I have heard a lot of good things about this place, finally went for dinner on a Saturday. The place was very nice. Had the goat cheese as starter which was very nice and well presented. Had the halibut (with some chicken pieces in it) for main, nicely cooked but my partner said the chicken was nicer than the halibut itself. The salmon was not as good as expected, very red in the middle (personally I prefer it well done). The service was also good.

Three of us had lunch here yesterday. It reminds me of the winding stair...same type of decor, but with pigs! We had a very friendly waiter which is always good. The food was excellent..clean plates all round. We had the egg and black pudding and it was delicious. Then 2 pork belly and one lemon chicken. Everything was cooked to perfection and the portions were just right. The desserts and accompanying dessert wine finished the meal nicely. Nothing bad to say...

i visited here with a group. It was early in the week and was packed. I had crab & beetroot starter, it was lovely. alot of the people at my table had the same. This followed by the hallibut which was cooked perfectly and delicious. Few people had duck and said it was really nice also. I didn't have dessert but my friends had the cheesecake which was served in a lovely quirky jar and said it was lovely. Lemon rice pudding also got the thumbs up. Overall the food was really really good and the quirky delph and presentations really added to it. I certainly would come back!

Had an excellent lunch from the special menu. Fried hens egg and pudding followed by beef and finished up with a lemon rice pudding. Extremely tasty, delightfully presented and great value. So nice in fact that I returned for more the following day.

Ate here with 11 work colleagues, and was impressed from the moment I entered the building. Very nice ambiance and service. Had a tender chicken, whilst the others had a number of fish plates which they all enjoyed. Server offered advice on dishes, and recommended the desert. And I am glad she did! The cheese-cake is something to behold, and has an even delicious flavor throughout. Worth the visit for that desert alone.

Did the early bird here and very much enjoyed it. Service was good, nice and friendly. Complimentary bread was fresh and tasty. I liked the quirky style of presentation for all dishes. I had the beetroot cured salmon to start which was very nice and considering I am not the biggest beetroot fan. I liked that the sweetnees of the vegtable was imparted on the fish as oppsed to the earthiness you can get with it sometimes. For main I had the Hake and potted shrimp. It was very tasty indeed. The brownbread icecream to finish was probably the worst dish, as I did not really enjoy the flavour of the ice cream too much but it was not that bad the accompanying cinnamon and apple Crushed Yellow Man was lovely.......

Ate on the a la carte menu here for a special event with large group. I'd heard lots of good things about The Pig's Ear so maybe I had hyped it up a bit too much but I wasn't as impressed as I expected to be. I had the goats cheese starter which was delicious - couldn't fault that. Rib eye for mains was fine - correctly cooked to order, nicely presented but not as tasty as I hoped for, . Truffle mash was yummy, the remainder of the sides were again fine but nothing amazing. Cheesecake dessert was lovely, really liked the presentation in the jar. Also had a very nice portuguese red wine - possibly a douro, can't remember the detai now but it was delicious! In terms of atmorsphere, the place wasn't anything special there were a number of large groups and was quite noisy at times. On service - it was very good, waiters were very friendly and attentive.

Called with three friends for lunch on Friday and dined off the lunch menu. One had a starter (the crab mayonnaise...really goood) and the rest had the dessert option. A friend and I had the venison for mains and were very pleasantly surprised with it's texture and rich taste. It's presentation also was good. For desert we had the trifle with real fruit..excellent. After my previous slightly disappointing experience here, this visit was a real pleasure and to top it all the service matched the food. Recommended.

I'm giving the Pig's Ear the full 5 stars as I couldn't fault it on any of the categories. It has a lovely warm atmosphere, the food was amazing, the service was top notch and, as we ordered from the early bird menu, it was really great value. The duck with prunes main course was absolutely beautiful.

Went here with two friends for the early bird menu. It is a really quaint restaurant with a really nice atmosphere. the presentation of the food and the food itself was absolutely delicious. I had duck for starter and my friend had risotto. Also had the black pudding starter which was gorgeous. Did not want the food to end. Fantastic value would highly recommend.

Ate here yesterday with my bf, sister and her 10 yr. old boy. Thought it was really nice and couldn't understand how I hadn't been there before. We had the lunch specials so €16 for 2 courses and €20 for 3 courses. For starters, we had the soup (which comes in a cool saucepan!), the salmon and the sausage roll (for the 10 yr old). All good but would have liked a slice of brown bread with the salmon instead of it broken up around the plate. For mains, I had the chicken breast and the other 2 adults had the smoked haddock. Strangely enough, one of those had lots of shrimp on it and the other only had a couple? The 10 yr just wanted to wait for dessert. Sadly for him, we ordered the chocolate pie with 4 spoons! It was soooo good. The pie part was almost mousse like and it was warm, served with proper vanilla ice-cream. Delish! A coffee rounded off the meal nicely. The bill came to about €55 so wasn't too bad. I think it would be a lovely setting for dinner so I'm looking forward to going back sometime for that.

I like the location and the setting. We had the crab and the cured salmon starter, both of which were very good. For mains we had steak and duck. Both meats were cooked to perfection although I cannot understand why the duck comes with a whole garlic - seriously who wants that on your plate! The presentation of the dishes is imaginative and looks great. For dessert we just had the cookies and coffee - love the way you get a whole bag of siucra sugar at the table.

Very nice place, i ordered Duck it was nicely cooked, bf ordered the spelt pearls , he didn't like it, but i thought it was okay. We shared the strawberries for desert, i don't think i will order that again, but i will go back try somthing different next time.

Came here with a group of six. There were 2 picky eaters with us, but I have to say that the food was all delicious. Portions arent so big that you need to be rolled out of the place so if you are a three course eater, its perfect. However some werent and therefore still had a tiny bit of room for more at the end of the meal. Prices are matched well with the quality of the food. Bring out of towners or visitors from abroad and I think they will be impressed. Very tasty. Service was excellent. Very efficient, lovely and friendly - really good balance which is not something you get everywhere. Would definitely return. Although not sure if its the best place for couples. a 4 person table I think suits it best. Happy to see Irish food being used so well.

This was my second visit to The Pig's Ear, both times for lunch. The atmosphere and presentation of each dish is charming and quirky. We ordered from the set menu, which was varied and more extensive than I would have expected. I started with the carrot and grapefruit soup which was rich and tangy. The thyme chicken was moist, but perhaps not as special as my main course on the previous visit. All in all a lovely option for a special lunch.

What happens when 2 avowed vegetarians get a gift of a meal at a place called 'The Pig's Ear' and renowned for its hearty meat dishes? Well it was a pleasant surprise. The 75 euro voucher stretched to two early-bird dinners (3 courses) and wine, so that was a good start. The e-b menu only had one veg option so we both went the same route for starters and mains: a carrot soup enlivened by grapefruit and pine nuts was a welcome change from the ubiquitous coriander, and was of course served in those enamel saucepans. This was followed by a deliciously nutty and filling spelt 'risotto' with pumpkin and Desmond cheese. Again, tasty and kept warm throughout by being served up in a small cast iron pan. The wine was a chewy Salice Salentino and the glasses were refilled in a non-obtrusive manner. Dessert was Cashel blue cheese with some nice mini-oatcakes and a brown-bread icecream with crushed Yellow Man (basically Crunchie without the chocolate). The atmosphere in the restaurant was relaxed and provided a very pleasant couple of hours on an early Saturday evening. Two things to watch out for: the toilets are way up the top of the building so you need to be fit; and look out for the menu from the famous Noma restaurant on the way up those stairs. Luckily, perhaps, the Pig's Ear does not serve soil, moss or bullrush shoots! But it has flashes of imagination nonetheless.

I took some friends who were visiting from France here for a mid-week meal recently and it was just gorgeous. Everything about this place makes me feel at home, the decor, the atmosphere the location but most of all the presentation of the food I love the little Irish touches. My French friends were very impressed as the menu is typically Irish and the wine list was excellent (in their opinion). My only complaint and even at that its a personal preference was that I had the steak as a main and as it was Rib-Eye I found it very fatty and hard to eat and for that price I would of expected sirloin or fillet. Apart from that everything else was exceptional!!

Throughly enjoyed a girls lunch before Christmas. Food was delicious-staff friendly and helpful! It's worth a try if you're in the area!

The restaurant is set over two floors with views onto Trinity College. The room we where seated in was extremely warm but we soon got used to it. The decor is interesting, I think they might be trying for shabby chic, not sure!!! The service throughout was very professional. The food was well presented and tasty, my fish was a bit salty for my taste but I don't really like a lot of salt. I got the feeling that it was a bit over worked, not sure why, just felt like it was trying too hard to be cool. All my food arrived on plates but my partners arrived in the pots and pans it was cooked in! Cool if you like that kind of thing! The menu is compact but interesting and we had a lovely Pinot Noir from a wine list that only had European wines (well that's all I could see!) I wasn't too gone on the sugar being presented in the bag it had been sold in!!! The ladies was clean but the OH said the men's was grubby and possibly in need of a scrub! Overall the food should really be all that matters in a restaurant and The Pigs Ear shines in this department.

Took a friend her for her Christmas present and we both really enjoyed the food particularly in its very good taste and quirky presentation. Service was pleasant and smiling throughout and I must say all the servers were very well groomed. For starters I had a soup which was piping hot and tasty. My friend opted for a pork terrine which she enjoyed.For mains I had a shepards pie my friend choosing sea bream. Finally I had a cheesecake which came served in a glass jar my friend having a chocolate cake with a glass of desert wine. The atmosphere was fine. I really enjoyed the view of Trinity. The only thing I did not like was that one of the servers asked me on seating if I would like a glass of prosecco and asked my friend twice if she would like an Irish coffee. If there is one thing that really annoys me it is servers asking if I would like certain things. If I want a prosecco I will order one and if my friend would have liked an Irish coffee she would have ordered it. I did however enjoy my meal here and I would recommend a visit here.

I visited this restaurant recently for my sons graduation....there 6 of us in total...and as it was a special occassion....I was anxious that the restaurant would be good....I neednt have had any fears...the food was beautiful...and unusually presented....and to top it all it was quite reasonable....and pure quality.... A previous poster had mentioned about the waiter kept bringing down bottles of water ...He did the same with us.....at least 4 or 5 bottles of water....but they were not charge for on the bill.... Without going on about it....I will just say that...the next time i am inthe city with my family...we will definetely be returning to The Pigs Ear

I was really excited about coming here even if it was my 3rd Xmas lunch of the week! It really did not disappoint.. Had the salmon main - crispy skin and beautifully cooked salmon with mashed potatoes with a butter sauce.. yummy.. The other dishes eaten were the corned beef starter my friend said it was really tasty, the sea bream light and wonderful and the chicken with stuffing fabulous. I had the chocolate tart which was delight especially with the space dust on it great touch... The rice pudding was wonderfully old school it came with the milk in a glass bottle and a mini bag of siucra.. I loved my enamel tea pot.. really loved this place and will definitely return. Service was attentive without being over bearing. Great value too. A little gem!

Loved the quirky nature of this place - shabby-chic touches abound. On a Friday night, the downstairs dining room was packed so there was a great buzz. Lovely muted lighting added to an excellent atmosphere. The service was without fault; the waiters were professional, friendly and very knowledgeable about the food. At our table of six, my main course was probably the least successful dish - the venison, while perfectly cooked, was definitely on the cool side and was accompanied by a very tiny potato disc. However, a tasty & unusual pork brawn starter made up for this. My fellow diners were very enthusiastic about the Shepherd's Pie (signature dish) and the desserts were fantastic. Great wine list. Overall a very positive dining experience - we'll be back.

Took advantage of the lunch offer here and was delighted with the experience overall. Atmosphere was muted, but it suited the location and minimalist décor I think. She had the Butter Potted Crab which was delicious though the 'Spiced Mayonnaise' was flavourless; I had the Old Fashioned Pork & Bacon Brawn which was a deliciously welcome treat. For mains I'd the fish of the day – salmon - which was great and wonderfully garnished with Irish garden greens of dill, flat leaf parsley, mint, et al, though maybe I should have gone with something more exotic; while she had the 'Risotto' of Spelt Pearls which I thought would be boring but was fantastic, a great Irish take on a traditional (and often bland) favourite. The Caramelised Lemon Rice Pudding was both delicate and potent depending on the mouthful, while the Vanilla Cheesecake was rich and thick. The coffee was short and strong, just the way I like it. All were served in varying pots, jars and Le Creuset pans, which added a nice twist to the perhaps austere set-up. Service was professional but perhaps a little cold; it was efficient though. A great 3-course meal and a bargain for €20. A place to be proud of should you wish to show off to foreign guests (as I was).

I have eaten here before but a group of six of us who had the early bird menu, great value at only twenty three euro for three a course meal,and only a few choices for each course as you would expect, with most choices being a slightly smaller version than whats on the al la carte menu, most had the pork brawn a delicious starter served with some lovely home made bread, the potted crab also went down very well. For mains the risotto was orderd by most, served in, and eaten from a small le cruset pan at you table it was one of the best risottos i have had in dublin, desserts were a selcction of cheese, ice cream and cheesecake, all were orderd and all were finished, although we only had a two hour slot, we never felt rushed and managed to enjoy a couple of bottles of wine during our meal, and coffees at the end, a delightfull place to eat.

had saturdat lunch with the girls here, had a lovely time. Very busy, nice buzz, staff very efficient and pleasant. Would highly recommend for lunch and looking forward to trying it for dinner. Excellent value for lunch set menu

Had lunch in Pigs ear with a colleague. The food was really good, simply prepared and tasty. Great risotto. Very friendly staff. Very quiet for a Friday lunch time though, pity.

We couldn't recommend it enough ! The member of staff at the front of house is very accommodating especially last minute ! Best cheesecake EVER !

Having eaten at The Pigs Ears a few times, we booked a table for 6 of us, taking the other 2 couples there for the first time. The food was exceptional and everyone was very pleased with our choice. The atmosphere was perfect and was a great fine dining experience. I had the brawn starter, which was tasty and good portion. For the main, I had the daily special of scallops with chicken, truffle mash and onion puree. It was delicious. For desert, I opted for the home made biscuits, which although pleasant enough was a bad decision for me personally!! I highly recommend The Pigs Ears... and if I had to make any critcism would be... as we were all being seated, water was served to us without being asked. During the meal, the water was replenished. When we received the bill, we'd been charged 15 Euros for the water, which we thought was not only steep but cheeky as we hadn't asked for 'bottled' water, tap water would've been adequate. The bottles weren't even a 'brand' but simply glass bottles with the Pigs Ear logo label on them. Although a minor issue really, it left me with a bad taste about my overall good experience. Be careful!!

4 of us had the early bird on Saturday and have to say it's fantastic value! 2 courses for €17.95, 3 courses for €21.95. We had the potted crab and the brawn for starters, both were very good although could have done with an extra melba toast or two...For mains, we tried all 3 dishes, the duck leg, buttered seatrout and barley risotto. The risotto was extremely filling but very good. Trout was on the small side but very tasty with cauliflower champ and the duck was equally good. Cheese plate and raspberry cheesecakes for desert. The cheesecake arrived in a little airtight container and was divine. Service was very attentive.Definitely worth a try...

We opted for the early bird menu as it is good value for money. My friend chose the soup as a starter which she very much liked. We both had buttered trout for our mains and I liked every last bite of it. My friend was not that impressed with it - but is not really that into fish. The best part of the evening however was the cheesecake - quiet unusual in appearance but the taste and texture - superb. Compliments to the pastry chef! Overall the service was efficient and quick - we had no reservation but didn't feel rushed through the meal. I would go back to try some other things on the menu.

Went here with four others. We opted to go for the early bird menu which at face value looked like really good value. Most of the group had the potted crab to start which whilst not spectacular was reasonably pleasant. It was the main courses which really disappointed. Three of us had the duck which was by general consent was too dry and far too salty. The other two had the risotto which aside from being unpleasant in appearance, had nothing going for it in terms of taste. They both struggled to finish it. We went to this restaurant looking forward to a good quality meal to start the night and left unanimously disappointed. In summary, atmosphere was fine and the price would have been reasonable had the food not been so disappointing.

We were seated in a nice dining rooom on the first level which though it was August was uncomfortably chilly as the evening wore on. We had Kir for aperatifs as we chose from a very interesting menu. Then peculiarly the waiter arrived to ask whay wine we wanted - we hadn't yet ordered our food. The wine I chose was not available. In fact we were told the shipment of that chardonnay had been sent back as it wasn't good! I asked him to recommend an alternative which he reluctantly did and finally he proposed a chardonnay from Languedoc which was very good. Hard work though. The food was great though the constant filling of our wine glasses became irritating and when by the end of our main course the last of the wine was poured and we were asked if we wanted a second bottle! Instead we had a glass of dessert wine to accompany what was probably the best cheesecake I've had in years. What a pity the excellent meal was overshadowed by over-zealous and frankly not very professional service. One last oddity. The menu item of cola bottles & chocolate mice was not some Heston Blumenthal inspired petit-fours but actually the stuff you ate as a kid. Quirky but hardly very original. I'll give the Pig's Ear a second chance and hope the waiters have sharpened their act. So four stars for the food and one lost for the service

Quirky little features to the place like serving soup in a saucepan, sugar 'bowl' is a small packet of suicra. Food was really really good for all three of us dining. We had lunch and had the two course for 15.95 offer. Starters were the crab, melon and soup all good. For mains we ordered the chicken and two sausage and mash. All plates cleaned and it was very very tasty. I would recommend this restaurant and the staff are very attentive and pleasant. Only thing is because of the wooden floors and relatively small space if there's a lot of people in, or a group, it can get really noisy.

I really enjoyied lunch in the pig's ear, which i found great value at €15 for two courses. The food was very good, especially the herb-crusted fillet of cod, best one I've had in a while. A little down note is the decor, which I found a little plain with some tacky elements (plastic table cloths, stuffed animals!!). I'll be back soon to try their dinner menu.

I went to the Pigs Ear for the first time on th 11th June with a group of 7. The staff were friendly when we arrived but we were seated at a table that should have been for 6 and not 7 so one side of the table was cramped with 4 people and one person had to balance their dish on an uneven surface as one of the joined tables was higher than the other. I ordered the potted crab which had been recommended to me. When the dish was served it was very cold and had obviously just been taken out of the fridge. It was so cold in fact that all I could really taste was something cold with little flavour. I had the shepards pie for main course which was delicious but should only be eaten during the winter and was to much for a summers evening. I think that the prices are a little to high for what was actually served to us. I won't be rushing back to the Pigs Ear any time soon.

We booked for a special family occasion and unfortunately we were left disappointed. The table we had was fine and the first impression was good however the service and the food did not match up to our expectations. The presentation of the food was excellent but the main course portions were small and side portions had to be ordered. The service was a bit rushed and we had to ask a couple of times for different items. The menu reads well but doesn't show up on the plate. We won't be returning

Went to the Pig's Ear last night with the girlfriend after hearing some great reviews on the place from friends and here on Menupages. Upon walking into the restaurant we were shown to our seats by the window on the first floor looking over the street and Trinity. For starters we had the crab and the goats cheese. Both were stunning and enjoyed every bite. For mains i had the rabbit and i have to say i was delighted with my choice. It was delicious to say the least. The rabbit, black pudding, potato and veggies went so well together i had my plate clean in no time at all. My otherhalf got the beef ribeye which was a bit of a dissappointment. The skeak itself was lovely but the thyme potato cake was so overpowering it ruined the whole plate. For desserts we had the cheesecake and the lemon rice pudding both were delicious with no complaints bar being so full leaving the place. Staff were friendly and polite without being over attentive. All in all i would certainly go back but the dissapointment of that one dish left a bitter taste

The Pig's Ear is situated on Nassau st. which is perfect for any pre or post dinner activities. The dining room has a pleasant light and airy feel to it. The girl who greeted us was lovely and very welcoming, our waiter was very efficient and fun without being over familiar, sadly though the manager seemed a bit surly which was a negative contrast to the other staff. for starters we had tartare of salmon which was lightly smoked & a goats cheese dish which was excellent, though at 10.95 the salmon was bad value. For mains pork belly, & salmon were chosen, pork was only ok, which was disappointing for a restaurant bearing this name and again bad value, most of the salmon remained on the plate as it had dried out to the point of being a bit grainy, again very poor value. green tea was served in a tin tea pot (very twee irish!) with cafeteria style mug which was dirty, coffee came in a chipped cup with a spoon sticking out of a bag of siucra (a la building site chic) Ultimately after having eaten the food of Stephen McAllister before i was very disappointed with The Pig's Ear and in an area with such a wide choice of restaurants i think the standard should be higher

I visited the Pig's Ear a couple of weeks back for a work lunch with two colleagues. The set-up of the place is gorgeous! Wooden floors and cute tables and chairs. I had the butternut squash soup for starter and it was amazing! Superb! Very big size also. For main I had the risotto. It was nice but not full of flavours. Quite bland compared to the soup. I also feel it's a little over priced. A two course lunch was approx €22 which I think is quite steep in this day and age. Lucky I wasn't paying for it. The staff were fantastic and overall it was a very good experience. If they reduce the prices then it'll be even better!

The restaurant is a single room of an old house on the first floor with windows overlooking Trinity. The 'look' is aesthetic with plain floor, walls and tables and some quaint touches that made me smile (the sugar served in sugar bags to remind you of days gone by). We ate fairly early though the place was busy enough by 7pm. I had the country style terrine and my colleague the salmon. Both were delicious. For mains, we had the risotto and the seabream. However, it was the dessert that really scored the points! I had the brown bread ice cream and my colleague had the cheesecake. Both were served in old-fashioned jam jars - another quaint touch. They were also very, very tasty!! I was ok with the price. Not surprised, not delighted, but at the top end of the range of what you might pay for this sort of meal. The side dishes, water and glasses of wine can add significantly to the bill.

Enjoyed a meal here last Thurs with a friend. Excellent value Early bird although as earlier posters said it is slightly limited. Had the butternut squash soup which was lovely & the trout. Service was nearly too attentive - was asked about 6 times during the meal if everything was ok (by a couple of different staff)! Liked the fact that after we finished our meal we still had plenty to talk about so waitress offered more water without looking for us to order more wine etc. Was quiet enough though. Overall good night and would recommend.

Got there in time for the early bird but opted for the full menu - early bird was a little limited. The meal was excellent. Both my companion and I plumped for the salmon starter, good size portion and nicely light. The grilled Seabream was exquisite and sat well on a creamy, smooth mash. The chicken dish my companion had was very filling, lacking only slightly in lemon-ness.The desserts, served in small jars was a nice touch and it was commented that the cheesecake was the nicest 'ever' tasted. High praise indeed! Wouldn't hesitate to recommend or return.

Visited The Pigs Ear yesterday for an early bird/dinner with three others. Very, very impressed overall - the food was excellent, service was impeccable. The only complaint would be that the early bird menu is very limited. Will definitely be back here again.

Went here for an anniversary dinner after receiving dozens of recommendations about this place. I would absolutely agree that this is one of the nicest restaurants to eat at in the City Centre. Food is amazing and well presented, with plenty of quirky touches to keep it feeling vibrant. The cheesecake dessert is amazing and served in a Kilner jar! The staff are very attentive and friendly and the decor is foody and clean. On the expensive end, and I'd like to see more wines under €15 but that is my only complaint.

The food was very tasty, the presentation was excellent, the decor and views very pleasant and the staff were very friendly and attentive without being intrusive. Great place for an early-bird dinner.

Nice spot for lunch, the food is very tasty and well presented. Service was fine if a little over attentive, my other half did'nt seem to mind the endless charm coming her way. The value is very good, if anything good has come out of the recession it is value like you get here with the quality assured.

The 1st floor restaurant is in a bright and pleasant room with views of the Trinity playing fields. They serve top quality Irish cuisine. Lunch was excellent and great value at €15.95 for 2 courses. I enjoyed the Terrine With Spiced Fruit Relish and Guinness Sausage with mash and green beans. Looking forward to my next visit

Had a fabulous meal in The Pig's Ear. There were 8 of us and there was no food left on our plates for either starters or main courses. All the food was delicious. The goats cheese starter is devine. The presentation of the food is great and served in a variety of dishes. The service is very good and attention is paid to the detail. Overall great value for money.

The first thing you notice is the presentation, which is outstanding.....and thankfully it tastes just as good! Also a nice spot for a spot of lunch after a days shopping!!

Food was excellent as was the service however I thought it was a bit too expensive.

Came here for a friend's Birthday, the food was lovely and service was great, the whole atmosphere was fantasic. The coped well with a big group of almost 30.

I went to the Pigs ear for dinner recently as a friend had reccommended it and I was not disappointed. The food was top class and the early bird menu was very reasonable. I would definitely go back again as the service and atmosphere were great as well. My only criticism is that it would be nice if the early bird menu had a few more choices.

I brought a few friends here recently for lunch, after the place was recommended to me by my brother….And what can I say, I know everyone keeps going on about the recession and having to tighten our belts etc, but here’s a place that allows us all to live a little in these tight times. I found the value here exceptional, the quality of the food and the service was second to none. I enjoyed the experience so much that it’s fair to say, it would still have been cheap at twice the price!....Needless to say I’ve been back a few times since and as long as they keep giving quality like that for those prices, I’ll keep going!

My husband and I booked a table here for the 'early bird' but found this menu to be very restrictive and were forced to order from main menu. The food was tasty but the portions were very small on main courses and one would need a few sides to boost this which also boosts the price. the service was good perhaps even the waiters were a bit overly attentive in that there were over to pour wine as soon as you had a few mouthfuls gone. This restaurant is in a lovely warm and cosy room but yet there was something lacking in the atmosphere. Cant really identify what it was but there seemed to be a 'pressure' to get you in and out quickly. At one stage we thought we could be in and out in half an hour unless we slowed down our eating and drinking. The ladies toilets are awful with neither of them flushing properly so were totally blocked up with urine and everything else and no flush. When I returned from the toilet there was a couple waiting on out table and were standing on the stairs! This was at 7.45 and we had been booked in at 6.30pm.....not really giving us a lot of time! With so many excellent 'early birds' available now in Dublin, I do not think we will be returning to the 'Pigs Ear'

What a dissappointment. I booked a table at the Pig's Ear because I heard it had won a Bib Gourmand in the latest Michelin Guide. I anticipated an unusual take on traditional dishes - simply cooked and tasty. The menu promised that, but the delivery let them down badly. Potted crab came with a rock hard cover of butter, straight from the fridge and impossible to spread. Oily slices of fried bread and a blob of mayonaise completed the dish. The crab was delicate and fresh, but the hard lump of butter and oily bread made the whole dish heavy and cloying. Roast pumpkin with ricotta for mains was very poor. The pumpkin was stringy and tasteless. The ricotta and sauce worked well, but the pumpkin was truly dismal. Vanilla cheesecake with fruit sauce and hobnobs was yum. But why serve it in a preserving pot? I get the feeling that the Pig's Ear is focusng a little too hard on being stylishly ironic and not enough on the quality of the food. Service was friendly and attentive and the wine list is reasonably priced with a good selection of flavours. Despite my comment about style and irony above, I loved the sugar bag on mammy's china plate and the bottles of milk.

Had the early bird here this week, really liked it. 3 courses for €22, the food was delicious, really fresh, menu appears to be tailored to in season food. Presentation is different but cool, e.g. the starters were on a timber board! Very good service, attentive and friendly. Feedback for the restaraunt would be to knock a bit off the prices of the a la carte menu, and space out the tables a little.

a party of 10 of us ate here. can not recommend the place highly enough. food and service was fantastic. thoroughly enjoyed by all. loved the way food was served in jars and enamel pots and dishes, great novelty.

Loved it! Brilliant to eat food your mum would cook, but just different! Nice twist and presentation to the old 'staple' dinners- thouroughly enjoyed it- licked the wooden plates clean! Great wine and good service also added to to the evening but the one detraction was the lonely atmosphere in the upstairs dining room- felt we were being shoved into the empty attic! Overall though a spot I would love to return to and perhaps try for lunch/early bird.

I went here for lunch with some friends yesterday. We opted for the set menu so the choice of courses was limited. What we did order however was tasy and well presented. Unfortunatley I was not overly impressed with the service, especially that of the Management who removed ny dessert from the table before I had finished it and who was in no hurry to return my change despite a tip having already been paid! The atmosphere was very subdued and I would not be in a hurry to return again.

I went here for lunch twice in the space of a few weeks, returning because it was so good the first time. The room is lovely, with some quirky touches which add to the atmosphere. And the view is great. We shared a starter with some fab black pudding, while the main courses were good and portions substantial. Dessert was tasty and moreish! I'll be back again soon.

Have been dying to come here for ages. We came on a Wednesday eve...i had booked through a website for an early bird and on their web site it said early bird was available. When we arrived we were refused an early bird menu...which is acceptable for the festive period. What wasn't acceptable however, was the manager's attitude. He was totally unaccommodating and really unapologetic for the mess which wasn't our doing. When we paid for the water and went to leave, he shoved a bill in our faces. shame really...the other waiter was very nice and the food really did look nice...bit pricey but nonetheless....won't be going back in a rush.

Went here on a Friday evening two weeks ago, nice location, great service from very friendly staff. Food was of good quality, I recommed the pork chop.

I attended The Pigs Ear with 7 of my family members, following a graduation ceremony earlier in the day. This was my third time to dine here. On arrival we were greeting and shown to our table by the window by their friendly staff. Half of our party went for the early bird menu and the half of the party went for their dinner menu. The food was so simple and tasty, like good home cooking should taste like and their portions were perfect. We felt their starter and dessert menus was over-priced. Loved the fact they served the milk in a milk bottle and sugar in the original Siucra packaging. There was no background music playing during our meal, so you could hear what the table next to you were discussing. I'll be back for more in the near future

We went for an early bird meal here, and I have to say it was really value for money, although I'm not sure that I'd be willing to pay full price for what we got. It was a lovely quiet atmosphere, which began to pick up as we ate. The decor was lovely, with little pigs everywhere, and the attention to detail really made the experience special. The main courses were lovely, but nothing to write home about. However, the desserts were simply fantastic! I had brown bread ice-cream, which was served in an unusual jar and topped with yellow man (like the inside of a crunchie). The other halfs dessert was equally as wonderful; a cheesecake served in layers, with crushed biscuit, beautiful compote and vanilla cream, rather than the typical cake slice. We were also offered fresh bread straight out of the oven while we waited for our meal. It's definately worth a visit, although I'd avail of their fantastic early bird deals.

I had a big birthday bash in The Pigs Ear on Saturday night and I cannot recommend it highly enough. I had 50 people attend. Everyone raved about the food, the room, and the friendly service. Nothing was too much trouble – they even allowed my sister to deck out the room in Happy Birthday Banners and old photos of me. Nothing was too much trouble. So I would seriously recommend the restaurant for all events – from a value perspective it was also great – the food and the house wines flowed all night. There was plenty staff on to ensure that service was prompt and the food was delicious especially the goats cheese for starters, the pigs belly for mains and ice-cream for deseart. Wonderful night and the restaurant did themselves proud to contribute to whole thing!

was at a group dinner here and it was super. had the potted crab for starter, and rabbit main course. both were deliciuos really really good.desserts were to die for, i tasted the chocolate tart and the cheesecake, yum. all of the group enjoyed it. service was very friendy and proffesional.

I took my staff of 10 here this week after a recommendation. For starters i had the potted crab which comes caked in a thick layer of butter which has been solidified as a glaze over the crab. There was way to much butter and several of the group commenetd on the other starters also. This left a feeling of doubt on what to expect for the main but i was pleasantly suprised by the haddock which was very good. For dessert like several of the group i opted for the warm chocolate tart which is served with a side of icecream. The dessert is far to heavy and allthough portion size with starters and mains are fine the dessert was just to big which really is a waste. Overall the service is good but i feel that the pricing is a little to high for what you get, its an average place to eat with an above average price tag for whats on offer. I would not recomend this spot for a group outing or for value or even flare

I had heard good things about the food here so decided to pop in before the cinema. It was very quiet when we arrived although I realised there is another part of the restaurant upstairs that sounded very busy. The service was friendly and we were in time for the early bird menu. I have to say we were both disappointed with the number of choices, and the selection. We opted for the main menu. Deciding to go for the Dublin coddle for the main. Both of us were underwhelmed with the coddle and hoped dessert would be better. My friend went for the Warm Chocolate Tart With Vanilla Ice Cream while I went with the Summer Berry Pudding With Mascarpone Cream & Crushed Pistachios. His chocolate tart was very rich and he felt a smaller potion would have been better as he couldn't finish it. My berry pudding was ok,very tart but countered somewhat by the cream. Overall I think we left feeling very underwhelmed and disappointed.

Simply put the Pig's Ear is a fresh wholsome take on some Irish gem's.Cooked well with fresh and tasty ingredients in a nice and casual atmosphere makes the Pig's Ear the perfect 'chill out and eat right' spot!

Wow wow wow. I will admit that I am a little fussy (though I don't like to..). I couldn't complain about my meal at the Pig's Ear. We went for lunch and for €15 we got a 2 course lunch that would put most of the so called 'top' Dublin restaurants to shame. I had clon. black pudding salad to start with small roast potatoes - gorgeous. Main course was chicken thigh/leg and it was scrumptious. Served on a bed of lentils. I felt full but not stuffed. My fellow lunchers had similar experiences with their pork meatball. Beautiful. Service was perfect - a great guy with the kind of attitude you just love in a waiter. Friendly, funny, ordinairy, unpretentious and not in your face. I can't wait to go back.

My friend and I visited The Pig's Ear on Monday evening as we hadn't been before and wanted to try it out. It was very quiet when we arrived and few more tables filled up while we there. There was no atmosphere to speak of and the music was so low we had to whisper as other diners could easily overhear what we were speaking about. Our waiter was excellent though and more than made up for lack of ambience. He was very courteous, polite and charming. We went for the early bird menu which at €17.95 is quite a good price for a 2 course meal in the City Centre. My friend had potted crab to start with and she really liked it, it was fresh and the presentation was wonderful. I ordered a smoked haddock omlette with salad for my main, it was nice and light but the egg was a tad undercooked and it was quite a small portion. The Gubbeen cheese was a great touch though. My friend had pork meatball with mash and carrots and it was a good portion of food. She cleared her plate. Enough said!!! To finish I had the brown bread ice-cream and it was really smooth and creamy. Loved it. In total our bill came to €55 for 2 glasses of wine, 2 courses with tea and espresso. Overall good value, good service and I'll definitely return to sample more dishes perhaps from the main menu the next time.

Not much more to say after reading other reviews, this place is just very good! Warm service, simple yet tasty and well presented food, no complaints whatsoever..we'll be back.

Very good! went with wife and 3 friends.starters were two terrine and potted crab. terrine was fab with toast, maybe brikoche would have been better,personal taste.potted crab was strong yet tasty. mains were one rabbit wellington special, one ribeye and two salmon. all fab, especially rabbit. very well cooked and presented, v tasty. service was amazing.dont know if intentional though, staff disappeared as much as possible and only came out when required. it was like dinner in your own dining room.wine was expensive though, 32 euro for mainstream bottle.value wasnt bad though 220 for 4 of us. will be back with bells on. highly recommended in a world of food mediocrity at the moment...

Went for lunch here with 2 friend's two weeks ago and all I can say is - YUM! All three of us are big foodies who are hard to please and we all left with full belly's and smiles on our faces. Great value at €15 for 2 courses - I had the soup to start followed by the pork meatballs which came with pomme puree and buttered carrots - absolutely delicious. Our waiter tended to our every need and his timing was impeccable. This little gem of a restaurant would seriously blow a lot of its competition out of the water! If that was my experience for lunch I can't wait to get back there for dinner!!!

Good food at reasonable price and will definitely return. Went at 6pm (only 2 tables in use but filled up from about 6.45 on) for the early bird which my friend went with but I choose from main menu. We'd pate, chicken but the favourites was the sheppards pie which had a little kick to it, Desserts were very tasty too with the brownbread ice cream a favour searved in a cookie jar! Waiting staff were very friendly but seemed a little rushed or uncertain... had to ask for a break from ordering dessert! Mug of tea and a giant teapot after dinner which I loved. Bright, simple decor. Simple food at resonable prices. €75 1 start, 2 mains, 2 desserts, 2 glasses wine, bottle water and 1 tea!Definite one for return visit

Went here for the early bird this week. Quirkey wee place, sugar served in bag, dessert served in little storage jars and pink toilets. I had the shrimp salad to start, shredded raw fennel and shrimp with pesto dressing - it was good. For main i had smoked haddock omelette with gubeen cheese and watercress salad and brown bread ice cream to finish. The food was casual irish and tasty - nice feel to the place and nice view from window seat. Good choice if you feel like homemade irish fare.

I had the pleasure of being brought to this great restaurant last night and what a treat. The place was buzzing when we arrived and we were lucky to get a lovely window table. I had the rabbit with the rabbit cottage pie and it was delicious, my friend had the goats cheese to start so tasty and the pork belly was excellent. Overall a great night with super value for money.Would highly recommend a visit.

Great early bird menu and value. Pity the early bird ends so early! I didn't see many people trickling in after 1830 either and we were not rushed to vacate the table by 8 which was nice. Waiter was a little snotty though, cute decor!

My first trip to this fun yet classy joint was attending a private party on the second level of this lovely georgian building. Had a really wonderful night, the value for money was brilliant given such quality food...you would expect this standard of food to be much pricier. In a nutshell this place is a top venue for private events...

My wife an I had the earlybird here on Monday 20/07/09. Earlybird is right from 5:30 to 6:30!!They could do with extending this even a half an hour. Anyway to the food. The choices were limited on the earlybird menu but the food was fabulous, if a little bit on the small side. I started with a great terrine of ham with pistachio nuts. My wife had a nice but simple chorizo salad. Mains were quite small but full of flavour. My roast chicken on roasted hazelnuts was lovely and my wife had a beautiful smoked haddock. For desserts we shared an unashamedly calorific delight, cheesecake , homemade jam and hobnobs. I challenge anybody to finish this by themselves. The best part of the meal was a fantastic house white of verdelho. Service was good but the restaurant was almost empty so no atmosphere to speak of, but the room is nice and a window seat is a plus. Earlybird definitely great value and would recommend. I look forward to visiting again for the full on experience.

Went here for lunch and the food was gorgeous! I had a risotto to start and smoked salmon for my main and they were lovely - very tasteful and full of flavour. My friend had a chicken caesar salad with was sooo tasty. Will definitely go back for lunch.

Great desserts! Had lunch here today. It's good value with 3 Courses €19.95. Had the starter of crab. Had the main course of the club sandwich. It's ok - one big complaint was that they didn't mention EGG on the menu for it. I don't like eggs. I've never had a club sandwich with egg, so it's not to be expected. However their desserts were great. I had the cheesecake and would go back for that. Also tasted the crumble which was very nice as well. Have been here for the early bird before, which had 3 choices for each course. The lunch has much wider choice.

Very nice lunch to be had here, service excellent and food very good, great views. I shall return.

The Pig's Ear is truly a great restaurant serving all that is good in Irish cuisine. I went there for the lunch menu and the food was great, really well presented and served by friendly, experience waiting staff. Really great value for money.

I went for dinner here a while back as we had friends coming to visit Ireland for the weekend and we wanted to show them some Irish cuisine. Unfortunately they arrived too late for the early bird so we went with the full a la carte menu. Well there is no recession here. I thought it was very expensive for the food i got. While the food was lovely there was very little of it and so you would really have to have the full 3 courses but with the prices being charged i was torn between being hungry or broke. In fact it was embarassing as our guests nearly keeled over at the prices and even though they were two big strapping men they only ordered a main course. There seemed to be only one very stressed waiter too. However he was nice and efficient. Overall the food is very good but i'd only be able to go for the early bird in future as with the dinner prices - i've had better food for cheaper. I did like the touch of the penny sweets at the end though, brought me right back to my childhood and left my foreign guests wondering why i got so excited over paper sherbert spaceships and white chocolate mice.

Went for lunch with my friend and am so glad I found it this lovely Restaurant. The food was really delicious I had a watermelon, parma ham salad, my friend had a cool take on a club sandwich and it was such good value. All main courses were 9.95 and there was a great range to choose from. The service was welcoming and relaxed in a good way. Will definitely be returning for more........

Ate here last night, as we heard good things. Tried the early bird menu. Arrived, shown to table promptly. Serving staff attentive. Nice seat overlooking trinity, two other tables occupied, I would say it gets noisy when full. Food however was average. Menu first of all was very limited. For starters, had chorizo, shrimp and bean salad, herself had the beetroot and goats cheese. Mine was ok, little bland. The GF's was nicer, but ok also, Then I had Cottage pie, herself fish pie. The fish pie was small, mine was larger. Honestly they were both inoffensive, but little lacking in flavour, I have made both dishes myself and herself agreed mine were better, although as I was buying, she would say that! Skipped dessert. Accompanying wine was nice, and a large glass is a large glass. Overall our biggest dissapointment I would say was that we felt like we were eating a value meal, which is a shame as it is a common method of testing the water before you try the a la carte. The a la carte is pricey, however I'm afraid we will most likely spend that amount of money on one of our tried and trusted.

Dinner for Two - The early bird until 6.30pm which is a wee bit early but apart from that no complaints. To start: Ham Hog and Beetroot/shrimp salad For main: Fish Pie and Cottage Pie. The rain was howling outside in the lovely city but the views over trinity's fence was still lovely. Really enjoyed the food and the service was great. A few tables so the atmosphere was quiet but good. Really good value as the bill came to just over €25 each including two glasses of vino and a tea and coffee so no complaints there. Would recommend for a quiet bite as not sure what it is like of a busy Friday or Saturday eve.... will go back to check out... Loved the few little quirks of serving the sugar by bringing the full 1lb sucrá bag to the table...

3 of us went for the lunch menu here. The retsuarant has splendid views over Trinity college so if possible try and book for a window seat! The food itself is lovely and very homley. I had a shepards pie which was lovely and very filling whilst the fish dishes come highly recommended also.

I went for a family dinner. I had the rabbit which was elaborate and tasty and I tried a bit of rissotto which wasn't good at all. Service was bad, serving a bottle of still water while we were sitting, charging us around €4. They gave us a wrong bill twice having just 3 tables!!!

My boyfriend and I ate My boyfriend and I ate here for our anniversary and we were really impressed! We were seated in the lower of the two floors. The restaurant had a really nice buzz, but very relaxed and welcoming. The food was excellent!! We shared a Clonakilty pudding starter that we were both happy with. My sirloin steak was cooked to perfection and was really juicy and tender. I think pork belly can be very fatty and I’m not sure about its current omnipresence in Irish restaurants but (from what I was able to steal from my boyfriend’s plate) the pork belly main was delicious, unbelievably tasty! It’s a pity the veg have to be ordered separately but they root vegetables were in the yummiest garlicky sauce and spuds were so good we didn’t mind too much. We shared a divine chocolate tart and couldn’t resist the nostalgic bag of sweets (which are sort of over priced of a bag of penny sweets, but cute). With a bottle of very nice red wine and a tea and a coffee the bill came to around €100 but we ordered the more expensive dishes on the menu. We had a really nice evening here. The staff were all very attentive and friendly and I can’t wait go back!here form our anniversary

Hi Went here for the early bird. The menu is very very limited for the Early Bird but I suppose you get what you pay for and the early bird is very reasonable. I would not pay the post-Early Bird prices though as I didn't think there was anything particularly special about this place.

My friend and I were the only ones in the restaurant on Good Friday. They didn't tell me that they are not allowed to serve alcohol when I made the reservation. We wondered whether we would have been allowed to take our own. It's a cute room. The waitress was delightful. I chose the calfs liver with mashed potato and caramelised onions. They forgot the crispy bacon on top and I had to ask for it. My friend had fish with stuffed red pepper and potatoes on the side. She said it was beautifully cooked. My liver was dry. It was disappointing seeing that the chef only had 2 meals to cook. Good mash. It was 14.95 for 2 courses, which is good value. However, it is not good value if you only have one course as you pay the same.

€3.95 for 3 baby potatoes-what a rip off. This is what our side order consisted of which came when our main meal was finished.Chirozo and white bean salad nice starter but nothing brilliant. Grilled cod was defintely not fresh-frozen I would say and tastless.A weight watchers delight as all the dish was made up of cod, 3 boiled potatoes all swimming in a flavourless stock.No seasoning whatsoever. Will not be returning. Since writing this review the restaurant has emailed me via menu pages to apoligse and offered complimentry lunch. There after service has been excellent and sent a cheque for the cod dish as refund as lunch offer was not viable. I wish them the best of luck in their business.

Nice atmosphere and friendly down to earth staff and decor, with delicious food. I had Clonakility black pudding which I highly recommend- the beetroot salad was a perfect accompaniment. The salmon and pork belly was very tasty but it would have been really good if there was pork crackling to add some variety in texture to the paring. He had the rabbit which was stuffed with black pudding- again the black pudding worked a treat. I wasn't blown away by the lemon tart and blackcurrent sorbet, the cheesecake was really moreish, but I wasn't convinced by its presentation in a kilner jar. 3 courses each and with a bottle of wine and 2 brandy's the bill came to a very reasonable €116. Would definitely recommend this place, and look forward to going back again.

Whilst going for a gander down Nassau St I spotted the pink doorway and my heart jumped. Images of what lay behind the 'Magic Door' of my joyful Bosco filled childhood days forced me to venture up the stairway to explore and oh what a treat!! This dining experience can only be descibed as a fabulous mini-adventure from start to finish. From the wonderful view of Trinity College, to the warm friendly atmosphere and service in this quirky restaurant and the most delicious meal I've had in months I can only say one has to go and experience this pleasure for oneself....knock knock..open wide...see whats on the other side....

Three of us went there a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed our meals. Two of us had the special and thought that perhaps the beans which came with the duck wasn't a great mix, but the duck itself was great.The waitor suggested that we move to another table when it became free as the one we originally had was rather near the door.This turned out to be a great move as we then had a lovely window seat. I would definitely go back!

Had a very pleasant lunch in this very warm happy room. Even though i dined alone i felt at ease and welcome, they genuinely have one of the best front of house and all the little quirky touches are brilliant. The food was very good, i had the shrimp salad and the cottage pie, the shrimps were extremely tasty and cooked to the second meaning they were moist and tender, the butter beans, shakura and tomato were all fresh and worked well, an extra touch of vinegar/lemon would have really made this 10/10. Cottage PIe was ace. The rice pudding was, in my opinion, perfect. Just warm, didnt cloy my palate and was offset by the sorbet. This place is very good and i shall be back fo sure.

This a wonderful place! Had a fantastic value early bird. One of the most succulent and just downright delicious lamb's livers I have ever tasted with pancetta and onion served with melt in your mouth mash. The standard of cuisine is superb considering I got away with paying just over €20 for a 3 course meal. It is certainly a huge improvement on the last establishment which served tiny haute cuisine. The views overlooking TCD aren't bad either. By the way the staff are really friendly and attentive. Go!

Hi we went here yesterday for lunch- 9 of us and availeed of the lunch offer - a starter and main for 16€, It was really delicious. I had the prawn and butter bean salad which was really tasty and a lovely mix of textures and flavours. Then I had the seatrout which was pretty good (I'm not a big fan I realise now) and the sides were truly fab - perfectly roasted potatoes and lovely green beans. I'd go back here at the drop of a hat. Only concernw ould be if it were more crowded it might be quite noisy as there is a lot of wood.

Myself and my wife went to this beautiful restaurant with a couple of vouchers we got as christmas presents. I hadnt heard that much about the place but was very impressed from start to finish. Firstly, we went for the early bird 3 course menu which had a fantastic selection and was amazing value for money for what could have been michelin star cuisine. This is real food and real cooking at its best with the welcome of value for money back to the Irish restaurant scene. We will definately be going back for the evening meal. The Pigs Ear has already become one of our favourite restuarants and hopefully will get better with every visit.

We had the early bird menu on Friday evening. Very friendly welcome and staff very pleasant throughout. Menu was short but varied. We choose bean and shrimp salad and potted pork for starters. For mains we had chicken and sea trout both of which were delicious. We shared a lemon rice pudding which was not a high point (a bit gloopy). Partner had a glass of Guinness (from a can). The meal cost €48 before the tip and we thought it was just about ok on the VFM scale. Wouldn't be rushing back although the view over Trinity College grounds was very pleasant. The trek up 3 flights of stairs to the toilets needs a reasonable degree of fitness.

I went to this restaurant as I read a write-up on it in the Food & Wine magazine and it did not dissappoint. The service was excellent and all the staff was friendly and accommodating. The food was delicious and the menu offered a great choice. The wine selection was wide and varied also. I would recomment this restaurant for a romantic evening meal for two or for a group of workmates. Perfectly located on Nassau St.

We had the early bird menu, it was very nice, if quite "minimalist". The food was presented beautifully & tasted quite good, at €17.95 for 2 courses it is quite cheap.. No frills (or veg on my dish) at all. I will go back as it has a lovely atmosphere but mightn't go for the early-bird again.

I’ve been to the Pig’s Ear twice now eating the early bird menu and I’ve been really impressed both times. The portions are small enough so you might feel like ordering dessert but it’s still worth it (the cheese cake is fabulous). The dishes are imaginative, well presented and very tasty, especially the liver! The staff are very friendly and helpful and take pride in the restaurant which is refreshing. Will definitely be back as they change the early menu regularly and its fantastic value for quality Irish traditional food with a twist.

Three of us went there for the early bird on a Thursday and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We went for the three course menu so we all got to try everything on the menu.The chorizo and shrimp starter was tasty,the ham hock terrine was excellent and the liver with jus was fab. Overall the food,service and value were brilliant we will definitely be going back.

I took my Uncle for the early bird on a Thursday evening. I was impressed from the get go by the manner of the woman on the phone who took my booking. She was friendly and courteous which can be rare these days. The room is small but the tables are not on top of each other. There were enough choices on the early bird and I was impressed by the number of wines by the glass on offer. The presentation and quality of the food was excellent. The service was great. All in all it was amazing value and I will definetly be returning

Went for the lunch on Saturday. It is great value and nice that you can choose the 2 or 3 course option. The menu was quite limited, understandable for this price but I would probably wait for them to change it before heading back. As a non fish eater I really had only one choice for the main. Good value, good service, a nice option for lunch in town. The dinner menu seems a bit gimicky but I would imagine he actual food is very tasty.

Had a lovely long Saturday lunch here. Very impressed with the food, the scallion, pea and cheesy potato gratin to go with my whiting and sublime brown bread ice-cream were particular highlights. Excellent value at €15.95 for 2 courses. Staff were lovely, bit of a mess up with our bill but that was very quickly fixed. Definitely one of the nicer places in town to while away a lazy saturday afternoon

My friend and I went for early bird. Starter was very nice but we weren't impressed by their main course. I thought they were average. No wow factor. My friend couldn't finish off her plate coz she didn't like the taste. I know we went for early bird but the choice of menu was poor.I didn't understand why there is no vegetarian menu on early bird. I wouldn't go back there again. Once is enough for me.

Visited The Pigs Ear for the early bird on wednesday. Both had shrimp and chorizo salad to start and grilled mackarel for mains, both were really lovely. Portion sizes weren't partcuarly huge but I had plenty. Great choice on starters and mains. Glass of white wine reccomended for mackarel main was lovely.Had a lemon rice pudding and brown bread icecream for dessert, both were lovely. Waiter was really really lovely. 3 courses for €21.95, think its brilliant value. Food is really lovely, well above average, setting gorgeous (we had a window seat looking over trinity) and staff are lovely. Highly reccomend

I went there last weekend with my girlfriend.The food was brill I have to say, and the price we paid was exceptional. I had got a voucher off my parents who got it from a Dublin radio station countrymix. Only paid €35 for a voucher for €70!!

would highly recommend the 2course for €16.00 lunch. i kad a egg mayonaise with a pancetta crisp to startand oxtail and assparagus as the only dish she makes.

This is a little nugget of a restaurant offering good value accomplished traditional cooking. All four of us were delighted with the food. My pork belly main was sumptious and the chocolate dessert was decadent. The atmosphere was better than the photos on menupages suggest; smart and thoughtful without being formal. Terrific choice of wines by the glass - which enabled us to hold an improptu blind tasting session. And the service was exceptional. Can see us going back again and again - whether it's a romantic meal for two, business dinner, or with family and friends.

Was very much looking forward to eating here, so organised an evening out with friends about 3 weeks ago. The service was excellent from begining to end. Beautifull room overlooking Trinity cricket pitch, but sadly lacking in atmosphere for a Thursday night. Menu is familiar to anyone with an Irish Mammy so expectations are high for execution. Overall we were disappointed with the food, it just didn't hit the spot. It was poorly presented, overpriced and warm (not hot). The starter of Pig's ear Terrine is very good, as is the lemon tart dessert (best I have tasted). The Hake was flavorless, bacon and cabbage nothing to write home about! The mashed potato is glupy(cake mix texture-ish). The wines were superb(recommended by our excellent waiter) and well priced. I would like to try it again, as I like the menu, the room, the wine , the staff. Perhaps for Lunch (if someone else is paying!)

Went here with a group for a combined birthday. Staff are really good and patient as we a bit late arriving and two more in our party arrived an hour late. All in the group enjoyed their meals except those who had the steaks as they felt that a steak knife was required but none we made available. Will definitely be back as the veggie starter was very good.

Was expecting great things from this place after hearing it's owners came from great restaurants however was disappointed. The stair way up is grubby, we thought we must have been in the wrong place. The dining room is tiny and we were given a table inside the door which was freezing even though the place was empty. The food was excellent, really good, however the waiters KEPT coming over constantly to top up our wine. Every time one of us took a mouthful of wine they were over trying to get the bottle emptied asap so we'd buy a second bottle. Really intrusive. I don't blame the staff, they must have received instructions from management to do this. We didn't order a 2nd bottle, we decided to go elsewhere to drink in peace. Won't be returning. Must compliment the chef and the waiters as food was excellent and waiters very pleasant.

Ate here last night and loved it. Reminded me of Winding Stair a lot which i love, and this place is better! I had the bacon and cabbage followed by jelly and icecream. Coffee afterward hit the spot too. It was all great. Will definitely be telling all my friends and going back soon.

Was here on Saturday evening & had a ball! Really good, simple food. Tried the pig's ears... not as scary as they sound, very tasty! Also had the special of Lobster.. fab! Would definitely recommend & will be back. Room is lovely. I was lucky & got a window seat. Really liked the bag of sweets as well. You gotta love those flying saucers :)

A very pleasant place, maybe a little too informal for a Saturday night dinner but we had good time anyway. The watermelon salad was an unusual combination but worked well and our two fish main courses absolutely perfect. Will be back very soon.

First visit here and would probably recommend it as a good middle tier restaurant. The food was all excellent, the chicken pate and the steak deserve special mention. The garlic potatoes are a must have although probably lethal on the waist. I had the house named pigs ear terrine to start which was good (and looks nothing like a pigs ear the more delicate amongst you may be pleased to hear!) but I was sorry I did not have the chicken pate which I tasted and was divine. Also the risotto which another friend had as a starter was really excellent. Risotto is something I seldom order as the tendency is to overcook it, this retained its nutty texture. The only down was it was very quiet, I assume this is its newness since it is far better than others in the same class I have visited, e.g. the winding stair which is similar in design but much less comfortable and the food is no where near the pigs ear. They also have a small smoking balcony on the same floor as the toilets (3rd) so you don't have to run up and down the stairs, a plus for us addicts! The service was really excellent, the staff friendly and attentive.

It doesn't come too often you see, but I am pleased to say that here you have it: best meal in 2008 so far. Delicious terrine of pig's ear as a starter, sublime pork belly and lamb shepperd's pie (shared with colleague) for mains, top-notch apple crumble for dessert, faultless service and a quiet table in the corner overlooking the College- perfect for a chat. The expertise gained from years of work at Jacob's Ladder, One Pico and L'Ecrivain is evident here and has certainly brought a strong team of professional restauranteurs together. The message of authentic Irish food with a twist works well and with only three months in business The Pig's Ear seems already a veteran in the field. I will definitely come back, will order the Pork Belly again and will tell people where to go if they want to have a fantastic meal! Watch this space.

Had a great meal here on Saturday night. Food and service was very good. Came upon it by chance as I thought I was going to Jacobs Ladder...alas..it is gone....but the replacement is a welcome one. Menu is mouthwatering. Cant get over the last reviewer going on about too much butter!! HELLO....Not everyone is looking for salads! I should suggest that Gastro guy/girl takes a look at "LAST TANGO IN PARIS" (movie) - Might change your opinion on the use of too much butter!!! But perhaps he doesn't need it!!! I will certainly return here...LASH OUT THE BUTTER FOR ME!!!

We stumbled across here by mistake more than anything, and left very satisfied. Food was top notch, we had the veal special & pork for mains, starters we shared crispy pigs ears. Wait staff were very friendly & efficient, I thought it offered very good value. Cant ask for much more.

This restaurant needs a new chef and a new menu. It is very unlikely anyone wants bacon, cabbage and parsley sause on a saturday night out- this is comfort food on a sunday afternoon. The veg had so much butter on them I had to spit them out!! The staff are great and the place looks smart and the location is great- but without the food......

Went to this cool new Restaurant last Tuesday for lunch and it was fantastic...The perfect place to spend a wet, rainy day with delicious comfort food and beautiful views over Trinity College. Try the egg mayo (genius), the bacon and cabbage, sherry trifle, all really tasty. There is something here for everyone, it definitely ticks all the boxes for me.....I'll can't wait for my next visit to try the shepherd's pie!!

This is a great new addition to the Dublin restaurant scene. Irish food for today, great comfort. Great use of the name in decor and desgin. Good variety in dishes and executed to perfection. Visit now before it gets too busy....... cause it will.

what you on about people?reckon you must be out of your mind!went in the pigs ear last week,i used to go there all the time when use to be Jacobs ladder and i always had a brilliant time food was fantastic, anyhow in my last visit since they changed hands was wasn't impressed at all first of all these days people are after healthy options however in pigs ear its not, it was enough butter in my roast carrots and mash potatoes to have breakfast for a month! service was ok. however that's a place i shall never return

I walked into this cool restaurant just by chance and felt I was on the set of a TV show. I recognised the Maitre'D from various cooking shows on RTE and later when the chef came out of the kitchen it was yer man from The Restaurant. Then when I used the bathroom it was being cleaned by former presenter Joe O'Shea - or so I thought but he had a Polish accent. The food here looks like it should be on TV and tastes great. Check out the real deal shepherds pie in the big jar and the melt in the mouth belly pork. I left full, happy and a little star struck. Good luck to Joe and the gang! I'll be back.

Just perfect! First impressions set the tone for a great evening. My friend Mr Brown was in a wheelchair and even though the restaurant is not on the level, the waiters actually insisted on carrying Mr Brown up the flight of stairs. Well DONE guys and thank you. The staff were cool and very attentive. Great decor. Kinda like Alfred Hitchcock meets Vaudville! Great menu. Well priced and no poncy frilly words. Just straight up there. Fantastic food as I would expect from Mr McAllister. Great selection of wines by the glass of which I had 2 glasses of Mersault. The waiter was fantastic I think his name was Christopher. Well done Christopher! I know this restaurant will do it. Keep up the good work guys.

CARLSBERG DONT DO RESTAURANTS, BUT IF THEY DID.....went here on monday night and welcomed by a smoking hot hostess, sat on the first floor of the new & superbly revamped restaurant,the room is superb with little funky touches evereywhere..i.e keep any eye out for the 1 and only pink chair!!! the food was some of the best tasting food i have had in ages, the pigs ear terrine, it was divine, followed by pork belly, which for 20euro is superb value. the chocolate tart was heavenly!!! cant wait to return. I REALLY ENJOYED MY MEAL!!!!!