Jamie's Italian, Dundrum, Dublin

I like Jamie Oliver and I regularly use his cookbooks. I enjoy them because the dishes are always easy to make and packed with flavours.

A few years ago while in London with Mr. FFID we visited Jamie’s Italian in Canary Wharf: he liked it a lot but I was a little underwhelmed. 

In Ireland, Jamie’s Italian is located in Dundrum shopping centre in Dublin. We visited at lunchtime on Mother’s Day, which happened to be Mr. FFID’s birthday too. It seemed like a good place to book for a family gathering with the in-laws.

The restaurant is massive and bright, it feels like a giant canteen on two levels with colourful metal chairs and giant graffiti on the back wall. There is a long bar with garlic (I could have made a necklace with them, as French people supposedly do), tomatoes and ham hanging above the counter to echo the Italian influence on the menu.

The menu features antipasti including planks, plates, bread and nibbles, a choice of pasta, risotto, mains, sides, desserts also a kids menu.

Our party started nibbling on ‘the world’s best olives on ice’ (€4.25) as named on their menu. Were they? The olives were fleshy and flavoursome. The presentation was lovely but the bread was dry and too crispy, breaking each time I was trying to use it to scoop out the dip (called black olive tapenade on the menu but I’m pretty sure it was sundried tomatoes).

Then I went for the cauliflower and cheese fritters (€5.75), 4 of them served with a creamy fontal cheese sauce. I enjoyed the starter even though it might have been a little too plain for my tastes.

Mr. FFID, P and L went for the excellent spinach and taleggio cheese croquettes (€5.85) that immediately caused dish envy. There were 4 perfectly crisp tasty croquettes with a tangy lemon and basil dressing and some of grated cheese sprinkled on them, they were very moreish.

E. ordered the cured meat plank (€8.75) which I didn’t taste, for fear of losing a finger, E. doesn’t share her food you see.

My truffle tagliatelle (€16.50) dish was generous, buttery and topped with shavings of truffle and grated parmesan.

Mr. FFID’s ordered Jamie’s signature dish: the porcetta (€16.95). It was a beautiful slow cooked pork belly, so tender and melt in the mouth, topped with rocket salad and a lovely arancini. He also had the ‘funky chips’ (€4.25) which were sprinkled with parsley and fresh garlic.

I didn’t taste it but L’s wild mushroom and smoked mozzarella risotto (€15.95) went down a treat.

As did P’s garlic and rosemary chicken served in a tomato sauce (€16.85). I didn’t get a chance to photograph E’s dish though.

The portions were substantial so after starters and mains we didn’t go for desserts (ice creams, tiramisu, panna cotta…).

Jamie Italian’s is not the kind of place you’d go to for a romantic or quiet meal; it’s noisy, packed with yummy mummies and their children, it’s a franchise in a shopping centre and feels like it. Despite being busy it’s smoothly ran, the staff are friendly and helpful and the food is pretty good.

Jamie's Italian
Unit 1 Pembroke District, Dundrum Town Centre, Ballinteer Rd, 
Dublin
http://www.jamiesitalian.ie

This is an independent review, I paid for my meal.