Lunch at the Neighbourhood's Friendly Herbstreet

Ireland has lately been bestowed with some glorious sunshine and the clear blue skies donning our summer days are set to continue. With the welcome prickles of heat on the back of your neck and further skin bronzing opportunities ahead, which won’t require a plane ticket to obtain, how best do you take advantage of them? One way is a visit to Dublin's Grand Canal Dock for a bite to eat at the friendly neighbourhood restaurant, Herbstreet.

The open planned establishment possesses a very modern design with its main feature being the bi-folding doors which integrates the outdoor and indoor sections to give everyone an overlooking view of the Grand Canal Dock as they dine and wine.

On the day we visited Herbstreet for lunch, it was so warm that we decided to order something light and opted to select from their daily specials blackboard rather than the menu, choosing the concoction of a Spinach, Roast Pepper and Black Eye Bean Soup (€6) and the Southern Fried Chicken Bap with Homemade Potato Wedges (€12). I expected a sandwich but there must be some type of size regulations of what constitutes as a sandwich. It was massive! That being said, it was delicious and a reflection of the generous portions which the friendly restaurant provides. The soup also showcased their willingness to experiment, one which was a success.

The menu appeared simple in a positive way, allowing anyone to pick it up and instantly find something suitable. As we didn’t eat anything else, I can only further comment on the experience, which was extremely positive largely due to Herbstreet's location. Sitting out in the designated outdoor seating area was a fond throwback to Sydney’s The Rocks and we feel it is an ideal place to go for a refreshing daytime drink.

While we visited for their lunch menu (available from noon), Herbstreet also provides a breakfast menu (Mon - Fri 8:30am - 11:30am) and a brunch menu on weekends (10am - 4pm). There is also a pre-show dinner menu (5pm) making it a friendly and relaxing venue suitable for any time of the day.

Whitefriar Grill Weekend Brunch

Do something different than a tradition Sunday roast dinner by going for brunch at Dublin's Whitefriar Grill.

The vibrant restaurant is located on Aungier Street, which is five minutes away from Grafton Street and St Stephen's Green for those unaware, and provides seating both inside and out. There are signs and messages outside laying claim that Whitefriar Grill offers the #bestbrunchindublin. With people gathered outside to get in to the busy establishment, it’s a claim that bears investigation.

Upon entering you’ll find the unusual feature of a DJ in a booth setting the upbeat ambience within the contemporary restaurant. The exposed red brick walls, blackboard menus and an open kitchen create an aesthetic setting.

Whitefriar Grill’s Brunch menu offers two extensive food sections to choose from. We admittedly became a little excited when we caught sight of the title which read ‘All Things Eggy - Love Prosecco’ as our mind cast back to our champagne brunches while living in Malaysia. Sadly the prosecco wasn’t provided but the abundance of egg dishes is perhaps more suitable for those rising late after an eventful Saturday night. Those not craving eggs can find various alternatives with the ‘Whitefriar Specialities’ section.

We opted for a refreshing Mint Lemonade (€3) drink, the Southern Style Slow Roasted Pulled Pork (€12.95) and the Lobster Hash (€14.95) because, let’s face it, lobster is always a good choice when available. I was struck by a strong case of food envy when I spied the Whitefriar Grill 1/2lb Beefburger pass me by but I was soon gratified with my choice when I sunk my teeth into the pulled pork sandwich. It was  scrumptious as the meat contained a barbeque taste which melted in the mouth while spilling out at the sides due to the amount given. The lobster tail was fresh and sweet and contained plenty of flavour. Both dishes came with a large portion of delicious accompaniments that we were unable to finish but not for a lack of wanting to.

We waddled out of Whitefriar full and impressed that their belief that they offer the best brunch in Dublin is a credible claim. We’ll be returning in the near future (I particularly have my eyes on that beef burger!) to explore their brunch menu further, along with their lunch and dinner menus.

For those tempted, the Whitefriar Grill’s brunch is on every weekend - Saturday and Sunday from 10:30am to 4pm.

Contact Details:

Telephone: (01) 4759003

Email: info@whitefriargrill.ie

Merrion Square Park Irish Village Market

If you ever find yourself wandering around Ireland’s capital city, Dublin, on a Thursday afternoon, ideally in close proximity to either St. Stephen’s Green or Grafton Street, and you’re contemplating your lunch options, take a short walk over to Merrion Square Park for the Irish Village Market.

The weekly Irish Village Market is a great place for any foodie to visit as it is full of wondrous choices, making it almost impossible for you not to find something that satisfies your cravings. Traditional Irish music plays in the background as you move from the various food stalls which boast an extensive selection of different options – felafel wraps, healthy salads, pulled pork burgers, paella, wood-oven pizzas, German hotdogs and grilled burgers and steaks to name but a few. For those looking for something possessing a bit more of an oriental flavour, there are also Thai, Indian, Chinese and Japanese delicacy options.

Today we decided to chow down at the Burger Republic stall, grabbing a Chorizo Steak and Beef Burger (€7) for myself and a Chicken Breast Burger (€6) for herself and settling down on the park’s grass by the traditional Irish band.

The staff at the Burger Republic stall made everything very hygienically, which is always important, and added nothing to the grilled burgers without asking first if that’s what we wanted. The Chorizo Steak and Beef Burger was very tasty and as should be expected, the meat contained a strong Chorizo taste. The Chicken Breast Burger comes with a blue cheese mayonnaise and is probably a good choice for those looking for a healthier option but be warned when ordering either; be prepared to eat, as the portion sizes are generous.

For those of you who can’t wait until next Thursday to dine at the Irish Village Market, you don’t have to. While located at Merrion Square Park on Thursdays, it is also set up around Dublin at different venues during the rest of the week.

Merrion Square Park’s Irish Village Food Market is on from 12:30pm – 2:00pm every Thursday.

Pizza E Porchetta - €20 for a Jug of Pimms and Pizza

Last night, I found myself in the mood for Italian. Apparently so did Suarez. Our tastes slightly differ though for while Luis Suarez was taking a bite out of the Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup game between Italy and Uruguay, I was happily munching down on an artisan Italian pizza from Pizza E Porchetta.

Situated on a cobblestone street (Clanwilliam Terrace) beside a small brick bridge along the Grand Canal Quay is Pizza E Porchetta. The quaint pizzeria with both indoor and outdoor seating is almost hidden away though it is not a secret as it is regularly busy and is located in Dublin’s trendy and up and coming docklands area close to Google's headquarters.

Our dining experience started before we even entered. We were walking home when my lovely girlfriend decided to send out a tweet to Pizza E Porchetta asking about their special ‘Jug of Pimms and Pizza’ deal. Showing their savvy attitude towards social media, we got an almost instantly reply letting us know their ‘Jug of Pimms and any Pizza’ deal for €20 was from Wednesday – Friday but for us, they would make an exception. How about that for service and marketing? Needless to say, there was only one place we were heading for dinner. A big thank you to whoever decided that!

With a good choice of pizzas to choose from, we selected the Al Crudo – a tomato, porcini, parma ham and buffalo mozzarella pizza, and dined in at the rustic pizzeria with our jug of pimms. It was a tough choice as there were plenty of other pizzas that we could have chosen from with the deal not hindering our choice of selection. We didn’t even have to feel guilty about choosing pizza for dinner as the jug of pimms was so full of fruit that it had to be healthy (right?).

Almost an expert I would proclaim on pizza at this stage of my life with the amount I’ve eaten around the world, the pizza from Dublin’s Pizza E Porchetta is certainly up there as one of the best; 11” large makes it ideal for sharing or for oneself, with a thin base, quality toppings and cooked in a 650° woodfired oven. I personally am a traditionalist and like to eat pizza with my hands and while this is certainly possible, a knife and fork is probably the wiser choice.

The €20 deal that we took advantage of represents exceptional value for a quality meal in Dublin. For those who love Italian as much as we do but don't fancy pizza, Pizza E Porchetta's menu is quite extensive and full of other options we're also eager to try. They also possess a takeaway menu, and are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

With a good atmosphere, attentive staff, and quality food, this visit to Pizza E Porchetta carries on our love affair with authentic, wood oven Italian pizza and we believe even Luis Suarez would be tempted to take a bite out of these Italian dishes.

 

Pizza E Porchetta Reservation Details

Telephone: +353 (1) 662 4198 / 4199

Email: info@pizzaeporchetta.com

Twitter: @pepspizzeria

Website: www.pizzaeporchetta.com

Address: The Malting Tower, Clanwilliam Terrace, Grand Canal Quay, D2