I loved our waiter, he was knowledgeable and passionate and straight-forward but clearly loved their product. We had a yam dish for a starter with dill and some sort of soft cheese and it was perfect. I had the poached haddock, it was cooked beautifully and so flavourful, and very filling. Really well executed all around; it was the best meal we had in Dublin. read more

The soda bread was one of the best slices of bread I've ever eaten. Seriously, incredible. I had soda bread at three other places in Ireland and none compared to the soda bread here. My main course was the rib-eye which I requested medium but came out well-done. A little disappointing, but it was tasty. The meat had more of a game meat taste than I experience in the US. The service and atmosphere were great. I would definitely go back if I find myself in Dublin again. read more

Great and attentive service with an awesome view of the river. Fantastic wine list and good food!

Had some lunch with a chef friend yesterday in the Winding Stair. I've been meaning to try it out for a while now. First impressions were good, in terms of the setting and the staff. The lunch menu was fairly limited, but given the price difference between that and the a la carte we opted for the former. Without going into too much detail about the individual dishes, they were ok. Very much a hearty style, an Irish version of L'Gueleton. You won't leave hungry for sure. My main issue was I would have preferred chips covered with some salt, instead of the other way around. Needed a few glasses of water to wash it out.My friend enjoyed his sea trout, although not having much of an appetite he left most of it there. He thought the food was enjoyable and well cooked/seasoned but felt there was way too much (I'd never complain of that!). We both had the set menu with two courses and a glass of wine each (choice was "white or red") and it came to about €50 including tip. All in all, I'll be back again, maybe to try the a la carte, although it does seem pricey compared to the more fine dining style restaurants. read more

Once heralded as the Financial Times' favourite Dublin eatery, The Winding Stair is no soft touch. Upon entry from Ormond Quay we climbed the wooden, twisting staircase to reach the restaurant - a charming means of entry via the winding stair that the name of the establishment lays claim to, but nonetheless does raise one's awareness that it's probably not any kind of embellished décor on the restaurant's part that draws the crowds. On pushing the restaurant door open my suspicions were confirmed. The room itself is smaller than expected. Considering the towering, three-storey stratum that the place boasts from the outside you are left underwhelmed by the interior decoration but nonetheless, once again, like the mode of entry from the street, charmed by it's self-effacing as well as intriguing ornamentation. Decked out with antique desks and dusty bookshelves alongside deliberately exposed heating pipes and contemporary ceiling fan the room juxtaposes the conventional features of an old study with that of a Manhattan loft renovation. Seated by the window, we were treated to a superb view overlooking the celebrated Ha'Penny bridge. We opted for the new lunch offer of 2 courses for €17.95 and enjoyed a splendid starter of a velvety Chicken Liver Pate with Chutney before indulging in a mouth-watering, and indeed generously portioned main course of Beef with Guinness Sausages, Herb Mash, Sticky Onions and Gravy. You have probably already guessed from the identifiable nature of the dishes that the restaurant serves traditional Irish cuisine with an unusual twist, such as Courgette Pancakes, or indeed, 'Guinness' sausages. It is this mixture of convention vs. idiosyncrasy that the restaurant endeavours to accomplish with its interior decoration but is less successful in this case with its execution. For dessert we shared an utterly unfaultable Bread and Butter Pudding with Whiskey sauce. The sponge tasted as tantalizing as a saccharine croissant and as wholesome as the most heartening sponge that has ever crossed your lips. Drenched in warm-hearted whiskey sauce and caramelised custard, this perfect dessert was the indisputable highlight. It is the view on offer and food that are the best things about The Winding Stair. The décor is, as I have mentioned, appealingly out of the ordinary, but the furnishings are more suited to a scholarly lunch crowd than any kind of luxuriant dinner clientele that the menu prices would suggest they are striving to catch the attention of. Also worthy of note - the menus were presented on clipboards - an eccentric initiative yet lacks in any quality assurance, i.e. this design decision fails to point towards excellence in food, nor any kind of distinction on the restaurant's part. The design decisions are no doubt brave but fail to harmonize to fashion any kind of cohesiveness. The small size of the room does make for a cosy setting but it can get very noisy, very quickly. The service was nothing more than mediocre and at one point only one waitress was left to cope with four tables simultaneously, her attentions were stretched tight and consequently, generally speaking we felt rather discarded. If it weren't for the lion's share of our own attentions focussing on the delectable food then the second-rate service would have seemed more of a problem than we had perceived it to be. Having Dublin's proud Ha-penny overlook the restaurant, The Winding Stair happily refrains from boasting a pretentious menu. Staying true to it's Irish province the restaurant is easily the finest place to taste Irish cookery at it's most succulent, just don't be surprised if you find yourself picking off dusty remains from your clothes courtesy of one of the aged bookshelves in the process. read more

The Winding Stair - Courtesy of http://www.winding-stair.com/content/trg/windingstair/pages/gallery.htm - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

I really liked this little hip modern european style restaurant! I've been meaning to review all the places from when I was in Dublin a while back and just never had time. Even though it's been over a few months since I ate here, it was pretty memorable! I think this place would make a great date restaurant. It's a little bohemian and a little romantic inside. It's not really a tourist destination, but it is still right on the river which is great! Also, the meat I tried here was so tender I could've cut it with a butter knife! Four solid stars. read more

Prior to my first trip to Dublin from the U.S., I asked a few people for restaurant recommendations and all of them said The Winding Stair is a must-go. So my travel companion and I decided to make the restaurant our big splurge of our trip. We got reservations easily - just walked in and asked for them as we were walking along the Quays. I didn't find the staff to be any friendlier or more animated than any other restaurant we visited. Which is still good. I didn't find a lot that appealed to me on the menu. Hmmm.....something I should have thought about earlier. But decided on the rib eye with truffle butter and chips. This was delicious, a lot of food, great flavor, but hard to cut the beef, which was served rare instead of medium rare as I indicated. This was part of the three-course holiday meal. My partner had the smoked haddock poached in milk, and he quite liked it. They used a ton of onions. My appetizer was not impressive. I don't even remember it. For dessert we shared the bread pudding - really tasty. A great wine list, and a good bottle selected. Loved the view of the Ha'Penny bridge. I can't put my finger on it, why I wasn't completely satisfied with my experience there. Is it the best restaurant in Ireland, the way everyone says? Too much build-up? read more

Great dinner. Had the steak. Nice atmosphere and the place was very busy. Went with a group of people. Would recommend and go again if I lived here. read more

Our friend recommended this lovely little restaurant almost at the same time I heard Dana Delaney raving about it on the Rachael Ray show back home in the states. My husband and I agreed to try it, and we weren't disappointed. Our meal was delicious, service was very good, but I felt like we were a little cramped at our table. I understand it is an old building, and restaurant is tucked upstairs (hence The Winding Stairs), but I did feel very much like I was eating dinner with the couple next to us. The night we were there, a few celebrities were seated across the room, and luckily for them, even though it was crowded, they seem to be afforded their privacy by guests as well as a very professional staff. Will definitely be back! read more

Last night my co-workers and I (there were 4 of us (3 Americans, including myself, and 1 Dubliner)) visited this restaurant. The atmosphere was superb - homey but elegant. The view outside the windows was terrific. The food started appearing. The charcuterie board was fabulous and I really enjoyed the fact that there were non-pork meats. The lamb and steak charcuterie were very flavorful. There was this crab salad under this hard clarified butter appetizer which sounds weird but was SO good. We also had the butternut squash soup, which the super helpful waiter split in to cups for us. The main meals were divine. I had the mussels and cockles and was very sad that I wasn't able to finish the dish. Absolutely terrific. The other main courses were equally as good. read more

Fantastic little place with a beautiful view of the river. The food was excellent and freshly prepared. We enjoyed a smoked meat appetizer, the seafood special and the lamb entrees, along with bread butter pudding and coffee. All of the food choices were delicious and the service was great as well. I would highly recommend a visit. The place is cozy so a reservation is recommended. The best Irish meal we have had in Dublin! read more

I love the atmosphere and ambience of this restaurant. Very cozy with lots of old books lining the walls. The food is also good and portions are generous. We had a charcuterie board with mixed meats of pork, beef, lamb, and venison, and cheese. I had a braised short rib platter which came with the bone still attached. It was seasoned just right, but it was a little cumbersome to eat and one end of it was entirely fat. For dessert I had a slice of sticky pear pie, which was delicious. They also have a very good selection of wine. I would come back here again on my next trip to Dublin! read more

American Perspective Review: Good service. Excellent food, different from dishes in America so definitely worth going to. Vast wine selection. The smoked haddock soup was very meaty. You may need a resevation, so call ahead. read more

AMAZING. Perfect for a date or special occasion. The food is a bit pricey, but absolutely worth it, and the views are unbeatable. We got a table upstairs and couldn't believe our good luck. The service was also excellent. I've been to restaurants all over the world and this is one of my favorites. read more

Our party of 6 had a wonderful price fixed dinner. Views of the River Liffey and the sea of humanity crossing the footbridge make this place a must stop. But if that weren't enough staff were friendly and the food was great. We truly got our monies worth and had a great meal too! read more

Myself and a close friend made reservations on a Friday night. Despite how busy they were they ensured there was a place ready without fail, near the windows overlooking the Liffey. I thought that was quite a nice touch on a rare sunny day. Seating was prompt and maneuvering was surprisingly easy, despite how tightly packed the space seemed to be. The two different fish courses we ordered were lovely, with well-recommended red wines for the both of them. One of the things that surprises on every visit was just how perceptive the staff seem to be. All in all a delicious place to bring a loved one to, with friendly, courteous and attentive staff. read more

Enjoyed a delicious Saturday afternoon brunch here, with Bloody Marys and the Pauliner which the James Joyce lookalike waiter recommended. Great atmosphere and a great view of the Hapenny Bridge into the bargain. read more

Best dinner experience I had in Ireland! Fish and lamb were tops. Wine and beer list were also great.

Delicious food and charming service. The potted crab was a huge success and the everything else we ordered was excellent. The pear and ginger cake was particularly good (ask for their brown bread ice cream!) as was their bread pudding. Oh and the soda bread was scrumptious! The only negative were the thick cut chips that came with the mussels and steak - not quite cooked through or crispy enough by my mark. Would be good for a date or for a group and the wine and beer list is pretty good. Would love to go back. read more

I can't fault the place on it's location or staff. However, I think it's continuous failure to provide good vegetarian food for the price one is paying, prevents me from giving it four stars ;-( read more

A wonderful lunch at this quaint Dublin restaurant. Their terrific staff created a child's menu on the spot for our three without prompting. The sweet potato soup of the day was delicious as was the fish and chips. The view of the Ha'penny bridge, the delightful room and wonderful food make this a destination restaurant. read more

My favorite restaurant in Dublin! Request a table by the window and stay for hours, you won't be disappointed. Their lamb, steak, and everything else is delicious. I highly suggest their desserts as well (specifically their Guinness cake). Enjoy this incredibly cozy spot and check out the book store downstairs. read more

For upscale dining it tasted horrible. Struggled to to eat everything, even dessert.... Could have been happier at McDonald's.

This is possibly one of the best book shops in the world. It may be small, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in character. Housing a considered collection of books, from classics and contemporary literature to poetry and graphic novels, the winding stair also stocks many second hand titles and a curious collection of specialist gay magazines. Other highlights include an extremely comfy armchair at the back of the shop, a working gramaphone and the regular art exhibitions and music nights. read more

Get reservations for the restaurant: that was my first lesson. My second lesson: the book store/cafe provides the perfect respite from the busy city outside. If there were more seats available I could spend a whole afternoon there reading and enjoying tea; instead, a shorter amount of time ensures that I get out and about on the town and also allows the establishment to welcome in other customers. One of these days I'll get upstairs to see where the real action is at! read more

A restaurant above an old school bookshop, with a selection of books inside for browsing?! What's not to love? I ate here on my recent (and first!) trip to Dublin, and everything was DELISH. I had the Irish boxty topped with blue cheese, mushrooms and greens...huge and beautifully presented. My mom had the fish of the day (some sort I'd never heard of), which was also very good. A must, however, is the bread and butter pudding with whiskey sauce. As a bread pudding connoisseur, I must say: this was one of -- if not THE -- best I've ever had. Ooey gooey lardtastic goodness...seriously. One con: service is BEYOND slow. Our dinner took over two hours, and we actually struggled to flag down the waitress for our check. Perhaps the pace of life is just slower in Ireland (as it is in mainland Europe), but it was a little too slow for this American. Lo siento. read more

Ate here twice on a recent trip to Ireland. The restaurant has a lot of ambience. Cute with books and great views of the River Liffey. The seafood chowder is loaded with big chunks of seafood. Delicious! Had a great waiter Sean. We wanted to try several items, and he suggested we split them. The split portions were still huge and he was kind enough to include extras to make each special. For example when we split the mixed berry fool for dessert, he put a shortbread cookie on each plate instead of making us share the one. He was wonderful! We would definitely go back here on our next trip. Ask for a seat by the window if possible. Dress code is casual, need reservations on the weekend nights. read more

So. This was the best meal we had in Dublin. Place is really nice and the service was excellent. Had a wonderful meal. The portions are big. read more

Been here twice (since I don't live in Ireland) and it's been great. Well prepared food at completely reasonable price for what you get. Tried both a white fish and a lamb dish, both where excellent. read more

By far the best dinner I had on our trip to Dublin. My husband is still talking about the fantastic seafood chowder, and I very much enjoyed my "courgette" (which was extra surprising since I didn't even really know what the word meant). The service was also great. Our waiter definitely knew his wines and was helpful in making nice suggestions. Highly recommend! read more

One would expect to pay more for this kind of gastronomy and service. The winding stair has it down to every little detail, from entree to main course and desert. Even their coffee is unquestionably great. The restaurant is simple old times charm with it's antique glass windows, bright and relaxed ambience and inviting aromas floating in the air that make your mouth water as soon as you open the door. The personnel was attentive and sincerely cared in providing a very pleasant experience for the customers. Did not have a reservation but took a chance and was warmly welcomed. Walked out of the place enchanted and completely stuffed! If you ever visit Dublin, do treat yourself to this exquisite experience! read more

People, People, People, What is all the fuss about - I finally wound my merry way up the winding stairs to the aforementioned restaurant after a heavy morning shopping, and I hate shopping with a vengeance. Especially when I really would like to find something nice to wear. I thought that a simple nice, meal with a glass of wine would rejuvenate me for the dreaded afternoon shopping session. When I say simple, I mean simple, as in light. I entered, breathless, and although considered gorgeous at times, (by men who have imbibed too much mosty, alas, I jest, of course) rather unfit for those stairs, and promptly had to sit down at a nicely presented table, nothing special. There was a lady and gentleman in attendance, and three business gents dining at the only other occupied table. Nobody else. I asked if I could possibly have a glass of wine just for now, and no, I could not, one had to have lunch. I said fine, I shall simply rest, after the stairs and look at the menu. Said menu looks and sounds delicious, and later in the day, I might have had it. I did like the menu. The lady came over to me, with a pleasant smile, to ask again what I would like to eat, specials or what, so again I explained that no, I had thought one could have some tea, coffe or wine. Interestingly, no one had the thought of even saying would you like a glass of water. Before I left the restaurant, to begin the arduous (yes it is, I don't care what other people's definition of 'quaint' is) task of making my way down the stairs, I made eye contact with the gentleman, who made a polite comment to me, and I said 'well, I really could do with a nice glass of wine to fortify me for those stairs.' He smiled, and I left to walk down the stairs to the bookshop, As I walked around, I saw the cups and saucers, and said to the gentleman who was sitting at a desk, 'so this is where you do tea and coffee'. Hardly looking up, he said, yes, we have coffee. I said I preferred tea, in a very noncholant manner, so he reluctantly said, yes, he believed they had tea, maybe herbal tea, even. I said no, I don't like herbal tea, (sorry, I don't). And no, thank you, I would not like anything. In summary, in my local area, Clontarf, and indeed in many other places, I have asked politely the very same thing, (sometimes purely to test a place), vis a vis the glass of wine, and I have never been refused. The restaurant was empty, apart from the 3 gentlemen dining. This is not a hospitable, customer friendly way to behave on this occasion. It may not be a request they get every day, but when they do, think on ... who am I? what is my agenda? how important is my business to them? and last, but not least, chances are, I would have had an early dinner there. Because I like to see customers/clients being accommodated in a friendly, practical way where possible. Did not happen at the Winding Stair. Smiling sweetly and saying the right things does not hack it for me, I did not ask for the sun, moon and stars. In all fairness, owing to the very strong and delicious smell of food being prepared, (presumably for the evening?), no odour of the Liffey was in evidence. Also in all fairness, the menu is lovely, and perhaps it is as nice as it is described and smells. First impressions are lasting, and I shall not be trudging up those stairs again any time soon. Maria A read more

Amazing dinner and wine. Found this gem and the food was amazing, service was fantastic and the staff was so nice. Totally recommend. Upstairs from a quaint little book shop right along Ormond Quay. read more

I love the décor and vibe to this restaurant, but I wasn't too impressed with the service the last time I was in there. My friend and I popped in with no reservation for lunch and were told we could have a table up to a certain time and then they would need it back. Fair enough - we hadn't booked. But then we ordered and the waitress forgot to put it through on the computer to the kitchen! We were relaxing with wine and in no hurry anyway, but it got to a stage where we had to ask what was going on and she had no choice but to confess to us that the docket was still in her apron. She'd only just discovered this herself. She put it through then and told us by way of compensation that we didn't have to give the table back at the agreed time! Gee thanks - if we had we would have been getting our lunch to go. When we paid there was no discount or even coffee on the house. The food was only alright and we came away feeling that we hadn't gotten the kind of service we should have. I've not been back since. read more

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Top-notch food and service. Atmosphere is tidy and spartan, with a wall of windows on one side. Fixed price lunch menu is expensive, but a better deal than dinner. Beetroot/goat cheese tartlets and lamb burger were great. read more

Absolutely loved the food at the winding stair. Smoked haddock was great, and the others in our group thoroughly enjoyed their meal too. Service wasn't 100%, found our waitress to be quite abrasive, bit other than that it was thoroughly enjoyable. Will be back. read more

This place is five minute walk from the Arlington hotel. Wait staff friendly,knowledgeable,and efficient. We ordered off the pre show menu. First course was a roasted butternut squash salad with goat cheese curds, dill,pear and a delicious mild dressing. For the main we had the ray served with roasted purple potatoes, wine is available by the glass or bottle which for me my husband is allergic to wine. He had a bottle of a ipa ale.we were too full for dessert. It there was a good selection.as the name implies it is up a winding staircase and therefore not for anyone with mobility problems.we look forward to returning and trying the regular menu. read more

Visiting Dublin from Texas the Winding Stair was recommended by a bartender down the street on our way to a super-tourist bar hop in Temple Bar. They fit us in without a reservation (lucky we were rolling blue hair hours but still) and never made us feel rushed. Everything was delicious (converted me to black pudding) and the space/decor was reminiscent of eating a really great dinner in a really good friend's apartment... Highly recommend. Reservations probably the best choice... read more

Surprisingly excellent dinner. All I can say is to make sure not to miss the smoked fish plate. They smoke their own gravlax in house and it's like nothing I've ever had before. read more

I keep getting bad seats in this place. Last time I was beside the loo, this time beside the kitchen serving space. At least the smells were better this time. This is very nice food but I just am not mad about the place. I don't know what it is about it. It's a swanky place I might bring someone I wanted to treat, but it's not a place I think about outside of that context. Go figure. read more