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The Andalusian city of Ronda, an hour and 20 minute drive from Malaga airport, has one of the most spectacular locations in Spain, sitting high on cliffs that drop off into the El Tajo gorge. The views from the parador in the centre of the city would give you vertigo, and if you have a fear of heights it's best not to look down, but if not you'll feel like you're on top of the world. It's not just about the views either. There's enough wine bars, tapas bars and top end restaurants to make it a draw for gastro tourists, and the fact that it's an excellent wine producing region with multiple wineries within 20 minutes of the centre is the icing on the already delicious cake. Breakfast La Casa del Jamón Ooh heaven is a place on earth, and it's called the house of jamón in Ronda. This sprawling shop and café has been sitting in the same spot since 1989, and you'll still see founder Leocadio Corbacho Bocanegra slicing ham behind the counter. The simple breakfast menu features bread rolls stuffed with jamón of every age and price, but our favourite was the pan con tomate topped with the very finely chopped stuff. It 's all available to take home, as well as tinned fish, cheese, honey, spices, and all of the locally made wines. Prepare to drop a serious amount of cash in here if you're lacking restraint (as you should be on holidays). Cafetería La Esquina For a breakfast that won't break your bank account with retail takeaways, Cafetería La Esquina is the simple Spanish diner to fill all of your your tortilla, churros and café con leche needs - at bargain basement prices. Expect a substantial breakfast for two to come in at under €10. Tapas 15 Arroba Wine Bar If you're in Ronda to get to know the local wines, ear-mark some quality time at 15 Arroba . On our visit they had close to 100 wines by the glass (and no we don't know how they keep them all fresh but we had no complaints). Ask staff for recommendations based on what you like, or take a lucky dip - with most wines coming in at €3.50 - €4.50 you haven't got much to lose. The tapas-based food menu is perfect drinking fodder, with gildas, Cantabrian anchovies on toast, and tuna tataki to snack on while you sip, and as with nearly all Spanish restaurants, they're very child friendly if little ones are with you. El Lechuguita You won't need help spotting El Lechuguita - it's the tapas bar with the queue trailing down the street. There since 1969, they say they want to represent the cultural tradition of tapas, and preserve one of the bastions of Andalusia - gastronomy. Their signature tapa is the "little lettuce" in a garlic vinaigrette, and much of their tapas are priced at just over €1 - no wonder there's a queue. Tick off what you want on the order pad and soak up the buzzing atmosphere while you wait. Tapas Bar Elias There's a 0% chance you won't fall in love with quaint little Tapas Bar Elias , run by very charming Señor s who have a whole schtick about giving you a bottle of "the best wine in the world" when you leave. In reality it's a €2 Ribera del Duero, but it has the desired effect of making their customers feel extra special. Simple fish, meat and vegetable dishes are done to a standard you wish you could replicate at home, and a cold glass of Vermouth while browsing the menu is the only way to do it. Dinner Bardal If you're a star chaser, Benito Gomez's two Michelin-starred Bardal should be on your radar. Catalan by birth, he's now one of the leading chefs in Andalusia, with much of the produce coming from the restaurant's farm . There's a choice of two tasting menus for €180 or €215, and the cheese trolley is a highlight. Tragatá Can't stretch to a two-star bill? You're in luck. Benito Gomez has a more every (wo)man restaurant around the corner - Tragatá . It buzzes with couples, friends and families from early until late, and the menu is modern Spanish, with unexpected flavour combos. Try the brioche with sheep's butter and smoked sardines, the fish in green pil pil sauce, and don't miss the sweet olive torta with chocolate, nuts and orange for dessert. Ice-cream Black coffee The name might say coffee, but for us Black Coffee is all about the ice-cream in this little café on Plaza España. It's all good but we love the Spanish version of rum and raisin with Malaga Wine or PX Sherry, and you can get the best of both with an affogato. Wine Entre Vinos In demand wine bar Entre Vinos is one of the best places to taste your way through Ronda's wines, with loads on by the glass (starting at €2), and everything you can think of by the bottle. There's very reasonably priced tapas too, and when we visited staff didn't have great English so you might want to have Google on hand to research the wine options - otherwise " una copa de vino blanco/tinto por favor" will do the job. Pura Cepa Wine bar Pura Cepa has become a bit of a mini chain in the Costa del Sol with three locations, but it's no worse off for it. This is definitely a place you'll find more tourist prices than local, but the terrace, the service and the quality of the food and wine means you probably won't care. You can also book a Ronda Wine Experience if you really want to dive in. Milamores wine visits If you're interested in seeing a Ronda vineyard and winery, your best bet is Milamores , who organise visits to four of the best. Tours and tastings cost €25 - €30 per person, and you'll need transportation to get to the vineyard where you'll meet your guide. We had an interesting visit to Bad Man Wines (named after owners Sinbad and Manuel), but we have F. Schatz, one of the pioneers of biodynamic farming in the region on the list for next time. Book here . Vinalium Looking for hooch to take home? Head to Vinalium , for a brilliantly broad selection of wines from Ronda and across Spain. Staff are happy to tell you about their favourites, and they sell top quality glassware at madly low prices in case you have room in your suitcase. Hotels We stayed at the four-star Hotel Catalonia Reina Victoria , which has jaw-dropping views across the valley below, a stunning drinks terrace, and an outdoor spa area. Room were modern and spacious, and the best ones have a balcony with more of those views. We paid €180 for a double room with balcony and would go back in a heartbeat.

It happens. You're having a great night but dessert options in the place you're in don't look great. Or you've over extended yourself and can't possibly fit in another morsel until you've had a stroll around town. Or maybe you've eaten at home to save cash but want a catch up on the cheap. Here's where to go for dessert, dessert cocktails, and cheese post dinner... Café Lisboa, Mary Street Little Have them for breakfast, have them for a snack, have them for dessert - have Café Lisboa 's creamy, crispy little egg custard tarts (the best in Dublin for our cash) any time you damn want. Team it with an espresso if you need help with digestion, or a glass of Port if you're not ready for the night to end. They're open until 9pm Tuesday - Saturday. Spilt Milk, Drury Street Spilt Milk is Dublin’s newest ice cream shop from the same owners as Roots (where Three Twenty used to be), and make all of their small batch ice-cream on site daily. They use organic milk sourced from one of 12 jersey cow herds across the country, and you'll always find Dublin-centric flavours, like Harry's nutbutter and whiskey and stout. If nuts and alcohol aren't your thing, try the cereal milk or mango lassi, and you won't find any sickly sweet toppings in here, they want the ice-cream to speak for itself. Fallon & Byrne, Exchequer Street The wine cellar in Fallon & Byrne is open seven days a week, for whatever food or drink your hungry/thirsty little heart desires. While sharing boards, pizza and pasta take up the bulk of the menu, they'd be delighted to welcome you in for a panna cotta, chocolate marquise or a baked cheesecake. There's plenty of cheese if you're steering clear of sweet, and if you time your visit from Sunday - Tuesday you can drink anything off the shelf for €1 corkage, which is one of the biggest bargains in Dublin. Scoop, Aungier Street Long-standing ice-cream shop Scoop are always coming up with new flavour combinations to keep things fresh, like spiced apple gelato with apple crumble swirl, and their " AI gelato " last Christmas, which was developed by Chat GPT - we're still not entirely sure what was in it. There's also a bumper menu of sundaes, Belgian waffles, crêpes and milkshakes if you really want to do the dog on it. Ely Wine Bar, Ely Place A wine-filled hideaway a few steps from St. Stephen's Green, Ely Wine Bar is full of little corners to enjoy a late night chocolate mousse, or a hazelnut praline with amaretto crumble. With copious amounts of wines by the glass and bottle you won't be stuck for something to wash it down with either. Il Fornaio, Liffey Street and the IFSC Italian café Il Fornaio looks like it's been plucked out of Lazio and dropped in the middle of Liffey Street. The are few better places for an easy evening drop in for a "mini dolcetti" and an espresso, and they also practice the art of the Aperol Spritz. Their Dawson Street café closes early, but you'll find them going in Liffey Street and in their IFSC restaurant until 8-10:30pm depending on the night. Cellar 22, St. Stephen's Green A Rhum Baba with Chantilly cream and a glass of Château Suduiraut Sauternes to end an evening - if we absolutely must. Or maybe a chocolate tart with praline tuile paired with a twenty-year-old Tawny port. It's all too easy to settle into basement wine bar Cellar 22 on St. Stephen's Green, for however you'd like to end the night. The Rolling Donut, O'Connell Street The original, the classic, the first Rolling Donut was the iconic kiosk on O'Connell Street, and while we don't go in for the neon-coloured, ultra sweet creations in their newer sites, these simple little sugar or chocolate rings will always be the O.G. dessert en route home. At €1.20 each or €6 for six they're unbeatable value too. Brother Hubbard, Capel Street Open late from Thursday - Saturday, Brother Hubbard on Capel Street is another easy breezy place to drop into on the fly. Their Middle Eastern influences extend to dessert with the "Noah's Ark" featuring coconut sorbet, kadifi pastry, mango & black lime; or make a date with one of the only Baked Alaskas in the city - currently a lemon meringue. If you're too full for sugar in food form, you can drink it. Try an Amaresso Martini with chocolate and hazelnut baci from the dessert cocktail menu. A Fianco, Stoneybatter Grano’s sister restaurant A Fianco is now bookable (praise be for anyone wishing to travel there) and serves just two desserts - a first rate tiramisu and their "Bignè" - a trio of baked pastries (an Italian version of beignets) with hazelnut cream, Sicilian pistachio cream and lemon custard. Pull up a high stool, ask for an Italian wine recommendation and settle in for a very good time. Chimac, Aungier Street Chimac 's ice-cream sandwiches are still going strong and are big enough to share between two. The flavours change on the regular so you'll have to ask staff what's on, but we have very happy memories of salted caramel between chocolate chip, dipped in melted chocolate with a pretzel crumb. Don't forget to give it a few minutes to soften up before biting in. Murphy's, Wicklow Street Murphy’s have been making ice-cream for more than twenty years, with flavours varying by the season. We love the OG mango and raspberry sorbets, and if you're in need of ice-cream it's got to be the dingle sea salt or brown bread. At €5 for a small cup it's some of the most expensive ice-cream in town, but the tourists will keep them in business whatever the price. Ayla Turkish Foods, Capel Street Ayla Turkish Foods stocks every middle eastern ingredient you can think of (it’s where we go to get our pul biber chilli flakes), and they serve a dazzling array of Turkish delight and nougat. For our money the best thing on the menu is the pistachio baklava - layered filo pastry filled with chopped pistachio. It's priced by the kilo but you'll be satisfied with a couple of pieces each (only open until 8pm). Note, Fenian Street The staff in Note will be happy to pull out a seat at the bar and help you pair their desserts and cheeses with a digestive or dessert wine. They also make their own limoncello which is a far cry from the sickly sweet syrup you may have had elsewhere. Bar chats and tiramisu spoon scraping i.e. the perfect end to your evening. Wigwam, Middle Abbey Street If you want to keep your night going but still need to satisfy those sugar cravings, head to Wigwam. Their simple dessert menu can feature Brazilian Brigadeiros, churros with chocolate, and min i açai bowls (handy if you stay so late you're getting hungry for breakfast), and there's plenty of sugar in the rum cocktail menu too. Bar 1661, Smithfield If you want your dessert in drink form, Bar 1661 is very hard to beat. Constantly voted best cocktail bar in Dublin, their take on an Irish coffee (the Belfast coffee, served cold) is made with Two Fifty Square cold brew, poitín, cream, demerara sugar and topped with nutmeg. We've seen people who don't like coffee knock this back with gusto, and once you're tried it you'll want it again and again. Dolce Sicily, South Anne Street Save yourself the flight to Sicily and head to Dolce Sicily , a Sicilian patisserie on South Anne Street, for pistachio cream-filled cannoli and some of the best fruit tarts for miles. Cannoli are available in three sizes and are best enjoyed with an espresso, and fruit tarts come in minis and large too - ideal if you have an occasion coming up that you don't want to bake for. Peruke & Periwig, Dawson Street While Peruke & Periwig have disbanded their dessert cocktail menu, their "signature cocktail" menu still features a lot of drinks on the sweeter side of things, like "The Duchess", with lychee cream cheese, hibiscus, rose, elderflower and gin; or "The Chupalla", with pineapple, toffee caramel, chillies, citrus and pisco. Sweet Churro, Temple Bar The guys at Sweet Churro have upgraded from their former market stall and now have their own premises in Temple Bar. They describe their churros as ‘crunchy clouds of deliciousness’, and you can add strawberries, bananas or crushed Oreos. The most tempting as far as we're concerned are the ‘Sweet God’ Churros, which are hollowed out in the middle and filled with chocolate, dulce de leche, Nutella or vanilla sauce. (open until 7pm Sunday - Wednesday, 8pm Thursday - Saturday) Frank's, Camden Street Lower You won't always find dessert on the menu at Camden Street wine bar Frank's , it depends on whether the chef can get his hands on some particularly beguiling fruit, but you will always find cheese, and sometimes you just need to end the night with cheese. Loose Canon, Drury Street 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. Did we miss your favourite place for post-dinner dessert? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie

Maybe it was The Bear , or maybe it was the fleeting Silk Purse pop up from the lads behind Lotus Eaters , maybe it's the fact we're a country whose national dish is a cheap bread roll stuffed with fried chicken from South East Asia, but it's clear we're a nation obsessed with the humble sandwich. From funeral sambos to the Bánh mì (that's a Vietnamese Chicken Fillet Roll), it is the optimal meal. Fluffy/toasted/fried bread stuffed with all kinds of fillings and lashings of sauce - what's not to love? Here's where to go when you want a seriously good sandwich in Dublin... 147 Deli, Parnell Street One of the OG sandwich haunts, Barry Stephens' 147 Deli is probably best known for their classics (their salt beef sub is angelic), but their specials game is mighty strong, inciting all the excitement each week on their Insta . If the Dublin dip happens to pop up on your feed, drop everything and run. Exclusively a Monday to Friday joint, lunchtime sees frequent queues, so plan ahead - if you get there late and everything's sold out, don't say we didn't warn you. Pig and Heifer, Pearse Street Another classic, Pig and Heifer have been feeding hungry Dubliners since 1996 - a modern day miracle in the current climate. Inspired by the bodegas of NYC (not any that JLo has been to apparently) prepare to queue an hour either side of the lunchtime rush. They claim to be the first to serve pastrami on rye on the island, just as the yanks intended. Little Geno's, St. Stephen's Green Scott Holder, of Los Chicanos Taqueria  fame, went a little left of field this year and opened up Little Geno's  - a mish-mash-of-cultures, casual sandwich shop in one of the most salubrious buildings in the country. His menu is a short four hit wonder (plus a vegan option) with zero opportunity to swap out ingredients - a sign of a confident and steadfast chef. We loved their take on the bánh mì .  Read our once over here . Hawksmoor, College Green Not the first place in the city you'd go looking for a sambo, but Hawksmoor  are keen on injecting the local terroir into their British roots, and recently collabed with the nation's lord and saviour: Mr Tayto. The grilled ham hock and cheese toastie is packed with cornichons, jalapeños, and four types of Irish cheese, served alongside a handful of Tayto loaded with scallion mayo and more ham hock, because why not. You can nab the Tayto toastie  to beat them all in the bar area. Daddy's, Rialto Daddy's is a ray of sunshine in Rialto, boasting a strong sandwich game featuring croissandwiches, fancy egg salad and wild Irish albacore tuna coronation creations, making them some of the best lunch fare for miles around. They champion small Irish producers, like Salter's free-range ham, Annascaul pudding, and Rings Farm free range chicken and use them to the best possible effect. Tiller + Grain, South Frederick Street Tiller + Grain's owner/chef Clair Dowling worked for Ottolenghi and Skye Gyngell in London, before bringing her flavour-popping sandwiches to Dublin's city centre. Meat and fish are ever so fashionably cooked on an indoor barbecue, the bread is from Bread 41 (naturally), fruits and vegetables are predominantly Irish and seasonal, and it's hard to pass up a sandwich here when it looks like this. The Pepper Pot Cafe, Powerscourt Townhouse Any visit to The Pepper Pot Café in Powerscourt Townhouse is incomplete without the legendary bacon, pear and Hegarty's cheddar sandwich on crusty white bread. A great spot to bring first timers to the city, the atrium seating of the Powerscourt Townhouse has airy views over the exclusive boutiques, galleries and jewellers below, and it's a calm, top floor escape from the craziness of the city. Tír Deli, Hatch Street If you're looking for the sandwich stuffed with the top tir (sorry, not sorry) ingredients this country has to offer, Tír Deli on Hatch Street is it. They take food sourcing and supplier relationships to another level, with organic veg from Kildare, free-range pork from Carlow, and Donabate Dexter beef some of their choice ingredients. Self proclaimed sandwich scholars, there are no wrong answers on their menu. Meltdown, Montague Street Quickly becoming the  sandwich district of Dublin, Montague street (shoutout to Green Bench cafe and the aforementioned Tír Deli only around the corner) might possibly have the tastiest sandwiches per square inch in the city. Meltdown make ooey gooey cheese masterpieces, with bangers on the menu like the Mac Mama (a mac and cheese toastie with bacon and crispy onions), and the Pig Deal (slow cooked BBQ'd pulled pork with slaw, red cheddar, and pineapple). With vegan options too, these are the durty toasted cheese sambos of your hangry dreams. Loose Canon, Drury Street Cheese toasties but make it fancy. The toastie is a staple in Dublin pubs, and sure, bright orange cheddar melted between two slices of batch with the odd tomato or ham slice thrown in, washed down with a pint of cream, is a straight up dream (we're looking at you Grogan's), but Loose Canon takes the tradition a step further. With a carefully selected BTG list, and toasties packed with top tier cheeses and fancy chutneys , their ever changing menu means every time here is a good time.

August's monthly 9 giveaways are live! And this month it's a restaurant bonanza with vouchers for Margadh, Host, Allta, Osteria Lucio and loads more... Being automatically entered into our monthly giveaways is one of the ways we say thanks to everyone signed up to ATF Insiders - our premium service that allows us to operate ad-free and independently, with everything featured and recommended here paid for by us. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders by midnight on Saturday 17th August will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on Monday 19th August. Here's what you could win this month... 1) The tasting menu for two at Margadh RHA Lovely Margadh in the RHA (from the same owners as Mamó in Howth), hidden behind St. Stephen's Green, always feels like one of central Dublin's best secrets. They quietly do their thing, serving up one of the best value tasting menus in the city from Wednesday - Sa turday, and the current one from chef Louis Wishart is just €51 - where would you get it. We're sending one of you in with a guest to try it for yourself, and you can check out his menu of summer-filled beauty here , and book yourself in for the loveliest of evenings here . 2) A Fierce Mild gift pack with vouchers for Host and Allta The days of suffering through watery, tasteless non-alcoholic beer are over - if you know what to drink. Fierce Mild is the latest innovation in the Irish non-alcoholic beer market, founded by brothers-in-law Ferghal and Cathal . It's a refreshing extra pale ale that's been made with a special yeast and a trilogy of hops to ensure the beer retains its character, and it's so good that early stockists include Host in Ranelagh and Allta in Grand Canal Dock. To celebrate their launch they've given us a gift set full of Fierce Mild beer and merch, as well as €50 vouchers for Host and Allta. 3) The Little Lucio menu for two with wine at Osteria Lucio Osteria Lucio is cooking some of the best Italian food in Dublin with the warm, Irish hospitality that chef-patron Ross Lewis is known for - this is probably why it's perennially packed whenever we pass. If you haven't had the pleasure of a visit, we've got a taste of the restaurant to give away to one lucky subscriber this month, with the Little Lucio sharing menu for two plus a bottle of wine. You'll start with garlic and rosemary flat bread and prosciutto crudo, choose a starter, a pasta to share, chargrilled chicken, and finish off with a tiramisu or chocolate mousse (usually €60 pp). Check out their menus and book here . 4) A table for two at The Coburg's Henriot Champagne Supper Club The Coburg restaurant in the five-star Conrad Dublin is bringing back its Supper Club series this September. First up, Executive Head Chef Marek Sulg has created a one off menu in collaboration with ATF-fav Henriot Champagne , featuring fresh oysters, scallops, turbot, and West Indian tropical fruits - all paired with different cuvées. Tickets are €79 per person, and with four glasses of Champagne included, we're chalking the food down as basically free. We've got a table for two at the dinner on Thursday 5th September to give away this month, and you can book your own place here . 5) The Sunday roast for two and a bottle of wine at The Club Hotel at Goff's The Club Hotel at Goff's , where former Michelin-starred chef Derry Clarke and former Canteen owner James Sheridan are in charge of food, have launched a Sunday night package that looks like such good value we had to blink to make sure we weren't seeing things. Stay Sunday and you'll get early check in, welcome bubbles, a Sunday roast, spa access, an evening main and cocktail, and breakfast the next morning, with dates starting at €330 - total. You'd spend that on dinner for two in Dublin. We've got a three-course Sunday roast to give away this month along with a bottle of wine, so you can enjoy confit Feighcullen duck or chargrilled fish, followed by the tart of the day. Check out their Perfect Sunday offer here . 6) The tasting menu for two at Shaku Maku Palestinian owned Shaku Maku are shaking things up with a Middle Eastern soul food menu next week. The five-course tasting menu is €50 per person and includes a starter, soup, amuse-bouche, a choice of main and a dessert, and you can expect some of that meat cooked over charcoal on their Josper grill. There's two sittings at 18:30 and 20:30 on Thursday 22nd August, and you can book a spot here . 7) €100 voucher for Mister Magpie "After Dark" Mister Magpie in Ballsbridge is now open every Friday and Saturday night from 18:30 until late, serving a lovingly curated wine list (all by the glass or bottle) and easy small plates to go with them. They're pitching "After Dark" as the perfect, fuss-free spot to meet a friend, and whoever wins the €100 voucher we've got to give away this month will be treating their friends to plates like nduja toast, polenta chips and tiramisu. To book email afterdark@mistermagpiecoffee.com or call them on 0892447208. 8) €100 to spend at Dubh, Newbridge Dubh in Newbridge is somewhere we deem worthy of a roadtrip , but you need to go twice - once for brunch (like pear and caramel French toast with homemade brioche), and once for evening pizza (like nduja with piquillo peppers and local honey). We suggest swinging in en route to the National Stud and Japanese Gardens , then swinging in again on the way home, and one of you could be doing just that because we're giving away a €50 voucher to spend on brunch, and the same again to spend on pizza and cocktails. Check out Dubh here . 9) Dinner for two in Fawn @ The Chancery Did you know that on the ground floor of Dublin 8's newest hotel The Chancery , there's a restaurant with one of the best views in the city? It looks out onto The Poddle Garden, designed by award-winning landscaper Jane McCorkell, was inspired by the River Poddle, and has a stepped terrace full of ferns, mosses and heathers that diners in Fawn gets a front row view of. We're giving away a three-course dinner for two with a glass of wine or prosecco for their Modern European menu, with freshly made pasta, sharing mains, and chocolate mousse for afters. Book here . Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders for August (new and old) will be automatically entered into the prize draw - you don't need to do anything. If you're not signed up yet join here before midnight on Saturday 17th August. You'll be supporting independent reviews and news in Dublin and beyond, and be able to get answers to all of your burning questions about eating out, here and abroad, directly from us.

The summer that never was is slipping on by, and your opportunities for daytrips over those lazy, longer days are running out. Daytrips without top food stops are all but useless in our book, so here's five ideas for country walks, Midlands rambles and seaside excursions with a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner at its core... The Glyde Inn, Annagassan, Louth Coastal Louth doesn't get all the love, but there's so much to explore off the M1. Grab takeaway fish and chips from Fisherman's Catch and eat it on Clogherhead beach; have a stroll around lovely Blackrock buying dried flowers and candles you can't afford; knock yourself out with water sports in Laytown. For the lunch or dinner stop worth doing a daytrip for, stop at The Glyde Inn in sleeply Annagassan (45 mins from Dublin airport), which hides some of the best outdoor seating in the county around the back. The crab claws are from Annagassan, the mussels from Carlingford, the prawns from Clogherhead - seafood doesn't get fresher. Roundwood Stores / The Coach House, Roundwood, Wicklow Ex-Avoca heir Simon Pratt has been ripping up ground in Roundwood, Wicklow. He and partner Monique McQuaid started with upmarket grocer and café Roundwood Stores , before buying the 1820's coaching inn next door. The Coach House is the cosy country pub you wish was at the end of every Wicklow walking trail, and there are plenty around here. Grab a picnic from Roundwood Stores, or settle in for mackerel rillettes, summer risotto, and almond affogatos for afters in The Coach House after working up an appetite. Roundwood Stores The Coach House Bramley, Abbeyleix There aren't a whole pile of culinary reasons to get us to the Midlands, but Bramley in Abbeyleix is one. Former Michelin-starred, UK-born chef Sam Moody set his sights on the lovely Laois town after a stint as head chef in Ballyfin , and he along with wife Emily have transformed the former garage and shop into a destination dining room that many are pegging to win a Michelin star. The local Laois larder is used to full effect, with Mountrath lamb, Portarlington mushoons, and Portlaoise pork, and the menus range from simple lunch plates to a €75 tasting menu. Make a full culinary trip out of it by stopping at brilliant bakery Mueller and O'Connell for bread and pastries, and Temptation Chocolates for bonbons to eat in or take home. Bramley Temptation Chocolates Dubh, Newbridge What was formerly café Ubh across the road, is now Dubh , a restaurant, bar, and evening pizza place filled with Newbridge-dwellers in the know. Get there early for Cilbir's eggs with burnt lemon feta dressing and nduja butter; show up at lunch for cheese, cavolo nero, caramelised onion and egg tart; or head to the bar in the evening for wood-fired pizzas with squash, smoked almonds, corn and garlic oil. The Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens are a 15 minute drive away if you're looking for a reason to head this way. Do a dessert crawl in Greystones, Wicklow If we were more bitter people, we might hold all kinds of resentment for people living in the seaside suburb of Greystones - Scéal , Bread 41 AND The Fat Fox ? What Dublin suburb can boast a similar role call of the sweetest things. If you're making the journey out here you're going to have to hit all three, so make a day of it and spread them out from early morning to late afternoon. The everything croissant at Scéal , seasonal Danishes at Bread 41 , and cookie stacks at The Fat Fox are non-negotiables. (clockwise from left) Scéal Bakery, The Fat Fox, Bread 41 Looking for more Ireland-wide restaurant recommendations ? Check out our all-Ireland map where we save our favourites, and the places we want to get to next (exclusively for ATF Insiders ) .

What should we know about Little Geno's? Fans of Los Chicanos  – read: anyone with good taste – will be licking their lips at the new sandwich shop from chef Scott Holder. Where that food truck’s inventions took inspiration from Mexican cooks he worked with in the US, Little Geno's takes its cue from New York’s bodegas, with a host of house-prepped meats and sauces bringing a local flavour to corner deli classics. What should we have? There are four signature sandwiches (plus a vegan riff on one) with a boldface “we don’t mess with our sandwiches” warning to anyone tempted to ask about swapping out ingredients - Subway this ain’t. Holder and co have put plenty of work into building their ideal combinations, and we respect the confidence and commitment of sticking to their guns.   The Reuben comes on traditional rye - a malty, nutty bread unfamiliar enough to Irish palates to be regularly replaced by plenty of cafés in the same sandwich. More’s the pity - paired with Little Geno’s delicately flavoured pastrami, piquant sauerkraut and punchy Russian dressing, it’s a well-balanced wonder topped off by a whopper pickle on the side. The sliced Swiss cheese can feel a bit lost in the midst, that’s more our own outlook on the classic combo, than any misjudgement on Little Geno's.   We had the same quibble with the Cubano - up against hard-hitting roast mojo pork shoulder, pickles and mustard aioli, few cheeses would stand a chance. The crisp grilled bread hides a soft crumb, while the mustard’s subtle heat plays well off the citrus and spice-infused flavour of the marinade – a little more meat would have been welcome, with notably more shoulder slopping out on Instagram  than in the flesh.   The Italian is the one we’d be least likely to revisit - for all the standout spice of its Calabrian chilli and tomato sauce (sell it by the jar plz) and the perfect ciabatta, the combo of pepperoni, fennel salami and smoked ham mostly just melded together in a meaty, oily mess that ran down our fingers. The more-is-more meat crowd might find this one more to their liking.   We couldn’t imagine anyone not loving the bánh mì though, vegans included - there's a mushroom-laden meat-free version – with its spillover shredded veg and perfectly crusty French baguette. The proportions of this one in the basket had our expectations lowered, but the burst of flavour from lemongrass-scented pork belly and spicy Vietnamese sausage quickly showed us size isn’t everything. Don’t pass on it. Cloud Picker are on board for coffee, with iced iterations flying out the door on the intermittently sunny morning we popped our heads in. Both chai and latté went down a treat – bank on seeing a lot of these around Stephen’s Green. Why should I go? If the salubrious surrounds of this building – it’s a members-only coworking space upstairs – don’t exactly scream small neighbourhood deli, the healthy balance of quality and convenience hit the mark head-on. There’s a simplicity and charm to Little Geno’s riffs on classics that will play well with the passing office trade out for a weekday lunch, or the weekend crowd looking to pimp up a park picnic.   Little Geno’s Grafter House, Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2 instagram.com/littlegenosdeli

After a seriously rocky start, what with all that sheet rain in July, August has semi-sorted itself out - it's still a roll of the dice every time you leave the house but we'll take what meager pickings we're thrown. As our gift to you, we've rounded up a culinary blueprint of places that are popping off this month, from new openings to pop ups, outdoor dining to burgers on the beach... To welcome back an old friend: Coppinger, Dublin 2 We were devo when Coppinger Row got turfed out of their buzzy little namesake lane just off South William Street back in 2021. Sure, we were able to bide our time with Row (which we big-time dig ), but finally the balance has been restored with the original back in action. Giant prawns washed down with the best Bloody Mary's at a circular tables are once again some of the best fun you can have in this town - read our once over here . To soak up the last of the summer sun: Library Street, Setanta Place August is for cramming in all the summer stuff you have yet to tick off your list, and if you've been sleeping on your small plates and wine in the sun  box, use this as an excuse to make some plans. Library Street  has some of the best food in the city that can be enjoyed outdoors and their wine list is right up there too. They open from 15:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, and it would be a crime against summer not to park yourself outside for a few heady hours. For the penultimate summer garden party: The Salt Project @ Roe and Co, Dublin 8 If you haven't had a chance to head into one of four Roe and Co's summer garden parties, we would enlist you in the "seriously missing out" camp, and this month, nomadic Irish food trailer The Salt Project is holding court. Led by Caomhán Di Bri, (ex chef at Gordon Ramsay’s Michelin starred Maze), they'll be serving up Blaisíní - their version of small plates, all coupled with Roe & Co cocktails created especially for the menu. It runs from Thursday - Saturday from the 1st to the 24th of August, and you can book here . ( Socafro Kitchen move in for the last residency in September) For a one off summer tasting menu: Margadh RHA, Dublin 2 Margadh are smart cookies. They change their tasting menu every six weeks or so (almost as frequently as the Scottish scallywags off Dawson Street), and throw in guest chefs who want to make their mark. Their latest Late Summer Tasting Menu features French trained guest chef Louis Wishart, and whatever a Parmesan bonbon and lovage shot is, we want it - ditto for the cherry & white chocolate ‘Margnum’. If it's half as good as that play on their name we're sold. For brand new flavours in the 'burbs Daruma, Malahide Daruma has arrived to the seaside, ready to fill the much needed Japanese hole in Malahide. Unlike their sister restaurant/pub in Temple Bar, they describe themselves as "up casual" (we have no idea what that means), and menu additions include foie gras and eel maki; miso pork chops; and wagyu croquettes. There's also a BBQ grill option (only available outdoors) for €100 with A5 Omi Wagyu and all the bits. Definitely one to try with a group. For burgers by the beach: Puck Burger, Portmarnock The next worthy beach day we get, you'll find us out in Portmarnock, where Puck serve some of the best burgers and fries on the northside. They're open Wednesday - Friday from 16:00, and Saturday and Sunday from 13:00, and there's brunch in the form of breakfast brioche at the weekend too. With beef, chicken, veggie, vegan, and gluten free options, you can go with literally anyone - schedule a drive by and get yourself to Portmarnock beach before those skin on fries lose their legendary crispiness. For the biggest BBQ event of the year Big Grill, Ballsbridge Also known as Europe’s Largest BBQ Festival, Big Grill is having a great 2024 already, with their first overseas adventure to London in June a smash hit, AND it's their 10 year anniversary. You'll find loads of your favourites there like Hang Dai , Crudo , and Bahay , as well as private dining tasting menus as part of their Offside experiences. Cancel all plans between the 22nd and 25th of August and get a ticket that covers multiple days. For when everyone's on holliers and you can finally get a reso Uno Mas, Aungier Street Sure you can go to Bambino or The Gravediggers whenever you want, but getting a weekend reservation at Uno Mas is not an easy feat. August is one of those golden months where everyone in your city is in a different city, partaking in an activity they like to call "holidays", and often forget about the reservations they made months earlier, cancelling them once that reminder email comes in. Cue the foodies, sweeping in to hoover up all the good tables at the last minute. If ever there was a month to pick up the phone and try your luck, August is the one.

Summer flavours to celebrate the last few weeks of the season, a brand new cheese , and an all American kitchen sink of a dessert - these are the dishes we can't stop thinking about this week in the capital... 1) Tuna Tataki , Floritz Cool down in this heatwave (haha we wish) with some wild bluefin tuna from the Western Mediterranean. Flortiz are serving their Balfegó tuna tataki-style, with the oh so summery flavours of yuzu, ponzu, gari and daikon. If you haven't had a chance to check it out yet, here's a good excuse. Read our once over here . 2) Crispy Hen of the Woods, The Legal Eagle The Legal Eagle are very diligent at making sure that the veggies of the world have a good time too, and if you need proof, take a look at their latest main course to hit the 'gram. This ultra crispy Hen of the Woods mushroom is served fried chicken style, with bok choy, kimchi and a soy glaze - who needs chicken when you've got hens like this. 3) Tomato and Stracciatella Salad, Osteria Lucio The combination of summer tomatoes and cheese will never cease to amaze, and Osteria's Lucio's latest is a tomato and stracciatella reverie. Mixed summer heritage tomatoes and that creamy, string cheese are served with basil, and the very fancy Chianti-based winery Felsina's first press extra virgin olive oil. 4) Régalis Cesar Brebis, Sheridans Summer is for picnics and no picnic is complete without a cheeseboard, and no cheeseboard is complete without a blue. Sheridans have just introduced a brand new pasteurised sheep’s milk cheese from the French Pyrenees, Régalis Cesar Brebis, into their rotation. Milder than a Roquefort, think of it as a gateway cheese for those looking to dive deeper into the world of creamy blues. 5) Atomic Cake, Hawksmoor Steak legends Hawksmoor have just opened up their second Stateside location in the windy city of Chicargo (as your parents call it), and to celebrate, the iconic Atomic cake dessert has come to Dublin. Bakeries on the southside of the city started whipping it up in the 1950's, and it consists of three different flavoured cakes – banana, chocolate and vanilla – layered together with custard, cream, banana, strawberry jam and fudge sauce, and a Hawksmoor twist of roast-banana ice-cream. Stick that in your cone and slurp it.

What should we know about Le Petit Renard? Dublin’s new wave of wine bars just keeps on building, with Kimmage the latest suburban shore it’s lapped up on. Le Petit Renard comes courtesy of couple Romain Tessier and Suzanne Hodgkinson, one of whose four Artybaker outlets is right round the corner. It’s walk-in only so have a backup plan in mind if you’re not a local - D12's pent-up demand for a space like this had us turned away on our first few tries. We eventually got in through grit and determination. What should we have? With all but three of the wine menu’s selections available by the glass, Le Petit Renard lends itself better to casual sipping and snacking than full blow-out feast – especially given the wines are all available to buy at the owners’ grocery just two doors down. We started with a pet nat rosé from reliable Romanian producer La Sapata, light and dry with rich raspberry notes, as well-tuned to the humid tease of a Dublin summer evening as to the small pot of mini saucissons we matched it with. These dry-cured sausages – variously studded with chorizo, blue cheese and walnut – are mild and moreish, a solid snack to sample while the more substantial fare is put together. (Carrying on from this week's Instagram wine pour convo, they don't list the glass size on the menu, but we guessed 175ml - they felt generous) We passed on the chorizo, prosciutto and (more) saucisson of the charcuterie board and chose cheese instead. Strawberry, peach and kiwi added a seasonal touch to the all-French offering, though the board struck us as decidedly tilted toward fruit over fromage – better balance needed here, and perhaps a touch more variety too. There’s plenty to enjoy in the Brie, Camembert and goat’s cheese, but a blue for variety would have gone down well, and paired better with the plump fig chutney.   Given the Artybaker pedigree, bread is essential, and we indulged via the homemade roast red pepper dip. The crusty sourdough and light-as-you-like focaccia are a formidable pair for first scooping, than sponging every last drop of this concentrated burst of flavour. Expect to fall out over who gets to mop up the last of it. With those we drank the Crego e Monaguillo Godello, and found its well-rounded lemon, pear and minerality stood up well to the variety of flavours flying around. Vermouth over ice was too tempting to pass up at this time of year, and played well off a dessert of flaky sea salt and hazelnut-encrusted chocolate mousse. It’s not hard to see why this deceptively light dollop is the solo choice – its encore appeal is an exceptional way to cap off an evening, and evidence aplenty of where Le Petit Renard should have no trouble in attracting a loyal local crowd. Why should I go? If you’re anywhere nearby, this one’s a no-brainer – Le Petit Renard is the kind of new neighbour we're all ready to welcome. It's a lively space to start off or wind down an evening out, where you might spot a free table in passing and be sat at it before you can say un vin blanc s'il vous plaît . For those further afield, it’s worth taking your chances – just don’t say we didn’t warn you.   Le Petit Renard 6 Sundrive Road, Kimmage, Dublin 12 instagram.com/lprwinebar

While our nights are generally spent in search of good food, a good drink to start is usually an important part of the experience. Cocktails in this town don't come cheap, so when you do treat yourself to a pre or post-prandial sip you want it to be worth the extra expenditure. Here's our latest list of where to go when you want only the best cocktails, to start or end your night off right... THE SWANKY ONES The Collins Club, Mount Street Celebrity restaurant Jean-Georges might have stolen all the limelight in the recently opened Leinster Hotel on Mount Street in Dublin 2, but the crimson-covered, Georgian glam-themed cocktail bar on the ground floor also deserves your attention. Named after Irish-born restaurant architect David Collins, The Collins Club would be just as at home in New York as in Dublin, has live music from Thursday - Friday, and a cocktail menu that takes a very different riff on classics - like the "kumquat" - their version of a martini with gin, vodka, vermouth, kumquat brine, and frozen pickled grapes instead of olives. The Terrace @ The Shelbourne Hotel, St. Stephen's Green The Shelbourne Hotel 's top-shelf 1824 bar may only be open to residents these days, but The Terrace next door is open from Wednesday - Sunday until the end of September. This year it's sponsored by Laurent Perrier Champagne, so you can drink it by the glass (with serves of caviar if your pockets are that kind of deep), or work your way through their Champagne cocktails - we loved the French 1824 with Angostura bitters, pomegranate liqueur, lemon juice, sugar, and that all important Champagne. 9 Below, St. Stephen’s Green From the group behind House, 37 Dawson Street and The Gables in Foxrock, 9 Below  is the sophisticated sibling of the Nolaclan group, hidden in the former basement of the Hibernian Club off Stephen’s Green. Bunker down in one of four rooms, all with a dimly-lit speakeasy vibe, and sip on drinks with less common additions like bergamot liquor, Champagne bitters and tarragon vinegar. The Sidecar @ The Westbury, Dublin 2 It's glamour all the way at The Sidecar  in The Westbury Hotel, the Art Deco-style bar which feels miles away from the hustle and bustle of Grafton Street (and the Gallery lobby space outside). They have a dizzying array of G&Ts, a martini trolley, and a cocktail menu worth studying up on in advance. They also give you a little glass of bubbles while you wait for your chosen drink, and between this and the nuts and olives they provide, it's relatively good bang for your buck. The Curious Mister, Wellington Quay The Clarence Hotel  has several bars and restaurants, so it might take you a minute to find The Curious Mister . The former 'Octagon Bar' is now a luxurious, quirkily shaped cocktail lounge, with drinks designed to hit all five tastes - sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami. The "curious" theme extends to cocktails like the "mushroom", the "red pepper", and the "Guinness/Hibiscus" - plenty for the more adventurous drinkers, but they'll make you the classics too. The Mint Bar, College Green Located in an underground bank vault, The Mint Bar in The College Green Hotel has an old world feel, and while we'd love to see it get a bit of a facelift to bring it into 2024, a drink in here is definitely a more sophisticated start or end to your evening than most of the options across the road in Temple Bar. Cocktails include signatures like their pumpkin spiced martini and blood shot margarita, as well as all the classics, and they have a very good N/A selection too. There's live music from 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays if you're looking for somewhere to settle in after a meal. The Rooftop @ The Marker Easily the city’s best view, The Marker Hotel 's rooftop is a pre-dinner drink worth getting into a lift for. Their Irish G&T menu is robust if expensive, and the cocktail list ranges from classics to seasonal sips to new creations. A seat up here for those rare sunny summer sundowners feels like hitting the jackpot. Peruke & Periwig, Dawson Street Once the coolest cocktail spot in town, Peruke & Periwig  is still a great choice for a pre-dinner drink, especially if you like a bit of theatre with service. The cocktail list is huge, with sections on signature, classic, modern and unknown cocktails, and there's a decent sized food menu for sharing plates to pick over. Reservations are a must. THE UBER COOL ONES Bar 1661, Smithfield We will use any excuse to visit the talent-filled Bar 1661 , just off Capel Street. Voted ' Bar Of The Year ' in 2022, their tagline is "staunchly independent", with a menu that's uniquely Irish. You'll find Poitín as well as an impressive range of Irish-made gin, whiskey, vermouth and apple ice-wine, and because they're not tied in with a spirits conglomerate, their bartenders have carte blanche when it comes to getting creative. The bar to beat. The Sitting Room, Camden Street This aptly named bar above Delahunt restaurant was the ‘good room’ for the family who used to live here, and the team have worked hard to keep the mid-century feel, with vaulted ceilings, wood-panelling, and a bay window overlooking Camden Street. It's a small space and walk in only, but anytime we’ve visited we’ve been able to get a seat, and the cocktails are masterfully made. Note, Fenian Street Note has quickly become one of our regular haunts, ideal for a last drink before a train home from Pearse Street station. The natural focused wine list is the big draw, as are the creative bistro-style plates, but it’s also the perfect place to pop into for a cocktail loosener before or after dinner. Look out for their seasonal specials, like the strawberry and dill margarita. Fidelity Bar, Smithfield Fidelity might be known as one of the city's best place to sink some craft beers, but the cocktails here have been crafted with the same care. Try the "Ready, Aim, Fire" with mezcal, jalapeño & habanero honey syrup, pineapple juice, lime, and habanero bitters; or the "Yuzu Haiboru" with yuzu sake, Malfy gin, lemon, sugar syrup, grapefruit bitters, soda water, and you'll know what we're talking about. THE ONES WITH SECRET DOORS The Blind Pig, Suffolk Street The Blind Pig  speakeasy opened with all the hype, helped in part by having to book a table before they'd give you the address. Descending a set of stairs beside Pacino's Italian on Suffolk Street, you've got to pull on a pig's snout, before the bookcase opens letting you in. It hasn't lost the novelty factor, and the drinks are still amongst the best in the city. Vintage Cocktail Club, Temple Bar Hidden behind a very discreet door in a very non-descript black building, only the three stickers with VCC on them would alert you to what's inside this three floor space in Temple Bar - complete with roof terrace. Ring the bell outside the Vintage Cocktail Club and step inside a 1920's-style space, with trinkets, antique furniture, an open fire and art everywhere. If you're out for a drink alone, you could spend the whole evening reading the menu complete with a history of cocktails, and it could take hours trying to choose from the mammoth menu, so best to ask the mixologists for a steer. Pen & Player, Harcourt Street Ring the doorbell on the Georgian door connected to The Green Hotel on Harcourt Street, and you'll be welcomed into Pen & Player , one of the city's newest places to sip cocktails based on storytelling. Try a 'Cabaret Highlight', with Patron silver tequila, spicy mango, tomato water, saline solution and citric acid; or their signature 'Ink Drop', with Teeling whiskey, honey, angostura and chocolate parfum, and stout beer and banana syrup. They're certainly not playing it safe. El Silencio, Clarendon Market What is it about secret doors that get us so giddy, and will we ever grow out of it? We hope not because by the time you enter this little venue hidden inside Pablo Picante on Clarendon Street you're already primed for a great night out. El Silencio  is one of the best places in the city to drink Mezcal, if that's your thing (it's ours), and the margaritas are a must. There's tacos too, and when do we ever not want tacos. THE PUB ONES Caribou, Stephen Street Lower The team behind Caribou , Bonobo in Smithfield and Kodiak in Rathmines are some of the best at doing bars in 2024, and the former P Macs site had a major overhaul when they moved in earlier this year. As as well as an interior that looks like something out of an interior design mag, the drinks are reliably A1, with a spicy margarita the group is famous for, and house creations like the 'clarified rhubarb sour' luring drinkers out of their comfort zones. Kodiak, Rathmines See also Kodiak for more of the same plus pizza. This huge space is great for meet ups with a gang, and the pizza doesn't play second fiddle to the drinks. We know you're going for cocktails but you'd be doing yourself a disservice to not dip a toe into their epic craft beer selection, Juno, Dorset Street Dorset Street pub Juno is the local we all wish we had. Brilliant bar food , an outdoor terrace catching the evening sun, and a very fun cocktail list. Try a blood orange and rosemary margarita, or a melon and jalapeno sour, and don't take it all too seriosuly - it's just cocktails. Lucky's, The Liberties The Liberties can be a tricky spot for a pre-dinner/Vicar Street drink over and above your standard boozer, but Lucky's serve great cocktails from friendly faces, seven days a week. Their VERY local whiskey list features Teelings, Pearse Lyons, Powers, Dublin Liberties Whiskey, and Roe & Co all made within 850m of their front door, and it's always welcome to see decent non alcoholic options. Pawn Shop, Dame Street Pawn Shop replaced what used to be Berlin Bar, and has proved a hit thanks to DJ sets and spicy margaritas. Their version of an Espresso Martini comes with Teelings small batch, Stillgarden Coffee Amaro and tonka bean (no messing around here), and Doom Slice is just outside if you're hungry (you can bring it in). The Big Romance, Parnell Street Located on Parnell Street, The Big Romance is a mecca for music lovers due to their vinyl-only policy, custom sound system and casual vibe. They're known for their outstanding craft beer selection, but their cocktails are also tops, with Danish super splits and marmalade whiskey sours. It's the perfect spot for a pre-dinner drink, or post if you want to catch their guest DJs. Did we miss your favourite place for cocktails? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie

NYC-style sambos, a lobster roll that says peak summer, and the most buttery, sugary French pastries in town are just some of the things we want to get our chops around in Dublin this week. Here's the full five... 1) The Cubanos, Little Geno's The humble sandwich is having a moment in Dublin, and the opening of Little Geno's in Grafter House , a new members-only co-working space on St. Stephen's Green, couldn't have come at a better time. Inspired by the bodegas on almost every corner in NYC, Scott Holder (who also owns Los Chicanos tacos ) opened Little Geno's where Topshop used to be on St Stephen’s Green (RIP), and their menu is a line up of rockstar sandwiches from around the world. There's a reuben, an Italian and a bánh mì, but we're going for the Cubanos - roast mojo pork, smoked ham, pickles, and a mustard aioli on Cuban bread. 2) Soft-Shell Crab , 3 Leaves It's not a secret that we (and the rest of the county) are big fans of what 3 Leaves are doing out in Blackrock, and their latest soft shell crab dish scattered with edible flower petals looks like the perfect summery seaside starter. Book in advance as their tables go like hot cakes/hot crab. 3) Lobster Roll, Salty Buoy Food Truck Niall Sabongi's legendary lobster rolls with house pickle and Old Bay seasoning are a non negotiable in the summer, and this insta post may change the course of your weekend to include a trip out to Skerries. The Salty Buoy Food Truck is currently operating outside of Skerries sailing club every Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 - 20:00. Sea you in the queue.   4) Kouign-Amann, Una Bakery The multi-layered pastry from Brittany in France directly translates from the regional Breton language as "Butter Cake", and in it you'll find layer after layer of buttery, crispy, caramelised pastry. Una Bakery in Ranelagh hand roll them from Tuesday - Sunday, and if you haven't tried one, are you actually living your one wild and precious life... 5) Strawberry & Rhubarb Pastry, Fable Bakery Tucked inside Sprout on Dawson Street, Fable Bakery is one of the city's top bakeries, and if you needed convincing of that, take a look at their latest seasonal bake. They've filled Danishes with strawberry, rhubarb, basil and pistachio, and having already had this one (twice), we can say with assurance that you should too.

Those of us consumed by food like to incorporate it into every celebration we damn well can, and sometimes on special occasions (like not seeing your best pals for a week, getting a break from the July rain, or Molly Malone day ) you don't want hushed tones, tablecloths and sommeliers. You want tunes, neon cocktails and the possibility of dancing from a height as the night goes on (we can't guarantee this in all venues). Here's where to go for dinner when you want to have fun... Sister7, Smithfield No one was more ecstatic than us when BigFan  announced their collaboration with Fidelity Bar  in Smithfield. Similar to Hang Dai, Sister7  is a bonafide audiophile bar with one of the best sound systems in the country - and the food's right up there too. As well as the BigFan classics (jiaozi dumplings, bao, enoki fan, prawn toast), you'll find special dishes made with spent brewery products from Whiplash, and the dining room feels like you've been teleported to a swish spot in London or New York. Read our once over here .   Row Wines, Dublin 2 For small plates, natural wines, and a diverse vinyl collection, Row Wines  has been vaulting up the popularity stakes since opening on Coppinger Row, just off South William Street last year. The team took inspiration from Tokyo’s Japanese style listening bar, and their top of the range sound systems spin tunes from old classics to disco, jazz and house. But we're not going anywhere just for the music. It also happens to be one of the most exciting places to eat and drink in the city right now - try the Kilkee crab flatbread or the beef tartare rosti, with heaps of natural wine and expertly mixed cocktails. Amuri, Dublin 2 Sicilian brothers Andrea and Luca Licciardello of Amuri  on Chatham Street are the ultimate Italian hosts - their cheeky chappy chatter and cheery service create a fun, welcoming atmosphere guaranteed to liven up anyone's evening. The Sicilian food is some of the the most authentic in the country, and according to our records there's no better way to end a meal than with a shot of limoncello on the house. Bah33º , Dawson Street For a full on interactive Brazilian BBQ experience, Bah33 º  serve their menu Rodizio style - a method said to have been introduced in the 30's by Gauchos (Brazilian cowboys) who used swords to serve their all you can eat meat. As a homage to the boys back home, waiters walk by with BBQ meat that's been roasted over an open fire, allowing diners to hand pick their dinner, and there's a salad bar to balance out all the beef. It's €56.90 per person, half-price for kids ages 5-11, and free for under-4's, so it's a good option for family fun too. Bootleg, Dublin 2 Veteran fun time restaurateurs  from BigFan , Bow Lane , and Sprezzatura  teamed up to create Bootleg  - Drury's street's very own Disco Lounge, with a lot of vintage wine. Disco balls and DJ booths complete with small plates and a cocktail list dedicated to the Negroni - Bootleg is the definition of lively. With pumping tunes, boozy drinks and more gildas than we knew existed, you couldn't not have a good time. Read our once over here . Hawksmoor, Dame Street Hawksmoor has one of the most jaw-dropping dining rooms in the city, in the former national bank, complete with cast iron dome, stone carvings and cast iron lamp posts. Come for a blow out dinner with pals, get the massive steak platters to share, drink the cocktails, and get the nice wine - you won't regret it, and in a dining room this big you can be as loud as you want. Read about the 27 menu items we tried here . Hang Dai, Dublin 2 Hang Dai on Camden Street is a buzzy neon fever dream set in an ethereal Chinese subway train, with great food, killer cocktails and banging tunes. Listed as one of the Top 10 audiophile bars in the world , they are serious about music and have a custom built sound system, isolated DJ booth, and if you tilt your head back you'll see the dance floor (it's on the ceiling). With set menus for groups that make life so much easier, it's a great spot for a party. If it's good enough for DJ legends LCD Soundsystem and Irvine Welsh to spin records in, it's good enough for your next gathering. Tippenyaki, Rathmines Tippenyaki in Rathmines is probably the most fun you can have at a Dublin restaurant while having your dinner cooked in front of you, by a chef who puts on a show. The literal translation is to "grill on a metal plate", and at Tippenyaki there's plenty of things flung on there, from fillet steak to rack of lamb, duck to seabass. It's a great spot to go with a group, or with someone you don't know too well when you're worried conversation might stall - "Oh look he's juggling the spatulas. Is that a heart made out of omelette? I think your eyebrows may have just been singed..." 777, George's Street When 777 opened up back in 2012, it was quickly dubbed "very loud" and "ear busting" by the boomers (and let's be honest, millennials too) so you know you're in for a lively time here. Blaring beats, boozy margs and Mexican food perfect for sharing are all on the agenda, with group menus, tequila flights, and promotions throughout the week (best value is their €7.77 Sundays). It's the closest you can get to a full on fiesta in a restaurant. Arriba! Lucky Tortoise, Temple Bar If you're bored of people making the food for you in restaurants, Lucky Tortoise run dumpling classes where you can do it yourself. Their dumpling making classes run every day for groups of four or more (you need to book in advance via email), or two and above on Tuesdays that can be booked via Eventbrite . At €59 a head, it's supreme value, and you won't be leaving hungry. Grab your mates, show off your skills, and compete for the title of "supreme dumpling pincher".

(Irish Times)   - The brand new and improved Coppinger opens this Friday, and reservations are now open . This article  from the Irish Times this weekend details their fight to get it back   - New NYC-style sandwich shop Little Geno's , from the same owner as Los Chicanos tacos, has opened in Grafter House on St. Stephen's Green. We're eyeing up the Cubano   - Handsome Burger  are coming to Dublin (outside of the airport). They're opening their first city centre venue on South William Street this week   - One Society are opening a second location, Hidden by One Society , in what looks like Dublin 1. Enter their competition  to guess where and you could win brunch or pizza for a year   - What was Zaatar in George's Street arcade, Dublin's only spot for Manakeesh (like Middle Eastern pizza), has turned into the much more mainstream sounding Seemo's , promising "Dublin’s best wood-fired pizza". We're told the Manakeesh is staying, but they're focusing on pushing pies with Cashel Blue and mushrooms, rather than Mohammarah and cheese   - Oakberry have brought their bowls to Swords - açaí bowls are without doubt the new doughnuts   - Ukiyo is 20 years old . Do you feel old?   - And one of Dublin's best wine shops Lilith in Stoneybatter is turning 3 ! On Wednesday 31st July there's 10% off everything in store, and on Thursday 1st August they're taking over Hynes bar across the road to pour their favourites including some rare and exclusive bottles   - Cloud Picker have won an award for Europe's best airport coffee shop  at the Fab awards in LA - how fab   - Reminder that the lovely Nick's Coffee in Ranelagh offers free coffee  for over 65's   - Praise be - those lovely people behind Pilgrims (formerly in Rosscarbery, Cork) are opening a new daytime venue in Leap  next summer!   - Poor Leo can't go anywhere without getting set upon   - And in other "where do celebs eat" news, Damien Dempsey went for dinner in Lotus Eaters  before playing the Iveagh Gardens last night. Absolute rage we missed him   - And what's a week without a celeb getting accosted for pics in Rasam - NYT food critic Pete Wells is leaving the highly prized gig he's held for 12 years. He explains  how it's affected his health and how he's just not that hungry any more   - Irish writers give good tips on how to avoid getting bad meals abroad   - We need one of The Dough Bros XL tote bags   - When in doubt, order the second cheapest wine   - How to use your coffee grounds to make fertiliser    - This is how cherries are harvested   - We love burrata, but this is bleurrgghh   - Caper brine martinis  - we bet Anna Jones is onto something here   - You food shopping   - The best thumb tacks  ever created The best bargains in Dublin right now   - Feeling pinched from every angle? Achara's new €15 lunch menu  is a purse-friendly way to try their food   - 31 Lennox have a new boozy brunch  every Saturday and Sunday from 15:00 - 16:30. €35 will get you a brunch main⁠ with bottomless cocktails, pints and drinks⁠   - Lottie's are doing €10 corkage all day Sunday, so a great excuse to break out some heavies. Their early evening menu is also available Wednesday - Friday with two courses for €29 or three for €35   - Kildare based but in case you're shopping, Dunne & Crescenzi have a new early bird menu  with a family-style pasta, spritz and a tiramisu to share for €25pp   - Volpe Nera  have a new summer offer available for counter dining or on their terrace. Their "Taste of the Med" involves a Flaggy Shore oyster, fried courgette flower with ricotta and garlic honey, and Mandola dei colli (a type of salami), along with a chilled glass of Gramona ‘Mart’ Rosé for €28 per person   - Get to Chimac for Poutine Tuesdays  - a bowl of Canada's favourite fries with a glass of Prosecco for €15   - Kids get free chicken tenders and chips  at Cluck Chicken every Sunday - one for each eating adult   - There's a new Friday lunch deal at Wallace's Asti in Drumcondra with two courses for €25   - Cinnamon in Ranelagh and Monkstown will let you BYOB wine on Friday and Saturday nights for a bargain €10 corkage   - The Dunmore in Rathmines has a new neighbourhood/early bird menu  from Monday - Thursday, with two courses for €29 or three for €32. You could get in and out for €100 for two if you stick to a carafe of wine   - Mani's new meal deal means you can add an Aperol Spritz to your slice order for €9 from Monday - Wednesday   - Spicy margaritas  at Eleven in Loughlinstown are now €10 for "the season" (we presume that means summer)   - There's a new three-course menu for €30  at Zampas in the Hard Rock Hotel, available Sunday - Thursday with vegan and veggie options   - All tacos at Agave are now €2  from Monday - Thursday   - Krewe have a new  'Taste of NOLA' sharing grill  available from Monday - Wednesday for €60, and it looks like you won't be leaving hungry   - Cocktails are half-price  all day Sunday at La Bodega in Ranelagh, and the garden gets the sun all afternoon (unless it's obscured by cloud)   - There's 40% off the wine list at Wallace's Asti in Drumcondra if you want to  take a bottle home . It's basically just retail price, but handy if you've been sipping on something you list   - Margaritas at the bar  in Dillinger's are just €10 on Saturday night   - The Turk's Head in Temple Bar have reduced the price of pints  (except Peroni) to €5.50 from Monday - Wednesday   - Ukiyo have a load of €10 or under  student specials  from 12-4pm Monday - Friday   - The Crafty Fox just off Wexford Street is now selling pints of Guinness for €5   -  All coffees are €3  at Mimi's on Westmoreland Street, and here's a sweet story  about how they got their name   - Dash Burger have a great student deal of a  smash burger and fries for €9.95   - If you're a student who likes a late lunch, Neon will feed you a main and an ice-cream for €7  from 2-5pm, Monday - Friday   - Piano Piano (formerly Denj) in Rathgar are doing all pizzas for €14 every Tuesday night  (usually €16 - €22)   - One Pico's set dinner  with canapés, bread and three courses for €69 really cannot be argued with, and it's available all night Tuesday - Thursday, and until 18:45 Friday and Saturday. There's a set lunch  for €39 too   - Café and florist Lullabelle & Co. in Dun Laoghaire have started offering free porridge , with toppings a reasonable €2 each for some post-swim warming up   - Get a pizza and a glass of wine for €20  in 30 Church Street on Wednesdays   - Fade Street Cocktail are doing 2 for 1 on classic cocktails  from 4pm - 7pm, Sunday - Wednesday   - Yves @ Brother Hubbard  is offering corkage for just €10, and they're right next door to wine shop Redmond's   - Note's €32 three-course lunch  from Thursday - Saturdays is one of the best deals in town   - Vice are doing a midweek lunch special  of a toastie, San Pellegrino, and either a bag of crisps or a piece of fruit for €10   - If you head to Lennan's Yard on Friday for a long lunch, stretch it out to 5pm and they'll reward you with a complimentary cocktail   - Beer bar Tapped are serving  two margaritas for €16 every Monday

It's mid-July, which means we've got nine new prizes to give away to the people that keep the wheels turning around here! This month you could win a tasting menu for two in one of our favourite openings of 2024, lunch on an Amalfi-style gin terrace in the city centre, and a spa trip to try Majken Bech Bailey's new drinks range, to name a few. ATF Insider s is how we operate with no ads , pay for all of our meals , pay our writers , and operate independently to give you the only advice you need about eating out in Dublin. If you enjoy our content, we would be so happy if you signed up to support it. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders by midnight on Monday 17th July, will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on the 18th July. Here's what we've got for you this month... 1) The Full Tasting Menu for two with drinks at Floritz New opening Floritz in the Townhouse On The Green Hotel on St Stephen's Green has been one of our favourite openings of 2024 - for once a glitzy setting to lounge around in that actually over-delivers on the plates. We're deeeelighted to be sending one of you into Floritz for the 'Fuller tasting menu' from head chef Matt Fuller, with a welcome cocktail and a bottle of wine chosen by their sommelier. Read about what we ate (read: inhaled) here . 2) A table for four at The Salt Project @ Roe & Co The Summer Garden Experience at Roe & Co Distillery is back, with Street by Sunil in situ for July, and The Salt Project moving in for August. Each restaurant creates a tasting menu for their residency, working with the talented team at Roe & Co to create a whiskey cocktail pairing with big and diverse flavours. Kildare-based chef Caomhán de Bri's tasting menu has been designed to showcase locally grown and artisan ingredients from small producers in different regions, and dinner at The Salt Project costs €45. We've got a table of four to give away, which should help to ease those end of summer blues. You can book a table for all of the Roe & Co food residencies here . 3) Two Whole Hog tickets for Big Grill 2024 This summer  Big Grill BBQ and Food Festival celebrates its 10th year (um, how!?), returning to Herbert Park in Ballsbridge from Thursday 22nd to Sunday 25th August. Showcasing some of the biggest names from the BBQ and grilling world, flying in from London, Paris, New York, Newfoundland, Montreal, Texas and more, they describe it as " a food festival led by the finest ingredients and fed by fire ". We've got two Whole Hog tickets to give away to Europe's largest BBQ & food festival, giving you access to all four days. V isit  www.biggrillfestival.com  for tickets. 4) Early evening dinner for two with cocktails on the terrace at Lottie's, Rathmines Never let it be said there's no value left in Dublin - case in point, the early evening menu in Lottie's, Rathmines . Book from Wednesday - Friday from 17:00 - 18:00 and you can nab two courses for €29 or three for €35, and there's no scraping the barrel for cheaper ingredients - the picks are all from the regular à la carte, with picks like seabream ceviche; chargrilled chicken thigh with corn and nduja; and raspberry parfait. We're sending one of you in for a three-course menu for two with two cocktails each on their new terrace, and you can choose what you'd pick here . 5) Try Majken Bech Bailey's new juices and infusions with a spa package at Velvære Majken Bech Bailey  made a name at two-Michelin starred Aimsir for her juices, elixirs and infusions, with her non-alcoholic drinks pairing as much of a highlight as the wine. She's just launched a new range  of health-boosting bottled drinks, debuting them at Velvære , the award-winning spa in Dublin 8, and we're sending one of you in for a facial or a massage while you try them. Drinks will change every few months, and will also be available to purchase from reception on your way home. Spa packages at Velvære including two of Majken's drinks start from  €150 - see full details here . 6) Lunch for two on the Malfy Gin Terrace @ Café en Seine Café en Seine are doing their best to bring those Amalfi Coast vibes to Dawson Street, with their new  Malfy Gin terrace . Their summer spritz menu features all four gins - Original, Rosa, Arancia and Limone - served al fresco amidst all the greenery. The Malfy Gin terrace is open for lunch from Monday - Friday and brunch at the weekends, and we're sending one of you in for a two course meal with two Malfy spritzes each ( valid until the 18th August ). Book your table here . 7) A €100 voucher for 31 Lennox to celebrate their new pizza dough sambos We think 31 Lennox in Portobello are the first ones to bring pizza dough sambos to Dublin, and that's something worth celebrating. They've taken their 48-hour proved pizza dough, brushed it with garlic herbed butter, and stuffed it with fillings like Ambrosi burrata with confit cherry tomatoes, fresh pesto and basil leaves; and slow-cooked Irish ham hock, vintage cheddar, dijonnaise and truffled onions. We've got a €100 voucher for 31 Lennox to give away this month so you can work your way through the lot. 8) €100 voucher for Wallace's Asti to celebrate their Friday lunch deal Wallace's Asti in Drumcondra has a brand new Friday lunch deal, with two courses for €25 - and with the €100 voucher we're giving away to one of you this month you can take three pals to kick off your weekend early. Pick from dishes like bruschetta; pizza diavola; and spaghetti with courgette cream, olives and sausage, and wash it down with a bottle from their extensive Italian wine list - including a separate one just for Sardinian wines. Book a table here . 9) A Disaronno prize pack We love a low alcohol spirit, perfect for summer sipping without getting too heady, and amaretto Disaronno (which incredibly dates back to 1525 in Saronno, Italy) fits the bill. The Disaronno fizz adds lemon juice, a dash of sugar syrup and soda water for maximum thirst-quench, or we're very partial to a sour. We've got a Disaronno prize pack to give away this month including a bottle of Disaronno; a bottle of Disaronno Velvet; 2 Disaronno minis; Poacher's Soda Water; plus glassware and a bottle opener. Everyone signed up to   ATF Insiders   for July (new and old) will be automatically entered into the prize draw - you don't need to do anything. If you're not signed up yet join here  before midnight on Wednesday the 17th July to be in with a chance of winning. You'll be supporting independent content in Dublin and beyond, and be able to get answers to all of your burning questions about eating out, here and abroad, directly from us.

Classic restos doing zeitgeisty rebrands, Michelin-starred chefs returning home with their magic in tow, and two new openings for a seaside village that's stuck in the past when it comes to eating out. Here's what's new in Dublin and what's coming soon... Lotus Eaters, Nassau Street After bringing Korean brioche toasties to their downstairs space on Nassau Street, the guys behind The Pig's Ear have gone full zeitgeist rebrand, closing the concept that's been doing the business since 2008, and relaunching it as Lotus Eaters . A Japanese-inspired charcoal grill is the name of the game, with wagyu hamburgers and crab or mushroom omelettes (with optional add ons like caviar, truffle and soy egg yolk) the main draws on a short menu. You can go all in on a chef's selection for €60pp, or order what you want. Bookings are still being taken through the old Pig's Ear channels here . Comet Supper Club Irish chef Kevin O’Donnell worked in Bastible before he left Dublin six years ago, moving to Denmark to work at Restaurant Kadeau . He ended up as head chef at their one Michelin-starred restaurant, and head of development for their two star in Copenhagen, so lucky old us that he's decided to move home and start cooking here. Along with partner and ex-Kadeau Communications Manager Laura Chabal, they've started Comet Supper Club as a testing ground while they look looking for a permanent home. Find them in the Fumbally Stables on the 28th and 29th of July, and follow their Instagram page for more dinner dates. Mini India, Sandyford Mini India , your one-stop-shop for vada pav on the go, traditional Indian sweets and freshly pressed sugar cane juice has just opened a third site in Sandyford, adding to Westmoreland Street and Cabinteely. Although there's no sign of a deli yet (everything crossed for future additions), you will find everything necessary for all of the recipes in Sunil Ghai's brilliant cookbook Spice Box , as well as Indian mangoes (the very best), and jaggery tea. Check them out here . Neighbourhood Wine, Baggot Street After self-described " blood, sweat and bucket loads of tears", Neighbourhood Wine have opened a third location, smack bang in the city centre on Lower Baggot Street opposite Toner's - excellent news for the next time you're in town and in need of a bottle (or six). We're hoping they get some events going too. Coming Soon... Coppinger, Coppiner Row We can't remember the last time a relaunch/reopening/rebrand was teased as much as the new Coppinger (the old Coppinger Row), due to open any day now. Details are sparse, but based on what these guys have done with Row Wines on the same street, we're quietly confident this is going to be haaawt. Parilla, Ranelagh After chef Jules Mak 's Mexican pop up Gabo's in Ranelagh almost two years ago, it seems he's ready to go all in, with his next restaurant Parilla due to open in August. They're calling it an "authentic Mexican grill", and we're only a few weeks away from bring able to get in the door and find out what it's all about. Daruma, Malahide We liked Daruma in Temple Bar (a Japanese pub with yakitori skewers, sushi and small plates) when we visited , so the residents of seaside village Malahide should be very pleased that they're getting their own Daruma where Fish Shack used to be. Work is underway on the site right now but we're expecting news in the next couple of weeks. Sushida, Malahide And in a stunning week for the chronically dull to eat in village, a Sushida sign has gone up where Cape Greko used to be. More when we have it. Little Washer, Glasnevin In even MORE uplifting Northside news (and yet another addition to the city's wine bars), The Washerwoman in Glasnevin are opening Little Washer next door - a " wine bar, pizzeria, Italian nibbles and general craic hub". The build is happening as we speak but here's a sneak peek.

Contrary to what you can see out the window, it is in fact the middle of summer, and just because the weather hasn't realised it, doesn't mean you shouldn't go out and act like you're living your best summer life. From revolutionary menu changes to summer snacks, and exciting new openers you need to get to stat, this is where we recommend getting your butts to this July. For the glow up no one was expecting: Lotus Eaters, Dublin 2 The ever reliable Pig's Ear is going through a serious rebrand. Last month Toast popped up downstairs in Silk Purse with these Grade A sambos , and now upstairs where The Pig's Ear was they've done a complete reset with Lotus Eaters - a Japanese inspired charcoal grill restaurant with a very interesting sounding menu . Their specialty is a wagyu hamburger with additions like bone marrow, truffle, and caviar (swit swoo), as well as crab omelettes and grilled scallops with pig's head. They open Tuesday - Saturday from 17:30-21:00, with a lunch service on Saturdays. For the glitziest new opening in town: Floritz, St. Stephen's Green Flortiz opened up just above Cellar 22 in June with an Asian-inspired menu (that seems to have markedly decreased in size since we visited last month). The luxe dining room is akin to an opulent indoor jungle, inspired by adventurer Thomas Lighton - a former tenant of the building - and it's not often a glitzy setting like this delivers the same premium standard when it comes to what's on the plates. Led by chef Matt Fuller, former owner of Boqueria in Stoneybatter (RIP), it's up there with the most exciting new opening of the year so far. Read our once over here . For the groundbreaking new menu addition: Bunsen, various locations When Bunsen announced their earth shatteringly big reveal , we honestly could not contain the anticipation. Was it finally a burger for the veggies? A crazy collab? Chicken nuggets?? So boy were we surprised when it was literally just a slice of bacon. Jokes aside, Bunsen have long made one of the best burgers in the city, so this is just another excuse for a visit to remind yourself of that. For the ultimate summer snack Rolls, Howth Summer pop up Rolls has popped up outside Nicky's Plaice on the West Pier in Howth, courtesy of the A1 team at Mamó . Serving summery lobster rolls with a crunchy celery salad on toasted brioche, along with smoked monkfish bánh mís, they're open from 11:00 - 16:00, Wednesday to Sunday, and have been selling out so don't delay in joining the queue. See yas on the DART. To ring in Bastille Day on the 14th: Piglet, Cow's Lane Alliance Française call Bastille Day the largest French event in Ireland - and it would be rude not to celebrate with the Frenchies of Dublin on their national independence day in none other than Piglet on Cow's Lane. We love their truffle devilled eggs, beef tartare, and tonka bean crème brûlée, not to mention their wine list, which is très intéressant. For getting a shout out in the New York Times: Grano, Stoneybatter Last week the New York Times published a piece on how to spend 36 hours in Dublin , and if you ask us they got it pretty spot on. Pasta bastions Grano were one of the places getting a well deserved shout out, described as "drawing inspiration from Dublin's shifting international identity" . It's always hard to get a table here and this article will not help our struggle, but we're prepared to slip in whenever we can grab an opening, and you should be too. For fire-filled Thai flavours: Achara, Dublin 2 We recently welcomed another charcoal-grill restaurant from the folks behind Happy’s and Crudo . Achara is all about Thai flavours booked over a charcoal grill (custom made by Smokin' Soul in Wexford), using premium Irish produce like Salter's free-range pork and Glenmar seafood. Our ATF Insiders got first access to their soft launch last weekend which was a smoking success, and now it's open to all. Book here . For Filipino summer feels: Bahay, Hen's Teeth This summer, Hen's Teeth have teamed up with the brilliant Bahay to feed all of their events as well as hosting pop up dinners each weekend. Usually paired with a DJ night, you can party on down in Blackpitts with banging beats and banging eats, Filipino style. At least you'll have one decent memory from summer 2024. Check their website for upcoming dinner dates.

Caviar toasts on the side, a sandwich for the people, and crème brûlée beignets are just some of the things we most want to eat in Dublin this week. Here's the five we've narrowed it down to (with difficulty)... 1) Halibut with a smoked beurre blanc, D'Olier Street D'Olier Street are back with another Picasso on a plate - this time a summery halibut dish with smoked beurre blanc (all kinds of naughty), lemon, and a caviar toast - because what else would you put on toast. 2) Young Buck and fig sandwich , Daddy's Daddy's know what the people of Dublin want, and the people of Dublin want blue cheese and fig sandwiches. Chunks of Young Buck , fresh fig, grilled plums, and toasted hazelnuts are finished with oregano oil and McNally's organic leaves, all on organic sourdough. Just imagine it... 3) New sharing plates , Orwell Road Orwell Road have just launched their new menu and we've got it bad for their new sharing plates. Cured sea bream with apple and jalapeno; BBQ pork belly with white onion purée; chicken butter croquettes with crispy skin - better bring the whole gang because how could you choose between this lot.   4) All the Cookies, Meltdown This pop of colour from these cookies has grabbed our attention with both hands. Meltdown 's newest treats come in four flavours - creamy pistachio; lemon pie; berry and chocolate; and coconut and pecan praline. One of each in a paper bag please, don't delay. 5) Creme brûlée beignet, Bread Man Walking A speakeasy for bread lovers - Bread Man Walking is the viral micro bakery that Gerry Godley operates out of his gaf in Rialto. His latest creme brûlée beignet has us thinking twice about going out Friday night so we can be first in the queue on Saturday morning.

It feels like not a day goes by lately without another Dublin café announcing a pivot to small plates and wine by night, and as much as we’re on board for more choice, it’s getting harder to discern where's worth your precious time and hard-won cash. We’re here to help. The city was starting to see an increasing glut back when we published our first guide in 2019 , but you-know-what put a sharp halt to all of that soon after. Now with the pace picking up rapidly once again, here’s the latest ATF guide on where to drink great wine in Dublin...   Row Wines, Coppinger Row An instant hit when it opened last summer, Row Wines marked a distinctly on-trend pivot from the Bereen brothers’ sadly shuttered (but soon to reopen) Coppinger Row , with one of the nicest new spaces to hit the city in a long time. Despite losing talented young chef Paddy Maher to London a few weeks in, it’s continued to throw up killer dishes like Kilkee crab rosti to match its more affordably pitched wine list. Try their €10 flatbreads for one of the city’s best lunch deals. Read our Row review here .   Fish Shop, Benburb Street D7’s best is now so close to our heart it feels like it’s always been there – and like we’re always going there. Fish Shop ’s simple name sets out its stall, but their best-in-class fish and chips and seafood small plates are no more a thing of simplicity than the impeccably curated wine list with themes like Island and Alpine and great selections of grower Champagne and sherry letting you tour the world from the comfort of a stool on Benburb Street. Walk-ins have been known to happen but it’s not worth the heartbreak of being turned away – this is one to book ahead.   Bar Pez, Kevin Street A more casual counterpoint to its older sister Fish Shop, Bar Pez joined the family about this time last year and has maintained a bustle and buzz ever since with its Spanish bar vibes. The deep wine list is even more eclectically themed than its sibling, with the upper end of things offering excellent value if you’ve got something to celebrate. Be sure to double-check timing if you’re heading out hungry – a pared-back bar menu is sometimes all that’s on.   Piglet, Cow’s Lane Closing in on ten years in business, Piglet  was among the very first city centre wine bars to get us properly excited when it popped up in Temple Bar in 2015. This long-standing industry fave has a bottle list studded with interesting stuff, so bringing a gang of open-minded friends is the way to go. There are few places we'd rather be on a sunny evening than at one of the outside tables sipping a white port and tonic.   Loose Canon, Drury Street Uber-cool Loose Canon  has become an integral part of the Drury Street scene since kicking off the last wave of wine bars back in 2018, and bringing natural wine to the Dublin masses. Their by the glass rotation regularly throws up some of the best value going in town, and the bottles (with €15 corkage if you’re drinking in) give even more variety – ask about their chilled red options right now. Their toasties also happen to be some of the most satisfying city centre snacks going.   Note, Fenian Street We’ll credit Note  with firing the starting gun on the post-Covid wine bar boom. Since opening its doors in October 2021, this sleek space has built a rightful reputation for great wine and top-quality seasonal cooking, with the three-course €32 lunch menu one of the hottest tickets in town. Grab one of the seats out front for an evening vantage point that's as good as it gets in the city centre – if the sun ever plays ball. Frank’s, Camden Street The full-on fanatic’s choice, joining Frank’s  gigantic marble slab table can feel like taking a seat at the altar of wine. With a focus on minimal intervention, and a regular schedule of producers stopping by to give the inside track and share their best wares, this ever-buzzy space is worth regular pitstops to see what’s new and interesting. Ex-Clanbrassil House chef David Bradshaw serves up a rotating cast of small plates, with his partner Katie Seward the expert on all things wine.   Cellar 22, Stephen’s Green A lower-key alternative to high-end Floritz  upstairs, this basement bar in the new Townhouse on the Green hotel has a commendable total of forty BTG options. There’s loads at Cellar 22  to pair with their house charcuterie boards, but a Suduiraut Sauternes with Boyne Valley blue is our top tip. Read our once over here .   Two Faced, Montague Street Surely one of the most en trend of the latest entries, Two Faced ’s thumping tunes and spillover crowd can’t but catch the ears and eyes of passers-by on the rapidly-livening Montague Street. While the food menu is solid (it’s more pitched towards snacks and soakage than a full-fledged meal), the real draw is a chatty, chirpy atmosphere to enjoy as you work your way through the fifteen or so BTG options on a well-considered list. Read our once over here .   Bootleg, Drury Street We’re still slightly scratching our heads at the mix of things going on in Bootleg , but its ability to attract the Drury Street crowds would suggest it’s carving out a niche fine all the same. If an evening of enjoying Italodisco beats over a vintage bottle list spanning back to the 1960s is your vibe, look no further – otherwise, the short BTG list has some solid options to pair with their must-try swordfish skewers.   La Cave, Anne Street South Respect your elders - old-school La Cave  is the longest-standing of Dublin’s wine bars, a French-style throwback to a time when we weren’t nearly so spoiled for choice. On a cold winter's evening the cosy downstairs bar decked in red from top to bottom is a great place to shelter. They do a cracking crémant by the glass, and the bottle list is full of diamonds, if you know what to look for. Ely, Ely Place Refocused on the D2 original after its more corporate-oriented IFSC branch shut up shop, Ely  is one of the OG stalwarts of the Dublin wine scene. In the past their by the glass list has been a bit safe for our liking, but its made progress in recent years with some interesting sparkling and sherries. The hugely extensive bottle list is where it's at so it might be worth arriving early for a full peruse.   A Fianco, Stoneybatter The date night pick par excellence, A Fianco is the one vineria on this list we’ve found ourselves returning to time and time again. A sophisticated older sister to Grano next door, its regional Italian wine list is a joy to work through (and we’ve been working hard), while the food is a smart mix of ever-shifting seasonal creations and perennial favourites – their meatballs are the best, bar none.   H2G Wines, Botanic Avenue We will be reliving the recent summer evening we spent sipping on the H2G Wines terrace all through the winter. This store-bar hybrid from the previous operators of Honest2Goodness market is a godsend to locals of Glasnevin and surrounds, and well worth a trip for those further afield. Corkage is €10 from anything on the well-stocked shelves (€15 at weekends), while the rotating open bottles number about seven at a time.   Brut Wine Bar, Drumcondra  On Friday and Saturday evenings, Nelly's in Drumcondra turns into organic and biodynamic wine bar Brut , with an all-star list of natural lovelies. There's a food menu ranging from terrines and antipasti to grilled chicken thighs and gratin, and we do love dining and drinking by candlelight. Green Man Wines, Terenure Part award-winning shop, part much-lauded wine bar, Green Man Wines nails the best of both worlds with a €10 corkage charge on anything off the shelf, making it one of the best value places in the city to drink the really good stuff, and all to tempting to trade up. The selection in here is second to none, and people travel from across the city to Terenure to buy and drink wine in Green Man.   64 Wine, Glasthule Another suburban diamond, 64 Wine makes wine fiends everywhere severely jealous that they don't live in Glasthule. The shelves are crammed full of the best bottles currently available on the Irish market, and the staff are always dying to tell you the stories behind them. Corkage on anything off the shelf is €15, which is increasingly better value the more expensive your taste. Just try to leave here without draining your bank account - we've yet to manage it.   September, Blackrock The focus of this week’s once over is a feather in the cap of the current wine bar explosion. September is the new venture from the folks who ran D4’s Leroy’s up until only this week, and the move to bigger and better things is to everyone's benefit. We’re hoping they beef up the BTG choice a bit in the months to come, but the bottle list’s focus on natural and organic producers has some really excellent options to match with their delicious array of small plates.

From glitzy new arrivals influenced by far East adventures, to seaside snacks just in time for summer, Korean-style brioche loaf toast to breakfast rolls but not as you know them, this mixed bag melange of all that’s new in the city’s food scene shows one thing for sure – Dublin’s not short on delicious new ideas... Floritz, Stephen’s Green Big flavour and bold energy is the defining vibe at Floritz - the new arrival in the former Cliff Townhouse space above Cellar 22 , and the latest feather in the cap of the new Townhouse on the Green boutique hotel. They’ve put a lot of stock into the building’s former role as the home of far East adventurer Thomas Lighton, with Asian flavour influences abundant across the menu’s vast array of small and large plates, from sushi and crudo to charcoal grilled goods aplenty. For all the bells and whistles, this is something truly new for Dublin, and it's this week's once over - read the full review here . Le Petit Renard, Kimmage Next up in the seemingly endless explosion of wine bars in Dublin is Kimmage’s Le Petit Renard , from the couple whose Artybaker outlets have now expanded to four locations. That hasn’t left them spread too thinly if this latest venture is anything to go by - with a relaxed neighbourhood vibe, they’re serving up simple small plates along with Artybaker bread. It’s gone down well this side of the city too, with busy local crowds keeping us from nabbing a table on several occasions so far – a walk-in only policy means you might need a backup in mind if you’re travelling. Rolls, Howth Lobster rolls to go from the Mamó team? A thousand times yes. Our hearts skipped a beat at the word of short-term summer pop up Rolls , and the first glimpse of the good stuff only got us more aflutter. Golden brown brioche rolls loaded with lobster chunks in lobster mayo, topped with a crunchy celery salad and heaps of crispy shallots – if there’s anything we’d rather eat while basking in the seaside sun, we’ve yet to hear of it. They’ll be slinging their wares from Nicky’s Plaice on the West Pier from Wednesday to Sunday lunchtime. Toast, Nassau Street It’s new beginnings all round on Nassau Street as the Silk Purse café has followed the cue of its sister outlet The Pig’s Ear upstairs (currently rebranding to The Lotus Eaters after 16 years in business) and given itself a facelift. Gone are the Bread 41 pastries and sandwiches from upstairs, replaced with a foursome of Korean-style brioche loaf toasties and a wall’s length of wine. Big flavours in bulging bread are the name of the game here, with options ranging from a spiced marie rose shrimp cocktail to a marinated tofu with peanut rayu, and we’re big fans of the very fair €5 corkage price. Our first visit  was a wow and won't be our last. Proper Order, Smithfield Crossing Smithfield square from its petite prior home to one of the more substantial spaces in the many new developments around the area, Proper Order has gotten a long overdue expansion, and has the ambition for it. They’ve pitched this place as more “coffee bar” than café, a space to step outside of the day-to-day grind and come back down to earth. The interior is big, bold and bright, the seating is smart and spacious, the pastries are some of the city's best from the No Messin’ team, and the coffee will undoubtedly remain some of the best in Dublin. Poulet Bonne Femme, Dun Laoghaire Just a short time on from celebrating their 15th birthday, Poulet Bonne Femme have made their way back to their original Dun Laoghaire site on George’s Street to open what’s now their seventh location – talk about a success story. The rotisserie experts are all about quality control, with strictly Irish free range chicken from farmers that know their sole preserve - that hand-marinated, slow spit-roasted technique that brings out the best in every bird. They’ll be piling that, along with their signature porchetta and other meats, high on sandwiches, wraps and salads from 09:00 to 18:00 daily. Sunbird, Leopardstown Good news for the ever-growing office space scene in and around Leopardstown as Sunbird (from the same owners as Umi Falafel and Shaku Maku ) has flown in to spice up the midweek meal options. The lunch menu is dominated by flatbread wraps and build-your-own bowls, while the healthy but hearty breakfast options sound right up our street - we're going to need a sujuk breakfast roll ASAP. The Palestinian-owned outlet (named for the national bird) ticks off Lebanon and Morocco in a wide-ranging menu influence that isn’t above adding in waffle fries – sure why not. They’re opening weekday office hours to start, and colour us jealous of anyone working in the vicinity. Pan Eile, Stoneybatter If ever there was a sandwich you didn’t know you needed it might be the panuzzo, and how glad we are that there’s now a dedicated place in Dublin for everyone to discover it. This Neapolitan mashup of a pizza and panini is the stock in trade at Pan Eile , from the people who brought us Rustic Pizza , and it's been installed right beside it at Stoneybatter’s Cowtown food market. With five panuzzo varieties from wild smoked salmon, to caprese and porchetta, served alongside a selection of hot and iced coffees, a choice of Bretzel Bakery pastries only sweetens the deal. Coming soon... Achara, Dublin 2 We can't wait to get a look at the new charcoal-grilled Thai restaurant from the folks behind Happy’s and Crudo – so excited in fact that we’ve teamed up with them to offer ATF Insiders first access to their soft launch this weekend, and bagged you 25% off food and drinks while they find their feet. Here's how you can be there. Little Geno’s, Stephen’s Green We’re long-time fans of food truck taqueria Los Chicanos , so word those folks were opening an NY-style diner on St Stephen’s Green serving up reubens, cubanos and bánh mìs had us eager to know more. It looks like that day is coming soon, as the team is just weeks away from opening. Coppinger Row "Fine wines and good times" coming July 2024 is the promise of the reborn Coppinger Row , and anyone who remembers the glory days will know both are guaranteed. Things have been up in the air for a long time since the prior version shuttered after the landlords opted to redevelop, and the Bereen bros’ focus on the neighbouring Row Wines had us thinking this might never come back – we're glad to be wrong.

Snacks stopping us in our tracks, a super fun sundae, and a stunning summer salmon plate - here's the alliteration-worthy dishes wowing us this week... 1) Rice Chips, Floritz One of the newest openings in the city, Floritz are at 22 St. Stephen's Green (just above Cellar 22 ), and describe themselves as "a contemporary, Asian-inspired dining experience". Their menu is trés exciting with options like Balfegó tuna, wagyu beef tartare, and lobster bao - but these rice chips with dragon sauce look ridiculously crispy, and we're kicking ourselves that we didn't try them for this week's once over . Guess we'll just have to go back.... 2) Barbecued Organic Salmon , Asador We're well into BBQ season and this barbecued organic salmon from Asador served with tomato, olive, caper and basil salsa is giving us all the inspo to get the grill fired up. Or you know, head to Asador's terrace instead and not have any of the mess... 3) Spicy Calamari , Brighton Road Summer is just an excuse to eat all the seafood, and this spicy calamari starter from Brighton Road  is the dream reason to make the trip out to Foxrock. That lightly spiced batter, those tentacles, the touch of samphire on top - all it needs is a cold glass of white wine.   4) Elderflower Posset, Craft Bistro This Elderflower posset with strawberries, bee pollen and honeycomb, from Craft in Harold's Cross, is a hayfever busting dessert if we've ever seen one - get that pollen down your gullet instead of up your nose - it's basically medicinal. 5) Alfajores sundae, Bakeology Alfajores (or alfies for short) are a soft cookie sandwich with a dulce de leche filling, and taste as delicious as that description. Bakeology are now suggesting we "break away from the traditional" and have them in an ice-cream sundae, and we don't be arguing with them. Go for dulce de leche with alfajores, or dulce de leche with oreos - either is a guaranteed good time.

There's a new Thai BBQ grill coming to Dublin, and fans of London's Kiln and Smoking Goat will have all the high hopes for Achara . The guys behind Crudo and Happy’s are very hyped up for their new opening in the former Happy's location, featuring Thai food centered on a charcoal grill (custom made by Smokin' Soul in Wexford), using Irish produce. The menu aims to emulate the grilling culture in Northern Thailand, with dishes like chilli chicken wings with fish sauce caramel; whole chargrilled seabass with nam prik seafood; and waterfall bavette steak with papaya and hot mint salad. The team say they've been obsessed with Thai food since their first travels across South east Asia - "The flavours, the smell of grilled meats walking around Chiang Mai, the hustle and bustle of the night markets, that first pad Kra Pao after an 12 hour night train to Surat Thani." They say they want to show there's a lot more to Thai food than traffic light curries and pad Thai, and showcase the food they loved from their travels. They say to expect a regularly changing menu, variations on authentic dishes, depending on what they can get their hands on, and local sustainable suppliers like Salter's free range pork, Glenmar Seafood, and Market Gnomes for herbs. As well as what's shaping up to be an excellent wine list, there'll be a signature cocktail menu and a "whiskey soda" menu, which anyone who's travelled to Thailand will be familiar with.  Achara are offering ATF Insiders first access to their soft launch this Friday 28th and Saturday 29th with 25% off your whole bill for food and drinks, and feast your eyes on what you'll be eating and drinking if you get a table (menu subject to change). Tables for Achara will be available from 18:30 on Friday and 17:00 from Saturday, and we'll send the booking link to everyone signed up to ATF Insiders at 20:00 tomorrow, Tuesday 25th June. If you're not already signed up you can fix that here .

It's June, which means nine new prizes for our biggest and best supporters! This month we've giving away some of the best restaurant experiences in the city, a prize pack from Stanley Tucci's favourite gin, and a bumper lot of tickets to an end of summer food festival. ATF Insider s is how we operate with no ads , pay for all of our meals , pay our writers , and operate independently to give you the only advice you need about eating out in Dublin. If you enjoy our content, we would very much enjoy if you signed up to keep it going. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders by midnight on Monday 17th June, will be entered into the draw, and winners will be picked and notified on the 18th June. Here's what we've got for you this month... 1) A €100 voucher for Row Wines Folded flatbreads , summer ceviche , disco drag dinners - is there anything Row Wines can't do? The Coppinger Row wine bar and restaurant has brought an injection of colour and energy to this laneway off South William Street, with their outdoor seating some of the best in the city centre - if you like stupidly tasty food, eclectic wines and excellent tunes (read our once over here ). We're giving away a €100 voucher for Row Wines this month, which should let you cover most of their endlessly delicious menu. 2) Dinner for two with wine at Tang Tang at Cumberland Place have just started sprinkling their Middle Eastern magic on Thursday and Friday night dinners, and wait until you see the outdoor courtyard  you could be eating in. Pick from nibbles, plates and sides like sesame seed focaccia with harissa butter; lamb kofta with lemon and pickled plum; and baby carrots with labneh and chimichurri, and there's a lovely contingent of natural wines to complete the package. We're sending one of you in for dinner for two with wine - check out the menu here  and book here . 3) €100 to spend at Nan Chinese's new Dim Sum Brunch Nan Chinese , the only restaurant (we know of) serving Huaiyang cuisine is bring a brand new brunch to the city centre, and there's going to be a lot of dim sum. On the menu you'll find pork xiao long bao (soup dumpling), golden buns with char siu pork, and puff pastry egg tarts for afters - who needs granola and avo toast anyway. We've got a €100 voucher for Nan to give away this month so you can run the brunch gammut (and order anything else you want too). Read our Nan Chinese once over here . 4) €100 to spend on Korean toasties and Champagne at Toast Korean-style toasties and Champagne - we've found our new favourite combo. Toast is the new pop up at Silk Purse on Nassau Street, from the guys behind The Pig's Ear and Spitalfields, and in our humble ATF opinion you NEED to try these - we left veeerrrryyy happy . We've got €100 for one of you to spend on toasties, cheesecake and drinks, either in repeat visits or on one shrimp cocktail and Champagne filled blowout. Check out Toast here . 5) €150 voucher for Pichet Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant Pichet is celebrating an amazing 15 years serving Irish food with a French accent in the centre of Dublin, and we've got a €150 voucher to give away to celebrate their landmark birthday. Use it over drinks and snacks at the bar, or over a long lunch or dinner in the award-winning Trinity Street restaurant, from founder and chef Stephen Gibson and Head Chef Harry Quinn. 6) €120 voucher for H2G Wines We recently landed (and loved) an outside table at H2G Wines in Glasnevin , feeling more like we were on Greek island Delos than on a suburban street in Dublin 9. The brother and sister-owned wine importer's full range is on show in the shop and bar, and the perfect for grazing small plates have been planned and prepped with quality up front. We've got a €120 voucher to give away for H2G Wines this month that can by used in the shop or on food and drinks in the wine bar. We recommend the sparkling Carricante with a Mediterranean plate for starters. 7) Bottomless Brunch for four at The Porthouse Cava The Port House Cava on Camden Street has just launched its new wine bar on the ground floor, open for all the drinks and mini wine topper charcuterie boards - which come free with your glass of wine for the month of June. To celebrate we've got a bottomless brunch for four people to give away, where you can pick between veggie and meat boards, with bottomless cava, sangria and cerveza. It's served every Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 to 17:00, and we think summer is the time to hit it. 8) A Tanqueray gin prize pack Stanley Tucci's favourite gin Tanqueray are making their debut at this year's Taste of Dublin festival, with complimentary masterclasses, tips on cocktail making and ‘pick your perfect martini’ activities. Whether yours is a ‘Gingle Bird’ pineapple, a ‘Tiny Ten’ grapefruit serve, or a classic Negroni, is there anything gin can't do? We've got a bottle of Tanqueray London Dry, a bottle of Tanqueray 0.0, and a Tanqueray branded ‘La Boujie’ candle to give away to one of you this month. 9) Eight tickets for Taste of Kildare Taste of Kildare is back at Naas Racecourse this September, with some of Kildare’s leading chefs cooking all weekend, including Derry Clarke from The Club at Goffs; Gary O’Hanlon from The K Club; Sean Smith from Cliff at Lyons, Natalie Collins from The Japanese Gardens; and Duro Vdovic from Fallons of Killcullen. Other restaurants cooking over the weekend include Two Cooks, Ely Wine Bar and The Ballymore Inn, and buses go directly to the race course from the centre of Dublin. Taste of Kildare is on from the 20th - 22nd September, tickets start at €17 for entry, and we're sending one of you off with seven pals for a brilliant food-filled day out. Check them out on Instagram here . Everyone signed up to   ATF Insiders   for June (new and old) will be automatically entered into the prize draw - you don't need to do anything. If you're not signed up yet join here  before midnight on Monday the 17th June to be in with a chance of winning. You'll be supporting independent content in Dublin and beyond, and be able to get answers to all of your burning questions about eating out, here and abroad, directly from us.

It's officially summer, and while we're waiting on that heatwave to arrive, we recommend hitting places that will give you all the holiday feels this month, as well as some brand new arrivals to the city, and an excuse to hop on the train and head for the seaside. Here's where you should be eating in June... For something brand new: Daalo, North Frederick Street East African/Somali food isn't something we see a lot of in Dublin, so new Northside opening Daalo has been getting a lot of interest in foodie groups, with early reviews praising their beautiful food, big portions and warm welcome. Try the lamb haneeth (slow roasted lamb), injera with tibs (Ethiopian flatbread with stir-fried beef), or ugali with hilib (cornmeal with goat meat). For a shiny new update: Proper Order, Smithfield Coffee obsessives Proper Order opened their brand new, substantially larger space in Smithfield yesterday, meaning a lot more room to enjoy some of the most premium pour overs in the city, alongside some of the city's best baked goods from No Messin' . This isn't just another café, it's a five-star coffee and pastry experience... For all the holiday feels: Crudo, Sandymount Whether you're counting down to your summer holiday, or kicking yourself for not booking one, you can get all the Roman/Venetian/Sicilian feels at Crudo in Sandymount. Their scampi risotto has been Irish-ed up with a Dublin Bay Prawn bisque, and the prawn oil and crème fraiche on top are the cherries on a truly lovely plate. Get similar holiday feels with the bruschetta with marinated Datterini tomatoes, and the pappardelle with slow-cooked meat sauce and aged Parmesan. For the hit of the summer: Row Wines, Coppinger Row We don't think anyone is capturing the food and drink zeitgeist right now like Row Wines . Practically every day we see another plate or glass that makes us want to rush in, with seabass ceviche, folded flatbreads, and peach, parma ham and ricotta salad keeping that terrace out front nicely busy. Join the cool kids and reserve a table here . For a tasting menu train adventure: Ingredient, Skerries Andrew Kelly and Kate Kettle have been shaking things up in Skerries with their pop-up restaurant Ingredient , currently operating out of Olive Deli. Their six-course tasting menu is €70, or there's an à la carte with nibbles, snacks, small and large plates, like scallops with truffle foam and pickled shimeji mushrooms. If you want a taster of what they're up to you can take a table outside with some snacks and a few glasses of natural wine, which we think sounds like the ideal ending to a day at the seaside. For not your average sandwich: Toast @ Silk Purse, Nassau Street The Pig's Ear team have been putting a multitude of ideas through their paces in their Silk Purse space underneath the restaurant, and the latest is Toast - a wine bar with Korean-style brioche sandwiches. There are four flavours to choose from - pork bulgogi; shrimp cocktail; egg and cheese; and marinated tofu, and they're serving the famous Pig's Ear ch eesecake for dessert. Swerve your usual ham and cheese for one of these. For the mega menu update: Amy Austin, Drury Street Chef Victor Lara from Amy Austin has just launched his brand new menu at the Michelin Bib Gourmand wine bar on Drury Street. If you thought what we ate when we reviewed it sounded god, wait till you hear about the prawn agua chile with blue corn tostadas; Iberico pork cheek with a gooseberry glaze; and white asparagus with black garlic aioli. We might need a do-over.