Going to Dublin this weekend and have managed to get into L'Ecrivain for Friday night, I have been dying to try this restaurant for ages!! Really looking forward to it.

Saturday night poses a problem for me - there are 12 of us (this includes 2 children aged 5 and 8).

I have 4 options, and I need advice as I have never been to any of these restaurants:

1 Balzac at 6.30 and they need the table back for 9pm. I have read very mixed reviews on Balzac and am a little nervous of this one!

2 Gary Rhodes D2 at 7pm - the problem with this one is that they say the kids have to be out by 9pm. We will probbaly have almost finished by this time (you know how long a meal takes with 12 people), but I feel mean telling the parents that they have to leave at 9! How strict will the restaurant be on this? If we're having dessert at 9, and say we'll just finish our meal and have the kids out by 9.30 will this be acceptable?

3 Brownes at 7pm and the table is ours for the evening and they say children are welcome until 10pm.

4 Eat in our hotel to save all the hassle!! (Seems such a shame going down to Dublin with all those lovely restaurants and eating in our hotel). Is the restaurant in the Four Seasons good?

Advice welcome!

Thanks!

Angela

ttt

Hi Angela,

I've heard a few bad reviews about Rhodes D7 (and no good ones I'm afraid), so I would probably discount that from the off. I haven't eaten in Balzac but, again, it gets mixed reviews. I love Brownes so that would be my preferred option - I adore the dining room and the food & service are always good. Haven't tried the Four Seasons either I'm afraid!

Enjoy your weekend.

Thank you Cailin, I was leaning towards Brownes myself. Thank you for your input!

The whole weekend is about food, good fun but not so good for the waistline! I've booked the Merrion No. 23 bar for lunch on Saturday as I love it in there. We usually stay in the Merrion when I go down with my husband, and we cant say enough good things about that hotel, but his sister wanted to try the Four Seasons, so it's maybe a good thing being forced into trying somewhere else. The only thing I'm annoyed about is location - we love walking in and out of Grafton Street from the Merrion, and at night we usually go to Dawson Street and it was so handy to walk home. Not that i'm complaining!

The last time I was down I forgot to post a restaurant review. We went to Dobbins and it was really good! Food was excellent, service friendly, and I liked the laid back but top notch feel of the place. That is, when we eventually found it, after walking up and down that street 3 times!

We also tried to get into L'Gueleton which I was SO looking forward to, but we turned up at 7.30 (which I thought was safe enough) and they were already booked up, I was so disappointed. Def next time!

We actually stayed in the Shelbourne that time, and I have to admi that I much prefer the Merrion. Rooms were nice and service was good, but it was so bunged at night you may as well have been in Cafe en Seine, not a 5 star hotel! Also the breakfast was self service, and not half as good as the Merrions breakfasts.

As always, we went to Clarendon for lunch, and, as always, it was great.

Angela

I have read that L'Gueleton does not take reservations. If that is true, what time must one show up to get seated without a long wait? thanks

I believe that it opens at 7, and you can queue from shortly before that, but I am sure someone else can confirm if that is correct.

Angela

Hi. They don't take reservations but they will take your name once they are open and will call you when a table becomes free. It opens at 6.