The Best Early Summer Dishes In Dublin Right Now
- Ronan Doyle
- May 27
- 4 min read
Where does one season leave off and another latch on? The old Gaelic festivals of Imbolg, Bealtaine, Lughnasa and Samhain maintain a firm hold over many in Ireland, by which May marks the start of summer – given the one that just was, they have a point. Science has its say via the meteorological seasons, which say summer starts Sunday and we’re all still stuck in Spring, and then there’s the astronomical types, howling at the moon that it’s all another three weeks after that – the less said about those, the better. Nature couldn’t give a fig about the squabbling though - she bring the bounty when she’s good and ready...

Gooseberry choux, Scéal
We were surprised to catch sight of gooseberry in mid-May – as if the last few weeks’ weather wasn’t a treat enough in its own right, it’s also ushered in one of summer’s great flavours a little earlier than usual. Trust Scéal to have found them – that they’re serving with a cicely-infused crème pât and a candied gorse flower powder tells you all you need to know about these guys’ foraging game.
Strawberry buns, Fable
There are few bakeries about town we’ll scope out quicker than Fable at the turn of the season, with all manner of goodies bringing out the best of what’s on offer. Strawberry season brings this beautiful brioche bun, stuffed with strawberry-apple jam and thick crème diplomat, sprinkled with crunchy ginger buckwheat crumble. Get there early for these.
Strawberry galettes, Bread Naturally
Celebrate it simply is our motto when it comes to any ingredient just back in season, and over in Raheny, Bread Naturally feel the same. Sure, you’ll also get matcha croissant buns and cream maritozzi among the ends they put new Wexford strawberries to, but this combo of jam and sugar-tossed halves is our first order.
Summer granola, BaaBaa
Chapelizod café BaaBaa are always reliable for celebrating the seasons, and their new summer granola bowl has us feeling it every step of the way. More strawberries meet roast apricot and mint on top of house granola and yogurt – be it spring or summer, a sunny start to the day with this and a walk through the Phoenix Park sounds like heaven.
Macerated strawberries, Mister S
Dessert is rarely what leaps to mind when anyone thinks of Mister S, but here’s a seasonal arrival to turn that on its head. Balsamic vinegar is a classic with strawberry for good reason - spooned over a lemon and thyme sorbet, we can just imagine this tart and sweet symphony’s the perfect follow-up to all that grilled goodness.
Strawberry sorbet, Delahunt
Delahunt saying their strawberry dessert takes like spring just sums up the subjectivity of seasons - our first sight always signals summer to us. Whatever your take, they’re delicious, even more so made into a sorbet and played off the sweetness of white chocolate and acidic zing of elderflower gel, with textures of meringue and crumble.
Stuffed morels, La Gordita
Enough fruit? The season-straddling marvels that are morels (or colmenillas en español) are at their best right as spring segues into summer, and La Gordita have complemented their earthy intensity with a stuffing of pine nuts and raisins. Get in and gulp them down while you can, and make sure to match them with a good glass of red while you’re at it.
Poached cod and peas, The Seafood Café
The peak of peas is still to come - we picked up our first pods at the weekend - but right in with the early treatment to beat is Temple Bar’s The Seafood Café. This riff on a classic Portuguese cod dish poaches the fish in a house stock, and surrounds it with coriander and mint to complement the bright pop of pea green. Could you get more seasonal?
Anchovy and peach, Forêt
It’s early days for peach season but that hasn’t stopped French bistro Forêt going for an off-piste pairing already. The mild sweetness of wet garlic, itself only in season for about another month, joins stone fruit chunks to balance out the vinegary kick of white anchovy (or boquerones) – sounds ingenious. A feta-flavoured smoked tomato tart is also among their new seasonal offerings.

Lobster roll, King Sitric
Full credit to King Sitric for not only not pocketing the extra profit off cheaper lobster at this time of year, but sharing the inside scoop too - they’ve knocked a cool 15% off across the board given the extra sea spoils coming their way. We’ll raise a lobster roll to that.
Tuna and pickled watermelon, Osteria Lucio
We’re a few months out from watermelon reaching its sweet peak, so Osteria Lucio’s pickling and pairing with tuna is a very smart way to indulge a little early, all the more so with the aniseed hit of fennel and a mild chilli kick. Tomato consommé dressing is another lovely little hat-tip to all that summer’s got in store.
Stuffed courgette flower, Volpe Nera
Volpe Nera’s neighbourhood menu is one of the best deals in the city at the moment, with blink-and-you’ll-miss –‘em beauties like this crispy stuffed courgette flower popping up week to week – it’s best to keep an eye on their Instagram and get down quick. Never fret if you missed it though - their regular lunch and dinner menu will have it on all season.