A five-star stay in Dublin city centre, multiple meals out across Dublin, and luxury food deliveries - here's the nine prizes you're going in the draw for this August if you're one of our premium subscribers (i.e. our favourite people). As an ad and invite-free website, ATF Insiders is how we operate autonomously, ensuring every recommendation is made without bias, and that reviews are honest and not bought via gifts from external forces. Everyone who signs up for ATF Insiders by midnight on Monday 17th August will be entered into this month's prize draw, and winners will be selected on Tuesday 18th August... 1) An overnight stay at The Fitzwilliam with dinner at Floritz If the end of summer has you craving a night away, how does a five-star Dublin staycation sound? We've teamed up with The Fitzwilliam Hotel to give one lucky Insider an overnight stay for two, with breakfast the next morning and dinner at neighbouring restaurant Floritz, where chef Matt Fuller and his team have created an East Asian-inspired menu that we absolutely loved. Check in, get dressed up, walk around the Green for dinner, and roll back into bed afterwards. Ideal. 2) Four Calfreezy Burgurr meals at Hawksmoor Hawksmoor have teamed up with YouTuber and self-appointed burger obsessive Calfreezy to create The Burgurr, a limited-edition bacon double cheeseburger that's landed in Dublin for August. It's made with two dry-aged Irish beef patties, American cheese, smoked streaky bacon, white onion and burger sauce in a potato bun, and comes from the same kitchen responsible for some of the best burgers in the city. We've got four Burgurr meals to give away this month, so gather three burger-obsessed pals and prepare to get messy. 3) €100 to spend at Nippon Kan by Daruma The team behind Daruma have opened Nippon Kan, a new Japanese café on Capel Street designed to bring a more everyday side of Japanese food culture to Dublin. There's coffee and Japanese food to enjoy in the spacious garden right now, with an open kitchen and Japanese food and retail offering still to come as they build out the concept. We've got a €100 voucher to give away this month, so one Insider can get in early, work their way through what's there now, and have plenty of reason to go back and see what's coming next. 4) €100 voucher for award-winning Uno Pizza in Rathmines Uno Pizza in Rathmines has been one of Dublin's most reliable spots for a Neapolitan-style pizza for years, and now it has international recognition on top, after being named Ireland's best pizzeria and #49 in Europe in the 2026 50 Top Pizza Europa Awards. Not bad going for a neighbourhood pizza joint on the Lower Rathmines Road. We've got a €100 voucher to give away this month, giving one lucky Insider free rein to order plenty of pizza, throw in some burrata or focaccia for good measure, and still have room in the budget for tiramisu. 5) Brunch for four at Flower & Bean Dublin 8 café Flower & Bean is celebrating four years on Cork Street this month, and they're marking the occasion with wine, deep house music, and food from AA Carribean, which sounds like our kind of birthday party. We've got brunch for four people, including coffee and cake, to give away, so you can gather the gang for a very civilised weekend feed (whether or not you choose to share your cake is between you and your conscience). 6) €100 voucher for Takumi, North Wall Quay Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Liffey aren't a bad backdrop for dinner, and that's what you'll find at new Japanese restaurant Takumi on North Wall Quay from J2 Sushi. The menu covers sushi, sashimi, noodles, rice dishes and plenty more, and this month we're giving away a €100 voucher with free rein across the à la carte menu. Just bring someone hungry and order what you fancy (ours is a deluxe sushi boat). 7) €100 hamper of Nutshed goodies If you've been following ATF for any length of time you'll probably know that Irish sister-led brand Nutshed makes our favourite peanut butter, and no, they're not paying us to say that. Their Original Smooth contains just single-origin peanuts and Irish sea salt, but there's a whole cupboard-filling range now, from Very Crunchy and Crunchy Honey Roasted (our all-time fav) to Oat & Maple, Smooth Cacao and Smoky Harissa. Did we mention the peanut butter granola!? We've got a Nutshed hamper worth €100 to give away this month, which should keep even the most enthusiastic spoon-straight-from-the-jar eater going for a while. 8) €100 of handmade chocolates from Mabrook Chocolate Mabrook founder and master chocolatier Emil Mustafaiev had a luxury chocolate business in Ukraine since 2015, but the war forced him to close up and move to Ireland with his family. Here he's started all over again, and his new business Mabrook Chocolate is based in Thurles, Tipperary, where you can stop at the chocolate shop next time you're passing through. He handmakes everything from filled chocolates and ganaches to fruit pâtes, and we've got a €100 selection of his luxury chocolate to give away this month. Check them out on Instagram here. 9) €100 voucher for Achill Mountain Lamb If you care about knowing exactly where your meat comes from, it doesn't get much more traceable than Achill Mountain Lamb. The Calvey family have been rearing sheep on Achill since 1866, with the flock roaming the mountains eating heather, grasses, native plants and wild Atlantic sea herbs. Six generations later they still control the whole process themselves, from rearing the animals to butchering them in their own on-island butchery, packing the orders and sending them out. We've got a €100 voucher for the new season Achill Mountain Lamb to give away this month, which is a great excuse to clear some space in the freezer. Everyone signed up for ATF Insiders in August (both new and old) will be automatically entered into the prize draw. You don't need to do anything! If you're not signed up yet, join here before midnight on Monday 17th August and you could be getting a very nice email from us next week...

What’s the story with La La Burger? There isn’t much worth queueing for around the IFSC, so we weren’t the only ones shocked to see a snaking line of salivating punters packing the footpaths outside the Harbourmaster in March. It wasn’t €7.70 pints of Guinness they were out the door for, but a peculiarly placed In-N-Out Burger popup. The California chain’s milkshakes might have brought all the boys to the yard, but this was less a market toe-dipping than planting a flag lest anyone be too tempted to flog burgers under yellow and red branding. Erm… In with a healthy dose of plausible deniability comes “Los Angeles style” La La Burger, whose successful summer stint in Kerry last year might have been one of the things that had In-N-Out feeling defensive. The single cheeseburger (€9.95) looks the part, with American cheese oozing over a crisp-edged smashed patty a little more done than we’d like – more juice needed. The in-house OG sauce plays like a Thousand Island with added kick, a needed twist in lieu of pickles. The Applewood double (€13.95) dishes up that missing moisture and smartly switches up fresh onion for caramelised – offering that option across the board might be a wise move. With a commitment to 100% Irish grass-fed Hereford beef you can really taste, we’d wonder if a trick isn’t being missed by bringing in local cheese too. Applewood is a-okay, but just imagine how Knockanore or Hegarty’s here could take this to another level. If they are echoing In-N-Out, the chicken fits the bill – skip it. Over-drenched and over-priced wings (€13.95; no excuse for that with Cluck round the corner) sit in a puddle of hot sauce in the container, a delivery disaster just waiting to happen, while soggy BBQ tenders (€8.95) lose all crisp appeal from kitchen to counter – stick to standard with a dip instead if you must. Skin-on chips from North Dub spuds bring more local character, though again less crisp than we’d like – up it from double to triple-cooked and then we’d be talking. Still, these made a solid vehicle for a properly tangy house garlic sauce in the damn fries (€6.50), whose generous shower of genuine article aged parmesan goes a long way. As does the world-beating beauty of Irish dairy. They’ve teased a special source of ice-cream and we can’t blame them for keeping their lips sealed - in both the Éire mint shake (€5.95) and fudge sundae (€5) is the rich, full flavour of the scorching sun we’ve had the last while. Everywhere the menu leans local it starts to shine. Will we be seeing queues in Kimmage? Top-tier product at Dash and off-peak offers at Bolt are two local models for how to draw a crowd. A little more of both here would go a long way to standing out in a seriously stacked market. Solid €9 kids’ meal deals and a convenient location beside a pub and bus stop will see plenty of local crowds looking in on La La – it’ll take a bit more to get the wider public in and out happy. La La Burger 21A Ravensdale Park, Kimmage instagram.com/lalaburger_

Scallop tartare; barbecued tomatillos; peach on pizza - you don't even need to go outside to tell you what season it is, the plates this week are screaming it... 1) Scallop tartare, Mister S Mister S are sporadic Instagrammers, but their announcements are always worth waiting for. They're seeing summer out in lip-smacking style with this scallop tartare with charred piquillo pepper, shallot and cucumber brunoise (tiny dice), tarragon, smoked Chardonnay vinaigrette and grated horseradish. Anyone got a fan handy? 2) Peach and pancetta pizza, Bambino Since our transcendent peach and lardo experience in Rome in June, we've pledged to eat only this on pizza forever more. Bambino must have heard our internal pleas, as their new special is a very close peach and pancetta. We're not convinced it needs the gorgonzola, mozzarella, fior di latte, crème fraîche, grana padano and basil (four different cheeses!?) but we'll give them the benefit of our stomachs. 3) Lamb kofte, Note Note's new chef Sam Kindillon seems to be bringing new additions to the wine bar/bistro's menu every week, and his latest Turkish-inspired handiwork features Bazlama - a fluffy flatbread usually cooked outside over open-fire (not sure the fire safety officer has okayed that so it might be on the griddle). They're plating it up with spiced lamb köfte, mint yoghurt and Aleppo pepper - stick a glass of Syrah on the side and you're off to the races. 4) Tomatoes, tomatillos and buffalo milk, Forest Avenue We had a visceral response to the sighting of these crushed tomatoes with barbecued tomatillos and buffalo milk from the current menu at Forest Avenue. Could you imagine a more fitting dish for the best Irish summer since the 80's? 5) Homemade pastries, Flower & Bean After four years of baking, Flower & Bean have graduated to making viennoiserie from scratch, under the mentorship of Pearce Heffernan from The Rock Bakery. We see flaky croissants, we see sugary cinnamon rolls, we see puffed up pain au chocolats - we see it all going down our food tubes.

We play favourites with the seasons every time the latest one comes round, but it’s hard to claim summer doesn’t have an in-built advantage. Pop into any farmer’s market about town and you’ll see heaving shelves of stone fruit alongside crates of courgettes, all kinds of currants competing for your eye with ten types of tomatoes. So broad’s the bounty that we compiled this best-in-season list without once repeating a single star ingredient. Now how will autumn top that? Caramelised peach pizza, Rascals Brewery Tired: the pineapple on pizza debate. Wired: peach on pizza. Like it or not, the salt savour of cured pork and sharp sweetness of stone fruit are natural bedfellows, and when that bed’s a bianca base of smoked Applewood and scamorza… well, scusa per favore. Rascal’s specials are always worth a trip out to Inchicore and this is a case in point. More centrally, Bambino just dropped something similar too. Meadowsweet and redcurrent flan, Volumes Dublin’s most bustling new café was already showing a lot of potential in the bakery space secreted behind the counter on our first visit back in April, but it’s since the hiring of ex-Aimsir and Elliot’s alum Calum Falls that things have really kicked into gear – just look at those croissant pastry layers. This celebration of lesser-seen seasonal flavours is still showing up Friday - Sunday until the end of the month. Cherry bakewell Danish, No Messin’ They might call their bakery No Messin’, but really the latest seasonal specials over at Proper Order Coffee Co are just taking the p*ss. From a McNally farm courgette and ricotta focaccia to Malone farm blackcurrant and Zazou Emporium vanilla spelt choux, everything here is a summertime orgy of fresh flavours and named suppliers. Nothing has had us wanting to rush to Smithfield Square quicker though than the sight of this cherry bakewell Danish. Lamp rump and courgette, Forêt Irish lamb is just sensational this year with the feast of green green grass the great weather has been giving them, and what better to pair it with than homegrown courgettes engorged by the same sunshine. As per, French bistro Forêt elevate top-notch Irish ingredients with levels of Parisienne sophistication you’d normally need to book a flight for. A confit duck with cherries on the summer menu has also grabbed our attention. Wild venison ciabatta, Tír Deli If the lambs have been living it up this summer, just imagine how good the deer have had it – you need only the shortest stroll in the Phoenix Park to see how in their element they are. The wild Wicklow herds are even better again, and Tír Deli are paying tribute with a house smoked sausage they’re pairing with wild blueberry hot honey and all manner of other all-Irish ingredients. We can’t get in soon enough. Wild blueberry buns, Flower & Bean From wild garlic soup to a black forest donut we still can’t stop thinking about, the seasonal fare at Cork Street café Flower & Bean has been going from strength to strength this year. They rotate through ideas at head-spinning speed so these wild blueberry buns might be off the counter already by the time you get down, but whatever they’re making with the season’s bounty (do the donuts again pleassssse) is worth speeding to Dublin 8 for. BBQ tomatillo, Forest Avenue With a ramped-up full bed of tomatillos growing over at Abercorn this year, we’re hoping to see more of these tart and too-rare treats turn up on menus about town. Forest Avenue are one of the first out the gate with a barbecued treatment tucked into a tomato tartare, perfect to taste the difference between these two distinct fruits. Suertudo are also featuring tomatillos in their aguachile oysters, while we’ll be keeping close tabs on Chubby’s and Sea Shanty in the weeks ahead. Blackcurrant and honey twist, Scéal We had to start and stop to go wipe down our chins about twenty times just in writing this one. Scéal baker extraordinaire Ethan Tyler, of Bread 41 and No Messin’ before them, is going zero-waste on blackcurrants via a brushed glaze, compote and (get this) leaf powder in this very literal twist on a danish. Open Hive honey brings deep caramel flavour, as if all that wasn’t enough already. Tomato and Wicklow Bán, Amai by Viktor Tomato in a dessert? Well, it’s a fruit after all… The excitement never ends at Amai by Viktor, whose third tasting menu since opening ‘Sambar’ just launched (we loved it) and ends with a bang on this endlessly inventive dessert. Don’t worry though, if you’re not quite set on a €99, nine-course extravaganza, the new speakeasy Bako downstairs is also doing it à la carte – with a 15% discount for ATF Insiders. Smoked lobster and courgettes, Allta Seasonal eating aficionados especially will be upset to hear of the imminent closure of Allta, whose ethos always put quality produce to the fore across its assorted summer and winter iterations. The last lap menu is a tribute to those dishes of yore, with in-season smoked Union Hall lobster, organic courgettes, yellow basil, and (most exciting of all) fermented gooseberry for a last taste of one of summer’s best bounties. Raspberry and dark chocolate twist, Blossom From roast peach danishes to baked mascarpone and blackberry tarts, there’s no shortage of seasonal stunners to gawp at across the latest batch from Blossom, but it’s the plant-based raspberry and dark chocolate twist that really got us gasping – just look at that colour. A long swim in fresh fruit glaze for the vegan laminated pastry is the cause. We’d like to take a dip ourselves. Strawberry and citrus posset, Mr Fox Parnell Square staple Mr Fox is really reaching for the stars in its next chapter under new chef-patron Adam Jordan, whose stints in The Greenhouse, Chapter One, D’Olier Street and Terre read more like a list of our favourite meals than a resume. It’s no surprise he’s not skimping on seasonal stuff (heirloom tomatoes with whipped smoked Gubbeen and pork cheek croquette with burnt apple are among the highlights), and this citrus sorbet with Irish strawberries and a white chocolate matcha namelaka is a statement of intent. Pork T-Bone with plum, Orwell Road We’re finishing right where we started - pork and stone fruits. Orwell Road’s fire-cooked T-bone is all seared skin and rendered fat, the perfect pairing with the sour-sweet sharpness of a plum purée – all brought together in the concentrated apple intensity of a Stonewell cider jus (!). Pretty pearls of Goatsbridge trout roe on the charred pak choi are our kind of cherry on top.

Seafood is for life, not just for summer, but it definitely shines in these sunnier months when meaty mains and richer dishes feel like a bit too much in those warmer temperatures. From palate-livening combos like gildas and sherry, to fresh-as-it-gets seaside spots, to everywhere leaning into lobster season, here's where we're going in Dublin to get the best seafood now and all year round... The Seafood Café, Fownes Street Niall Sabongi’s Temple Bar mainstay The Seafood Café is the perfect casual central spot to settle in and sup seafood to your heart’s content – a long and boozy lunch segueing into oyster happy hour at 4pm is one of our go-to treats. They’re going big on Irish lobster as you’d expect right now, with a half and a glass of white Rioja going for €35 at lunchtime from Monday - Friday. Bar Italia, Ormond Quay €40 for a whole lobster? In this economy? Bar Italia’s brilliant offer turned our heads so quickly last week (and last year when it started) that they threatened to unscrew – this is as good value as it gets. Calamari bruschetta, wild baby scallops, and seafood Strozzapreti are all on the go too if you’re not down for summer lobster. Mongoose, Dublin 8 The long-awaited follow up to Michelin-starred Variety Jones has been the sequel of dreams for Keelan Higgs and his team, with diners and critics unable to find anything they don't like about the place. Seafood is one of the best value things to order in here, with cod's roe and halibut on the bone two of our favourites from dinner. Read our once over here. Library Street, Dublin 2 Are you really a seafood lover if you've never had the turbot head with miso and preserved lemon at Library Street? The experiment in the name of fin to tail cooking has become a permanent resident, joining those Flaggy Shore oysters with Blaufränkisch and cherry, and the choux with horseradish and Cantabrian anchovy as the restaurant's seafood standouts. Uno Mas/Etto/Lena While you might only have one or two seafood options on the menu at Dublin's iconic restaurant trio of Uno Mas, Etto and Lena, they are guaranteed to knock you sideways. From the legendary mussels with nduja at Etto, the the squid a la plancha at Uno Mas, to the bluefin tuna crudo at Lena, this is as fresh and eye-wipingly delicious as seafood gets. Bar Pez, Kevin Street Fish Shop’s Spanish-style little sister specialises in seasonal and seafood-heavy small plates, with their crab sandwich and scallop toast now infamous for good reason. With a pivot to a seven-day service, Bar Pez is bringing comfort food and benchmark wine every night of the week. Fish Shop, Benburb Street We’ve lost count of the times we’ve sat down in Fish Shop, ordered a gilda and manzanilla, and agonised over what to order next – name a better way to start a meal. The city’s best fish and chips has racked up raves from international outlets aplenty in recent years, cementing it firmly on the tourist radar, so be sure to book ahead if you want to be guaranteed a seat. Allta na Farraige, Grand Canal Dock Niall Davidson's casual spin off next door to mothership Allta had a few guises before settling on seafood and cocktail bar Allta na Farraige, and everything seemed to be coming up roses with critics calling it "thrilling" and "the best food I've eaten in Dublin in a while". Despite this the chef announced in June that his businesses would wrap up at the end of the year, but you've still got a few months to take a seat at the bar for prawn oil margaritas and barbecued scallops with lobster XO. Matsukawa, Smithfield Three years on from its arrival in Smithfield, Matsukawa's eight seats are somewhat easier to book – especially if you're happy to eat early in this omakase sushi spot. From melt-in-the-mouth otoro to torched John Dory, every morsel here is made in front of you using premium ingredients with the utmost care, and it's a show as much as a delicious dinner. Achara, Aston Quay While its Sandymount sister restaurant Crudo might sound the fishiest in a family that also includes Hera and Borgo, it’s actually Thai-style Achara that’s our pick for the best of the bunch to sample seafood. Sourcing from Glenmar, they give this prime catch the best bold flavour treatment, from the famed trout ceviche with nam jim and Donegal squid pad phet, to crab-fried rice with crispy shallots. La Gordita, Montague Street Las Tapas de Lola’s younger but much more refined sibling, La Gordita translates to “the little fat one”, which is precisely how we feel every time we roll out of there. From the first bite of a gilda, to the squid ink decadence of arroz negro, to the sizzling sputter of gambas al ajillo, everything on the ample seafood and shellfish menu is worth wrecking your waistline for. Daruma, Parliament Street There’s a few izakaya-style spots around Dublin these days, but none we've seen doing as much of interest with fish as Daruma. Beyond the bountiful sushi options, there’s a constant commitment to interesting seafood specials here, with scallop skewers, monkfish karaage and red mullet tempura often appearing. Coppinger & Row Wines, Coppinger Row The Bereen brothers’ neighbouring sites on Coppinger Row always have seafood to the fore, from Row Wines’ Kilkee crab rösti to Coppinger’s cod with mussels and chorizo. The latter’s laudable lunch deal of three courses for €20 has been known to throw up things like red mullet too – there’s nothing we wouldn’t drop for that. Mamó, Howth There might not be a better-known snack on any menu in Dublin than Mamó’s cod chip, but spicy buffalo ray wings have had us just as excited on our last few visits. The Howth institution is the nicest of spots for a celebration, with hospitality, wine and seasonal specials that never fail to thrill. (ATF Insiders get a free portion of cod chips when dining on Monday, Thursday and Sunday) King Sitric, Howth It's hard to visit Howth without stopping at King Sitric for oysters, tempura prawns and garlic butter crab claws, but bookings are essential during summer when tourists flood the peninsula. During lobster season they usually have the best prices around, as they buy direct from the boats, and on a sunny day the wooden outdoor dining pods is where you want to be. If it's not sunny, the nautical themed dining room is also lovely to relax in. Octopussy's Seafood Tapas, Howth There’s no better reward for a hike around Howth Head than slumping onto a picnic table outside Octopussy’s and munching on gambas and mussels like popcorn. The only non-fishy option on this menu is chicken wings, and if you order them you're cheating. Sea Shanty, Blackrock Moved from the market just a short stroll away to the space above over Conway’s pub, Sea Shanty specialises in a superb selection of oysters, with anything up to nine options available at any given time. That’s exciting enough in its own right even before we get to the soft shell crab curry and seafood aguachile. The Dunmore, Rathmines Transplanting the success of Waterford’s Strand Inn Hotel to the Dublin suburbs, The Dunmore brought plenty of tried-and-tested seafood dishes to Rathmines when it opened back in 2023. The 3-for-€40 neighbourhood menu makes for great midweek value too, with Duncannon Quay Mussels and sobrasada, and traditional fish and chips on there. Lobstar, Monkstown Veronika and Zsolt Zakar's cosy neighbourhood dining room has lobster as the star of the menu (both rolls and grilled tails), but you'll also find mussels, prawn pil-pil, wild seabass and lots more. Lobstar's family run feel means the food and service are consistently good too. Caviston's Glasthule Caviston's has long been known as the seafood shop of choice for fish-loving southsiders, but their restaurant, which opened a couple of doors down in 2022, is now the local go-to when you don't want to cook it at home. Wild Irish fish like lobster, langoustines, hake and monkfish abound, but there's some obligatory meat and veggie dishes if for some strange reason you end up in here with someone who's not feeling fish.

Dublin has just never smashed brunch the way other cities like London or Melbourne do, with menu after menu featuring the same eggs/hash/pancakes combo that's tried and tested and just plain 'oul safe. But those times are a changing, and these seven new-ish brunches have entered the chat to shake things up. From pizza brunch to crème brûlée porridge, crab rolls to congee, here's some options for when you've had your fill of eggs benedict and avo toast... Cora, Lucan Cora in Lucan seem to be on a mission to come up with the most imaginative breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes in the city - how's crème brûlée porridge, potato rosti with cured trout, or peach and white chocolate waffles? While we were disappointed with our first visit there, new head chef Paul Brogan has been whipping the kitchen into shape and coming up with head turning special after special - reviews suggest he's doing an excellent job at it. Floritz, St Stephen's Green "Fancy brunch" with the nice drinks is even harder to find in this city than a perfectly cooked poached egg, so Floritz stepping up to the plate with serious morning game is a welcome development. From Japanese pancakes to French toast with maple-candied pork belly, prawn toast benedict to lobster and fries, we can guarantee there's something here for every boujee taste bud, and excellent cocktails are a given. Book in Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm. Hong Kong Wonton, Fade Street In the battle of the Cha Chaan Tengs in town, Hong Kong Wonton were the first out of the traps with this solid of a breakfast menu, featuring Hong Kong French toast, chicken congee, and fried noodles to name a few. Wash it down with a Hong Kong milk or lemon tea seven days a week, and set off suitably carb-filled for a browse around the shops. Tábla, Mount Merrion French bistro Tábla in Mount Merrion looks to be gaining a very loyal following in the former Little Mike's site, with their focus on classic French dishes executed to a very high standard. From 11am every day you can brunch your socks off with Croque Monsieurs; goats cheese and tomato tartines; and crab rolls, or a classic French salad like Niçoise or Caesar if you're off bread. Wallace's Asti, Drumcondra You've got to give it to Wallace's Asti for being the first in the city (correct us if wrong) to bring us "pizza brunch". They've come up with the novel idea of topping folded pizza dough with all sorts like mortadella and straciatella, or there's one with avo, mozzarella, nduja and eggs if you don't want to stray too far from brunch norms. This one's only on Sundays from 10am - 12:30pm and we advise booking ahead. Vada, Smithfield The food at Vada in Smithfield seems to exist in its own zero waste, flavour-heightened, feel-good eco system. There's sausage rolls, there's black bean nachos, there's croissant French toast with whipped dark chocolate and Irish strawberries, and it's all stop the lights good. Get brunch from 10am, Saturday and Sunday. Volumes, George's Quay Volumes hit hysterical heights with their bagels, but there's plenty more to consider during a George's Quay brunch stop. We haven't stopped thinking about the Scandi-style brunch plate since they launched it, and they also serve that icon of NYC-cuisine, the BEC (bacon, egg, cheese roll with gochujang mayo). The seasonal pastries cannot be passed on so add one to your order.

Expansions, second sites, and summer popups gone permanent – if there’s a theme to thread in the latest batch of new openings around town, it’s established names stepping up and striking out to big(ger) new things... Nippon-Kan, Capel Street Are we at peak matcha yet? Not if the opening crowds at Nippon-Kan are anything to go by. The new Capel Street café has slipped into the space previously occupied by ill-fated booze-free bar The Virgin Mary, and comes from the folks behind Daruma over the river (also in Malahide). Cast in the same mold as Matcha Matsukawa, where another Japanese restaurant brand proved the market for hojicha lattes and greened pastries galore, you can hardly blame them for following suit. What really interests us here is less grid-friendly traditional tea prep and matcha donut tears, than the word that an open kitchen and retail offering is to follow – we’ll be keeping close tabs.

Our first sighting of blackcurrants; crab cannoli; and a chicken caesar slice are just some of the thing enticing us out of the house and into that muggy air this week. Here's the top five things we want to eat in Dublin this week... 1) Blackcurrant and honey twist, Scéal Bakery Scéal have released this month's seasonal Danish and it's a summertime cracker. They've been playing around with the shape of their pastries and came up with this twist, brushed it with a tart Irish blackcurrant glaze, filled it with a burnt Irish honey sea salt ganache, and topped it with blackcurrant compote and dehydrated blackcurrant leaf powder. We're desperado for a bite (or five). 2) Peach and mint cruffin, Twist Bakery Twist Bakery in Temple Bar are churning out the summer limited editions, and this vanilla, peach and mint cruffin at the weekend had our temperatures rising. If it's not on when you visit the hazelnut and coffee croissant tart is an otherworldly substitute. 3) Small plates, Khana, Stoneybatter Khana is the new chapter from the people behind Kerala Kitchen, who've sold the original brand to a long time employee. They're promising the same soul as always with elegant small plates and classic curries, all designed to be shared, and these opening gambits of pani puri and samosa chaat certainly look the part. 4) Kilkeel Crab Cannoli, Orwell Road Kilkeel. Crab. Cannoli. We were long sold on this snack at Orwell Road, even before the additions of horseradish and fennel on the side to tip it over the flavour edge. Summer in a rolled up pastry tube. 5) The Chicken Caesar, Doom Slice Doom Slice's newest creation drops this Friday, and they're attempting to join the summer mood with a Chicken Caesar. There's a white base, mozzarella, chicken, Romaine lettuce, Caesar drizzle, bacon and Parmesan, and while it's probably not the lightest summer salad option, it's probably one of the most delicious ones.

Mark Moriarty's new restaurant and events space Mark Moriarty Studio opens on Friday 7th August, but we've secured 40 seats across two exclusive preview dinners for ATF Insiders, at a reduced price, AND there's Champagne on the house. Hidden beneath Wilton Park Studios in Dublin 2, this isn't your traditional restaurant. It's part creative studio, part test kitchen, part event space, and every Friday night it turns into what's going to be one of Dublin's most intimate dining experiences, with just 20 guests each night sharing a tasting menu cooked by Mark Moriarty and his team. They've designed it to feel like you've been invited over to Mark's for dinner, with a residential-style space where guests can dine at the counter wrapped around the open kitchen, at their own dining table, or tucked away in a snug. Throughout the evening, Mark and head chef Odhran Devine will cook a seasonal tasting menu showcasing the best of Irish produce, just a few feet from where you're sitting. During the week the Studio will serve as a home for recipe development and filming to private events and collaborations, only opening to the public on Friday evenings for an experience unlike anywhere else in Dublin. We've secured a special preview of Mark Moriarty Studio on Friday 31st July and Wednesday 5th August, with dinner starting at 7pm. Tickets are at a special preview price of €130 (usually €150) including complimentary Charles Heidsieck Champagne on arrival. Mark and his team will be serving and introducing the dishes through the night, as well as showing guests around the space and kitchen. Because of the limited number of seats for this event, everyone coming needs to be signed up to ATF Insiders - join here for €6 a month if you want the ticket link. You're welcome to book two (or more) spaces if everyone on the booking has an active membership. Please feel free to come solo and we will seat you with like-minded people, or if you're coming with friends who are also signed up and you want to sit together, just drop us a note. Who knows who you might meet over this menu... Because of the intimate nature of this event, menu changes are not possible. Bookings for our preview of Mark Moriarty Studio on Friday 31st July and Wednesday 5th August go live this Thursday 23rd July at 11:00. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders will receive the booking link directly to their inbox. If you're not already part of Dublin's best food club, get involved below.

A new speakeasy experience for two; Korean fried chicken and cocktails; food festival tickets, and so much more! And everyone with an active ATF Insiders subscription will go automatically into the draw. You just need to sit back and wait for one of our "you've won!" emails. As an ad and invite-free website, ATF Insiders is how we operate independently, ensuring every recommendation is made without bias, and that reviews are honest and not bought by dark forces. Everyone who signs up for ATF Insiders by midnight on Friday 17th July will be entered into this month's prize draw, and winners will be selected on Saturday 18th July... 1) An evening at Bako by Amai by Viktor Hidden underneath Amai by Viktor, Bako is Dublin's newest speakeasy, serving wines, cocktails and small plates in an underground drinking den. The cosy cave-like setting is ideal for escaping the summer heat, and the perfect opportunity to sample what's coming out of the Amai by Viktor kitchen without committing to the full tasting menu. We've got a Bako experience worth €100 to give away this month, with drinks and small plates of your choice, so all you'll have to do is pick your dining pal carefully. 2) €100 voucher for Dak @ Bar Anam If your ideal evening involves Korean fried chicken, excellent cocktails and a few glasses of natural wine, you're a bit of us. Dak, at Bar Anam ticks all of the above boxes, and if you win this month's prize you'll be heading in with €100 to spend on whatever you like, from snacks and sides, to fried chicken and their new dessert menu (which includes Korean-style churros). You can also work through the new cocktails, craft beers and natural wines in Bar Anam. However you spend it, we suspect you'll leave happy. Read our review here. 3) €100 voucher for Khana, Stoneybatter After almost two decades, Kerala Kitchen's Lewis and Gráinne Cummings have handed the business over to long time employee Ajil Rahiman, and are now solely focused on new opening Khana in Stoneybatter. They're bringing elegant new dishes to the table, fused with the rich South Indian cooking that made the original so successful - expect everything from duck cigars and okra fries, to coconut cloud chicken and Old Delhi dal. We've got a €100 voucher to give away for Khana this month, which is the perfect excuse to try Dublin's newest Indian. 4) Six VIP tickets to Big Grill Big Grill is back in Herbert Park from Thursday 13th - Sunday 16th August, bringing four days of smoke, fire and some of the best barbecue cooking you'll find anywhere in Europe (look at these menus!). Expect everything from proper Central Texas brisket and whole hog barbecue, to pit beef sandwiches and live-fire dishes you'd normally have to board a plane to try. How lucky are we? We've got six VIP tickets to give away this month so you can head along with five of your favourites, and needless to say you should not eat breakfast that day. Get tickets here. 5) Dinner for six at MJ Wright Eating Rooms Hidden upstairs above the new MJ Wright on George's Street, The Eating Rooms is a gastropub upgrade, serving a laid back menu designed for catching up over good food and wine. From crab spring rolls to Korean fried chicken, steak sandwiches to grilled black sole, this is not your average pub food. We're giving away dinner for SIX this month, including two courses each and a glass of wine - the perfect excuse to get the gang together. Check out their a la carte, early bird, and group menus here. 6) Four tickets to the Guinness Storehouse Socials The Guinness Storehouse is opening its doors after hours this summer with their Thursday Night Socials, combining the famous Storehouse experience with DJs, food trucks and sunset pints in the Gravity Bar. We've got four tickets to give away for the 23rd July, 30th July or 6th August, including a pint of Guinness (or Guinness 0.0), STOUTies, and food tokens for everyone, making this the ideal group night out. Regular tickets are €15 including a pint, and can be grabbed here. (Over 18's only) 7) A salsa hamper from Mi Amor worth €100 If you've only ever known supermarket salsas, Mi Amor is about to ruin it for you. Handmade in Dublin by founder Paola Almeida, using traditional recipes passed down through families, and with no added sugar or vinegar, these are the real Mexican deal. We've got their full Spicy Trio Collection to give away this month, complete with a tortilla warmer, serving bowl and tote bag, so you'll be more than ready for your next taco night or summer barbecue. Get them online here. 8) A Ballymaloe Hamper worth €100 We all agree that a well-stocked condiment shelf is a necessity right? Ballymaloe Foods knows a thing or two about that, and their mayonnaise made with free-range eggs and freshly cracked black pepper is central to it all. We've got a jam-packed hamper to give away this month filled with some of their most-loved condiments, including that brilliant mayo, as well as other barbecue essentials, plus extras like a tea towel and wooden spoon. Perfect timing for outdoor cooking weather. Check out the range here. 9) Four tickets to Avoca's Taste of Summer event Avoca's Taste of Summer event returns to Kilmacanogue in Co. Wicklow on Saturday 25th July, with barbecue, cookery demos, live music, artisan producers and plenty to keep the smaller members of the family entertained, including 80's tribute band Spring Break. We've got four tickets to give away this month (either for two adults and two children, or four adults), with the prize including lunch, drinks and access to everything including cookery demos, food tastings and complimentary samples from more than 30 suppliers including Seafood Suppers and Grá Chocolates. As family days out that revolve around good food, this is a summer no brainer. Festivites kick off at 12:30, and you can get tickets here. Everyone signed up for ATF Insiders in July (both new and old) will be automatically entered into the prize draw. You don't need to do anything else. If you're not signed up yet, join here before midnight on Friday 17th July. Your support promotes independent reviews and news in Dublin and beyond, and allows you to get answers to any dining questions directly from us.

We've all been there. Your special birthday or anniversary eve is coming up, or you have to book something good for that foodie friend who's back in town for one night only, and you suddenly realise - oh no! it's a Monday! Well the start of the week is no longer a dining desert. Some of the city's best restaurant have taken to opening on Mondays, and here's 34 options for special occasions, drinks and small plates, and neighbourhood hideaways... Special Occasions Etto, Merrion Row Versus the breathless buzz around more recent openers Uno Mas and Lena, the same owners’ original baby Etto has a quiet esteem among the industry, and a real sense of respect that it’s still every bit as good thirteen years on from opening. With a lot of chefs and wait staff off on Monday and relatively few seats, you’d be very wise to book ahead, especially with new chef Ben Fehily (ex-Perilla and Lyle's in London) now running things in the kitchen. Host, Ranelagh One of the most interesting openings on this list is the (almost mythical at this stage) Host in Ranelagh. Their Monday (and Tuesday) night tables are probably the easiest to get your hands on, which is a very good reason to venture outside early in the week. On our order sheet would be the Cantabrian anchovies with tomato; organic pork chop with girolles; and that iconic pumpkin cappellacci, obvs. Mamó, Howth Whenever one of our readers messages with the pressing dilemma of "where do I go for my special occasion that very annoyingly falls on a Monday!?" we instantly shout back "get the train to Howth and go to Mamó!!" It's hard to imagine a more cosseted experience that being looked after by owner Jess D'Arcy and her team, popping buffalo ray wings and cheese beignets into your mouth, and drinking whatever Jess tells you to (she's always right). Monday is a real industry day out here, so you never know who might be at the next table. Bang, Merrion Row Eric Matthews and Richie Barrett have reinvented the latter's family restaurant into Bang 2.0 - a very of the moment opening detailing the food and drinks of the Iberian penninsula. The grills are firing in here every day except Sunday, and there's much more chance of getting an early week table for gambas al ajillo and that tortilla 'Cal Pep'. China Hunan, Ranelagh What better way to celebrate than with a whole roast duck that you thoughtfully pre-ordered in advance? If that's not your thing you can feast on any number of dim sum, roast meats and ultra-luxe main courses in a room that screams occasion at China Hunan in Ranelagh.

What’s the story with Banco? The queues speak for themselves – not since 2008 have we seen such a run on a Banco around here. The new Italian bakery from Roberto Mungo is the third tricolour he’s planted on Stoneybatter’s main street, and one rallied to by locals and blow-ins alike with the same fervour as his still-packed Grano and neighbouring wine bar A Fianco. What should we get? Planning, for one – arrive at the wrong time and you’ll spend half your day in a hangry line, nose aloft to the taunting aromas escaping the forno before the focaccia drops at 11:00 sharp. Take our cue and show up fifteen minutes beforehand to pre-order the goods and enjoy a coffee and pastry while you wait for yours to be the first number called. Did somebody say pastry? Per favore, pasticerria. It’ll be no shock to any Grano fans that the counter here is stacked with stuff you’ll be dreaming back on all day. None go better with the coffee than the cupola tiramisu (€4.90), flaky layers of espresso-loaded dough and thickly tasty mascarpone. It’s an inspired adaptation of the original, also available in jars on the counter (€7.50) if you need a popularity boost back home, and it's just as good as any time we’ve indulged across the road. The dough here is more bread than butter-forward, which is small wonder for a man who grows and mills his own senatore cappelli flour back at the Calabrian plot he was raised on. Its lower gluten content suits the caky cornetto alla crema (€3.90), Italy’s answer to the croissant and a more extravagant start to the day. Nut notes in the flour work wonders with the pistachio cream-slicked girella, and the hazelnut-stuffed noccila roll (both €4.60); the former’s citric kick from candied orange peel just about stole the show. Only a crostatina alla marmellata (€4.30) left us a little let down, with too-thick pastry robbing the shell of the kind of crisp snap to do the tart raspberry jam justice. How are the sandwiches? That's where the wheat really shines, bringing the thin crispness and dense chew typical of Roman-style focaccia. Crust-to-filling ratio is paramount - they’re built out rather than up, all the better to contain piles of premium ingredients. The purest is prosciutto (€10.50), accompanied by rocket, tomato and mozzarella - summer in a slab. Better again is the veggie (€10.50), with slicks of sharp Sicilian pesto lifting the grilled aubergine and tomato to heights of homely glory. The ventrecina (€11.50) we were less sold on, the smoked scamorza not enough to keep the salame and n’duja’s sustained spice from feeling a bit one-note. A website-listed vitello tonnato, always an essential at A Fianco, cannot land on the counter soon enough. What’s the verdict? As we smugly sailed passed the mounting crowd with takeaway bag in hand, we passed by Grano and A Fianco, with teams prepping for the busy Sunday afternoon and evening ahead. Back in Banco, Roberto was on-hand but hands-off, chef’s whites swapped out for a red tee, sipping espresso and seemingly satisfied at the pace of things without him at the helm. He looked like a man ready to grant himself an afternoon off. He’s earned it. Banco 17 Stoneybatter, Dublin 7 instagram.com/banco_dublin

We all know that salad and sunshine go together like… well, tasty cold food and hot weather. We’re officially at that time of the year where eating salad for at least one meal a day stops being an unchecked item on your to-do list, and turns into an activity to plan your day, and Insta stories, around. Here's where to head for when you can't possibly face a hot meal... Sprout, various locations in Dublin We think it's safe to say that the most loved place in Dublin for a salad (by our readers anyway) is salad bar Sprout, which now has eight locations across Dublin and more beyond. The Supergreek and Tokyo bowls get a lot of love, but the meat-free options also make Sprout stand out, with the tofu satay and chick-please bowls singled out as two of the best. Tang, four city centre locations Ask any in-the-know Dubliner where to get a salad to make you vibrate with joy, and the word Tang will definitely fall out of their mouth. Their weekly changing salad plates start at €9.25 with 'fresh', 'roast' and 'grain' options, and protein add ons and extras are priced from 60c for pickles to €3.50 for Moroccan lamb. Find them on Abbey Street, Dawson Street, Cumberland Place and Windmill Lane. Tiller + Grain, Frederick Street South Say salad in Dublin and someone will shout "TILLER + GRAIN". Their daily changing salads are a riot of colour, texture and flavour, and you won't find any boring options in here. While known for being "not cheap" (a salad box with protein will set you back around €18), they are known for being very, very good. Honest To Goodness, The Liberties Liberties Café Honest to Goodness are not phoning it in with the salads. Their buffalo chicken bowl almost left us speechless, the Caesar salad is up there with Dublin's best, and the "Kitchen Sink" is criminally under-rated - get it with marinated trout or roast chicken if you want to make it less vegan. Nutbutter, Grand Canal Dock, Smithfield and Dundrum Nutbutter serve superfood warm and seasonal bowls in super pretty surroundings in all three of their locations, northside and south. It's very easy to be vegan or vegetarian in here, but just as easy to add protein like miso lime prawns or seasoned chicken to your order. It's recommended we eat 30 plants a week - you can easily get 10 in one bowl in here. Caribou's Caesar Salad Caribou's Caesar salad is another masterclass in the genre. Every element on the plate - Romaine lettuce, Grana Padano, Caesar dressing and thin, crispy croutons - is perfection, with just the right amount of everything. You can add grilled or fried chicken, but it doesn't need it. On our last visit it was €13, or €17 with chicken. Chimac's Chicken Salad You know when you want something just a lil bit dirty, but you know you'll feel rubbish after it. That's where Chimac's Sesame Kale Caesar salad comes in. All the juicy twice-fried chicken feels, with added health benefits. Granted there's sriracha candied bacon and breadcrumbs in there too, but no-one's perfect. Fairmental, Dublin 4 Fairmental near Grand Canal Dock is the place you go when you feel your gut needs an injection of good health. Their summer salads change frequently but you can be sure to find lots of fermented goodness in there. The Fumbally, Dublin 8 There always a lovely salad line up at The Fumbally which changes day to day, but you can expect the most seasonal veg, local cheese, homemade bread, and veggie protein for €14.90 (on our last visit). You'll feel so good after eating one that you can totally justify one of their doughnuts afterwards. Honey Truffle Kitchen, Pearse Street Honey Truffle Kitchen has long been a Pearse Street magnet for salad lovers, with their vivid bar capable of turning the heads of even the most ardent sandwich fans. Salads are always seasonal, health-filled and flavour-packed, and come in different sizes with optional dips, toppings, seeds and cheese, and protein if you're not hitting your macros. The Old Spot's Caesar Salad Over in Dublin 4 there's another Caesar salad you should know about at everyone's favourite gastro pub, The Old Spot. Theirs has roast chicken, crispy Parma ham, aged Parmesan and croutons, and while it's €20, this is a dine in and sit back affair. Emer's Kitchen, Leeson Street The Emer's Kitchen salad bar is legendary around Leeson Street, with few cafés seeming to elicit such a dedicated, heartfelt following from customers. They change daily but you can get three salads (they say they use the term loosely) in a box with meat, chicken, salmon or frittata for €9.50, or €12.90 with protein (the exact same price as 12 months ago BTW). Shouk, Drumcondra The Shouk mezze is legitimately legendary, with nothing changing in the past few years, and nothing ever needing to - there would be a riot, and we'd be top of the queue. The aubergine and red pepper, the Morroccan carrot, the roasted cauliflower with tahini, the tabouleh... Not to mention the Shouk salad with sumac and fried pita bites - getting your five a day has never tasted so good. As One As One on City Quay walks the walk where so many just talk the talk when it comes to seasonal Irish produce, and supporting local growers, and nowhere is that seen more clearly than on their salad bar. McNally, Abercorn and Beechlawn organic farms all feature on their 'Harvest Plate' and in the daily salad selection, and you can add dips, slaws, pickles and sustainably sourced protein to your heart's content. What are your favourite places for a salad in Dublin? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie

Make like you're in Rome with some fritti, in the Middle East with lamb Arayes, or get your feet back on homegrown with an all-Ireland all-star sandwich line up. And don't get us started on those July bakery specials or we'll be going for a good 10 minutes. Here's what we really really want to eat in Dublin this week... 1) Charred lamb arayes, Chubby's We've lost count of how many times Clontarf's Chubby's has appeared on the list of things we most want to eat that week - don't hate the playa. Well here they come again with these charred lamb Arayes, "possibly" being served with a hot sauce and garlic dip, and some parsley salad. They're pegging it as excellent beer food, but we think it would be excellent wine/cocktail/water food too. 2) Spicy tuna melt, Tír Deli Somewhere else that's not a stranger to this list is Tír Deli, who month after month stop us dead with their latest concoction. July's is a spicy tuna melt with Shine's Tuna, complete with barrel aged hot sauce, Irish cheddar and Irish baby gem lettuce, on Remus’ ciabatta. They say it's "very simple but just stupid delish", and with this all-Irish ingredient line up how could it not be. 3) July Specials, Elliot's Elliot's need to calm down. Maybe give some other bakeries a chance? Also when do they sleep? How do they keep coming up with these ideas month after month?? Brace yourself for July's specials, which features: a Courgette, Ricotta and Lao Gan Ma Danish; an Apricot and Noyaux tart; a Cherry Toasted Almond Maritozzi (!!), a Moussaka Pie; a Fig Leaf and Raspberry croissant; a Gochujang, Toasted Sesame, Coolea and Scallion Sourdough; and a Meadowsweet and Plum brioche. All of this, as well as the usuals. An Elliot's for every neighbourhood! 4) Andarl Farm pork neck with Romesco, Bar Pez While hot weather might scream cold food, the exception is barbecue/flame-grilled/cooked a la plancha, and Bar Pez got the memo. Their Andarl Farm pork neck looks like it would collapose under a spoon, and comes with smoky Romesco and grilled spring onion for all the summer eating feels. They recommend pairing it with one of their last few glasses of an oxidative skin-contact wine from Campania, and we need no more convincing. 5) Fritti, Mani Make like you're on a walking Roman street food tour and head for Mani on Drury Street for all the fritti. There's supplì alla Romana and deep-fried lasagne, and to do it right you'll need one in each hand, and a walking spritz under your arm.

Summer sun means seafood spectaculars all round, and all we want this week are seafood crudo, sparkling cod, and lobster rolls. If you're similarly minded, read on for the five things we most want to eat in Dublin this week... 1) Seabass crudo with cucumber aguachile, Mister S This seabass crudo with cucumber aguachile and dill oil hit the Mister S menu a few weeks ago, beautifully timed with last week's heatwave. There's another hot spell en route later this week if you want to feel smug about having this in your future. 2) Lobster Roll, Peploe's We're with you Peploe's, lobster season is our favourite time of the year too. They dress their fresh as it gets Irish lobster in lime & dill mayo, and serve it in a homemade brioche bun with saffron, pickled cucumber and royal Belgian caviar, for the most flamboyant version in the capital right now. 3) Sesame seed prawn toast, Hawker There's no bad time of the year for Hawker's sesame seed prawn toast, but there's something about shellfish in summer that hits particularly sweet. They recommend it for a hangover, we recommend it for any 'ol time you like, and dip big into that yuzu mayo on the side. 4) Cod with turbot roe and lemon balm sauce, Forest Avenue Cod gets a bad rap for being a bit dullsville, but nothing coming out of Forest Avenue could ever be tarred with such a brush. Case in point this stunning whiter than white specimen in a sauce of turbot roe and lemon balm. It's practically glistening. 5) Zuppa di pesce, DIMMI While summer doesn't scream soup weather, we're giving DIMMI in Dundrum a pass for this loaded Zuppa di Pesce with hake, mussels, prawns and calamari, topped with gremolata. All the citrusy, summery flavours in one bowl, dip that sourdough and get it into you.

What’s the story with Nino's? Endless ingenuity came out of the Covid 19 pandemic, and that's how Nino's started life. Originally food truck Doughbox, opened by former dental clinic manager Anthony Power, they migrated into a full restaurant attached to The Brook Pub in Portrane in 2024. The same team are also behind Pronto on Pearse Street, serving handmade pasta and Neapolitan pizza out of Moss Lane. North Co Dub isn't exactly overflowing with inspiring restaurants, so we had this one earmarked for a while as an excuse to venture north, or maybe a post beach summer bite. What's the drinks menu like? This is a pub menu. Pub wine, pub cocktails, even a "selection of shots" if you're that way inclined. All the regulars are there, and there's nothing very inspiring, but a pint of Madri and simple glass of Montepulciano did the job. There's a good range of N/A options too. Onto the proper stuff, what should we order? There's starters, fresh pasta, and wood-fired pizza, with some sides too, and a definite sway from the authentic towards local tastes - you won't see spaghetti bolognese or pepperoni pizza on menus in Rome. We started very strong with starters. A crisp, fluffy potato crocchette came with a rich slow-cooked beef ragu, stracciatella and grated Parmesan (€10). A ball of burrata came with tomatoes that actually tasted of tomato (that time of year), toasted pine nuts, zingy drop peppers, and little dollops of pesto (€10). So far so lovely. Cacio e pepe arancini (€10 for three) is a winning recipe too, a light crispy crumb filled with al dente rice, bursting with cheesy, peppery flavour. Things took a bit of dive from there. While we have endless respect for anyone making pasta fresh, the spaghetti in the Carbonara (€16) was overcooked, breaking apart under every twirl of a fork, and forming into a pasta cake as it cooled. Guanciale needed longer in the pan at a higher heat, and the sauce was thick and gloopy. Roman carbonara this was not. Prawn bisque linguine (€18) had similarly bite-free pasta, each forkful falling apart before it reached a mouth, the prawns tasting frozen and cheap. A shame because the flavours were there, the execution wasn't. The mortadella pizza (€18) arrived with a miserly amount of toppings - is that one slice of mortadella for the whole thing? Is that even a tablespoon of stracciata? Did they need to be that tight with the tapanade and pistachios? We ate this through a grimace, tasting mainly dough. We ordered the hot pink pepperoni which was supposed to have yellow cherry tomatoes, pink peppercorns and hot honey, but realised afterwards they brought the regular pepperoni - fine but forgettable. Dips on the other hand, garlic mayo and ricotta with honey were wiped clean. What’s the verdict? If you're out this way and want a decent feed Nino's will tick the box, but would we travel far for it? Not on the basis of this meal. They're doing a roaring trade with locals, for dine in and takeaway, but we couldn't help compare to a meal at Grano the previous week, which cost marginally more for a far superior experience. Nino's The Brook Pub, Quay Road, Portrane, Co, Dublin ninos.ie

As we know from previous summers, this could all end at any moment, so it's time to get out there and make those glorious summer memories while you still can. Picnics in the park/at the beach/by the canal are always a good idea, and if you can't be bothered faffing around at home making your own, there are plenty of ace places willing to do the leg work for you. Here's ten that you won't regret stopping at for a picnic, just pack your cool bag and get moving... Lotts & Co, Clontarf A lazy browse around Lotts & Co. followed by a picnic on Clontarf's seafront is what summer memories are made of. You'll find so many out of the ordinary picnic options in there, like the fanciest crisps from around the world, tinned fish, premium fruit and all the best tinned olives. The deli will make all manner of sandwiches, and the cheese counter is top. Did we mention they sell wine and pre-made cocktails? Fallon & Byrne, Dublin 2 The OG spot in town for fancy picnic bits, Fallon and Byrne have everything you could possibly desire for a grown up picnic in Stephen’s Green or the (calmer) Iveagh Gardens. Head to the cheese counter for an "al fresco formaggio box", then top it up with crisps, dips, bread, cakes, and spritzers. Jamon, caviar and Champagne are also available if it's that kind of picnic. Lennox Street Grocer, Portobello Lennox Street Grocer have "all the nice bits" for a picnic by the canal (just watch out for hungry swans), or track back to the Iveagh Gardens. You could organise a breakfast picnic with Bread 41 pastries and coffee, or go nuts later in the day with all the deli bits you could want or need. They're also selling these eco outdoor grills if you're heading somewhere where outside cooking is allowed. Be sure to get an affogato soft serve for the walk. Fairmental, Grand Canal Dock If you love picnics, but also gut health, head to Fairmental near Grand Canal Dock for takeaway rice bowls, wraps, sandwiches and salads, with some extra jars of fermented food, and cans of kombucha and wild soda. Between the sunshine and all those extra microbes you'll feel like a new person. Morton's, Ranelagh You won't know where to look in Morton's between the gourmet sandwiches, sausage rolls, homemade cakes and all the picky bits in the deli and on shelves. Take it to any green spot nearly, put your blanket down and practice gratitude for how lovely your life is. Avoca, Malahide Castle The sprawling surrounds of Malahide Castle are the perfect antidote to city life, and Avoca inside the castle grounds is piled high with jars, tins and boxes of all the good stuff. You can head to the fridges for cheese, charcuterie and smoked fish, or the shelves for crackers, pickles and crisps, and don't miss the Irish biscuit selection and large range of Forest Feast. The coffee isn't great but it's drinkable, and you can always head down to the beach afterwards to cool off. Dandelion, Howth New Howth deli Dandelion is tailor-made for picnics on Howth's Balscadden Beach or up on the cliffs (watch out for aggressive seagulls). Grab some gut-busting sandwiches, lemon scented olives, and maybe a doughnut for after if you're really in the mood to treat yourself. Olive, Skerries If you’re heading to Skerries for a seaside afternoon in the sun, bring your picnic blanket and stop in Olive for provisions. There's fresh fruit, cured meats and cheeses, olives, chutney, hummus, tapenade, crackers, bread, soft drinks/alcoholic ones, as well as sandwiches/toasties/salads if all that assembly sounds like too much work. Thyme Out, Dalkey If you’re planning a picnic in Dalkey (and why wouldn't you), Thyme Out on Castle street do luxury picnic boxes, as well as antipasti boxes and sandwich platters. Their box for two includes finger sandwiches, salads, sausage rolls, traybakes, homemade cookies and sparkling elderflower drinks, and you can add on Prosecco or wine but it's basic. See their pre-order options here. Barnhill Stores, Dalkey Another Dalkey option because residents there are truly spoilt for properly good food shops, Barnhill Stores has a deli counter chock full of sandwich provisions, rotisserie chicken, quiches and other savoury bits, as well as fridges and shelves stocking all your favourite foods for as far as the eye can see. There's a dedicated wine room, loads of homemade cakes, and coffee from Two Fifty Square.

From a glut of homegrown seasonal ingredients to the best gelato for keeping the next heatwave at bay; suntrap seats to seaside strolls; summer spritzes to beers and birria; here's all the best things to have on your eating and drinking to-do list for summer 2026 in Dublin... For your best shot at getting into what’s still the hottest space in town: Chubby’s, Clontarf Advance plans at Barry and Jen Stephens’ instantly-iconic space in Clontarf have gotten a little less hard to procure than they were on launch last year, but it’s still a fool’s errand to imagine you’ll ever get in on the kind of whim these stretched-out summer nights inspire in all of us. Good news then that the taco truck that started it all has been resurrected out front for all your last-minute walk-in needs, with a selection of beer taps and a fallback heater setup there to stretch the night right out to the bitter end – if the food lasts that long. They’re flaring it up from 5pm on Fridays and 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays all summer long.

Last year an off the cuff Instagram story on supermarket pricing turned into a deluge of recommendations from our readers on their all time favourite products from Dunnes, Supervalu, Tesco, Aldi and Lidl. We've asked again for 2026 and got a whole host of new recommendations of products we never knew existed, and have put them all into updated spreadsheets for your shopping pleasure. This week we've got your can't leave there without products from Lidl and Aldi. Find our readers' favourite products from Dunnes, Tesco and Supervalu in part one of this feature here. We'll keep these updated so please email info@allthefood.ie or DM us on Instagram with your finds!

A feast fit for a hungry father; a summer starter with the potential to be one of this year's best; and the affogato slingers going the extra mile to make us all happy this summer. Here's five things we'd like to race out the door for this week... 1) Tonkotsu, Space Jaru Space Jaru obviously think Dads like pork tonkotsu, because they're bringing this monster plate back in time for Father's Day this weekend. A sharing plate if ever we saw one, this has triple carbs, and three juicy pieces of pork. Actually that does sounds very Dad-worthy... 2) Sea bream crudo with ajo blanco, Etto Etto have always done a good crudo, and new chef Ben Fehily isn't here to fix something that isn't broken. There's a bit of Uno Mas to this sea bream one, with tomato and ajo blanco, and we're all for sharing good ideas. 3) San Marzano tomatoes with ricotta and peach, One Pico More tomatoes are popping up at One Pico down the road, this time Italy's San Marzano finest. They've concocted our dream summer plate here with ricotta, charred peach, and basil sorbet. If only they had a rooftop terrace to enjoy it on... 4) Chicken caesar bap, No Messin' No Messin' do a monthly midweek Bap and June's is a Chicken Caesar with Manor Farm roast chicken, baby gem, bacon, sourdough croutons and Caesar dressing in one of their brioche buns. You local deli must feel embarrassed looking at this - get it from 11am Monday - Thursday at Proper Order Coffee. 5) Flavoured affogatos, Two Boys Brew We're on high alert for affogatos around town, but Two Boys Brew are currently taking the top spot. Vanilla ice cream is topped with a double shot of their house espresso, and the icing on the ice-cream is the choice of toppings. There's dark chocolate almond crumb, plum compote, or homemade salted caramel and crushed roasted almonds. Get them all day (if you know what's good for you).

What’s the story with Morso? Schiacciata (skia-TCHA-tah) is about to become the most mispronounced food since bruschetta burst onto the scene in the ‘90s. All summer long you'll hear shak-att-ah, sheek-eet-eh, and chiquitita from the queues snaking daily down Drury Street to get their mitts on this flattened Tuscan sandwich bread. It’s a mystery to Mani maestro Ciaran McGonagle why nobody had done it in Dublin yet, so when his Roman slice shop shifted to a bigger site across the road, he made space for Morso in the original. What should we get? Get in line! Dublin is dizzy for more from the makers of Mani, and the picnic benches packed with wide-eyed, sauce-streaked faces suggest demand isn’t going to die down soon. Nor should it with bread like this. While Mani makes schiacciata sometimes, most famously for a Christmas schnitzel sandwich, this scaled-up operation will see it shoot to new heights of infamy. Versus the soft yield of its Ligurian cousin focaccia, there’s strength here to put up a fight, squidgy chew lurking in every salt-flecked, crisp-crusted bite. And what a bite. That’s not just the literal meaning of Morso, it’s the whole fun. Watch diners size up their cross-sections like military commanders surveying a battlefield, and hope for hints before your buzzer bleeps. Those with ham and pickle (€13.95) look most tactically bereft, inches-thick layers leaving little choice but to go full anaconda. Eyes will flare as wide at the flavour – it’s the provenance as much as the portion that comes across as generous, with free-range Higgins ham and slabs of Hegarty’s cheddar anchoring what is now the best ham sammidge in town. The vodka sauce seeping out of the chicken parm (€13.95) turns heads on the street as sharply as it did on socials. McGonagle has worked with Tom Murray (aka Bitta Banging) to develop recipes here – sopping free-range cutlets only barely held in check by melted provolone and whipped stracciatella show what a wise move that was. The sharp shock of slicked pesto is all that stopped us slipping off the seat. Potato cream in the porchetta (€13.95) prompts one of those deep satisfied sighs, like buttery mash in a Christmas leftovers classic. Crisp crackling contrasts admirably with the low-and-slow softness of the pork, but dominant fennel in ours fought with too-tight wads of rocket for an overly vegetal mouthful in need of more acidity. An easy fix. There’s the makings of a hit in the caponata too (€12.95), whose best bites swaddle the EVOO-unctuous stewed veg in softening stracciatella, but occasionally the sour-sweet joy was lost through overly liberal salting. As the only meat-free offering this is one that needs nailing down. You'll find us back for the Turkey Caesar and the Roast Beef - they were both sold out when we got to the counter. What’s the verdict? The pep-talked roar that floated out the door as McGonagle flung it open speaks to the belief of his crack team, and the knowledge that they were in for a day of it. Minor hiccups can happen when hungry hordes descend - slinging out superb sandwiches in spite of that are a sign of an operation well-placed to keep them coming. Morso 42 Drury Street, Dublin 1 instagram.com/morso.ie

From cafés that catch the early morning light, to wine bars that hit their stead as the evening sun sets, the surrounds and suburbs of Dublin city are every bit as packed with great places to eat al fresco as the centre (see our guide to that here). From Rialto to Ranelagh, Portobello to Portmarnock, Stoneybatter to Stillorgan, here’s your suburban suntrap cheat sheet with 42 outdoor dining options for summer 2026... Dublin 8 Sceal, Portobello There are few better ways in D8 to welcome the summer than sat outside Scéal, asparagus and sorrel focaccia in hand. Their fenced-in front garden gets lovely sun all morning long, and with wafting scents of fresh bread and fresher brews we’d be hard-pressed to ever give up these seats if we were lucky enough to grab them. Alma and Around the Corner, Portobello There’s double the chance to enjoy Alma’s sun-soaked corner of Portobello since they made the minimal move to Curzon Street, and kept their South Circular Road site as more casual Around the Corner – but that hasn’t stopped them filling up just as fast. If you can snag one of these seats early, or just hover and be prepared to pounce, you’ll start the day as good as it gets. Notions @ Two Pups, Liberties Magic hour, we call it, as the late evening sun streaks down Francis Street like the summer solstice streaming through Newgrange, and everyone anywhere near Notions makes for their fleeting suntrap spot. Two Pups’ small plates wine bar hasn’t calmed down an iota since it opened last year, so be sure to book.