Great find, it far exceeded our expectations. Large portions and each dish was better than the next. BYO but a small wine list is available. The staff was lovely, definitely recommend. read more

The Vintage Kitchen - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

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We managed to get lucky and got a table via phone reservation earlyish on a Friday evening. The welcome upon entering was happy & friendly and what a cosy atmosphere this place has. Food wise this place hits the spot for quality, tasty, well presented delicious food. We had the seafood chowder (sumptuous & filling) and cod brandade with endive leaves (absolutely yummy & filling too), followed by lamb shank with baked potato & large carrot and fillet of beef accompanied by Cajun & black sesame seed covered new potatoes with mushrooms in a cheesy sauce - everything was so full of flavour, we were absolutely so full afterwards we couldn't even look at the desert menu - we'll leave that for another visit. We bought the house red wine which was a nice Cotes du Rhône and went down a treat. All in all a great find and we'll be back !! read more

I find it so hard to fault this place, and from reading other peoples reviews I think they feel the same. Albeit the place is a little squashed and it can feel you're sitting right beside the table next to you, the atmosphere, the staff and the food are flawless. I've never been here for lunch before, and again, I wasn't disappointed. The portions are huge, so go hungry, luckily I didn't have breakfast, so was able to the monstrous portion of the lamb shank. Just melt in your mouth stuff. My friend had the haddock risotto, again, massive portion. It would have been rude not to order dessert, and again, I opted for the chocolate dessert topped with vanilla ice cream, just delicious. My friend had the tropical fruit sorbet with pistachio nut oil that came served in 4 little jars. Sweet, refreshing and just hit the spot. As advised, you really do need to book this place, as I know it's mega busy for dinner, but just as jam packed for lunch. read more

The food in here was so delicious and tasty. The lamb was to die for and the pate and deserts were amazing too. The bring your own drink was the best thing about here AND with no corkage, but it probably does make you drink more than you should. The craic was better for it though. Everyone seemed to be enjoying their time and you could even bring in your remaining pint from the pub next door. The waiter wrecked my head saying "Brillo " the whole time. But I have to have a little moan somewhere in my review. Can't wait to go back but will have to plan in advance, as there are only a few tables so the wait is a few weeks. read more

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Well after 2 long months waiting for our booking....it finally came and the excitement was unprecedented...after all the good vibes i've heard!! Found the place easy enough the only downside was the decor.....it was a little café looking rather than the fabulous restaurant I've been hearing so much about but that's could be the fact it was initially a pop-up and is now a pop-down!! But that is only a minor issue. Once we were in, seated, we were handed our menus. The guy who came and took our order was a real character....he animatedly gave us a detailed breakdown of the menu, what and everywhere the food came from. Orders were placed and the food arrived very quickly. The food was amazing and probably portions that are a little bigger than i planned. Being in the company of a chef, we waited with baited breath to hear his thoughts.....and he gave it 2 thumbs up. For €28 for 2 courses + no corkage + amazing food = incredibly, amazing, awesome night!! HINT: book early......well worth the wait!! read more

The Vintage Kitchen - My starter.... Or the girlie salad!! It was dinner - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

Their service was so exceptionally friendly, I had to add a star. Our server was efficient and personable, making recommendations and being really engaged the entire time making sure we had everything we needed. The food alone was good, but not amazing. I started with the wild pink prawn risotto - this was very tasty and packed with shrimp! The portion size was so generous, it honestly could have been a main course. I really enjoyed this, but my only negative comment about it would be that it wasn't a great example of risotto. There was no texture in the rice and it was so soupy it reminded me of more of a chowder. However, it was delicious nonetheless and I would order this again. For my main, I had the roasted salmon with crispy cod fish cake. Again, very generous portion size and tasty, but my salmon was just a bit over-cooked and the cod cake was a little too salty. It wasn't bad, but just didn't quite pull together for me. We took advantage of the BYO and my friend brought a lovely bottle of German Riesling. We still had wine left after the food was finished, so I asked for some blue cheese to round off our meal. They not only brought us a serving of blue cheese, but didn't even charge us the supplement that would normally be charged for a full cheese plate. It was so nice - the level of service here is unquestionably sharp and I liked the food enough to visit again. Note: they are VERY busy, so do make reservations well in advance if you intend on going! read more

The Vintage Kitchen - Wild pink prawn risotto - PACKED with prawns in every bite - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

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The main guy running the front of the house (perhaps the owner?!) was super energetic and just a sly salesman who works his audience to take his "specials" that don't have a list price. So, based on if he likes you or not he'll charge whatever he pleases. Generally we were fine to take the recommended and we're having a good time except the hostess gave us an attitude when we showed up for lunch seemingly because we didn't have a reservation. We responded that we didn't have a reservation and she looked around like it was difficult to find a table (hardly anyone seated when we arrived or even after we were seated for a while). That was not a big deal but when we were ready to pay she ignored us and when the owner mentioned to have her get the check for our table she just started doing other things and didn't do anything. At that point the owner came over and basically stated how much are you going to tip us, with his hands leaning on our table. So we basically were charged more and were forced into giving them a tip out of pressure. Overall we've loved Ireland and every place we've visited but this place takes the cake for a scam restaurant who will give you a show of hyped up salesmanship who cares more about themselves than their guests. I know, I know, if you've been there you may have had a great experience but if you are an American (or just anyone who catches them in the right mood) them just watch out to be pressured into their secret specials for an extra bill and a forceful tip. Hate that place...giving the amazing Irish we've met a bad name. Shameful. By the way, the food was actually okay (nothing amazing). And it was a good bit to eat, even though it took a long time to get our entrees (not just us but everyone). Go for a show if you wish but be forewarned if you're the unfortunate one to get their bad side. For me, it was a waste of time and money. read more

My colleague and I were lucky to get a last minute table in this gem of a restaurant in Dublin. It's a small space that's turning out unpretentious, seriously well-considered and locally sourced food. The smoked haddock chowder is worth flying from New York to eat and the lamb shank takes slow-cooked comfort to a crazy-good new level. Bravo to chef and staff for making honestly great food. If you are planning a trip to Dublin, and love good food, The Vintage Kitchen is a must! read more

The Vintage Kitchen - Smoked Haddock chowder - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

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Five stars for this special spot in the heart of Dublin! We started with the risotto - just the right texture, with cheese from heaven and fresh tomatoes. My main course was poussin - moist, unique sides, adorned with a crispy rice ball that I wanted to sneak out in my pocket. The real star of the Vintage Kitchen was the staff. I asked our waiter if he owned the place, convinced that his knowledge and passion must mean stock. Little things, like loading up more and more Parmesan crisps when my family snagged my sister-in-law's tasty garnish. A special experience, and at 28 euro for two courses, a reasonable treat. read more

The Vintage Kitchen - Poussin with tomatoes, crispy rice ball, some ham cake thing. Who cares, really? Don't worry, just eat it. - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

This was my 2nd visit to the kitchen. I came because I had a good meal the 1st time around, although its been almost 2 yrs. I tired to book a table for 3, over 2 weeks earlier and to their credit, they followed up and called me in the US to get me a table for 3. We had a 630 sitting for 3 men. When we got there we were given a table in front of the window next to the entry door. I had the chair against the wall, my mates had one in the middle and my other friend faced me across the table. Unfortunately for my table mate his back was in the way of the entry door and EVERY time someone came or went it was an abrupt door to the back of his chair. I felt really bad for him, as it made his meal very unpleasant. The table was appx 2' X 3'. This table was cluttered with glasses and a faux candle grabbing precious table space. My friend next to me suggested removing everything unnecessary on the table to make room for the dishes to be served. Fortunately this table had a small ledge along the widow that we had to use for glasses and other dish ware & bread. Simply put no matter where you sat in the restaurant the space was sparse and tables meant for 2 had 3 dinners, and though it seemed better at the tables for 4 dinners, even that was tight. I am used to a table size the VK puts 4 people on with 2 people. My friend made a comment that the food better make up for this. I mean this was tight, really ridiculous to put 3 people, aside from 3 grown men at a table tight for 2 people. It had an adverse effect on our meal, and my friend whose back was slammed into THROUGHOUT the meal (unintentionally) shoulda been paid to eat in that spot. As for the meal it was good, not as I remember, which brought me back. I had started with the duck liver creme, served in a jar with pistachios. I was looking for something approaching a pate, this was too creamy, too many pistachios and wasn't too appealing, bland & lacking taste. I next I had a risotto with chorizo. It was good, a little spicy, a good amount of chorizo, different & not bad. For my main I had the lamb shank, it was good & I enjoyed it, tender & as advertised. As for the service, very friendly, attentive, though with a tiny table, we had to summon the waiter to remove dishes that were finished simply to have a bare minimum amount of room on the table. Overall with a larger table I would rate the Vintage Kitchen a 3-4 stars. The table was so bad it made for a REALLY BAD dinning experience, for my 2 mates & myself. I might add though this is only my 2nd rating on Yelp, I have many reviews on the 'other' site. As a 32 yr airline pilot and living 1/2 my life on the road, living in hotels and restaurants, domestically and internationally I believe I have objectivity & experience to write an honest review of the type. My suggestion to the owners of the Vintage Kitchen is find a bigger space with larger tables or just get larger tables, & never ever put 3 people alone 3 men on those tiny tables. This is like a kid who has all the potential & doesn't live up to it. It detracts from a very nice product you deliver. read more

Hmm. Beautifully presented, very tasty food for extremely good value. Two courses for €25, no corkage. This review marking is more of a 3.7 than a 4, but I didn't really feel it warranted a 3. Complicated huh? That feeling embodies my thoughts on the Vintage Kitchen! As I said, the food was really very lovely - I had a crab and code starter which was divine, and sirloin steak for main with little chat potatoes and bacon & horseradish slaw. We also got served warm sourdough bread while we were perusing the menu, that came with a homemade mustard. Really fantastic food, and presented in an extremely artful and 'high class' way. Now for the down points. The decor is not at all what I expected. 'The Vintage Kitchen' conjures up images of cosy retro prints, quirky styling and old fashioned charm. Actually what you get here is a bit of a cafeteria style vibe - an open and loud kitchen, uncomfortable and squashy seating, bright lighting, and old-fashioned decor, in a non-quirky way! The restaurant also talks about the fact that guests are encouraged to bring their own vinyl to play on the record player - again I had pictured a beautiful wooden 70s piece of equipment out on the floor ready to be played. Actually it's an old 90's hifi that's in the kitchen, and in fact, the music was so low you could hardly hear it anyway. Service also was efficient and brisk. Nothing more, nothing less. There was no smile to greet us with when we entered the restaurant, and we actually waited a good 10-15 minutes before being approached after having sat down. I'm torn. I think this place has massive potential to be one of my favourite places to eat in town, but I think they need more than the food to achieve this. You'd be hard pressed to get a booking less than a week or two in advance though, so perhaps I'm the only one who thinks so. I would love to hear other people's thoughts on it! read more

Lovely small restaurant with good food. The portions are huge, the starters could be mains. The food is cooked perfectly & even though the menu is small, there is a wide range of food. There is a huge waiting list though, you will have a 9 month + wait for a weekend table read more

The Vintage Kitchen - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

I should be grateful. This was the best food we had in Ireland, and we managed to slip in without a reservation. (As luck would have it, another couple didn't show up.) The goat cheese was superb and the lamb sublime. I wasn't impressed with the beef, but my girlfriend loved it, and they were happy to box up what she couldn't finish. (The portions here are enormous.) So why just three stars? The wait between our first and second course was quite long -- understandable given the small kitchen, but we lost most of our appetite in-between. Also, the dining area feels very rushed -- this is not a relaxing experience by any means. Most importantly, this was the second time in Ireland that I asked to be charged in Euros, was instead charged in US dollars using a terrible exchange rate, and then had to argue with the server about what transpired. What scam is this?? I'd be fine if the staff admitted it was a mistake, but to insist otherwise when the receipt clearly shows what happened is insulting. It was an extra $6.50 in the end, and had me leaving with a scowl. read more

Great find in Dublin 2. Next door to Mulligans on Poolbeg St (one of my favorite Dublin pubs). The BYOB policy is handy in ensuring a certain amount of control and decorum is maintained during the evening, any booze excess aspirations are limited. The space itself has a cosy (yes it is small), mix and match feel which you would expect with a name like the Vintage Kitchen. The food is excellent, very fresh ingredients with tasty flavour combinations. I did have a case of food envy when my dining partner ordered the delicious melting lamb shank and I made a bad choice with the duck breast. This was served pink and a bit on the tough side for me. However the disappointment of the duck was quickly forgotten about with one of the best cheese platters I have had in a long time. The service is excellent, friendly and casual but attentive, you will feel well looked after. One thing to be aware of, apparently we had fluked a last minute booking so if you do wish to venture into the Vintage Kitchen at the weekend you may need to book a month in advance, unless you manage to do a Pharell on it and Get Lucky. read more

Please plan to experience Irish food here when you are in Dublin. We love the food, people, intimate venue, and amazing service. The food is cooked by one of the best chefs I have been to in all my restaurant experience. Two courses are around 25€ and are well worth it. We made reservations a few days in advance and were lucky to get in. I think there are only 10 tables here so it is small and the tables are reservation only. Locals know this but we were thankful to read about it online before we left the States. Each item we ordered was perfect. To start we had a smoked haddock stew dish with the best balance of savory and hearty.. and so fresh. We also had my favorite which was a risotto of panchetta which was cooked perfectly and so creamy. For seconds we had the strip loin and lamb shank. The sides of potatoes and carrots were perfect as well. The experience was complete since we were seated in the back and watched the chef make all his creations. The experience here is absolutely an art. read more

This place is incredible but be prepared to make a reservation well in advance. At least two months. It's very small inside with limited tables so it fills up fast. The food is a 12/10 and the service is too. Highly recommend! read more

if you are traveling to Dublin, Ireland, be sure to make your reservations here two months before you will not regret it. We started with a cod and shrimp risotto on top of a lettuce leaf. My mouth just starts to water just thinking about it. I had the most delicious lamb shank for my main. The meat came off the bone so easily and just melts in your mouth. You definitely want to wash it down with a nice red wine, preferably a Pinot noir. Thank you so much for having us as thank you our guest. It made our trip to Ireland a very memorable one. Your hospitality is just incredible. read more

I have been to this restaurant a few times but have consistantly felt underwhelmed while my fellow diners loved it. The reason: the two vegetarian options for appetiser and main course are swimming in goats cheese and blue cheese.It's a heavy meal and it would be nice to have a bit more variety. I love cheese but there's just too much here! Service here is phenomenal though in fairness and it's byo. read more

My daughter and I walked in and there was literally not a soul in the place. We were told that since we didn't have reservations we could not be seated. Again, not a soul in the place. If reservations are an absolute necessity I really wish that was clear on sites like this read more

Perfect is all I have to say! The food was just superb! A gem in the middle of nowhere ! The place was so cosy and the service was amazing ..! read more

Been wanting to try The Vintage Kitchen out for quite some time! Managed to book a table for a New Year's Eve celebration lunch and OMG just wow! I can see why you have to wait months to get a weekend dinner table here!! The Vintage Kitchen is a BYOB restaurant... We chose to bring two bottles of Australian red wine - Torbreck (Barossa Valley) picked up in O'Briens in Blanchardstown Centre. Well well worth the €30 per person for a three course lunch plus tea / coffee. Starter - Chicken liver crime, pistachio crumble, spiced apple chutney and toast, Main course - Salmon with Cajun rice, mussels and caviar, Dessert - Half baked chocolate cake... Will try return for dinner next time! read more

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Our last night in Dublin was spent here. To begin, Heavenly wicklow duck liver cream, with pistachio toast. Donegal haddock chowder. Rich creamy and full of big pieces of fresh haddock. Also paid extra for a third starter as we couldn't decide, was a Wild Pink Prawn Risotto. Perfect texture, each bite was delectable. Entree's, Sirloin Beef Rare with Bone Gravy was perfectly cooked and devoured. Organic Salmon with Dijon Sauce i ordered medium Rare was perfectly cooked and the sauce was a perfect balance of dijon. Dessert, Cheese Plate Lovely evening. Excellent Service. Dreamy foods. We did have to wait about 20 minutes for our table. However i do not mind when it comes to a friendly attentive staff who immediately made us feel comfortable. The food was creative and fresh, and dinner was the highlight to a lovely evening. read more

If you look up "Irish hospitality" in the dictionary you'll see a picture of the man who runs the house at this place. The service is amazing and the food is wonderful. They do a 2 or 3 course menu for dinner and the price for quality makes it a deal. Be warned that the portions sizes are massive so come hungry! We thought we'd do three courses but only made it through two and couldn't eat another bite. The only negative here is comfort. It's a tiny place and I felt a bit like a hot sardine - It's not the type of place you want to sit and linger. Other advice: Call ahead for a reservation because as stated before - this place is tiny and reservations are essential unless you get lucky and someone cancels. Also, remember to bring your own wine! read more

Best food we have had in Ireland, France, Holland or Belgium. The chowder was incredible. We had our little girl with us and they were very accommodating. Be sure to get reservations. read more

This restaurant was an absolute surprise. I'm visiting from San Francisco. I was wandering around Temple bar and pulled up yelp and found this place. It is the best meal that I've had if I was to include all restaurants in San Francisco. I had the Hake as well as the prawn risotto. Absolutely excellent! read more

I went for lunch on a Wednesday with a couple of out of town guests. They were kind enough to put us up, though we were cutting it close as the table we used has a reservation coming in less than an hour. The service was great - not too desperate, but not neglectful. We always had plenty of water, and our meals were served HOT HOT HOT. I got the seafood chowder and it absolutely blew me away. The portion was HUGE and it came with delicious grain bread and a lovely pesto of some kind. My friend got the beef lunch, which was basically a lot of meat and a lot of veg, he couldn't even finish! Did I mention lunch was only about 10 quid!? I know this place is a BIG dinner spot, but definitely check it out for lunch, you will not regret it. This place is a bit hidden, and not well marked, so be sure to check it out on a map first. It's definitely a hidden treasure. And on a nice weather day, the sun shines directly into the place and makes it so cozy and bright! read more

The Vintage Kitchen - The presentation was great, the food was EXCELLENT! Can't wait to try dinner here! - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

There are some restaurants that are just about the food. And some that are all about the atmosphere. The Vintage Kitchen is about both. Yes, it's small and intimate. Yes, you probably should make a reservation. Will you regret it? NEVER! My husband and I were visiting Ireland and a friend from Dublin insisted we eat here. I'm SO GLAD we listened. Everything about our dinner here was fantastic. They were able to give us a last minute reservation for dinner and though we flew in jet lagged and exhausted, we were determined to push through and have a great meal. The food was so delicious and the service was so wonderful that we quickly forgot our fatigue and just suddenly felt so happy to be in Ireland. I think it was the best possible way to start our trip! The meal itself was outstanding--and very generously portioned. Everyone around us was drooling over their own entrees as well. We definitely overate because it was so scrumptious. Plus, the host/manager was so fantastic. He had so many tables laughing and enjoying themselves and was a big part of making us feel so thrilled to be there. It was just one of those meals that will be very memorable for us ... and we're grateful that we had the experience. p.s. I saw a review below that said "The smoked haddock chowder is worth flying from New York to eat" and I'll second that ... it's worth flying from Los Angeles for! read more

Went there in the afternoon around 1 , still a lot of people , really suggest to book in advance. The food is very nice , and the atmosphere is great .the space is a bit small , but the food is very delicious. Lamb shank is excellent. read more

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Had the chowder to start - what a huge portion for 6 euros! And delicious. Don't worry that the word Cajun is used in the title. It's well flavored, not spicy. The lamb shank and fish pie were our entrees. Fantastic flavor. My only regret was we could not take our leftover fish pie to go ( no containers) and the portion was so large I had to leave more than half. Outstanding top quality food, tremendous waitstaff and a great meal experience. read more

Wow first time here and didn't know what to expect. Nice friendly servers , welcome and as we all know bring ur own drink. Git prawn risotto for starters was amazing best ever Lamb for mains lovely , really nice Just can't fault this place small , great food and service , you have to try here ! read more

Been trying to get a reservation here for ages with no success. Until now. We got a table on a Monday night at 6 to be gone by 8. We were greeted by the enthusiastic and effusive maitre d/owner/waiter/genuine all round bon vivant. We were seated by the window and the menu quickly explained. It is a prix fixe arrangement for 2 or 3 courses. Despite being warned that dishes were huge and sharing was advisable, we jumped right in ordering three starters and mains for my small appetite female companions and myself. I ordered the chowder for starter which was fabulous, plenty of meaty smoked fish and mussels. Truly a meal in itself. I followed this by a surf and turf special which was equally good and massive. Male pride ensured I ate it all while my companions took at least 50% of their mains home with them to savour again the following night. They have a BYOB policy which is great for keeping costs down although it's by no means expensive to start with. We brought a good white and a better red with us. To be sure, to be sure. They also encourage customers to slip next door into Mulligans for creamy pints to accompany dinner if that's your thing. Go. It's brilliant but book - possibly way in advance but worth the wait. And don't be late either. A no-show table was given away to a lucky walk-up 15 minutes after the reservation time. And proper order too. We will be back. Definitely. read more

Excellent food, good service, fell at the last hurdle with a poor cheese plate. We wanted to try VC and got a table last night, the format is pretty straightforward 25 for two courses, no availability for just a main course at dinner. I chose a starter and a main, X chose a main and a desert. X had a glass of house red, a Cote de Rhone, which was very good. For a starter to share we had the smoked Haddock with smoked bacon and cherry tomatoes, very good, not to smoky, nice un-dyed haddock. X had the steak, which was well cooked, lots of flavour, maybe a little bit tough. I had the cod with mussels and a bouillabaisse sauce which was excellent, nice kick in the sauce. We shared a cheese plate as a dessert, and I'm afraid this is where it went a bit wrong. The cheese was bland and boring. Could do much better. Service was good throughout. A nice evening rather spoilt by poor cheese, shame. read more

This is without doubt among my favourite restaurants in Dublin. Just delicious food, wholesome Irish produce, cooked well and with thought and care. The two sittings are for 2 hours maximum but it's a small and cozy spot, really best suited to 2 diners per table, so this amount of time is perfect. The lamb shank is amazing and melt in your mouth. I was so full after the starter and main that I had to turn down dessert, which I virtually never do!! I look forward to going back again sometime and having dessert. Another big plus is their BYOW policy, which is fantastic, as long as you choose a minimum of 2 courses from their set menu - €25 per person. read more

The Vintage Kitchen - Melt in your mouth lamb shank main - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

Oh Purleeeease ! Dublin has so much better to offer than this place ! They've created a buzz with their reservation system but the 'cool' space doesn't make up for the overpriced ( if ok) food, the amateur fake 'begorrah' style service and their unacceptable way of turfing out do they can squeeze in the next ( mostly tourist) unlucky souls. Don't encourage them read more

This is a small restaurant with a very cozy atmosphere. The host who greeted me couldn't of been more friendly and welcoming. The food here is very good. I got the prawn risotto for a starter and the shrimp were delicious and cooked perfectly as was the risotto. My main was the lamb shank with roasted potatoes and carrots. It was well prepared if a bit on the salty side. I highly recommend that you bring your own wine or beer as their offerings are very limited and not very good. read more

The Vintage Kitchen - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

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I had the pleasure of retuning to Vintage for the three course Christmas lunch. Absolutely brilliant. The food was stunning. The staff were very attentive again and very relaxed. Everyone in my group had great things to say about all their courses. The highlight was the leg of lamb which was like butter and my desert to follow was delicious. A half backed chocolate cake. Delightful meal in a delightful little restaurant. read more

Went here for my birthday dinner on 2/1/16 - a table for 9... 5 star- Fantastic customer service! The nicest chowder I've ever had, delicious pork belly, and to die for half baked chocolate cake! BYOW and free corkage - amazing!! Reasonable prices and perfect portions! Everyone should try this place- top class! read more

The Vintage Kitchen - Pork Belly with black pudding & basil potatoes - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

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No room at the inn. Have no idea if they are good or bad but they seemed quite excited to let me know they had no room for my business. Good riddance to you. No restaurant lasts very long and your days are numbered. Thanks for being such jerks. read more

I have eaten in some of the finest and well known food establishments across the world. Think the likes of Burger King in Leicester Square London, Pizza Hut in the Arndale Manchester, Taco Bell in an unknown location somewhere on a drunken night in NYC, Kentucky Fried Chicken on Westmoreland Street, Claire's Pizzeria (now takeaway only)in Clondalkin Village and Leo Burdocks in Howth. But the fare on offer in The Vintage Kitchen is in an entirely different bloody stratosphere. My fine lady friend and I were in celebratory mood as it was the anniversary of the day of her birth. We arrived at the charming Vintage Kitchen slightly early, so went next door to Mulligans Pub (as authentically Dublin as a syringe point robbery, highly recommended) to have a drink and wait for our table. I spilled a bit of my Heineken when cheers'ing my darling, but think I got away with it, and nobody slipped or hurt themselves on the small pool of errant lager that had inadvertently sprung forth from my bottle. When we returned to the Vintage Kitchen we were greeted warmly by our waitress and offered a selection of tables to sit at. Being the experienced, sophisticated restaurant folk we are, we wisely opted for the seat next to the bathroom as it had the most legroom and afforded us a view of the chefs at work. Sadly, I had injured my shoulder tying my shoes the day previously, so couldn't really turn around to experience the view, but my girlfriend certainly enjoyed it. The menu arrived and we were truly spoiled for choice. After much deliberation (and questions about what risotto actually is) I ordered the Risotto of chili, roasted red pepper, prawns, with garlic & soft herbs. My #cleaneating obsessed lovely ladyfriend opted for the Boilie log Goats cheese, caponata salad, grilled plum tomatoes, with lemon dressed salad leaves. My risotto was simply divine, and my ladyfriend enjoyed her salad, though seemed confused about how to eat the bread that accompanied it. American's huh? For our mains we both chose the Slaney river Slow roasted lamb shank, pancetta & caramelised onions, sautéed root vegetables & treacle gravy with sautéed potatoes. My girlfriend had previously made noises about trying vegetarianism, but after this meal I imagine she will think twice! The lamb shank was roasted to perfection. It fell of the bone when forked and was melt in the mouth delicious. The pancetta and caramelised onions were divine (we both agreed we would have ate them on their own if possible!) and even the vegetables were positively delicious. I'm not usually one for vegetables, so it's very hard for me to admit that! Our stomachs were both engorged with food,so after a few minutes we agreed to split a desert instead of ordering one each. The desert we chose (Half baked chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream) was a gooey delicious treat and the perfect way to round off our sumptuous dining experience. Every staff member we encountered was lovely too, from the friendly waitress to the good natured bald headed manager lad who didn't turn his nose up at our cheapo bottle of wine! The Vintage Kitchen is the finest dining establishment I've ever had the fortune to stuff my face at, and look forward to doing so again soon and for many years to come. 5/5!! read more

I've eaten here twice now, once for lunch and once for dinner. COST: Very, very reasonable, especially when you consider there is a BYOB policy WITHOUT CORKAGE! SURROUNDINGS: Not bad, pretty plain and simple with a mish mash of vintage items. Not very well put together, but equally it is not bad either. Its cosy and small and even though the tables are close together it is surprisingly private STAFF: Both times I found the staff friendly, helpful and they seemed to have a real joy for working in the place and genuinely appreciating their customers MENU CHOICE: Lots of choice but not too much. Something for everyone BOOKING: Impossible to get tables without booking for both lunch and dinner. However I reckon if you went in for a late lunch at about 2 or 3 you would easily be accommodated without a booking FOOD: For lunch I ordered the chowder and I was blown away. I am obsessed with chowder and am often disappointed, but not at the VC. I had also ordered a lamb shank for mains. I was horrified when I saw the size of the chowder. It was huge. I wanted to eat every scrap of it but felt I couldnt because I simply would not have been able to eat the main which I couldnt really cancel. The main was also huge. Over all The portions of food are too large, even for my husban who is a big man with a big appetite. If youre having lunch and if youre having the chowder, dont have anything else. I wasnt overly impressed by the dessert. In fact I found the chocolate dessert too sweet and lacking chocolate flavour and the fruit crumble too sharp Dinner, yet again could not resist the chowder. Its different every time. This time myself and my husband shared a chowder and so were both able to eat our mains no problem. I had ribeye. The best thing about the main was this little pot of spring onions and bacon in a kind of a creamy sauce. I can honestly say it is one of the best things I have ever eaten. It was the star of the dish! Again I was disappointed by the dessert. I didnt order one beccause I really was disappointed at my previous lunch. However my husband ordered dessert, cant even remember what it was. I had some of course but was glad I hadnt ordered one myself. OVERALL I ENJOYED THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE AND I WILL CERTAINLY BE RETURNING. IT IS GREAT VALUE, GREAT SERVICE, GENERALLY GOOD, GOOD FOOD AND THE CHOWDER IS TO DIE FOR. I WOULD GO THERE DAILY FOR THAT ALONE! read more