This is my favorite restaurant in Dublin. I live in New York but on my trips to Ireland I always make a point of coming here. The space is a classy sort of rustic with a great bank of tall windows looking out over the river. The food is elegantly simple and never anything short of superb, the epitome of Modern European, a close cousin of New American cuisine. (Yeah the names are a little silly but what else CAN you call this food. ) I can't comment on the menu as it's fiercely seasonal and always changing but I can't recommend this place enough. read more

We've been here several times before and have always enjoyed it. It's a fabulous location with a great view over the ha'penny bridge if you're lucky enough to get a seat by the window. A bright airy room accessed via a steep, winding stairway, hence the name, so, be warned, not a place to bring your 90 year-old mother. Which is a pity because the food is excellent. We rocked up at 5.30 on a Friday evening for the pre-theatre, largely because we were going to the theatre (!). Two course or three course menu with limited but suffice to choice available at a very reasonable price. We both had the pate starter which my companion couldn't finish both because it was particularly rich and also a huge portion. We both also opted for the mullet which came on a bed of peas and was equally good. A nice bottle of Spanish Verdejo accompanied this excellent repast and prepared us for a night of high brow culture in the Abbey. Oh and do check out the bookshop downstairs. Well worth a browse. read more

The Winding Stair - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

Whoa, this is a marvelous place. So elegant and right near Temple Bar but far enough away from the noise and crowds. Had some incredible oysters and beer here. But ALL the food was phenomenal. read more

This delightful restaurant is over a bookstore, which is what drew me to this place to start with. The food is high-end and quite good. It's kind of a fancier place, and I did wish I had something other than blue jeans and a t-shirt on. I think a cuter top and jeans would have been fine. We got in without reservations, but it might be a good idea. The food is pricey, but worth it. The kitchen is open, and it's neat to see them creating plates of masterpieces inside. The service was terrific! Cheers! read more

Overall a great restaurant, with delicious food, a good wine list and courteous service. The food menu is extensive enough and includes a few vegetarian options - however, this is exactly why I'm not giving them the full five stars, some of these dishes can be disappointing especially comparing with the fish/meat courses. That being said, everything was quite hearty, even if very modernly prepared and presented, and the ingredients tasted fresh and honest. We booked a table and I'd recommend anyone to do the same, as this place is not that big and it gets packed fairly quick. It's a sober laid-back room and the atmosphere is cheerful but it never gets too noisy. The waiters were very amicable throughout the evening, even allowing us plenty of time between our main and dessert - we ordered dessert purely out of gluttony, so we had to find space for it in our belly. A very good dinning experience that I hope to repeat more often, I can only imagine how nice it must be to have lunch by the window here. It's slightly expensive but well worth it, perfect for a special night or small celebration. read more

We got a recommendation for the Winding Stairs from the nice people at Etto. So glad we went. My fiance had the poached eggs with salmon and I had the salmon breakfast. First the poached eggs were cooked perfectly. Seriously, I don't think I've ever seen better looking eggs. Second, my salmon was wonderful. The staff was lovely and attentive. It was fun seeing families there and the customers interaction with the staff. Try to grab a seat by the window because the view of the Liffey is worth going alone. read more

Friends routinely mentioned this place when I mentioned my travel plans to Dublin (I go quarterly for work), and it had been on my list for a while. I love their sister restaurant, The Woolen Mills, so I was excited to try The Winding Stair. The interior has the feel of a charming cafe crossed with an old farmhouse. Unfortunately we were given a spot right in front of the espresso machine, which ruined the vibe a bit for me. They probably should remove that two-top. I also found the service to be on the cold side. The wine list was fairly expansive for my experience with Dublin and can compete with spots like Luna, and has a range of prices, from 25-100+. Overall we found the food to be of quality but I might have enjoyed the experience a bit more had we not been crammed into a corner next to a screeching machine. read more

Very good Mussels and Lamb Dishes. Hope to go back soon to try other dishes!

We had diner here with my mother and my boyfriend. She was visiting the city for a few days so I wanted to take here in a nice place with local food, but not too traditional too since she did not have a very good souvenir of the food here. When we arrived, the restaurant was full so we were placed at the last table in the back of the restaurant, between the kitchen and the loo. I first thought it would be bad, but at last, we weren't bothered since the place is spacious enough, on the contrary, it was pretty cosy with the nice library right next to us and we were more quiet a bit appart of the other peoples in the restaurant. The service was really nice, the waiter even new a few words in french and translated us a few spices on the menu we did not know. I took the lamb, it was awesome, perfectly cook, tender, a bit crunchy on the top, the lentils and the mashed potatoes that came with were good too even if not exceptional. My mom wasn't feeling really good so she took the soup of the day which was potato and leak, absolutely delicious. And a second starter after that, the carpaccio, which is not exactly a normal carpaccio since it seems to be made of smoked meat ? I liked it, but the mushrooms on it weren't my favorite tho... My boyfriend took something of the daily special : lamb kidneys and liver, it was huge but he finished it since it was so good. The quantity in the plates are pretty big, and the food is awesome. I'd love to go back there, even if it was only for the soup. And very likely for the lamb too. read more

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This was a great ending to my trip in Ireland. Be sure to make reservations ahead of time (especially around theatre time, or on weekends)! We were turned away a number of nights due to a full house, but we were able to stop by late on a Tuesday night and snag a table for four. We were seated in a cozy table in front of a window with a gorgeous view of the bridge leading into Temple Bar area. Our server was engaging and attentive, far surpassing any of the already superb service we received at any restaurant in Ireland. Between the four of us, we all enjoyed (almost) every single dish we received. Food: - Doran's queen scallops, Ballinwillin black pudding and Gubbeen chorizo with potato pancake and sea-herb butter (€12.95) A perfect start to a perfect dinner! The scallops were perfectly cooked, with the best herbed butter pair. We opted out of the black pudding (which the chef so graciously obliged to, with a couple of jokes about us Americans), and we were offered more chorizo to make up for it. Definitely go for the scallops if you're looking for a light yet delicious starter. - Char-grilled 28 day dry-age Irish beef rib-eye steak with sticky onions, roasted garlic truffle butter and homemade chips (€28.00) GET THIS. Even if you have to share or eat ramen for the next week, this is definitely a dish you will not want to miss. The steak was so tender and well-seasoned that it almost melts in your mouth. The roasted garlic truffle butter was a little strong in my opinion, so I left it off my steak as I felt it was unnecessary for the overall dish. Also, homemade chips. Nuff said. - Nicholson's hand-smoked haddock, poached in milk with onions and white Cheddar mash (€24.95) I preferred the haddock over the hake, as it was a little lighter and paired well with the mash. My only complaint was that it was also very pale in color and didn't offer quite enough vibrancy for my eyes to feast upon. Although, when it tastes that good, I don't even bother with trying to take more pictures! - Doran's hake, nutty butter, brown shrimp, capers and almonds, baby leeks and champ (€27.50) I wasn't completely sold on the hake. Although coupled with brown shrimp, the taste didn't quite sit well with me. However, my other dining counterparts gobbled it all up! - Sticky pear and ginger cake with vanilla ice-cream (€6.95) This was the dish that was most disappointing to me! I was excited to try the pear and ginger "match made in heaven", but was sorely disappointed by the dryness of the cake and lack of flavor. The best part of the dessert was unfortunately the vanilla ice cream. - Bread and butter pudding with whiskey sauce (€6.95) Perfect dessert! If I were to do dinner all over again here, I would definitely opt for the bread and butter pudding. Best dessert on the menu! - White chocolate and cherry brownie with vanilla ice-cream (€6.95) Good brownie, but nothing spectacular. Ice cream is always good too. Dream Meal: Appetizer: Doran's Queen Scallops Main: Char-Grilled 28 Day Dry-Age Rib-Eye Steak Dessert: Bread & Butter Pudding read more

The Winding Stair - 28 Day Dry-Age Irish Beef Rib-Eye €28 - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

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Have to give this a 5 star. It just worked. The food was incredible. When you get a taste in your mouth when all the flavours gel together and its special. I had deep fried Camembert to start with a plum purée and turkey for main seems as it was Christmas. Their granny Murphys trifle was amazing that I wanted to meet her to get the recipe. The staff were friendly and informative. The only negative was that they didn't bring back the change when we paid. It was going to be their tip but they presumed it, but I didn't let it annoy me. Lovely surroundings looking out to the city. Will go again for sure. read more

Impressive dinner! I've heard about their pre-theatre menu and coming here later in the evening makes me want to come back. For my meal I went with a glass of red wine and - Potted Dingle Bay crab with toasted soda bread and organic leaves - Char-grilled 28 day dry-aged Irish Hereford beef striploin steak with sticky onions, roasted garlic truffle butter and homemade chips Both were excellent and the main course was huge! The steak was cooked a nice medium rare which was just how I liked it. Highly recommend for a nice, multi-course meal in Dublin. read more

The best Irish cuisine we had in Dublin. Very traditional, yet modern. The waiter was polite and helpful when it came to choosing an entree. His recommendations were spot on. The potted crab was nice, but enjoyed the brown bread that it was served with more. I had the a wonderful fish with chorizo and cockles. The fish skin was crispy and the fish moist. Just a beautiful dish that was seasoned well and cooked to perfection. The steak was wonderful and cooked to a perfect medium rare. The butter that the steak was dressed with was flavorful and really made the dish special. They have wonderful Irish beverages. For dessert we had the Guinness cake with ice cream. That cake was so moist and complex. You really need to close your eyes to enjoy it and focus on the flavors. I had a wonderful Irish strawberry wine. Just so aromatic, it was like standing in a sunny strawberry field. If you want real Irish food, come here. Try and make a reservation as the restaurant fills up fast and there are not a whole lot of tables. There are wonderful views of the river Liffey. The restaurant itself is cozy and romantic. It is also located right next to their bookshop. Try and stop by if you can, as they have great books and other cool things. read more

Mm mmm mm m mmmmmmm. I went for three courses here, which was a mistake I was happy to make as I had to be rolled down the winding stairs like a barrel. Ambiance - great, its a lovely homey little restaurant, cute, not over done. Food - amazing. I had the crab pot for a starter - as did three of us. The tast was fantastic, and I love butter, so the presentation didn't bother me, but some of my dining guests were a little put off by the pot of crab being sealed by a layer of butter - The idea being you spread butter on brown bread and top with crab - the taste amazing, the presentation could use a little work as the butter cap can be off putting to some. For my main I had venison cushion with pumpkin and potato mash. The venison was cooked perfectly, bright pink almost red (on medium rare order) inside. Delicate without being too gamey or chewy. Really fantastic sauce on the side. I thought the mash could have a higher pumpkin to potato ratio, but now I'm being picky. Other diners had the Christmas turkey special, which was very tatsty, the stead with chips - which was juicy and delicious, and the smoked haddock, which had a lovely smokey flavour and flaky consistency. Desserts we shared the rice pudding and the bread and butter pudding - both yummy, I ordered the rice pudding, but may have to put my vote with the bread and butter pudding. Would definitely go back as pretty much everything I put in my mouth I liked. read more

I have read a couple of mixed reviews on here but I have to say my experience in the Winding Stair was overhwhelmingly positive. I went on a Thursday at around 6pm and got to avail of the early bird menu. I got the crumbed parsnips to start which were nice but nothing dynamic. My friend got some smoked or cured salmon which was beautifully presented and he commented on how wonderfully fresh it tasted. My main was pollock and it was delectable, I really couldn't fault any aspect of this dish. I almost licked my plate clean it was all cooked to perfection and so tasty. I got the rhubard and orange mess for dessert which was fantastic and once again I had to stop myself from tongue-ing the glass. The setting of the Winding Stair is ideallic. I had a window view of the Ha'penny Bridge and the restaurant itself is so charming. The service was very attentive with the waiter checking in with us during every course with a genuinely friendly attitude. We had our table for 2 hours which was more than enough time to enjoy 3 courses. I would be happy to recommend this place to anyone, especially for the great value early bird menu. read more

One of the best meals I've had in the last 6 months in Dublin. The atmosphere was cool, relaxed and not stuffy at all. Even on a Monday night, the place was packed and had a good buzz. Our table of 4 ordered a couple appetizers, mains, a bottle of wine and a few desserts. I don't think there was a crumb left on anyones plate. With a great atmosphere, great food, great service and good wine, what's not to like? We will definitely be back here. read more

Diddlyichious - been twice and the food and drinks are great. Also, the close knit vibe is nice. And Yelp wants me to keep typing so that this doesn't go into the 'tip' section, so I'm just going to keep typing' and there we go, it hit enough to make the comments! read more

What a wonderful place! I had my birthday dinner here, and it delivered on every aspect. I started with a fish sampling plate that had two kinda of trout, gravlax, oyster pate and smoked scallops. This was absolutely great - I normally hate oysters, but these smoked oysters were just amazing. The same can be said for the scallops - they were as good as good gets. My main was a flatbread with Irish riccotta-style cheese. This was wonderful as well. I wanted the bread and butter pudding from the dessert menu, and was a little disappointed when I switched because the bread was very light. I was soon relaxed, we shared desserts at the table and I think i tried everything EXCEPT the bread and butter pudding. They were all tops. This is a great little restaurant, but very busy! Wonderful! read more

I had a big group here, and I thought it was a pretty good Dublin dining experience. We used the upstairs space for drinks before eating, and the service was attentive and friendly. The staff were also helpful advising on wine choices (which went down well) and timings etc. We moved downstairs for dinner, and the good generally went down really well. I had the crab claws to start, which were exceptional, and everyone else seemed to enjoy their other choices. The mains were slightly less-universally liked (my wild boar was a bit tough though everything else on the plate was great) but still pretty good. But what makes this place is its character and location - nice feel to the place inside and out. Without this, the food would leave it as definitely 3-star, but the whole experience bumps it up to a 4. read more

Great place. Great food. Great wine. Great service! For standard european, food is special but if you want to try something special and in an special area: try it! We had a smoked salmon as a starter. It was amazing! As a main we had the haddock: special but good! One word: great! read more

The Winding Stair - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

I was fortunate enough to be taken here by some visiting relatives recently. Unfortunately, we met at the restaurant and that meant that the key catchup time ran in to the key menu studying time. After only glancing at the menu for a moment, I ended up ordering fish and chips. Stop laughing. I know it was a mistake - once I had a chance to look at the menu(after lunch) I was annoyed that I did not try the lamb, sea bass or even the chicken. The fish and chips was fine, but I could have been at a 1,000 other places. Despite my ordering blunder, the atmosphere was great and I managed to glimpse(and order) a fine appetizer and dessert: pork belly pate starter and a strawberry rhubab crisp with Cinnamon ice cream - which were delicious.I look forward to going back, looking at the menu before I order and updating my review. read more

We enjoyed a meal of duck and Ms Adams Chicken, with desserts of bread and butter pudding and jubilee strawberries. In addition, our waitress gave us a couple of very good live music bar recommendations for later - so we wouldn't get caught up in the "tourist trap" Temple Bar area. Thanks for the great tips! read more

Great little spot that we never would have found without a recommendation from a friend. The service was cheery and attentive, there was a nice extensive drink list and overall reasonable prices. What blew me away was my entree. The haddock with homemade sauce over cheesy potatoes was exceptional. Can't wait to share the love and recommend this place for anyone I know visiting Dublin. Loved it! read more

The night I went to Winding Stair, I suffered a seafood coma and I loved it. We booked a reservation a week before (make sure you do, as you probably won't get a table the day of). Walking up the winding stairs into the cozy riverside interior, I really felt like I could drink and eat all night in here. We had the seafood chowder (£11) which was chock full of mussels and fish and came with Irish soda bread. This could have been a standalone meal, it was that filling and delicious. We also had the crab claw, avocado, grapefruit salad on toast (£13), odd but lovely combination of buttered crab, veg and fruit. We should have stopped at this, but we ordered the venison (£26) and mussels and clams (£24), all of which we couldn't finish because we were so full from starters. The venison was tenderly cooked and placed over simple, roasted veg, and the mussels and clams came with a crab mayo toast. I'm salivating. Stop me. read more

Gorgeous decor and okay...I cheated I read the yelp reviews before going to the restaurant and trying it for myself. Therefore, I must agree with the rest of the reviews that the Butter + Bread pudding is to die for! No joke, it orgasmic and you have to take turns watching everyone a your table try a piece. Just watch each face expression its that good! I also messed up by not ordering the HUGE bowl of mussels I saw come out of the kitchen. Someone try it! Tell us how it goes. read more

Very cute place above street level so you get a nice view of Dublin. Food was very fresh and innovative riff on tradition. We went twice on our visit to Dublin. read more

Hopefully this yelp review will help you if you're wandering around after a Jameson tour wondering where to go eat (because thats how I found this place). So there really air winding stairs going up to it. There is indeed a reason for the name. I got the Nutty crumbed Corleggy Halloumi with nectarine and green peppercorn chutney and something else with cheese on top (sorry I can't help you further). All I know it is was AMAZING! If you sit by the window, you get a great view of Dublin and the river. The staff is nice, the food is brilliant and the wine great. I highly recommend winding through! read more

Yum! In Dublin for only 5 hours following a concert outside the city - the restaurant seemed quite perfectly located for a bite before heading to the airport. We found the restaurant more by chance, looking for somewhere nearby to where we were walking in the rain - the trip there, though wet, was delightful as well given the number of independent book stores lining the street until reaching the restaurant. Once inside, we were lucky enough to grab a walk-in table. Though past the lunchtime rush, around 3PM, the ambiance was still lively and though we were tucked away from the windows - the water view was still somewhat visible from our table. For Brunch I had the Gubbeen chorizo rancheros' - Normally I'm adverse to having anything of this name outside the US Southwest - but after a quick chat with the waiter of assurance - it sounded too good to pass up. And it was delicious! With a bloody mary on the side and great service to boot (they offered to charge my dying phone behind the counter) - I would recommend to anyone passing through Dublin or staying for a couple nights. Since dining at The Winding Stair, I've recommended it to two separate groups heading to Dublin and both raved. Apparently also a hot spot for celebrities visiting town, you may find yourself face to face with an A-lister. read more

This place is COOL. If it were in a city I lived in, I would frequent it as much as I could afford to. It was a bit tricky figuring out if they were open or not --it is not obvious from the outside of the building. Their chalk board had been wiped and wasn't on the sidewalk. You have to go up a flight of stairs to get in (super inaccessible if you have mobility issues) but it became very clear as soon as we opened up the door at the top of the stairs that they were open for business. It is very loud. If you do not like noisy restaurants, this is not the place for you. It is very crowded. If you are a very large person or claustrophobic, this is probably not the place for you. Who is it for? Wine snobs and foodies who like a boisterous setting. The service was great, the decor and ambience are welcoming but fancy at the same time, food was delicious, portions were large, location central...It isn't for everyone but it was certainly right up my alley. read more

Winding Stair was one of the best restaurants we went to in Ireland. It attracts both locals and tourists who want good Irish ingredients but who don't want yet another plate of fish and chips. The menu has fresh, local ingredients that are prepared in simple ways. Some standouts were the cockles and mussels, smoked fish plate, and heirloom tomato salad. Lots of dining options outside of the typical meat and potatoes you get everywhere in Ireland. The restaurant is small, but very cosy and you feel like you are in a friend's living room. Service is fantastic. Make reservations because it fills up quickly. read more

I was really impressed by The Winding Stair, where I went for dinner with my boss and a group of foreign colleagues/partners. We sat upstairs at the top of the restaurant. And I got lucky enough to get the seat by the window, so totally got to appreciate the views of the river. Because of our group size, we had a set menu with loads of choice. I started with the cottage cheese with watercress, pickled pear and a lovely syrup for dressing. I scooped it all up with the little onion seed stick (not sticks as per the menu!). Great start to the meal. I then had the rib-eye steak with sticky onions and garlic truffle butter. The steak was cooked perfectly and served with loads of chips. Delicious, but didn't see much of the onions and the butter just looked like butter. Still, there was a clean plate by the time the waiter came by! For dessert, I got to sample all three of the options including the chocolate fondant, which was a bet dry (isn't the centre supposed to ooze??) and then the sticky pear and ginger cake, which was ok. But, but, the bread and butter pudding was AMAZING. Loved it. And they gave me such a big slice, I couldn't finish it. I also enjoyed the sauce, which was all toffee, but not much whiskey as far as I or any of my dinner peeps could tell. Still, an enjoyable evening. Lovely wine, lovely food, lovely staff. I'm glad I got this opportunity to eat there. read more

The Winding Stair - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

The best place we ate on our trip. Great service. Food was AWESOME Highly recommend

The perfect combination of food and books. After you purchased your books in this Dublin literary institution, why not spend your lunch at the restaurant upstairs. Or, instead of buying dessert you may wander around the 2nd hand section of the bookshop (which is not big, so there's not much for browsing here). Always great for a chat in the bookshop & delicious food in the restaurant upstairs. It now belongs (together with the restaurant) to the Thomas Reads-group, which fortunately seems to have no influence on the bookshop itself. read more

Fantabulous dinner ... tucked upstairs over charming bookstore. Simply exquisite food, lovely service. A must do in Dublin ... read more

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Simply amazing!!! Wonderful atmosphere and deliciously comforting food. We loved everything about this place. read more

The Winding Stair - Pea and mint soup with dark bread... Glorious!!! - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

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People talk about the book store downstairs, but honestly, I didn't even see it. It's very much a restaurant up a not particularly winding flight of stairs. The space is nice and modern, befitting the modern take on classic Irish fare. Based on what I read I was expecting to like the Pig's Ear more, but it ended up being the other way around. We started off with an excellent black pudding appetizer and a plate of different smoked fishes that was generous and delicious. For an entree I got the pork belly with colcannon. The pork belly was juicy and tender, but the crispy skin was chewy like chewing gum. It was tasty, fatty, porky chewing gum, but it stuck to my teeth and was hard to get off. The colcannon, though, was terrific, nice creamy potatoes matching the nutty, bitter greens. While I liked the food, the local craft beers from Porterhouse left a lot to be desired. Not sure what I was expecting, but I would've rather had Guinness. It was a solid meal overall, I'd go back. read more

Decent Option. This place was pretty good. The charcuterie plate was pretty awesome to start. I got a breaded chicken with duck fat potato and kale meal and it was pretty good - the chicken was great, but the potatoes were not fully cooked - which was disappointing. Service was good. Atmosphere was casual but nice. read more

I called as soon as they opened to get a nightly reservation for a view by a window overlooking the Ha' Penny bridge. We did not get a window seat so that's that. The food and drinks were great and the service was very professional We had a voucher to go here thru Brendan Vacations read more

Phenomenal food, staff, atmosphere and overall experience. This team clearly knows what they're doing, they obviously like it and it shows. The menu is a reflection of Ireland and I highly recommend anyone looking for delicious food come try The Winding Stair. read more

Wow. Amazingly fresh vegetables and seafood. A very comfortable restaurant with an attentive staff.Located on the second floor above their bookstore. Exceptionally quaint. The very best locally sourced seafood chowder/soup. Exceptional amount of seafood. read more