Sharing Plates in Ranelagh: Host, Dublin 6

I wish I had visited Host earlier but it seems to be a very busy spot at the weekend and it took me many attempts to finally secure a booking.

Wine & Small Plates Galore: Frank's, Dublin 2

When I noticed on Instagram that Delahunt's owner Darren Free was about to open a wine bar on Camden Street, I knew this would be an exciting addition to Dublin's food scene. I've been a fan of Delahunt (review here) ever since it opened and even had my wedding meal there, way before Prince Harry and Meghan Markle booked the entire restaurant for a lunch date last year.

Korean Fried Chicken on Aungier Street: Chimac, Dublin 2

Chimac wasn't even open for more than a few hours before people started posting pictures of their food all over social media. I hate the term 'food porn' but this really is what came to my mind when I saw those first snaps posted by some eager Dublin foodies.

Dublin's Vegan Chipper: Vish Shop, Dublin 7

I remember my scepticism at reading Catherine Cleary's glowing review of Veginity when it used to be on Richmond Place South a few years ago. Being a bit too French and raised on a rather meaty diet I used to think that vegan food couldn't possibly be tasty. With the rise of decent vegan offerings in Dublin, I have definitely changed my mind over the last year or two.

A Dim Sum Feast: Lucky Tortoise, Dublin 2

Lucky Tortoise started as a dim sum pop-up restaurant in Ranelagh a few years ago before opening their permanent location on Aungier Street earlier this year. The restaurant is open every day (12 noon to 10pm from Monday to Saturday; 12 noon to 8pm on Sundays) and due to its size and popularity, it's pretty difficult to get a table for dinner without booking ahead.

Italian Food Done Right in Stoneybatter: Grano, Dublin 7

Disclaimer: this is an independent review, I paid for my food and drinks.

Last year I attended Terra Madre Salone del Gusto in Turin, a four-day food event organised by the Slow Food Movement every two years. The fair showcases artisan produce mostly from Italy but also from all over the world and visitors can attend talks, tastings and workshops. The Italian products were exhibited by region and I found myself returning to the stalls from Calabria the most, gravitating around their mountains of cured meats and cheeses. Calabria is a region in southwest Italy whose 'nduja, a spicy spreadable salami, has become a trendy ingredient on menus in some of Dublin's best restaurants over the last few years. I love that stuff but obviously, there's more to Calabria than 'njuda and thankfully Grano is here to educate our palates with not only Calabrian specialities but proper Italian food in general.

Argentinian Flair in Portobello: Alma (Dublin 8)

When people happen to know that I've done a round the world trip they always ask me what my favourite country was. Without a blink, I always reply "Argentina". Barbecues with the locals in Buenos Aires, seeing penguins in their natural habitat in Puerto Madryn, cycling around the vineyards in Mendoza and sipping hot chocolate in snowy Ushuaia are some of my favourite memories of my six weeks there. Not only were some of the places we visited incredibly diverse and beautiful but the locals were some of the most laid back and friendly people I've met. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

A Brunch Made for Instagram: Legit Coffee (Dublin 7)

This is a much overdue review of a brunch which took place about four months ago. Not that it wasn't worthy of writing about, but I got distracted by life.

I wasn't aware that Legit Coffee had opened a Northside location until one of my Delicious Dublin Tours' guests who live in Phibsborough told me about it last summer.

The Most Anticipated Restaurant of 2018: Uno Mas, Dublin 2

Everyone in the food industry knew that Simon Barrett and Liz Matthews, the owners of much loved award-winning Etto, would open a sister restaurant in 2018. In fact we were all stalking them (myself included) on social media, waiting for the day to happen. They joined forces with co-owner and chef Paul McNamara (Locks) for this venture and finally opened on the last day of November 2018. It seems that all the eager foodies rushed there as soon as it opened. In my case I held off a few weeks for the perfect special occasion to visit it: the celebration of 14 years of love  overindulgence with Mr. FFID.

Cracking Asian Bowls and Dumplings in Dublin 1: Bowls

Having lived in Dublin 1 for many years and witnessed its Staburckization, I'm always excited to see a potentially good independent food business opening in this part of the city. I noticed on social media that Kwanghi Chan (formerly the Cliff House Ardmore and Soder and Ko) had just opened an Asian bowl restaurant in Dublin 1, arriving back to an empty fridge after a holiday in France was the perfect excuse to try it out.

Proper Bread in Dublin 2: Bread 41

I was in France for the new year and was so envious of my parents' routine of going to the bakery every morning to pick a baguette or pain de campagne. Even though the local baker operates a van delivery service to their remote hamlet they still feel they need to go to the village's bakery; it's a ritual that kicks off their morning routine. In the early evening if we had eaten most of the bread at lunch they'd run to the bakery again to get bread for dinner before it had closed at 7pm. We eat far too much bread in my family.

Vietnom: Vegetarian Street Food Truck in Stoneybatter

Disclaimer: This is an independent review, I paid for my food and drinks

In Portland, which I visited last year, food trucks are everywhere and giving the opportunity to young chefs to test the ground and make themselves a reputation before they commit to signing a lease that they can't really afford when they're starting off. Will red tape regulations ever be lifted to allow the development of street food in Dublin? I seriously hope so.

Coffee & Pastries at Proper Order Coffee Co.

Disclaimer: this is an independent review, I paid for my coffee and pastries on each visit.

If you follow me on Instagram (@frenchfoodieindublin) you probably know from my stories that from time to time I like to indulge in buttery pastries and coffee in Proper Order Coffee in the morning. I'm very continental, what can I say?

Review: Urbanity, Smithfield, Dublin 7

Disclaimer: This is an independent review and I paid for my food

Mr. FFID and I have started going on 'breakfast dates' from time to time, just to get a change from the usual morning routine of porridge at home. We don't do it that often but when we do we look for a place that isn't too far from our home and respective workplaces.

Tasty Tacos in the Heart of Temple Bar: El Grito

Back in 2007 Mr. FFID and I traveled to Tulum on the Caribbean coast of Mexico. This was years before Hartwood opened and at a time when backpacking and sleeping in a rustic cabaña (wooden hut) on the beach wasn't a bother. It was pretty much like camping, except a lot more exotic and even a little scary (like the time I found myself facing a massive iguana while having a shower). The weather was so stormy while we were there that I kept getting sand on my face at night and we ended up leaving earlier than planned.

A Burger Joint with a Conscience? BuJo, Sandymount

Since reviewing Bunsen and Wowburger a few years back, I wasn't expecting to find another burger place worth writing home about. Claiming to have found the best burger in a city is always controversial territory because everyone has their own favourite and most of the time Bunsen would be cited as the no1 go-to place.

Review: Storyboard, Dublin 8

Exactly a week after I had eaten in Storyboard, Catherine Cleary wrote about it in the Irish Times and titled her review 'This is the best cafe food I've eaten in Ireland'. This was over 4 months ago and shows how bad of a blogger I've been lately. Yes, I'm only writing about my visit now.

French Style Cakes in a Dublin Institution: Bewley's, Grafton Street

The day Bewley's reopened I passed by and saw people queueing outside like it was some trendy temporary pop-up café that would disappear any minute. I guess this is what happens when a Dublin institution closes for so many years.

Review: Kimchi Hophouse, Dublin 1

So the first semester of my masters wasn't all sweat, blood and tears after all... We actually had a fun practical exercise to do in groups: creating a 'Global in the local' food experience, researching a global cuisine and bringing the class for a meal in a Dublin restaurant. My group chose M&L Chinese (I may have suggested my favourite Chinese restaurant to my peers) but the group that nailed it for me focused on Korean cuisine and organised a meal in Kimchi Hophouse on Parnell Street.

Hey Donna, Rathmines, Dublin 6

Update: Hey Donna is permanently closed



I should probably rename my blog, since I realised that I haven't written a Dublin review in almost... 5 months. I blame college and the fact that I don't eat out as much as I used to. However during the Christmas break I managed to try out some places that I am happy to recommend and that hopefully will make it to the blog soon.