We popped in for some Sunday lunch, while the food was lovely was not exactly what we expected and not much variety for the baby, lobster was very nice bit pricey but, and my fave was ceaser salad with shrimps. Overall was lovely food lovely place, go for the experience of it all.

Had a lovely meal in Johnie Foxes, the place is brilliant. Was at a very different wedding up there in February, the first in Johnie Foxes and it was fantastic. The whole day was special for everyone. The food was top notch and all came out piping. I would recommend this place to anyone and everyone.

What a fabulous meal, had a sirloin steak and boy was it good. The steak was accompanied by great mash potato and vegetables. The steak was one of the best I have ever enjoyed in Ireland. The staff were helpful and answered any questions I had about the menu. While I was there a family were celebrating a childs birthday and we were all invited by the staff to sign happy birthday and join in the fun. If ever irish tourism need Ambassadors to show our bars and restaurants should treat their customers then visit this premises. Thank you allfor a wonderful evening and well done.

I went to Johnnie Fox's on Sat night with a big group for a friends birthday. The atmosphere was great and the food was lovely. It was reasonably priced at €70 per couple for 2 starters, 2 mains plus wine. My only issue would be the service with drinks to the table was quite slow but great night all in all.

Always a hit with our visitors. Service on this night was quite slow, but the food quality made up for that. Excellent sea food, all dishes very well presented. The live music after dinner is great fun! keep up the good work!

I had the chicken madeira, which was delicious, served with veg and potatoes, massive serving, but really good, just read the comment below which said the chicken was bland but i thought it was actually really nice so mayb it was just an off day, also goats cheese is great. great atmosphere freindly staff. very nice

The atmosphere in Johnnie Fox's appears to be the only thing your paying for as it is certainly not the quality of the food. Whilst the portions are large they are also largely inedible. What sounded delicious on the menu; duck in champagne sauce and chicken in a madeira and mushroom sauce, both served with root veg and potatoes ended up turning us both off trying any dessert. I am usually adventurous with my flavour combinations but the parts of the duck covered in the accompanying sauce were rendered inedible, whilst it went fine with the veg. At this point I should also mention that I needed a steak knife to cut the extremely tough duck. A complete contrast to the very tender but bland chicken. Unfortunately the only star on the plate was the trusty potato, as the veg was not fresh and the carrots had already begun to lose their colour. The service and atmosphere were both good but this did not make up for the poor standard of food and uncomfortable seating with little leg room under the 'singer' tables. I suspect that the extensive menu needs to be shortened so as the kitchen can concentrate on sending out if not quality, edible food.... This is an unfortunate example of Irish cuisine for any visitors and I would not recommend it for anything more than a drink and a few photos...

Response:
Dear Blythe; Firstly thank you for taking the time to leave a comment on Menupages. Might we enquire if you brought any of this to the attention of your server? For as the comment left by nomnom11 above you shows, others found the food very tasty. Rather than leave a venue unhappy we always suggest that customers get the servers attention and if needed the managers attention for I can assure you on the rare occasion that a customer does have such a complaint or indeed any question about their meal it is always dealt with there and then until the customer is satisfied. Please understand that we do accept and indeed interact with the open forumn of comments by foodies here on Menu pages and are long term fans of the site, but in fairness there is little any business can do for you if you only raise the topic after leaving. Thank you for the comments on the atmosphere Blythe. Maybe you will drop in and see us again soon.

Posted by: Johnnie Fox's Pub on 12/10/2011

Arrived as a party of 6 adults and 5 kids on Sunday evening for our regular visit to foxes as we live a 2 minute drive away. The food service is always good (apart from the non native staff who are very unfriendly) and the food always excellent and very good value. Champagne duck or Lamb Shank is always good. I would avoid going to foxes for drink as it is not a place the bar staff welcome you due to the high turnover of customers (tourists).

Myself and 3 others went here for dinner last Thursday evening at about 7. We hadn't made reservations and were lucky to get a table. The pub looks awful touristy with ye olde knick knacks crammed everywhere. I was a bit worried about the quality of food because of this but in fact it was really lovely. The seafood chowder was delicious and the fried salmon and fish pie as main courses were delicious. It was also good value - under a tenner for the fish pie. The vegetables were lovely and crunchy. My only small complaint would be that the brown bread and the mashed potatoes were a bit salty for my tastes. Our waitress was a very nice and efficient lady who came back to thank us for our tip - the first time that has happened! I would definately recommend Johnnie Foxes for a nice dinner.

Visited for the first time in a while on a Sunday afternoon expecting a long wait for a table but were seated right away. The service began quick but by main course time had slowed significantly. Cannot fault the food. The prawn salad and mussels are delicious and extremely good value. Atmosphere was delightful as always with a variety of cultures represented - everyone seems to enjoy this place. Highly recommend it any time of year.

visisted here on sunday afternoon and I have to say I could not believe how many people were up in the mountains we got a table straight away the staff were very friendly and efficent considering they were so busy the food was fantastic I had the chowder to start and it was the best i have ever tasted , my partner had the chefs soup that was also lovely. I had the mahi mahi it was very enjoyable , my partner had the salmon it was the best salmon he has tasted in a long time the desserts were fab and even better they were homemade . We finished our meal inside and headed out to the front of the pub for a drink and the band was out the front of the pub the athmosphere was brilliant . The weather was fantastic when we headed outside, so we ended up staying longer that we thought , Keep up the good work Johnnie fox's we will be back thanks for a very enjoyable day

It has been a while since I have written about this pub - but I was up with some friends on Tuesday night and all I can say is OH MY GOD!!! where did all the people come from - I actually saw a very flustered manager running around the place seating people when a coach of 24 people turned up expecting to just WALK IN! - seriously people it may be a recession and all that but you would not have thought it on Tuesday night up the mountain - through all this action and atmosphere around us our food turned up promptly and was, as always, spot on. Will be back soon especially now that I saw they do a bus service from town :)

Great pub for drinks but wasnt hugely impressed with the food. Our main course arrived when we were still eating our starters and we were told that because they were busy it was either take them now or wait 40 minutes, we had to ask a couple of times anytime we wanted something like butter for our bread etc. Pints were good though!

I love this pub. The seafood is amazing. Other foods are equally as good and the service is excellent. The atmosphere is great, and there's live music on every night. Reservation is advised as it can get very busy. It's quite a mature place, so not too suitable for children. A really nice pint of Guinness too.

Went in April on a great spings day, it was great fun up on the mountains the view is amazing, great for kids to run around while you enjoy the sunshine. Food is gorgeous i had seafood was great best ive tried ever!! Well worth going up for the day have a fun fillled day great fun enjoy : )

Went here on a Tuesday evenings with some American friends who were visiting. I would have to say that the atmosphere was excellent. Though the live music wasnt my taste it was good quality and had everyone in good spirits. The pub itself is gorgeous and old fashioned looking in a lovely location in the hills. The service was excellent. Our waitress were very nice and very attentive. She regularly checked on our drinks. The food was only ok to be honest. I had a TBone steak which was slightly overcooked from what I had asked. The accompannying veg and sauce were ok. For dessert I had bannoffe and it was quiet average, a good portion size but I have had a lot better in terms of taste. Despite the average food I really enjoyed the night thanks to the quality of service and atmosphere, THey even called around to tables well before last orders to see if we needed a taxi ordered and arranged that for us.

Came here with a few of my friends as lived in Dublin for years but never tried here. We booked for 8.45 I have to say there isnt a great selection if you are not a seafood lover like a few of us one girl was vegetarian and was left with an unappetising choice of unadventurous veggie options I had the chicken which was medicore not great. The service was terrible the waitress forgot our basket of bread that we ordered and clearly had not a clue when we asked if they did side orders seemingly they dont do sides?? or chips there very strange one of my friends was starving afterwards also the dinner plates were stone cold!!. The desserts were lovely. Starters all seafood bar soup/goats cheese. Service was friendly but painfully slow and inexperienced. The music and atmosphere was good but if ever I came again I would eat in town beforehand and just come for drinks and food. As the food is overpriced and not that great.

Terrible experience! We arrived about 12.30 Sunday afternoon, looking forward to some quality seafood. The menu was reasonable enough both in price and choice. Firstly I requested a wine by the glass (which should be standard for a busy pub) they only had nasty 1/4 btls, so I opted for a pint of Guinness. We both ordered the seafood jambalaya which included poor tasting scallops, prawns and crude lumps of un-boned unidentifiable fish with a few mussels on the side. The sauce tasted like it came from a catering pack with a few spices added, the accompanying saffron orange rice also tasted & had the texture of easy cook uncle bens with a bit of saffron & orange juice added.This dish cost €17 and was not worth a fraction of the price. Someone should tell the chef you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear! The decor is an overwhelming array of items that belong on a rubbish tip (all authentic historical documents apart). The graffiti on the toilet walls seems to have been left as a throw back to when publicans couldn't care less about their customers, the fact that some of it was critical of the establishment would have been amusingly ironic were it not for the prophetic nature of the critique. I WOULD NOT RETURN UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TO Johnny Foxes

Recently I visited this pub on a sunny Sunday evening. The pub was busy when we arrived - but mainly with people drinking, quite few eating. We were seated in about 5 minutes which at the time I was delighted with. However, I am very sorry to say that is the end of my positive comments. The service we recieved was ABYSMAL. The waitress managed to forget to come back for our orders, forget to bring down drinks (we had to order at the bar), and managed to forget half of the food ordered. I would in some way understand if the pub was extrememly busy as when we arrived but this was completely down to the waitress herself, as the sun had gone down at this stage and the pub was substantially quieter. I feel it is important to mention the food was beautiful (when it all arrived) but was not enough to ever make me go back for food. Needless to say there was no tip on this visit but I was very close to making a complaint to the manager. Unfortunately, the party I was with were in a hurry and I didn't get an opportunity to make a formal complaint. I WILL NEVER BE BACK unless it's for a few drinks!

I dined here this evening with my wife and felt compelled to write this review on returning home. My wife ordered the Aran Platter which comprised crab, prawns and smoked salmon. The smoked salmon and prawns were fine but my wife was unable to eat the crab. It was watery, too cold and also contained some shell. I ordered the seafood pie. On it's arrival the pastry topping appeared not to be fully cooked and on looking underneath the sauce was extremely watery (like milk). I found several bones in the fish which was very offputting. The accompanying potatoes and veg were fine. The service was adequate but at no point were we asked how our meal was. Very dissapointed customer. I will not be returning ever.

I was extremely disappointed with the food and the service. I had the fish pie which was good, however the mash and vegetables that came with it were barely warm. This was the general experience at the table, there were four of us and no one was entirely happy with the food. The service was mixed, there was very little attention given overall and trying to get the bill or more drinks was an effort. Our deserts took a very very long time to come out and the first time we asked for the bill it was forgotten about. Most of these things alone would be fine but it added up to an overall disappointing experience. As an aside I thought the menu was quite limited.

Stopped off here to have some lunch while out for a drive. Band were playing at the time which created a fantastic athmosphere. Food was excellent as was the service. After we finished our lunch we decided to take a seat in the bar. We ordered two hot chocolates for our children and were told they didn't serve them but on a previous visit there we ordered them with no problem. Overall though we enjoyed our visit and will return.

Despite not living very far from Johnny Fox's I had never been before and decided to pay a visit for a quick bite and a glass of wine. I had the irish stew which was just what I was after, a nice cosy meal served with homemade brown bread, accompanied by a nice warm glass of cotes du rhone. It was a weeknight and we were there early so the place wasn't packed but there was a nice buzz in the air and the entertainment was setting up in the bar as we were leaving. Looking forward to returning.

Having visited Johnnie Foxes many times over the years and loved it, it seemed the ideal choice of venue to bring a visiting friend from foreign shores - we pictured an afternoon of delicious seafood lunch followed by some crispy pints in the arm chairs by the open fire and the wind and rain howeled outside. Well we got the weather no problem but the lunch was really disappointing. We ordered the seafood chowder, fish pie and the mussels. All three tasted the same with what appeared to be the same soup base with different fish thrown in, the mussels came with their beards still on which is just shabby. It's such a shame that the quality of the food has suffered for commercialism. Gone are the arm chairs and it's all about fitting the busloads of touists in these days, and i mean literally busloads drift in and out. It's a great pub for few pints with good atmosphese and surprisingly accessable these days with well organised taxi's to bring you home but if it's a nice seafood meal your after i wouldn't recommend it.

Food was lovely but menu is nearly all fish, some nice different options and good atmosphere at the bar.

Wow!! Having lived in Dublin for the last 4 years, we have never visited Johnnie Fox's as we had the impression it would be touristy and tacky with rubbish food... except for the touristy bit, we couldn't have been more wrong. We had friends visiting from the UK who wanted to go there, so we decided to join them. We took the Express Bus service from O'Connell Street, which was only 10 Euros return. Great service and friendly drivers. Johnnie Fox's was brill, a superb night. The food was exceptional, service brilliant, efficient and friendly. I had the seafood chowder for a starter (by the way, we attended the Hooley dinner night (50 Euros)) and can honestly say, it was the best chowder I have EVER tasted. Full of fish/mussel and yummy. For main I had a fish meal, which was huge, meaty and I struggled to finish it. Desert was an old favourite... Banoffee Pie, well, why not?! The entertainment was an added bonus, with 4 guys playing instruments and signing, followed by the stage being raised slightly for traditional Irish dancers, who were brilliant. Very talented and smiling all the time. Sometimes one feels that if they do this night after night, the enjoyment would wear off, not at all, we were made to feel like it was for us, for one night only. If that makes sense?! The singers came back on later. Overall, a brilliant night and a real 'MUST DO' at least once in your lifetime. Bravo!!!

We were looking for a hill walk and a meal last Sunday and decided that Johnnie Fox’s in the Wicklow mountains could satisfy both requirements. Finding the place wasn’t easy. The signage was poor but we got there at the end of the day. We got there at about three in the afternoon. There were “reserved” signs on all of the tables that weren’t occupied. It took ten minutes of shuffling around the place passing virtually all of the staff along the way before we finally corralled a young lady who promptly took a “reserved” sign off of one of the tables and seated us. With the stress of seating behind us we were able to take in the ambiance of the venue which is brilliant. Menus arrived quickly and drinks orders were promptly taken. For me, the designated driver, it was a coke and the other half took a pint of Guinness. To be noted, the Guinness was good. I chose the chowder followed by the lamb shank and the wife decided to skip the starter and have the fish pie. All choices were excellent as was the service. The chowder was rich, satisfying and loaded with a variety of the local catch. The lamb shank was cooked to perfection with an excellent sauce and al dente veg to accompany. The fish pie was a generous portion and ticked all the boxes for what a fish pie should be. Most outstanding was the price. The total cost weighed in at 34.00. Very high quality of food, generous portions, value for money, lovely venue in a picturesque setting, who could ask for more.

Met some friends in Dublin and took them to Johnnie Fox's for some dinner. Skipping the starter we went straight for mains I chose the Swordfish steak. It was absolutely perfect and I ate every bite. The Fox's banoffi pie rounded off the meal along with a few beers it was a great meal. My mate covered the bill but from the prices on the menu it looks very affordable. Will be going back soon to try the rest of the tantalising menu.

Totally disagree with any bad comments on the food and/or the venue itself! My friends and I have been regulars at Johnnie Fox's for quite a while now, especially on Saturday nights after a game of pitch and putt across the road. The place has never disappointed and I hope it never will! One would agree that it has an authentic feel and buzz about the place, the staff are very friendly, extremely professional and courteous without being too intrusive and are always there when you need them. The food is absolutely gorgeous, both for seafood and meat lovers - their seafood chowder is to die for and is an absolute steal for the price - very creamy, with chunks of fish and seafood. Believe me, I have tried it in dozens of places and this is by far the best I have tasted! The same can be said about the breast of duck, leg of lamb and numerous fish dishes - absolutely gorgeous and cheaper than in most places in town! We love the place and will definitely be back as long as it continues to exceed our expectations!

Went here for a friends 40th on Sat night. None of the group of 12 people had been before so we weren't sure what to expect. It looks tiny from the outside but once inside it's really quite big. Very traditional decor which I liked - all sorts of stuff hanging around the walls etc. We were there for the hooley night and it was packed when we got there at 7.30. Having said that the staff were very friendly and efficient and we were served our starters in no time. Most of the menu is seafood so if your not a fan the choice is limited. All the starters were delicious and there were no complaints. The main courses also were delicious - I had the house dish mahi mahi diablo and it was fab !!!!! Band and Irish dancers were brilliant and the atmosphere was great. Overall a really good night and would highly recommend it to friends.

Decided as I was in Dublin and after hearing about this place on a radio advert in the morning; said we would take a trip out to the Dublin mountains. Just a quick review, bit of a long drive coming from the north county of Dublin, but well worth it! Situated in the lovely mountains in Glencullen, the exterior and interior decor was beautiful; old and traditional is how I would describe it. Food was exceptional, I had the frogs legs to start which were cooked to perfection with a lovely Garlic Butter sauce which was very nice. As a main I decided to have the Johnnie Fox's signature dish, the Mahi Mahi Diablo; I was quite impressed. Generous portions and it tasted very very good! Service here is also excellent and the price isn't so bad either. Great place, great atmosphere great food! - Patrick

Fantastic pub, great live music. Unfortunately I don't like seafood and I think there were only one or two things on the menu that didn't involve some sort of fish! I had the steak sandwich which wasn't bad but it doesn't come with anything (they don't do chips at all) so I wasn't full after it. I was with a large group of people who had various seafood dishes and all were happy but the dishes were small and pretty expensive. I'll definitely go back to the pub but not for the food.

Came up here for a drink and ended up having the seafood chowder and steak sandwhich. Excellent value for money with very good service and a real homely atmosphere to the pub full of trinkets and knick-knacks you could spend all day looking at. Will definately go back.

Went for lunch today. This is our first time there. It looks a little small from outside,nothing more like a regular pub but once we walked in, we were charmed by its character . The waitress was very friendly and though the restaurant were busy(almost all full by 2pm) she popped by a few times and asked if everything was ok. The dishes didn't dissappoint us either. We had the seafood chowder and crab meat for starters; Mahi Mahi Diabola and seafood jambalaya as mains (would recommend both strongly) ; whiskey Gateux and bonoffie pie for desserts, together with a pint of Guinness each. Total bill came to ~62euro which we find good value and reasonable. The live music was just started when we were about to leave. Overall a very enjoyable experience, we will sure be back.

Went to Johnny Fox a Saturday night for dinner and a few drinks. I had heard that I have to taste their seafood chowder so I did and I really loved it. I do really recommend it as well. For mains I had tuna and it was really tasty too. Vegetables were a bit over cooked but I know that a lot people like them that way. It is very good value. The atmosphere is really nice, it feels like going back in time to your grannies house. There are lots of random things hanging everywhere. The Irish dancing was nice to see but I preferred the music in the pub. It is touristy but not overly, a nice spot to go.

Every time we have visitors from overseas, we bring them to Johnnie Foxes as we have never been let down by the faire. We haven't had any overseas visitors for a while. That all changed this past week, and we duly went up to JF's on Saturday evening. And we were not let down either. 2 starters (the mussels), 4 main courses ( 2 steaks, one duck & one mahi-mahi), 4 desserts, and a kiddy meal, plus 6 cool drinks & a bottle of red wine all for €140. Incredibly reasonable, and all food to satisfaction. If I could though, I would make a comment on the loos. Like something out of the middle ages, totally disgusting, and the gents 'trough' had a pool of urine permanently sitting in the unrinal, generating a disgusting smell. Cannot comment on the ladies, but the gents sure needs some attention.

I've been reading some of the reviews and I'm surprised at the comments on the food. I went for lunch yesterday and found the food really good. I got the veggie lasagne and it was so tasty and my friend got the mahi mahi fish and said it was delicious. It's great to see they've dropped their prices on a lot of their dishes. I thought it was great value for money. We had Irish coffees after the lunch and they were excellent. I love Fox's as a pub but also as a restaurant

The pub is great but the food has steadily been going down hill. We arrived with a group of fourteen half of whom wanted to eat the rest just for a drink. We were basically told no way and that we would have to sit separately even though the place was half empty. They have cut the prices drastically over the last year but that doesn't make up for the poor quality of their food. Basically it's become a place where bus tours visit so you have to put up with huge groups arriving simultaneously. Not what it was and at this rate the only people going there will be the tourists

We went to Johnnie fox's for my Partner's Birthday. The pub and the atmosphere is simply great and an amazing experience to try.For starter I had Mussels which were amazing my partner had seafood chowder which was a bit salty our toddler had Colcannon soup which was great again.For Main course I had Mahi Mahi fox's special which was good and my partner had King prawn curry which tasted like mixed seafood in tomato sauce straight from the jar. The portions are really generous if they work a bit on the food everything would be perfect.

I love the atmosphere at Johnnie Fox's. The wonderful nooks and crannies with quaint utensils all over the place. The fires give a nice warmth and special comfort. However, the food is a grave disappointment. It gets worse for every time I go there. This afternoon I had the Whitebait and the dipping sauce was tasteless while the Whitebait was soggy. I had the scallops as a main and I really don't understand how anyone can so manage to mangle fresh ingredients in such a way. At least my girlfriend enjoyed her Mahi-Mahi, though I found it overdone and the sauce tasteless. The Guinness is good though. The service was OK. As I found the meal a disappointment I can't in all honesty say I got value for my money.

The pub is absolutely amazing and I love trips to Johnnie Foxes. The food is usually a little disappointing for its cost and renome of the place. Just your regular pub food only better presented. The vintage decor is fantastic and the fact the place is in such a remote place in the mountains certainly ads to its magic. Worth seeing, at least once.

The highest pub in Dublin. Atmosphere as expected was great, everyone was enjoying it. Food was okay, alot of seafood dishes which was surprising considering that the pub is situated in Dublin Mountain. Service was decent. Slightly overpriced, but then again it's Johnnie Fox, so didn't expect it to be cheap anyway. Overall a pleasant place to check out.

This is one of my favorite places to go for a quick pint on a sunday but food wise i would avoid, the food is not great for the prices high they charge and for a traditional irish pub the menu dose not reflect that, the few times i have eaten there the food was always over done and slightly rubbery but apart from the grub the atmosphere is great and the staff are top rate

This was my first time eatign here and I have to say the menu had a huge variety, making it quiet difficult to order. I was surprised by the amount of non traditional dishes on the menu. My partner started with the snails and frogs legs which weren't great and then he had the lamb shank. I had a very generous serving of prawn cocktail followed by a steak sandwich which was tasteless and a little bit too fatty. I love the decor of this place but the food is just for tourists and very over priced. As we were leaving The Country Boys were playing a set entertaining the crowd!!! Will return for drinks but not food again...

I've been to Johnnie Foxes a few times and i cannot fault the atmosphere or the staff - they're always very good. But the food is very poor i'm afraid. Yesterday we went back yet again for Sunday lunch hoping to be impressed, but it was disappointing. My partner had the Lamb and while he much preferred it to the Duck he had on the last outing, he got very little on his plate beside the Lamb. I'm veggie and i opted for the Penne Pasta having been let down by my choice of Lasgne on the last visit (there are only 3 veggie options!!). Once again, the penne was utterly tasteless and seemed like one of those stir-in tomato sauces had been used. A dash of salt, pepper or anything resembling a herb would have helped but clearly the chef doesn't have time for us veggies. It was lacking any originality or taste at all. It now means if i go again i have to try the Veg Kiev as its the only option left - but i just wish the chef would consult a veggie and rethink the menu again as i won't be back until they do. Very disappointing but high fives to the staff anyhow

I really wanted to like Johnnie Fox's for dinner because I like it as a pub. I thought the food was really awful though. Melon for starter was ok, one bit was ripe one wasn't. Lamb shank tasted ok at first and then left the most disgusting after taste. I really wonder if this is the sort of lamb shank that is precooked in a bag? It was horrible. Broccoli and carrots were overcooked and mushy. Potatoes were hard. Cheesecake for dessert was supposed to be Baileys but tasted more of whiskey and the base was like rubber and far too strong with alcohol. My companion had the salmon to start and he said it was ok but the salad was flabby and tasteless. He had their house speciality fish for main and though it was a frozen fish that was overcooked. He opted for tagliatelle with it which was just weird - sauce on one side of the plate, dry pasta on the other. He shared my view of the cheesecake. What a let down. I do like the music there in the pub part, but as a restaurant I think it is the worst in Dublin. I'm embarassed to think that so many tourists eat here.

We heard so much about this place, we decided to give it a shot. The atmosphere was really good but I would not travel there again for the food --- it was ok...nothing to write home about.

Went to Johnny Fox's with a friend yesterday and was bitterly disappointed. Granted, maybe the expectations were too high but the place has been recommended to us and we had never been there before. When we were shown to our table we passed the toilets which were quite smelly. Not the nicest experience if you are planning on having food... I had the chowder as a starter which was ok and the Jambalaya as a main. The Jambalaya wasn't spiced at all. In fact, I suspect somebody just tossed some seafood into overly sweet canned tomato sauce and served it. Horrible. My friend had the diabolo which was swimming in an undefined white sauce. On top, while the food left the kitchen quickly we waited ages for our drinks. I am not going to go back as I think this place is more than overrated.

Food was just ok. Very busy place. Would go for the novelty but just once.

Went here last sunday. The service is appauling, granted it was busy. I was sitting down for fifteen minutes, after trying to get a waiters attention i finally got up and gave my parties orders! - Never has this happened me in a restaraunt before. After getting our order the food was nice. Had the bacon and cabbage and it was large and tasty. Bottom line come here during the week for a tasty meal not at the w/e!

Great Service. Food was grand. We all had steak. Everyone happy. Full place on a sat night but they slotted us in. Lively place. I'd recommend it. Could have been cleaner but I guess the old style woodchips, fire etc are part of its charm.

Just had lunch here. Didnt need to reserve a table which was great! 5 of us had lunch and everybodys food was very nice! I got the main course of prawn salad!! It was so big! I couldnt finish it! The whisy cake was yum too!!

Johnnie Foxes is not just for tourists! The seafood here is soooo good and it is a really cosy spot for lunch or dinner. They've recently reduced their prices so its really reasonable now. The best is the lovely thick slices of homemade brown bread while u wait for your dinner. Yum!

Very friendly atmosphere with entertainment starting at half 9 in the form of Irish ballads which complemented the old irish style of the pub.Had the duck for main course which was very tasty, the sauce in particular, although the vegetables could have been slightly warmer. Soup for starter was also nice. Very good seafood menu and reasonably priced also!

Recently went to Johnnie Fox's for lunch after hearing much hype, very large seafood menu. Had the seafood chowder, which is one of the best I have ever had. This must be about one of the only pubs in Ireland tha don't serve chips. The atmosphere in the pub is very old Ireland with an open turf fire and numerous old artefacts.

Went to Johnnie Foxes for lunch last Saturday, I heard so much about it, I had to try it. As expected.... it was not only disapointing, but the food was just terrible, the table was rocking, chairs very uncomfortable and the service was only okay... Lunch for two 65 euro, (no wine) I would not recomend it, its just a place for tourists... I had colcanon soup, diablo fish (horrible), whisky cake (tasted so artificial) and the worst coffee I ever had .... poor tourists.

I come to the Johnny fox at least twice per year and this time had a little surprise. Went there on Sunday, (S.Valentine's day reminds me my grlfriend) after a nice ride on the wicklow with some others friends we parked our motorbikes and got in the warm and cosy atmosphere of the main room. After a hot whiskey, we got a table in the old Pig's room, and went back in time to 40 years ago! Surprisingly then, the menu got quite a few cut on prices, reductions and menu offers to bust the crisis, and later on i discovered the quality did the same. My first top choice here is always the seafood chowder, and that exceeded my expectations, but we went into mains, we were a bit disappointed. We all noticed it at the same time, from the presentation, to the ingredients and finally the taste. Standard flavours infact, not very rich and elaborated, but a bit neutral instead. We had shrimps, duck, salmon, and they all were a one level down in quality from last time I've been there. Always a nice place, now even more affordable, but not a fine restaurant anymore.

this place is so relaxing you could fall asleep.my hubby got starters of prawn filo.there were nice but not worth around €10.00.for mains i got pasta with lots of veg.i thought it was lovely.my hubby got a fillet of beef..well done.it was nice and tender.our daughter got some sort of waffles with different fillings in them and mash potatoes.again they were nice.lots of desserts to choose from.we would recommend this place for a one of as its expensive

As a local I would tend to eat here once per 6 weeks approx. I now tend to get a table in the back area of the pub. I find this area (across from the hooley room) more intimate and quiet as the live evening music and bar trade is usually down the other end of the pub near the front entrance. The menu has not changed much in all the years I have been here and I don't mind one bit. the food is always of a high standard and piping hot. The Salmon would be a particular favourite of mine. Served with a lovely lemon sauce on the side, and fresh steamed vegetables. the dessert menu is always good too and they do an excellent cheese plate. I have always found the servers polite and I notice alot of the repeat customers are not tourists but locals who seem to come back for the same reasons I do. A cosy atmosphere, candle lit tables, roaring open fire (in the back place and the front), good service, good honest Irish food. A firm favourite and well worth a visit. Can be very busy on weekends, but try a sunday evening or a weekday evening and sit out the back if you prefer a more intimate experience. If you want to see live music as you eat, sit at the main entrance area at the front.

Disappointing. Both the food and the service was very poor. I brought my husband and mother-in-law there for an afternoon bite over Christmas. I have always liked the pub and area but this is my second recent attempt at sampling the cuisine and sadly the second time I've been disappointed. Our waitress was pretty useless. Took our order after waiting for almost 25 minutes. Although she explain the kitchen was very busy and our food could take up to 30 minutes, it actually took 55 minutes from the time of ordering. I can't say that the staff were rude but certainly not friendly or helpful in anyway at all. In the whole time we were there, we were never asked if we wanted another drink, were okay or happy etc.. which I thought was strange. The area we were sitting in wasn't busy at all. On a number of occassions I over heard waitresses chatting together and complaining about their shifts and pay!! Not a bit professional, especially while we sat there with empty glasses and without food. Our food was also a big disappointment. I had the swordfish which I thought was presented very poorly. The fish itself tasted very good but the sauce it was served with was cold and the vegetables were over cooked or reheated. We also had the vegetable kiev which was like a giant crispy pancake but tasted like dough, it had no flavour and tasted like a cheap Tesco value frozen dish. My mother in law took one bite out of her dish and ate her vegetables. The waitress didn't ask if it was okay or even notice that she didn't eat her dish. Highly disappointed.

Went in for the Hooley Night. 3 course meal with entertainment for €55 per head. We waited for ages for our food and when it arrived, it was cold. Neighbouring tables were eating deserts while our cold mussel starters arrived. The music was ok, but you would find better in Temple Bar. I enjoyed the dancing, but again - you could enjoy free Irish dancing at the town. €55 was terribly expensive for poor food and average entertainment. It was clearly geared at gullible American and Asian tourists, or drunken Dubs - receptive to a bit of craic after a load of pints. Take my advice - go to Temple Bar. I will not be going back. Poor.

As well we know thaat it's a tourist placebefore we went this pub I was a bit supriesed. Waited for a table for ages and the food was just avarage. would be the place for loude irish folk music lovers.

Haven't eaten here since last January. It had been too long. Finished a round of pitch n putt up in Glencullen last Wednesday and couldn't resist the lure of Johnnie Fox's, afterall, when in Rome... Anyway, just stopped in for a quick lunch. Had a pint of Guinness and a bowl of chowder for about 10 Euro! Left a very content man and nicely full. Great value, wonderful food and just as reliable for a quick snack as it is for a full meal. I'll be returning for the latter, one evening asap

Went here last night for dinner. I'd say I wasn't disappointed at all. Seafood chowder and mahi mahi diablo were tasty, and serloin steak my friend had was lovely cooked. I would definitely go back to try other food even though it's a tourist place!

Unreal. I have been waiting years to eat up here and it was a true let down. The staff let them down mainly. When asked for menu's a scowl appeared. When asked for bread ignored us. When asked for a jug of water we waited ten minutes. It took fifteen minutes to order. Unreal! The food was satisfactory, I won't be recommending it thats for sure. I doubt I will return. Oh how welcoming the Irish have become!

What can I say. Johnnie Foxes has it all. The food was simply incredible, the service was great and the atomosphere was electric with Irish Dancing and music. This is my favourite pub in Ireland it never fails to entertain.

Fabulous food with great entertainment. I visited on a Sunday afternoon and got seated straight away. The colcannon soup was perfect for the cool day and the sword fish was beautiful. Everything was perfect until be asked for our bill....we had to ask 4 times!! Very irritating as it put a bad taste in our mouths. I would go back again though.

I visited here on a busy Friday night...surprisingly I got seated in no time, enjoying a drink while I waited. Atmosphere was fantastic, food was lovely & service was great, despite the crowds that were here - overall just a great spot to go to, to get out of the city for an evening!

Get out of town. Pints of the black stuff, mountain chowder, mussels, seafood vol au vent and a hungry fisherman's platter. Plan ahead for leaving your car up there. When you have aclimatised to the peat fire environment and settled into a few Guinness you suddenly notice that your phone hasn't rung once because there is a terrible cell signal. What freedom! You can catch up with an old friend or have a most bizarre business meeting without the stuffy atmosphere. There is an incredible air of serenity and the food is pretty good. Most of our monthly staff meetings end up here, surprisingly productive.

You'll not find a cosier, warmer pub than Johnnie's. After a thourough soaking in Glendalough, we needed to recharge our batteries and dry ourselves off. What better place than Johnnie Fox's. We were led to a cosy corner where service was prompt, welcoming and friendly. This continued throughout our meal. It was busy but there were plenty of free tables. The menu is extensive and specialises in fish, but caters for all eclectic tastes (Frogs' legs anyone?). We had a variety of dishes: a pasta dish, fish, chowder, crispy duck. All plates were finished, though I thought the chowder was too salty. We rounded it all off with a very fine home-made apple tart and then sat backed and relaxed by one of the many open turf fires before walking around this peaceful (no TVs or back-ground music) pub with it's walls dripping with curiousities. Prices are reasonable for the standard of food, and cover the whole gamut from the very afforadable hot starters to bust-the-bank caviar. Portions are also generous. I'm never dissapointed by a trip here - though I've never been here when the place is properly packed - and as sure as I'll get drenched again by Irish weather, I'll be back.

Arrived at Johnny Foxes one afternoon around 4pm - the lunch menu was being served and has no options for non fish eaters, so we decided to wait for the evening menu(which is more exoensive). I had Duck in a Champagne jus and it was fantastic, I could not fault a thing about the food. However it is a pity there is not an option on the earlier menu to cater for people who are not big fish eaters, Whilst waiting the service was not great either. I would reurn but only for an evening meal!!!!!!!

The atmosphere is phenominal - upbeat, fun... Irish! I've been there a good few times with overseas visitors and enjoyed it every time. Recently, however, the food has just been average and not worth the money spent on it.

We wanted to go out but neither of us could have a glass of wine as we both had work commitments. We have also been looking to go to Johnnie Fox's for some time but usually you think, 'we'll go somewhere we can have a glass of wine and don't have to worry about driving home'. So last night we decided to kill two birds with one stone. When we got there the pub has a fabulous old-world charm. It was empty compared to summer-sunny days. This is really not a place for rainy December nights, but maybe it should be. We were seated immediately and presented with the standard menu. Many dishes are at the higher end of the price range but we went for the Swordfish steak and the poached Salmon which were reasonable. The portions were generous and the service was excellent. The meal seemed to opt on the lazy side for the pub-grub feel, rather than going the whole way toward a restaurant quality. The sauce with my Swordfish had a skin on it by the time it arrived at my table (not long mind you) and the vegetables were over-cooked and seemed as though they had not really been paid much attention at all. The service was fine though, so there were only the finishing touches that let the place, with so much potential, down. Certainly not somewhere that I would want to go if I was going to fork out for one of the more expensive dishes!

a little over rated, tasty enough food.

I brought my lovely girlfriend for a night out. We went here for the whole Hooley thing. It was great craic. We entered the pub first for a quick drink before being ushered into the Hooley area. With rows of tables to sit at, we were placed in between a group of English and American tourists. We both had potato and leek soup to begin. It was gorgeous, real wholesome soup. The brown bread accompaniment was delicious as well. for the main course, I had the walnut lasagne which was gorgeous. The tomato sauce was sweet without being too sweet. By the time we had reached dessert time, the Band had started to play some classic Irish tunes. I was dissappointed by how few tunes I recognised, shame to my nationality! For dessert, I had the Fox’S Banoffi and my girlfriend had the Fox’S Famous Whiskey Gateau, both were served with cream and were very delicious. After the band played, the irish dancing commenced on a raised stage. They were spectacular and they made the night as good as it was. I really recommend going to Johnnie Fox's, its a night to remember and well worth the trek up the mountains to get there. Make sure you get the whole deal and see the Hooley as well. Staff were very friendly and eager to help and recommend dishes. All in all, it was worth much more than we paid for.

My boyfriend and I visited Johhnie Foxs Pub Saturday afternoon. From the time we walked in the door no one greeted us, we stumbled our way through to the dining area that was nearly empty except for one or two diners. We sat at a table and a few minutes later were given a menu each, we ordered drinks, my cappucino was cold, then when we saw how expensive/rip off the prices were & that it was basically all seafood or pasta we decided on colcannon soup for both of us, when we told the waiter this he asked "is that all?!" in an annoyed tone and we nodded slightly embarrassed by his behaviour. Then when the soup arrived every few minutes a waiter would swoosh by us and i felt like i was being watched constantly by the waiters who simply wanted to rush us out of there. There is no Irish charm from the waiters, the place has all the right historic items & candles yet there is NO atmosphere. We both left very dissappointed customers. Johnnie Foxs have high prices but not the service or atmosphere to match. My boyfriend & I will not be suggesting this place to any friends.

Dropped in here last Sunday after some sight seeing. The steak was very nice and the atmosphere was great. I was also impressed with the large portions of veg with the steak. I will be back. Meant to be great for a night out as well.

Had the steak here which was lovely. It came with a nice selection of vegetables, and the portion was generous. The only downside here is that the menu is somewhat limited for those not keen on seafood. However, the location is lovely and the restaurant area is very cozy.Somewhat pricey but still makes for a really pleasant day out

I've been here a few times now for dinner and a few drinks. The atmosphere is always buzzing and the food is lovely. However, it mostly consists of seafood and is not a good choice if you hate this kind of food! I wasn't very impressed with their one and only pasta dish, but the smoked salmon and prawn dishes are lovely. If you want a really good laugh, definitely visit this pub, it's full of wonderful people and fun music!

I went to the Hooley night for my birthday with a load of friends and I have to say that I was really disappointed. I've eaten in Johnnie Foxes before and I've never been let down by the food or service. The entertainment was great, but the mussels were gritty and way too salty, the lobster was completely unexciting (could have done it myself!) and when we complained that some of the food was inedible the waitress laughed and said that some things were beyond her control. For the money we paid - I was really really let down, to the point that I wouldn't recommend the Hooley night for any reason other than the dancing...

A few friends and I cam up here for a Hooley night, which was great fun. It is quite expensive for what you get food wise, but good all the same. You are paying for the entertainment in my view not necessarily the food. Overall a great night out if you have tourists over for a visit.

Went there recently with hubbie after much antecipation and despite the dreadful weather outside, we had a very cosy meal and drink inside. All free tables were booked but waiter was kind enough to let us have one if we promised to be off by 9pm. It suited us. Meal was not bad but prices are quite high for what you get. I had the crab cakes. Very nice but hardly any side dish (no salad or vegs) and too much butter sauce which left the cakes very heavy as they soaked it. Husband had the Diablo dish which despite the name was not hot at all. He enjoyed it but finished his dish rather quickly and I had to share my portion to avoid him leaving hungry! Overall a nice pub, but will only go back if I have tourists visiting over...

Is it possible to have too much intriguing tat on the walls? Johnnie Fox's obviously doesn't think so, and they might well be right. The effect of all their clutter and signage is to create a cosy, and surprisingly authentic pubby atmosphere. Happily, the 'auld pub' style of this place doesn't extend to the seafood-centred menu, which is full of tasty looking things. Nor, alas, does it include the staff, who have none of the irish charm that is supposed to be this place's big selling point. The food is certainly good, but with prices this high it really ought to be excellent. The overall impression, then, is of a place that's set itself high standards, and is falling short of them.

This is a pub for tourists no bones about it. Tourists love it I know Ive brought a few of my foreign friends here. As for quality of food its average and its expensive so I don't rate it. I will say that my friend left her bag outside and a very honest person handed it into the bar I don't think that would happen in the City. Any its ok for pint and to show your friend around it

average food at too high a price.the colcannon soup and chowder were grand but not great, and the crab salad and mixed seafood salad were deemed "ok". We were all quite disappointed as we had heard great things about the food here, but if definitely did not live up to it.

I came with my friends last week. I love the pub itself - it's in true irish tradition. The food was delicious, mussels to start, steak for main and fruit salad to finish. It was all very nice and worth every penny. The waiting staff were very polite, the bar staff were very friendly. We stayed on for a few drinks after in a very relaxing atmosphere. Will definitely go back!

Myself and my boyfriend called in here today for lunch as it has a great reputation and neither of us had been there before so we thought we would try it out but i am sure i will not be going back. I had the Fox’s Tagliatelle and was so very dis appointed. Basically all i got was a bowl of pasta and some sauce I asked for extra salmon when ordering and when the waitress gave me my dish she told me that there was extra salmon on it, there was a few specs of salmon but not a proper bite so I asked for perhaps some extra salmon and she bought me some more sauce and told me there was salmon it in, but alas I could not find it. My boyfriend had the Seafood Jambalaya and also was disappointed as there was very little in the way of seafood - there was more sauce than anything else on the plate. Sorry guys we will not back..

I had visitors over from London & Australia. I thought this would be the perfect place to bring them. Disappointed that the Hoolie wasn't on but in the end it didn't matter. The entertainment, music and atmosphere was absolutely perfect. I have always loved the food here but I feel that it has gone down somewhat. My favourite prawn cocktail was watery plain and boring. Not like it used to be.It tasted like badly frozen prawns not thawed very well? They didn't serve any brown bread, we had to ask for it. It was wonderful. My friends starters, the soup and mussels were delicious. They both ordered mahe mahe and both said it was a bit undercooked but they did clear their plates. I ordered duck. I have never even seen it on the menu before as I guess Johnny Foxes is known for fish. The duck was ok. Just ok but I am glad there is more on the menu than fish as not everyone loves fish. I had brought my friends here for the music and atmosphere anyway. The traditional music impressed them. I have heard that group before and they are good craic. They also had some of the River Dance set to make up for the hoolie not being on. This was more than enough and my Australian visitor was open mouthed and took hundreds of photos. He was impressed. In general a really good night and I was delighted they were so impressed.

I was there on Saturday just gone by for my first time. Myself, brother and his girlfriend were on the way back from Wicklow and decided to stop for something to eat. Nice location, good atmosphere but as a wheelchair user it's a little tight to get around, however the staff were more than willing to help even though it was a very busy period. With that said I was a little disappointed in my food choice. For starters I had the Escargot which were actually fab I hadn't had them since I was in France in early 90's and then I had the tagliatelle with a creamy sauce and smoked salmon for main. I found this quite bland tasting but perhaps it was a bad choice from the menu for my part. My brother had a seafood chowder which looked quite fulfilling while his girlfriend had the egg mayonnaise (main course size). It looked well presented and she said it was delicious. So all in all worth a try. For the atmosphere and for the feeling of old style Eire!

I think the selection of food is very good, the scallops were amazing and tasted delicious. I went up on a sunny afternoon and was able to relax and enjoy the meal outdoors - maybe this made the difference to what the other reviews have said. All in all, a great spot to bring visitors to, and soak up the Irish atmosphere and view

Johnnie Fox I have nothing positive to say about my experience here. Visited on Monday night had prawns which were not fresh from the bay more like fresh from the freezer at 8am that morning or the day before!!! Badly in the need of a good paint and clean up. The music wasn't great either....wont be going back.

I called in here with two colleagues a few months ago for lunch and was expecting big things after hearing so much about this place. The decor is great - all the stereotypes of an Irish pub rolled into one. The menu is mostly seafood, and there aren't many alternatives for people who don't eat it. I ordered the smoked salmon tagliatelle and the portion that came out was very small - I was still hungry after it which is very disappointing for the price of it. I wanted to get a coffee afterwards but I couldn't because the service was so slow, even when we wanted to get our bill we couldn't see a waitress to get her attention so we had to go up to the bar to find someone. Overall small, overpriced portions and bad service. I won't be returning here for food unless I'm really stuck.

Expected a high standard of seafood from Johnny Fox's but was a little disappointed. Overall it was ok, but some of the shell-fish on the Fisherman's Platter was rubbery and wet - as if it had just been defrosted. I thought it would all be FRESH, but it appears not. I would prefer a smaller selection of really fresh fish rather than a large selection of frozen/fresh.

great seafood! the prawns and scallops are enormous, even though they were served in a mixed dish so they could have got away with fewer. Really fresh, simple cooking. The bread is delicious - only challenge is to not eat too much before your meal comes... and the lemonade is red. Be careful not to query this as we had our heads bitten off by a waiter who had obviously heard the questions too many times. The tables are quirkly, but in all honestly just that bit too small and elbows are an issue when eating.

We visited here on a monday night and it was very quiet. I was really looking forward to Johnny Foxes but I found it dingy rather than atmospheric, it's definitely kitsch but it didn't feel that clean. I'm not a fish fan and the menu didn't really cater for the meat or the vegetarian eater. I would describe the food as mediocre. The service was pleasant but I don't think I'd recommend it or visit there for food again. Perhaps it might be a good place for a day's or evening's drinking sessions. Maybe it's better at the weekend than it is on a week night.

Very touristy, but not without atmosphere. Get a seat beside the fire if you can. My starter of crab claws was very nice.

Great way to spend an evening with visitors. Inexpensive good quality food and a show. Service was waiter dependent which was a pity as some had poor English and did not understand (but they were friendly) The show has gone a little downhill but as a first inexperience my foreign guests loved it. Go for the food at the show. It seems to be better than the restaurant. Good value good craic. Recommended .

This place really has gone down hill. The food was awful, service unpersonal rude and fast and the band weren't great! I was really disappointed. There are so many other better Irish Nights around!!!!

The place hasn't been cleaned since it was opened a century ago. The waiters are "cleaning" the tables with customers old napkins, or pushing the dirt on the floor... Hope it is a bit better on the kitchen side!! Apart from this, food was very nice. Skip the desserts, not their specialty. The decor and atmosphere make up for the rest.

Very disappointed this time. One of my favourite things is the bread and they run out also had a waiter whose English wasn't great and got our orders wrong. Overall very bad evening and embarrassing as I took 2 friends from the UK after telling them so much about it they came out looking at me as if I took them to an alien place

I heart Johnny Fox's Pub. I love scoring a seat by the fire, ordering a bowl of chowder and yeah, viewing the place through the eyes of a tourist. Everyone's happy in this place!!

Don't live too far away from this place and decided to go yesterday. There was 2 adults and 2 children and as never being here I didn't really know what to expect. We were only in the door the manager noticed us and brought us to a table right up the front, music was to start in a few minutes, was really impressed with the atmosphere. We had the starters, maincourse and sweet of course, food was lovely and the chowder was the best I ever tasted. Would have expected more to choose from the menu besides fish but def would go again and bring the other half.

Love this place with all my heart.. love the throngs of gazing tourist looking at the clothes hanging over the fire in the back room...love the atmosphere... as for the food...would definitely recommend the duck which was in a brandy and raisin sauce that I had to really really force myself not to lick the plate.. himself had the steak as usual.. if you like your seafood you will not be disappointed. Love to have dinner on a sunny Sunday here, listen to some ceol and than sit outside with a nice crisp glass of wine or bacardi breezer which ever takes your fancy. Love this place. Always have always will.

I was pleasantly surprised. Generally Dubliners tend to look down their noses at this obvious tourist trap. We brought some Dutch friends who were looking for 'buckets of oirishness. We were only intending to have a drink but were inspired by the menu and the surroundings. We were first ushered into a big room with a deafening trad session taking place (I mean, come on, a seisiuin with microphones?) but we managed to escape to a lovely little room with an old fashioned fireplace. I recommend the seafood chowder, creamy and filling, served with wonderful brown bread.

Had sunday diner here and was well impressed great value for money and was bursting from the seams leaving will be back again

As a non fish eater- I was clearly in the wrong place. The menu does not exactly have a fabulous set of options. I was adventurous and went for the walnut lasagne- was pleasantly suprised, but wouldn't rave about it. The starter I selected was the egg mayonaise- nothing special at all, in fact too much sauce.

Went here for the 2nd time on sunday. Had the duck first time round, FANTASTIC, I'm a duck fan and this was by far the best I have had ever....2nd time round I had the lamb shank and boy was it tender. My only complaint (and its not a bad one) is that the portion sizes on the main's are way too big!! After having a starter/main I just didnt have space for dessert. Traditional Irish music in the back bar was a very pleasant suprise. Great place to bring friends from outside of Ireland. Service also great.

Food was fresh and well prepared. Good for those who like seafood. Staff were efficient although the place was very busy. I personally don't like the interior - very touristy - but good experience all round.

I have heard so much about Johnnie Foxs but my visit was not what I had expected at all. I started with a cream of colcannon soup. The soup was burnt and I have never in all my life had soup that was burnt. The waiter was unhelpful and just said "I will get the fresh batch out". Needless to say I asked if I could have chips instead but was told that they didn't do chips. I normally am a happy go lucky person but this was appalling and I will never return!

Getting here is a bit of a hassle if you live in the city centre and don't have a car. We ended up taking the Luas to Sandyford (Dundrum on the way home) and cabbing it from there, which was between 10-15 euro per ride. Our visit was on a Sunday in January and the place was empty and the famous "craic" was missing. The band started playing at 9.30 and played covers of Bon Jovi and didn't improve the lacking atmosphere. The food and service were great though, we were all especially impressed with the Dublin mussels. The seafood chowder starter was also good. Of our mains the swordfish was very dry and the Jambalaya a bit dull. The starters were so big, they would have been enough for one meal. The food is pricey, but considering the fresh ingredients and what a tourist attraction the place is, I'd say they're fine. We will definitively be bringin more guests up to Fox's!

I went there with colleagues pre Christmas for Lunch and was not at all impressed. It may be that this is an evening or a big party venue but I saw no reason to go back or to recommend it. The decor was tired and overdone, the food was ok and there was zero atmosphere. In my opinion it was not worth the drive for lunch. Reading the other reviews I did not have the same experience so may just have been an off day.

Went for dinner here a few months back and it was superb. The food was wonderful. I had swordfish steak and it was ten out of ten. I had a wonderful raspberry and chocolate dessert afterwards which was also first class. Service came with a smile, which is not so common these days. Would go again if it wasn' so far away

I've eaten here a few times. It's a great place to bring visiting friends etc as it's got a good novelty factor. There's always a good atmosphere, especially in summer time. However, the food in my opinion is very overrated. I've had the lobster twice and both times it has been boiled until dry and flavourless. A bit of a disappointment for the price, but overall the food is fine, nothing outstanding, although it does all sound great on the menu! Not a bad place to go, would I go back? Only if I was in the area.

A great fish restaurant with great Irish atmosphere! The mussels are gorgeous and the craic is great!

This is one of my favourite fish restaurants in the whole country. The food is spectacular and beautifully presented. The atmosphere in the place is unreal . If you like fish food a few pints and a good craic then this is the place to be. The mussels are something out of this world. The staff are friendly and very efficient. This place is a 100%

I love the mussels on white wine sauce for starter! My favourite is Young Fishermans Catch. Have been there a few times with and without relatives visiting and will definitely come back. The only disappointment is that we called to make a booking and we were told they do not take bookings for dinner. Yet when you arrive there are about 10 tables with "reserved" signs on it...

LOVE this restaurant!! Great fish - dover sole is my favourite..... yummy! Atmosphere is great - old school Irish!.... Always bring friends here when they are visiting Ireland..... it can get very busy - so you should book early!

This is a gem of a restaurant, with so much character, entertainment & old-style quirkiness - So rare in this day & age. Great for groups & couples and a must for all your visiting guests!!

As a non resident, I was adviced to do some cultural reconnaisance; wow what a place to be! Great location (though far from downtown Dublin), nice food and - live Irish music! Will seriously consider to bring friends and colleagues to 'show some of the Irish culture'.

Proabaly one of the most famous places you read about on the flight brochures on flights to Dublin, however the place is at an amazing location with a wonderful drive to get to it on a nice summery afternoon. The decor is nice and it's always a good spot to have a few drinks and some food with family and friends. The downside to Johnnie's is the accessability of the place, especially now with the heavy clapdown on drink driving, it's not always possible to get a designated driver that would do that journey. However taking the family there for a nice Saturday lunch always goes down a treat.

Yet another fun filled night! This time, we took Aussie visitors for mid-week dinner. They loved it! The food, the atmosphere, the band. Mum enjoyed it so much she's offered to take us back for another meal/music night before she leaves for Sydney - and this time we'll take the camera. If you want somewhere amazing on all levels to share with overseas guests you have to bring them here. We love it!

Very dydely-idely and usually packed with wide-eyed tourists in arran sweaters HOWEVER the food is very good indeed. The seafood platters/salads are a must and not bad value. The trick for an Irish person who has no American relatives with them is to go for a game of pitch & put across the road mid-afternoon, head to Johnnie's for a few pints and a big platter - leave around 7-ish before the hoolie starts and the bus-loads of tourists start arriving. Don't forget the designated driver!!!

First visit to Johnnie Fox's and we had an early dinner there. I had wanted the Chinese Ambassador's Choice for starter but they had none left so had to settle for the crab claws which were tasteless, and, I suspect, frozen. Husband had the smoked salmon and that was nice. Mains were nice, I had the Mahi Mahi - fish (a little over-cooked) and accompanying potatoes (2 types) were lovely, but the bed of vegetables weren't to my taste - the sauce however, was delicious. Husband had the Swordfish, which again was lovely, and his side order of veggies were nice! Banoffi pie and Chocolate & Raspberry gateaux were scrummy. The ladies toilets however, almost caused me to throw up everything I had eaten, 2 out of 3 of them were FULL/OVERFLOWING with 'unmentionables' and whilst making a hasty exit I noticed that they hadn't been checked by staff for some 7 hours!! Whilst the food was nice for the most part, the toilet experience has put me off ever going there again - it's obviously a common occurrence as other reviewers have also mentioned this problem. The decor, tin table and sawdust on the floor didn't do anything for me but I'm sure the tourists love it.

I have been here once and if it wasn't so far from where I live I would go there at least once a month. The Salmon pate is divine. It always has a great atmosphere....

I have eaten here a few times but most recently for my friend's birthday. We had the mahi mahi fish which was gorgeous and the music really made the night. I find the food overall a little over priced and over rated but it wouldn't stop me going

Ate here some time ago on a Sunday evening and was hugely impressed. The food is wonderful, the service is friendly and the surroundings both inside and the view outside are fantastic. Very popular but it's easy to see why.

Our whole family have been going here for as long as I can remember, and we always take our house guests who beg us to take them again and again. We just love the place: great food, great service, great show, great value.

Johnnie Fox’s is a fantastic place. Could not fault it. There was a great buzz and the entertainment was brilliant. The staff were all so busy but the friendliest I have ever met. The food was amazing and I loved their homemade brown bread, it’s the best I have ever tasted.

We always bring our foreign visitors here, they love the Irish Kitsch. I'd particularly recommend it at Xmas time, when it looks like Podge and Rodge have been put in charge of decorating. The food is good, the vegetarian menu is a bit sparse but the Colcannon Soup is lovely. The Vegetable Kiev is nice enough and the Egg Mayonnaise is a nice change for a main course. You discover something new hanging from the wall or ceiling every time you visit. My last notable discovery was the bedpan collection hanging from the ceiling. Great atmosphere and in addition to going with visitors, we like to go for family get-togethers. The relaxed atmosphere and general higgledy-pigglediness makes us feel right at home.

Went to Johnnie Foxes on Friday evening for dinner with some UK visitors. Had a great evening and great craic. The food was excellent and the staff were superb. Well worth a visit especially if you have visitors to Ireland.

Have been to Johnny Foxes a few times with relatives from the UK, have to say that although I do think it's a little over priced the food is superb & everyone we have taken have gone home raving about it - now all my relatives want us to take them!!! - Very unusual menu too with Crocodile on it!

I love this pub we go for the location and the menu I love fish and they cook it well. We had our meal for the first time in where the band plays, it was very loud you wouldn’t be able to have a conversation but we got used to it and had a very enjoyable time

I visited here for one of their special Hooley nights in honour of my Mothers birthday. It was a great night. The food is delicious and there is more than enough of it. The atmosphere was great and they really do work hard to make it a great nights entertainment. For anyone looking for a great night out with good food and some old fashioned Irish craic, this is the place to go without a doubt.

I ate here a few months ago, and I wasn’t that impressed with the food. It has a great reputation and in a way I can see how! I thought that the food was overpriced for what you got! It does look pretty cool, but more for tourists than locals!

I was very disappointed with Johnny Foxes recently. While the staff were lovely and the atmosphere was nice - the food was quite substandard. I ordered whitebait which came out refried and hard as nails. My mussels were dirty and gritty with beards still on! The salmon and bread were good, but there's not much involved in those is there? I won't be eating there again, I'm sorry to say.

Great food and fantastic atmosphere!

My starter of crab cakes was exceptional, I would return there for that alone. Had the Mahi Mahi for my mains, supposedly a signature dish in Johnny Foxes. The fish itself was lovely, however the bed of vegetables that it came on was a bed of unseasoned mush. Very disappointing as it was an otherwise lovely meal.

We went there a couple of months ago on a Sunday afternoon with some friends, we called to make a reservation but it wasn't possible... We arrived there and there was still space...we got a nice table and ordered a starter, main course and a dessert... like the previous comment already said, the waiting can take too long.... the waiters are really nice, but it is not efficient... The food although was very good, the dessert and the coffee ordered by a friend, was less good, but ok... It is a nice place to visit once, also because the prices are not too cheap...

If seafood isn't your thing then you might find the menu a bit limited. Everything is so fresh and homemade though. The atmosphere up there is brilliant and if you don't mind being a bit packed in, it's great.

Johnnie Fox’s is a Dublin tradition! Whilst the overall atmosphere is a bit twee, a bit diddly Irish, tourists love the place, for this very reason. The menu is pricey, but the quality of the food tends to be quite good. Fox's can get very very busy, especially between May and September. Their "Hoolie Nights" are a bit of craic. If you are a tourist, or, have to entertain some foreign friends or business colleagues/clients, this is the place. Only drawback is its location. Gat a taxi if you fancy a drink!

How could you not like this place? Buzzing with tourists and Irish alike - lovely atmosphere and pretty good food. The downside is driving. And the service. I always find (3 or 4 times this last year) that the waitress' always seem to be working way too many tables and as a consequence there is a lot of waiting when there shouldn’t be, even for simple things like water.

Well what can I say other than FANTASTIC?! Was up there a couple of weekends ago and really enjoyed every bit. Even the drive up is lovely. I had a seafood vol au vont but it was huge in the shape of a fish. The staff were great, and if it's a nice day you can sit outside. Another thing, everybody is in great form because there's a lot of tourists so they'd be in holiday. Food was a bit pricey, but then again, seafood is.

I hadn't eaten here in at least 18 months so was looking forward to it. However, I was pretty disappointed when I went last Sunday evening. I think the Sunday menu is less extensive than the regular one so the choice was not that great. I ordered crab claws to start which at 11.95 is not that cheap. Unfortunately the crab claws were lacking in taste and were quite rubbery, as if they were frozen which I was surprised at as I thought they prided themselves on fresh seafood. My main course which was rainbow trout was good on the portion size but was overcooked. Overall an overpriced disappointing experience.

Had so much fun in this restaurant. The decor is quite charming in an old world memorabilia sort of way, the exterior is gorgeous. The atmosphere is buzzing all the time. One huge thing about this place is how fresh the seafood is! Everybody looks happy here I didn't see anyone annoyed or having a fight. A really really fun charming place to go!

Everything you expect it to be. Good food and good craic. The atmosphere is great it’s wonderful on a sunny afternoon. One of my favourite places to go if I'm in form for a bit of a nice drive, a relaxed meal and a few drinks.

Have eaten here on many occasions. We find that a selection of starters are the best value for money and suit our taste buds. Unfortunately, you cannot book and we have been turned away on a busy Saturday night. Weekend mid-afternoons seem to be a good time to visit. Of course, the live music is a bonus.

Went there with work on an evening out. Attended the show, which was very entertaining. Menu was a tad bizarre but seafood was nice, food in general being mediocre. Great atmosphere though.

I've been here a few times and always find the food really nice. The seafood chowder is lovely. It's an interesting place and I always bring visitors there.

Went there for lunch also on the Bank Holiday Monday after Paddy's Day. Great atmosphere, tourists go leor, all parties welcome including children. Staff very friendly. Food very good, had to wait a while though from time of ordering of food to it been served. Agree with Yummy Mummy - bit a pong coming from ladies toilets, gents better but one hand dryer not working. Love to have spent the day on the beer there and taken in evening meal also!

Went here for the Bank holiday Monday after Paddy's day. Needless to say the place was jam packed. We were told that there was a wait for tables - 30 mins. So we put our names down and waited. Exactly 30mins later we were at our table. The system in place was fantastic and very efficient. We haven't been here for years and I have to say the food and service was better than I remembered. I had the mussels to start - which were plentiful and my husband had the chowder - which was a meal in itself - delightful. We both then had the seafood vol au vent for main, which again was faultless. The staff where extremely busy but remained very pleasant and professional and they accommodated for children in every way. If you are looking for good food and good service in a traditional Irish Pub then I couldn't recommend Johnnie Fox's enough. If I had to say one bad thing it would be the state of the toilets - the ladies was very dirty, in fact I went once and the refused to go again until I got home. PLEASE if you read this note Johnnie Fox's - sort out the toilets - its such a shame to say, but this really is the only thing that 's letting you down.

Was here for a Christmas do back in December. The steak was amazing I must say. The atmosphere in here really is top notch, ideal touristy spot or just a place to go to celebrate being Irish. Staff are very helpful and you are never left waiting too long on food or drinks. Big downside is the location (way up the mountains) but if you can get a large group together I would recommend hiring a couch or some form of transport. I'm already trying to organise my next trip up here 5/5!

Brilliant atmosphere and welcoming staff. Always a good experience, food is lovely although a bit pricier than your normal pub menu. Menu can be a bit restricted if there's someone in your party who's not a big seafood lover

The atmosphere and the decor alone make this restaurant a worthwhile visit-especially for tourists! I've been there several times and the food is always great. The mussels are a must!

Nice for something different. This restaurants main drawback is the music - one CD on repeat, which we heard three times because the service was so slow! The atmosphere is great - lots of small rooms really give the feeling of being in a small cottage with plenty to look at! The menu has a great selection and we all enjoyed the food we got.

Fantastic fish but a bit expensive and definitely not the place for a quiet dinner! I can’t fault this place for food, its great although it’s so busy that it’s hard to get a seat without booking and you often end up waiting a bit. It’s a great place to bring visitors for the atmosphere. My favourites are the chowder (which is amazing), the mahi mahi and the mussels, which are so good that it’s hard to try anything new on the menu! The only thing that is not quite so good are the desserts - go for a baileys coffee and you'll happily roll down the mountain home.

We haven't had seafood and/or steak this good since we arrived in Ireland (4 months ago). Definitely a great place to visit if you're entertaining friends from abroad.

The mussels alone are worth the trip up here. I have been here several times, usually with out-of-town visitors (they are always impressed with the decor - almost a museum of old Irish bric-a-brac), and have never been disappointed with the food. It has always been fresh, nicely presented, and, above all, tasty. They serve a good pint as well. However, some of my dining companions have been not quite as enthusiastic about some of the non-seafood dishes - they were not bad, just not outstanding. My advice: Stick to the seafood, and you will not go wrong.

Was there on a recent visit and I thought the food was disappointing. I had the duck breast - slow roasted served on a bed of julienne carrot, mushroom and courgette with a champagne & raisin sauce, served with potatoes. Despite the menu description, what was served was a fairly ordinary carved duck breast. The side veg was overcooked and the sauce was again a very ordinary gravy. I didn't see any julienne of carrot, mushroom and courgette. I've noticed with Fox's that the menu is the best part of the meal - what comes out invariably disappoints the expectations set by the witty menu.

You have to love this place, it is pricey but where else would you get such a mix of the food the show and the general atmosphere? Try the Lobster!!!!

With such a warm welcome from the staff and a cosy fire greeting you will always go back for just that alone, well the food is always so fresh, served piping hot and the taste is always perfect and the price is reasonable too. With the best atmosphere and craic in Dublin Jonnie Fox's will always be top of my list.

If you've shown a visitor the 'flirt in the skirt' and they've seen the 'stiletto in the ghetto' then Johnnie Fox's is a must! A well honed operation for both tourist and local. The food is good 'pub fayre', the decorations, an amusing diversion (look for the weather stone outside!) and the live entertainment is great fun, first time round

Johny fox is different, I never walked in a pub that welcomes you with the delicious aroma of an open fire, really brings you in a good mood, when you come in you have a maze of rooms were you can enjoy your evening. nothing negative as the atmosphere is great, the food is more then good, superb even I would say, I seldom had anyone with me that could finish the sea food dish they serve, and serious good portions, I’m not a big fish eater so I went for the duck (love it, the sauce tops it off), also tried the steak a few weeks, a great steak, not a muscle in sight, nice and fulfilling, again the sauce is delicious! Great in foxes is that finally you find a place were they don’t serve fries, but a nice big huge cooked potatoe. I found also the reason why people can’t finish their plate, everyone stuffs up on the lovely home made bread they make, don’t know what it is but the taste is divine, and you can buy it at economical prices also for home. One negative thing.. nah negative, you can’t reserve, but can’t complaint as I never had to wait longer then 10/15 minutes for a table. Time after time it lives up at his expectations, a real good restaurant with for everyone something they would like, and sure, check out the walls, the halways.. It’s amazing what hangs up there.

Quite expensive, but they do a great prawn and crab salad. Didn’t find the staff to be very friendly but the atmosphere is nice.

Well, now you just have to go to Johnnie Fox's at least once! When we first went, we loved it, thought that we had found the Perfect place for fish in Dublin (odd as that sounds being all the way up the mountains) Went back a second time and found it only alright, third time, was disappointed. However, the muscles are Scrumptious and the staff are great, it’s just so big and always busy....