| hotels | restaurants | recipes | wines | travel | events | small print | latest news | malessere | feedback | products | ordering |
| blog | about us | privacy | sitemap | home | © Bacchus and Comus, and Croque-en-Bouche Design Site problem? Tell us please |
| blog | about us | privacy | sitemap | home | © Bacchus and Comus, and Croque-en-Bouche Design Site problem? Tell us please |
The Mermaid Café, in Dame Street was in the vanguard of the swinging Temple Bar casual restaurants when it first opened its doors seven years ago. Since then many other similar establishments have come (and gone), but the Mermaid still remains as popular as ever. So you will need to book, especially in the evenings.
Bare floorboards and modern paintings on the walls (mostly by co-proprietor Mark Harrell) gives a thoroughly contemporary feeling to the restaurant, but the decibel level is quite bearable. The food has stood the test of time and still has that modern appearance, even with the continued listing of old favourites such as the New England Crab Cakes and the Slow-cooked Venison Shank. Far Eastern influences, reflecting Ben Gorman’s family ties in Thailand, crop up with the Giant Seafood Casserole with Thai Aromatics, a model lesson for those chefs whose fusion cuisine results in confusion cuisine.
The cuisine is not refined and the portions are of trencherman size, and as with many other restaurants in Dublin, a sized-down version of some of the dishes may be found at a fraction of the price at lunchtime. Sunday Brunch results in a queue going halfway down Dame Street. They have recently opened an up-market “caff” next door called Gruel which Ben Gorman has taken under his wing for development, with everything homemade, including the bread at knock-down prices. Temple Garner* remains head chef at the Mermaid, carrying on the style first initiated by Ben Gorman with a few nifty improvements of his own.
* Note Temple Garner is not involved here now. Updated review on the new chef's work - as soon as we can.
Bare floorboards and modern paintings on the walls (mostly by co-proprietor Mark Harrell) gives a thoroughly contemporary feeling to the restaurant, but the decibel level is quite bearable. The food has stood the test of time and still has that modern appearance, even with the continued listing of old favourites such as the New England Crab Cakes and the Slow-cooked Venison Shank. Far Eastern influences, reflecting Ben Gorman’s family ties in Thailand, crop up with the Giant Seafood Casserole with Thai Aromatics, a model lesson for those chefs whose fusion cuisine results in confusion cuisine.
The cuisine is not refined and the portions are of trencherman size, and as with many other restaurants in Dublin, a sized-down version of some of the dishes may be found at a fraction of the price at lunchtime. Sunday Brunch results in a queue going halfway down Dame Street. They have recently opened an up-market “caff” next door called Gruel which Ben Gorman has taken under his wing for development, with everything homemade, including the bread at knock-down prices. Temple Garner* remains head chef at the Mermaid, carrying on the style first initiated by Ben Gorman with a few nifty improvements of his own.
* Note Temple Garner is not involved here now. Updated review on the new chef's work - as soon as we can.
...The wine list is short but very contemporary with exciting New World offerings, particularly from California and for Dublin, reasonably priced.
All in all, this is still an exciting place with a real buzz, enthusiastic and friendly service and good food.
Restaurant Ratings...
Food 38
Winelist 16
Service 9
Ambience 5
Value for Money 13
Total 81
Mermaid Café 69 Dame Street, Dublin 2.
Open all week 12:30 to 3:30 and 6:30 to 11
Phone: 01 670 8236 Fax: 01 670 8205
Website: www.mermaid.ie
Prices: Moderate
Credit Cards: Mastercard, Visa.
MUST BOOK.
All in all, this is still an exciting place with a real buzz, enthusiastic and friendly service and good food.
Restaurant Ratings...
Food 38
Winelist 16
Service 9
Ambience 5
Value for Money 13
Total 81
Mermaid Café 69 Dame Street, Dublin 2.
Open all week 12:30 to 3:30 and 6:30 to 11
Phone: 01 670 8236 Fax: 01 670 8205
Website: www.mermaid.ie
Prices: Moderate
Credit Cards: Mastercard, Visa.
MUST BOOK.
