Premium pizza and wings, all the Cicchetti, and an awful lot of cocktails on tap. Here’s what’s new in Dublin, and what you've got to look forward to in the next few weeks...
Vice, Merrion Street
A labour of love from two friends out to deliver a limited menu done well, Vice is going all-in on pizza and wings with 48-hour natural fermentation sourdough crusts, quality ingredients and a range of high-end dips bringing a premium touch to their at-first-glance familiar array of options. Toasted fennel powder, chilli-infused pineapple and hen of the woods mushrooms are some of the toppings to catch our eye so far, and look out for seeded pizza crusts and garlic parm dip. With ample seating space in their downstairs area and takeaway options available via all the usual suspects, this is one we can foresee doing very well, especially with Trinity College around the corner.
Tapped, Nassau Street
Tapped proudly boast Ireland’s largest selection of taps down the length of its fifteen-foot bar. The fresh new facelift for the old Porterhouse Central location (and before that Judge Roy Beans) just off Grafton Street offers a fifty-strong array of craft beers, wines and cocktails, all on tap. Cocktails are mixed with spirits from Porterhouse’s sister company Dingle Distillery, while the food - loosely pitched as pizza, salads, wings and burgers - comes courtesy of Dublin Pizza Company. Inclusion on an ATF bar crawl may be imminent...
Northern Soul, Ormond Quay
Taking over from the ill-fated Baggotts Hutton, which lay idle amid planning disputes since 2019, Northern Soul promises a multi-purpose café-by-day and club-by-night vibe along the northern quays. Daytime offerings include coffee from Ground State just across the Liffey, and pastries and sandwiches from Tartine. In the evenings, Pichet alum Juan Carlos Guerrero is in place as head chef with a fusion menu that’s heavy on Italian and Latin American influences. The intimate upstairs venue space has been fitted out with chandeliers and candle-lit tables and has already played host to a diverse range of entertainments from magic and cabaret to DJs and drag shows. We can see this doing well with tourists.
Aperitivo Cicchetti, Nassau Street
D2 isn’t exactly short of options for Italian, but with its keenly-priced small plates and ‘50s cocktail bar vibes, new Nassau Street arrival Aperitivo Cicchetti looks to be eyeing up a space all of its own. From the folks behind the four Port House locations scattered throughout the city, it looks to be cast in the same mould of affectionate attention to detail in its by-the-book interpretation of dishes from all across Italy - guanciale and all. Negroni, Campari and (of course) aperitivi abound on the drinks menu, alongside on all-Italian wine list. Can't say they’re not committed to the bit.
Korean Table, Stoneybatter
A mainstay of markets in Sandyford, Camden Yard and Marley Park over the last two years, Korean Table quietly opened its first permanent location in the old Cow Lane Tapas site on Manor Street in the last couple of weeks and has been clocking up impressive murmurs of approval on social ever since. “Some people have never eaten our food” goes their mantra, “but nobody has only eaten it once”, and everything we’ve seen in early reviews suggests that might well be the case. The basic launch menu has kimchi fried rice, hot pot and bibimbap to start, all served with a platter of Korean sides.
Coming soon...
Bahay, Blanchardstown
Having served up its Filipino flavours at food trucks and pop-ups galore, Bahay is finally getting a permanent home in D15 - don’t worry, they’ll still be continuing the travelling offerings too. Lots of detail yet to be confirmed, but we’ll be watching this space closely over the next few months.
Kakilang, Finglas
More great news for the North of the county as the Taiwanese tea-slingers on Bachelor’s Walk are already on course to expand, just two years on from opening. Kakilang's Asian street food specials will be making their way to Finglas along with their mille crepes, cheesecakes, and the much beloved souffle pancakes. We're told more details on the location will be released this week.
Kodiak, Rathmines
The Bonobo team are making their way southward “very, very soon”, this week it seems, for a new suburban bar in the heart of D6. Kodiak in Rathmines is a seriously sizeable site - formerly home to Copan - so we’ll be keenly watching how their brand of casual cool fares when scaled-up.
