30, things are too good out there) features the most talked about restaurants in Dublin right now, based on column inches, Insta love and the general pain involved in getting a booking. There are the restaurants with all the buzz, in alphabetical order, with three new entries for August... (It might also to read our guide on how to tables in the top ten hardest to book restaurants in Dublin) * This list doesn't include cafés or lunch-only options, everywhere here is open for dinner at a minimum Achara Where: Aston Quay, Dublin 2 Northern Thai BBQ-inspired Achara on Aston Quay, from the same owners as Crudo in Sandymount and Hera in Drumcondra, has felt like just what Dublin needed. The chilli caramel fish sauce wings, Killary Fjord mussel skewers, and whole chargrilled fish have the young and old lining up in tandem, and the premium cocktail and wine lists have them hanging around long after the food's gone. Read our review of Achara here .