Out to lunch

Summer escape

If you’re planning a capital escape this summer check out the Keep Discovering Dublin Summer Offer at the five-star InterContinental Dublin in Ballsbridge. The hotel formerly known as the Four Seasons has reopened its garden Terrace and Veranda, an ideal spot for al fresco dining.

The deal includes complimentary access to the hotel’s wellness area with indoor heated pool and relaxation area plus 10 per cent off its spa treatments. On-site overnight parking is also available. From €390 per room per night for two people sharing.

Race to the tortoise

For Asian dim sum make like a hare and race to Lucky Tortoise. Having successfully established on Aungier Street, Dublin, in 2019. it recently opened a second, larger unit at Adsills Row in Temple Bar. Owner John Ennis and head chef Stephen Ryan’s menu is strongly influenced by Cantonese cuisine with flavours of Japan and Korea too.

The 48-seater was designed by Jordan Ralph, inspired by his knowledge of Cantonese dim sum houses, Tokyo plant shops and Korean Galbi restaurants. Check out the “all in menu” which features all the dishes on the menu, from €28 per person, available in vegetarian and vegan flavours too.

Go wild for Wildflower

Wildflower restaurant on Richmond Street, Dublin, is a great option for lunch from Thursday through Saturday, with a sample menu including sustainable fish of the day, burnt leeks and langoustine bisque; or smoked lamb with fermented plumb and mushrooms. It’s the first solo venture of chef, author and television presenter Adrian Martin who previously worked in top restaurants such as MacNean House in Blacklion and Michelin-starred Bon Appetite in Malahide. Two courses €30, three courses for €40 or go the whole hog with a five-course lunchtime tasting menu for €55.

Take note of Nanetti’s

Nanetti’s on Dawson Street’s modern Italian cuisine features such delish dishes as spaghetti with wild boar cheeks and pecorino cream; linguine with Irish rope mussels in a tomato and white wine sauce with grated bottarga; and tagliatelle with Tuscan sausage ragu, wild fennel and parmesan fondue. Mains from €16.

Crafty butcher

If self-catering’s your bag and you’re looking to up your game, or your meat, check out the new delivery service from The Village Butcher, the craft butcher run by husband and wife duo Michael Madden and Sarah Kelly. It means you no longer have to be a denizen of Dublin 6 to enjoy their range of everything from spatchcocks to suckling pigs.

Daughter Jessica, their talented apprentice, has a delicious range of fridge-to-table meals including chicken palermo, beef wellington, beef bourguignon and handmade sausage rolls. A range of sides, including croquettes and seasonal roasting vegetables, are with all sorts of sauces, seasonings and condiments. Dublin delivery is priced at €7.99, nationwide costs €12.99 and free delivery for orders over €120.

Star-studded in Belfast

As one of Ireland’s tallest hotels Belfast’s Grand Central is perfectly poised for catching stars, which it recently did. The property, part of the swish Hastings Hotels’ group, was recently awarded five-star status by the AA, joining its swish stablemate the Culloden.

Since opening its doors in 2018 following a £53 million (€64m) investment, the Grand Central Hotel has won numerous awards and welcomed many high-profile guests, including President Michael D Higgins, Prince Charles and country music royalty Shania Twain, another star.

To celebrate its five-star status the hotel has launched two new packages – the Bollinger Celebratory Overnight Stay (from £80pps) with a ‘Demi’ bottle of chilled Bollinger delivered to your room on arrival, plus breakfast, and the Observatory Celebratory Experience (£120 for 4 people). It includes a table for up to four people in its Observatory cocktail bar – high on the 23rd floor – a bottle of Bolly and a mixed charcuterie and cheese selection with breads and tapenade.

On the edge of your plate

The award-winning Food On The Edge event, brainchild of restaurateur JP McMahon, is set to return to Airfield Estate, Dundrum, Dublin, in October. Speakers confirmed so far include Rasmus Monk, of Copenhagen’s Alchemist restaurant, recently named OAD’s Best Restaurant in Europe 2021; Paolo Casagrande of Barcelona’s three Michelin star Lasarte; Calum Franklin, “the pie king” who heads up the popular The Pie Room in the Holborn Dining Room in London; and Søren Ørbek Ledet, co-owner and sommelier of three Michelin-star Geranium, Denmark, a tasty line-up.