Every cloud has a silver lining and one of the shiny happy things that has come out of the recession is customers being chased; the deals you can get on top class restaurants and hotels around the country are excellent. Three years ago, a meal in Diep Le Shakur would have cost a lot of mullah, not anymore. Myself, my partner and my parents had a delicious meal with two bottles of wine and it came to just €160.

Awaiting the arrival of our friends, I decided to go margarita mad and was pleasantly surprised; this was as good as you’ll get around town and for half the price at just EUR5. I was enjoying it so much that, when our friends arrived, it was cocktails all-round.

My partner and I dropped in on a freezing Friday evening, as we were in no mood to cook after a stressful week. Bel Cibo is right beside the Lighthouse Cinema, so there are always arty types chilling out over red wine and pizza, giving the place a great buzz. Bel Cibo is famous locally for it’s pizzas and offer a take out service so throughout the time we were there, people were dropping in and out to pick up a piping-hot pie box, licking their lips as they handed over the cash.

Rainy evenings in Dublin don’t inspire you to drag yourself off the sofa and head to a restaurant.
Go to Dada and you’ll be delighted that you did. Wet, dark and dreary Dublin disappears as soon as you enter, replaced by warm, balmy Morocco.

Once in a while a genius comes up with any idea and you think, “why didn’t anyone think of that before?”. Here’s one for you; a fine dining restaurant where all of the profits go to charity. What did I tell you – genius! Restaurant 1014 is located in a beautiful spot opposite the old wooden bridge on the seafront between Dollymount and Clontarf. You may feel that it’s a bit out of the way but I guarantee you, it’s worth it.

Ristorante Romano is nestled close to Panti’s breast, just a couple of doors up from Panti Bar so if you’re gay and have ever been to Dublin, you’ll have passed it. On peeping in, you probably thought “oohh blast from the past” and walked on. Next time stop and enter. Yes, Ristorante Romano is a blast from the past but so is a cuddle from your mammy.

What were you as a child? Were you the kind who experienced gloopy Chinese food, like no other gloopy Chinese food? The most un-Chinese of foods? And were you the kind of child who loved it? If the answer to any of these questions is “Yes” then Jimmy Chung’s just might be for you!

Toscana is one of those places. You know the ones, after your first bite you wonder why you have never been there before. The charming (Italian handsome) waiters, the delightful decor, the Italian opera playing faintly in the background gives the impression of lazy summer days on Piazza Navona eating Pistachio ice-cream. The whole experience is a joy.

Have you ever had an experience where you feel like you’re missing something? That was my experience of Pichet.

Caffè Parigi is a new kid on the block among Dublin eateries, and it’s been worth the wait!