There’s great excitement out in D4 with Dylan McGrath opening Shelbourne Social, a seriously glitzy new restaurant and cocktail bar that’s part of the equally impressive Number One, Ballsbridge development.
There’s already talk of Michelin stars thanks to dishes like Thin Slices of Wagyu on Crispy Potatoes with Sesame, Garlic, Hot Sauce & Crème Fraíche and Crispy Rice Pot with Prawns, Soft Shell Crab, Fried Corn, Mole Cream and Corn Stock – yum! – which reflect Dylan’s global range of culinary influences.
"Shelbourne Social is an innovative new approach to dining in the city," he reflects. "As a restaurant I feel it relies on the fundamentals — style, comfort, simple and great food, and excellent drinks. We’ve created a menu putting what customers want at the fore and hopefully we have evolved with how people want to eat. We haven’t hung our hat on any particular style. I hope people enjoy dining here as much as we have enjoyed creating it."
We're very taken with the Hot Curd Bread section of the menu. A modern take on traditional Irish Boxty, it's designed to be ripped up and dipped in different components, with options including hen’s egg and smoked trout roe, foie gras with poached winter plum, and Ossetra caviar with seaweed butter among others.
Avoca will also be taking up residence early in the New Year at Number One, Ballsbridge with their latest food hall and casual dining café. shelbournesocial.com