Something very exciting is coming to Dublin next week, and this one's been kept very well under wraps. ATF Insiders are getting the chance to try Chef Ross Bryans' new Irish-produce focused restaurant before anyone else, with a huge 50% off the bill for one night only on Wednesday 14th October. Banba opens on Harcourt Street next Friday 16th October, in a Georgian townhouse behind The Dean (its parent company), with a double-height dining room, an open kitchen, and serious pedigree in the kitchen. Executive Chef Ross Bryans was most recently in charge of Jean-Georges at The Leinster, but has previously worked in some of London's best kitchens, like three Michelin-starred Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Corrigan's Mayfair and Pollen Street Social, where he retained its Michelin star in his first year as Head Chef. At Banba, the focus is firmly on Irish produce, with Bryans spending the past year building relationships with farmers and growers across the country, from Reilly Mushrooms in Athlone, to Iona Fruit Farm in North Dublin. They're promising all the seasonal dishes, plenty of open-fire cooking, pickling and fermentation, and a menu that changes regularly with the seasons, so no two visits will be the same. The wine list hones in on Irish winemakers at home and abroad, including David Llewellyn of Lusca in Lusk, the team behind Château Puynard in Bordeaux, and Áine and Arnault Clopin of Fáda Wexford Wine. There's also a bar where guests will be invited to help themselves to a seasonal apéritif, and a series of cosy lounge spaces designed to make the whole experience feel more like you're in someone's (beautifully designed) home. Interest piqued yet? Banba officially opens to the public on Friday 16th October, but ATF Insiders have been invited in two days early, on Wednesday 14th October, with an exclusive 50% discount on the bill. This is a rare chance to be among the first to experience one of Dublin's most exciting new openings, at half the usual price, and this is the menu you'll be struggling to choose from... This is an ATF Insiders-only event - sign up here for €6 a month if you're not already part of the best food club in Dublin. Each Insider can book two spaces and bring one guest with them. If you want a bigger table, you'll need more Insiders. The link to book will be emailed to everyone signed up to ATF Insiders tomorrow, Saturday 10th October at 10am. Not an ATF Insider yet? Sign up below to get access to exclusive restaurant previews, special events, brilliant monthly prizes and more. Membership costs just €6 a month, and with events like this you're actually making money...

Even if the temperature hasn’t told us yet, the stacks of pumpkins showing up all over town have - autumn is upon us. And as summery courgettes give way to their orange cousins in the seasonal squash relay race, we’re seeing a sudden glut on Dublin menus. If pumpkin sucks up a lot of the attention, the humble apple is just as much an autumnal MVP – here’s where to go to get the best of both, plus plenty more of the season’s best bounties... Pumpkin benedict, Urbanity You can keep yer pumpkin pies (actually you can’t, we want them too) – for our money it’s the savoury stuff gourds are really good for. Soups and salads galore will be rolled out in the ATF kitchen over the next few weeks, but we can’t claim anything as creative as this. Brunch Kings Urbanity are serving up Hokkaido two ways over brioche with crispy lardons and sage hollandaise (!) just two of the treaty things they’re topping it with. Their pear and blackberry granola, and a spiced sausage and apple toast look essential too - ofc they’ve got a pumpkin spice latte on the go. Apple pie croissant, Twist In the midst of what feels like a real Renaissance for Dublin bakeries, Twist in Temple Bar have turned our heads so often they’re sore – this apple pie croissant leapt right to the top of our weekend hitlist. Stuffed with frangipane and house spiced bramley jam, and piped with dulce de leche, it’s ticking all our boxes for autumn indulgence. A potimarron squash focaccia sounds right up our savoury street too (kale pesto!) Carrot cake Danish, Two Pups Pity the poor carrot. This quiet workhorse tirelessly anchors soffriti and mirepoix year-round, but right when it’s at its very best, in comes pumpkin to suck up all the attention. We’re on the side of the underdog here, and so are Two Pups. The Francis Street fave have filled their laminated pastry with orange cheesecake and a cardamom jam to mimic the flavours of a classic carrot cake. Pumpkin could never. Maritozzo al gorgonzola, Sfuso Or, errr, could it? Sfuso’s seasonal special is putting that carrot commitment to the test with a novelty that’s hard to ignore. The maritozzi moment has lasted long for no little reason, with these fluffy stuffed buns offering no end of opportunity for invention. Here filled with the IYKYK combo of pumpkin and gorgonzola and finished with a sprinkle of pistachio, it’s a very good reason to veer off the quays. Apple and miso caramel tart, Elliot’s It took all of our restraint to keep from choosing Elliot’s pumpkin pastry this time – it’s got brie! – but what they’re doing with Irish-grown apples is, somehow, even more interesting. Miso is the main man here, bringing umami depth in a caramel to complicate the sweetness of the Stonewell-stewed fruit, a nice nod to the savoury possibilities of one of the things we grow best. More cider whipped through a cream on top is just the OTT treat we all deserve. Parsnip and potato croissant, Fable There’s never not heaps of seasonal stuff to choose from at Fable. We could go for their brown butter cakes with spiced apple jam, blackberry jam danishes with rosemary cream, aubergine focaccia with feta and dukkah… or we could spare a thought for the poor parsnip, a veg to make the carrot look popular. If anything could bring it back into fashion, shacking up with spiced spuds and smoked Gubbeen in a gratin surely would. Pumpkin spice bagels, Fat Baby Bakes We’re ever-so-slight sceptics in the pumpkin spice space – with every crappy café in the city jumping on the bandwagon, it’s hard not to be – but one place it really, really works is in Fat Baby Bakes bagels. The NY-style microbakery’s best-sellers are back now for order in minimum batches of six, with tubs of pumpkin spice schmear also there to compliment it. Not keen on home cooking? No problem. You can also pick them up, single and pre-loaded, from Tribe in Rathgar and Knocklyon, Chatty Fox in Rathfarnham, or Mellon’s in Ringsend. Glazed pork and apple, Mr Fox As the seasons shift and the evenings close in around us, we’re suckers for the savoury-sweet pairing of pork and apple. Few look to be doing it as deliciously as the revamped Mr Fox under the stewardship of new chef-patron Adam Jordan. He’s taken prime pork belly from Salters free range farm, given it a BBQ glaze, and cut through the lot with a spicy-sharp salad of apple, radish and jalapeño. Look at that crackling... Tangerine and chilli hot chocolate, Sister We were sad to see Sister’s chamoyada say goodbye at the end of the summer before we had a chance to get in, but if their autumn drinks menu is anything to go by it looks like every season will be bringing new reasons to visit this recent Portobello arrival. An ancho chilli and tangerine hot chocolate is top of our list this time, but they’ve got house syrups to spare in banana bread, apple caramel and pumpkin pie lattes too. Pumpkin spiced halloumi sandwich, Tir Deli There’s no end of stuff to get excited about in Tír’s latest seasonal sambo, from organic roast pumpkin paté to a barrel-aged fermented house hot honey, but it’s the sound of smoked and soy-marinated mushrooms that’ll have us running for Hatch Street or CHQ. Their constant commitment to sustainability and minimal waste shines through in the pumpkin seed crumb and the guts set aside for spiced syrup. Apple and celeriac, Amai by Viktor With their fourth tasting menu newly launched, Amai by Viktor just keep giving us reasons to come back – this odd autumnal pairing is chief among them. Just like their tomato dessert we flagged as a summer special worth making a beeline for, this offbeat palate cleanser (sat between cheese and a chicken and bacon waffle) is playing with the versatility we often forget is right in front of us. Autumn fruits tart, Dax Don’t forget the fruits! With all those knobbly bits and root veg cropping up this time of year, it’s easy to forget the full feast of fresh fruit that lingers over after summer. Dax pastry chef Franco Rego is on the case with this pretty picture of a shortbread tart, topped with white chocolate ganache and a scattering of figs and all the best berries. Apple pie chai, Loverboy Clontarf café Loverboy have impressed us before with some of their smart sambo twists (prosciutto and peach chilli jam!) but they’re slinging out stuff just as creative in the drinks space too. A house spice blend for hot and iced apple pie chai is their latest invention, just in time for when you need something steaming on your seaside stroll. They’ve just dropped a few new sandwiches too if you've worked up an appetite. Pumpkin pie, No Messin’ There’s no appointment eating quite like No Messin’ pies – the show-stopping bakery has been dropping seasonal sales to newsletter subscribers only since they launched things back in 2020. Mince pies (SOON) are by far and away the most beloved, but their pumpkin pie isn’t lagging far behind. Sign up quick to snag your slot in the impending release for that crisp, crumbly pastry…

From a parting glance at one season to a fully-fledged embrace of another; a hero ingredient served up eight ways in one dish; to another inspiring a whole menu; there’s a lot to get your teeth around in Dublin this week... 1) Pear, vanilla and pecan tuille, Volumes Mother. Of. Mercy. We liked Volumes plenty on our initial recon at the start of the year but their strength-to-strength surge on the patisserie front especially has us plotting a return visit. Landing ex-Elliot’s and Aimsir pastry chef Callum Falls is the secret to that success, and if he keeps slinging out show-stopping stuff like this it’ll be far from the first time we feature him here. Pop by at weekends only to get your hands on it – might as well try the new smoked pork belly bagel while you’re there. 2) Kilkee crab and courgette pizzette, Borgo If Volumes are serving up a taste of autumn (see our roundup of the city’s best seasonal dishes for more), Borgo’s latest pizzette is the best way around town to cling onto summer. This year’s top-quality crop of Irish courgettes should last until the end of the month – we can think of few better ways to indulge than spread over premium crab and a green onion ricotta. 3) Lemon 8 ways, Hawksmoor And we thought we were doing well to get three takes on an ingredient into one dish… Over at steakhouse Hawksmoor they’ve always tended to take the rest of the menu just as seriously as the meat, and that’s never been clearer than with this all-in-on-lemon dessert. With eight different iterations of the citrus flavour poured, piped, patted, scooped, spread and sprinkled over a meringue bowl, it’s your five a day sorted all in one big zesty bite. 4) Daily dal, Two Pups We won’t quite complain about the weather staying unseasonably warm but it is keeping us from the headlong hurtle into soup season we look forward to all year. Two Pups have a handy halfway house solution in the form of the return of their OG menu’s daily dal to Francis Street’s lunch menu. That’ll do us fine. 5) Absolutely everything, Mushroom Butcher Okay but seriously, just look at that shokupan. Every time a Mushroom Butcher menu drops, so does our jaw, but seeing them all laid out like this takes things to a whole new level. Mark Senn’s home-grown mushrooms supply many of the best restaurants in town, but with these Japanese-inspired dishes his South Circular Road truck like it deserves a place right alongside them. Get them this weekend from 10:00 - 15:00.

There are some dishes that are just iconically Dublin right now, whose images need no accompanying description, so well are they recognised as part of the food fabric of the city. The ones that diners go back for again and again, and that restaurants are too afraid to take off the menu in case customers start a revolt. We've compiled what we think are Dubin's 32 most iconic dishes, in need of no introduction, with help from you guys, and want to see how many you've had the pleasure of introducing to your taste buds...

A Two Pups wine bar? Is this Notions on the Northside? Not quite. The tiny Two Pups Fairview is trying a weekend pivot into wine and snacks, with a limited menu and no bookings, so it'll only really appeal to spontaneous locals with no fear of being turned away. Is there much seating? Again, no. There are five tables outside (no heaters may become problematic when temperatures fall), and one counter in the window inside, sitting four-five at a push. Is it just wine? Wine and wine-based cocktails, with a natural-leaning selection. It was quiet when we visited so not all the wines by the glass were open, with our server saying they were trying to minimise waste. It seems to be a case of chicken and egg. We loved a spicy vermouth spritz (so clever), but the peche blanc tasted too much like our peach schnapps laden youths. All of the wines we tried we want to drink again, with the Sette Italian white, Heinrich 'naked orange', and the chilled Italian Terre di Pietra red ones we jotted down for future purchasing. What is there to eat? A limited menu, so not a place to come with limited eaters - take people who eat all the tasty food. Several influencer reels are talking about the fact that you can order the whole menu for €39, but that's way too much, so hold your horses. Rectangles of pan con tomate (€4) came on soft, golden-crusted bread, more like a white yeast loaf than a pillowy focaccia, with avocado, ripe tomatoes, thin slices of olives and olive oil. A simple, well seasoned pairing for wine sipping. Little balls of Gubbeen arancini with red pepper ketchup felt steep at €5 a pop, but oozed nutty, cheesy flavour. The ketchup is a winner - we scooped up every drop. Then deep-fried karaage chicken (€14) with date ketchup, aioli or chipotle mayo. There's no provenance listed so we presume it's not free range, but the thigh meat was juicy, the coating lightly spiced, and the fat well drained from a crisp coasting. Of the dips, date ketchup was the best - the other two needed more flavour. Garlic butter fries are twice as naughty as regular ones, crisp and garlic scented. They don't need the dip, but who could resist a dunk. A Bold Boy tiramisu (€10) convinced people who thought they didn't like tiramisu that it's not so bad after all. A huge, ultra creamy portion, you could share one between three or four. What are the flaws? No bookings, no toilet, no plates. They did hold a table for us after an Instagram DM, but they can take a while to get back. Want to offload that wine? They have an arrangement with the fluorescently lit takeaway a few doors down to use their loo. Everything served in disposable trays upset us, especially as they use proper plates in the day time. Why should we go? For good wines, an easy going menu, and satisfying refreshment on the fly. Reservations and non-disposable dinnerware would make it even better, but in an ideal world they'd find a bigger space (with a toilet) and bring the full, D8 operation northside. Two Pups Wine Bar 30 Annesley Bridge Rd, Fairview, Dublin 3, D03 R3N8 twopupscoffee.com

Our 35 hottest list features the most talked about restaurants in Dublin right now, based on column inches, Insta love and the general pain involved in getting a booking. There are the restaurants with all the buzz, in alphabetical order, with SIX new entries for Autumn 2026... (It might also be useful to read our guide on how to tables in the top ten hardest to book restaurants in Dublin) * This list doesn't include cafés or lunch-only options, everywhere here is open for dinner at a minimum Amai by Viktor Where: Harry Street, Dublin 2 Few Dublin restaurants have ascended the dining ranks as quickly as Amai by Viktor. After opening above The Corkscrew in summer 2025, they were added to the Michelin guide just 55 days later. Eyes are still on them for a potential star in the future, and with their menu price creeping up they're obviously hoping for the same. Every time we've eaten there it's been better than the last, and if 2027 isn't their year we're starting an official protest. Read our our once over here. Bambino Where: Baggot Street & Stephen Street Now a meme for pizza in Dublin, it's hard to believe that Bambino is only open a few years - the queue down Stephen Street feels like it's been there for decades. Good news for the parish came late last year when they announced that their temporary, more chilled second slice shop on Baggot Street was going permanent, making your ability to get a slice considerably easier. Check out Bambino here. Bang Where: Merrion Row, Dublin 2 The second opening from the due behind Kicky's, saw head chef Eric Matthews and co-owner Richie Barrett take over Richie's family restaurant Bang, dragging it into 2026. The food, drinks and vibe are modelled on some of their favourite places in Spain and Portugal, and the critic raves came in one after the other. It's safe to say Bang hasn't been this busy in years. Read our Bang once over here.

In recent years we’ve sometimes struggled to scrape together enough new openings of interest to fill a roundup every few months. Now we could nearly work one up for Capel Street alone. The Northside hub has no fewer than five new arrivals, all at once, but fret not if that's not your usual hood – there’s plenty more opening across the city and suburbs to stick on your autumn hitlist... Chongqing Noodles, Capel Street Let’s start our stroll along Capel Street from the south, where just over Grattan Bridge, in the site Soup Dragon vacated back in February, crowds started to cluster at the end of the summer. We weren't long joining them. Chongqing Noodles – no relation to Chongqing Hotpot – is a cheap and cheerful addition to the street with some serious spice kick spread across the menu. The walk-in only 14-seater has had queues for good reason, with the signature noodles the star of the show – we couldn’t slurp the dried with minced pork and peas quick enough. Wontons and smashed cucumber salad are worth opening your wallet for too. Read our two minute review here. Rio Coffee, Capel Street Only a few paces up the way, bright green frontage marks – at last! – the end of one of Capel Street’s longest-standing vacancies. Gone is Ivan Yates’ eyesore Celtic Bookmakers, and in is café Rio Coffee, with a newly-installed hatch slinging Brazilian beans and pastries. Chocolate-topped carrot cake and (of course) pão de queijo are among the tastes of home they’re cooking up at this family affair, with a €14 coffee and sandwich deal adding to the appeal. Their range of Brazilian beach drinks like lime iced tea and passionfruit mate might have landed just a little too late to capitalise on the sunny summer, but we’re anticipating seeing lots of their friendly branding up and down the street regardless. Fuoco, Ranelagh ATF Insiders will already know all about Fuoco – they got first dibs on the food there two Sundays ago with the latest of our exclusive takeovers. Suffice to say it was a very good night. Jules Mak shuttered his namesake Chinese after 14 years at the end of May (it continues in takeaway form with a lunch menu we’re keen to try) to make space for this new Italian concept, with lasagna skewers and clam linguine among the things we’re predicting for instant icon status in this stunning room. As it stands there already isn’t peak dinnertime availability until next month and it’s only going to get worse as the word gets out more – take whatever you can get quick.

What’s with all the Italian sandwiches? They’re getting to be like Dublin buses – you wait around for one for ages and then they all appear at once (or drop off the screen like you hallucinated their existence). Given the queues still snaking out of Morso on Drury Street and Stoneybatter’s Banco months on from opening, there seems to be more than enough market to support yet more sammidges all’italiana. Are they just hopping on the bandwagon? To be fair – despite the “Northside Morso” headlines that heralded Olive & Crust’s arrival on Capel Steet, they were running a delivery biz out of Smithfield’s Spade Enterprise Hub long before Mani’s sister site taught (some of) us how to say schiacciata. Doubtless the other pair’s packed crowds helped veteran chef Dinos Nela bring his take on Tuscany’s famed flatbread to the site Hot Bubble Café held for the previous decade. Where should we start? Prego, con caffe. Any Italian eatery worth its salt starts with good coffee, and while they don’t shout about suppliers here (and wouldn’t spill the beans when asked), our flat white (€4) and Americano (€3.50) sipped smoothly as we settled into the people-watching ledge up front and awaited our order. House spreads and premium Italian ingredients are core to the pitch here – we wrecked our necks craning at labels and would bet they’re working with importer Italicatessen based on what we spotted. You can taste the quality in the Fiorentina (€13.90), prosciutto’s salty savour and the briny funk of a gorgonzola cream brought to heel by the slicked sweetness of a fig jam we’d eat a whole jar of. If the shared schiacciata wasn’t already inviting comparisons to Morso, the presence of porchetta sure would. Many though they be, these thin slivers off a bought-in block just can’t compete with the thick slices of the house-rolled and roasted joints across the river. In the speciale (€12.90) they’re piled high on earthy artichoke cream and caramelised onions that could have used a little longer on the hob. We’d wager the dough’s less developed than Drury Street’s too – a flatter form and fewer big bubbles suggest a shorter rise. Still, the crispy-chewy contrast delivers the goods. If only the pesto did too. It’s lost amidst lush grilled courgettes and aubergines in a vegetariana (€11.90) that badly needs the kick. We couldn’t but think of Banco’s better (and €1.40 cheaper) riff on the same style. Dolce schiacciata might give gimmicky vibes but there’s a don’t-knock-‘til-you’ve-tried novelty in these two the other shops can’t offer – it’s surprisingly good. Ripe banana slices stud the slick of rich ricotta cream under an oozing mass of Nutella they don’t half go the whole hog on. You’ll want this to share, between many. Do not wear white. What’s the verdict on Olive & Crust? On both off-peak visits we made, we watched the flat-capped Nela giddily court feedback from customers drawn in by the window’s rustic display – there’s pride and passion aplenty. But there’s also more competition than ever. With Banco beating it on price and Morso winning on provenance, Olive & Crust isn’t likely to see the same queues, but if you’re hungry in a hurry, that’s a draw in itself. Olive & Crust 55 Capel Street, Dublin 1 oliveandcrust.ie

We've got beef sandwiches on the brain, humita in our hearts, and caramel brûlée croobes on the most wanted list. Strap yourself in for five reasons to get out there and eat this week... 1) Sunday roast schiacciata, Morso After groaning our way through the porchetta sandwich at Morso last week (seriously, have you tasted it?), we have an admittedly unhealthy obsession going on. So did we need another reason to visit? Absolutely not. But the sight of their Sunday roast schiacciata on their first Sunday opening had us ready for worship. Rare roast beef, melted provolone, hot giardiniera and beef jus on sesame schiacciata. Oh lordy... 2) Caramel brûlée croobe, Elle's Barely a day seems to go by without Elle's in Kimmage posting another supreme pastry creation that keeps a permanent queue outside the café, and last week they casually showed up with a caramel brûlée croobe. Made in house, laminated pastry is baked into a perfect cube, filled with caramel, topped with vanilla crème and finished with a blowtorch to get that crackable brûléed top. These were from a trial batch but they say it's likely to become a regular, and are even teasing a Mikado version... 3) Sunday tacos and margs, Row Wines Finding great value eating out in Dublin these days takes some work, but we reckon two tacos and a margarita or paloma for €20 in Row Wines counts as a deal worth leaving the house for. Get it Sunday from 1pm until close, and pick from baja-style prawn, pork belly carnitas, chorizo or a veggie option. 4) Chimichurri beef brioche, Sando Paradiso We're back on our beef buzz, this time in brioche with chimichurri, tomato and roast garlic mayo. Is there anything Sando Paradiso at Hen's Teeth don't absolutely nail? Did we mention it's served with paprika fries too? See last sentence... 5) Humita, Alma Listen, we're not quite ready to declare it soup season (hello 24c Mondays in September...) but we're only days away from Autumn chills, rooting out all of our jumpers, and the end of iced coffees for another year, so best get planning where to warm up now. We're heading for Alma and their Argentinean HUMITA. Sautéed corn, kabocha squash, carrot and onions are soupified, before being served with crispy kale and garlic oil. We're almost willing temperatures to drop. Almost...

A five-star hotel stay with a Michelin-starred tasting menu; four new openings to experience on us, and tickets to a very exciting Stoneybatter supper club - here's the nine prizes you're going in the draw for in September if you're an ATF Insider (i.e. the best 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 Thursday 17th September will be entered into this month's prize draw, and winners will be selected on Friday 18th September... 1) An overnight stay at Carton House with dinner in The Morrison Room Oh we do love a five-star hotel stay, and to mark the arrival of Killian Bowen as head chef of Michelin-starred The Morrison Room, we're sending one Insider and a very lucky plus-one off to Carton House in Kildare! You'll stay overnight in one of the hotel's luxury rooms, after enjoying a Michelin-starred tasting menu for two, with breakfast the next morning and full access to the hotel's wellness facilities. Bowen's new menus combine Nordic and French techniques with some of Ireland's best produce, so go hungry, clear the diary for the next morning, and prepare to be very smug about the fact you're only half an hour from Dublin. Check out The Morrison Room here. 2) Four tickets to "Gathered" at The K Club worth €440 The K Club is leaning fully into autumn for its next Gathered dinner, with executive chef Gary O'Hanlon serving six courses built around what's in season and produce from the hotel's own Walled Garden. Corn bisque with crab; Applewood-smoked Thornhill duck; and estate elderflowers are all on the menu, while head sommelier Lisa O'Doherty has been rooting around The K Club's wine cellar to find the bottles to go with them. We've got four tickets to give away for the event on Friday 25th September worth a massive €440, with a welcome drink, six-course menu AND wine pairing. Imagine the scramble amongst your nearest and dearest if you win. Might be easier if you just bring us instead...? Limited tickets for this month's Gathered dinner can be purchased by contacting reservations@kclub.ie. 3) A night at Fade Street Tavern worth €150 We really didn't think Dublin needed another pizza place, but we'll always admit when we're wrong. Fade Street Tavern have FINALLY brought Chicago born, tavern-style pizza to Dublin, but don't sleep on the NY-style and Grandma pies too. This month's €150-value prize starts with Prosecco for two on the heated rooftop terrace, before heading downstairs for appetisers to share, two Tavern-style pizzas, desserts and two signature cocktails. If you're not comatose after that you can stay on for more drinks and the late-night DJ. Read our review of Fade Street Tavern here. 4) Dinner for two at Gaffe, Leonard's Corner We called Gaffe's quarter-pounder "Dublin's best new burger" after our visit to Dan Chambers' residency at Leonard's Corner, and we're not alone in thinking he's doing something special back there. The tiny, six-table dining area has been filling up fast, with a constantly changing menu of smart, seasonal pub food that's as good value as it is good to eat. We've got dinner for two to give away this month, with two starters, two mains, dessert to share and two drinks. The burger's non-negotiable; after that you're on your own. Read our review of Gaffe here. 5) €100 voucher for Two Pups' new wine bar in Fairview Fairview has been crying out for more places to go after dark, and Two Pups have answered locals' calls by turning their Annesley Bridge café into a natural wine bar every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening. The daytime coffee gets swapped for low-intervention wines and sharing plates like Gubbeen arancini and Karaage chicken, with no bookings and a deliberately casual "come in for one and see where the night goes" approach. One of our Insiders is going to win €100 to spend there this month, which should give ample opportunity to put that theory to the test. 6) The chef's menu for two with wine at Goat's Gruff We've been waiting impatiently for Goat's Gruff to open their proper sit-down restaurant in Castleknock, and the initial menus and reviews suggest it was worth the wait. Their famous 48-hour fermented sourdough pizzas are still present and correct, but they're joined by dishes like burrata with pumpkin and walnut; crab gnocchi; short rib; and tiramisu. Their new €55 chef's menu drops very soon and we're sending one of you in with a guest to try it out, plus a bottle of wine, so you can hand over all decision-making and concentrate on the eating and drinking - our preferred type of evening. Check them out and book here. 7) Two tickets to Landlover Food's supper club worth €190 Landlover Food's five-course supper clubs at Lilliput Stores bring together two people with very different talents. Ballymaloe-trained chef Aideen White spent more than 20 years cooking on luxury yachts for names like Martha Stewart, Leonardo DiCaprio and Cindy Crawford, while Sheena O'Byrne takes care of the room, flowers, ceramics and tablescapes, making dinner look almost too pretty to disturb. We've got two tickets to give away to one of their upcoming Stoneybatter dinners on 25th Sept, 15th Oct or 20th Nov priced at €95 including a cocktail on arrival, where Aideen's menus put seasonal Irish produce from suppliers like McNally Family Farm front and centre. Check out Landlover Food here. 8) The early bird for four with a bottle of house wine at Hidden, Smithfield Hidden in Smithfield has had a rethink. After asking customers what they wanted more (and less) of, they've rebuilt the menu around all-day eating, with pizza now available from lunchtime, the arrival of panuozzo – folded pizza sandwiches which require no further sales pitch – and no more awkward 3–4:30pm kitchen shutdown. Their pancakes and burgers aren't going anywhere either. We've got their great value early bird for four to give away this month (from €21 for two courses) plus a bottle of house wine, so you can gather three pals and investigate the new-look Hidden for yourselves. 9) A Seafood Café oyster masterclass for two If you love oysters but approach opening one like you're about to perform minor surgery, The Seafood Café are here to educate you. Their Sunday Oyster Masterclass starts with a welcome drink before taking you through the history of Irish oysters, a tasting of some of the country's best and, crucially, teaching you how to shuck them properly without losing a finger. The €65pp experience also includes shucking goodies to take home, so no excuse not to put your newfound knowledge into practice. Book their weekend oyster masterclasses here. Everyone signed up for ATF Insiders in September (both new and old) will be automatically entered into the prize draw - you just need to sit back and see if a good news email pops into your inbox after the 18th. If you're not signed up yet, join here before midnight on Thursday 17th August - this could be month your luck's in...

Where did this new opening come from? A few weeks ago a new noodle restaurant with a permanent queue opened on Capel Street, in the old Soup Dragon site. There's nothing more intriguing than a line for food, and you know we're getting into that line asap. With just 14 seats inside, and one small table outside sitting two-three, they told us we could wait outside for 20-25 minutes until a table came free, but eventually agreed to call us so we could wander Capel Street. Is it linked to anywhere else? When we tried to get more info on Chongqing Noodles from the restaurant they kept it vague, telling us "Noodles are at the heart of what we do, alongside a selection of traditional Sichuan dishes and flavours!" (Chongqing was part of the Sichuan province until 1997 but isn't any more). When we pressed further they got a bit cagey, wanting to know why we were asking. They did confirm that the chef owner is from Sichuan, and that one of the things he missed from home are tiny, local noodle shops, each with its own way of doing things. This is his first restaurant. What's on the menu? Lots of noodles, much of them high on the spicy scale - don't bring someone who can't handle the heat. Cold appetisers, snacks, dumplings and rice bowls also feature, and prices are low (but without any provenance information it's hard to peg it as "good value"). The signature chilli oil wontons (€11.90) were pork filled, chilli oil doused, softly enveloped parcels, and the quickest thing to disappear from the table. Shredded potato slivers (€5.90) with crunch, zing and all the numbing effects from Sichuan peppercorns weren't far behind. Smashed cucumber salad (€5.90) was another benchmark done right, and the refreshing tang was a needed salve in between bites of the spicier soups. A tea-marinated egg (€1) is an easy add on, but we would have preferred a less cooked yolk. Traditional Chonqing noodles (€8.90) are three out of three chillies on the heat scale, and they weren't lying about the spice. Get a jug of water and plenty of tissues ready. It's a veggie dish likely to keep pulling you back for another bite of those springy noodles, the power of málà in full effect. The revelation was the dried noodles with minced pork and silky split peas (€11.90), the kind of dish you'd walk miles to eat again. We were savouring every element when we were lightly scolded by a waitress for not mixing it all up from the bottom. That's us told. Whatever way you eat it, you'll want to do it again. We'd skip the clay pot noodles with pork belly (€11.90). The broth didn't have the same layers as the other dishes, and the pork belly was about 70% fat. A few spoons was enough before we asked them to pack it up to take home. Why should we go? For inexpensive food that wouldn't be out of place in the Sichuan province, with spice levels that aren't dialled down for Dubliners. This is an easy place to get fast food that feels good (as long as you don't mind a queue). Chongqing Noodles 168 Capel St, North City, Dublin 1, D01 V972 instagram.com/dublinchongqingnoodle

It's not just Dublin cafés on a constant pivot to small plates and wine by night - the wine shops are at it now too. Are we complaining? Definitely not, but it’s ever more important to know who's got the good stuff, who's giving you decent value btg, and who's got the food to go with it. Here’s the latest ATF guide on where to drink great wine in Dublin... City centre and surrounds Bar Pez, Kevin Street A more casual counterpoint to its older sister Fish Shop, Bar Pez joined the family in 2023 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. Loose Canon, Drury Street Uber-cool Loose Canon has been an essential part of the Drury Street scene since kicking off a wave of wine bars all the way back in 2018, which brought natural wine to the Dublin masses. Their by the glass rotation always throws up some curveballs, and the bottles (with €15 corkage if you’re drinking in) give even more variety – ask about their chilled reds. Their toasties and cheese plates are some of the most satisfying city centre snacks going. Margadh RHA, Ely Place If you book dinner at Margadh RHA you'll need to order a minimum of two courses, but they welcome spontaneous stop offs for a glass of wine and some snacks. Their coravin selection is very tempting, as are the truffle bonbons with cauliflower and parmesan.

Please, not another matcha café That’s not quite the pitch here, even if it is likely to prove part of the draw. A bigger trend in the city that Nippon-Kan is riding is multi-purpose usage – all the better to meet the crippling rent costs that put paid to previous tenant, booze-free bar The Virgin Mary. This new don’t-call-it-a-café from the folks behind Daruma boasts big things to come across the three distinct spaces that make up the site, and a much more sensible plan than the building's owners originally envisioned. What was that then? Look, we’ve only got two minutes here, but let’s just say we’re not shocked to say Irish Distillers Ltd’s VIP plans including “celebrity bedroom” didn’t quite work out. The Jameson parent company’s half-cooked concept for an event space explains the copper pot still punctuating the peace of the Japanese garden newly installed out back - maybe a hotspot for corporate Christmas bookings to come?

Autumn has officially arrived, or at least the clouds have, but we’re still holding out for those brief flashes of Dublin sunshine. Thankfully September’s specials are giving us plenty of reasons to embrace the new season. Here are the fab five we can’t stop thinking about this week... 1) Blackberry medovyk sour cream croissant, Elliot’s Elliot’s has several September specials, but the blackberry medovyk sour cream croissant had our eyes feeling bigger than our stomachs. Layers of pastry, jammy blackberries and sour cream are sat on top of a medovyk filling (Ukrainian honey cake) - pair with a cuppa and your Autumn treat yo self order is sorted. 2) Smoked duck sandwich, Tír Deli Tír Deli on Hatch Street has piled smoked duck, cucumber salad, apple and blackberry hoisin, and duck-fat mayo into an Oak Smoked Bakery ciabatta, before finishing it with toasted crumbs. The juicy duck and fruity hoisin had us interested, but the duck-fat mayo and crumbs sealed the deal. Pick one up, find a bench in the Iveagh Gardens and contemplate swapping the summer wardrobe out for the autumn one. 3) Dinish Island crab and prawn spaghetti, Lottie’s It's time to pack on the pasta pounds, and Lottie’s in Rathmines is an enabler with this spaghetti loaded with Dinish Island crab, prawns, datterini tomatoes, lemon and chilli. It’s generous, glossy and just summery enough to transport us back to the beach, even if the city's weather forecast has other ideas. 4) Breakfast burrito, Mad Yolks Mad Yolks has us setting an earlier alarm for its Liliput chorizo breakfast burrito. Stuffed with free-range eggs, bacon, hash browns, avocado and plenty of melted cheese, it looks like the kind of breakfast that could cure just about anything you got yourself into last night. We’ll take ours with extra napkins and no plans to share. 5) Rack of lamb at Rhythm and Roast, The Libertine The Libertine in Dublin 8 launched its Rhythm and Roast series on Sunday 6th September (happening again on the 20th), pairing a whole rack of lamb or a côte de boeuf with live jazz from Eric Doyle. The Instagram peek stars two tender, perfectly pink roast options, glossy red wine jus and all the sides. Sunday roast and live jazz under one roof? Name a nicer way to spend a September Sunday...

Fuoco, the new Italian-inspired opening in Ranelagh from the same people behind Michelin-listed Parrilla and Mak, opens on Tuesday 15th September, but we've got an exclusive preview for ATF Insiders on Sunday 13th September with 30% off the bill! While the guys settle into their dark and cosy dining room, Mediterranean-style cooking and great drinks, you can be the guinea pigs to test out dishes like crispy polenta chips with crab, mortadella skewers with pistachio crumb, and osso bucco pappardelle. Did we mention there's pizzette and dishes cooked over the coals too? For the preview on Sunday 13th September bookings will be available from 17:30 - 20:30, and each Insider can book a table for them plus one guest. You can book a table for four or six if there are two or three people per booking with an ATF Insiders subscription (and we do check out of fairness to everyone signed up). Everyone lucky enough to bag a booking will enjoy 30% off your final bill. Here's the menu you'll be struggling to choose from on the night (subject to changes), and drinks menus are coming soon. This is an ATF Insiders-only event - sign up here for €6 a month if you're not already part of the best food club in Dublin. Each Insider can book two spaces and bring one guest with them. If you want a bigger table, you need more Insiders. (Due to the nature of this event you may be sat with other insiders.) The links to book will be emailed to everyone signed up to ATF Insiders tomorrow, Thursday 3rd September at 11am. If you're not already signed up you can do so below.

What’s the lowdown on Lulu’s? We should have believed them when they said they’re “not a restaurant”. We’d taken it in the sense that it's more trattoria as the storefront announces, but on our first Friday visit there’s very little food at all - just pizzette. It was aperitivo hour’s €2 cicchetti more than wine that lured us to Lulu’s, but no harm. A glass in hand, the world passing by a people-watching perch up front -we enjoy the atmosphere and plot a return.

Why is a Dublin restaurant guide talking about a pub and restaurant in Wicklow? Because GLENDALOUGH. We all talk about doing it, suggest doing it, mean to do it more regularly, but without a food-based carrot at the end of an activity stick we struggle to commit to just about anything. Well consider this a carrot of titanic proportions, and the best excuse for an 8km hike since you trekked from the Electric Picnic carpark to the campsite. What are the essential must-knows? Remember when Avoca was a charming, Irish-owned indie business, before American behemoth Aramark took over? This is family member (and original Avoca food protagonist) Simon Pratt's second bite of the feelgood food cherry, along with café and food shop Roundwood Stores next door. It's been added to the Michelin Guide, was named one of the top 100 restaurants in Ireland by the McKenna's the first year it opened, and called "a truly charming place to eat" by Irish Times food critic Corinna Hardgrave. So what's the food like? Like the kind of pub menu we could only dream of in our most weary Sunday fantasies. Lambay crab on sourdough toast; chicken schnitzel Caesar salad; Wagyu cheeseburgers - Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore. A moment too for the €14 kids menu that comes with locally grown and pressed apple juice and two scoops of ice-cream. Fresh fish? Free-range chicken? For kids? What madness is this... For adults (or kids with adult palates), both the chicken liver pate with brioche and Lambay crab were sping-tinglingly good, each like the kind of Christmas starter Mrs Claus might magic up if you were ever lucky enough to get an invite round for the big feast. We only had to hear "Higgins braised beef brisket pie" once. Throw in a "there's only a couple left" and we went full on commando mode, ensuring the order was secure before the rest of the table had reached the bottom of the menu. Honestly? It was nice, a bit lacking in meat, and we haven't thought of it since (€29.50). Wicklow Wolf IPA cod and chips (€29.95) on the other hand we'd go back for in a heartbeat. See also chicken schnitzel Caesar salad. Everything you love about a perfectly dressed Caesar, with crispy, flattened, juicy chicken on top. Don't ever pass up heirloom tomato salad in summer in a place like this either, especially when it's delivered on a bed of ricotta and basil. What else should we know? It'll be no surprise to fans of Avoca of yore that dessert SLAPS, like our chocolate tart with vanilla cream and blueberries. Drinks SLAP for a pub too, with properly interesting beer and wines (we loved our German Pinot Noir from Geil and Wicklow beers but there was loads we could have ordered). Everyone bar the designated driver will be thrilled. Why should we go? Because a wholesome hike around some lakes followed by some wholesome food and drinks by people who actually care about what they're serving is sadly rare in these fast paced times. Do yourself a solid and plan this beautiful day out soon. The Coach House Roundwood, Co. Wicklow, A98 P635 thecoachhouse.ie/dining

Contrary to popular belief, Dublin restaurants do not close en masse on Sundays anymore. What was once a day of rest is now for steak, small plates and seafood experiences. Here's where to go when you need a serious feed of a Sunday in Dublin, whether it's a special occasion that just happens to fall at the end of the week, or you're just in need of wine and snacks to see off the Sunday scaries... Special Occasions Parrilla, Ranelagh Recent addition to the Michelin guide, Parrilla in Ranelagh, keeps the taco and marg party going until late on Sunday. Tostasas, flautas and barbacoa lamb are all highlights, and the €55 and €65 sharing menus are great for groups if you're celebrating with a gang. The Butcher Grill, Ranelagh Loads of ATF readers list The Butcher Grill in Ranelagh as their special occasion go to, and with Irish and US-sourced prime cuts of meat, the option to add gambas to everything, and oysters to start, it's not difficult to see why. Sunday night celebration spot sorted for Southsiders, Bresson, Monkstown French fine dining institution Bresson in Monkstown takes bookings until 20:00 on Sundays, and you can get their early bird up until 17:45, with two courses for under €40. With dishes like Coquille St Jacques; Kilkeel crab and leek crème brûlée; and confit duck leg with Lyonnaise potatoes, this is one for a special night out.

Steak frites but make it bigger and better; spenny chocolate cake but make it sexier; sandwiches but make them sunnier - the colour, flavour and imagination dials are turned to the top in Dublin this week. Here's what made our hit list... 1) Ribeye steak frites, Hera If you imagine steak frites as a simple bistro-style slip of a thing with some crunchy fries on the side, prepared to be dazzled and amazed by the one at Hera. A 9oz, aged ribeye comes swimming in green peppercorn sauce with wild mushrooms, watercress purée and a mound of shoestring fries on top. Swooning? Us...? 2) Mortadella and peach sandwich, Morso Summer peaches have finally been getting the love they deserve in sandwiches and pizzas around town, and Morso have just entered the chat with this mortadella and peach sambo. As if that wasn't mouth-watering enough, you can also count Stracciatella, Calabrian hot honey, Nocellara olive and pistachio salsa and mint in the ingredients list - as if the queues outside weren't bad enough already. 3) Mayan Red ice-cream sandwich, Comet Comet's Mayan Red chocolate cake has been on their menu since they opened a year ago, but they say that like it's relation, the Basque cheesecake, it's best eaten on the day it's made. So that not a drop of that spenny chocolate is wasted, they turn any leftovers into a parfait, freeze it, and serve it in a crispy waffle with blood plums and whipped salted mascarpone as a "Mayan Red ice-cream sandwich". Sounds even better than the original... 4) Golae chicken skewers, Achara Achara say their Golae chicken skewers were so popular at Big Grill Festival this year that they've added it to their restaurant menu. Golae comes from the south of Thailand, and involves chicken being grilled and dipped in sauce countless times to create a curry coating. They're serving it with organic, Irish veg from McNally Farm in the form of an ajat style pickle with Santa Fe chilli, cucumber and shallots, and some grilled Shishito peppers on the side. Get that order in before it's gone again. 5) Rice pudding custard tart, Cora We're not sure what well Cora are pulling their menu ideas out of, but we're hoping it doesn't dry up any time soon. A rice pudding custard tart with tahini dulce de leche is their latest dessert addition, and it looks and sounds like the gentle easing into Autumn we could all use as the leaves start falling.

Glovers Alley reopens this September with one of Ireland's most exciting young chefs at the helm, and we've managed to secure a very special preview for ATF Insiders on Friday 4th September, before doors officially open on Wednesday 9th September. Adam Nevin is taking over following Andy McFadden's departure, and if you've been following him over the last few years, you'll know this is a big deal for Dublin. He took over The Morrison Room at Carton House in September 2023, coming from The Grill at The Dorchester in London, and just 17 months later won the restaurant its first Michelin star. The Guide praised his "strong classical technique" with clever "wildcard flavour combinations", and the Irish press were in agreement that one of the world's most wanted culinary awards was well deserved. Now he's been lured to Dublin to give Michelin-starred Glovers Alley in The Fitzwilliam Hotel on St Stephen's Green a new direction, and we're very curious to see what's coming next. Based off the opening menu and menu prices we'd hazard a guess they're going for two... There's two menus - the Classic with five courses plus savouries and sweets for €155, and the Discovery with seven courses plus savouries and sweets for €190, and opening dishes include scallop, kimchi, calamansi and Oscietra caviar; Iberico presa, smoked sausage and celeriac; and veal sweetbread with tortilla, guindilla pepper and chorizo. There's also a "Dublin coddle" course which we look forward to being finally convinced on. For our special ATF Insiders preview on Friday 4th September, we're getting the full seven-course Discovery menu, plus a glass of Billecart-Salmon Champagne on arrival, for €155pp (that's a €60 saving on booking in yourself). Tables will be available from 18:00 - 20:30 and there's only 30 seats available. Adam and the team will also be on hand throughout the evening so you'll also get to meet the people behind Dublin's newest Michelin-starred experience. Because of the limited nature of this event, menu changes are not possible. This is an ATF Insiders only event, and Insiders can book a table for them plus a guest. No guest? No problem. We love solo diners and will sit you with others in the same boat. Be brave, who knows what connections you might make over dinner! Bookings for our Glovers Alley preview on Friday 4th September go live on Tuesday 25th August at 13:30. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders will receive the booking link directly to their inbox. See you on the Green...

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_