The best meal I've had in Dublin, without a doubt! I made a booking a few days in advance and didn't have trouble getting a table for two on a Saturday. A three course meal is €26.95 and without knowing much about here apart from the reviews, I was excited to try the delicious sounding Irish menu. There's only three options for starters/mains so Graeme and I ordered the same dishes (something we normally try to avoid!). We started with a crispy pig's head croquette with ardo, tarragon mayonnaise, apple, spiced prunes followed by slow cooked duck leg with pear and oatmeal crumb (the menu description online doesn't seem to match what we had!). I love a croquette, in fact I want to start some kind of croquette appreciation club (who's with me?!). The pig's head croquette was up there with some of the most epic croquettes I've ever had the pleasure of eating - immensely meaty with a delicious crisp crump and lovely accompaniments. The duck leg was just as tasty, soft and tender with a really rich flavour. The square of black pudding was just what I needed to convert me to black pudding as it was really mildly spiced and added a lovely kick to the dish. We'd also ordered a side salad of peas, broad bean and Parmesan which was a lot more delicious than it might sound - between us we scoffed the lot. I was really impressed with the generous covering of Parmesan and the peas were super fresh and perfectly cooked. For dessert I opted for the Cashel blue cheese. I really wasn't going to get dessert but after how the other dishes were, I knew I had to try it. It was served with a really strange, large wooden knife which maybe makes me a complete imbecile but I couldn't really work it with the cheese and crisp bread. Thankfully it just meant that it took me ages to eat and I got to enjoy it for even longer. Service was good, helpful and always on hand but never overbearing. Sure, the bill ended up being kind of pricey but it was worth it. The Pig's Ear is up there with some of the best meals I've had, anywhere and definitely takes the crown for the best meal in Dublin (so far, I'm here for another 4 days! I'll do an update if somewhere takes over!) read more

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Came here for my birthday with my fiancé. The restaurant is spread over three floors and we were on the first. I sat with a view of Trinity College. Pretty impressive. The room does look small when you walk in but it certainly doesn't feel so. I love how everything was presented - even the bread :) I ordered the Crab Mayonnaise which came with fennel, carrot, trout caviar and orange. Check the photos to see how gorgeous it is! I had to spread some of it on the brown bread and it was utterly divine! For main course I ordered the Roast Cod, Lardo, Cod Brandade, Sweetcorn, Hay Smoked Butter, Clams and Samphire. The cod was perfectly cooked and I loved the sweetcorn. Then the best bit - dessert!!! I ordered The Pigs Ear Vanilla Cheese Cake, Berry Jam & Hobnob Biscuits. This comes out in a paper bag and you open it up to discover a jam jar inside which has a deconstructed cheesecake. It was so light and refreshing. A great way to end a beautiful meal. I know I tend to give out a fair few fives but when I find a place that serves food I like and the staff are lovely I find it very difficult to mark them down. This, however, is probably one of the best restaurants I've been to in Dublin and I can't think of a better way to have celebrated my birthday this year. read more

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The Pig's Ear serves sophisticated irish dishes using great local ingredients. I took the opportunity to have their early bird 3 course dinner for €26.95 - a true bargain! The dishes are creative and beautifully presented. The hero of my dinner was probably the super-tender lamb belly or the marriage between the flavours in the dessert. The restaurant is very small and cozy, with no more than 15 tables, and the staff are helpful and well-trained. Great place for a dinner! read more

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Great dinner experience--highly recommend! You do need a reservation for The Pig's Ear, but it's well worth it. Intimate atmosphere, great service, delicious food. I went on my last night of a week-long Dublin trip and it was a perfect way to cap off my visit! The bread is delicious. The menu is seasonal and elevated. The best thing I are was my appetizer: potato soup. I don't know how you can make potato soup that smooth, with such complex and rich flavor, but it was amazing. High scores for the lamb shepherds pie and the pork belly entree as well. read more

The Pig's Ear - Shepherd's pie with lamb - Bistros Near Me - Dublin, D

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Made reservation for dinner based on Yelpers. Happy I did. Yelpers are always right on point. Dinner was excellent. My Shepard pie was delicious. My wife's salmon was equally delicious. Our apps were awesome. Service excellent. My only complaint was that the room was hot. However, the quality and taste of the food overshadowed this minor set back. This did not deter me from giving 5 stars. read more

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My husband and I came to Ireland over Christmas and our favorite meal hands down was at the pigs ear. Service and food were perfect- could not recommend enough. Salmon appetizer was amazing and beef cheek and venison mains were lovely. read more

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We came here because we saw great Yelp reviews and got a recommendation from the hotel. The hotel clerk made a reservation for us. When we walked in we felt like we were not welcome. We were put at a table right by the kitchen door. The only gracious person was our waitress. Everyone else made us feel like an annoyance. The food was good... but nothing to rave about. We were there with another couple. Out of the four of us, the roast lamb dish was the best. My beef was tasty but tough. Hubby's salmon was pretty good, but a tad salty. We came away feeling a bit disappointed. I guess my expectations were too high. read more

The Pig's Ear - Salmon - Bistros Near Me - Dublin, D

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The Pig's Ear stands out as the best meal I had while in Dublin. The early bird pre-fixe options were large portions for the modest price (20 euro) and the plates were beautifully presented. The crab salad with green apples was a refreshing beginning and the braised duck with plums was mouthwatering. My boyfriend enjoyed the potted duck with juniper and capers and the pork belly was cooked just right. Attention to detail is what really set this place apart from others: from the chef's creative knife skills (my potatoes were perfectly shaped to look like scallops) to the presentation (the crab salad was served in a french canning jar with a matching spoon) to the fun, whimsy details that stood out among the otherwise formal dining room (pink! pigs!). I just loved this place. read more

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I always went there and it was always good food, I always get three courses, the Shepard's pie is very good. The fried fish as well, and the duck legs but they only serve one leg which makes it a small portion, and lamb chops were good too. Their desserts have almost always had a twist and it's always good. I love this place BUT ONE MAJOR FLAW that I noticed is, if you walk in a little early (I.e 5-7 pm) they will literally ask you to leave by 8 pm even if the place is semi empty, and even if you order "a la carte" and yes, even if you booked it. They would notify you before hand that they want you out and when it's time, they will remind you to leave although the delay would depend on how fast they could cook the food and serve you. So I would only go if I'm going with someone I'm comfortable with and doesn't mind that attitude, cause they embarrassed me when I took people that were important to me there. read more

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Very good. They took me in out of the rain without a reservation. The service was good, yet a bit slow and not unexpected. I had the potato leek soup as a starter. It was delicious, yet not what I expected. There were some mushrooms or something in it that I couldn't quite recognize. All in all, nice flavor, nice and hot (which I love) and beautifully presented. For the main, I got the pork belly and it was perfectly cooked with a subtle sauce that complemented it well. There was this chicharrone on the plate as well that was to die for!! I think here it is called a cracklin. My side dish were these baby carrots, perfectly al dente. The only problem was I couldn't eat it all and left no room for dessert. Lastly- don't go there for the Guinness because I think mine came from a can (boo!). Have wine instead. I admit, it's my mistake. Would definitely try again when I am in town. Prices were reasonable considering the high quality that is served. Four stars! read more

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Nice place, memorable food and great service. My husband had the salmon appetizer and Lamb Shepherds pie and Snickers dessert.. he licked the salmon plate clean so I know it was good.. I had the bean and goat cheese salad, it was good but was missing something, i would have liked some beets or pistachios... for a meal i had the roasted cauliflower, it was really special and good. I got mine without the mushrooms. I too got the Snickers dessert - everyone raved about it but for me it was just okay, a little too much crunchy crumbs in the bowl, wasn't a fan of the texture.. overall great experience and the coffee was delicious.. read more

The Pig's Ear - Baked Cauliflower main dish - Bistros Near Me - Dublin, D

Creative menu but with Irish roots. The Pig's Ear is a great destination for all foodies. Great service, wonderful food, enjoyable ambiance. My roast chicken was absolutely tender and moist. Everything was thoughtfully prepared, this was a marvelous meal. read more

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We rocked out the pork belly and beef cheek with ox tongue. Does it get better than that? Not much, my friends. Overlooking the tranquil cricket grounds of Trinity College, the dining room at the Pig's Ear is polished but tavern-like: wooden tables, white-washed walls, black-and-white logo framed neatly on the walls. Smart and simple. Not overdone. We started with the beef and marrow tartare. It was absolutely fattening and delicious. The tartness of the sourdough bread complemented this grease perfectly. I ordered the Irish beef cheek & ox tongue with mushroom stuffed marrow, truffle mash and watercress. It was glorious. Savory and full of rich flavors, it literally fell apart as I made my first cut and I relished every bite. My husband had the slow cooked pig belly with black pudding. He had to endure my forked hand darting into his dinner field as I stole forkfuls of that perfect fatty-crunchy-tender belly. We were too stuffed for dessert and unfortunately only ordered one glass of wine each, so I can't really comment on either the drinks or dessert. We were on a perfect pint pub crawl of Dublin though, and the fact that we persevered AT ALL beyond this meal is a testament to True Commitment to Guinness. My main criticism of the Pig's Ear is that we had to make reservations a month in advance and felt very herded into the place. The service was good, but the server was clearly disappointed we did not order more drinks, more starters or any dessert. This feeling of hustle and turnover made for a little awkwardness during the meal, but didn't diminish the awesomeness of the food in any regard. I'll be back on another trip to Dublin! read more

The Pig's Ear - Bistros Near Me - Dublin, D

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one disappointed by this place. I made a reservation by e-mail two days before coming in. When we came into the restaurant, it seemed like they did not took my reservation, and asked us to wait outside the time for them to arrange us a table. So we ended up stuck against the counter, obviously in the waiters way. We ordered first the salmon and the veal tartare, the salmon was very good but was missing of something to be great, the veal tartare was nice, but coming with parmesan on it, which became quickly a bit sickening. Then I had the lamb, and my boyfriend had the salmon. The salmon was nice, obviously cooked in a lot of butter, but fine. The lamb was of good quality, nicely cooked, but definitely missing of something too. I was pretty shocked by the service during our diner tho, we both really felt like disturbing them, the way they put dishes on the tables was nearly rude, and even if I might admit we took our time, we felt nearly pushed out of the restaurant at the end of our diner. Considering the price and the goodbutnottotallyawesomeness of the food I'd say it's a bit too expensive for what it is. read more

The Pig's Ear - The lamb - Bistros Near Me - Dublin, D

I had a fabulous evening here, and I haven't been wowed like that by food in quite a long time! Some people might say that this restaurant is a bit expensive, but I thought it was very well priced. They even do an early bird for just 22 euro for 2 dishes. Trust me, with the quality of food served here, that's a bargain. We went all out though and ordered a la carte. The menu is full of irish produce, and very original. Not your typical steak and chips, or salmon and mash. Every dish we ordered was like a little artwork on a plate. They put a basket of delicious fresh bread on the table to keep us happy until food arrived. I started of with pulled pork croquettes accompanied by mustard and crisp apple slices. Then for a main organic salmon with broccoli, samphire, some nuts. AMAZEBALLS. And the dessert was a buttermilk custard with ginger and rhubarb. mmmm! Portions are not overly huge, and I needed those 3 courses to have me full up. (Usually I skip dessert) Service was very good as well, and the two different waiters often checked up on us and re-filled our wine. For 3 courses and wine bill came to more or less 50 euro. Well worth it! read more

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Definitely coming back, the simple menu, elevated combinations and curious exploration of ingredients all composed wonderfully on a plate. I tried the cod, served with a light, tasty broccoli puree and also had a small side of grilled veggies. The fish was seasoned perfectly, the puree tasty and addictive, and the veggies rich with butter and flavor. I wasn't too keen on some of the more daring pig parts, or some of the pates, but I still found several menu options on a very limited offering- enough to choose from but not enough to get lost in contemplation. I finished with the cheesecake. I think this simple dish in a jar was my favorite. Topped with a bouncing texture of crumble and jam, each bite grabs the back of the mouth for some punch, but the mouthfeel of the creamed cheese is wonderfully enticing. Good place for a dinner where you want to focus on conversation and a trusted, simple, but memorable meal. read more

Small, intimate venue. When crowded, it can be quite noisy and boisterous. Quality meal and a bit of whimsy in their dessert presentation. UK friends enchanted by the Walnut Whip. Service was competent and pleasant. No bar where one may hang out. I would recommend and return. read more

The Pig's Ear - Bistros Near Me - Dublin, D

Went for lunch and the 2 course special to try it out for bigger things later (chef's counter tasting menu). In a word, delicious! It is a little hard to find, as none of the restaurant is on the ground floor, but once up the stairs it is a charming little dining room. Took a peek into the top floor where the chef's tasting counter was and it looked like quite the spot for a luxury meal. Like a salon for intellectual foodies. We started with the cured salmon, which was outstanding. Just beautiful presentation and taste to match. We knew we were in for a treat. I had the pork belly and my wife the hake. Both cooked to perfection with crisp outers and soft inners. The sides almost out shown the main, however, with a sauce for the hake that included almonds and sea asparagus (subtle salty goodness) and tiny prawns along with a cauliflower puree that was like magic. With the pork were mustard mash with just enough bite to let you know there was mustard without being overpowering and black pudding which put standard fare to shame. Dessert was lemon rice pudding with a blackberry sorbet. Just sweet enough so you know it is dessert without tasting like a (typically American) sugar bomb. Service was outstanding. Attentive and thoughtful without being cloying. We will be back for the chef's counter as soon as we can do it. read more

The Pig's Ear - Salmon Starter - Bistros Near Me - Dublin, D

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The Pig's Ear earned a Michelin Star in 2009 and have retained it since, and there is no question why. Reservations are not required, but strongly suggested. Located in Dublin's city center, the elegant candlelit dining rooms are cozy and quaint, offering a beautiful view of Trinity College. Upon entering we were warmly greeted-all of the staff were very personable and down to earth. Our waitress was knowledgeable of the menu and had a great personality. Good wine selection, offered by glass or bottle. I went with a reasonably priced Syrah which paired perfectly with the food. To start, the complimentary brown bread is ridiculously good. Dense yet delicate, packed with earthy whole grain flavor. My boyfriend and I were so amazed that we had to ask where they source it from. It turns out that they bake it in house from an original recipe, and fortunately for us, they sell the mix by the bag! We took two bags home. My appetizer was the Beetroot Salad, which was delicious and uniquely prepared. Roasted, puréed, and pickled beets were all artfully combined to create an interesting balance of textures and flavors. The star of the meal was my entree, the King Oyster Mushroom. The richly marinated mushrooms are smoked and then lightly seared, plated with delicate vegetable purée to further enhance the flavors. My non-vegetarian boyfriend was blown away by this dish and agreed that it was the best thing we ordered. He got the salmon and signature Shepherd's Pie, but neither stood up to the Oyster Mushroom. Do not skip this dish. Dinner for two (with wine) came to a reasonable €110, especially considering the incredible quality of food. I highly recommend The Pig's Ear, and look forward to returning the next time I am in Dublin. read more

The Pig's Ear - Beetroot Salad - Bistros Near Me - Dublin, D

We really enjoyed the 2 course supper menu . I took the Earl grey cured salmon to start (which was delicious !) And the Jerusalem artichoke main dish. It was such an excellent meal and the restaurant has a cozy rlatmosohere overlooking the grounds of Trinity college. The service was a bit slow (which can happen that's ok) but the waitresses were not particularly friendly. Overall though, an excellent meal! read more

The Pig's Ear - Jérusalem artichoke main dish! - Bistros Near Me - Dublin, D

I went to the Pig's Ear with my sister and her boyfriend when they were visiting me from Canada. I was surprised that I had never heard of it and actually found out about it through my sister's travel guide book. On second floor of a Nassau Street building, it has a spectacular view of the Trinity grounds. The inside is tastefully decorated in a minimalist fashion with wooden tables and cottage chairs. Like the menu, the restaurant believes that simple comfort is the best. The food is described as being Irish but it reminded me more of French, with savoury sauces and lean cuts of meat. The flavours are subtle but so good. Try the organic salmon or the pork belly. It's helluva good! read more

The Pig's Ear - Taken from website - Bistros Near Me - Dublin, D

I bookmarked this restaurant before leaving for our vacation. I am so glad I did cause the food here was amazing. Pricey, yes, but wonderful to say the least. We did not have a reservation but they were able to seat us anyways... I'm thinking because it was still early (around 5:45/6). Everyone that came in after us had reservations so I'm glad we decided to go eat when we did. After eating pub food the first portion of our stay in Dublin, it was nice to get a great meal in our bellies! I uploaded pictures of our meals to The Pig's Ear Yelp page, yup I'm one of those people who takes pictures of their food. Be prepare to spend some euros but very worth it! read more

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Fantastic!! The Pig Ear was the first meal we had upon arriving in Dublin and it couldn't have been any better. The restaurant is upstairs and is small and quant. My husband and I both ordered a starter. He ordered the potato soup and I ordered the lamb shortbread. Both were delicious. For our main dishes we ordered the shepherds pie and the cod dish. Once again. Both were outstanding. We are so happy we are here at the Pigs Ear. It was one of the best meals we had here in Dublin! read more

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Fascinating Cod, with delicate tomato coulis top, endive, pinioli "sauce". Tartare tuna to start was fresh, perfect. For 50 Euros for two course this Michelin mentioned restaurant is worth a trip if not hungry, but looking for something special. read more

I've been promising myself to visit this restaurant for some time & finally we tried it on a spur of the moment decision and we were not let down having had high expectations: The welcome was warm & attentive, we arrived at 9pm on a Friday without a reservation and got a table for two even though it was busy. The waitress listened to our choice of wine & actually came back with a different option which wasn't much different price wise but it hit exactly what we were looking for, which showed the level of attention given to customers, not usual in Dublin restaurants. We had the scallops and the beef tartare for starters with the tartare being exquisite with so many accompaniments full of flavours! For mains we had the lamb and the barbecued pork belly, both of which were beautifully presented and cooked and flavoursome. Desert wise we shared a beautiful pannacotta with ginger and it was so refreshing - simple but perfectly executed! read more

Really a delight evening, the service was over the top. We had the 3 course meal, duck and pork belly. By far the best duck and pork belly we have had. Finished with the warm sticky date pudding and whiskey ice cream, which was very tasty. Highly recommend this restaurant!!! read more

We sorta stumbled on this unassuming second floor restaurant after looking at Yelp while sightseeing in central Dublin.We were lucky that they had a vacant table.I started with an elderberry infused glass of Prosecco and it went up from there.I had the salmon appetizer which was delightfully light and flavorful.My husband raved about a peashoot salad.He isn't a very adventurous eater but loved every bite.He had the Achille roasted lamb and I had the Shepherds Pie.They both were well presented even though can be pedestrian in typical Irish restaurants.Not so here.Their bread basket included a piece of the best Irish brown bread I have ever eaten.We didn't have room for dessert but will leave space on our next visit.Our fellow diners seemed to be enjoying theirs.This will definitely be on our list of must dos in Dublin. read more

Northern Ireland and the north-west of Ireland has been hiding something from us: they have delicious food. They've been holding out on us, and the Pig's Ear is here to make that right. Dillisk, pork belly from Fermanagh, yellow man... Speaking of which, the food is great. I guess you'd call it "New Irish" food, but the only thing new about it is all the attention it's been getting lately. This food has always been there, we just made the mistake of ignoring it. Their food really encourages you to take to your own kitchen too. I might never be able to reach the heights of their brown bread ice-cream, but I can put on a few pounds trying. The early bird is great value too, although I really need to stop eating pork belly. It's crazy delicious, but about as healthy as joining the pigs at the trough. They've really nailed the atmosphere of the place too. It's not so much a restaurant as the result of your nan getting a Michelin star. Little touchs, like sugar served in Siucra bags, are charming rather than cloying. Oh, and the dining room has a view of Dublin that even a Corkman can appreciate too. read more

One of the highlights of my recent trip to Ireland. Dinner with some awesome Yelpers at possibly one of the coolest places in Dublin at the moment. I loved this place. The highlight for me was the company of course, it's amazing to me that you can land in Dublin in the morning, have a little nap and then have dinner with some complete strangers who aren't really strangers at all. The Yelp family is so widespread and so welcoming. Thank you to Cristin L. for setting up an awesome dinner, and for choosing an exceptional wine to wash it down with. Did we really go for that third bottle of wine? Damn straight we did, we're Yelpers! The Pigs Ear is one of those places that you would never visit if it were not for Yelp. Hidden away behind a nondescript storefront, it reminded me of the Relativity painting by M.C. Escher. Stairs and stairs and stairs. Definitely not a place for the wheelchair bound. Terribly quaint in its drawbacks from our youth with such simple touches as a wee Suicre bag of sugar with a spoon put on the table with coffee, awesome Yellowjack (think Crunchie honeycomb, only MUCH MUCH better) with brown bread ice cream. The key here was presentation. My pork & ham knuckle brawn appetizer was served in a teeny little potting jar on a bare wood board, with a schmear of carrot jam and pickles. It was both delicious and very quaint. When I got my main course of smoked haddock on cauliflower champ, I thought to myself, I would never be full. But the portion sizes were just perfect and we all left there sufficiently satiated. Thank you to Dublin Yelp for making Miami Yelp feel so welcome :) I hope someday I can return the favour! NOTE: Real English was used in the creation of this review :P read more

Ooooo, where do I start... the place is fabulous. The decor is perfect. The view is perfect. The floor staff were great too. Karolina especially. They treated us very well. The host was a bit full of his own importance when making the booking and when we were there, but I wont hold that against the place. I went for the early bird menu, 19.95 EUR for two courses? You can't go wrong. For starters I had the Carrot soup, which was very tasty and very filling. For the main I got the Pork Belly. There was surprisingly very little meat on it. Now I know pork belly has a lot of fat on it, but there was like 90% fat, if not more. But that said, it was very good. I shared a desert, the brown bread ice cream and it was divine. Highly recommend it. The wine we went for was the house sauvignon blanc on the first page, which was very very nice and good value. Apologies for not remembering the name. I can't find the wine list on their site. I would recommend The Pigs Ear. Just go on an empty stomach, I rolled out of here! read more

I was recently given a voucher for the popular restaurant and was excited to try it out. They were awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2009 and have retained it since so I was pretty sure it would be a decent meal. I popped along on a sunny Saturday afternoon after a bit of shopping on Grafton Street. The restaurant is on Nassau Street, easily recognisable by the gorgeous bright pink door! We bundled up a small set of stairs and went into the first floor of the restaurant. There are 3 dining rooms which all face onto Nassau Street and as they are on the elevated floors you are gifted beautiful views out toward Trinity College. I would have loved to be seated on the higher level but this particular evening it seemed pretty full up there! We were delighted to get a lovely seat next to the beautiful windows though, a lovely spot to eat while the evening closed in. The dining room is simple and cosy and has a comfortable, laid back atmosphere. We were given the menu to look over and presented with a gorgeous little bag of fresh bread and butter. As per usual I had zero willpower and polished off the majority of this! We decided to order from the Early Bird Menu, offering 2 courses for €21.95 or 3 for €26.95. With a choice of 3 starters, 3 mains and 3 desserts it may have been a slightly shorter menu than some restaurants but in saying that with a meat, fish or veggie main course option most will easily fancy one or more of the choices! To start I chose the Crispy Pig's Head Croquette comprised of Lardo, Tarragon Mayonnaise & Apple. I'll be honest, the Pig's Head part made me slightly nervous ... I will try most meat or fish but the image of eating meat from a pig's head isn't too pretty! However, I adore croquettes and was pretty sure once I tasted it that the piggy's face would be forgotten - and I was right! The croquette was crispy on the outside with beautifully soft and well seasoned meat inside. The pairing with apple worked very well as always. While Mam isn't a vegetarian, she isn't big on meat other than chicken and very rarely eats fish so the options of pork or salmon were out for her. Luckily she does like goat's cheese as the last choice was Gold River Farm Beetroot with Burnt Apple, St Tola Goats Cheese & Pickled Onions. How fabulous is the presentation on this dish?! I had a small slice of the cheese and it was delicious, so soft and creamy. For my main I decided on the fish... Pan Fried Cod with Broccoli Purée, Salt Cod Mash, Broad Beans, Carrots & Brown Shrimp. This dish was so good - light, fresh and simple but perfectly cooked. The fish fell apart in flakes and it was an all round well balanced dish. Mam decided on the Chicken Breast with Sweetcorn, Smoked Garlic Potato & Grilled Lettuce. I don't often order chicken when I'm eating out as I have it so much at home, but on the occasions I do, I realise how badly I cook it. Throwing it into a stir fry and eating dry chicken really makes me appreciate how amazing a piece of well cooked chicken can be! This was soft and moist and so tasty. We decided against a dessert and just sipped over our glasses of wine, enjoying the relaxed feel to our meal. The Pig's Ear offers fantastic food in a comfortable environment and should definitely make it onto your list on "Must Try" restaurants in Dublin! read more

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I went here on last Monday night with my parents who were flying out to Germany the next day. We decided to go for the early bird as they had been travelling all day and were tired and hungry. We arrived about 6pm and we all ordered the Organic Carrot Soup with Hazelnuts & Citrus Oil which was served with gorgeous brown and white homemade bread. The soup was served in a old fashioned cooking pot. It was a novel presentation and it worked well. The soup was very flavoursome and the right temperature and perfectly seasoned. For mains, I had the Silverhill Duck Leg with Orange & Chicory Tart, Sweet Garlic & Pickled Cherries I also ordered a side of roas rosemary potatoes which were seasoned in sea salt. The Duck fell off the bone and was very flavoursome. My mother had the Pea & Mint Risotto with Broad Beans & Toasted Pine Nuts which she was wary about at first but finished it all off and said it was very flavoursome. For Dessert I ordered the cheese cake which was served in a jam pot and it looked like the crumbs of a digestive biscuit where sprinkled on top of the light and gorgeous cheese cake. My Dad like a true Dub had the Gur cake which he said reminded him of being back in 1950s Dublin, so it was the real deal. My mother had the cheese cake and we all had 3 americanos. The sugar was served in a bag of Siucra which my mother commented that 10 years ago people would give out about but it was perfect for the setting and they pulled it off well. All in all a fantastic dining experience which combines, friendly staff, flavoursome food, novel presentations, good value and a great view. We will certainly be back. My Dad had a beautifil steak which was cook to perfection to his request of medium well. Rosemary Roast potatoes accompanied the steak and we also ordered a portion between myself and my Mam. They were gorgeous and pefectly cooked. read more

My boyfriend and I went to The Pig's Ear in mid-December on a Monday night, and we just loved it. The restaurant is cozy, and was warmly but not overly decorated for Christmas. We shared the cured salmon with mayonnaise, cucumber & dill pickle to start, and then he had the pork belly and I had the butternut squash with spelt. The started was light, beautifully presented and flavorful. My butternut squash and spelt was served in a smal frying pan, and I really enjoyed it: and the pork belly was beyond divine. All in all, the meal was great. However, the most memorable part of our meal was the cheesecake - something I normally would not order. It was sort of "deconstructed" - served in a jelly jar with a lid, with the berry topping at the bottom, then filled with scoops of creamy cheesecake and topped with crumbled biscuit. I just loved the presentation, and the taste was out of this world. Had I known it was going to be so good, I would have gotten my own. I wish Yelp would allow you to give 4 1/2 stars... because The Pig's Ear merits more than 4. Also, the bread was really good! read more

Yelpers and Yelp-visitors of Dublin, THANK YOU! This was my favorite meal in Dublin, and I wouldn't have found it but for you. Strolled in here by myself (traveling for work) on a Tuesday night, and it was pretty empty. By the time I left, business had picked up but there were still a couple of open tables. I started with a pint of Guinness (their only draft beer) and the whipped goat cheese appetizer on my server's recommendation. It was topped with honey, pickled turnip slices, and sunflower seeds, served with rye crisps. It was to die for if you're a goat cheese fan (clearly I am), I just wish it had a few more crisps because I ran out before the cheese was gone. I really want to replicate this at home... mmm. For my main, I had The Pig's Ear Shepherd's Pie, with lamb meat and topped with nicely browned mashed potatoes. I think the best way to describe this is homemade - you can clearly taste the fresh spices that the lamb is cooked in, and it warms you right to your core. This IS comfort food, and it's a generous portion. Prices are very reasonable as well. If you're visiting Dublin, or a local, you have to try to come here. You might need a reservation, or expect a wait, if you come later in the week though. Food: 5 stars Value: 5 stars Service: 5 stars Ambiance: 5 stars read more

This was definitely the best meal we had in our trip (to Dublin for work, plus a few days in Venice). It was relatively expensive but not much more so than a number of other places we went to that paled in comparison, and given what we ordered here overall it was a much better value imo. I don't give five-star reviews often but this place definitely earned it for me. Hopefully next time I make it to Dublin, this place is still around and still as great. We had (with our two young children): - cured salmon, delicious and almost but not quite raw in its texture - terrine, very meaty and made us want to try to make terrine at home some time - venison tartare, maybe a bit too much mustard in it, but was very good despite that with great texture from the chopped meat - beef cheeks, tongue, and marrow, each being quite awesome, though personally the gelatinous quality from the collagen in the cheeks made this really great - bbq pork belly, super flavorful and tender/melting bite - dark chocolate tart, very dark and accompanied by a delicious black cherry sauce The staff was also great, and we actually appreciated the somewhat loud atmosphere (perhaps exaggerated by the large group sitting next to us), since it made the squawking of our one-year old a bit less noticeable :) read more

This restaurant was my favorite restaurant during my entire trip to Ireland. The location is prime and right across from Trinity College. The staff was so friendly and we didn't have reservations but they were able to accommodate us anyway. I would recommend a reservation because they had to turn several people away right after us. I started with the potato soup served with bacon and sage oil. It was incredible! My friend got the pork belly which was so tender and cooked perfectly. I of course had to order the Shepard's pie. I am so glad I did because the presentation and taste were equally amazing! We also got dessert which arrived in a paper bag and you got to open it like a present! The cheesecake came served inside a jar which was so cute and tasted great! I am so happy we were able to eat here and by luck able to walk in on a busy weekend without a reservation. read more

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The food here was absolutely fantastic. Honestly the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because this is a tiny place that came highly recommended from friends, so I cancelled my dinner at a 2-Michelin star restaurant to do a more "personal" dinner here as the end to my honeymoon (as well as also my birthday on the same night). I'd emailed the restaurant telling them this -- but out of everywhere we'd been in 2-3 weeks in Scotland and Ireland, this was the only place that made zero effort to acknowledge the special event. We ended up sitting at a little table right in front of the bar/register, and it just wasn't the special occasion we'd hoped for. It was just a little disappointing as the end to our trip, especially considering the prices. The food was absolutely delicious, but it's the personalized experiences you usually remember, and this wasn't one of those. read more

Pigs Ear, I would very highly recommend, spent a lovely evening here - food of the highest quality. Not the most well known restaurant as i know very few that have heard of it...but hey maybe its just my circle! Not much breaking up the room, very woody, perhaps a little old fashioned but i guess a certain charm but definitely a decent atmosphere. Started with Black pudding salad, then pork belly then cheesecake - no complaints whatsoever and would definitely return. Lovely presentation. Girlfriend's Rib-eye steak seemed pretty fatty though, so stay away from that one! Anyway, I will definitely be returning to this spot...very nice indeed, though I hope the menu changes a little for next time as there wasn't that much jumping out if the belly of pork wasn't there! read more

People who say that there's no good food to be had in Dublin clearly haven't been to a place like The Pig's Ear. The cuisine here is meticulously crafted modern Irish food, made with the best local ingredients. The restaurant itself has multiple levels of small dining rooms, so there's an intimate feel but a good amount of seating overall. Which is a good thing, since it can be a popular place and challenging to get a reservation. As has been mentioned here before, the squash soup is a must during the summer months. Also highly recommended are the pork belly and beef cheek. Both are unbelievably tender and flavorful. Wine list is solid, leaning a bit heavily on French selections. Desserts list is rather short, but their take on the Black Forest cake was very good. Service was very attentive and friendly, with water and wine glasses never empty for very long before being refilled. Considering the overall quality of the meal, ambience and service, the price to value ratio here is very good. read more

I always give the benefit of the doubt when I have a bad experience at a restaurant, but I just want to give fair warning to anyone thinking of coming here with a similar situation to ours. We made a same-day reservation for 2 people at 9 PM on a Thursday. Our orders were taken within a few minutes of arriving. However, nobody poured us the glasses of wine we had ordered until we asked them to (about 10 minutes later). We then received bread and butter, and our appetizer (shared) arrived soon after. We were done with our appetizer by 9:30, at which point they took away our remaining bread as well. And then we waited...and waited...and waited. It was very warm in the dining room, so we started to get uncomfortable and asked for a glass of ice, which we kept putting into our water. We had been walking around all day and were very hungry, which probably added to our declining mood, but we did not receive our entrees until 10:30 PM. Not once within this foodless period did anyone ask us how we were doing, apologize for the long wait, or even acknowledge our existence. When we asked about the long wait, we were told that it was because a large group had ordered just before us. However, that barely excuses a 1-hour wait for two entrees without any apology. When our food arrived, it was simply average (my salmon was overcooked), and we just wanted to get out of the restaurant as soon as possible. The only redeeming part of this evening was that our wine was complimented and we received small desserts to-go as we rushed to leave. However, 5 minutes of kindness does not make up for an entire evening of bad service. I understand that circumstances can often be out of a server's control, but this situation could have been handled in a much better way, and we left feeling very frustrated with the entire experience. read more