A great transformation of the former Pembroke Pub, a place I always felt was badly lacking in atmosphere. Matt the Thresher (hate the name!) is a seafood bar & grill that has upgraded the decor and added a grand piano. It is a vast improvement but I'm still not completely convinced by the interior. Perhaps it is the layout which hasn't really changed at all. The food menu is wonderful with plenty of daily specials to go alongside it. The wine list is well thought out with enough wallet friendly options. These more than make up for my lingering issues with the design of the place. I have been here 3 times now, trying different dishes each time. The open crab sandwich is very nice, if a tad on the pricey side for the portion size. The crab salad comes on the side of the bread, something I appreciate. Highly recommend the scampi but make sure you go hungry- the portion comes with chips and is huge!!! The tartar sauce is dangerously tasty. I also sampled the crab, prawn and avocado salad which is deceptively filling but lovely and fresh. The pea puree wasn't the best I've ever tasted but was a lovely accompaniment to the beautifully cooked piece of Ling I ordered. What I particularly like about this place are the different themed evenings they are putting on during the week such as crab dressing and wine tasting. The staff are clearly very well trained, very polite and answered any questions I had. Finally, a decent and fairly priced seafood eatery in the city centre. More of these!! read more

We stopped by here for a pre-dinner drink the other night. Place looks nice and clean and shiny, and down the back there seems to be little "library" area. We didn't eat, but the food smelled ok. Two spirits with two mixers was almost 18 squid! Ok, I know we're going to get another mix out of the minerals, but holy moley. Gave a 20 note and got back like 4 coins. This is why I always let the husband pay for drinks. I can't say I'd make it my new local, but it would be a nice place to take your parents or grandparents for one. read more

What an amazing place! The decor was beautiful, elegant and classy yet not stuffy. They were packed on a Wednesday night which is a good sign. I had smoked trout to start and my wife had the fresh oysters which she immediately declared to be the best she's ever had. For our mains, she had the hake special which was tender and juicy and full of flavour. I had the fish pie which was easily the best fish pie I've ever had. Was it the best fish pie in all of Ireland, even all of Europe? Probably. The service was excellent- attentive but not pushy. Everything local, everything fresh, everything amazing. Can't wait to return. read more

Had to go here after seeing the Anthony Bourdain Episode on Dublin. We stopped over at the bar on Valentine's day just for a drink and some appetizers. Ended up getting a whole meal but it was delicious +Seafood Plate was delicious, oysters are delicious. I'll be back for you soon! +Good selection of wines & beers +Bar Service +Seafood Chowder read more

We were on a business trip, a crew size of maybe up to 15 of us. The staff at Matt The Thresher were unbelievably attentive & definitely clocked we were mostly English on Irish soil, so we probably got told a yarn or two. Possibly even put under their spell with their accents. Matt The Thresher, at first sounds odd. However we jumped out of the cab, shuffled inside and what we saw was this lively restaurant to which specializes in some extremely fine wines and seafood. A guiness was shoved in my hand and we sat down. The waiter whom served us was brilliant, recommended the seafood salad which had incredible crabs claws and various other yummy goodness inside. Lots of wine later & irish music and we were done. It may be a little pricey but we were on a business trip as I said before. A great place for special occasions or celebrations! :) read more

My boyfriend and I wanted to have an amazing dinner our last night in Dublin, and this place did not disappoint. We had tried calling hours before, and unfortunately weren't able to find a reservation earlier then 10:00PM. On a whim, we decided to pop in and hope for the best. The restaurant was packed, but the gracious Host found a way to find us a table within 5 minutes of arrival. Everything from the bread and butter to the seafood platter was exquisite. We also ordered the warmed mussels, which were my favorite. The seafood tasted as if it had just been caught. I highly recommend making the time to have dinner here if you're in Dublin. read more

Not sure what else I can really add to the reviews of this place having lived in Boston for so long I expect good sea food and like all the reviews say they deliver each time I'm there. What's above and beyond is the customer service to me. They appear truly interested and caring. Tonight was there with some hard to meet dietary restrictions and they checked in everything and presented options. It would have been so easy for them to just blow it off like others have in the past Then to top it off on the way I i simply asked which direction to the nearest taxi stand and they go outside (in the rain) and get a cab for me First class act they could have doubled the price of my meal and I still would have felt it money well spent read more

Excellent fish chowder to start - no filler - all seafood. Dublin Bay Prawns to follow - very enjoyable experience and lively, friendly staff. read more

The mussul is very good. I have also tasted the chopped lamb but it is not as delicious as expected. read more

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Disappointing lunch ... with a surprise It started off well enough - 1/2 dozen Carlingford oysters on ice with an expertly pulled pint of Guinnesss. The oysters were tasty and properly presented though they were a bit small. For the main event I had the Daily Special Mackerel. Two small fish, split, boned (almost) and grilled. But then they were covered in a sweet chilli jam that masked any flavour of the fish. Accompanied by boiled potatoes, some nice mixed lettuces and brown bread (only after requested). But the salad was dressed with a sweet vinaigrette and the brown bread was very sweet as well. The Saturday lunch chef must have a prominent sweet tooth. The surprise came at the end. The bill seemed kind of high €32.90 without a service charge. I checked it against the menu and saw that I had been charged €11.95 instead of the menu price of €9.95 for the oysters and €15.95 instead of €14.95 listed on the daily specials board for the mackerel. I brought this to the waiter's attention and after faffing about with various tills, brought me a €3 refund. Missing any explanation I asked to speak to the manager. He did more faffing then explained that the waiter had hit the "dinner button" on the till by mistake. He was very apologetic but I was half expecting a drink on the house or some other token compensation. No such luck. read more

Looks are deceiving from the outside. But once inside you find yourself in an upscale seafood restaurant with an ample bar. Plenty of places to sit or congregate with a bunch of friends. Only had the seafood chowder but if the rest of the food was as good as their chowder you will not be disappointed. This goes on my "must stop" list for the next time in Dublin. read more

Really good seafood restaurant just off Baggot street. Was there last week for a 30th and they were very accommodating to a big group of girls! Had the Tian of Smoked Salmon, Crab & Apple with a Lime Dressing to start and a big pot of mussels with garlic bread for my main. Both were beautifully cooked and delicious! Really nice atmosphere and we stayed until about 12 drinking lots of wine, would highly recommend! read more

Matt The Thresher - Huge pot of Mussels! - Seafood Near Me - Dublin, D

If I could give a lower score I would. We booked at table for 7pm, upon booking I was told we could only have the table for 2 hours. Very understandable as it was Friday night. We show up before 7, our table isn't ready so we are sent to the bar for 15 minutes standing. Once seated the ceiling was leaking onto two of us and the food. Could not be moved because the place was so crowded. To top it off the fish was really under seasoned. Very disappointed. read more

I was underwhelmed. For such a highly priced restaurant the waiting time was long. They even forgot the side with the specials. The apple tart was undercooked. The prawn linguine smelt of raw garlics. I will not visit again nor will I recommend it to anyone. read more

A delightful evening with incredibly fresh seafood. The specials varied and were beautifully prepared. My husband loved his plaice fish with olive and chorizo. (one of his favorites on our 2 week trip) A friend ordered a fish pot, which was enough to feed the entire table!! Somehow he finished it with a huge smile on his face. Starters included a fish chowder (not the highlight), and Oysters which were AMAZING! Order a few of these!! read more

Phenomenal seafood. Best oysters in Dublin. Great service and a really beautiful space. Highly recommend it.

This has become a regular spot for me when visiting Dublin. I'll forgive some of the inattentive service at the bar, because the food is just so good. The oysters are fresh, briny, and perfectly presented. The smoked salmon is delicately smoked and you receive a nice sized portion. The fish pie is a visually pretty dish and perfectly seasoned. It's a dish you just want to order on a cold day with a pint. I recommend waiting for the financial locals to clear out and catch lunch between 14:00 and 15:00. read more

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One of the best restaurants in Dublin. The staff is fantastic. We stumbled in on a Friday night without a reservation and they found us a table right away. Food is awesome and we had the best waitress. If you're visiting Dublin, eating here is a must! read more

5 stars Food and ambiance 4 stars service Fish pie- chunks of fresh fish cooked into a shepherds pie Mussels- 1/2 order is a great size to share Oysters Fish and Chips- thick pub fries; lightly battered/fried Cocktails- you can't go wrong with any of their selections. This was definitely one of my favorite places to eat here. Great atmosphere and service. read more

"Piano and food" Excellent seafood. The specials are always excellent. Wine selection is good. We have been there several times and brought friends who were equally as impressed. If you like seafood then give it a try. When the piano is playing it adds to the atmosphere read more

As soon as we walked in we were greeted by the hostess and coats were taken. Our server was beyond accommodating, very friendly and had a wonderful sense of humor. We started with oysters and the 1/2 order of scampi. By far the best oysters I've ever had. Moved onto their soup of the day the cream of parsnip was phenomenal. Ended with their sirloin steak, ask for a side of the truffle mayo to dip your fries in!! We are going back before we leave because the food and service was so amazing. read more

Fresh Fish! If you are going on a Saturday night, be sure to make a reservation, as this place fills up quickly. There is a nice selection of fresh fish prepared with imagination. The brown bread is to die for. The chips with truffle oil were quite nice. The light fixtures are quite interesting as well. There is one fixture that runs most of the length of the restaurant -- you can see it in the web pictures. BTW, for those who don't fancy fish, there are plenty of other items to choose from. read more

Great spot for dinner. It was busy despite it being a Tuesday night and town being dead basically. Our waitress did say to us that our busy during the week and quieter at the weekends so I am guessing they get a lot of business and corporate clients as its a business area. We shared a super starter of scallops which were just perfect. I had mussels and my partner had fish and chips which were both delicious. The batter in the fish was light and crispy. The waitress who looked after us was lovely - friendly and chatty. I asked her about craft beers and she went off to check. She came back with a list she had written herself of the various beers - she didn't need to do that. We shared a lemon posset which was wonderful - light and the tart and perfect after dinner. My Americans coffee was great although my friends cappuccino wasn't - the milk was burnt. Overall I really enjoyed eating here. The restaurant looks lovely and the food is delicious. It's busy which def helps the atmosphere, The staff are lovely too. The only improvements Ivan see are teaching the barman how to steam milk and having a list of the various beers they have behind the bar- this would be handy for the staff and customers alike. I look forward to going back soon. read more

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This was one of my favorite meals while visiting Dublin! We sat at the bar and had the fish pie and the scampi & chips. This was the best seafood we had in Dublin proper. The batter on the prawns so was crispy and light, not greasy and soggy at all. The atmosphere was classy, but not at all pretentious. read more

Matt The Thresher - Scampi and chips - Seafood Near Me - Dublin, D

Enjoyed Matt tremendously. We are staying at Meridian around the corner and our bellman suggested Matt to us after we toured Guinness headquarters during first day in Dublin. My wife Karen & I shared monkfish and turbot dinners and bother wonderful. Hope rest of time in Dublin as good as was great start to trip. read more

My daughter & I dined at Matt The Thresher twice. Both visits we were greeted by a very upbeat friendly host. Our servers both times were very friendly and attentive. I was told they have the best seafood and oysters in Dublin. We were very pleased with our meals. Galway Oysters, Dublin bay prawn cocktail, Wild crab stuffed doughnuts, West Coast Black Clam Risotto & Hake fish. The restaurant is beautifully done. I Highly recommend Matt The thresher. My next visit to see my daughter I am going to request we go here again. read more

Visited here for dinner a few weeks ago while in Dublin. We had a big enough party of 8 for a wee end of vacation celebration. I was thoroughly impressed. The location is just off Baggot Street and walking distance from Doheny and Nesbith's where we started out. A few drinks at the well stocked bar at Matt's then we were seated for our 8:45 reservation on a Saturday night. Everyone had a fish selection and nobody was disappointed. My wife had plaice which she still talks about. I had trout which was equally delicious. Someone else raved about their Hake. I had oysters to start, which unlike here in the US are floating in brine in the shell. You have to drain the brine before eating them. No biggie but an interesting tip to give US visitors. It was a soaking wet day and night outside but the place was well full. Lots of pretty dresses (Na guna in gaelic) and guys in jackets. As well as several in jeans and T Shirts. So an eclectic mix. But fancy ish by American standards. Service was prompt and cheerful. We ate and drank our way to a particularly memorable night. I was pleasantly surprised by the bill at the end if the night in spite of 6 or 7 bottles of wine on it and a few night caps. Would definitely return here when back in Dublin. read more

Hmmm. An American flag flies out front along side the Irish flag and Michelle Obama has dined here -- not sure why they want to make that connection. Not really American style cuisine or service. Meals were good except the Guinness soaked beef stew had minimal veggies. We ordered the more expensive prosseco and we were served the cheaper stuff from the bar tap -- bar tender remedied when pointed out to him. Hostess was rather rude when we were seated . We had made reservation so that we would have plenty of time to get to the theatre -- she asked us to be done before the next seating which was three hours away!!! Once we actually received dinner menus (20 min later) the offerings were rather uninspired. No real signature dishes. Some fried food and minimal vegetables seem to be standard fare in Dublin. read more

Very good food. My daughter's shrimp scampi and chips were amazing. My husband and I are thinking about going there just so we can order that for ourselves. The seafood pot was very good and the desserts were to die for (chocolate cake with dark cherry ice cream...omg). The oysters were some of the best I've ever had... ever... and we've lived in Norther Cal as well as Seattle area... both big oyster areas. My husband even said they were good, which is saying something since he does not like oysters. I saw that people said that you'd feel weird going there without a tie (husband didn't have a collared shirt, much less a tie), but I don't agree. We were fine. Neither of us were particularly "dressed up" and our two year old was in jeans. It was fine. Maybe we just aren't all the fashion conscious, I don't know. Anywho, I'd actually give this place 4.5 stars if I could. The only reason for taking the .5 off the star is because my husband's fish and chips were just "good, but nothing to write home about," which is disappointing considering how good everything else was. I'd suggest going, just maybe don't get the fish and chips. read more

I've been here several times, and they never disappointed. I usually end up with oysters and some seafood. The oysters are fresh, the seafood of good quality and well prepared. The wine list is decent, great service. You can usually get a table when other places nearby are busy. Recommended. read more

I was in Dublin for a business meeting and saw Matt the Thresher on Yelp. It was a cold, evening and the restaurant was busy. It has a cozy atmosphere and because I was on my own, I ate at the bar. The staff were run off their feet, but the service was still prompt and courteous. read more

Wanted a nice dinner on vacation. This place was a great place w/amazing oysters. Recommend getting the dozen 6 of one and 6 of the other. Soups good too & the scampi also delish. Our server was also very friendly & accommodating. read more

We were visiting Dublin and had an opportunity to visit restaurant. Loved it. The ambiance is elegant. Staff are friendly. The food was delicious. I recommend the crab stuffed doughnuts and their sticky toffee pudding....I am in love with their toffee pudding... one of the best dessert that I have ever had. Would love to go back. read more

The quality of the food I have to say is good. The fish is really fresh , and if you like the "coquillage" dish this is the right place to try it ( but trust me , one dish is enough for two people). Also the salmon is really fresh and good. In this restaurant miss Obama came last year . The only minus are the loud ( if you have a business dinner it's quite difficult to have a conversation) and the seats and the fornitures are quite uncomfortable . Little bit expensive compared with what they offer read more

We were in Dublin in October 2015 for the Dublin Marathon. We've been to Dublin several times because of the warm people, great food, etc. Anthony Bourdain gave this place glowing reviews. It was close to our hotel, the Merrion, so we stopped by. The interior was nice. Service was adequate. The Guinness was delicious, as in most establishments in Dublin. Our order: Fish n' Chips, Lamb stew, a dozen oysters. Quite honestly, it all tasted great. The problem was later that night, my wife and I, took several turns atop the "porcelain throne" in conjunction with bouts of horrible abdominal pain. Now, normally this is a bad situation. But when you have just finished a marathon, and are already dehydrated, it turns into a horrible situation. Since that time, any unusual change in BM's has been given the term "getting THRESHed". Thanks Matt! read more

Tried the Thresher after searching for places close to my hotel. I read all the bad reviews and most of the good ones. I and my dining partners were not disappointed. I had the soup du jour which today was cauliflower with wild garlic. To call it soup is an injustice...a rich bisque is more apt here. Another starter was oysters which were excellent and we also had the fish chowder...all very good. For mains we had two selections...the mussel pot times two and the fish pie. The mussels were in a very nice light cream sauce with white wine and garlic, and there must have been six dozen in each pot. The fish pie was reported as being chock full of fish with a potato crust. Laura was our waitress and was very attentive all evening! Too full for any dessert! read more

Slightly pricey but absolutely amazing seafood selections. I had the Luxury Fish Pie, which was flavorfully filled with haddock, salmon, and scallops. Quite filling, not cheap, but a very nice meal if you're a little tired of pub grub! read more

Excellent service, tasty swordfish which was something I had not had before. Very good rhubarb, apple and peach crunch. Good beer suggestion in the O'Hara's Pale Ale. Well recommended. read more

Delicious oysters. Great fish specials, and good selection of beer and wine to pair with your meal.

The Galway oysters were amazing! The mussels were the pinnacle of freshness and flavor, and the monk fish was truly tasty. I would come here often if I lived here. The service was great and the wine selection was very nice. What more do you want in a restaurant? read more