During busy times, the bar seating is reserved for those who wish to have dinner. This news was delivered in a poor service experience. This was a shame since the bar tender is skilled in the cocktail craft. We've been here a couple of times but will not go back. If you go, the American mixology is good, try a Manhattan. read more

Service was good at the start but our waitress then got lost in the Hen House after we ordered.The food was pretty good but my rib eye on Bruschetta was a bit tough for a medium rare. Overall a good experience, will be back with Mother Hen and hopefully nobody will get lost in the Hen House. read more

What a fab place! The cocktails are to die for, the staff are so friendly and helpful. Quite a pricey spot, but well worth it for the the uniquely relaxed atmosphere. The food was exquisite, the portions were just right leaving just enough room for more cocktails afterwards! read more

Came in here for brunch with two of my fellow yelpers slash brunch professionals. We all liked the look of pretty much everything on the menu and took us a while to decide. Eventually I went with the goats cheese and tomato tart, my friends chose the eggs florentine and the pancake. After he ordered, my friend joked that he hoped it wasn't one pancake. Unfortunately, that was exactly what showed up. Actually it was more of a crepe to my mind but whatever, more than one please. I didn't fare much better on portion size. My tart, while really delicious, was on the small side and was dwarfed by the salad accompanying it. Some potatoes would have made a better side dish. The eggs florentine looked really nice (I found myself wishing I got those) but my friend was underwhelmed. The raspberry bellinis were really good, however, and no complaints about the service (a rarity in Dublin I find). I might come back and try something different but not in a hurry. read more

Beautiful warm interior. Went here for the first time with a group of 20 people for dinner. We had a set menu for €35. I myself had the soup de jour, Sea Bass and pavlova for dessert. It was all delicious and nicely portioned so I wasn't stuffed to the brim afterwards. They have an impressive cocktail menu too. I'd recommend the champagne mojito! The service was friendly and attentive so I'll be going back again! read more

I didn't feel very adventurous today for my first time at the Green Hen, I went for the seafood chowder (very light, subtle, tasty) and the burger. I was disappointed when the waiter didn't ask how wanted my meat cooked but then again in this country, you ask for bloody and they bring you well-done anyway. What struck me was the waiter's professionalism. It's nice to encounter someone who enjoys and is good at what he does, rather than a bored, overworked young lad just earning cash to move on to his dream job. I feel for the reviewer who was insulted by one of the waitresses. It's true, you don't really come into a restaurant just to drink but if you accept people in your establishment then you need to treat them well. Had I been him I would have complained to the owner and hopefully gotten that waitress fired! The burger, though overcooked, was still very enjoyable. I asked for green beans instead of fries: they were cooked to perfection, for once! And lightly buttered, perfectly seasoned. I really appreciate that. As a person who frequently changes fries for something else (not a big fan unless they come from a chipper), I usually get bland, unseasoned alternatives just thrown onto a pity plate! read more

I along with several other food enthusiasts went for dinner here last week. I had never heard of The Green Hen, but once I knew where we were going I jumped online to check out the menu; eager to see what delights they had in store for us. Their website is classic, tasteful and easy to navigate, so within seconds I was glancing through the menu options. I clicked on the Early Bird option as I knew this was what we'd booked and was delighted to see the choices on the menu, 3 courses for €22. I have walked down Exchequer Street hundreds of times and never noticed this beautiful restaurant, more the pity. I got there just on time and was pleasantly surprised by the warm reception of the staff and the chic décor. I felt a sudden sense of familiarity which reminded me of a Parisian café, nestled in a corner that I'd just happened upon. The waitress led me upstairs to our table which was situated beside the bar. This space is a smaller, more intimate dining area but was perfect for our table of ten. The staff were so attentive and we had ordered in no time at all - I opted for the Goats Cheese & Beetroot Salad to Start, followed by the Pan Fried Fillet of Hake with white beans, Chorizo and Kale; and to Finish the most amazing dish of all, the Chocolate & Hazelnut Parfait. While I thought all the food was beautiful, I did feel the mains was lacking in Kale; apart from four tiny leaves and a few white beans there wasn't much to accompany the Hake which was disappointing. julshiddengems.blogspot.ie read more

During my most recent visit to Dublin I made it back to the Green Hen twice. I made another solo appearance early in the week and brought along a few work colleagues to share my experience. I enjoyed the goat cheese, fig & beet root salad both visits. As for entrees, I went for the grilled sea bass w/ asparagus night #1 and grilled hake night #2. Both were great, but preferred the hake. The wine selection is very nice and Paul (the owner) is great at suggesting just what you are in the mood for. The Syrah/Grenache blend was suggested over the Cab Franc from Loire...and he was right. I love the bar for solo dining. The decor is warm and cozy. Music is the right mix and volume, which is hard to come by these days. The service was very pleasant and attentive. (My original visit was less so. Likely because it was Dine in Dublin restaurant week and possibly overbooked?) I chose to return to the Green Hen (twice this week), as I enjoyed the food and ambiance my first visit. It maintains is character and very much like the quaintness of the restaurant that still has a lively atmosphere, personable staff and great food. Try the dessert liquor shot with Chambord and Bailey's. Pretty and delicious. read more

Amaaaaaaaazing! Had the duck breast and it was cooked to perfection. The beet and goat salad was also wonderful. The food takes awhile but believe me it is a sign of the quality and freshness of the food. read more

Truly outstanding and a fortunate 'discovery'. Traveling solo on Valentines Day (evening) I was lucky to get a seat at the bar which suited me just fine. Engaged in conversation with Paul - one of the co-owners who was tending bar and mastering a potpourri of cocktails. A very pleasant guy. He recommended a Rhone blend (Corbierre). Excellent. Started with the Goat Cheese salad followed by the Barbary duck breast. Everything, including the ambience, truly superb. My wife always says if you see duck or lamb on the menu (two of my faves) have them as you'll never have them at home. She's not a fan. The duck, again, was one of the best I've had and I'll be returning Friday evening for the lamb. Certainly on my list of go-tos in the future. I just saw that I never posted the above. This was one year go tomorrow. I have since visited the Green Hen two more times since and it continues to rate 5 stars. Not only for the cuisine but also for the service, management, and Paul being a superb mixologist. read more

I wouldn't classify this as a French bistro; although it does have a Euro bistro feel to it. Plus, wow, service here was very efficient! The food was quite good too. Began with the tuna carpaccio - four oval slices that came with avocado puree, wasabi foam and some pickled vegetables. The fish was good, and overall the dish was fresh, which was appealing as the restaurant was rather warm. The least expensive tempranillo turned out to be a good accompaniment, and we got a bottle for the rest of the meal. One entrée was the hake, which was cooked perfectly - a few minutes under the searing hot broiler. It was served over crushed potatoes and broccollini. The only complaint is that the fish needed some sauce. A simple butter, lemon, caper sauce would have worked wonders. Otherwise, the plate was expertly prepared. The monkfish was wrapped in prosciutto and came over a pasta (like spaetzle pellets - these were a little weird) in an Italian cheese based sauce. This too was a winning dish. A nice ending to our week in Ireland. read more

I haven't been out in town for dinner in ages. But had something to celebrate and my friend suggested the Green Hen. It was busy on a Friday night and without reservation we only got to sit at the bar. But even there we felt very comfortable and well looked after. The barman was attentive but never intrusive and seemed to enjoy that we enjoyed being there. We had a bottle of Mont-Auriol Viognier which was simply excellent. I had the Roast supreme of Free Range Chicken which I found excellent and my friend enjoyed the See Bass. As dessert we had Pavlova and Sticky toffee Pudding - both simply delicious. I haven't treated myself to a restaurant like that in a while but I have to say I enjoyed spending every single Euro. read more

Have to echo Derek on this one . The food really lived up to my expectations. The steak was so tasty with scrumdidliumptius mash. Nice ambiance and we had great Craic with the staff. Beautiful building with James Dean watching down on me. Perfect evening. read more

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My girlfriend and I dined at the green hen on Valentine's Day and enjoyed it thoroughly. The food was delicious and the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. We spent a full hour and a half in the restaurant and were shocked by just how long we spent there because the time flew by. There is a very romantic French noir atmosphere in the restaurant that is perfect for a couple who are looking for a romantic evening and a tip for future diners - get the blood orange cheesecake! Its amazing! read more

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I had been here previously, on a few occasions but had never left a review as the service had never been great. I had always left feeling that the food was excellent, as was the value, but the restaurant was let down by the staff. However, all of this has changed! The food is still as good as it has ever been, tasty, original and reasonably priced but now the staff are exceptional! The (new?) manager is a really friendly, yet professional woman who gets things done, all the while ensuring you and your guests are satisfied with everything. The other wait staff could not be nicer or more professional. They really all are outstanding and have changed the atmosphere on the restaurant for the better. It just shows how important the front of house staff are in a restaurant, they really have upped the Green Hen's game. read more

I absolutely love it! Brilliant food made by people who know what they are doing and do not mix tastes "accidentally". The waiter wasn't just walking, he was just flying between tables, always making sure we had wine in our glasses and ready to give useful advice. Great place for a date or simply a meeting with a good friend. I was there few times and despite last time we forgot to book for Early Bird and paid quite a lot for two, still I know I want to come back there and can recommend this place. read more

Lovely dinner. Definitely do the early bird special. Staff was so friendly. Food was delicious.

The Green Hen has been trading now for two months or so in the former Leon space on Dublin's Exchequer St. This new brasserie clearly aims to mine the seam currently being exploited by the likes of Coppinger Row and l'Gueuleton - not fine dining but confident, gallic-inflected food served with a certain casual charm and moderate pricing. If The Green Hen is to poach regulars from either of those joints they will need to improve by a number of degrees. Read the rest of our long review on the blog at our website. read more

I messed up last Saturday and didn't book a certain French restaurant that used not to take bookings. So I went into the Green Hen and they were so friendly and helpful. They took my party of 6 at short notice and pampered us all evening. Food was excellent, the service wonderful and the setting exquisite! I will be back read more

Absolutely loved this place! It's very small but has a great ambiance with low lighting and candle light. The waiter staff are hilarious and made the experience great. Would go again, it is easy to pass by so keep your eyes peeled. This place is worth going to read more

We were enjoying our last night in Dublin before early flights the next morning. It was very hot and we sat at the bar by the door. The bartender, Amon, was fun, hospitable and really made the evening a lot more memorable. The food was excellent; I had lamb, and my companions had the pork belly and the seafood sampler. Everyone loved their meals. I highly recommend this charming bistro, and if you go there, please tell Amon I said hi! read more

Went here for dinner Friday night. First of all, the place was not crowded and we were immediately given a table. We ordered wine and took a few moments to look over the menu. The others in my party had the soup of the day, a carrot soup, and it was heavenly. It tasted of roasted garlic and thyme with a hint of carrot. Delicious! For the mains, I had the venison shank and the meat was so tender it fell off the bones. The others in my party had the chicken and the dish of the day (some kind of mushroom pie). Both were exceptional when compared to many Dublin restaurants we've been too. Since the rest of our meal tasted so good, we decided to have dessert as well. We split the chocolate fondant (a chocolate lava cake) and the rhubarb creme brulee. Overall, the experience was a good one. Our service was fine and the food was very good. We'll definitely be back. read more

The Green Hen holds a special place in my heart. It was one of the first memorable dining experiences I had after moving to Dublin. The menu is just the right size...plenty of options to make every diner happy, but small enough that they can change it often. The Green Hen promote local ingredients, and it's obvious they are dedicated to quality food. The menu is primarily classic French dishes with a spin. I usually have a difficult time deciding what to order. Don't even get me started on the cocktails. The Green Hen knows how to produce real cocktails. You won't find a Mai Tai or Sex on the Beach within these walls. What you will find is a five minute Old Fashioned that could compete against the best cocktails in NYC. Brunch is questionable. I haven't been back for brunch in awhile, but the last few times weren't very exciting. I just remember the Eggs Benedict was a vast, empty plate with two little un-toasted pieces of bread I can only describe as a small burger bun with overcooked eggs and some pretty disgusting sauce on top. I must give brunch another go! I adore the Green Hen. Make a reservation and get yourself over there. read more

Make a reservation directly and not through Open Table. We made a last minute reservation on Open Table but when we got there, the dining room had already been set for the night. Luckily, we were early enough to grab bar seating. Had a very good meal and the best Ol' Fashioned ever! read more

A little slice of paradise may be a seat at the Green Hen. The farm to table food and creative custom cocktails were both lovely. Dublin dining can be pricey so go for the early bird menu. The lavender creme brulee was memorable. Some of the best food and service of the many, many places we tried in Dublin. An excellent sensory experience! read more

As part of my lash hurrah of the party season and before my austere and restrained January kicked off I headed in here with a friend at the last minute for a cheeky cocktail, a first rate whiskey sour, but couldn't resist the look and smell of the dishes being sent to the surrounding tables, ending up going the whole hog with a 3 course meal. Not one disappointed. I started with a fantastic tomato and parmesan soup with griddle toasted bread, followed up by butternut squash risotto which was divine and seemed to be infused with a squash foam and I enjoyed every morsel! My desert was listed as a black forest trifle, but was much more a mouse with a biscuit and black cherry base - again, really first rate stuff. The only reason I didn't go the full 5 (which the food certainly deserved) was a single staff member who was so grumpy he actually made me feel uncomfortable, all others were efficient and friendly but I'm afraid I find with staff one bad apple can damage the mood badly. Despite this I will be back, and will recommend it to anyone looking for a great first date venue or for small girlie get togethers read more

We ate there last Tuesday evening, and could not have had a better evening. Lovely food, nicely priced, good food and funny banter with teh staff. They made lovely cocktails too. Saturday, after the lunchtime rush we decided to return for drinks at the bar. We entered, and took seats at the bar. Waitress immediately scowls and asks what we are there for. We reply drinks, and she replies in a very rude manner that we must order food. This would be fine normally, but she ws incredibly rude and condescending. Avoid this place if you are looking for decent service. read more

I am not a Dubliner, and so I can't say that this is the best bistro in town, but I can say that after coming here once I wasn't particularly curious to dine anywhere else. On my first visit I had a Guiness and a steak sandwich . Today for brunch I had a caesar salad, a Guiness, and a mint julep. As a travelling Virginian I can say with authority that the Green Hen make a proper and generous mint julep. This is a cozy friendly refuge with extremely friendly competent staff and delicious food. In short: awesome bartenders, awesome drinks, awesome wait staff, awesome atmosphere, awesome location and awesome food. read more

Went here before Christmas on a walk in basis and luckily for us they had a table vacant. What a lovely spot this is. Great decor and ambience with friendly and efficient staff. The food was delicious, the cocktails banging and their early bird was great value with no scrimping on standards. I'll be back but will be booking as it is a very busy little spot and now I know why. read more

Just back from lunch at the Green Hen. And I need a nap. My dining companion and I had the 2 course lunch, him a chicken and chorizo salad and I had the goat's cheese and fig salad to start. I could have nearly stopped there. When are burgers (served with blue cheese and bacon) arrived, I realised I was going to have a challenge ahead of me! The salad was wonderful with pieces of candied walnuts, juicy fig and cucumber. I could have eaten a large serving of that for lunch, but I had the burger, which was served on a wooden board, with a small salad and a big bowl of frites! While I thought the food was very good, the frites were a bit too much and as I progressed through the bowl, they became smaller and smaller. I sort of felt like we got the remnants of the chip fryer. And we both found it hard to dip them into the ketchup dishes! Having said that, I don't know if I would have been able to finish them all anyway. The burger was also tasty, but needed some kind of relish or something slightly sweet to break the saltiness of the beef, cheese and streaky (yum!) bacon. I'd definitely return, but either forgo a starter or main so I can try one of their desserts. Loved the decor, the staff were very nice and attentive and the bathrooms were lovely, but could be checked a little more frequently. read more

Outstanding meal. Grabbed a bite to eat and then caught a showing of Riverdance. Fantastic evening, great service and a wonderful meal.

A great spot for dinner in Dublin. I had the gnocchi which had an interesting twist with eggplant and roasted peppers. It was delicious. It wasn't a huge bowl filled with gnocchi so you don't feel too full after eating it. The service was good and the atmosphere was comfortable and intimate. I highly recommend eating here if you are in Dublin. Nice change of pace from pub fare. read more

Went here for the first time with husband dearest a few weeks ago and found the food and the service impeccable. Returned again, this time as a party of 5, and the experience was lacking somewhat. Food was good but the waitress messed up one of the orders so my husband was left waiting an extra fifteen mins for his main while the rest of us tucked in. Then when it came to desserts we were told that they needed the table back and so we would not be getting anything other than a coffee if we wanted any. I found this quite rude, considering the delay was not caused by us but rather by the order mix-up at their end. Overall, I would say the Green Hen is a great little bistro for a romantic dinner for two, but give it another few months to adjust to catering for larger groups. read more

I had high expectations because of location, ambiance and price tag. How wrong I was! The restaurant was at 20% capacity and still took a while to be served. I went for the tuna carpaccio, which could have been fantastic as it was well fresh, but coupled with rocket and bitter peppers, did absolutely nothing to enhance the taste of the fresh tuna, on the contrary, it totally masked it and the bitter twinge made it pretty uncomfortable on the mouth. My partner ordered the seafood started which was adequate but miniscule in size. For mains we had the steak and the monkfish and this is really when the Armaggedon started. He ordered his steak medium, and got what looked as an scorched piece of shoe, tough as be damned and a Bearnaise sauce that we are pretty sure was gone off. My monkfish bouillabaisse was an utter disappointment. It came with 5 mussels on the shell and 2 of them were closed (therefore gone off), they didn't even bother to replace those. The monkfish was so overcooked that had the consistency of rubber and the sauce was uber spicy, thus masking any taste that could have come from the seemingly fresh monkfish (had it been cooked properly). Setting us back at a whooping 80 euro, I feel this place really needs to wake up and smell the roses, if they want to continue charging those prices in an environment when Irish restaurants are getting better, bolder and cheaper by the minute. read more

Great food, great portion sizes (just right so you dont feel overly full afterwards) and even better than great cocktails! Champagne Mojito... :) read more

I booked the Green Hen for dinner last night June 2nd for 7 people one of them my 9 year old boy. When we arrived @ 6.30 I was told that my son was not welcome. They said they had a policy no kids after 5pm. I told them they should have mentioned that on the phone, they said it was on their website. When I said it was a phone booking not a web booking he just said ah well. I really found this experience very upsetting and embarrassing in front of my friends and son. A little kop on would be more tackful In this climate turning away 7 clients on a saturday evening is not good business never mind the roll on message we will be passing on. I think it's safe to say we won't be going back to the backward thinking Green Hen. read more

This place is a little gem in the centre of Dublin. The food and atmosphere is amazing. I would recommend booking at the weekend but if you don't have a reservation sit at the bar. The service is excellent quick, efficient and most importantly friendly. read more

Came in for a drink as we were both intrigued when we walked passed it earlier. We needed reservations and I can understand why..stepping in we could see that the layout was romantic and elegant. The hostess was very accommodating, allowing us to sit at a reserved spot since we did not intend on being there very long. I had a glass of wine and my husband had a Jameson neat. For the short time we were there, staff was very friendly and attentive, shame that we did not eat here but, should we ever be back to Dublin again would absolutely dine here, was very impressed by the ambiance. read more

Deserves a 5 star coz the food is so good. I had the rib eye steak with mash and veg. Sounds simple but was all perfectly done with great sauce and onion rings lobbed on. Really nice ambience in the place with good service. Will be back for more and they also do a decent early bird. read more

Was here once before and had the breast of duck. Came back because I'd enjoyed it so much, and it was again quite good, if a bit tough. As for the service, not so much. We had a specific question about the salad ingredients, in response to which our server deployed the old strategy of when in doubt, at least be confident. So what we got wasn't what we expected. And when it came to ordering wine, I like to hear what people have to say about what's on the list. But it's annoying when that results in being treated as if you must obviously be much less sophisticated than the 25 year old who ultimately knew as much about the wine as he did the salad all the while assuming you're an idiot. read more