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    The Anvil Restaurant

    3.8 (23 reviews)
    PriceyModern European, Irish
    Open 8:30 am - 10:00 pm

    The Anvil Restaurant Photos

    THE ANVIL RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

    Recommended Reviews - The Anvil Restaurant

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    Diana J.

    My local restaurant, literally in the Saggart village! I enjoy catching up with my pal there, we are meeting up once a week there for a dinner.I love my fish so I usually go for a fishcake or prawns. Staff is very friendly. Location is great City West Hotel is literally next door so if anyone is staying for the night then dinner in Anvil is a must! This restaurant is very popular by locals, it's not cheap but reasonable. If you are from the local area then it's definitely should be your new favorite restaurant!

    Beef burger
    Galadrielle H.

    I had lunch with colleagues today and we went to The Anvil. To be brutally honest, I have experienced better. One star for the service : Waiters were friendly and the waiting time was reasonable. One star for the location : The place is cute, the sits are comfortable, nice location for a quick bite. No star for the food : I had a beef burger. There was a slice of tomato and lettuce on the side. The slice of tomato did not taste like tomato but more like water with an off-taste. Then, the burger itself was actually burger bread with beef inside glued to cheese. The meat was a preparation with beef and onions mixed together. I like to have the option to remove the onion but oh well. The taste was just disappointing. When you order meat you expect a meaty taste. And here, it was a weird combination... I ate because I was hungry, but I wasn't satisfied. The fries were nearly yellow from being fried too long. The taste was nothing like potato. That's what a frie is, right? It's a chunk of potato fried. It should be at least. I am usually an easy customer, I do not complain or if I do I have a good reason. I thought it would just be me but then my colleagues admitted they were not too happy either. The vegies tasted funny as well... The sprites and the tap water was fine though :) *** UPDATE : I wasn't feeling too good during the afternoon, and I told myself I had a long working day. But when I came back home, I felt seriously dizzy with a bad stomach ache. It happened yesterday and I feel much better today. I do NOT recommend this place at all. I remove 1 star ***

    Brekkie!
    David R.

    Excellent service with a good attention to detail. Servers always topping up your coffee with a smile and happy to make alterations to any meal without any hassle. Food quality is very good with many healthy options...or they can change a dish to be healthy! Regular for breakfast and lunch here and Gav never had a complaint. Want us try dinner soon as their menu looks excellent and will post another review when done

    Alison C.

    Great little spot near Citywest Hotel. I love to try local places when I travel. The restaurant looks to be newly renovated and is just lovely. I had the Chicken Caesar Wrap with a side salad and fries. It was all very nicely prepared and delicious! The free wifi was a plus!

    Pint of Guinness
    Ted F.

    Really very nice. The chicken wings were outstanding! Had the cod happy hour special and it really was fantastic. Good size potions, price good, service was excellent! And not to mention the pints of Guinness! Oh yeah!

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    1 year ago

    I enjoyed a Beautiful Breakfast in the Anvil this morning. The Staff were very friendly and helpful. I would recommend it.

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    13 years ago

    A friendly restaurant with good food. We only had brekkie but it was certainly tasty. The wait staff are always willing to go extra. Lovely!

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    Review Highlights - The Anvil Restaurant

    I've been to The Anvil, say.....20 odd times over the years and have not once had a bad meal or experience.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    The Hudson Rooms - Poached eggs with toast and taters

    The Hudson Rooms

    3.8(6 reviews)
    8.6 kmPalmerstown

    A charming little cafe! We stopped in on a whim on our first day in the city since they mentioned…read morevegan items on their sandwich board outside. We were seated by a window table and had fun people watching the sidewalk. I loved their music choices, lots of 1975! Friendly staff and good service. I wasn't too hungry so I ordered an iced coffee and my husband got toast and eggs. Delicious!

    Friendly staff, everything prompt and efficient. Nice ambiance and everywhere looked clean…read more Liked that seating was spacious enough that we weren't on top of other dinners but it was a bit annoying that staff kept kicking my chair while coming from the pass for dishes. Meals looked lovely and well presented. I went for the Beer battered fish option on lunch menu and my request for mash potato instead of the frozen chips was honoured. Unfortunately potatoes cold and even the warm dish they served in didn't improve temperature so I just had to eat some mash with every bite of fish so the meal wasn't spoiled. Not that I would have wanted the potato microwaved but they should have been tasted or checked before serving. Fish was oozing grease so had to soak it off both sides with the napkins. Fish should have been left to drain off a bit while the potatoes were being warmed. Anyway my sons huge Buttermilk Burger & chips went down a treat. Loved that tea came in a non drip teapot but would have been nicer with a spoon of sugar. After seeing my son drop 2 sugar lumps trying to retrieve them from a tiny jar that teaspoon didnt fit in put me off having any, especially realising that only little fingers could fit in that jar and wondering if the lumps fall out on others 'do they just pop them back in jar again'? More hygienic way of serving sugar should be looked at. Having seen the dinner menu I am interested to go back again and give the Hudson Rooms another try. The ambiance, pleasant staff and competitive pricing has warranted at least another visit with higher expectations.

    Photos
    The Hudson Rooms - Iced coffee and espresso

    Iced coffee and espresso

    The Hudson Rooms - Guinness.

    Guinness.

    The Hudson Rooms

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    The Pig's Ear - Oyster with beef tartare (2026)

    The Pig's Ear

    4.3(246 reviews)
    14.3 kmSouth Inner City
    €€€

    After a full day exploring the historic grounds of Trinity College, we crossed the street for…read moredinner at The Pig's Ear, a Michelin-recommended restaurant that reimagines traditional Irish cooking with creativity, refinement, and genuine respect for the country's culinary heritage. We began with one of the evening's standout dishes: A layer of finely seasoned beef tartare topped with a plump oyster. It was essentially surf and turf in an oyster shell. It may sound like an unlikely pairing, but the briny sweetness of the oysters and the rich, velvety tartare complemented each other perfectly. Warm Guinness bread served with creamy Irish butter followed--a simple offering elevated by exceptional ingredients and flawless execution. For our mains, we chose two classics that perfectly captured the restaurant's philosophy. The Dublin coddle transformed a humble working-class staple into an elegant, deeply satisfying dish without sacrificing its comforting soul, while the Barnsley lamb chop showcased outstanding Irish produce through expert preparation and an impeccable sauce. Chef Stephen McAllister has built a menu inspired by centuries of Irish cookbooks, folklore, and family recipes, elevating familiar dishes through modern technique rather than reinventing them beyond recognition. It's a thoughtful approach that honors tradition while delivering a dining experience worthy of its Michelin recommendation. The setting is equally charming. Housed in a historic Georgian townhouse overlooking Trinity College, The Pig's Ear feels intimate, welcoming, and effortlessly elegant. Warm wood finishes, leather banquettes, soft lighting, and whimsical pig-themed accents create an atmosphere that invites you to linger. We arrived just after 5:15 p.m. and were fortunate to be seated by the front windows, where we enjoyed views of the college grounds as the evening light settled over Dublin. As with many historic buildings, there are practical limitations. The restaurant is spread across multiple floors connected by steep staircases, making it inaccessible for wheelchair users. During my visit, the sink in the men's restroom was out of order, making handwashing difficult. It was a noticeable oversight in an otherwise polished dining experience. No restaurant is perfect, and the restroom issue should certainly be addressed. Still, the quality of the cooking, the warm hospitality, the beautiful setting, and the restaurant's heartfelt celebration of Irish culinary tradition far outweighed that minor inconvenience. I would happily return the next time I'm in Dublin--and perhaps tuck a small bottle of hand sanitizer into my pocket, just in case.

    If you need a break from pub food and want a real meal in Dublin, I can't recommend The Pig's Ear…read moreenough. Easily the best meal I had in the city. The chicken pie was incredible. It is perfectly cooked with great texture, and the subtle curry spice added something really special without overpowering it. The cheesecake was also a highlight, not just for the flavor but for the presentation. For some reason, it comes in a glass jar tucked inside a paper bag. The wait staff were attentive, friendly, and made excellent recommendations. The whole place has a warm, classy atmosphere. This makes it ideal if you're looking for something more elevated while still feeling comfortable. Highly recommend.

    Photos
    The Pig's Ear - The bar

    The bar

    The Pig's Ear - Oysters and Beef TarTar

    Oysters and Beef TarTar

    The Pig's Ear - Isn't it fun... When the hare gets the gun

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    Isn't it fun... When the hare gets the gun

    The Anvil Restaurant - modern_european - Updated September 2026

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