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After a pretty quiet summer, the food industry is exploding into September with about 5 million events planned over the next four weeks - okay that might be a slight exaggeration but they're coming at us like tennis balls on centre court lately. Here are some that might help ease the pain of the summer that wasn't coming to a miserable end... Sticks Johnny Boyle's Sticks pop-up, currently operating out of Storyboard in Islandbridge, is inspired by Japanese skewer culture, and as the name implies, everything is on sticks. It's loosely based on a Japanese omakase format, where the chef decides what you eat, but they're bringing in inspiration from other cuisines too, with the main aim being to create "delicious flavour bombs on sticks". They're currently living by the quote, "If you can create a dish that dispenses with the need for anything but fingers, you are winning", and you can experience that winning by nabbing a tickets for the next dinner on Saturday 14th September here . A Special Food For Thought Daniel Hannigan's Food For Thought charity dinners have gone from strength to strength over the past year, raising over €25,000 so far for 3Ts - Turn The Tide Of Suicide - and the next ones are taking place on Sunday 15th and Monday 16th September, with ex- Delahunt  and Locks head chef Dermot Staunton taking up the reigns. Dermot wanted to get involved in raising awareness of depression and suicide, for reasons which will be revealed on the night, and the event will take place in The Well on Stephen's Green. Tickets are €180 for a 16 course tasting menu with "theatrical elements", a curated playlist linking the food to the music, and special lighting. Fish will be blow torched at the table, lamb legs will be served whole, and they're promising surprises throughout the evening. Tickets are due to be released this week - keep an eye on the FFT Instagram feed for details. Land and Sea - Grálinn x Julia's Lobster Truck Grálinn started their supper clubs on Elmhurst Farm in Drumcondra earlier this year, and managed to impress Katy McGuinness in the Irish Independent  with the "joyous eclecticism" in their food, and on Friday 13th September they join forces with Julia's Lobster Truck (usually based in Clare) for a one-off Land and Sea dinner in The Fumbally . The six course tasting menu is promising to showcase some of the incredible produce the island has to offer, and costs €80 with wines available to purchase on the night. Get tickets here . Chef Knights Chef Knights is a collaboration between Hussey Fruit & Veg and the restaurants they supply produce to, to showcase the best of Irish food and raise money for the Irish Cancer Society. The first one took place in Richmond a few weeks ago, and the next one is on Monday 16th September in Circa , Terenure. Tickets are €50 for a 5-course tasting menu from Circa head chef Gareth Naughton, and most of the ingredients for the night are being donated by Hussey Fruit & Veg's producers, like Drummond House garlic and Ard Mhacha Shiitake mushrooms, so that as much as possible will go to charity. Tables can be booked directly through the restaurant here . Lobsterfest at Saba Saba 's lobsterfest is back from the 9th-22nd September, with Kilkeel Harbour lobster, Roaring Bay rope mussels and oysters from Carlingford Lough, all served Saba-style. The "celebration of everything lobster and shellfish" includes a steamed half lobster with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves and chilli for €29.95, paired with a Mayflower Martini, and a seafood platter for two featuring a whole lobster, squid, tiger prawns and swordfish, with stir-fried vegetables and fried rice for €56.95. Get more info and book a table here . The Cliff Townhouse Oyster Festival Another festival making its annual return (for its 8th year) is the Cliff Townhouse 's Oyster Festival, which runs through September. For the whole month you can get six oysters with a glass of Billecarte salmon for €30, and downstairs in Urchin you can get a seafood platter with two glasses of house wine for €60. We're also liking the sound of their jazz and oyster lunch on Sunday 29th September, starting with oysters and Champagne, followed by a talk and demo, then a three-course lunch, for €50 per person. Get more information or make a booking on the Cliff Townhouse's website .

Covering everything from Leprechauns to libraries, Dublin has long been a haven for museums, galleries, and cultural hotspots, and you’ll find no end of opportunities to learn about the city and world around us if you act like a tourist for the day. We like to think we’re a cultured bunch, but this is All The Food not All The Museums, so we’ve put together a list of culturally-adjacent cafés and restaurants that are worth a visit on their own merit, but also happen to be in, or under, some of our favourite cultural destinations in Dublin. Hatch and Sons, Hugh Lane Gallery & The Little Museum of Dublin Nestled away on the North side of Parnell Square, the Hugh Lane Gallery celebrates Irish art in contemporary and modern forms. If you’re visiting for an exhibition or lecture, and want to stick around for some food afterwards, Hatch and Sons are on-hand with breakfast goodies, salads, sandwiches, sharing boards, and lots of cake and coffee. They also hold a supper club showcasing Irish food every month. On the Southside, Hatch and Sons also has a basement location tucked away under the Little Museum of Dublin , if you’re looking to learn a little something about the city before grabbing a coffee for a wander through St. Stephen’s Green. Press Café, The National Print Museum A bit niche, but the National Print Museum in Beggars Bush is a lovely way to kill a few hours. It houses over 10,000 items that document Ireland’s history of printing; from large printing machines, to examples of calligraphy. You can even pick up one of their house-printed 1916 Irish Proclamations, if you’re feeling patriotic. The museum’s Press Café has built up a popular following with visitors and locals, for their menu featuring everything from banana bread French toast, to a slow-cooked lamb flatbread. They also have an outdoor area for alfresco dining. Ink Café, dlr Lexicon Dún Laoghaire’s impressive and expansive new dlr Lexicon library has everything; all the books, stunning views, a puntastic name, and Ink Café which focuses on zero waste, seasonal ingredients and food that aims to be accessible to all budgets, operated by FoodSpace . Menus are geared towards brunches, lunches, and snacks, plus there are supper club events throughout the year. Science Gallery Café, Science Gallery Science, art, and coffee collide in Trinity thanks to the Science Gallery Café opening in 2008, before Pearse St. became Dublin 2’s café mecca. There’s been a recent change of hands now that Cloud Picker have moved out and across the street, but the Science Gallery Café continues to provide breakfast, lunches, and coffees in a really funky café space. That said, you are within mere steps of Cloud Picker , Bread 41 , and Gertrude , so choose wisely. IFI Café Bar, Irish Film Institute The IFI Cinema and archive in Temple Bar feels like a real treat. The beautiful high-ceilinged building has three screens showing everything from new releases, to foreign language films and daily free screenings from the national archives. You can see an Oscar statuette up close, grab a (plastic) glass of wine or beer from the bar to enjoy through the movie, and then relax in the IFI Café Bar where there’s lots of choices for snacks and full meals, and a dessert counter featuring what may just be the best raspberry roulade in the city. The warm summer salad with crispy parmesan polenta croutons is definitely an upgrade from cinema-standard nachos with glow-in-the-dark “cheese”. Keep an eye out for regular “Feast Your Eyes” events where film tickets are paired with a specially devised main courses. Any culturally-adjacent eateries we've missed? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

A good marker of summer is the increase in reviews from around the country as the critics head off on their holidays. While usually there's a mass of moans about the majority of reviews coming out of the capital (which makes sense as we have the most restaurants), summer tends to be the opposite, and this week there's slim pickings for Dublin diners. There is however lots of staycation inspo. In the Irish Daily Mail Tom Doorley 's gone French for the second week in a row. Last week it was Nick Munier's new opening Le Perroquet, this week it's old school, under the radar bistro (at least for non-locals)  Le Pastis in Blackrock. Despite the "1980's feel" and "distinctly French menu", he says there's something "refreshingly of the new Ireland" about Le Pastis, and both oysters with lemon and a seaweed salad, and a gallantine of chicken with asparagus were "good" - he's also surprisingly forgiving at the appearance of sesame-honey noodles on the side of that gallantine, saying that Paris is bursting at the seams with noodle bars. A boeuf bourgignon was "exactly as it should be", despite the "confused" selection of roasted veg on the side, and lemon sole was perfectly cooked, save for an unnecessary smear of green purée underneath. A fresh raspberry mouse with raspberry ice-cream for dessert was "very lovely", and he says he understands why Le Pastis always seems to be busy, but thinks the kitchen could strip things back a bit, and resist the urge to add a "culinary go-faster stripe" to the plate. (Review not currently online) The only other review in Dublin this week comes from Niall Toner in the Sunday Times , who saved up all the fish-related puns for the last paragraph of his review of East Café in Howth. The upshot is that the food was pretty good, the service could have been better. You can read the full thing here  but proceed with caution if bad puns induce deep cringe. In the Irish Times Catherine Cleary is the latest person on the island to fall in love with  Little Fox in Ennistymon, saying that great food in small towns makes her "giddily optimistic about the world". She says it's the type of place "where menu descriptions deliver flavours in the way Instagram filters boost colour and contrast", singling out slow-cooked lamb with lemony hummus, haddock ceviche with the "freshness and zing of fresh coriander and lime", and "world-class" Clarinbridge clams and mussels in a fennel and tomato liquor. She says this is "quiet work done by people who believe it's worth doing things well" and describes Little Fox as "a beautiful idea which puts Ennistymon on the food map" - which we can attest to as we took a trip to Clare last month purely for the purposes of eating there after a summer of being taunted by other people's Instagram feeds. She gives it 9/10 and you can read her review here . In the Irish Examiner Joe McNamee is wondering if The Fish Basket in Long Strand is West Cork's best kept secret. After an entertaining opening about the restaurant's previous incumbent, and how it all went very badly wrong, he describes new owner Peter Shanahan's tray of whole Irish prawns and crab claws in garlic and herb butter with handcut chips and local leaves as "the quintessential seaside dining experience", while a sharing tray of battered hake and lemon sole, proper scampi and tender calamari with mushy peas, tartare sauce and chips was a "breathtakingly and sublimely rendered bounty". Fish tacos were the only weak link due to a "pappy wheat tortilla" and a tomato salsa "lacking chilli punch", but homemade treats from the chef/owner's wife were "a revelation", and he singles out the exceptional service. He gives the food 8/10, and the atmosphere 11/10 if it's a sunny day, and you can read the full review here . In the Sunday Business Post Gillian Nelis says that West restaurant at The Twelve Hotel in Galway are delivering "one of the best all-round hospitality experiences in the country". She praises dishes like barbecued Connemara langoustines with the "inspired addition" of salt and vinegar tempura nori, simple but beautiful organic mountain lamb featuring the loin, sweetbreads, braised belly and ‘lambcetta’ with peas and an onion soubise, and Connemara scallops with leeks, smoked black pudding, potato and dried seaweed terrine, and scallop roe cream - "one of the best dishes I’ve eaten so far this year." The service was just as good as the food, and she says it's an ideal place to Taste The Island this Autumn. Read her review here . In the Sunday Independent Lucinda O'Sullivan gives Michelin a bit of a roasting, saying they've always been "mean" with Ireland, before recounting two lunches in Kilkenny - one in Michelin-starred Campagne , the other in Lils at Avalon House . She calls the latter a "hip country-house hotel with stunning decor and an emphasis on food", and a "sassy" lunch menu. A salad of St Tola goat's cheese with figs, baby leaves, quinoa and beetroot dressing was "sublime", while fish pie with salmon, trout, hake and cod was "delicious", with its "fluffy charred potato topping". Michelin-starred Campagne is described as "cool and sophisticated, but delightfully unpretentious", with a "terrific" lunch menu. A lobster vol-au-vont was "fantastic", roast hake with confit fennel, aubergine and red pepper relish "superb", and a ravioli of mozarella and ricotta overflowing with smoked aubergine and pesto was so good she had to invent a word to describe it - "plumptious". An "insta-perfect" dessert of elderflower jelly, passion fruit ice-cream and a brown sugar tuille finished them off, and she calls Campagne "a gem". (Reviews not currently online) Finally in the Irish Independent Katy McGuinness is making us want to book another flight to London with her review of Irish export Robin Gill's new opening  Darby's , named after his late father. Leaving aside one surly server, it sounds like perfection from start to finish, with gildas featuring smoked eel instead of anchovies, brown butter waffles with smoked salmon and caviar, and an impeccably cooked whole turbot to share, with "flawless" sides of borlotti beans with herbs and greens, Cuore del Vesuvio tomatoes with Capezzana olive oil, and a "simple and perfect" green salad. The Truffled Baron Bigod - "essentially very posh cheese on toast" - is what we'll be thinking about for a good portion of the next week, and a passing waiter received serious bonus points by bringing them extra saying that their portion looked "a bit stingy". If only every restaurant had one. She describes it as "flavour, flavour, flavour in a room coming down with old-school glamour", and gives both food and value 9/10. Read her review here . More next week.

In the Irish Daily Mail this week Tom  Doorley is first in there with a review of Le Perroquet , Nick Munier's new pad on Leeson Street which only opened two weeks ago. It's co-owned by the Townhouse leisure group (La Cucina, The Green Hen), and he fesses up to thinking the food would be similar to their other venues - "from the good to the pedestrian" - but was pleasantly surprised by the "deliciously eclectic menu". His favourite dishes were roast cod with polenta and a beurre blanc - "summer on a plate" - French toast with Parmesan and shallot (above) - so good he wanted to cheer - and a side of aligot - creamy mashed potato blended with Parmesan. He calls Le Perroquet "bold and lovely and great for Dublin", and needless to say the team were very, very happy with this one. (Review not currently online) From the new and shiny to the more classic, Leslie Williams in the Irish Examiner was celebrating the Leaving Cert results at Caviston's in Dun Laoghaire, with fish that was "spanking fresh" and cooking that was "solid". One of the starters comprised of 15 (15!) queen scallops in chorizo butter, but other winners were a "pristinely fresh" tian of crab, and "chargrilled, robust sardines". Mains of John Dory, turbot and "properly cooked" king scallops all sound simple yet effective, chips were crispy and salad was well-dressed. All three dessert plates were scraped clean, and he ends with some solid restaurant gossip - Caviston's are opening a 120 seat space nearby by the end of the year. Wowzers. Read the full thing here . In the Sunday Business Post Gillian Nelis found "a deep bowl of deliciousness" with "layers of flavour" at The Ramen Bar on South William Street. Their tonkatsu ramen with "succulent pork" was the standout, while the garlic ramen with chicken, grated and black garlic was "very tasty but no tonkotsu". Starters were "a bit meh" with "mushy" salmon tartare and "forgettable" gyoza, but she says that tonkotsu ramen is now one of her go-to lunches in the city centre. Read her review here . In the Sunday Times Niall Toner battled against the odds to get a table in Host in Ranelagh, and says he kind of loves the happy place with happy food and drink. Read that here . In the Irish Times Catherine Cleary thinks Lily's On Church Street is the restaurant Wicklow town "badly needed". She says the hardworking place is somewhere "good sourcing and good cooking combine, and their three-course meal including gazpacho, hake "cooked butter crisp", braised Dexter beef shin and chocolate mousse was "delicious", "refreshing" and "lovely". While she says they hadn't pushed any boats out or "bamboozled anyone with small plates and the ordering anxiety they leave in their wake", Lily's "deserves to thrive in this lovely old building", and gives them 8/10. (Review not currently online) In the Irish Independent Katy McGuinness is in Galway for the third week on the trot, suitably impressed at how Gather are "walking the walk" when it comes to provenance and sourcing. A "strapping" burger is as good as you'll find anywhere, a fish special of plaice is "perfectly cooked", and organic green salad had the taste of "picked this morning" about it. She says Gather is a model for the type of restaurant that should exist in every Irish town, "supporting local farmers and growers, and acting as a hub for the community", and gives the food 9/10. Read her review here . Lucinda O'Sullivan  reckons Michelin-level food is being served on the University of Limerick campus, and before you fall off your chair it's not in the college canteen. She says that chef/patron Derek Fitzpatrick in the East Room restaurant, located in one of the 19th century buildings, is doing "an extraordinary job", taking much of his vegetables and herbs from UL's rooftop garden, and foraging for others. Foie gras was "picture perfect", cured salmon with grapefruit "divine", and violet artichokes with shiitake mushrooms "stunning", and she says she'd brave the M7 roadworks in a heartbeat to eat there again. (Review not currently online)

Is it just us or are pop-ups having a moment? Between female-chef inspired Forás and Japanese skewer inspired Sticks this month, and the three we're about to tell you about, pop ups are like the new doughnuts - blame the ridiculous state of rents and key money in the city centre stopping people who want to open restaurants from opening restaurants. Luckily for us that means they're having to get creative about how they feed us, and we're all on for that. Roots Chefs and partners Keith Coleman and Aisling McHugh used to run the kitchen at Fia , which was where Keith held his first pop-up " Roots " dinner in 2017 with Cúán Greene (formerly Noma, now head chef at Bastible ). Various versions of Roots have been held with different chefs since then, all leaving a trail of dazed and amazed diners in their wake, but it was when Keith did a residency in Green Man Wines in Terenure and scored a 9.5/10 from Catherine Cleary in the Irish Times that suddenly everyone knew his name. The latest version of Roots (and presumably the ultimate) sees Keith and Aisling come together in "a celebration of culture, heritage and native produce", starting with three dinners at the Hang Tough gallery in Portobello this week. Currently there are only tickets left for Friday night so if you want in be quick, or sign up to their mailing list for details of their next events. Feed The Pony Two of the team from Aimsir in Kildare are holding a natural wine night in Host on Monday 2nd September, with the chefs and winemakers flying in from Germany. Rose O'Toole is Aimsir's bar manager and Marty Cooper is front of house, and Marty's girlfriend worked for Noma and Kadeau in Copenhagen, before moving to Palsta in Berlin. Her and a fellow Palsta colleague will be in the kitchen on the night, and while the menu is TBC, they're teasing us with potential dishes like pickled green plums with mirabel plums, and ryebread with salted butter and burnt leek powder. Winemakers Daniel and Bianka Schmitt aren't currently represented in Ireland, so this will be a first outing for their biodynamic wines from Rheinhessen, and the €65 ticket includes five courses and five wines. Get tickets here . 4 Hands Food Studio Chef Rose Greene ran the kitchens of internationally renowned Coombeshead Farm in Cornwall and Michelin-starred In De Wulf in Belgium ( now closed ), before coming back to Ireland last year with her partner Margaux (who also worked at Coombeshead farm) to set up 4Hands Food Studio in Westmeath. They specialise in producing fermented foods like kimchi and kombucha, and want to hold workshops and events on site. As part of their return they're holding 3 dinners at The Fumbally in October, November and December, using food from their own larder, organic produce, fermented drinks and natural wines. They'll be using techniques like soaking, pre-digestion, sprouting, fermenting, dehydrating and slow cooking, saying it makes their food tastier, nutritious and easier to digest, and will only serve 25 people at each dinner to ensure they can engage with everyone. Tickets are €70 for what sounds like a lot of food and drink, and you get all the details here .

From petrol stations to 5 star hotels and every café in between, has a city ever taken an item so much in to their hearts (and breakfast menus) as Dublin has the humble scone? They’re the perfect vehicle to transport butter, jam, and cream (that’s right - we said “and”, there’s no shame in our scone game) into your face, and the Dublin scone scene is worth exploring. Also, good news, we’ve settled the debate and can now confirm that the word is 100% pronounced “scone” as in own, cone and moan. You’re welcome. Baa Baa by Blacksheep Foods Catering biz turned café, Baa Baa in Chapelizod has been blowing us away with so many scone flavour combos that we're struggling to pick just one. If we had to choose, it’d be the kale and cheddar, but honourable mentions go to strawberry and rosemary, and rhubarb and thyme. Basically, all the scones. Food Game On a stroll down South Lotts Road, you might happen upon a chalkboard outside Food Game telling you that “Dublin’s best scones are just out of the oven”. Big words (and they are really good) but, hey- who are we to fight with a sandwich board when they’ve already had enough trouble this month? Pepper Pot Café Take a break from shopping with a scone the size of your head while relaxing on the mezzanine of the Pepper Pot Café overlooking Powerscourt Town House Centre. Self-care in scone format. Coffee2Go Yes, that is Nutella on top of that scone on the left. Yes, Nutella. On a scone. It’s a Nutella scone. Brave the queues across any of the Coffee2Go locations (Mespil Road, Burlington Road, Blackrock) and even if the Nutella scones are all gone by the time you get there, you’ll be rewarded with lots of other options like pecan and raspberry. Fia Huge scone - check. Loads of Glenilen butter and berry jam - check. Outside seating where you can soak up some Rathgar buzz as you dine - check. Fia is a simple scone-eating haven. The Woollen Mills A scone so fruity, it almost doesn’t need jam. We’re adding jam anyway because we’re so extra, but it’s safe to say that The Woollen Mills scone will provide you with at least one of your five a day. The Art of Coffee In a city where our heads have been turned by cruffins and bircher museli, The Art of Coffee brings us back to our breakfast roots with their selection of fluffy fruit scones. Keogh's Many a bad morning/hangover/break up has been made better by an enormous raspberry, sugar-flecked scone from Keoghs Café on Trinity Street. For optimum scone-age get one while it's still warm (they always seem to be warm) with liberal amounts of Kerrygold on top and watch it melt in. Did we miss your favourite scone in Dublin? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

There’s been a few recent changes to the Creative Quarter, some sad, some exciting, so we’ve refreshed our guide to the area.... The Creative Quarter is the quarter you want to be in. The other three quarters? Well, we won’t even mention them. So clear your next day off and prepare for a day of great food, blissfully aimless shopping and too much coffee. Here’s how we would spend it... (and in case you're not sure where we're talking about, here's a map too) Morning... Start off in the Pepperpot Café in the Powerscourt Centre for breakfast. Whilst we’re big fans of their famous pear and bacon sandwich (it’s worth the hype), their scrambled eggs are also spot on. Afterwards, poke your head into homeware shop Article , before walking down South William St to Clement & Pekoe for coffee. The bench outside is one of the best places for people-watching in the city, if you can nab a spot. If it's too cold for that there's plenty of indoor seats too. Lunchtime... Head to Industry & Co. on Drury Street for Ottolenghi-style meats and salads, and have a browse around the shop afterwards. Earlier this year they started opening on Friday and Saturday evenings - details on that here - and while they've stopped for the while we hear they're due to start up again soon. If the weather is good, Blazing Salads is a great spot for a takeaway salad to bring to Stephen's Green. Alternatively, sit down with your salad in Sprout on Exchequer Street (below) who grow their own greens on their farm in Kildare. Get your afternoon coffee fix from Kaph on Drury Street, one of our favourite cafés in town. The seating upstairs is a nice place to get some work done but be warned, it can be packed. If you’re still feeling peckish, go for the quintessential pint and toastie in Grogan's . It’s nothing fancy but it hits the spot. Around the corner on Stephen Street Lower you'll find Sisu Izakaya where you can get yourself a great value bento box or some artfully decorated sushi to keep you going through your day of wandering, boozing and eating. During the day... Go to the Irish Design Shop , the Secret Book and Record Store or do a day course in Cook’s Academy . Have a stroll around Asia Market on Drury St and walk through George’s Street Arcade . Have a browse around upmarket grocer Fallon and Byrne and try to nab some of their truffle brie. They also do €1 corkage on any bottle from their wine cellar to drink in on Mondays and Tuesdays. For a caffeine top up, call into Grantham's on George's Street, where the coffee shop is in collaboration with Dunnes Stores and garden designer, Diarmuid Gavin, making for very Instagrammable coffee. Hungry again? The fried chicken gods have smiled upon Dublin town and blessed each and every one of us with Chimac , the Korean fried chicken joint using Irish, free-range chicken on Aungier Street with the ability to grant you happiness instilled in a mug of frosé. As feel-good as fast food gets. Feeling hot? ‘Gram some instant ice cream at Three Twenty Ice Cream , the ice cream shop that makes it on the spot using the science of liquid nitrogen. A bit on the pricey side but will it fulfil you inside? Kinda-maybe-not, but also it’s magic or something. Evening... To start off the evening with a drink, Loose Canon is perfect for a glass of natural wine and a plate of Irish cheese and charcuterie. Opened by the guys from Meet Me in the Morning , their small plates are great if you don’t want a big meal, but it's easy to accidentally lose track of every responsibility in your life, spend the evening here and rack up a very large bill. For a casual dinner, Pi has been one of our favourite spots since it opened. Even if there’s a queue, it’s worth the wait for this pi(e). If you want to push the boat out, head for Dylan McGrath’s Asian and South American influenced Taste at Rustic , for some wagyu beef sushi or salmon cooked over a robata grill. 777 on George’s Street is always a lively dining experience (you can read our review here ). It can be a bit pricey so if you’re conscious of your budget go on Sundays, where all dishes are €7.77. Or else go for Margarita Mondays where you'll get two margs for twelve beans. A cheaper taco alternative is Masa , on the corner of Drury Street, resulting in even more tacos and quesadillas to be had. If we were playing fast and loose with the Creative Quarter boundaries (see Chimac above), we might suggest some counter dining at Uno Mas , the Spanish influenced relative to Etto around the corner on Aungier Street - a no brainer for a good meal, but be sure to book ahead to avoid the fomo that you’re already having. Alternatively if your wallet is feeling a bit light this month go for dim sum in Lucky Tortoise next door and order everything from the menu for €20, including bao, potstickers and kimchi coleslaw. Good times guaranteed. Finish off the night with drinks at Idle Wild or No Name bar on Fade Street - the only indicator of the latter being a wooden snail hanging above the door. Alternatively, head for more casual pints and board games in P.Mac’s - the sibling to Blackbird and Cassidy’s. Then crawl off home to bed to recover, filled with a whole new sense of creativity. Have we missed any of your favourite Creative Quarter spots? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

The evenings are starting to feel that little bit shorter (though there’s still time to eek out the last of the summer ), supermarkets are hitting us hard with their back to school offers, and a certain Grafton St. department store opened its Christmas shop this week. Grr on all accounts (but especially grr to you, BTs). When life moves fast, you don’t always have time for languishing over long lunches and three course dinners, so we’ve singled out five quick eats that will have you ready to go in no time. 1) The Bacon, Egg & Cheese Sandwich From Mad Yolks The Barbers , situated between Smithfield and Stonybatter, has always offered more than your usual boozer - it’s dog-friendly and houses a barbershop - and it's also now a temporary home to Mad Yolks , where you can indulge in a a range of egg-based sandwiches like this one with bacon and cheese that has us feeling sunny side up. You can also find them in the Red Stables Market in St. Anne’s park on Saturdays. 2) Halloumi Fries From The Shawarma Company The new kid on Dame Street, The Shawarma Company , has been catching our eye on Insta with their chicken, beef, and lamb shawarmas, but these halloumi fries are on our eating agenda - we can practically hear them squeak through our screens. Eating fried cheese has never been more acceptable, or convenient. 3) The Canelé From Meet Me In The Morning Look at this canelé. Look. At. It. Squidgy custard centre, caramelised outer crust, all topped with dulce de leche. We feel like the gang in Meet Me In The Morning have read our greedy little minds with this one. 4) Hangover Pancakes From One Society Not sure about you, but when we’re hungover we can never decide if we need sweet or savoury with our carbs. Thankfully One Society have removed the need for any independent thought and have put together this mountain of pancakes with ricotta, fried eggs, tabasco, and maple syrup which will have you refreshed and raring to go faster that you can say “pass the Panadol”. 5) The Cinema Dessert From Le Perroquet Le Perroquet on Leeson Street, the new opening from Nick Munier (formerly of Avenue and Pichet) and Chris Fulham (previously at Old Street and Forest Avenue), opened last week serving French-style small plates, and this dessert. Initially debuting at Old Street when Chris was sous chef there, it seemed to be cemented as his signature after the Michelin guide tweeted about it. It's inspired by a cinema sweet shop and features caramel, chocolate and popcorn to meet all of our sweet and salty needs.

August can be a tough one. Summer is ebbing away, your memories of two weeks in the sun are probably fading as fast as your tan (or maybe not, shout-out to the SPF squad) and if you’re heading back to work, or turning thoughts towards going back to college or getting the kids back to school, you’re likely to already be dreading the return to early mornings and drab packed lunches. Fear not, we’re here to help you eek out the last of the summer vibes in Dublin, for dishes and drinks that’ll make you feel like you’re still soaking up the sun, and not back in the office staring at a spreadsheet whilst longing for longer days... Brunch (because holidays deserve lie-ins) There’s no shortage of brunch spots that’ll make you feel like you’re anywhere else in the world but drizzly Dublin. An Argentinian adventure in Alma , middle-eastern mezze in Brother Hubbard North , or head to Herbstreet in Grand Canal Dock for a slab of American-style French toast with caramelised bananas, pecans, and clotted cream. It’s like the Eurovision of food - international, over the top and utterly addictive. Lunch The capital’s pizza obsession rages on as Pi continues to command the crowds and Bread 41 have (finally!) cranked up their pizza-oven. For another taste of Neapolitan pizza, Il Caffe di Napoli on Westland Row is a well-kept secret. Ask for chicken on your pizza and you’ll quickly be met with a raised eyebrow and told “that’s not how we do things in Napoli”. Service is efficient with the slightest hint of surliness that’d make any Italian feel right at home. Dinner One of our favourite things about holidays is being able to play fast and loose with your eating schedule. Lunch at 3pm? Yup. Dinner at midnight? Absolutely. Dublin might not be renowned for late-night dining but there are plenty of options to keep you going into the small hours. For serious night owls, Zaytoon ’s city centre locations are open until 4am midweek and 5am at the weekends if you need a Persian pick-me-up - visit to Coppers optional. For those of us who prefer to see our beds a little earlier, Nightmarket in Ranelagh will transport you straight to Chiang Mai for Pad Thai and green papaya salad, or see out the last of the semi-warm evenings by trying to nab standing space outside Fish Shop on Benburb St. Snacks Need a little pick-me-up between lunch and dinner? We’re all over that. From Frank’s to Eatyard , there’s plenty of places to keep you nibbling, or stroll to Las Tapas de Lola to soak up the buzzy atmosphere with a plate of fresh anchovies and a glass of manzanilla. It's the closest you'll get to Barcelona’s Boqueria . Dessert Have you even been on holiday if you haven’t eaten ice-cream after every meal? From nitrogen ice-cream at newbie Three Twenty to ice-cream rolls from Arctic Stone , you can find cool treats in all shapes and sizes. Extend that holiday feeling by joining the tourists in Temple Bar for an ice-cream stuffed egg waffle cone topped with fruit, chocolate, and sauces from Bubble Waffle Factory . Drinks Move over G&T's (fighting words we know), summer spritzes have elbowed their way onto cocktail menus across the city. While we’ll always love Aperol, some of our new favourites are the cherry spritz with cocchi from Circa , and the palate-cleansing Montenegro spritz (with Amaro Montenegro) from Host . Or head to the terrace in 1930's style Wilde in The Westbury for glass of Provence rosé, before pink wine season is officially over. Consider this your final klaxon-style warning.

Deliciousness and disappointment in equal measures this weekend, starting with deliciousness. In the Irish Times Catherine Cleary thinks she's found the anti-Five Guys, at Flipside in Sligo. After that somewhat controversial review of the US burger chain last year, where their veggie sandwich made her gag, Flipside's was "everything that was promised, firm and tasty, crisp on the outside like meat and lightly spiced to keep it interesting." A buttermilk-fried chicken burger with gochujang mayonnaise was also "gorgeous", but excruciatingly she doesn't tell us about the beef burger, most likely the cornerstone of the whole place, apart from saying that the kids' burger was "juicy" in a "good" brioche bun. Halloumi poppers were "the best veggie offering in a burger joint anywhere", and she calls Flipside "a real find". In the same write-up she managed to detail a trip to surfer restaurant Stoked in Strandhill, where the food was "cheffier than the norm for an over-the-pub venue". Crab came lightly dressed lightly on red pepper with avocado, lemon emulsion and sourdough toast, oysters were "fresher than a pier jump", and Mexican beef-cheek chilaquiles were "breaded, thready, meaty croquettes". They were less keen on flash-fried squid with a sour burnt-lemon mayo, but she says Sligo is geting better every time she visits. Read her review(s) here . In the Irish Independent it's a shocker for Loam in Galway from Katy McGuinness - and we're sure no one was more shocked than Katy herself, particularly as Loam was named best restaurant in Ireland at this year's Irish restaurant awards . She says they seem to have lost their mojo, with service that's "almost rude", food that's "good rather than thrilling", and the jarring detail of a plastic bottle of UK made soap in the bathroom of a restaurant with a three-star rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association . Snacks were "dull", roast potatoes came with half of them brown and the other half colourless, and a dessert of parsley, rhubarb and woodruff begged the question "why?". Seriously though, why? Sweetbreads with lettuce, egg and a savoury crumb, and scallops with hen of the woods mushrooms and Jerusalem artichokes were "good", and lamb loin with turnip, broad beans and garlic scapes was "beautifully cooked", but while she gives the food 8/10, the ambience gets 5/10 and the value 7/10. Read the full thing here . In the Irish Daily Mail Tom Doorley had a "strange", "under seasoned" and partially burnt meal at Guinea Pig in Dalkey, whose menu he thought was straight out of the 1980's. Paté de foie gras was too cold, lobster "only tasted faintly of lobster", and strongly tasting lamb rump with mashed potato, vegetables and garlic puy lentils was "strange but pleasant enough". Duck was overcooked, came with un-summery root vegetables, and parts of the skin were black, causing them to leave most of it behind, and he calls the wine list "adequate ... with no great excitement". Considering the positive reviews off the bat when chef Jerome Fernandes took over the restaurant last year, you'd have to wonder if something's happened in the interim. (Review not currently online) More disappointment in the Irish Examiner , where Leslie Williams is surprisingly nice about his 6.5/10 food at FX Buckley, complete with "stingy" bone marrow, unseasoned, under AND over cooked steaks, and un-chocolatey chocolate mousse. Not exactly selling it, but he says he wouldn't be afraid of returning. He praises the comprehensive and fairly priced wine list, good meat, and "properly crispy" beef dripping chips, but says that next time he'd be issuing specific cooking instructions to the kitchen, with their "less than perfect cooking techniques". We're sure that would go down well. Read his review here . In the Sunday Business Post Gillian Nelis was filled with regret after a meal at the Wild Honey Inn in Clare, due to not ordering the rib-eye with horseradish butter that the editor of Michelin UK had shortly before giving them their star. The wild rabbit and foie gras terrine, crab cocktail with gazpacho, and blanquette of pork cheeks in a veloute of smoked bacon, beech mushrooms, broad beans and spinach don't sound like bad runners up, and neither do cherry clafoutis and poached pineapple for dessert. She describes chef Aidan McGrath's food as "classically delicious", with "flavour to beat the band", and you can read her review here . In the Sunday Times Niall Toner is marvelling at all of the unctuous, gooey food at Shouk in Drumcondra, but despite the mass of praise throughout only scores it 3.5/5 - we'd definitely rate them higher. Read that here . Finally from Lucinda O'Sullivan in the Sunday Independent, you guessed it. It's a list. A gastro-pub list. Getting a mention in Dublin are The Old Spot, The Legal Eagle, Botanic House, P Macs, Ryan's of Parkgate Street, The Dalkey Duck, carvery-central O'Neills and recently closed Bart's on South William Street - awks. They do however look like they're planning to relaunch as something different featuring music and Bloody Marys in 11 days time. No critic reviews next week. Back in two.

As another long weekend has come and gone, and we’re left with the dawning realisation that it’s ages until the next one. It may be a short week for most of us, but it feels like a very long way to go to Friday, especially if you’ve over-indulged this bank holiday. You’re broke, you’re tired, you’re probably a little cranky. That’s okay, we’ve not going to try to make conversation (or eye-contact) with you, we’re just going to show you five things that will get you over the hump and feeling ready to take on August, and then we’ll back away slowly. 1) Cheese and Bacon Danish from Strudel Bakery Absolutely hanging and heading for a jambon? Detour to Dún Laoghaire, have a brisk walk on the pier, then convince yourself that you’ve got your life together enough to merit upgrading your pastry choices to something much more upmarket than your regular deli offering. This version from Strudel , made with cheese sauce, smoked cheese, and bacon, looks like the cure. 2) Saucy Eggs from Little Frieda's When you’re feeling a little delicate, it often feels like eggs will either cure you or kill you. We reckon Little Frieda’s fried eggs on toast, with roasted garlic yogurt, smoked chilli oil, and dukkah are enough to see you through the hard times. You can do this. 3) Ricotta Toast From As One A new addition to the quays, As One is promising us “Food with Purpose”. If the purpose of their ricotta toast is to lure us inside, it’s working. Le Levain sourdough topped with Toonsbridge ricotta, banana, stewed apples, and caramelised walnuts is the crunchy, creamy mix that will help you rest and regroup after a long weekend. 4) The Breakfast Salad From Póg Overdid the carbs at the weekend and made yourself a 3am promise that you’d eat nothing but salad for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? The guys at Póg heard you. Their new breakfast salad is a colourful mix of grilled halloumi, poached eggs, avocado, quinoa, radish, and picked onions, which is basically a pile of vitamins on a plate, and will make you seriously smug when the rest of your sesh buddies are crying into their Centra potato wedges. 5) The Rhubard Crumble From Beo Kitchen + Wine Bar Look, we’re not saying you’re an emotional eater, but if you insist on eating your feelings, they may as well be delicious. Beo ’s take on a classic rhubarb crumble with lemon curd, vanilla crème, and prosecco gel looks like the motivation you need to get dressed, get out, and get dessert.

Portobello is not just for cans and staring at swans, it’s one of the spots to be in after work when it’s sunny and you’re looking for coffee, food, swans... and cans. There’s a glut of places to eat and drink as well as a long pleasant stroll along the canal, and it’s a good place to spend a lazy afternoon, where filling it with eating and drinking will make you feel like you’ve accomplished something on your day off. Breakfast Start off the day in Alma , the new shiny cafe on the block fresh from a glowing review from Catherine Cleary (you can also read our once over here ). Alma quickly rose up the hype train and now be prepared to queue a lot of the time. The cafe is family run with large Argentinian influences and you’re going to like everything on the menu. Brunch Up early for weekend brunch? Cross the canal to get to perennially packed Grove Road , who serve brunch all day every day, but whose outside (and inside) tables are permanently in demand. The menu here is of the simple but excellently executed variety, like toasted breakfast sandwiches, and poached eggs on sourdough toast with sun-dried tomato pesto and parmesan Coffee If you still need to feel caffeine coursing through your veins, walk down the road to Brother Hubbard South and have a seat in their front terrace. All of their cakes are baked in house if you need a pick me up, and their iced lattés are almost unbearably photogenic. Lunch Onto the next meal, where we would suggest Bibi's . Hidden behind the houses of Portobello, Bibi’s offers a chance for you to feel like you’re living a more aesthetically pleasing life through the cute pottery you’ll never obtain and the dishes that you’ll never make the effort to cook at home. Go for the Turkish eggs. Wine After you’ve spent your afternoon pondering life’s meaning by the canal whilst being plagued by those swans, put an end to all that thinking with drinking. First Draft Coffee and Wine has turned into quite the neighbourhood evening wine bar, inserting a buzz into Lennox street throughout the week. Dinner If you’re looking for something more casual, hit up Richmond , which exudes that relaxed neighbourhood dining feel. If you’re feeling spontaneous their Tuesday night tasting menu, consisting of five courses for €38, is where they experiment with new dishes, and they're big supporters of seasonal, Irish produce, which we like a lot. For a more involved dinner, Locks along the canal should be on your bucket list if you haven’t already tried it. Request a table by the window and sit back and enjoy bread with sea trout and dulse butter, and Delmonico salt-aged rib-eye (read our Locks once over here ). Their Sunday lunch should be a sub-bullet point on your list. Your other dinner option (and one we'd strongly advise booking well in advance) is Bastible . They’ve recently recruited Cuan Greene, a Dublin native who has spent the last few years working as a chef in Noma , and after a recent glowing review from Cleary they seem to have stepped up their game even more. Afters And then, if you’re not really feeling the sit down dinner, you can linger around Eatyard for a few light bites, or just get some dessert to round off your long day of eating. Grab a pint from the Shaw (or else spend some time cleaning up the canal and swap a bag of empty cans for a pint), and finish off the day with another drink and a gig in Bello Bar on Portobello harbour. Did we miss your favourite spot in Portobello? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

Bullet Duck and Dumplings , a new restaurant specialising in Cantonese roast duck and dim sum has opened on Little Mary Street, with chefs from Hong Kong and mainland China - who are all grandparents. Bullet says that all of their chefs have at least 30 years experience cooking Cantonese food, and their bullet oven that their roast ducks are cooked in has been flown over from China. The menu features dishes like whole roast duck, roast char siu pork and roast pork ribs, as well as dumplings like har gow, siu mai, and pork and prawn soup wontons. They also serve Chinese soup noodles, and all meat is Irish, with free-range chicken and Silver Hill duck. Bullet Duck and Dumplings is open now for lunch and dinner seven days a week on Little Mary Street, just down from newly opened Fudo Izakaya and Hacienda Bar . Bullet Duck and Dumplings 27 Mary Street Little Mon - Sun 12:00 - 22:00 www.bulletrestaurant.ie

In between showers, that big yellow ball in the sky has been hanging in there (albeit intermittently), and the accompanying wash of colour on plates across the city is making us feel berry happy (sorry). Everywhere we look right now we're seeing brightly coloured berries of every type, so we've pulled together some of our favourites. Go forth and eat. Elderflower Ice-Cream With Berries at Shelbourne Social Soft-serve ice-cream is enjoying a resurgence at the moment (thank you Gertrude and Two Pups ), and Shelbourne Social ’s version with fresh strawberries, freeze-dried raspberries, and sauces makes us forget we ever wanted a 99. Raspberries With White Peach At Clanbrassil House Crispy sable biscuit, white peach, tart raspberries, and a scattering of verbena, this dessert from the gang at Clanbrassil House is ticks all of our boxes for texture and taste. Vegan Oat Ice-Cream Cookie Sandwich From Bear Lemon We struggled to pick just one item from Bear Lemon to showcase what the're doing with berries right now. From strawberry and chocolate vegan, oat-based “ice-cream” sandwiches, to raspberry loaf cakes, Ciara Lennon is turning out cakes and treats that are gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan. You can find her creations in a number of Dublin cafés like Unfiltered Coffee in Inchicore, who will be selling these mega looking things this Saturday. Pancakes At Eathos With a focus on healthy dishes and fresh ingredients, it’s no surprise that the menu in Eathos is heavy on seasonal fruits and berries all year round. These buckwheat pancakes with berries and coconut whip will give you that feeling of indulgence, with no excuse for guilt of any kind. The Summer Salad At The Cake Café The tang of goat’s cheese combined with the sweetness of strawberries from The Cake Café isn’t a traditional pairing, but one we very much approve of. More sweet/savoury combos please Dublin. Strawberry Mojito, Rustic Stone Is it a cocktail? Is it a dessert? We’re not sure, but we don’t really care. Give us a spoon and a straw (paper, natch), and we’re happy to have the best of both worlds with Rustic Stone ’s take on a strawberry mojito with sorbet and lime mousse. The Tonga Toast At One Society Our love of French toast here in ATF is well-documented , but this Tonga Toast from One Society is a new one on us. Thick bread stuffed with banana (bananas are technically berries - honest), fried, and topped with berries is the breakfast/dessert hybrid we didn’t know we needed. The Berry Tart From KC Peaches We’ve long been fans of the baked goods from KC Peaches , and this tart looks like instant nostalgia, evoking memories of summers spent harvesting hedgerows for blackberries when visiting our grannies down the country. The Strawberry Parfait From One Pico While never attracting as much attention or accolades as its sister restaurant The Greenhouse , One Pico has always had a quiet confidence, and this parfait with gariguette strawberries (a sweet French variety), tarragon ice-cream and a Sichuan pepper sable is the perfect illustration. BuJo's Summer Wine Mixers Our milkshakes may bring all the boys to the yard, but seriously, who wants to have a milkshake when you can have wine instead? BuJo ’s Catalina wine mixer is a refreshing mix of Sauvignon Blanc on-tap with summer berry puree, mint leaves and a lime kick, and it's about to replaced by the Sandymount sangria, with organic Malbec, freshly squeezed OJ, strawberry purée and loads of crushed ice. Fill our glasses. The Raspberry Rhapsody Doughnut from Off Beat Donuts Does Dublin have a doughnut shop at every turn? Pretty close. That said, there’s a reason Off Beat Donuts have secured a loyal following, and creations like this raspberry-glazed doughnut topped with crème aux framboises will give you your berries on the go… or on the couch, we’re not here to judge you. The Summer Berry Pavlova From China Sichuan Because sometimes retro is right. Especially when it's topped with all the berries and comes with a side of lemongrass cream, like at China Sichuan in Sandyford.

Another week, another blasting for the Old Post Office in Blackrock. Surely you'd just stop letting the photographers in? You don't really need to read this to guess what Tom Doorley in the Irish Daily Mail thought, but the topline is - shockingly expensive, pretty crap food. He went solo to try the €50 'early bird', and for that princely sum had a "very small" vegetable wonton, salt and chilli prawns (a whole three of them), in a batter both crispy and oily, and fillet of Hereford beef, broccoli and green pepper, with no discernible green pepper, and a taste akin to a takeaway. The beef itself however is described as "extraordinary ... quite mushy, turning to a sticky paste in the mouth". That Wongs menu is looking ever more appealing. After that feast it was time for the "Irish cheese selection", featuring Wicklow Blue the texture of plasticine, smoked Gubbeen, and the pièce de résistance - Dubliner cheddar. Don't all run to book at once now. He calls the wine list "staggering" with prices starting at €50 a bottle and "gibberish" tasting notes that look like they've come from google translate. And for this multi-sensory experience he had little change out of €100. Anyone else think this could be some sort of social experiment? (Review not currently online) A far more pleasant experience for Catherine Cleary in the Irish Times , who calls Argentinean café Alma in Portobello "very special". She says the "daughter-dominated" business are "serving the food they love to eat", and that there's a "friendly thoughtfulness" to everything. She describes a loaded batata with Argentine sausage ragu, limed sour cream, spicy nuts and fresh leaves as "the perfect lunch dish", and steak with chimichurri, eggs, potatoes and kale was "cooked as it should be: steak juicy, potatoes crisp and the kale freshly sauteed". A lemon and poppy-seed pistachio cake for dessert was "an excellent piece of baking", and a brownie "gorgeously fudgy", and she says Alma are "cooking the food you love, with excellent ingredients". She gives it 9/10 and you can read her review here . We're also giving Alma the once over in this Tuesday's mail out - you can sign up for that here . In the Sunday Business Post Gillian Nelis was silenced by the "gorgeous, uninterrupted" views in Portmarnock Hotel's Seaview Restaurant - and the food wasn't bad either. We're currently borderline obsessing about the "chicken and rabbit sandwich" - a meaty terrine between wafer-thin slices of pastry, on a nettle purée with truffle aioli and slivers of raw asparagus, which she calls "beautifully balanced and full of flavour". Salmon cheesecake also delivered on flavour, with "fatty and unctuous" tartare, and halibut was perfectly cooked, if the lemon emulsion seemed to be missing the lemon. Another main of duck was overcooked, but the garnishes of white onion and truffle purée, beluga lentil salad and new season cabbage were "great", and she "adored" her dessert of Floating Island with local strawberries and a strawberry and elderflower consommé. She even liked the other dessert of white chocolate mousse with marinated sweet peaches and oat crumb, despite being a lifelong white chocolate hater. She calls it "an impressive showing", and says the food more than matched the views. Read her review here . In the Sunday Times Niall Toner is falling for Frank's on Camden Street, and doesn't bat an eyelid at all the rules, like having to order sherry with your almonds or the possibility of standing around for two hours to get a table, saying it's worth the wait. Read his review here . In the Irish Independent Katy was having the summer meal of our dreams in the wilds of Connemara. She was at the Sea Hare long-table pop up in Joyce's Bar in Cleggan, complete with "hyper-local" ingredients like seaweed pesto, horseradish crab, and pollack with a tomato and shallot concasse. Her highlights were the veg - freshly shelled garden peas and French beans, floury potatoes in seaweed butter and simply dressed bowls of garden leaves, and a raspberry fool for dessert was "simple and perfect". The only disappointment of the night was the pub wine (standard), but she gives the food, ambience and value 8/10. Read her review here . Another pretty unhappy camper in the Irish Examiner where Joe McNamee was at Table Restaurant in Brown Thomas, Cork, with "The Granny" in tow. A penne pasta with pesto and Parmesan impressed, and a Moroccan lamb tagine with couscous was "a decent dish", but things went downhill with his bacon cheeseburger, whose meat was "overworked, dry" and "grievously under-seasoned", and the "skinny fries" he'd been craving were actually chunky, skin-on chips, which were "mealy and bland". The Granny's cod was good, save for soggy sautéed potatoes, and he says that while Table is an improvement on the last BT's restaurant, it was "an underwhelming lunch". Read it here . Finally in the Sunday Independent, you guessed it. It's another top 20 from Lucinda . This week featuring the country's best "foodie views", and unusually there's nowhere in Dublin on there. Places that do get a mention include Aghadoe Heights in Killarney, The Lodge at Ashford Castle in Mayo, and Spillane's in Dingle, and if you fancy dinner with a water view in Dublin it sounds like you could do worse than reverting to Gillian's Nelis' review above. (Not currently online) Lastly, if you work in the hospitality industry you might want to sign up for our jobs emails starting tomorrow. Find out more about ATF Jobs here . More next week.

After weeks of teasing and a very gradual opening of doors, The Well on St Stephen's Green officially opens today. Encompassing a café, bar, restaurant and co-working space, they're calling it "the local for the digital generation", and hope their 'millennial' cocktail list and the fact that they have Dublin Pizza Company on site will help in attracting them. The main space at ground level is a bar/café/meeting space with free co-working desks (complete with wifi, plenty of plugs and USB connections - the dream), Dublin Pizza Company in the back and loads of seating. ‘These Hands’ coffee shop opens into the ground floor space and out onto the green serving Imbibe coffee, pastries and yoghurts from 07:00 - 19:00, and Dublin Pizza Company will serve wood-fired pizza, cheese and charcuterie boards from 12:00 - 22:00. The drinks list is definitely a step up from the average city centre bar with several wines more commonly seen in some of the city's best wine bars and restaurants, and a beer list featuring craft breweries and missing a lot of more well known brands - you won't find Heineken or Guinness but you will find Pilgrims Pale Ale and Shandon Stout. The 'millennial' cocktail list includes ingredients like matcha, aloe vera and collagen (whatever you're having yourself), and one comes dipped in edible glitter - the stuff Instagram dreams are made of. While the fit out of the old Dandelion building (remember those nights?) looks pretty high end, most of the materials have been recycled or refurbished, and they're pledging to only use materials that are sustainable and have been ethically produced. They have eight wines on tap, won't be giving out straws or napkins, and are aiming to keep waste to a minimum. The basement level will get going in September as an events space, late bar and live music venue, and they're planning on showing sport on big screens too. We can't help thinking The Well is the answer to two eternal Dublin questions. Where can I set up my laptop to work with no pressure to buzz off as soon as my coffee's finished? And where can we get good food and drinks on a Sunday/Monday night? Liquid collagen on request. The Well 130 - 133 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2 Sun - Thu 09:00 - 12:00, Fri - Sat 12:00 - 02:30. www.thewelldublin.ie

This weekend's Irish Times review illustrates the importance of finishing the job after a restaurant rebrand. It's pretty widely known (and if not easily googled) that the former Dunne & Crescenzi in Sandymount has been taken over by the owners' two sons and rebranded as ' Crudo '. It's already featured in the critic reviews three times (as 'Crudo'), but CC flips between calling it 'Crudo' and 'Dunne & Crescenzi', noting that the only place she can see 'Crudo' is at the top of the menu, and Dunne & Crescenzi is still over the door. We're not sure if this is a misunderstanding on her part or an attempt to not confuse the Sandymount socialites, but either way, time to get a new sign lads. Despite the name confusion, she calls it "a hearty neighbourhood place" with "rustic Italian cooking". Chargrilled asparagus on toast with whipped ricotta and an egg and mint dressing had a "picnic vibe off it, in a good way", battered monkfish was "lovely" and came with an equally lovely apricot and cumin ketchup, and veal with truffle gnocchi was an "all-Italian tribute". Her main of puttanesca with mackerel was "gutsy" but the leathery green olives had to go, and panna cotta to end was as good as any she's had in Dublin. She gives it 8/10 and says they're serving food "several notches above what you might get on a trip to the brighter lights of the city centre." And the even better news is that they're closing tomorrow for refurbishments - including a new sign. Read her review here . In case we needed any more proof about how the standards in Irish food are currently going through the roof, Katy McGuinness in the Irish Independent gives her third set of full marks in two months to Aimsir , after also awarding faultless scores to Chapter One and Liath . We'd make a guess that this has never happened before - 10/10's (or in this case 30/30's) are a rarity, and to have three in such short succession is an eyebrow raiser. We presume it also made up for last week 's insect in crap salad incident. Like the critics before her she doesn't even attempt to go into all 18 courses, but cites standouts as the opener of violetta potato with Boyne Valley Bán cheese, pickled black garlic and Irish truffle, a Flaggy Shore oyster with roasted koji butter and apple balsamic, and the soda bread cooked in beef fat with "celestial" raw milk butter (above). She says Aimsir has "soul, a commitment to beauty and a deep understanding of flavour and texture", and urges you to go for yourself before the new Michelin guide comes out in Autumn and prices will surely go up. Read her review here . In the Irish Examiner Leslie Williams is the latest critic lured back to Chameleon after their little refresh earlier this year (amazing what some new paint can do), and calls the food "supremely tasty". Particular praise for the "deeply flavoured complex Satay Ayam" with free-range chicken, the "pillowy soft" bao with pork belly and 'fish fingers' (not in the same bun), and the perkedel - a crispy potato and chickpea cake. He says the joy in Chameleon is in the mix of dishes and flavours to try, and recommends going with as many people as possible so you can have all the food. Read his review here . In the Irish Daily Mail Tom Doorley was living it large at Michelin-starred L'Ecrivain , where he says eating feels like "a proper hug", in comparison to some other restaurants cooking at the same level. Amuses bouches of ice cream cones filled with tuna tartare and Dublin Bay Prawns in Ketaifi pastry were "jewel-like and ethereal", and starters of foie gras and poached Irish lobster tail were "absolute classics". Earthy squab pigeon was "rich, moist, nicely bloody", and John Dory was "roasted to the nanosecond of perfection". Crème brûlée and cheese to end didn't let the standards slip, nor did the wine pairings throughout, and he calls it a "splendid repast". (Review not currently online) In the Sunday Independent we're probably half way through Lucinda 's summer of round-ups, and are counting the days until normal service resumes. This week it's her best seafood spots, and getting a mention in Dublin are Aqua in Howth, Fish Shop , Little Mike's , The Seafood Café and Sole . It's not currently online but clearly we've all got seafood on the brain as we also did a guide to the best places to eat it in Dublin last week. Find that here . In the Sunday Business Post Gillian Nelis was very excited about taking a spin on the extended M11 to Wexford (it gets three mentions), but even without it says she'd go back to Crust in Wexford town. The Neapolitan style pizza with Irish ingredients "more than stands up to what the capital has to offer", with a base "as light as air", sauce "full of flavour", and a mushroom deluxe with smoked black ham and truffle oil is described as "a triumph". Affogatos for dessert were "great ice cream, topped with equally great coffee", and she recommends checking out the new road (and the pizza) for yourself. Read her review here . Finally in the Sunday Times , new food critic Niall Toner is impressed by the whole, chargrilled fish at Prado - less so by the raw red pepper in the salad and the charred, bitter broccoli. He gives it 3.5/5 and you can read his review here . More next week.

Welcome to the point in the Irish summer where the conversation has drifted from the current state of the weather to how the summer is running away like a bold child, thus cutting the actual summer in half. If you’re trying to ignore the summer haters, eating seafood in the sun is a good way to hang on to the warm weather, because we’re back to potatoes in around a month. Little Mike's and Michael's Owner Gaz Smith has set his restaurants Michael's and Little Mike's out from the rest by making a point of sourcing a lot of his seafood straight from the boats, an unusual (and successful) tactic for a city restaurant. Also this is one of those places where everything is cooked in floods of butter but in the best way possible and you’ll never want to leave. Octopussy's Seafood Tapas We all need a spot on Howth pier for seafood tapas for when you’ve gotten too hot because you’re Irish and feel the need to fling yourself at the sun whenever the opportunity arises and you eventually need to find shelter inside because you’ve now turned yourself into a lobster. You'll feel at home at Octopussy's . Get the seafood platter for one or two and cool off with some white wine. Klaw and The Seafood Café Niall Sabongi’s Dublin fish empire has become a mainstay in Dublin. Between Klaw and the Seafood Café , you’ll find a casual setting that will make you feel like you’re living the carefree summer life you intended. Crab on toast and skewered prawns are some of our go-tos, but they have regularly changing specials. Lobstar Lobstar in Monkstown provides a very suitable and soothing space to ease you back into the warmth of autumnal cooking in the form of meaty Irish lobster and steaks - because it will probably be raining outside. We love them for their commitment to Irish Lobster year round. During a stormy period last year when they were no lobsters coming in from the Irish sea they were explicit in telling guests that they'd had to buy in Canadian, while some other restaurants around town claimed they were still serving Irish. Cliff Townhouse & Urchin A more sophisticated place to dine on seafood because you’re not always straight from the beach with sand clinging to every item of clothing you have. You also have two options for whether to go to the Townhouse for a blowout (might we suggest the seafood platter) or else go downstairs to Urchin for some small plates and cocktails. Fish Shop Benburb & Queen Street The place you go in town for a casual dinner that turns into you being over excited by the wine list and blowing your midweek budget on booze and fish. Both sites are just as good as each other so it’s up to you if you want bougie fish and chips in Benburb or a table d’hote menu down the street in Queen Street . If you're around on a Monday don't miss Benburb's Monday Wine Club, with quite frankly ridiculous prices on wines by the glass - but beware, they sometimes only open one bottle so get there early to avoid devastation. Sole Sole seems to have done a turnaround after a few, if not many, bad reviews that mainly focused on their lack of provenance when it came to seafood and their sky high prices. They seem to have listened and their menu now boasts sourcing from the coasts, with a much bigger focus on Irish seafood. Shaka Poke If we can get over eating fish as an ‘island nation’, we can get over eating raw fish, especially if it’s incorporated into a poke bowl with a load of healthy toppings to make you feel even more virtuous. Shaka Poke are in Blackrock Market and St Stephen's Green Shopping Centre, as well as several markets around the city. Did we miss your favourite seafood spot? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

It’s increasingly clear that we’re going to have to make the most of whatever ‘summer 2019’ is - so that means grabbing any sunshine you can. Step outside, find a patch of grass and kick your shoes off, not with a sad sandwich, but with a bright box of something special. More picnic guides to follow but for the time being we’ve ticked every gate close to St Stephen's Green (or Iveagh Gardens, or Trinity. Go nuts). Weather permitting of course. Tiller + Grain Tiller + Grain has been a hit from day one and proof that you can be both instagrammable and incredibly tasty. Generous bowlfuls that are worth a blow out every now and then, it’s genuinely hard to choose from the heaped platters of salads, fishes, roasted meats and grains which all manage work beautifully together. All of it is good, all of the time. Tang Tang's rainbow colours will brighten up even a cloudy day, as their Middle Eastern flavours make you warm from the inside out. An always friendly spot where some of the best Irish producers meet the souk, their daily changing salads and flatbreads are full of spice, crunch and of course tang. Green Bench Café Rain or hail the (fast moving) queue is deep on Montague Street where every element of the Green Bench Café 's food shines. Thoughtful, creative and full of daily surprises, house made cakes and their sausage rolls on Fridays are often gone before 1pm. If you get the hot pot and sandwich combo that’s dinner taken care of as well. Kokoro Sushi Bento For premade fridge bento Kokoro 's are as good as it gets in Dublin. Pretty and lots of choice of nigiri, hosomaki and sashimi, all with miso, or build your own box with fishy pick-n-mix for a quick grab and go. And maybe a little aduki bean dorayaki for afters. Shaka Poke Showing no signs of being a fad, poke now has a permanent spot in Stephen’s Green shopping centre, where Shaka Poke will pile you up a towering bowl of freshness to eat in or take away. Any of their signature bowls are worth trying (even the fishless ones) but ours is an "off the wall", with salmon, edamame, carrot, red cabbage and mango. Cloud Picker Café A bit of a hoof to the Green from Cloud Picker Café but there’s plenty of green space in Trinity either. The Dublin coffee roasting favourite are now packing it out daily at their own space with chunky exciting salads and breads, and they offer discounts for people who bring their own food containers. Don't forget a Polish yeast bun for afters. Sisu Another bento, this time from Sisu on Stephen's Street, whose €10 bento is now available for takeaway. It changes every day and you probably won't need dinner after the generous amount of food. Industry Another of our salad favourites, Industry on Drury Street is Dublin's answer to Ottolenghi (them and Tiller + Grain - see above). The portions aren't huge, but thankfully the flavours are. Balfe's Cash rich and time poor? Need to make a really good first impression or make a serious apology? This is the answer. Balfe’s will make you up a wicker basket of cheese, charcuterie, paté, bread, crackers, salad and strawberries along with a blanket, plates and real cutlery, and either mini bottles of Pommery pop champagne for €110 or pink lemonade for €60. You will feel like a legend in your lunchtime. Then it’s back to work. Bah. Contact Balfe's directly at least 24 hours in advance to arrange.

We're seeing an abundance of stuffed foods on the Insta this week, and let's face it. What's better than taking a food that you love (say for instance an artichoke) and stuffing it with another food that you love (like cheese - see below). Here are the ones we most want to stuff in our faces. 1) The Sushi Burrito From Take A Veg Forget the terrible name. This has nothing to do with a burrito. It's just an enormous, vegan sushi roll that we need in our lives. Take A Veg have a very dedicated vegan following and we could possibly be converted (maybe for a portion of the week) by this creation with grilled tempeh, Pad Thai sauce, spring onions, sriracha, carrots and Teriyaki dipping sauce. Available in deep-fried or fresh - there's only one right answer. 2) The Batata From Shouk We can't get enough of Shouk (and neither can a lot of other people as it's permanently packed) and their new loaded batata stuffed with lamb and beef on a labneh and sumac sauce has given us another reason to plan ahead to eat there. 3) The Ricotta-Stuffed Artichoke From Osteria Lucio Love artichokes. Love cheese. Love artichokes stuffed with cheese. Especially when it's ricotta and there's also has some Gubbeen guanciale hiding in there. Osteria Lucio have set the stuffed bar high. 4) Tempura Cauliflower Tacos From The Pepperpot Café When it comes to tacos, the answer is always yes, and these ones from The Pepperpot Café actually sound quite healthy, with tempura cauliflower, pickled cabbage, chimmichurri, brown rice and black bean salad. It's an excuse to eat even more. 5) The Cookie Ice-Cream Sandwiches At Chimac We waited, and waited, and to be fair they look worth the wait. Chimac 's stuffed cookie ice-cream sandwiches have landed and we are eager to get involved. Cornflake coating FTW.

A few months ago we asked on Instagram stories what cuisines Dublin was missing, and were surprised at the amount of people saying Ethiopian food. Well your dining prayers have been answered, as an Ethiopian supper club is coming to Dublin, complete with marinated lamb, berbere chicken stew and Ethiopian greens, all served on injera (a type of African flatbread). Mel Roddy is from Ethiopia but has been living in Ireland with his sisters and parents for more than 20 years. They've never had the chance to eat the food from home in restaurants here as nowhere was serving it, and after a trip home last year he decided he wanted to introduce the Ethiopian way dining to Dublin. The supper club is called Gursha , which means 'mouthful', or the act of feeding someone else at the table - a sign of friendship and love. Ethiopian food is generally eaten from a communal plate with four or five people, but you can ask for your own plate if that's not your thing. The injera that the food is served on is used as a plate, and to pick up the various dishes. Gursha's chefs are two family friends who have also been living here for years, one of whom used to be the chef in the Ethiopian Embassy in Dublin, and the seven course supper club will take place from 7pm on Friday and Saturday nights in Cloud Café on North Strand Road. If it goes well they want to look at opening a permanent site. Gursha starts on Friday 9th of August and tickets are a ridiculously good value €25, with wines and soft drinks available to buy on the night. Get tickets here .

First up, in yesterday's Irish Daily Mail, Tom Doorley was dining solo at Shelbourne Social , and says the "eccentric meal" left him "underwhelmed". He says he's given them time to "bed down" after initial mixed reports, but like the critics before him, felt "confused" by the multi-sectioned menu . Akami tuna (below) was fresh and summery but the portion was "minute", while torched Dexter beef with garlic, confit egg, Parmesan and kohlrabi was "slightly strange" but he liked it, except for the odd gristly bit. Pork belly with artichoke and squid was "a pleasant enough bowlful" but ambitiously priced at €30, and a dessert of strawberry kakigori with green tea dust, pistachio cream and "outstandingly delicious" strawberries sounds like the highlight. He says he expected more culinary fireworks, and a more coherent menu, and left "a little underwhelmed". Those guys cannot catch a break. (Review not currently online) In the Irish Independent Katy McGuinness found an unwelcome visitor in her salad at Bewley's on Grafton Street, which only added to her "quite shocking" lunch. The wriggling insect was living in some "past-their-prime, brown-spotted lettuce leaves", on the side of a "not good" quiche Lorraine, with "adequate" potato salad. Yum-my. A macchiato was good and a Mary cake (almond sponge, apricot centre, chocolate mousse) "rich and delicious", but her main gripe resided around the fact that as somewhere that's likely to be on every tourist's hit list, Bewley's should be a showcase for excellent Irish food, and on that front it's "failing miserably". She describes the menu as "all over the place", and cites the Coronation Chickpea Tartine (an open sandwich to the unwashed) featuring chickpeas mixed with vegan mayonnaise, soya yoghurt, mango chutney and curry spices, topped with grated carrot and red cabbage on walnut and raisin sourdough bread, as an example of food that looks as "dispirited and confused" and it sounds. She calls it "a missed opportunity to showcase great Irish ingredients", and gives the food and value 4/10. Read her review here . In the Sunday Business Post Gillian Nelis was purging herself after her trip to The Old Post Office in Blackrock a couple of weeks ago, and the antidote to a "laughably expensive ... poor to mediocre" meal was China Sichuan in Sandyford. She could have eaten the "man and wife" beef slices and the Chinese turnip cake all day, baby back pork ribs were "a simple, delicious delight", and a ‘golden apricot’ for dessert made from almond crème brûlée, hazelnut sponge and a sea salt and apricot gel centre was "the perfect light, zingy finale". She says, "everything about China Sichuan is generous: the flavours, the service, the welcome, the range of dishes on offer", and she's now fully cleansed. Read the full thing here . In the Irish Times Catherine Cleary calls Chimac "addictive chicken for a new generation". Despite the wait list for a table, and the 30 minute wait for food once they got in there, she says it was absolutely worth it. XL nugs with sriracha caramel were "delicious", as was a cucumber salad, and they nailed the cauliflower wings "right in the middle where this vegetable gets silky and nutty". A chicken burger with Korean hot sauce had "funk" and a "savoury growl to the spicy heat", and the chicken had "shellac crispness". Desserts of cookie ice-cream sandwiches were "jaw-achingly sweet" and felt like a work in progress, but she's hopeful that any teething issues will soon be ironed out, as Chimac has "the kind of complex layers and brilliant flavours that you hardly ever find between two burger buns". She gives them 8.5/10 and you can read her review here . Also feeling the Chimac love was new Sunday Times food critic (and long-standing Lifestyle editor) Niall Toner. It's a marked improvement on last week's write up of The Donnybrook, both in food quality and entertainment value, and you can read it here . In the Irish Examiner Joe McNamee enjoyed the "stunning ocean view" at Stranded in Kinsale, as well as the pan-seared scallops ("delicious little bonbons of juicy marine umami"), gambas pil pil ("exquisitely meaty prawns") and a Spanish tortilla ("an extremely tasty dish"). He says Stranded are cooking "straightforward dishes but with real care and regular flashes of considered originality", and gives the food 8/10, and the value 10/10. He also compares himself to a whale, so if you see him around give him a hug. Read his review here . Finally in the Sunday Independent it's another round-up from Lucinda , this time of the 20 best spots to eat along the Wild Atlantic Way, including Michelin-starred Mews (below) and Restaurant Chestnut in Cork, The Fishbox in Dingle and Little Fox in Ennistymon (watch a lovely video about them here ). Not currently online but should be on her website soon. More next week.

Is French Toast even French? Well, kinda. The French did invent it (as pain perdu, or “lost bread”), but it’s not until it hit British shores in the 1600's that French Toast as we know it today got its name. We can never get enough of the good stuff, so to make up for missing Bastille Day on July 14th, we’ve put together some of the best Dublin cafés and restaurants leading the French (Toast) Revolution. Two Pups Coffee The toppings change with the seasons, but the guys in Two Pups never fail to deliver incredible looking (and tasting) plates of French toast all year round. Recent takes have included salted-baked pineapple with white chocolate and coriander, and Speculoos with rhubarb. Five Points Not being dramatic, but Five Points ’ summer French toast is the fix you've been crying out for. Try and nab an outdoor table to soak up some sun, and take your time over these wedges of gooey bread topped with berries and tart lemon curd. Utter vibes. Brother Hubbard North When this picture popped up our Instagram feeds we had to take a moment. Brother Hubbard 's inspired combination of fluffy brioche French toast with peach compote, peach slices, and a white chocolate mascarpone has monopolised our thoughts ever since. Déjà Vu Ever classic, ever totally delicious, Déjà Vu in Malahide's homemade brioche with perfectly crispy bacon and maple syrup is faultless every time, and proves that it if ain't broke, don't even attempt to fix it. Slice While not a constant feature on the menu, Slice in Stoneybatter regularly serve up French toast specials that are joy in food form. This recent dish with poached rhubarb, walnuts, and berries gave us all the summer feels. Yes, it’s indulgent, but we’re jotting this one down under “Self Care”. The Cake Café Not to be outdone by its little sister Slice, The Cake Café ’s brunch menu has a weekly French toast special. Head there for coffee in the courtyard, and a stack of toast that will take all your Monday worries away (or at least let you momentarily put off the Sunday fear). San Lorenzo's “What did you have for breakfast?” “Oh, just some cereal, with a banana.” You’re not technically lying. The guys at San Lorenzos serve a mash-up of French toast coated in crispy Coco Pops, served with caramelised bananas, peanut butter, mascarpone, and a chocolate drizzle. You won’t want to eat it too often, but you won't forget it in a hurry. Ladurée Hungover AF and need to pretend to be a functioning adult sharpish? Grab your biggest sunglasses, a faux-Hermes scarf, and nab a table by the window of Ladurée to do some serious people-watching while sipping tea, and delicately dolloping chantilly cream on dainty slices of French toast. Did we miss your favourite place for French Toast? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.

There's a bit of a café vibe going on this week - must be summer in the air and the need for salads and outside seating. In The Irish Times Catherine Cleary reckons she might have found the two best cafés in Dublin, after visits to Cloud Picker and Bread 41 , both on Pearse Street. In Cloud Picker she found salads that "deserve a bit of time", including sweet potato, sheep's yoghurt and rayu, and lemony aubergine with bulgar wheat, walnuts and cranberries. A seasalt caramel square and paleo ginger cake did exactly what they should, and coffee was "great". She calls neighbours Bread 41 "a beautiful operation", making "delicious sourdough breads and dangerously huge morning buns". A Thai noodle salad and chicken banh mi were "delicious" and "gorgeous", with the sandwich doused in a house fermented hot sauce with pickled carrots and roasted peanuts. She says she loves both cafés for "their food and their philosophy", and that they're making Dublin "better from the inside out". Read her duo review here . In the Irish Independent , Katy McGuinness is the latest person to fall in love with Argentinean café Alma on the South Circular Road, calling it "a small restaurant with big personality". A salad bowl of sautéed kale, spiced chickpeas, pickled onions and carrots topped with soft-poached eggs in an anchovy and tahini dressing was "filling and tasty", while a loaded batata (whole grilled sweet potato) with Argentinian sausage ragu, fresh peas, spiced nuts, herbs, leaves and lime sour cream had flavours and textures that were "spot on". Tomato, red pepper, basil and Parmesan soup was "delicious", banana and pistachio bread with dulce de leche needed more caramel but was still good, and she thought the coconut and raspberry dark chocolate bounty bar gave vegan desserts a good rep. She found the service as charming as everyone else who's walked through the door, and says she loves it, giving the food 8/10 and the ambience 10/10. Read her review here . In the Irish Daily Mail Tom Doorley was also swooning, this time for Frank's , (who have yet to have a negative word said about them), calling it "a cracker of a new restaurant". Some of the swoon-worthy dishes included watermelon, cucumber, almond and herbs - "delicious ... a very happy combination of textures and herbs" - and ripe nectarine with ricotta, brown butter and shortbread crumbs - "one of the simplest and best things I've had in ages". He says Frank's is "not just brilliant, but generous almost to a fault". (Review not currently online) In the Sunday Business Post Gillian Nelis was feeling all the good vibes at Tiller + Grain on South Frederick Street, who she says are making business green in "the right way". Salads, meat and fish, including rare beef and broccoli cooked on a Big Green Egg were "far removed" from most others in the city, and carrot cake was "divine", with a polenta and lemon curd muffin so light and fresh that it tasted almost healthy. She says that Tiller + Grain "injected plenty of sunshine and good vibes" into her day, and that if there was ever a café to prove that eating well and sustainably isn't a chore, this is it. Read her review here . In the Sunday Independent Lucinda O'Sullivan 's on her annual reviewing hiatus, instead giving us various round ups, this week of the best food trucks and trailers in the country. Making the grade in Dublin are Container Coffee , Eat My Veg , Happy Out , Lala Poutine , The Market Kitchen , The Taco Truck and Vietnom , and from what we're hearing Órale Street Food in Stoneybatter should probably be added to that list. (Not currently online) In the Irish Examiner Joe McNamee calls OHK Café in Kinsale one of his "new most favourite places in the world to eat", which seems marginally more for the atmosphere (which he gave 10/10 for) than the food (8/10). Despite the menu being "top heavy" with sandwiches and salads, a mozzarella, pesto and tomato toastie and a "sublime" Spanish tortilla made up a "champion brunch", that he'd "travel the length of the country" to eat again. Read his review here . Finally in the Sunday Times it's Niall Toner again, and if there was ever an argument that food critics should be people who know and understand food, it's the depressing lack of descriptors in this review of Oliver Dunne's revamped gastropub The Donnybrook . He doesn't have a whole lot to say (and admits as much), other than it wasn't very exciting, and gives it 2.5/5. Read his review here . More next week.

When we first wrote about Circa opening in March, there was a mention of hiphop brunches once they found their feet, and it's safe to say that people got a little bit excited . The good news is they're kicking off this Sunday. The bad news is we think there's going to be a queue out the door, so if you want a side of Action Bronson with your French toast you'd better get there early. The guys in Circa say that adding something different to the brunch scene was important to them (you won't find eggs benedict or a full Irish here), and the menu features dishes like PB&J French toast with strawberry compote, mascarpone, peanut butter ganache and strawberry ice-cream, and avocado, Toonsbridge mozzarella and heirloom tomatoes on a toasted flatbread with a poached egg, pesto aioli and organic leaves (above). You can see the full menu at the bottom of this article. Expect tunes from Biggie Smalls, Action Bronson, 2pac, Drake and Run DMC, and loads of low abv drinks like spritzs, prosecco cocktails and aperol sours. Hiphop brunch is from 11:00 - 15:30 on Sundays and is walk in only. This one gona be busy. Circa 90 Terenure Road North, Terenure, Dublin 6 Wed - Fri 17:00 - 22:00. Sat - Sun 09:00 - 14:30, 17:00 - 22:00. restaurantcirca.com

A sushi-only restaurant has opened on Little Mary Street just off Capel Street. Fudo Izakaya is a sister restaurant to Sisu , the Japanese Izakaya near St. Stephen’s Green which opened last November. Their initial plan was to operate as an Izakaya like Sisu (a Japanese bar that serves snacks and hot food alongside drinks, hence the name Fudo Izakaya), but soon after opening decided to shift to sushi only. Fudo's head chef has worked and trained in sushi restaurants in Copenhagen for the past 10 years, and they say that what he was producing was so good that they decided to focus on just that - even the rice preparation is more laborious than they've experienced before. Big talk. Like Sisu, the sushi menu is on the creative side, featuring things the "Japanese roll" with seared beef, tempura prawn, tempura asparagus, spring onion and spicy mayo, and the "Hawaii roll" with grilled fresh scallops, kiwi, cucumber and yuzu mayo. We're super intrigued by the dragon roll with macerated Wexford strawberry, cucumber tempura prawn, avocado and mayo. Fudo is open seven days a week from 12:00 - 22:00, and while they currently only serve wine and plum wine, they plan to add more drinks, including a sake range, over the coming months. You can also BYOB with a corkage charge of €6 for wine and €1.50 for beer. Fudo Izakaya 28 Mary Street Little, Dublin 7 Mon - Sun 12:00 - 22:00 www.fudoizakaya.ie

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 . Bastible Where: South Circular Road Always a cornerstone of the Dublin dining scene, Bastible has been catapulted back into the limelight with the news that ex-Noma chef Cúán Greene is back in Dublin and their new head chef. Catherine Cleary was swiftly through the door, calling it "the start of something truly bloody exciting". Expect a stampede. Check out Bastible's hunger-inducing Instagram feed 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 . Chimac (New) Where: Aungier Street Korean Fried Chicken fever hit the capital last month when Chimac finally opened, after a year of rumours. Queues down Aungier Street became the norm, and for the first week they didn't seem to be able to keep chicken in stock for more than a few hours. Katy McGuinness in the Irish Independent praised their commitment to free range chicken giving the food 9/10, and you can still expect a wait. Read more our Chimac once over here . Circa 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 . Crudo 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 . Frank's (new) Where: Camden Street When Frank's butcher's shop on Camden Street became vacant, the owners of Delahunt a few doors up decided to take it over and turn it into a wine bar, leaving the butcher's frontage as is. Catherine Cleary in the Irish Times called it her "new favourite restaurant", and Aoife Carrigy in Food & Wine compared it to a cocoon, calling the food "top-class". Check out Frank's 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 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 in March to raves all round, and expect reservations to be like hen's teeth for the foreseeable future. Read our Liath once over here . Little Mike's (new) Where: Mount Merrion We didn't think it was possible for Michael's in Mount Merrion to be overshadowed, until little brother and wine bar Little Mike's opened a few doors up. It's left a clean sweep of critics swooning ( us included ), with Ernie Whalley describing the seafood small plates as full of sincerity and generosity, and Tom Doorley calling it "a delight". The counter seats with a view of the kitchen are the ones in demand, and the wine experience is at the same level as the food. Read more about Little Mike's here . Potager (new) Where: Skerries There was a lot of excitement in the industry when it was announced in January that ex-Chapter One head chef Cathal Leonard was taking over the old Red Bank in Skerries. He and partner Sarah Ryan opened the doors in June and unusually Catherine Cleary from the Irish Times was the first in. She called the evening tasting menu "the best money you'll spend on food in Dublin", and after eating there we'd be inclined to agree Read our Potager 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... - We're very impatiently waiting for Niall Davidson 's new opening Allta (Irish for 'wild'), expected by the end of the summer, which will bring small plates and pasta to South Frederick Street - Ex- Etto staff member Jess D'Arcy and her husband will open Mamó in Howth in August, and we are tense with anticipation for this one - There's a new barbecue spot coming to Camden Street that we're dying to tell you about. More when we're allowed to shout about it - Amy Austin, the new wine bar from 777 and ex-Luna owner John Farrell should be open in the next few weeks, and it sounds like something we're going to get excited about - The owners of Deville's in Dalkey will open Casper and Giumbini's in Dun Laoghaire in late July, and with the ex-manager of 64 Wine looking after the wine list we've got a good feeling - Little Forest, the new Italian in Blackrock from the guys behind Forest Avenue and Forest & Marcy is delayed due to building issues, but we're eagerly awaiting news of an opening date

You know the feeling. You’re having a lovely night, the food's great and the conversation's flowing, but you've been handed the dessert menu and nothing appeals. Alternatively you've eaten too much and are in desperate need of a stroll to break the meal and rediscover your appetite. When either happens, you've got options. These are some of our favourite spots for post-dinner dessert that open late - and if you're really stuffed, dessert cocktails are also an option. (Note: we would never encourage leaving Uno Mas without the Flan de Queso) Mr Fox Pro tip: loads of excellent restaurants will be happy to let you in for dessert if you give them a call in advance and they have space. Head to Mr Fox for their take on the Iceberger or Super Split, or the PB&J that will send you home with a nostalgic spring in your step. Gertrude The guys at Gertrude are always happy to see you for a nightcap and some apple fritters, or the strawberries, mascarpone and roasted white chocolate, or the 3fe Espresso Ice Cream, and they're such good value at €4-6 that we recommend getting one of each. A cheese plate and sweet wine is also a vibe. Peruke and Periwig Dessert in a glass - we're into it. Prop yourself up with Peruke & Periwig 's 'The Cold S’mores' - marshmallow infused vodka, crème de cacao, kahlua, milk & cream with a biscuit rim & toasted marshmallows, or try the Key Lime Pie gimlet - citrus and vanilla vodka, tarte citron, lemon, lemonade, a biscuit rim and meringue foam. No matter how full you are when you enter, the likelihood is you'll find room for seconds. Ely Wine Bar Ely Wine Bar 's elegant Georgian room is a comfy place to carry on the conversation and finish out the night with ‘just one more glass of wine’. Desserts features things like poached Irish rhubarb, jelly, nuts and vanilla ice-cream, and burnt honey cheesecake with bitter almond ice-cream, and excellent cheese is a given. Dolce Sicily We can think of worse ways of finishing a night than with espresso and the best Sicilian cannoli this side of Naples at Dolce Sicily . We asked what time they usually run out of cannoli, and the reply was "never!" Plus there's always room for cannoli. It's a scientific fact. Three Twenty Ice Cream Lab Proof that ice-cream is hot. The good stuff at Three Twenty Ice-Cream lab is churned to order with a dash of liquid nitrogen, and we're all about the crème brûlée made with crème anglaise and a charred fair-trade sugar top, but can also stand behind the chocolate smore with toasted marshmallow fluff. Loose Canon Put yourself in the hands of the cheese experts at Loose Canon and finish the night on a savoury note with a side of natural wine. The weekly cheese specials are in prime condition and there's always some with a bit of funk, just like the wine. Café Bombo Try all the bombolinis (Italian filled doughnuts) you can manage at Café Bombo on Thomas Street, and wash them down with a jug of slushy margaritas to send the night off right. Open until 9pm at weekends. Dunne and Crescenzi Call them while you walk and with enough notice Dunne & Crescenzi should be able to squeeze you in for a late night tiramisu and a Tuscan Vin Santo or an affogato with amaretto. We're imagining this would be particularly perfect post pizza somewhere like Pi whose menu is dessert-less. Eatyard The legendary Teddy’s ice-cream has pitched up at outdoor food market Eatyard to serve you a cold scoop of nostalgia, or you could head to Sweet Churro for (in their own words) ‘crunchy clouds of deliciousness’ with dulce de leche. The Vintage Cocktail Club If your stomach really can't take any more food, or even a dessert cocktail, head to The Vintage Cocktail Club for something fresh, fruity and easily digestible, like The Dirty Wizard, with chilli-infused vodka, gingerbread and blackcurrant liqueur, cranberry juice, fresh citrus, egg whites, a ginger nut rim, berry skewer and a fresh mint sprig. It's basically a digestif. ​​ Scoop Dessert Parlour If on the other hand you haven't eaten enough, there's only one thing for it - the ice-cream cookie sandwich from Scoop . Pick any flavour of both, but a winning combo is the oreo gelato sandwiched between milk chocolate cookies. Just hope you got that walk in post-dinner.

The primary schools have unleashed the kids for two months and parents are scrambling to find activities for them. If you don’t have kids you’re probably still part child, trying to find things to fill up the summer calendar, but mainly your Instagram feed. There’s only so many "so bored, need to go somewhere this summer" posts you can out up before even the bots start to leave you. Here are some food focused festivals that will help to fill the void. The Big Grill The Big Grill is the giant man creche that everyone who fumbles with barbecue skills needs to attend. One day here could fill your BBQ quota for the summer, and is preferable to smoking out your neighbours while trying to grill sausages on a disposable BBQ out your flat window. 15th - 18th August. Get tickets here . The Wine & Cheese Festival Eatyard’s Wine and Cheese Festival is our ultimate festival. There’s no forsaking your tent at the end, no enormous queue for showers, no feeling like you need to slog through a stash of cans - it's the adult festival you need. Included in the ticket price is entry and access to the demos and workshops, besides plenty of music and entertainment. Also, infinite wine and cheese. 8th - 11th August. Get tickets here . Airfield's Festival of Food Entry to Airfield ’s food festival is free, music to all of our ears, but particularly those with energetic children running wild and spending all of their money during their summer of freedom. Find some music, food and beverages while watching demos on gardening, cookery and foraging, or meander between stalls of local producers, while checking out their impressive kitchen gardens. 7th-8th September. Get tickets here . ​ Beatyard Beatyard is the place where Eatyard began, the quintessential nibble and walk. As always with the Bodytonic crew, there will be some excellent brews and beverages to be had at the two day music fest in Dun Laoghaire, as well as a steady supply of 3fe coffee, vegan ramen, Big Blue Bus pizza, Handsome Burgers, Teddy’s Ice Cream, tacos, poutine, and many other reasons to get your hungry self in there. 3rd - 4th August. Get tickets here . All Together Now Let’s say it, all together now, ‘I’m starving...’ Perfect, you’ll be in the right place at this rising star on the Irish festival circuit. Couple that with great food options like Bia Rebel Ramen, Diva Cafe, Kerala Kitchen, Shaka Poke, Market Kitchen, Cloud Picker Coffee, and even fun-time gimmicks like Avocado themed food stalls straight from a millennial fantasy, you know your stomach will be be taken care of. 2nd - 4th August. Get tickets here . Electric Picnic We’ve all been to Electric Picnic in some shape or form, even if just through the stories of that one friend who got too mangled every morning to hear any music but is adamant they had the time of their lives getting fired from their bar job and losing their tent. If you want to dodge the unrefined Leaving Cert grads and have a more grown up experience, head for the Theatre of Food for demos, live fire cooking and a disco drunch. 30th August - 1st September. Get tickets here .

Summer has arrived in Dublin. Yes, it’s barely broken 20 degrees, and the sun hasn’t actually been shining that much, but the rain is gone and the bins in Portobello are filling up faster than the reservations book in Liath. And the food seems to have gotten brighter too. Here are some of the ultra colourful dishes on our eating agenda this week. 1) Gazpacho with Prawns from Rosa Madre Try and name a more iconic duo than seafood and summer; we’ll wait. Using plump red prawns and stracciatella, this rich gazpacho from Rosa Madre looks like a serious shot of flavour when you’re too hot to cook. 2) Cheesy Cornbread from Queen of Tarts They had us at “cheesy”. This new breakfast dish from the  Queen of Tarts  is packing a lot of savoury flavours, which can be surprisingly hard to find on a breakfast menu. It’s served with spicy beans, fried eggs, fresh salsa, chillies, and sour cream, and is giving us all the savoury summer feels. 3) Red Tomato Tagliatelle from Grano Grano ’s violet aubergines and smoked ricotta on red ribbons of tomatoey tagliatelle almost makes us feel the sun on our faces. Add a glass of Verdicchio and you could convince yourself that you're in Sicily instead of Stoneybatter. 4) Pancakes from Evolve Eatery Since opening in Clondalkin last year Evolve Eatery has been turning out some seriously bright plates for breakfast and lunch, and their fluffy protein pancakes topped with mountains of fresh fruit and edible flowers have been catching our eye. They’re also offering free pancakes for children with every adult meal from 9am to 12pm Monday to Friday. Free food, quiet kids; it’s a summer miracle. 5) Peaches and Ricotta from Frank’s Yes it’s a picture, but if you look at this one long enough, you can actually smell the peaches. Frank's , the new wine bar in a former butcher’s on Camden Street, is walk-in only which makes it the ideal spot to stop in to on an evening stroll. Smothered in ricotta and brown butter, this one will keep you going till Autumn.