Where to eat in August

From the best in seasonal Irish seafood to new ventures from our Eastern European friends; great value lunch to late night dinner; date night Italian style to a perfect summer sun spot while it lasts; these are our top spots to tick off in August...

For a taste of Ukrainian food:

Lucy, Clanbrassil Street

Keen to repay the kindness of Ireland in showing such welcome to the Ukrainian community, couple Viktoriia Horbonos and Mykola Kuleshov set up a market stall bakery business last year named for the latter’s grandmother to showcase the culture and cuisine of their homeland. Now they’ve made the leap to a sit-down spot on Clanbrassil Street called Lucy, serving pyrizhky (stuffed buns), varenyky (dumplings), cabbage rolls and waffle cake. With old school Ukrainian plates on the tables and portraits of Lucy herself on the walls, this looks like exactly the kind of wholesome spot we need more of in Dublin.

For best in season Irish lobster:

The Dalkey Lobster Festival

Peak Irish lobster season is always worth celebrating, and Dalkey’s the place to do it this August, with the south Dublin village’s annual festival taking place on Saturday 23^rd and Sunday 24^th. Almost all the local outlets get in on the act, with stalls stringing the streets from blow-in vendors too, so whether you’re craving classic burgers and rolls, fancier plates like paella or thermidor, or even a Thai or Indian twist, there’s options to suit every taste. There’s also a packed programme of music, family-friendly activities and cooking demos to keep you entertained as you pause for breath between bites.

For great value lunches all made in-house:

Honest to Goodness Café, Liberties

The name says it all at this homegrown café, which relocated from the city centre to the Liberties earlier this year. The candid socials at Honest 2 Goodness taking on complaints about pricing (as if €10 for a sandwich was anything that raised an eyebrow these days) have caught our eye almost as much as the bulging servings themselves, and with homemade breads, sauces and fillings, we say that ranks as pretty good value for Dublin these days – you get what you pay for. The Friday sloppy Joe special looks like the stuff of self-indulgent dreams.

For a great value dinner for night owls:

Glas, Chatham Street

We all know the drill, you’re searching around for a great value deal with prices the way they are and all you can find is early birds that pack it in by 6pm. Well here’s veggie hotspot Glas leaping on the popular New York and London trend for “late bird” offerings – no more nipping out of work early to make it to town on time for a deal. Their menu has four options in each course at €32 for two or €36 for three – with a difference like that, who’d skip dessert? It runs from 9pm to 9.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays only.

For an Italian date night without the plane ride:

La Strada, Aungier Street

If peak season pricing is putting a quick jaunt to la bella vita out of reach, you could always plop yourself down at La Strada and use your imagination – with the warmth and light of a late evening at this time of year, it almost works. The new pizzeria from Lucia Paduano, former owner of Rathmines institution Manifesto, has one of the cutest fitouts in town, with its cobbled floor and hanging foliage, and plenty of food that’s just as pretty, with a focus on seasonality and provenance that we’re all about. We see a new date night favourite in the making - read our two minute review here.

For a Mediterranean dinner in the sun… while it lasts:

Tang, Cumberland Place

A lot lesser known than the ever popular breakfast and lunch salads and flatbreads available across all of its branches, is Tang’s Thursday and Friday night dinner menu in Cumberland Place. That’s good news if you want to nab one of their lovely outdoor terrace tables to lap up the late summer sun for as long as it lasts us. Especially given the wealth of great suppliers they work with, from Toonsbridge and Lilliput to Rings Farm and Ennis Butchers, the value here is top-tier with plates from €13 to €18 as high as the Middle East-inspired menu prices go.

For a happy sign of the times in diversifying Dublin:

Jehan’s Heaven, Talbot Street

We’ll always give a little whoop of excitement when one of those Irish American tourist horde-courting Paddywagon places pulls down its shutters, but it’s even better when they’re replaced by something like this. Ella’s Heaven, the Talbot Street Georgian bakery whose selection of sweet treats and khachapuri puts it squarely among our best bakeries in town, has leapt on this space right across the road to open Jehan’s Heaven, with a charcoal grill and doner rotisseries adding to the ample pastry choices from over the way. It’s a sizeable space and a serious step up, and we can’t wait to get in.