DUB-GRUB: A Private Evaluation of Public Eateries in Dublin I...

Clarence Tea Room

European. Southern Quays in the middle of Temple Bar. Reviewed 13-Oct-2006 Pricey and fancy. Atmosphere is high-end but tries successfully to be non-stuffy and non-pretentious. The selection of bread rolls was broad and interesting: one of us had the poppy seed roll and loved it; I tried a pesto roll and a carrot roll and both were very good; my minor suggestion to the baker would be to consider easing off a little on the butter in the pesto and black olive rolls. I had the artichoke soup (€10) which was excellent; the venison (€30) which was excellent, although I'd asked for "very rare" and got "medium rare"; and the strawberries in balsamic vinegar dessert, which was excellent. Everything everybody else in my party had was also reported to be excellent. Some of the dishes (the sole, for instance) were served with a foam sauce. They didn't make a big deal about the foam sauces even though they are (as of now) the fancy new foodie thing, but they were all very good. The only service criticism I can make, and it is a very tiny one, is that when the staff attentively kept the wine glasses full they filled them just a little too high. (5/5)

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Yo Thai

Thai, plus Japanese and Chinese. 22-24 Donnybrook Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, +353 1 260 3886. (Off Stillorgan Rd, corner of South Ave and Trees Road Upper.) Reviewed 29-Nov-2005

Probably the best Thai food in Dublin, quite impeccable. Mid-scale prices and service, excellent ambiance. They also do a thriving take-out business. The Chinese part of the menu is not authentic and reasonably sloppy; avoid. Their Japanese, including both sushi and showy knife-juggling Japanese steakhouse entertainment cooking, is very good. You can ask for sushi not on the menu (eg chirashi, my favourite) and they will happily make it for you if they can. (4.5/5)

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Porter House North

European. NE corner of Prospect and Whitworth (ie the Royal Canal), Drumcondra, Dublin. Reviewed 22-Jan-2005

Good microbrew beer: the oyster beer is excellent, and the wheat beer is also very good. Cozy comfortable decor. Surprisingly, unlike 98% of the places in town, even those that specialise in pizza, they actually make good pizza here! Coooked at the right temperature, with a bit of black on the bottom, thin, real garlic when you ask for garlic, the pizza margherita actually has some green like it should. Proper thin-crust pizza. (4.5/5)

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