Dublin 1 Feature: The Best Food North of the Liffey

Letters of complaint should be addressed to the editor if I’m wrong, but having eat my way round it, I’m pretty certain that D1 is the only part of the capital where in close proximity you’ll find Michelin starred fine dining (Chapter One on Parnell Square); a subterranean world food plaza (Moore Street Mall); a mini-Chinatown (Parnell Street); a gastrobrewery (Urban Brewing); a walkway devoted to la cucina tipica (The Italian Quarter on Blooms Lane); a secret Korean lunch-box restaurant cohabiting with the Super Asia Foodmart (Brothers Dosirak on Capel Street); a purveyor of baked goods whose coconut macaroons and almond biscuits both bagged coveted Good Taste Awards (Panem on Ormond Quay); the country’s first Brazilian street food joint (Coxinharia on King Street North); and an authentic southern Indian dosa house (Madina Desi Curry BBQ on Mary Street). And that really is just for starters… Here are ten (it could easily be 50!) exceedingly good places in Dublin to eat…

Le Bon Crubeen
81 Talbot Street
leboncrubeen.ie

With the Gate, Abbey and Peacock all nearby, this is the perfect pre- and post-theatre restaurant. We always agonise over whether to have the Beer Battered Fish & Chips or the Artichoke Tortellini with Herb Cream, Spinach & Shaved Parmesan, which is a riot of vibrant Mediterranean flavours.

Klaw PóKe
159 Capel Street
klaw.ie

Niall Sabongi has crossed the Liffey to set up PoKé, which derives its name from the raw fish salad beloved of Hawaiians. The Lunch Bowl, which has sunomono cucumber, edamame, nori, salty pineapple, samphire, pickled ginger, kimchi and Macadamia nut among its range of toppings, positively screams ‘ocean’.

Terra Madre
13 Bachelors Walk
terramadre.ie

The menu is short – five starters, five mains – and the Italian cooking impeccable in this basement restaurant, which sources most of its ingredients from the old country. If the Wild Caper Sprout Bruschetta is on, grab it!

Musashi
15 Capel Street/179 Parnell Street/IFSC
musashi.ie

Having cooked up an absolute storm in Capel Street, this superior sushi, dumpling and noodles joint is expanding at a furious pace. Whichever branch you choose, you’ll be whisked off on an exhilarating Japanese food adventure with their BYOB policy keeping the bill down.

The Winding Stair
40 Lower Ormond Quay
winding-stair.com

The contemporary Irish fare – the Steamed Cockles & Roaring Water Bay Mussels with Clogerhead Crab, Brown Shrimp Mayo Toast & Chips is our go-to dish here – is as stunning as the views of the Liffey below. The street level bookshop of the same name has been a local landmark since the 1970s.

M&L
13 Cathedral Street
mlchineserestautant.com

Located on a tiny laneway off O’Connell Street, M&L specialises in dishes from Chengdu, the culinary capital of chilli-loving Szechuan Province. If you’re into your sizzling plates, the King Prawn with Black Pepper Sauce is a nibblesome delight.

The Woolen Mills
41 Lower Ormond Quay
thewoolenmills.com

Housed in a beautiful old building overlooking the Ha’penny Bridge and the river, this is a veritable shrine to quality Irish cooking with the Coddle with Brown Bread & Butter as traditionally Dublin as it gets. Wash it all down with Five Lamps Lager and Liberties Pale Ale, which are both brewed nearby.

Marrakesh By Mindo
121 Capel Street
marrakesh.ie

The food is as moreish as the décor is Moorish in this superb Moroccan restaurant, which has private karaoke rooms for those really wanting to make a party of it. The tagines are all melt in the mouth, and the pastilles just the right blend of sweet and savoury – we love the rabbit one.

His Food Charcoal Grill
Moore Street Mall
facebook.com/hisfoodcharcoalgrill

Short of hopping on a plane to Sarajevo, you won’t find tastier Bosnian classics than the Stuffed Aubergine, Lamb Skewers, Deep-Fried Breaded Cheese and Burkek Minced Pie served by staff who are happy to talk you through the menu. The prices are low and the portions massive, so exercise restraint when ordering!

Mr. Fox
38 Parnell Square West
mrfox.ie

Our sadness at the Hot Stove closing has been alleviated by their premises being moved into by another eatery specialising in contemporary Irish fare like the giant Chateaubriand with Garlic Gratin, Béarnaise Sauce, Baby Gem & Blue Cheese made for sharing.