My Profile
Clodagh Murphy
Member since: 31 December 2006
Location: City Centre
No. of Reviews: 32
Status: Guru
Last Visit: 21 September 2012
Member since: 31 December 2006
Location: City Centre
No. of Reviews: 32
Status: Guru
Last Visit: 21 September 2012
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The Market BarPosted on 12 October 2012
I love this place and always have a good time here. It has a lively, buzzy atmosphere and can be quite loud, so perhaps not the best place to go for a conversation. The tapas are excellent - I particularly enjoyed the patatas bravas and meatballs. Service was friendly and helpful.
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VermilionPosted on 12 October 2012
This is one of my favourite restaurants in Dublin. I've been there many times and it never disappoints. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, the service excellent and the food it outstanding. I'm looking forward to my next visit already.
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Kinara KitchenPosted on 12 September 2011
Went here for the first time recently and really enjoyed it. I usually avoid restaurants that operate two sittings, which this one does - 7.00 or 9.00. Though I am from Ranelagh and eat out there a lot, I hadn't been to Kinara Kitchen up to now for this reason. However, a friend was very keen to try it, so we made an exception and went for 9.00.
The restaurant is very nice and there was a good lively buzz the night we were there. Service was friendly and helpful. The food was excellent overall. I had monkfish to start, which was fantastic. My main of a traditional beef curry was a bit disappointing. The waiter warned me that it was very spicy and almost put me off ordering it, but I didn't find it too hot at all. The beef was in two large pieces and was a little tough, and the flavours didn't seem to have penetrated the meat. The sauce was tasty enough, but a little thin. My friend's chicken curry was delicious. Naan was very good, and the dahl was tasty, but too buttery and rich for my liking.
All in all it was a very enjoyable experience, and I would definitely return if I could get a table at a time of my choosing.
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Nicos RestaurantPosted on 12 September 2011
This is an old favourite. I hadn't been here for a while when I returned recently, but it was as good as ever. The food is great, the staff know their stuff, and the atmosphere is warm, comfortable and friendly. I love it! Looking forward to the next time.
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La Bodega Tapas y VinosPosted on 12 September 2011
Visited this restaurant for the first time recently and really enjoyed it. We had a lot of different tapas between us and the food was all delicious. The restaurant is very attractive and there was a nice buzz. Service was friendly and efficient. My only issue was that the bill was brought without our asking for it, and as soon as it was paid we were told we could move outside to the terrace if we wanted to stay. The message was clearly 'please leave' and it ended the evening on a sour note. We had had a lot of food and drinks, and we weren't told in advance that there was any time limit on the table. It left us with a negative feeling and unsure about returning - whereas up to that point we would definitely have gone back.
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Nyonya Malaysian RestaurantPosted on 27 January 2011
I really enjoyed the food here, and will go back.
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MalotiPosted on 27 January 2011
I visited this restaurant recently for the first time and found it disappointing overall. Service was reasonably efficient and the restaurant is quite nice, but the food was a real let-down. Starters were okay, but unexciting. Both main courses we had were very bland, and one was overpoweringly sweet. We were given a complementary side dish of spinach and potato, which was the tastiest dish we had, though the predominant flavour was garlic. Maybe we were unlucky in our choices, but I wouldn't be inclined to return.
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Monsoon (Rathmines)Posted on 27 January 2011
I went to this restaurant for the first time recently and loved it! The decor and ambience are warm and cheering, and the service was friendly and accurate. Most importantly, the food was all excellent, with the distinct and complex flavours that Indian dishes should have. It was my first visit, but it definitely won't be my last.
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Crunch CafePosted on 28 August 2010
Having just returned from holidays and with no food at home, I visited this cafe for the first time this morning for breakfast and was very impressed. I had scrambled eggs on toast - which seems simple, but is so often disappointing. However, this was perfect - the eggs were moist, buttery and perfectly seasoned, and the toast was tasty granary rather than the usual sliced pan. Tea was plentiful, and free refills were offered as were complementary papers. Service was attentive and thoughtful. There is real care and attention to detail evident in every aspect of this operation, and a real desire to please the customer - all of which made for a very comforting, satisfying visit. I'll definitely be back.
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Dada RestaurantPosted on 12 July 2010
A group of four of us had dinner here. The Moroccan decor is lovely, and the food was excellent. I had the zaluuk to start and it was delicious - more of an aubergine stew than a pate, which it's described as. For mains I had the slow roast shoulder of lamb, which was meltingly tender and falling off the bone, and served with roasted vegetables. It was scrumptious, though not for the faint-hearted - it could have fed the four of us! Others in our party had tajines (a chicken, a lamb and a fish one), and all were very tasty. Service was friendly, but it was a bit hard to get attention after initial ordering. All in all it was a very enjoyable experience and we would all be happy to return.
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Cortina’s Mexican RestaurantPosted on 04 July 2010
Four of us went to Cortina's last night for the first time. We had a 20 minute wait for a table, but there was a nice bar to sit in while waiting. Unfortunately, our table was ready before our cocktails, but the Margaritas were excellent when they did arrive. We shared a lot of starters - really good guacamole and freshly made tortilla chips, a platter of various tapas, and nachos (by another name). Everything was very good, with fresh, distinct flavours, and if it had stopped there I would have given this restaurant a much higher rating. Unfortunately, the main courses were disappointing after such a good start. I had chicken enchiladas, and the tortillas were soggy and inedible. Others had pork-filled burritos, which were fine, but on the bland side. Service was friendly, but not very efficient at times. I love Mexican food and I would definitely go back to this restaurant, but I would stick to the tapas and starters in future.
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BellagioPosted on 06 January 2010
I visited this restaurant last night for the first time as part of a large group. The decor/atmosphere is pleasant, but a little cold. The staff were very attentive and eager to please. There were some children in our group and they were well catered for. The menu is varied and interesting, and the food was mostly very good. I had the calamari to start and they were lovely and tender, served with a tasty garlic mayonnaise. It is a large portion and a little heavy as a starter. For mains I had the rigatoni with a pancetta and pepper sauce. The sauce was delicious, but the pasta was quite severely undercooked and chewy. Others at our table had pizzas, steaks and lamb cutlets, and were all happy with their choices. Some of our party had profiteroles for dessert, and they were delicious - and very large portions. There was an offer on - 20% off food and a free glass of prosecco, which made it quite outstanding value. Overall it was an enjoyable experience and I would definitely like to return and try some other things on the menu. I just hope the undercooked pasta was a one-off glitch.
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Chapter One RestaurantPosted on 28 December 2009
We went here for our office Christmas lunch, and all enjoyed it on the whole. The restaurant has a good atmosphere without being noisy, and there is good space between the tables, so it's a good place for conversation.
The food was mostly very good, if a little unexciting and very heavy. Those who had the soup found it disappointing as it tasted of little more than cream. For mains I had the daube of beef which was excellent, really flavoursome and tender. The side dish of cauliflower cheese was a bit light on cauliflower, and I would prefer a higher ratio of cauliflower to cheese sauce. The mashed potatoes were divine, and were the big hit of the day - we had extra portions all round! I had the cheese board - a choice of three from a good selection.
The service was patchy - some good and some quite brusque. Those drinking white wine were frustrated as it was removed from the table and the waiters weren't very dilligent about keeping glasses topped up.
Overall it was a reasonably enjoyable experience, but none of us would be in a hurry to return - especially not on our own dime!
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La PalomaPosted on 05 October 2009
I was disappointed in this restaurant. The menu sounds very authentic, but the food doesn't live up to it. The restaurant itself is a bit shabby. Service was friendly but a bit slow, especially as the place wasn't very busy. We shared a tortilla to start, and the portion was huge, so we were glad we decided to share. The tortilla was delicious. The mains, however, were very disappointing. We both had paella - one with pork, and one with chicken and seafood - and they were both quite bland and very low on rice. I wouldn't rush back, but I might return and try something else.
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Buenos Aires GrillPosted on 01 May 2009
This is a classy, upmarket steakhouse. The menu is limited, but what they do, they do well. Steak was excellent - really tasty and done as ordered. The pepper sauce wasn't great, but the steak was so flavourful it was unnecessary anyway. My partner's duck was also really good. Service was pleasant and accurate.
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Pizza StopPosted on 07 April 2009
A couple of us visited here recently on a Friday evening. It was a while since I'd been here, but the pizzas are still really good. Prices are reasonable and it has a nice old-style Italian atmosphere.
We had a really nice evening and enjoyed the food, but it was spoiled at the end by the waiters clearing everything away the second we'd finished it, and bringing the bill before we'd asked for it. The restaurant wasn't full, so I couldn't understand why the pressure to leave. It just left a bad taste in the mouth - as did the execrable coffee! It would make me think twice about returning.
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Siam Thai (Dundrum)Posted on 04 January 2009
I ate here last night with a large group. It's a huge restaurant, but is nicely lit and broken up so it doesn't feel cavernous, and it has good views over the square. It was very busy and there was a good buzz. The food was excellent - the best Thai food I've had in Dublin. Our group had a diverse range of dishes, and they were all fresh-tasting and distinct. My favourite was the Thai chilli sea bass. Desserts in Thai restaurants can usually be skipped without a pang, but here they've gone Western for the dessert menu and there were several tempting options. Service was efficient and accurate, if a little brisk. All in all, an excellent night out and I'll be returning.
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Acapulco RestaurantPosted on 01 January 2009
Very nice, cheap and cheerful Mexican. The food was delicious, and greatly improved since my last visit here. Nachos and burritos were excellent, but the chicken fajitas were a bit disappointing. It has a nice cosy atmosphere and there's a good buzz. I'll definitely be back.
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AnandaPosted on 30 December 2008
Having heard some people rave about this place, it definitely didn't live up to the hype. My friend and I - both huge fans of Indian food - were very disappointed.
After the poppadums, which came with three rather unpleasant dips, starters were promising - I had the duck tasting plate, which was delicious, particularly the duck tikka. For mains we decided to have the two thalis on offer - a fish and meat one and a vegetarian one - in order to get to taste a broad range of dishes. However, despite having eight dishes between us, what we certainly did not get was variety. All the sauces tasted the same, and all were distinctly lacking in oomph - by which I don't mean chilli heat, but the depth and complexity of flavour that you expect in good Indian food. The rogan josh was indistinguishable from the tikka masala. We both agreed the best thing by far was the dahl, which was excellent.
The restaurant itself is nice, though it was a little over-bright for our liking. Service was friendly and pleasant, but annoyingly over-attentive. We had to tell waiters we weren't ready to order three times. If they hadn't kept interrupting us, we might have had a chance to read the menu.
All in all, I won't be racing back.
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Town Bar and GrillPosted on 22 February 2008
I had lunch here recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. The food was delicious, atmosphere welcoming and relaxed, and service friendly and efficient without being obtrusive. I can't wait to go back and would highly recommend.
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Eatery 120Posted on 23 November 2007
I tried this place for the first time last week and really enjoyed it. The food was all excellent and there's a nice atmosphere. Service was friendly and attentive without being intrusive. I would definitely return.
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Jaipur Restaurant (George's Street)Posted on 18 September 2007
Four of us ate here recently and it was a very disappointing experience. We're all big fans of Indian food, and formerly of this restaurant, but the cooking has really gone downhill. Several of the dishes were extremely hot, and yet bland at the same time. There was none of the depth or subtlety of flavour you expect from good Indian food. Some indication of the relative heat of different dishes on the menu would be helpful, as the most chilli-averse person in our party ended up ordering two of the hottest dishes at our table. Two of us who ordered mains from the 'old favourites' section of the menu fared the best (a chicken biryani and chicken saag), but even these were distinctly lacking in 'oomph'. Even the naan bread was disappointingly stodgy. This restaurant seems to be trading on a reputation it earned some time ago and no longer lives up to. Based on this visit, I certainly won't be rushing back.
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OdessaPosted on 03 July 2007
I went here on Saturday with a group of friends and we had a great night. The food was very good and everyone was happy with their choices. I had the quesadillas for main course and would highly recommend them. The service was friendly, efficient and accurate, and it was very reasonable.
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Tante ZoesPosted on 10 May 2007
I'm a big fan of this restaurant. I have been there many times over the years and went again recently after a long absence, and it was just as good as ever. I love the Cajun popcorn and the Tante Zoe's jambalaya. It has a lovely warm, buzzy atmosphere (though it's best if you're seated in the front room downstairs). A great place for a celebration - especially as they haven't succumbed to the 'two sittings' policy that so many city centre restaurants have nowadays.
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SabaPosted on 09 May 2007
On the positive side, I loved the smart decor and buzzy atmosphere of this place. I was there on a Tuesday night and it was very busy. The food was good and I found the service reasonably friendly and competent. For starters we shared a platter of starters, which were fine, but came with some fairly unpleasant dipping sauces. For mains I had the green monkfish curry, which was very good and fresh tasting. However, their practice of giving you a time-slot for your meal would put me off returning. I booked for 7.30 on a Tuesday night and was told they would need the table back at 9.30. Sure enough, at 9.30 on the dot our bill appeared without having to ask for it. It doesn't make for a relaxing evening and it would certainly rule this place out for parties/occasions as far as I'm concerned - there's no time for lingering over a second bottle of wine or round of cocktails. It isn't an evening out, and it's a bit expensive for 'fast food', so I will be unlikely to return here any time soon. While I thought the food was good, it wasn't exceptional in any way and certainly wasn't good enough to overcome the timing issue. There are plenty of restaurants just as good where you're made feel a lot more welcome.
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Milano (Dawson Street)Posted on 12 April 2007
I love Milano's. I have been going here for many years and have never once been disappointed. The pizzas are simply the best in Dublin - they are just divine! The bruschetta starter is really yummy too. The food is all really fresh and good quality. I have always found the service here efficient and friendly too. And the value is outstanding.
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Fallon and ByrnePosted on 12 April 2007
I really love this place. It's very buzzy, with an upmarket New York feel to it. The food is excellent - steaks, burgers and fries are especially good, in my experience. Great bar too. My only quibble would be the noise - it's very hard to hold a conversation, so not the place to go for an intimate tete a tete.
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EdenPosted on 10 April 2007
This is one of my favourite restaurants in Dublin. The quality of the food is consistently excellent. It's a bit expensive, but I think it's good value considering the quality of the ingredients. The atmosphere is great, with a touch of glamour, and it's a great place for a celebration.
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First Floor Bar & Brasserie @ Harvey NicholsPosted on 01 April 2007
Went to this restaurant for a big family celebration and wasn't overly impressed. The food was fine, but ranged from unexciting to downright disappointing - especially for the prices. One of our group had soup, which was basically a bowl of warm cream. It was a Saturday night and the restaurant was very busy, so there was a good buzz. The service was friendly but not as efficient or professional as you would expect at this price level. Our table was very close to the one behind and the wine waiter kept asking us to move our chairs in so she could squeeze past to serve the table behind. It was extremely annoying and would have gone on like that for the whole night if we hadn't ourselves moved our table closer to the banquette on the other side. Also one of our party didn't get their starter at the same time as the rest of us and it took ages to come, which can be very awkward. The staff were apologetic and the problem was rectified, but when you're paying prices like these you expect more.
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Chatham BrasseriePosted on 05 March 2007
I've been to this restaurant a few times and generally enjoy it, though it's a bit erratic. The burger is definitely the best thing on the menu by far - any time I've strayed away from this I've been a bit disappointed. The chips are excellent. Starters are too big, I think. The service is usually good and friendly, though last time I was there the waitress serving us was a bit abrupt and kept rushing us to order, even though the restaurant wasn't full. It's good value and quite a nice buzzy atmosphere. I would go back, but will stick to the burger in future.
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The Cedar TreePosted on 05 March 2007
The food here is fantastic and the service is very efficient, but still really warm and welcoming. I would recommend the meatballs for mains and the baba ganoush for starters, but if you can't decide, the mezze is great as you get to taste lots of different things - and it's all really good.
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