Dublin city breaks - restaurants and eating out

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Photo: William MurphyDublin is full of restaurants and bars

Most Dublin pubs serve good value food at lunchtime
Irish coffee was reputedly created in the early 1950s by Joe Sheridan, a bartender at Shannon Airport
Crubeens are pig's trotters - and actually taste good
Before baking, a cross is cut in Irish soda bread to ward off the devil

Irish cuisine

Irish beef and lamb; ham and pork; salmon and seafood - these are the basics of Irish cuisine, almost invariably eaten with potatoes.

Dublin Bay Prawns, known as scampi everywhere else, are worth seeking out, as is Irish salmon, either fresh or smoked. Oysters are particularly fine in Dublin restaurants, as are mussels (usually from Wexford), scallops and Donegal crab.

A less elegant dish, but not to be missed is traditional fish & chips - ideally bought at a Dublin 'chipper' to be eaten in. The fish is fried in batter and is virtually the national Irish dish.

Irish stew is a simple but great meat dish - made with lamb, potatoes and vegetables. It will be found on the menu in many Dublin pubs. Irish beef is also excellent.

Ham (often from Limerick), home-cured bacon and sausages are popular in Dublin. Try both black and white pudding - they'll almost certainly turn up with hotel breakfast during Dublin city breaks.

Vegetable dishes found in Dublin restaurants include Colcannon - mashed potato with cabbage, and Champ - mashed potato with chopped spring onions. Boxty is finely grated, raw potato and mashed cooked potato with flour, baking soda, buttermilk and sometimes egg and onions - all fried on a griddle.

Puddings in Dublin tend to be hearty and invariably come with an offer of cream.

Soda bread and scones are popular - they suit the soft wheat that is grown in Ireland while potato cakes often feature at breakfast along with eggs, bacon, sausage, black and white pudding, tomato and mushrooms - so, forget about cholesterol and loosen your belt.

And when you've finished all that, it's time for an Irish (or Gaelic) coffee. Dietary wise, it contains all that's necessary for a good life - alcohol, caffeine, fat and sugar.

Dublin restaurants

There are any number of good Dublin restaurants to choose from and they vary from the cheap and cheerful to rarefied fine dining. Here is a small selection we can recommend.

Coppinger Row is more affordable than many Dublin restaurants and is an attractive spot to dine. It's at Coppinger Row close to Clarendon Street and the Gaiety Theatre.

Elephant and Castle has informal eating at its best with great staff and simple dishes like burgers and salads, often with a touch of spice, make this a great spot on Dublin city breaks. It's at 18 Temple Bar.

Eden has an interesting eclectic menu. Mains can be as expensive but it's well located in Temple Bar. The menu gives details of where the ingredients are sourced.

Fallon and Byrne in Exchequer Street is a Dublin institution. A fine food hall with restaurant where you can enjoy an excellent pre-theatre dinner without breaking the bank.

Gallagher's Boxty House is a traditional Irish pub-style restaurant in the heart of Temple Bar with excellent food and fabulous Irish coffees.

Omar Khayyam is for when you've had enough Irish stew and boxty. It offers Middle Eastern specialities. It's by the Ha'penny Bridge in Temple Bar.

The Commons is on St Stephen's Green, in Newman House. This is a more formal choice, based in a fine Georgian building with a varying menu with excellent service.

O'Dwyer's is not only a famous Dublin pub, it also sells Italian food. The pizzas are hugely popular so expect it to be packed. It's found at Lower Mount Street.

Rajdoot Tandoori is an opulent Indian restaurant and a deserved award winner with lots of vegetarian options. If you like Indian food head for Clarendon Street.

Outside Dublin it's worth heading out on the train to enjoy excellent seafood at King Sitric on the East pier at Howth.