Eating Dublin

[unclepat]

We took the staff out to One Pico last night and it was absolutely top drawer. Everything from the moment we arrived was really excellent. Eventhough we committed the cardinal sin of turning up with a couple more than we had booked for, it was handled without any fuss.
The food was exceptional and to deliver that standard of cooking for 27 of us so seemlessly was no easy task and a great credit to all concerned . Delighted to see them busy on a Monday night too.

[chefsmith]

I'm so glad you mentioned the manager, he is exactly the reason i point blank refuse to go anymore.
I was with my toddler one day who needed the bathroom so instead of just walking in i went upto him and asked and was told ' no' and he walked off, i didnt even get a chance to tell him we was booked for an hour later, obviously we didnt turn up. i boycotted them for a year after that, but recently had to go there, out of curiousity, i think it's important to never stop being a punter, and i also saw him speak rudely to staff, customers and prance around on his clickity heels with a ' I am completely above you attitude'. Both times we was there, same thing, which was a shame as there are a couple of nice staff there. but my god they are desperately bad at dropping drinks on customers, everyonei know who has been there has been spilled on, everyone.
I have enjoyed my food there on all occasions though and i know they have dropped their lunch prices, but the house wins handsdown every time. Karl runs a good operation there.

[Prime Cut]

Some friends had planned planned to go for lunch at Aqua in Howth but I interferred and insisted that they must go to Ivans as I had read so many good reports when it had opened first. They had a dreadful time. Two of them ordered moules marnieres for starters and got four mussells each. One of the four did have something spilled on them, I can't remember what. There were more misdemeanours that I can't remember but when they said they would like to complain they were given a customer satisfaction card-thing to fill out and return by the manager!!!

[Ernie Whalley]

Welcome back, Prime Cut. Have you been lurking or merely busy with that new product I hear so much about?

[Prime Cut]

Thanks Ernie, have been lurking frustratedly unable to post and not enough IT knowhow to figure out why but am sorted now. The new product has only had a few outings so far but feedback has been good, hopefully you will have a chance to try it or pm me with a suitably covert drop off location!

[punto]

ye cant leave us in the dark, spill the beans please................

[chefsmith]

Punto, I'll tail Primecut, you tail ernie.

Sounds like drugs to me...............

[Prime Cut]

Well, it involves freshly cought blood, a little cream..... I can't give the whole secret away.

psst Chefsmith, no white pepper!!

[chefsmith]

ohh lovely, would i have tasted it?

I think i just had a moment of clarity...........

[YumYum]

I went to La Maison for a very very late lunch or early dinner, depending how one looks at it, last weekend. It was pleasurable, although the service was a bit "meh". I was particularly annoyed when, having ordered, I heard our Aussie/NZ (not sure which) waitress tell a new table about specials that we had not been told about; I would have ordered the main.

Anyway, I had the pates to start. They were good: a chicken liver pate (smooth and rich), a more course pork belly (textured and well seasoned) and an apricot and fig pork (complicated and delicious). Served with good toast, I liked it a lot, but I did not really get it being served a la table. I mean it was fine but a bit unnecessary and the waitress had not quite got the handle on how to plate it up, which felt a bit uncomfortable.

Moving on to the seabass en croute - it was flaky, buttery, but served up as a pie. A surprise, but it was so good who really cares. The fennel rataouille, served in the pie was really good and fresh, as were the accompanying leaves.

The chocolate fondant had me curling my toes and duelling himself with spoons to keep away; in a role reversal I had plumped (after this meal literally) for the dessert while he had not.

A really enjoyable meal, the only thing that marginally spoiled it was the service. It might have been the hour, to be fair, but they were not that busy and we had to call them to the table for attention twice and they left us with finished main plates in front of us for ages. This is a pet hate of mine. When I am finished I want the plates whipped away, once the rest of the people at the table are completed of course.

[Ernie Whalley]

Review of Bloom up on the home page.
Long-awaited (by some!) review of 1014 in The Herald HQ today

[meatmonger]

Do post a link for us less pale people

[petitechef]

i'm not sure whether to laugh or blush!

[Ernie Whalley]

Originally Posted by petitechef

i'm not sure whether to laugh or blush!

And there's me thinking you adept at multi-tasking

[petitechef]

now am definitely blushing!

[Ernie Whalley]

Originally Posted by meatmonger

Do post a link for us less pale people

I don't think it will be up on the Indo site till tomorrow

[Melendez]

http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/h...4-1895317.html

Quite a recommendation, for the restaurant as well.

[Ernie Whalley]

the bloody sub edited out the best phrase:- While The Not Quite Blonde was endeavouring to extract the last shards of flesh from the crab claws without damaging the heel of her shoe...

[petitechef]

my brunos were not put on this earth for that purpose!!!!

[Hanna]

Originally Posted by Ernie Whalley

Review of Bloom up on the home page.

I'm just back from lunch there, with 4 colleagues and I had a most disappointing experience.

I too had the ray wing. While the taste of the fish was lovely and delicate, the aroma off the dish was extremely unpleasant - pungent, like nail varnish remover, Jeyes fluid or something similar.I could feel the hairs in my nostrils singe...I can still smell it now, an hour and a strong coffee later. I *know* ray can be somewhat ammoniac, but this was totally over the top. It was totally overwhelming and completely offputting. I *suspect*, by the look of the fish, it wasn't properly bled, but I dunno. Either way, 3 of us ordered the dish at €23. None of us finished it.

What made it worse was when the waiter came to clear the table. Two people were still eating. Undaunted, he set himself up at one end of our table, happily collecting the plates one at a time, and scraping the remains of all the lunches onto the top plate, right beside us. He then stood there waiting for the last two people to finish, before reaching across us all and taking the last two plates, adding them to the ever-climbing tower of dirsty dishes. I would have said something, but I was too busy being simultaneously embarassed and horrified.

Other than that, the service was very friendly and attentive, and my colleagues who ordered the pork chops with green beans, house potatoes and port jus enjoyed it immensely.

On balance, I'm unsure if I'll ever go back.