I have been here 3 times and as always it was fantastic. Twice i have gotten the Filet steak and its the best i have ever tasted. The chocolate brownie and ice-cream is amazing.The staff and the atmosphere are great. Cant wait to go back.

Love Darwins! Went here for the first time on Saturday night for date night with the hubby. Booking was for 8pm and the place was full. We were given the table in the front window. Great spot to be. Staff were all very friendly and helpful. Food came out really qickly and was delic. We had the soup (peppers and sun dried tomatoes) and butternut squash salad for entree and the fillet steak with a side of fries for main. Amazing! Lots of flavours and decent size. We then shared a cheese cake for desser. Very tasty. Total bill for 2 entrees, 2 mains (steak), one dessert, side of chips, glass of wine and 3 soft drinks was €95. Not bad. but if you take advantage of the earlybird it's extremely cheap! Well worth it. Will totally be back!

My favourite restaurant in town!!! Excellent food, excellent atmosphere and the service is out-standing! even though not cheap...its well worth the money! Perfect place to treat yourself!!!!

I really enjoyed the food in Darwins, I had heard some good things about this restuarant and had been looking forward to going for a while. I had the mozzarella to start, it was lovely and fresh. My partner had the chilli prawns which were great too. We both had steaks, probably the best steak I have ever had, it was cooked to perfection. The dessert was okay, I probably didnt enjot it as much after the huge fillet steak. The wine was good value and really nice too. Overall I really enjoyed this restuarant.

Have been going to this place for special occasions for the last 2 years or so, and it's so good I'm starting to make occasions up! The food is always incredible, the staff are incredibly friendly and happy to chat and the atmosphere is always good, even if the place isn't full. Whilst they do a full vegetarian menu, my boyfriend and I are always there for the steak which is always cooked to perfection with generous sides. I ususally go for the Fillet and my boyfriend gets the Rib Eye. You really won't find better steak in Dublin, and the price isn't over the top either. Can't wait to go back.

Honestly one of my favourite restaurants! We went in dine in Dublin Week so it was packed..BUT there was still space between the tables so whie there was a great athmosphere nocbody was sitting on top of you or listening in on your conversation, the food as always was superb, even on the dine in Dublin menu, great choice, well cooked and well presented The service was superb, not over attentive andno ignoring you either on a busy night,,wine recomendation also perfect..would recomend anyone to go here for a nice night out for 2 (like us) or a large group (like hte group of about 20 who were in the front!

Organised a work night out here for 25. We were given a set menu that had a bit of everything to choose from. The food and wine were super tasty - I had prawns and fillet steak, then lemon cheesecake for dessert! Recommend them all! The lemon sorbet was amazing! The staff were so friendly and accommodating and got us all watered an fed with no issue!

A group of ten of us went to Darwins to celebrate a family occasion. We were really looking forward to this outing as we had booked it weeks in advance. However, unfortunately on the night we were bitterly disappointed. To make a long story short, it was 3 HOURS from the time at which we booked our table (8:00pm - which was not ready on our arrival!) until the time we received our main courses...not acceptable!! Thankfully we did have starters which kept us going. We got the impression that there was a problem in the kitchen, however, we were not informed of the reason for the delay, nor were we given an apology! The food, when it arrived was very good, however, it was not worth a 3 hour wait!

Visited Darwins with voucher on pretty busy Friday night. First impression was great. Decor is nice, and we were warmly welcomed by the waitress, but then something happened with the service. Our voucher included 3 courses and a glass of wine each, and we were simply asked, if we want red or white, no question if we would like to have a glass of sparkling to start the nigh or something. It continued the same way. We needed to ask for water, we were not "disturbed " during starters, mains or desserts by someone paying any attention to us, and we were not asked, if we wanted coffee or any other drinks in the end. Food was great and tasty and beef was absolutely delicious. Only thing with the main was, that the beef was served with plain mash, and again we were not really offered any sides. So, decor, atmosphere and food were great, but non-existing service left us with mixed feelings. This could be one of the very best Steak restaurants in Dublin, but the service needs some serious attention.

Went here on a Groupon Deal. Presume the idea is to get people to return but I wouldn't be rushing back. The starters and desserts were 'ok' although the main course was very tasty. When ordering I asked for chips instead of mash potato and had to pay to change which I thought was a bit much. The waiter wanted us to tell him what dessert we want when ordering our starter and main courses which again is not what I would expect in a nice restaurant. The decor in the restaurant is nice.

Had an absolutely gorgeous meal here. The steak was unbelievable! The staff are so attentive will definitely be back there very soon!

We have been to Darwins on many occasions and this time was no different, the food never fails to impress. The staff are very friendly and helpful and the atmosphere is always relaxed. While it can seem a bit expensive they really do provide excellent quality and the steaks are second to none. They also do a very reasonable pre-theatre/early bird menu. I would recommend it to all and it definately has the best steak in Dublin!

Visited Darwin's with my hubby for an early valentines celebrations and the place was packed with people ranging from diners in their twenties to 70's which is a good sign I think that the place caters for all ages! Lovey lovely meal, warm atmosphere and the food is delicately prepared and presented. the staff are really friendly and very accommodating although towards the end was giving very little attention to what we were asking (which is only a jug of water!). Great experience altogether!

Found this restaurant through Menupages and was delighted. They took a late booking on a Tuesday evening for myself and a friend and we were warmly welcomed by the mother of this family run business. We ate from the early bird menu and each course was a beautifully pleasant surprise, from the mushroom risotto to the sirloin steaks the food was flawless. To drink we ordered Menage a Trois, a delicious mix of Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet, even if the food wasn't up to the standard it was we would definitely return for the wine! the best part was the bill which was so affordable I had to check they included everything we had, overall will be returning and would recommend to everyone!

I first went here almost 2 years ago and thought it was good. I went here again the other night with a colleague I went to college with and realised it was great and he agreed. Food = Fantastic Atmosphere = Fantastic People = so accommodating Worth it = Oh Yes I have clients I tell to bring clients here it’s so worth while. Never underestimate the unknown restaurants. Its ran by a Mother and Daughter who while making you feel like your welcome in their house don’t make you feel like their watching every bite and the rest of the staff are equally as friendly. I asked for the scraps - just the fat off my fantastic steak to bring home to my puppy and although they knew it was just for my dog they fashioned it into a swan... seriously worth trying even if just to see how right I am. And yes it won't cost you an arm a leg and a second mortgage to enjoy a great evening out.

Went here on Saturday evening. I had a fillet (med-well) and my boyfriend had a rib eye (medium). It was nice food but really didn't live up to all the hype. Good steak but not amazing. It could have done with more seasoning and it was a little overcooked. Service was pretty slow -it was busy but this isn't really an excuse. We had starters and no drinks and it cost €70. I could have went to a local steak restaurant in Tallaght and got better steak and more food in general for a lot less. Shame.

We went to Darwins for dinner. Unfortunately they messed up the booking. We where 6, but they had it down for 3. After waiting for a while, they had sorted us out a lovely table even though it was very busy. The service was very good. All the servers where very neat and friendly. The food was some of the best that I had. Best steak I have had in Europe really. I am glad there was a bit of a mix up with the booking, other wise I would have thought this place was heaven. I will go there again, as much as possible :-)

Ate here on the pre-theatre menu with a large group. My first visit to this place which I have heard many good things about recently, and I was not disappointed! The owner was lovely from the moment we arrived, she took lots of time to talk with us as she seated us. She talked through the menu with us and gave a great recommendation on the zinfandel blend wine - loved it so much that I'm now searching off licenses to find it again. Had calamari to start, they were delicious. Had the striploin for mains with side of mushrooms and chips. The steak was really beautiful, the in house butcher really knows what he's doing! The only disappointment for me was the rhubarb fool, I really did not enjoy it. The presentation wasn't great and didn't enjoy the flavours - a shame as the rest of the meal and service were superb. I'll look forward to returning to try out the other dessert options!

Great service, friendly and professional. Steak was amazing and the chef was accomodating in special requests which is always a plus. Not bad value for the level of service and quality of food. Will be back again

Very nice restaurant. Specially the steak and fish.

Went with a party of 8 and availed of the early bird which is fantastic value! My French Onion soup was very tasty, the tomatoe and basil soup however was even tastier. I tasted the Risotto, which was ok, not as light as I like, a bit 'gloopier' than my preference. Mains of fish of the day - Plaice - presented well but lacked any particular fish taste, which was a little disappointing, but the accompanying mash was surprisingly delicious. The steaks were all said to be perfect. Now the best of all the desserts - Rhubarb fool, OMG this was so fantastic, too delicious for words. The brownie liked up to expectations as did the cheesecake (lemon). I would revisit for the desserts alone. The service was almost faultless as they managed to bring all meals to the table at the same time, my only complaint was the need to ask for water refills constantly. House wines were good value too and the choice very acceptable. Enjoyed our night and I will return.

Lovely Restaurant with fantastic and very obliging staff. Visit here with my girlfriend recently and was impressed by the food and how friendly and nice the staff were. Even the decor here is great. I recommend the Deep fried baby calamari, the centre cut T bone steak, and a bottle of the pinot grigio. The manager even went out of her way to have a sample desert tray with a little of every deresrt on it which is no longer on their menu made up especially for my girlfriend after she had'nt noticed it was'nt on the menu anymore. Only one negitive comment can be a bit pricey if your on a budget, but if you can spoil yourself you wont regret it.

Excellent food, lovely atmosphere and quality service. I was in an incredibly bad mood upon arrival in this restaurant. Through out my dining experience me and my boyfriend had a bit of banter with the woman who ran the place. She was incredibly friendly and really put me in a good mood. Its hard to come across such friendly service these days. The food was really sublime and excellent value and to top it all off she gave us two glasses of wine on the house. What a fantastic host, will definitately be back.

Quite simply one of the best steak houses in the city. We have visited here on a number of occasions and will be back again and again. 5 stars all the way

The best thing about Darwin's is surely the staff. It's a feeling that only family run places can replicate. Although we were early they managed to find a table for us and didn't complain when we occupied it for the whole night until practically closing time. We had a run down through the menu from the owners mother and then she proceed to explain how they had recently renovated the place themselves. Friendly staff is something that cannot be underestimated, it can turn a good meal into a great meal. We started with the calamari and the house breads. The calamari was just right, not too rubbery as it can be in some places. The breads were really fresh, as was the accompaniment of pesto. We were definitely left wanting more (but in a good way!!!) For mains we had steak and the fish of the day which was sea bass. Both were lovely and cooked as we asked. We followed it with a chocolate brownie and some espressos, all washed down with a reasonably priced bottle of pinot grigio. For what we had eaten the bill was quite reasonable and we rolled out feeling warm and fuzzy which I have to attribute to both the wine and the wonderful staff.

I visited here with friends on saturday evening for the early bird menu. Its my first time and won't be my last. Firstly it is fantastic value at €23.50 for three courses including sirloin steak. The space inside is well decorated and feels comfortable, and the service is welcoming and very friendly. I had the rissotto to start and it was excellent, followed by the bouillabaisse. I really enjoyed this, it had plenty of plump prawns and other fish. When we finished our meal, coffee etc. it was getting close to the time for the later diners (the early bird runs to 6pm on a Saturday), but the owner kindly offered us seats outside. As it was a nice evening we took up this offer and were comped a round of drinks. This is my book was a fantastic touch in a world where pack 'em in and get 'em out can prevail. The 5 at our table were very complimentary of the food/service and all will be back.

Went here for the pre-theatre menu on Friday. The staff here are so friendly and knowledable. They gave plenty of appreciated advise on the wine choice. The food was gorgeous. I had the rib eye on the bone and it was gorgeous. I'd the brownie for dessert (as I'd read a review) and it was the nicest brownie I've ever had. I was with 4 others who enjoyed their food also, and I sampled their desserts, the rhubarb fool was delish. I found the choice of starters limited so just went for the 2 courses.

6 of us went here for a birthday meal, The atmosphere was buzzing, The food delicious and varied . some ordered a la carte, others from Pre theatre menu and from their extensive Vegetarian menu, We had a young child with us and the staff were excellent with her, The steaks were succulent and cooked to perfection and went down well with a Stonewalker Shiraz, There was a large que outside waiting to dine and I am delighted to say there was no pressure put om anybody to finish, A great night and affordable

Came to darwins with my boyfriend, for the pre theatre menu. Great food, great service, lovely surroundings, all in all I highly recommend it. There's areally nice space in the back which we imagined would be nice for a small family get together. I'll definitely be going back!!!

I had the fishcakes for starters which were delicious, full of flavour. Then for my main course I had the fillet of salmon which was accompanied by some mash and a lovely creamy sauce that had a nice lemon kick to it. Really nice atmosphere in the place and the service was top class. I’d definitely recommend this restaurant and without doubt I’ll be paying it another visit again.

Ate here again with my girlfriend, her parents and my parents. Everything was absolutely fantastic. Atmosphere was great and the service was brilliant. Didnt come over all the time but only when needed and to check you were ok once or twice. Food was gorgeous. There was Calamari, fishcakes, bread and soup had for starters and everyone really enjoyed it. Everyone happened to have New York 10oz steak and again everyone was very impressed and thought it was fantastic. Dessert was just gorgeous, I had Eton Mes, and it was fantastic, Lemon Cheese cake was also gorgeous along with the Bread & butter pudding and the brownie. Brownie was fantastic, unbelievably moist and beautiful. Best Brownie I've ever tasted in a restaurant.

My wife & I had a lovely Pre-theatre meal here on Sat. evening. The welcome we received was warmest & friendliest we've ever got ! The food was perfectly cooked & presented. We were not rushed to vacate the table even though it was getting pretty busy . We will certainly return in future.

I visited Darwins for the first time with a friend who treated me to a birthday dinner. Wow! What a fabulous place - wonderful food with a great atmosphere. The Goats cheese starter and Fillet steak main were divine. We had A la Carte and the prices are a bit steep in the current climate but the Early Bird menu looks like really good value and I look forward to trying that on my return visit!

Myself and my boyfriend have had dinner here twice and both times the food was amazing and the staff are excellent!!

Return visit to Darwins and it proved to be a night to remember,Seak was excellent and we were very well served.This is a real gem for serious foodies. Will not leave it so long before I return again. Well done Darwins tou have evolved into one of Dublins finest Restaurants!

The steak here really is fantastic. And it is cooked exactly how you ask for it to be cooked. Three of us dined here recently & all three of us had the steak! Excellent service, great wine list, a real little gem of a place.

Went to Darwins last Friday 25/03/2011. I had a booking for 7.30 and arrived just at that time. Found they had given my table away as I over heard the staff talking. But no acknowledgment that they had. We were left to wait 15 minutes and then shown to a table. But it was embarressing as they moved a couple who were seated at the table and just having a coffee to finish up. We ordered fine and steak I had was very tasty. But the sea bass dish my wife had was boring and not much in the way of fish. Service I have to say was awful. I asked repeatly for more water and none arrived. When we were finished I asked for the bill from 3 different staff members and they just never came back with it. I went to the till myself to request it. And complained to the manager. Who's only excuse was we're very busy .... yes I could see that.

Darwin’s steaks are probably some of the best in Dublin and never fail to impress. The staff are welcoming, while the ambience is lively and inviting. Unfortunately on a recent visit I wasn’t overly excited by the rather bland vegetable side dish or the 10% service charge for a table of four people.

Went to Darwins few weeks back for a friends birthday and although it was pretty empty (it was a Tues night) the atmosphere was fine and we were well looked after. And the staff made a good fuss of our birthday girl (although we werent' allowed to bring in our own cake). The food was fab and at the price it was really good value too. I had the mushroom risotto, something I wouldn't normally go for but it was absolutely delicious and then had to have the steak, absolutely gorgeous and for those of our group who could fit in deserts they all thought it was fab Couldn't recommend Darwins more highly.

I am still drooling after eating at Darwin's on Saturday night. We were a table of 4 and I tried everyone else's starters which were all excellent. Venison salad was delish, prawns in light batter were very good and the fishcakes were amazing! I went for the aged striploin for main course and I can honestly say it's the best steak I have had in Dublin. Ever. The flavour was sensational and it was perfectly cooked. A fine chunk of meat and I had no problems paying the €32 for it. There wasn't much room for dessert but we shared a brownie which was lovely. The service was excellent, just the right balance of attentiveness, friendliness and professionalism without intrusion. Definitely my favourite restaurant in Dublin

We were booked in for a meal in Darwin’s for a friend’s birthday. Most of the meat eaters in the group ordered the award winning steak and there were no complaints. I had the halloumi, caramelised figs with mixed peppers & walnuts. It is so refreshing to see a menu that doesn't contain risotto or goats cheese for the vegetarians. It’s nice to know there are some chefs that are still inventive. The staff were also incredible friendly and even played a harmonica version of happy birthday to the birthday girl. The house red was over priced for what it was but apart from that it was perfect.

I decided to book something nice for my girlfriends birthday and had heard about the best steaks in Dublin..so this we had to try!..We were shown to a seat nestled beside the window which was nice and cosy.We opted for the mushroom & black pudding risotto for myself & the smoked venison and pears for the lady...Delicious..Next on the menu was the star of the show.. The 20oz Ribeye accompanied by some of the best chips I have ever tasted...Best steak ever whilst herself enjoyed the Seafood mixed grill which the nom nom nom sounds confirmed that it was as wonderful as the steak!!...Washed down with a couple of boozeberries we both agreed it was one of the best meals we had enjoyed in quite some time.Keep up the good work!

Went here for the pre theatre dinner and overall found it very good. Some of the things I just want to mention are that the 'house potato' is just mash and should be named as such on the menu. The eton mess is just ice cream and strawberries with no sign of meringue and should be just named as such. Between us we had the fish stew, the chicken, the plaice and the steak and we could not fault any of these dishes. There was a good buzz around the place and we will definately back. I suppose a bit of bread at the start would not have gone astray either.

I was in Darwins with a small group for dinner on a Tuesday night and we all had a fantastic evening. The owner was very friendly and the service in general was great. I felt the early bird menu that is available all evening on Monday and Tuesday was really good value. The food was wonderful. A few of us had steaks and they were magical. I felt the medium was more towards the medium-rare end of the spectrum but that suited me. We ordered onion rings and chips as side courses, and they were both excellent. I would come back for those alone. The desserts were also lovely. I will definately be back.

I’d been hearing about Darwins for some time, from friends and newspapers, so myself and the girlfriend popped in for an early bird last week. Décor wise it’s very nice, soft tones and lighting, plenty of space between tables. A previous poster complained about the “ascent of man” paintings but I think they’re not too obtrusive and as long as there’s nothing by Francis Bacon to put me off my meal I don’t mind. The maitre d’ or manager was very friendly, asked had we been there before and gave us our pick of the tables (this was at 6pm so things were still a bit quiet). She was friendly without being in our faces and it seemed genuine. For the starter I had the salmon & prawn rillette, I’ve never had it before so I’ve nothing to judge it against but I gobbled it up so it must have been decent. My special ladyfriend had the soup, curried cauliflower, which was delicious. For the main she had sirloin steak, very nice, and I had the bouillabaisse which was lovely and creamy with a slight spicy kick from the chorizo they added. For the dessert we both went for the rhubarb fool because it sounded delicious…and it was! Rhubarb compote, crème fraiche, mascarpone, it was scrum-diddley-umptious. None of the portions were huge but combined they were enough to satisfy and at €24 for 3 courses you can’t complain too much. We both had a glass of house wine, my SLF going for the ménage a trois, me for the South African shiraz which at that price was gorgeous! I’ve since discovered that it’s only sold to trade in which case I’m going to have to set up a restaurant to get my hands on more of it. By the time we were leaving the place was starting to fill up although it never felt too quiet. Overall we had a lovely meal, the staff were great and I’ll definitely be back to tackle the 20 ounce rib-eye as well as a bottle of that shiraz!

Myself and a friend were actually the first lunchtime customers in Darwins in 2011. Strangely they only open for lunch on Fridays. However, as a result of a very good lunch, I went back for dinner with my family some days later. We were placed at a table next to a large group of people who had imbibed a little too well and it was very noisy. We asked the front of house lady for a change and she said "no problem" and immediately moved us to a quieter part of the restaurant. In my book that is always a good sign. Actually, the service over the whole evening was memorable. Very warm and friendly without being in your face. Two members of the party went for the pre theatre menu which is astonishing value at €23.95 for 3 courses. I had the black pudding risotto for starter which was sublime. I normally don't go for steak but because of the reviews I've read, I had the New York striploin. It was cooked perfectly and was melt in the mouth tender. Another member of the party had haddock which she pronouced superb and another had the seafood mixed grill which I tried and found to be excellent. Unusual for a steak type restaurant to produce such good fish. The sides were equally good with vegetables nice and al dente and great chips too. Their house wines are very dood value too. Overall this was a very pleasant experience and one which I am looking forward to repeating. I wish all front of house staff were as good as the people in this restaurant.

I went to Darwins with a group of friends last week. The surroundings are ok, sketches of Man at different stages fo his developement around the walls, Neanderthall, Homosapien, etc, not exactly my idea of nice decor, however it could be worse. The food however was of a very good standard and the presentation lovely, but there could have been more of it for the price. I shared some breads and dips with one at the table, there was 3 dips but they barely covered the bottom ot the small pots and a selection of breads. For mains I went for the fillet steak with mushroom sauce, unfortunately they got it wrong and sent out pepper sauce at first. The steak was cooked to my liking and the taste was great although I was disappointed to get a big lump of white fat/sinew in the middle of it, I realise that was beyound chefs control. The side of veg was very small but tasty. For desert I opted for a chochlate brownie with icecream, this was very tasty. Over all the staff were friendly but one of the waiters could have done with lessons in how to break a smile. Would I go back? Probably only for the food but nothing else would really have me racing back and if it was just for the food I was going back I think there are plenty more places that I would prefer to visit instead. Overall all not a bad experience.

I was very pleasantly surprised by the decorations and the ambient of the place. My companion an I were an early diners so the service was attentive and timely, without being intrusive. Bread and waster arrived on our table without having to ask. We opted for a la Cart menu. Food arrived at reasonable time was extremely satisfactory. My peach and parma ham salad starter had the right room temperature so I could savior all tastes. Rack of lamb for main course was a subject of dish envy from my companion. My companion enjoyed his Buffalo Mozzarella starter and even ate the asparagus camouflaged in creme fraiche. Blue steak came raw as ordered and was one of the best steaks in town. Rhubarb fool was a concert of tastes. I would like to congratulate the chef on his orchestrating of tastes. Keep it up, we will be back!

We had booked our Christmas Departmental Lunch way back in October for Darwins, as the menu sounded fabulous and very much value for money. This was our second time booking Darwins for the Christmas lunch, and this time was just as good as the last if not better. There were 10 of us coming for lunch and it was in a week that the snow was affecting everyone, and the staff at Darwins were so grateful that we didn't cancel as many other customers had been. It was really only us in the restaurant but that did not affect our Christmasy mood, and obviously we had first class service being the only ones there. However, from experience the service has always been first class. Everyone enjoyed their meals thoroughly and had a great afternoon. All meals were cooked to perfection, I don't think there was a bad dish to be had. We will definitely be back at Darwins again. First Class restaurant!!

Ideal for a treat or a special occasion - lovely food, attentive service, good selection of wine and all the time in the world to enjoy them. We never felt rushed and lingered for some time over dinner and drinks.

First time dining at Darwin’s and I was very impressed. 4 course xmas lunch menu for great value. Highly Recommended.

Visited Darwins last Saturday night had heard so much about it so booked it as a suprise for my partners birthday. We were left waiting for 35 minutes before a waiter approached asking have u heard what’s happened?? Apparently there was a power cut and the extractor fan in the kitchen wasn't working they were waiting on an electrician. We were told they didn’t know how long it would take. We were left sitting for another 20 minutes until my partner approached a rude abrupt waitress regarding what was going on she replied "have u not heard??" he asked her for some bread which she did not bring until a waiter passed by and offered some. After been giving to baskets of bread we decided to leave and were told we did not have to pay!!! We had 4 7ups!!! Our whole night was ruined and money wasted on taxis and a babysitter. I thought Darwin’s could have handled the situation a lot better by offering us more than 4 free 7ups!! For such a well known spoke about restaurant they lack customer service

Response:
I was there on that night too, we chose to stay and honestly it was disasterous, we we left with a massive bill as there we were waiting so long for food, the wine was going down a little too quickly. I couldnt eat my steak when it arrived at 11pm. We made the decision to stay but really they should have just cut their losses and closed instead of damaging their reputation. The most infuriating thing though was to be charged quite a hefty service charge. I was quite shocked. I hoped that they would look after the customers who did stay, they had brought bread and antipasti plates about an hour and a half after the electricity went, but by no means should we have been charged full price. I would think twice about going back. Very dissappointing.

Posted by: Annick on 06/01/2011

My friend invited me to dinner as she had bought vouchers on CityDeal. I had always wanted to try Darwins as heard nothing but good reports from friends. Layout lovely - nooks and crannies with pictures of our ancestors on the walls!!! We had just missed the Early Bird so dined from A la Carte. I ordered the fillet steak well cooked but was told it could take up to 30 minutes so opted for 2 starters - pate and fish cakes, with a side ot chips. All delicious - chips to die for. My friend had the boullibase fish stew and she loved it. We shared a selection of sorbets for dessert - so refreshing. Had wine by the glass - good choice and reasonably priced. Staff very friendly. Would definitely go back - everything great about the place.

Arrived on spec and had the early bird. Food was top quality and the service was excellent - particularly friendly staff. Great value, will definitely be back.

lovely food. The pre theatre menu is great value. All the food was beautiful. Staff very firendly and helpful. will definitely be returning.

We had such a lovely meal at Darwins on Saturday night. The food is delicious. I would highly recommend the pear and walnut salad followed by the mixed grill of fish, Devine!! The staff are all friendly and efficient. The lady at front of house deserves a special mention as she was an absolute pleasure. Such a fantastic representative for the restaurant. We would highly recommend Darwins!

A large group of us went to Darwin's to celebrate a graduation last night. The staff were excellent and accommodated us having the fantastically priced pre-theatre menu a little later than usual. Darwin's is my favourite restaurant in town and once again it did not disappoint. I had a delicious mushroom risotto to start, a fabulous giant sirloin steak and then a sumptuous blackcurrant cheesecake to finish off. At €23.95 for three courses this is probably the best value restaurant in Dublin far outstripping many of its pricier counterparts in terms of quality of food and price. The a la carte menu is more expensive however this is a real case of you get what you pay for- the fillet steak I had the last time was so big I couldn't finish it and PERFECTLY cooked which is a rare thing in Ireland. The family that run the restaurant also own a butchers hence the fantastic meat. What I particularly like about this place is everything is made from scratch- bearnaise sauce, onion rings, fries etc. all the types of things which are commonly bought in in other restaurants- for me this is a mark of a truly excellent restaurant that pays attention to details. They also have really excellent wine specials each month that far from being the usual bin ends are really good wines that while complimenting the food don't break the bank. I can't say enough about this place- if you haven't been you should treat yourself, they've different menus to suit all budgets. Its also a great place to bring men to as its not too fancy as to be alarmingly formal and the portions are extremely hearty!

had a great meal here. gorgeous fillet steak, onion rings and mash with eton mess 4 dessert. drank a yummy menage a trois rose wine. service good. will certainly be back. maybe 4 the early bird next time tho, as its a little pricey.

Having heard plenty of good things about this restaurant, we decided to try out their early bird first. Dropped in without a reservation and were told we could have a table for hour and half which was fine. I had baby calamari with smoked aoili to start and hubby had wild mushroom risotto. Both were delicious but would have preferred mine without the tentacles. For mains I had the hake in buerre blanc and hubby had the sirloin, cooked medium rare. Hake was delicious, drizzled sauce was rich but not too much. Steak was cooked perfectly. Didn't order any side dishes as both mains came with the house potato (creamed). Don't normally go for deserts but decided to pig out!! He ordered the chocolate brownie, which was a tad dry but my rhubarb fool served in a martini glass was lovely and light. Service throughout had been very good but it was a pity one of the waiters whipped away my husbands plate while he was still chewing his last morsel. Same waiter also delivered the bill before we had finished our coffees (we didn't ask for the bill) The lady was very chatty. Will definitely go back for their ala carte...

Have eaten here twice, the first time was with a group of friends and we all really enjoyed it. The food, atmosphere and service were all good. The second time i ate here it was a totally different experience - granted it was a busy satruday night. The food was not as nice and the service was appalling!! We had to ask two waiters and wait 15 mins for more wine!! The dish i ordered was the mixed seafood grill - the first time i had this it was delicious and in a lovely light lemon butter sauce. The second time it was in a very heavy cream sauce - I found it very hard to eat. The rest of the party ordered steak and lamb. One of steaks had to be returned as it was very on the rare side for a medium/well done steak! My biggest complaint would be the 10% service charge on a table of 4 people! First time i have ever seen this on a small group and i thought it was such a cheek considering the service was so poor. I would not go back here again and I don't think it's worth the prices they are charging.

I won a voucher for here as part of a Menupages competition so was looking forward to trying it. And we weren't disappointed! Food was absolutely super - highly recommend the buffalo mozzarella marinated in truffle oil to start - and the Eton Mess for dessert was to die for! The service was excellent - very prompt and available, but not in your face. We'll definitely go back - bit pricey so just for special occasions! And thanks menupages! :-)

A group of us went her for an early evening bite and I have to say it was fab, I had prawn tempura to start and all the gang had a steak, perfectly cooked I had mine with a lovely pepper sauce. The atmosphere was great which probably encouraged us to go for the extra bottle of wine!! overall good night!

It was visit number 4 for me to Darwins and as always I wasn't let down. The restaurant was full when we arrived so good job we reserved. I started with the delicious tempura prawns that were cooked perfectly and it was a substantial portion. Himself had the mozzarella and asparagus, the mozzarella was melt in the mouth delicious. We come here for their delicious steaks (although I have eaten vegetarian options and chicken in the past and been very happy) so we both ordered the fillet (8oz for me and a huge 11oz for him!) cooked medium with pepper sauce and veg. We also ordered a side of the sauteed spinach which is annoying to pay extra for (€3.50 I think)but very tasty. Our steaks were cooked to perfection, the only minor issue was the pepper sauce being extremely peppery. We shared a cheese board for dessert which was a fine size for 2 people, some cheeses weren't to my taste but thats a personal thing and no fault of the restaurant. Theres a great selection of wines, I recommend the Neil Ellis Cabernet Sauvignon with steak, delicious! Price wise, Darwins is great, €25 for a perfect 8oz fillet is very, very resonable. Staff are very good and friendly here too, particularly the lady who runs the restaurant.

Came in here with my partner and her parents to have a bite after various wanderings for culture night, we didn't have a reservation so were doubtful as to whether we would get a table. The owner was very good and although they were quite full made sure that there would be a table for us in half an hour. We sat down a bit after 9 and ordered shortly after 2 aged steaks, the surf and turf and the chicken to be accompanied by the Neil Ellis cabernet sauvignon. All of these were excellent, the meat was perfectly cooked, flavoursome and I can have no complaints there, the wine was also excellent. There were however several issues with the service from one of the waiters, he refused to allow any of us to order chips instead of the mash that was house potatoes, although the person ordering the chicken who was unable to eat the potatoes with that dish was offered chips as a replacement before with some doubt on the waiters part ordering boiled potatoes. The same waiter then proceeded to bring the wrong wine something easily done and not a major problem. The main reason I'm taking marks off on the service was neither of the aforementioned issues but for the fact that our food was very delayed in coming out and when we eventually enquired as to where it was we were told the chicken was being cooked from scratch hence it took a long time, this was a very poor and unbelievable excuse given the amount of time we had waited and we it has to be said murmoured a little amongst ourselves. Very shortly after a different waiter arrived to inform us there had been a mistake and that the food would be about five minutes, no problem, a little bit of honesty goes a long way, these things can happen and we understand that, just please don't fob us off with excuses when the truth will do. Superb food and wonderful people running the place, we will be back.

On a horrible, wet Wednesday night a steak & glass of red was called for. While Darwins didn't let me down, I wasn't blown away either. The big plus in their favour is that they are one of the very few restuarants in Dublin who know how to cook a rare steak. The minus is that the sides and the sauces we ordered, they managed in a rather splendid way, to totally mess up and gave us entirely different items!

went here with my boyfriend last night and really enjoyed it. He got risotto and black pudding for starters, whch he loved, and I got the mozzarella - literally melt in your mouth! He got rib eye steak for mains which was lovely, I got veal surf n turf, which was also delicious! Bit expensive, so wouldn't be coming here too often.

Had a big family meal here. The steaks were excellent. The rib-eye was massive, but the men liked that! Wine and the mixed starter were great. Lovely service. Will have to save up for another visit here...

Ate here with my girlfriends family on saturday and was delighted with the meal. We got the selection of starters as an appetizer, and was very happy with it. Great selection of interesting and tasty foods. I got the 16 oz rib eye for main which was not only huge but was one of the better cuts of meat i've gotten in a restaurant. The veal surf and turf was also amazing and would recommend it as a less filling option, as the smaller fillet steaks were not as tasty as the rib eye. The restaurant was very well done and the waitress was very nice, despite giving nearly everyone the wrong food. Highly recommended.

Myself and my husband had a really nice meal here on Saturday night. We both agreed it was the best fillet steak we have had ever. A little bit expensive but for what we got I couldnt really complain. We will definitely return.

Been dying to try this place ever since I saw the size of the steaks on the menu. I had one of the 'buy 1 get 1 free' offers. My girlfriend and I tried it last Thursday and were was not disappointed. I had the 22oz T-bone and my girlfriend had the 16oz Rib-eye recomended by the waiter. Both were perfectly cooked and huge and the mashed potato was nice and creamy. The manager and staff were excellent aswell with just the right amount of inquiries as to our wellbeing.(A pet hate of mine) We had the combination of desserts which was gorgeous aswell, just needed one scoop of icecream on it. I would say the price was a little high for what I'd usually pay (without the voucher) but considering both the quality and the amount of meat I think it is fair enough. Will definatly be back for a treat some time soon.

Response:
Hi, I was just wondering where you got the buy one get one free offer?

Posted by: celtictiger7 on 08/09/2010

I recently visited Darwins with a friend. We had a voucher which was a "buy one get one free" offer. We showed the voucher to the staff at the time of ordering our meal. As our steaks were about to be served, the waitress informed us that the voucher was in fact not valid, as it wasn't numbered. (The restaurants intention was that they would have only issued a limited number of such vouchers -the voucher issuer made a mistake when the vouchers were issued by omitting a barcode or numbering system). We were asked to pay full price for our meals. We did not. We finished our wine, and left the restaurant instead. It was a most embarrassing experience. I won't be recommending this restaurant to my friends, nor will I be returning.

First time to Darwins. Had checked out their web site and looked forward to their set menu and sea bass for the ladies. Unfortunately both were off. We were told that the set menu was only available at Christmas time when Revenue and other top diners dined. So the ladies ordered the surf and turf only to be told that too was off. Busy evening and it was only 7.20. Decided on two steaks, lamb and hake. The food was tasty. We were charged €27 for the hake even though it is available on their early bird menu at €19.95 for two courses. The service was good and friendly but we had noticed a 10% service charge that is also not shown on their web site! Too many negatives for a Saturday night for us. When we got our bill with over €20 service on it there a drink included on it that we did not get. Why is it that restaurants always seem to make a 'mistake' in their favour. Sour taste. We will not be returning. There are plenty our great restaurants in town that will not leave you bewildered and not amused. Don't forget to double check your bill!

Absolutely fabulous - I have already made another reservation. My husband is American and we had not found a good steak place til we found Darwins. Food was superb, staff were so nice and helpful. Can't wait to return. DELICIOUS!!

I went here for dinner after buying a voucher from an online special offer a few weeks back. We had the steaks and they were absolute perfection. I had the New York Striploin and my better half had the fillet and both were delicious! We were full enough after the bread dip starter and the steaks that we couldn't even entertain a desert. The deal we got was very good value even when you include the wine we bought. Without the deal I would say it is fair value, a high price for a very very good steak. A nice treat night out.

Went to Darwins with a friend for a bit of tasty food and girlie chat. I really love the new location. It is much better than the old one. It is very cozy. The staff are nice and friendly. We both had looked at the menu before hand and decided what to have but ended up changing our minds. The menu is very good with a lot of good options. We had bread with dips to start with which is a nice simple starter. For main I had the daily lamb special which was really gorgeous, I just love lamb so it really suited me. My friend had one of their steaks after seeing the people on the table beside having it and really loved it. For dessert I had a brownie and it was superb. My friend had the bread and butter dessert. It was tasty too but I think it was too heavy. Really loved the food here and will go back soon again.

In these times of financial strife I think the restaurant is overpriced and should consider introducing some special offers. We sat early (before 730pm - no early bird): €114 without tip for three courses with wine for two people seems a tad high these days. Due to the celebratory nature of our night out we didn't worry about it but in future that would put me off. My OH was annoyed by the bad music playing and it's a constant gripe of his - why do they insist on playing weak 80s tracks in the backgorund in so many restaurants?? On a positive note, the quality of the food is excellent and the award for best steak in Dublin is much deserved. Both the 11oz fillet and 14oz dry-aged were demolished! The meat was full of flavour, wonderfully tender and cooked exactly as requetsed. Both the starters and desserts were good too, the staff were friendly & professional and the interior is pleasant.

I went here with a group of girls so we had a set menu which may not paint an exact picture of this restaurant but I was not overly impressed and had high expectations. The starter and dessert were lovely but the main was a let down. To start I ordered a caramelised peach, parma ham and walnut salad with blue cheese dressing, which was delicious, given the fact that I love all the ingredients, but did not blow me away. The tempura prawn starter tasted good also, but again no wow factor. I ordered seabass for main but they were all out which was a bit poor given it was set menu for group they knew were coming. Anyways I had seafood medley but it was so so small - 2 pieces of hake on 4 prawns and 2 baby potatoes (really baby!) in a cream tarragon sauce. It tasted good but so small and really did not blow me away. I had bread and butter pudding for dessert with baileys cream - this was superb. The brownie I tasted though was not great bit burnt tasting and overly sweet. It was €50 a head for the set menu (final cost was obviously more than this) but I guess I expected more. I was hungry at the end, even after dessert! A few nice breads and dips would also have worked well at the start. But the company was good so good night was had by all. I tasted steak and this was excellent. The service was also very good as was the atmosphere - I just wouldnt go back with hubby for the food.

You won't be disappointed with a visit to Darwins. The food is presented well, tasts great and plenty of it. Perhaps the veg needs some consideration, but meat wise it is second to none. the service is warm and friendly. The tables are a bit too close, but don't let that put you off what should be a very enjoyable meal

Without doubt, the nicest food I have ever tasted! Was brought here for my birthday and can't recommend it highly enough. We were the only ones there (it was a Monday evening) but the waitress was great, not too pushy and seemed to know when you wanted her. The food was second to none. Will definitely be going back.

went for the early bird with another couple last friday.Had starters of pate & soup of the day. For main courses two of us had the steak which was cooked as ordered but disappointed that this only came with a small serving of mash. Also two had the Fish of the Day which also came with the same serving of mash. Side orders were extra at €3 (pity this did not come with the early bird by uping the price by maybe 2 or 3 euro) Had desert of Rhubarb fool and Mango Cheesecake which was delicious. Was a bit surprised to discover a service charge of 10% added to the bill as only 4 of us at the table.

Brought here last friday evening by some friends & opted for the ' Early Bird' menu.For mains I opted for a steak & my wife had plaice, both plates being served with mash but vegetables only available @ + 3 euro .I thought this a tad sneaky which effectively upped the price for the early bird price advertised !

Great staff, great food & great atmosphere. I was there with a group of 40 people and the service was great. Highly recommend this place. Lovely steaks and the desserts were to die for!

Went here for an after work dinner. I had been looking forward to visiting this place and I was not disappointed! The food and service was excellent, the atmosphere was a bit quite but it was a Monday night. A few of us went for the early bird menu, the portions sizes were good and the quality of the food was second to none. I had the prawn salad for starters and steak for the main. The bill came to €30 each with wine, which is very good considering the food we had. We all throughly enjoyed the food and night. I look forward to returning.

Myself and my boyfriend visited this restaurant last night for the first time for a birthday celebration. We had read the reviews on menupages and decided to give it a lash. We were not disappointed. From start to finish the whole experience was thoroughly enjoyable. Both staff who were on that night were friendly, helpful yet not overpowering. We had the pre-theatre menu which was excellent value. With some early birds, I find that the quality of the food is often not up to scratch, definitely not the case in Darwins. All courses were excellent. I had the chicken for main and choc brownie for desert which was amazing. The decor is really nice and a lovely atmosphere prevails in this restaurant. We will be back without a doubt !

My favourite restaurant in Dublin. I've been here in a group and just with my partner and everytime it has been a great experience. The staff are very attentive and freindly, The food is always very good, the mushroom risotto with black pudding starter is very good and you cannot fault any of the steaks, I've had them all. The house wines are perfectly acceptable and reasonably priced.

First time to try Darwins. What a treat.. I started with Tempura prawns, big juicey prawns in a light batter, delicious My partner had smoked chicken caesar salad which was also delicious. Main courses- Melt in the mouth Fillet steak m/r perfectly cooked and the flavour !!!!! superb, served with potatoes and veg. My partner had lamb, rack and eye fillet served with sweet potato chips and veg, we got 1 side of fries. It was all extremely good Desert - B&B pudding for me, Ice cream for him Washed down with a very pleasant and reasonably priced house white. Coffee & Cognac with a great atsmosphere and friendly staff Darwins hit all the right buttons 10 out of 10, and I'm not easily pleased.

A great place to dine in! Small entrance along georges street but amazing food here especially the dessert, well presented and excellent taste. Try their bread and butter pudding. Its definitely the best I've ever eaten! Thumbs up! Will post a picture of it on www.eatpost.com when I go there the next time for my next round of dessert! :)

Was there with the wee lass for our Chrimbo farewell Dindins... her treat!!! so was looking forward to a free steak :) Menu was interesting for starters and mains. Dessert selection was boring. My girlfriend had paté with an unexpected texture... not sure if it's good or bad but wasnae my cuppa. Actually can't remember what mine was but remember being simply happy enough with it. My sponsor's mains was a delish risotto... perfecto. My steak was very good. Dessert menu was uninspiring as I said but it was Christmas so we went through the motions

A Monday lunch in this restaurant was excellent. Service was very good and they accomodated us all very well and we were a large party of 18 and it was a pleasure to see that the staff knew who had ordered what insead of the "who ordered this" effort that you get in a lot of restauarants. Shrimp starter is excellent. I had the turkey for main course and was surprised to see the turkey and ham both thick cut. My personal preference was to have a thinner slice but it was very tender and cooked well. Some of the other party had the steak and every one was very well cooked from rare to well done all perfectly served and very tender. Well worth a visit and I will be back

I had dinner here last week and really enjoyed the experience. The food was well presented and tasty and the service was excellent. We were made to feel very welcome and there was no pressure put on us to leave so that we could indulge in a leisurely digestif. I will be going back there soon.

This is my favorite restaurant at the mo. Where to start, the staff are lovely will go out of their way to accomidate you. The food from the pre theatre menu is great value for money. I always get the pate to start which is so creamy its melt in the mouth. The soup is always amazing too full of flavour (always sample the fiancees food lol). As for mains the steak is always so fresh and juicy and the fish is gorgeous crumbly and soft. The chips are chunky and they obviously cook them in same oil as fish cause the flavour is beautiful. They have recently introduced a new chocolate brownie which has become a major hit. It has whit chocolate pieces and rasins in it its fab! The only thing that i dont like is the coffee they should het a proper coffee machine to make some decent coffee.

I had dinner here last week and it was excellent. I had the farmhouse pate to start which was delicious and the boullabaise for main course which was excellent also and a perfect sized portion. The atmosphere was great and the service excellent too. There was great value for money, I would find it hard to fault anything about the meal and I will definitely be back.

I ate there for lunch today. We both had the beef bourguignon. It's a huge plate but I found that the amount of mash was very small in comparison to the beef. That's my only negative comment as the beef was perfect and very tasty. The menu is quite varied and I will definately eat there again.

I was here in a group of three starvind people, and Darwin's didn't disappoint. I had the duck with red cabbage, which was beautifully moist and tasty. Both my companions had steak, and enjoyed them! We didn't have time for dessert, but I intend to go back

Dined here with 5 others on a Friday evening. We had booked ahead and our table was waiting. The service was very good without being in your face, even finding the answer to an odd question we had about the weight of the steaks. Most of the food was enjoyed; 5 of us had steaks. The fillets had by my colleagues were cooked to perfection as ordered and delicious. My T-Bone also cooked as desired but found the meat a little stringy. Accompanying wine was good and the desserts to follow were adequate (I didn't choose one myself but were rated 'good' by colleages). On the steaks alone I would go back to this restaurant. I even enjoyed the decor (although I can see why it is not to everyone's liking).

Not mad about the interior. Also had to ask twice for the bill. But the quality of the food was really good. I had a steak fillet and being told this is a good place for the steaks I was brave enough to order it blue which I never had before. And I have to say blue it was. I really enjoyed it and I will definately be back for more soon.

We ate here last week and would have to say that it wasn't bad, but didn't live up to the reputation it has in some quarters. We had starters of the polenta and the pate, which were nice but not spectacular, and mains of the duck and the lamb, both of which were nice but, again, nothing special. The veg served with both mains were lovely though. Service was good, but we were seated too close to the table beside. I'd be willing to give it another try, but on this visit it was a bit of a let down overall. It's quite expensive too.

only been here for their lunch menu but it was relaxed and very enjoyable. my steak sandwich was excellent but some of the other meals ordered looked a little small. the service was excellent and we even got a complimentary Baileys eahc which was a nice touch since there were five of us. would come back

Great place to eat. Do not be fooled by name or decoration. Food is excelent!

I felt this place was highly over rated. I had heard such great things and was so excited about going but left very disappointed! Food was very averge and the menu was quite limited. Very overpriced and to make matters worse there was a 10% service charge added to our bill even though there were only 4 of us. Staff were friendly but difficult to get their attention when we wanted the bill and when waiting for them to collect it. Also the restaurant is quite dark so it was difficult to read the menu. I don't think this is a bad restaurant but certainly not as amazing as others would claim and bery much over priced! I don't think I'll be returning.

Work night out on a Tuesday evening. Food was superb, service faultless, and best of all we were able to hang around to our hearts' content having nightcaps unlike a weekend when we would have had to give the table back by 9. I can see why this place has had so many positive reviews. 5 out of 5 for everything! I can't wait to return.

Beautiful food, simple and perfect.... had a delightful evening, service and food were of a high standard! Will definatly be back!

The food here is great. While Darwins prides itself on its steak, the seafood is superb.

had a lunch there, the lunch menu was quite small, we asked for the a la carte but they couldn't serve everything yet. The service could have been better. The food was very good. they have lovely steaks!

had dinner here on Saturday night. We booked in advance & had hard time getting table for 2 – i was sceptical that they were fobbing us off, esp when we arrived & were the only people there?.However about 30 mins after we arrived the whole restaurant was full. This to me speaks for itself, people will always come to a good restaurant even in these recessionary times. I was really impressed. Yes hte menu is expensive, there is no denying that, but the food was top notch, one of my best meals in Dublin to date. I had the antipasto plate for starter, while himself had the risotto. Both were delicious & very good portions. The main courses were exceptional – I had the seafood mixed grill was far exceeded my expectations - big chunks of juicy fresh fish including langoustine & king prawns that were all tasty & not the usual frozen rubbery stuff you get. Himself had the lamb plate which was very good, if the rack slightly undone. The shank he proclaimed delicious. The wine menu was wide & varied offering lots of choice & price ranges to suit all. I had read reviews of poor & snooty service which I was apprehensive about, however I cannot say we experienced anything of this – staff where pleasant, helpful & engaged without overcrowding us. We were too full to face desert so settled on a cappuccino & latte to finish. AN expensive treat but well well worth it.

had a lovely lunch here with a free glass of wine, happy days! All 3 of us were more than happy with our mains, the fish & chips light and fluffy, worth a mention. Will deffo be going back

Love the evolution-themed concept. Small restaurant with big prices and somewhat low-quality décor. It's mainly a steak place, and the steak is excellent. They cook it proper - medium rare is very pink in the middle but warm, unlike most Dublin restaurants which serve everything except rare steak cooked to hell. The staff were fantastic. We had an incident where a member of our table spilled wine on the floor, some of it fell onto to woman next door's trousers. The staff were over immediately to clean everything, and when we offered to pay for a glass of wine for the lady, they said don't worry about it and gave her a free glass. They even offered us a move to a different table because this lady was giving us evil looks. The starters are superbly cooked and sensible portions, plenty of space for the mains. The only cons were the cheese plate, which was bland as hell and contained no blue cheese, and the toilets which had no soap. Aside from that, an expensive meal but totally enjoyable.

I ate here with my boyfriend and we both absoluetly loved it. He adores steak and out came a huge steak and I have a seafood gril which really would ahve done 2 people but none the less I battled through and made sure I tried a bit of everyhting. There was no need for starters on this occassion. Lovely spot to go for a special occassion...

I ate here with a large group of friends and we all enjoyed ourselves and the food. A little pricey for what we got though but otherwise quite nice.

I visited Darwins on a thur afternoon for the lunch menu and I was far from dissappointed. I got the fish and chips and I could have sworn the cod had just been caught that morning, the chips were a little overcooked but tasty none the less. The service was perfect, the price was reasonable for what you got and the bread and butter pudding with the baileys toffee sauce was the perfect ending to a delightful lunch.

Went for pre-theatre menu, and had excellent meal. Beef just melts in your mouth. Great value €26.50 for 3 course meal.Staff very friendly, helpfully and accomodating. Will definately be going back. Nice for groups or couples.

This place does amazing steaks - one of the most tender and juicy I've ever tasted. The vegetarian menu is also really good which is surprising for a place known for it's meat. Sampled a fabulous pasta dish in a goats cheese sauce. The staff are very friendly and I found the service excellent. It is pricey but the complimentary Baileys we got at the end perched on the bill book took the sting out of the total! Definitely would recommend for a special occasion.

If you are the kind of person who always orders your steaks rare because you know how much better they are that way, then this is the place for you. A temple to the carnivore, where respect is paid to the master chef by savouring every mouthful of pure beef with the respect that such rare chunks of meat deserve. In other matters, the staff are very friendly and helpful. Even when they had a problem with their credit-card machine (turns out it was low on power, not that my account was empty!) they were very good about it and it was not an issue, though I'm glad we were in no hurry. Don't order sides, I know the helpings of potatoes may look small but when you start into them you'll realise why we didn't touch our order of a side of fries between us... what a waste, I know.

Disappointing to say the least. Upon recommendation from my lunch date we headed off to Darwins. I should have had a sambo or something before I went. Darwins are doing a lunch time special of a fixed menu & soft drink/glass of wine for EUR9.95 - soft drinks were flat -poured from 2ltr bottles! Ordered fish & chips x2 & I couldn't help but laugh when it arrived. They stacked skinny chips on top of each other - something which is usually reserved for chucky chips that fill you - not 5 skinny chips!!! We could just about find the cod inside the batter. To make the whole experience even more annoying the bill was brought over as soon as the plates were swiped away. I still had 'flat coke' left in my glass but this was swiftly removed with the plates. I pointed this out & the glass was returned with the waiters fingers inside...not impressed. They couldn't wait to get our money & get rid of us - we couldn't wait to get out of this place & get some snacks! Will most definitely not be returning.

This was our first visit to darwins. The food is good. Great choice of steaks. Lots of choice for vegetarians too.The service could be a little bit more attentive. Overall - looking forward to the next visit.

I had a lovely dinner here on Saturday nght with 2 friends. One of the girls had eaten here before and said there's be no need for starters as the steaks are quite big. We each had the New York Striploin and it was really good. The staff were very friendly and efficient. I did find it a bit expensive however, we had a main each, a dessert each, 2 of us had 2 glasses of win and the other was on tap water and it was €56 each. I would definitely return but as a treat kind of restaurant as opposed to a regular dinner out type of place.

Decided to try Darwins after reading the reviews on menu pages. To our delight it lived up to all the great reviews. I had the crab springroll that was really moist and tasty. My partner decided to tackle the antipasto for 2. He was very impressed. A great selection of meats, olives, sundried tomatoes and the rest. For mains I had the Fillet Steak cooked to perfection and he had the veal surf and turf, both were delicious. We shared onion rings and a brochette of prawns which was great value for €4. Throughout the night the service was very attentive and efficient. A very enjoyable night and we'll be back again

Food is very nice, but the prices! I think knowing the price kind of took away from the enjoyment of the food. Can't see this place lasting the recession.

Have been going to Darwins for a couple of years now. Food is still the same quality but I'm finding that the service is sliding and also went with a group of 8 last time and we were all shocked with the bill. As a lot of restaurants are doing special deals at the moment I think Darwins needs to do the same - it's just too expensive for what you get.

I was looking forward to this meal for a long time, based on its excellent reviews. However I was very disappointed. The waitress brought my boyfriend the wrong drink for a start, but otherwise she was friendly and helpful. My starter of pear and hazelnut baby gem salad was not as nice as it sounded - far too much lettuce and not enough pear. The blue cheese sauce however went nicely with everything. My boyfriend's carrot and coriander soup was a bit bland, but he enjoyed it. It was lucky we ordered the breads and dips as the soup did not come with even one slice of bread. When ordering my main course, I was told that they had run out of tofu (on a Monday night?? How could that happen?!). I didn't really want anything else on the vegetarian menu as I wasn't paying €17 for a plate of gnocchi in tomato sauce and I don't really like goat's cheese. I am also not a big fan of red meat. So I opted for the seafood mixed grill and my boyfriend had the T-Bone steak. My grill was very well presented but I didn't like the mussels! The monkfish and scallops were nice though, but I wasn't too keen on the tiger prawn. My boyfriend enjoyed his steak as far as I am aware. We shared the taster plate for two as dessert - nothing utterly spectacular, although the orange chocolate mousse was nice and I loved the apple and blackcurrant crumble. I probably will not go back to Darwin's. The restaurant was nice and warm, contrary to other reviews I have read, but the decor was a bit dubious. The lighting was just right though. Service did take a little too long and it is quite expensive for what you get. Our meal came to just under 100 excluding tip, and we didn't even drink wine and shared a dessert.

Very similar experience to one of the reviews below. Myself and my fiancée had a table booked for our anniversary. When we walked into the restaurant nobody approached us. One waiter was on the phone (not business) and another was chatting away with a couple of their mates at the back of the restaurant who were drinking. Having to approach the wait staff to ask where we could sit set the bar for the service pretty low, but it just got worse. In the practically empty restaurant we had to fight for the waiter's attention, actually having to hand him our plates well after we'd finished the starters. The real pity is the food was really quite good. The restaurant is being completely let down by it's wait staff and highly inflated prices. It doesn't have the service or atmosphere to justify the price or a repeat visit.

Interesting décor in Darwin's; interesting concept. When I walked in, I thought it was a bit ostentatious, but the waiter was friendly, and the other diners seemed laid-back and relaxed. We both had rare Ribeye steaks. Mine was a bit stringy, but full of flavour; my partner's looked nicer though. I thought that the food was too expensive, however. Because of this, I probably won't be returning.

Myself and my sister, brother and his wife visited Darwins between Christmas and New Year. Despite the restaurant being completely empty we were seated at the window - the coldest table in the room, it was only 7pm so we thought oh its early, the place will fill up and we'll be roasting in a few minutes. Apart from one other couple, no one else came in all night, so zero for atmosphere. The food was really good, 3 different steaks and one vegetarian, unfortunately the bill at over €300 was completely overpriced and with this in mind I think Darwins will not fare well in recessionary times. There was a group of guys drinking at the back of the bar and they got most of the attention all night. At 10.30 we were told that the restaurant was closing and the bill was handed to us. Sorry, no matter how good the food is we won't be back. So that leaves an empty restaurant.

My boyfriend chose Darwins for a romantic meal on Sat night & i was impressed from start to finish, the steaks were unreal! great friendly service, would have preferred longer between courses but that was my only complaint!

Absolutely brilliant early bird. For 23€ you get a starter and a steak. The quality and size of the food is superb. I believe the desserts are not too shabby either. I would highly recomment this place, especially if you don't mind having dinner before 7

It has taken awhile to write this review but the important thing is I haven’t forgotten the food-which was amazing. One of the nicest 3 course meals I’ve had. Everybody who got the Eton mess for desert especially loved it, my seabass was beautiful and the men in the men in the group all went for steaks which received rave reviews. The only bad points were the following: -the service was a little slow even though they wanted the table back & semi rushed our deserts -&we were part of a group of 10 the& restaurant was quite noisy so the people in the middle of the table couldn’t hear the people at the end

This is the place I keep going back to for the best Fillet Steak in Dublin. Its pricey but worth it. They should remove the tables just inside the front door though. I always ask not to be seated there.

Have passed this a few times and beenmeaning to go in, glad I finally did however it may be a while before i'm back.

If you want a good steak this is the place to dine. Darwins is one of my favourite restaurants in Dublin and I have never been dissapointed. For a starter the goats cheese salad is wonderful as is the antipasto. The fillet steak is one of the best I have had, a good size and great cut, a little pricey but you definitely get what you pay for! For red wine you can't go wrong with the menage a trois, reasonably priced and full of flavour! The portion sizes are generous, it can be a struggle to finish the steak if you have had a large starter! Staff are wonderful and the service is excellent. I can't wait to go back!

Darwins is a place I keep going back to. apparently it's owned by a butcher, and the quality of the steak will make any man drool!!! The portions are huge (sometimes I just order two starters), so you get great value for money, particularly if you are hungry! I also love the staff who are so friendly and welcoming (a pleasant change!). I have recommended this restaurant to lots of friends, all of whom have been singing its praises. Go there!

Arrived at Darwin's on a cold December Tuesday evening after a last minute decision to have dinner out. There were few other customers. Saw the menu and decided to go for the cheaper early bird menu at €23 for two courses. The house wine was lovely but the starters were just ok. I had black pudding with apple and poached egg while my partner had chicken paté on brioche. The paté was freezing and could have done with a bit longer at room temperature. A minor point perhaps but relevant in the overall experience that we had. We both ordered medium steaks for mains. They arrived and were barely warm. Both of use decided to press on regardless, as we are so used to being overcharged and served poor quality food in Irish restaurants, that it came as no surprise. The steaks were fatty as well as undercooked (i.e. not hot on the outside). Why a chef cannot manage to heat a steak properly is beyond me: the veggies were hot though the broccoli bitter. When asked how the meal went by the waitress we said it was just ok. In reality we couldn't be bothered complaining. The waitress defended the meat by insisting to us that they bought good meat however she also apologised. However the apology came with no offer to reduce the price or even a free coffee. We didn't have the heart to push the issue as we both suffer from IRF (Irish Restaurant Fatigue) and paid the bill, never to return. We wondered momentarily if we should have ordered a la carte but decided we had probably saved ourselves the money. Service was ok however Darwins needs to evolve quite a bit. Disappointing.

We had a meal out here on a Saturday night, it was busy and noisy but still a very enjoyable experience. We had booked a table a few days previously, and we were given a choice of tables which I always think is lovely. The staff were friendly and courteous throughout the evening. I had the special starter on the waiters recommendation, it was a saffron risotto with butternut squash, peas, and a tiny fillet of sea bass on the top, and it was fabulous. My bf had the Caesar salad, which he said was excellent. We both had fillet steak, with garlic butter, the house potatoes and vegetable medley. The steak was cooked to absolute perfection, mine was medium well, and my boyfriend's was medium, although I did hear a lady at the next table send her steak back as it was dry when she ordered well done. From what little I heard the staff dealt with this complaint to her satisfaction. The vegetables were perfect to, cooked, but still crisp! My only criticism of the main meal was that the mashed potato was reheated, still tasted lovely though. We had two bottles of the house white, which was a lot for us, but the starters took quite a while to arrive, but I liked that because it's nice to take time over a meal. For desert I had a delicious bread and butter pudding with toffee sauce. It was presented beautifully with decorated chocolate swirls. My boyfriend had a cheesecake, which I can't comment on because I don't like cheesecake and I forgot to ask if he liked it. He ate it all though! We also had an hot chocolate and a Irish coffee, the hot chocolate was decorated like a smiling sun, and the bar man who made it told me it was because you "need sunshine on a rainy day". The bill was €160, which was quite good value for what we got. We will definitely be going back!

We went tonight in Darwins and i really liked everything, meaning the starters were hot and on table in time, lovely stakes and very good deserts. We had calamari and goat cheese for starters, fillet stakes for main and chocolate cake for deserts. One bottle of wine. Good prices, lovely service ... we'll come back soon

I requested we not sit at the table by the door because it was freezing and raining outside. The waiter refused when I could see another table for two free. He said someone had specifically requested it. As far as I'm concerned that should be on a first come first served basis. We were there and they were not. This immediately irritated me and was certainly not silver service. To start my girlfriend had the calamari which she thought was nice but was not as good as another restaurant nearby which she loves. I had the goats cheese salad which was not a salad, it was a huge layer of goats cheese on a pastry so that was a bit odd. The main herself had the mixed fish platter which she really enjoyed and I had Chicken stuffed with langoustine which was nice but possibly a little too much chicken on the plate which I couldn't finish. The presentation was very good however. Overall it's a nice enough place but I think it loses marks because it's overpriced for slightly above average food and shabby service. It was okay to try, but I won't be going back anytime soon.

Visited here with family a few weeks ago. Would never have went in before, but will definitely be back. The food was really tasty, all opted for the steak / surf and turf. The service was quite slow at times, but there's such a nice atmosphere it was a small complaint. Portions are a good size, couldnt finish dessert - which isnt a common occurrence. Definitely be back

I was at this restaurant last Saturday night...great food and wine, I went for the lamb and my partner went for the chicken..we shared a starter, we had the mixed selection..really got the taste buds going and also shared a dessert. It was a little pricey, bill came to 100 Euro(this was with wine) but great for a nice special treat! The restaurant itself is very cosy and the service is top class! I would return

One word. Terrible.... Went here with some mates a few weeks back and we all felt let down. To order a steak at €29 minimum, you'd expect a half decent cut. Secondly, you'd expect it served warm if not hotter than warm. I was astonished that I was served a fat ridden lump of 14oz New York Cut Strip Loin for that price. The response I got when I told the waiter it had too much fat; "That cut of meat in any restaurant would normally have that amount of fat" Terrible response that really had me annoyed for the rest of the night. The boys meat wasn't great too, considering they ordered filets as you'd expect a filet to be top notch. Not so. A small sized portion with a little too much fat. What were we offered as a consolation for the bad food, a shot!!! Not the bill reduced, but more alcohol which I did not want!!! Rip off, and I will deffo not be going back here.

We recently ate here and had been looking forward to it for so long given the reputation that Darwin’s has. Unfortunately I was really disappointed with my starter which was the fish cakes, they were cold! Completely turned me off and I ordered the sea bass for my main course. The sea bass was good but I found the restaurant itself cold and the food was completely overpriced. I might give it another go and try their early bird menu though.....

Ate there last night (Saturday) in a small group. It was nice and the meal went well. I found that my food was a little unsure of itself and though it was nice the fish, for example, was somewhat over done and a tiny bit dry. The steak seemed big and something which shoud be tried (I'm not a streak fan, hence the fish). Final point is that the decor is not great and the lighting is not flattering. Try it but I wouldn't be rushing there.

I went here with my father. He is a meat and two veg man whilst I like a varied menu. Darwins suited us both perfectly! The portions were enormous, one main course could easily have fed both. I had the seabass whilst my father ate steak. Both were delicious. Even their house red was lovely. The staff were attentive but not overpowering. The total bill came to €110 for two starters, two mains, one dessert and a bottle of wine.

excellent service, and the food was of a very high quality.

A very nice experience indeed. The food was excellent and the portions are very generous (except for the bread, I don't think they know how to slice a loaf - very stingy slices!!!) The service was excellent and the venue was nice, although the restaurant in a bad area of Aungier Street and is surrounded by some very dodgy characters indeed, but that's no fault of the restaurant - talk about stepping out into reality after the meal. Saying that, I will definetly go back and I'm already recommending the place to my mates. Well done Darwin! I'd love to know why it's called Darwin.

Four friends dined in Darwins last Saturday night, I have to say the exepereince was 'out of this world' - the service was top notch and the food was fantastic - we opted not to go for a starter as we were all eating steaks but then we decided to have the oils and breads which was very tasty - I had the T-bone steak and managed to eat every bite it was so tasty and done to perfection - this was served with mash and green beans and we ordered chips and onion rings which were also very tasty, hot and complemented the meal perfectly. A bottle of chilean white and French red accompanied the meal and four irish coffeess after brought us to a total of €52 each including tip and service. Great value for money, excellent service, we had the table from 7-9.30 which was fine as we were heading to a performance afterwards. Handily located at the top of Angier Street, Darwins is a hidden gem in Dublin.

Good solid performance! Aungier Street is not an area you would normally cruise in search of a good restaurant..but thanks to MenuPages we found this really nice restaurant. Limited menu, perhaps, but what they do, they do well. Excellent fillet steak - and I LIKE the house mash potatoes! Particularly high marks for the gents loo. One of the best I have encountered in Dublin! State of loo = care of management = well run restaurant!!

I have been to Darwin's many times - it is one of my favourite restaurants in Dublin. The food may not be exotic, but it is done well without pretentiousness. Service always with a smile. If you love seafood, get the Seafood Mixed Grill - I get it every time, although I keep saying I'll try something new, I just can't leave it behind! My boyfriend is a carnivorous South American and he even commented on how good the steak is. Portions are good too. Decor is strange, but I think the atmosphere is warm and friendly.

Went for an early bird here as I have heard it's worth a visit. Food was very good throughout, good value for an early bird and would go back for the full menu another time. Had a fillet lamb dish with rosemary sauce, one of the best lamb dishes I have ever had. We did feel rushed for the duration, each dish was out as soon as we finished the previous.

I ate here with my boyfriend last weekend. Our first impressions as we walked in were good but our table was so close to the table beside us it was like we were having dinner with the people sitting at that table, a few jokes were made. We found the service very good although in the time it took for us to have our main course and dessert; the couple sitting beside us were still waiting on their mains! The food was gorgeous and it was not to expensive working out at 120euro for three courses and a bottle of wine. Will definitely go back! I would also like to recommend the crab and prawn spring rolls!

WE booked this as a special occasion in July. The service was impeccable & the food really very good. For me the starter was most impressive but the steaks also lived up to their rep & the taster dessert was a great finish. Overall it was relatively expensive, though in fairness the bill did include quite a few bottles of champagne. Would definitely recommend for a great meal out.

Darwins is not cheap but the food is generally of a good standard. The service is slow. Fish Cakes was tasty, yes there was only one. Mash is served with everything. For a place that's mainly known as a steak house they charge extra for chips. Steak and chips-horse and carriage-in Darwins its steak and mash-weird-the chianti is well worth a visit-expect to shell out about €150-200 for 2 with deserts and drinks. Not bad but not great either. Sort of a poormans you know who's on the Green.

Brilliant food, great service and lovely wine! What more can I say? I am definitely going back! Went back again and not let down. Service needs just a little improvement but defo would go back!

This was my first time to visit Darwins and I was so impressed, it was €23 for a 2 courses early bird and it was delicious. The portion sizes were perfect, I had a sirloin for main course and it was so tasty and cooked to perfection. Some of my group had desserts and I had a taste of all of them and again they were lovely. Its a small dining area so as it filled up it got very hot in the room but apart from that dosen't hesitate to try it out.

We enjoyed our visit to Darwin's - we went there because it came recommended and we were not disappointed. The food quality was a delight especially the steaks. Food portions are big so come hungary. The staff were excellent and very willing to please and the athmosphere was to our needs. All the boxes were ticked. I will be back again hopefully soon

Went to Darwins for their Earlybird Menu yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. Boyfriend too. The decor is cool, service staff attentive and welcoming and the food a delight. We had the Chicken Liver Paté and the Caramelised Apple and Black Pudding Salad to begin and both were delicious, the latter being our favourite. I had the Sirloin Steak for the main course and it was a good size, cooked just right and accompanied with a nice portion of fresh, crisp vegetables. My boyfriend had the Fillet of Spring Lamb, which was a tiny bit dry around the edges but not lacking in flavour whatsoever and the lentils that accompanied the lamb were full of flavour too. Very pleased overall.

Visited Darwin with two work colleagues recently. Had heard that because of the involvement of butchers, that their steak was first rate. Those rumours weren't wrong! Started with the beautifully presented crab meat and prawn spring rolls. delicious! my fillet steak, which was cooked medium to well done (they are very particular about how you like your steak cooked) was the most mouth watering piece of red meat I can say I've ever tasted. At 32euro, it is a pricey main course, but if steak is your thing, its worth every cent. The meal was finished with the chef's selection which consists of two-three desserts on a platter, chosen from the main menu by the chef. Original idea and perfect for sharing! The only downside to this otherwise flawless meal was the restaurant itself. It was freezing! perhaps too much air-con I don't know but it definitely put a dampener on the experience. All in all this is a first rate restaurant. Perhaps the prices relegate it to a mere special occasion or treat but that can't take from the quality of its food. Looking forward to another visit!

had the early bird with 2 friends recently. found everything very good,and the available choices on the menu were much better than normal for an early bird.went a second time and found it equally good

Was in Darwin's for a work do. Service was a bit slow to start when ordering the wine but it improved. Menu is nice, went for the monkfish in parma ham but felt a bit cheated as there was far too much parma and not enough monkfish!!If I was returning I would go for the steak as I get the impression that is what they do best.

Have visited Darwin's on a number of occasions with family and friends and it has never disappointed. The steaks are to die for, and the friendliness and efficiency of the staff are excellent. Hopefully it won't be too long before I'm back there again.

Very impressive place to eat would highly recommend especially the steak!! Not that expensive compared to other restaurants in the area.

Absolutely fantastic steak! Great restaurant, interesting decorations, intimate atmosphere, great staff. What's not to like? Meal for 2 comes in around a €100, including starters and wine.

ate here on thursday night and i have to say that i just loved it!! we were in a hurry so we didn't get starters, i got the fillet steak which came with mash and it was gorgeous, 2 other people at the table got the t-bone which was huge!! but they still managed it. great decor, fab food, a little bit expensive but worth it. will definitely be going back!

Went for the pre theater Menu last night for 26 euro. It was just great and really enjoyed the whole experience. Thought it was great value for money!

We really enjoyed our visit to Darwins, it was Friday night and rather busy but the staff were delightful and attentive. the food was very good and plentiful, and none of us had room for dessert, however, an Irish coffee went down very well. overall i would certainly recommend this restaurant and will be visiting again soon.

Eat here on friday night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Had the risotto for starters which was gorgeous and the special was a fishcake and this was amazing. Then had a steak which was done to perfection, and the tasting dessert plate for dessert.Would definitely be back

Ate here on a Saturday. Very broad menu choice, had trouble choosing what to order! Had prawns with curry sauce for starter. Sauce was excellent, very tasty. Risotto was really good too. Service was good and courses came out quite quickly. Only complaint would be that my steak wasn't as hot as I would have liked but enjoyed it anyway. Most exciting thing was the dessert selection plate, shared between two it was the perfect finish to the meal. Would definitely go back here.

Visited here on friday night. Really enjoyed eating here. The service was great, our waiter over heard a conversation about it being his birthday. When he came back later with dessert he had a candle in his cake, was very impressed. The food was really well presented and tasted great, I had the seafood grill. Would definitely go back again

I'd been dying to visit Darwin's and we made a reservation for a Friday night. When we arrived they didn't have our reservation but found us a table by the window. Despite the two wines we tries that weren't great and a few things they forgot with our order, the food really was delicious. The manager recommended the garlic crab claws beween us for starters which was nice but a bit dry and plain. I had the Seafood Mixed grill for my main. I wanted to lick my plate clean! My partner had the Seared Sordfish which was equally as tasty. I wouldn't normally be in a hurry to spend €130.00 including tip for dinner for 2, but I haven't been satisfied with a meal in a restaurant like this in a long time and would definitely return!

Was there last night and as a review purely on food no real complaints except for the orange chocolate mousse which was dry with orange peel in it..weird texture..other dishes had were the fillet steak, chicken, smoked salmon, duck and swordfish and they were all very nice. Service however was a bit rude..maybe that was down to how busy the restaurant was but didn't feel very welcome

This place never disappoints delivering good food and good service consistently. Two of us went there last Tuesday night and enjoyed the excellent garlic and onion soup foolwed by the double breast of duck for my friend and the venison for me. Both were near perfect, my rare venison being served actually rare. In my experience most chefs err towards the medium when cooking venison but this was properly undercooked - delicious and tender! The food here is a little on the expensive side but the quite good house wine (Argentinian Malbec) was great for 22 euro. A few nice french coffees rounded off a most pleasant dining experience. We'll be back!

Superb meal for 8 last weekend: the group tried fillet steak, oysters, risotto, venison, veal, swordfish. All high quality. Two minor quibbles: a) I asked for my steak to be reheated but it came back not warm enough but ok. You feel like a crank asking a second time so I left it go; however the meat itself was perfect. b) The Rockefeller oysters have too much Hollandaise, overwhelming the oysters. Service was excellent (thanks for singing Happy Birthday!), desserts also A1 and decent portions (bread and butter pudding, winter berry meringue, choc cake etc). Everyone enjoyed their food greatly and overall a very pleasant evening.

Would highly recommend Darwin’s. Great food, great service, great value. I had the black pudding with caramelised apple and shallot sauce as a starter. Delicious and the portion was the right size. As it is owned by a butcher, I went for a steak. My only quibble is that I asked for it to be cooked medium and it was cooked well done. The mash was gorgeous and needed no extra seasoning. The orange and lime tart was nicely bitter. I would not jump up and down about the Spanish temporillo house wine. Overall, it was fantastic value for €26 each and we didn't feel we were second class citizens because we were there for the early bird. They did not rush us either. Will be back.

Went to Darwins with work and had a really good night.There was around twenty of us at two tables and the service was very good. Food was excellent and there was no complaints from any body in our group.Would recommend this restaurant highly.

Was taken there last night for my first visit. Nice feel to the room, menu is good. The starters unfortunately were the weakest link. We ordered the salmon starter and the anti pasto. Seems like they came directly out of the fridge and therefor were lacking in flavour.The bread was awful. We both ordered beef for mains. Excellent. Perfectly cooked and very tender. Nice bottle of red. The service was efficient and friendly. Good value for money generally. I'll try it again but steer clear of starters.

I ate in Darwins for the first time last night. It was the best food I have eaten for years. 11oz fillet was cooked to perfection and was so tasty. I was in a party of 20+ and the service was excellent. Not one dish was placed at the wrong location and everything down to the sauce on the side was done. Would recommend to anyone who likes good food.

Darwin's is definitely my favourite restaurant in Dublin at the moment. It's one of those places that I want to try literally everything on the menu. In the four times I've been there I've had the seafood mixed grill twice, the steak and the duck. Next time I'm going for the lamb. Service is great, it's only minutes from Grafton Street, and while it isn't the cheapest restaurant in the world, it's still great value for money.

This is my all time favourite restaurant in Dublin, It isn't the cheapest restaurant but you definitely pay for what you get. The food is to die for and the service staff are very very helpful. It is a great place for special occasions or for a little treat. I would love to eat here once a fortnight if i could

Where else can you get huge steaks and a vast vegetarian selection??? Be aware that the steak is cooked by the book not in the Irish fashion rare will not stay hot for long, but amazing meat and wonderful service.

Ate in Darwins last Friday. We were lucky to get a table as we hadn't booked and it was very busy. The oysters were fab, as was the tofu main dish. The only thing was that no sauce came with the dish so it was a tad dry. For dessert we had a sharing plate of 4 little desserts, all very nice. The price was pretty reasonable, just over 100 Euro for the 2 of us for full 3 course dinner and wine. Would recommend Darwins

Ate here a few nights ago as part of a very big group. The food is fantastic. I had the king prawns to start, a steak (cooked beyond perfection, I have never EVER had a steak as good...) and the vanilla and bourbon creme brulee to finish. The waiters were very attentive, polite, and good fun. I think this might just be my new favourite restaurant!

I dined here recently with a group of ten.The service and food quality was amazing and the decoration I believe is very fetching! I had the 18 ounce T-Bone which was like butter melting in your mouth, I highly recommend! A little on the expensive side but you pay for what you get!! Definitely will be returning soon, with a big appetite!!!

I ate here only once by now, but I am sure I will be back very soon. I adore duck and order it very often. This one was delicious.... In addition, the wine suggested by the waiter was great match for the food we ate. You can definitely rely on suggestions from very kind and nice stuff. I highly recommend this restaurant.

My favourite restaurant in the whole of Dublin. There isn't a course I have not tried in the last 3 years. Favourite? Duck with red cabbage in orange sauce. Melting in the mouth. Nobody knows how to make duck like the Darwin's chef. I got to know the waiters over the years. Laurent picks the wines honestly. On my first visit there he actually recommended a cheaper one than the one I initially picked, as it would not have complimented the food as well. Needless to say, his choice was superb. All in all - highly recommendable.

Her indoors went for the seafood platter. Absolutely fantastic. Loads of various fish and cooked to perfection. Next time I am going for this main course. I opted for the lamb dish. Again cooked to perfection and could not be faulted.. Overall the portions were generous, service very good and the atmosphere was buzzing. A little pricey however, we will be back.

Ate in Darwin's yesterday evening before rushing down the road to see Long Day's Journey into Night. Tomato and mozzerella salad and the black pudding and apple starters gorgeous. We all had the steak and empty plates returned. I will definitely return and stay longer. Can't really rate atmosphere as it was early and quite empty but the service was good and friendly. Vegetarian menu would nearly tempt the most ardent carnivore!

Went to Darwins for a bit of a treat last Christmas with my boyfriend and loved it! As you can tell I'm a vegetarian and the choices here are spectacular! No boring goats cheese salad and pasta. The veggie dishes are imaginative and interesting. My boyfriend had a steak which he adored although as we saw the lamb being served to the table beside us, he was sorry he hadn't gone for that (we'll just have to visit again!). We had the house wine which was fine and with two starters, two mains and a side dish (which may have been excessive as the portions are very generous), after dinner drinks and coffees the meal came to a very reasonable price (<100 euro). The restaurant itself is small but has a warm inviting atmosphere. Unfortunately we haven't made it back yet but hope to very soon as Darwins definitely deserves repeat business. I walked by the window earlier this week and noticed the menu has changed since our last visit which I always see as positive. Some restaurants rely on the same menu for too long and the selection becomes tired and boring. Obviously this is not a problem at Darwins!

Love the Early bird menu here and would definitely recommend. The steak here was amazing, I had it rare and it melted in my mouth. The desserts were great too and could recommend all of them. A real treat. Not the most conventional decor but the food and service is what makes it special.

Myself and three friends ate here last week and were so impressed with the quality of the food we just had to book again. The value for money was also excellent which makes a refreshing change from the usual.

I've been here several times, but after my last visit I had to put up my review - I love the food here and it has never disappointed. I had the risotto for starters-gorgeous, my partner had the same. For Mains I went for the Fillet - like butter... and my partner had the surf n turf. He was enjoying his immensely until he tasted my Fillet! I've also had the lamb here, beautiful. I've read the other reviews re the decor - I think its brilliant altogether. There are too many bland 'modern' restaurants in Dublin now - the paintings in this place are not only unique, they are beautifully painted and give it great character. The staff are exceptionally friendly and efficient. It is a tad expensive, but as far as I'm concerned you get what you pay for. Go and visit it for yourself. Its a gem.

I've heard very mixed reviews about Darwin's (critics seem to love it but "regular joes" seem less impressed). Went there for a meal a few Thursdays ago and I came away impressed. Starter (duck confit) was lovely, with nice, fresh asparagus and salsify. Main course was the lamb plate and this was delicious too. But the reason for choosing was also a bit of a downfall. The vegetarian menu is great on choice, but the execution is a bit hit and miss. My girlfriend had a lovely starter but an overdone main. Dessert was presented very well but not stunning. Had a good time.

We had the pre-theatre menu here last night which was 25 euro for 3 courses. The pre-theatre option doesn't seem to be well advertised and I only learned about it from a review posted here. I found the decor bright and interesting having expected a dark hole from previous reviews. I had the tomato and mozzarella salad to start and my friend the black pudding and apple, both of which were delicious. We both had the stuffed pork belly for main which was perfectly cooked and good sized portions. A bowl of perfectly cooked crisp vegetables came with it. To finish we had the lemon and lime tart with lemon sorbet. Overall I was pleasantly surprised and will definitely be back.

One if best restaurants in Dublin. Whilst the decor may be dark, the staff are very friendly & attentive. Plus, a full vegetarian menu that is excellent! I go back here again & again.

Had the pre-theatre menu here on a quiet Tuesday night. 3 courses for 25euro. Food was lovely, nice choices on the menu, no delays, friendly staff. Contrary to what others have said about the decor, I thought it was very nice, wouldn't consider it dark at all. There's also a full vegetarian menu, which my partner was very impressed with. It's a small intimate place, ideal for 2-4, not the kind of place you'll find large groups. Overall I was well impressed.

Ate here last month. We really enjoyed the food, the Risotto starter and venison main were lovely...huge portions tho! My partner had Steak, he said it was great! The only downfall has to be the decor!! So dark...and uninviting! Plus the music was awful..Shakira etc, and the two waiting staff/bar staff were loud and giggly and we could here all there personal conversation. Apart from that food great.

Our visit to Darwin’s was primarily to try their steaks, which we had heard, were very good and we were not disappointed. A great steak. A little expensive all round but worth it.

Went with a group of people for dinner personally too little choice apart from meat dishes, very heavy dinner but the steaks are excellent. Service a little slow and while nothing is over expensive the overall bill is not cheap. Definitely worth a try.

Great food and good service. The food here is very good considering the prices are not exorbitant. Decor, however, leaves a lot to be desired.

FOOD WAS OKAY. Staff made up for long service. Apparently its new.. Not much to recommend.

A little expensive for what you get, the food is good, the service amateurish. Strange room, bizarre murals, the stuff of childhood nightmares. Warm salad of rolled fillets of sole and basil hollandaise is fresh and summery. The lamb plate for mains is good, rack overcooked but not worthy of complaining served with braised shoulder, tasty. Fillet of beef was small but cooked as requested and served with a good béarnaise. Nice dessert of bread and butter pudding. Cheese plate good although would be better served at room temperature. All good and well presented, nothing outstanding.

We had been really looking to eating to Darwin's but I have to say we were all a little disappointed. There was technically nothing wrong with it, however, the early bird menu we had viewed online actually did not in any way resemble the actual menu, and wasn't half as varied. Most people ended up just going with the steak as probably the best option. It was tasty and well prepared, as were the accompanying vegetables. In summary I would definitely return but I’d choose the full menu for sure.

I was very disappointed when I visited Darwin’s. I expected fantastic food after reading the reviews online but got very ordinary and tasteless tiger prawns for starters and very tough, I would go as far as to say inedible, veal steak. We complained about the steak but curiously it wasn't deducted from the menu! Wouldn't go back and wouldn't recommend it.

Dreadful experience I had been a huge supporter for Darwin’s until about a month ago!! I arranged a family meal a couple of weeks back and 7 out of table of 8 were disappointed with our meals. We all had steak main courses. They were tough and tasteless and it really ruined our evening. I pointed it out to a member of staff and I was told they has just installed new grills that day and perhaps that had something to do with it. We weren’t offered any complimentary drinks or anything!! Afterwards I wrote a letter to the owner stating our dissatisfaction but I haven’t heard back. I wont be returning!!

The original reason for choosing Darwin’s was it's full vegetarian menu, as it was my fiancée’s birthday, she is vegetarian and so often our meals out are much more enjoyable for me than her. Well, this place is a delight, snug yet not oppressively so. That said, I would not like the table right beside the WC. The service was informal but effective and professional and the food was faultless. In fact, I enjoyed my pork belly starter so much I bought the same cut the next day to replicate the dish. My fiancée was equally complementary regarding her salad starter and couscous main and we shared a bread and butter pudding. An eclectic and vibrant wine list ensures that Darwin's is definitely on our radar for return visits a plenty.

Great early bird menu-Pity about the décor...I've eaten in Darwin’s twice in the last two months and it was great both times. Went for my mate’s birthday, where the staff only having over-heard us congratulating him, produced a birthday cake with candles for the birthday boy at the end of the meal. The early bird is one of the best value meals in town-3 courses for less than €25, including an excellent sirloin steak option. Have to say though while the food is great and the staff are top notch-the decor is horrible and it could put you off the rest of the experience-sketches of cave men on the walls-not funny-not clever-sort it out!

I saw this restaurant on TV’s The City Channel and four of us gave it a try. The table did seem a bit on the tight side, but the relaxed atmosphere made up for it. I found the staff to be very helpful in helping to choose a wine and the food was excellent. There was plenty of time given between your starter and main meal, which always helps. Overall, this restaurant that I will definitely return to over the coming weeks.

Quite expensive overall but on the whole it's worth it I think. The food is obviously the main thing and this can often be forgotten when reviewers get sidetracked. I'm not saying the atmosphere doesn't affect the experience but there’s no denying the quality of food is very good.

I have eaten here three times now, and still adore the place. People complain about the tables being close together, and I must say that if there was one fault I could find with Darwin's it is that it can feel a little crowded, depending on the table set up. A previous review suggested taking one table out, and I think this could be helpful. It's not a brassiere, it’s a restaurant and I think a little more intimacy (particularly when dining as a couple) would enhance an already excellent meal in Darwin’s. The food is great. Top quality, well prepared and properly cooked. I had the smoked salmon and prosciutto to start while my dining partner had the crab cakes (usually my favourite, but I decided to mix it up!). Both were beautiful, flavourful and intelligently put together. I must admit to being somewhat disappointed, due to pure food-jealousy, with mine. As fantastic as it was, I'm afraid I just love those crab cakes a little bit more! For mains, I had the seafood grill and he had the duet of game bird. My god. Both were phenomenal. I had the seafood on my first visit, and had to go back for more. What more could a seafood lover want than a selection of succulent plump scallops, fat mussels, flaky monkfish, and the tender-ist sea bass and trout? All perfectly cooked with a zesty buerre blanc? Heaven. My partner’s dish of game bird was perfectly pink and juicy with a rich, decadent, but completely 'finish able' sauce! It was fit for a king, really. And he does like to think of himself in those terms, bless him. Sides of mash, veg, and sautéed spinach were lovely, however I think the veg may have been swimming in a little too much butter - some things should be left up to personal choice in my humble opinion! His chocolate cake, I am told, was fantastic. Not that I was granted a bite. And my lemon tart was just delightful - light, crumbly pastry held the perfect consistency of lemon filling, just sweet enough, just sharp enough, and a wonderful end to a wonderful meal.

If I had to sum up this restaurant in one sentence it would be good food well prepared. Six of us enjoyed a wonderful meal here yesterday evening. The menu features a chef's selection of antipasto and hors d'oeuvres as a starter. The pork belly starter was a real treat and my scallops were flavourful and generously portioned. Mains didn't disappoint. Three steaks cooked as requested with pepper, jus or a mouth watering béarnaise sauce were given a unanimous thumbs up. My roast chicken with butternut squash gratin was hugely satisfying - it is actually quite difficult to get a decent roast chicken in most restaurants. And one pan fried duck breast dish which the waitress was only too happy to explain could be ordered medium or rare and even offered to have it cooked more if need be. Desserts were a real pleasure. I can highly recommend the shared dessert platter for two. Service was friendly and informed. Will be making a return visit as soon as possible!

Really really good! Ate here on a Monday night and within an hour the place was completely full! On a Monday! The service was excellent even though there were two large groups in and the food was really good quality, the fillet steak being particularly tasty. We'll definitely eat here again. It's more expensive than your regular restaurant but it won't put us off.

I went here on a Friday night just before Christmas with one other. I heard the steak was amazing, it was good but certainly amazing! It was very loud but I guess that’s because it is quite a small restaurant. Apparently the early bird is quite good. Don’t think I would go back though. Better with a bigger group of people. But do watch out for the dirty fingernails on one of the waiters. Not cool!!!

Arrived without a booking early during the week and got the last table. We had steaks which were served with perfectly cooked vegetables (al dente) and a side salad all included in the price. Strange theme, somebody really believes in Darwin’s theory of evolution, but a good atmosphere, great service and a well chosen wine list. We now have somewhere to go and enjoy without disappointment.

Food fabulous, amazing oysters, restaurant a bit too noisy. Starters were exceptionally good and desserts very good too. One mistake made on steak being overcooked but everyone else happy. Menu choice excellent and very comprehensive veggie menu. Service was a let down, they took away our plates before everyone had finished and when I pointed this out, the waiter angrily said "Yes I know" and continued clearing the table of our starters! I would definitely go back but they really need to sort their service out.

Superb restaurant - food is top quality, and the staff are always pleasant. Great value in general and also in early bird menus. Well worth a visit!

The choice and quality of meat on the menu is superb and cooked to perfection. The food is really top drawer and the vegetarian menu is pretty good too. We were in a large group, split over two tables and I think everyone enjoyed it. Will definitely go back. Pricey but not the most expensive by any means and much better value for money than others in town.

Have been a few times and was there for boyfriends b'day early Jan. Food fabulous but service v disappointing-restaurant not busy. We were in for early bird but had to wait over 20 mins to get the bill-could not get anyone's attention despite our best ways of trying to catch the staff's eye-also noticed that they had 2 price rises in last 18 months-was checking websites-obviously aware of popularity. Not going back for a while!

Ate here after hearing great things but I have to be honest I wasn’t overall impressed. The place is small and I feel that they could do with taking a table or two out. Food was fine but it wasn’t amazing, service ok but I was really annoyed by the fact I was charged for bottled water even though I never ordered it, it was just on the table so I thought it was free. What next? Charge me for salt & pepper cause its also on the table!!!!!

Don't judge this restaurant on appearance. The restaurant is quiet small and the tables quiet close to one another. The waiters workstation is in the middle of the restaurant but all that aside - The food is excellent - try the steak... I believe the owner is a butcher so the quality of meat is top notch. Service is very good also.

Ate there for the first time this week having watched a review on the TV. The food was absolutely fab. From starters to mains, food cooked fresh and to perfection. You have to try the steak, it was the best I've had in Dublin! Well worth a visit, restaurant has a cafe feel but the food more than makes up for it.

Lovely cosy restaurant and the portion sizes are massive!!! Really liked the tempura prawns and the steak was delicious, would definitely go back.

Darwin’s is a great restaurant. I love the fact that they have a separate vegetarian menu so us veggies don't feel left out and I can bring my meat eating family here without feeling like I am forcing meat free food on them. The food is excellent and the atmosphere is lovely. Definitely worth a visit.

This is a great restaurant, I was there over the Christmas and what ever people say both the Xmas period and food not being up to standard or the staff not friendly this was a great night the food was great the lamb was so tender u could eat it all night and the staff were so helpful u will be back again and would recommend highly.

Definitely the best steak I’ve had in the city. Really nice atmosphere. I'd recommend booking in advance. Good selection of wine. Overall, somewhere I’d go back to time and time again!

First impressions you feel like the tables are far too close together but in fact this is just a lovely cosy restaurant. Extensive wine and food menu all of which the staff can tell you about in great detail. Excellent!

Darwin’s is one of the best restaurants that I have ever eaten in. The food is MAGNIFICENT to say the least. The staff are pleasant, friendly and efficient. I don’t think that anywhere in Dublin can top it!!! Five star quality.

Without a doubt one of the best restaurants in Dublin at the moment. Great food and service at really good prices. The owner is a butcher and he knows his steak. Everyone I have sent her has loved it too. Highly recommended.