Combining my love of making lists and anecdotal Dublin history, I’ve been trying to work out what the oldest restaurant in Dublin City is. The following rules apply:
1) It has to be an actual restaurant, not a pub that serves food.
2) Restaurants within hotels don’t count.
3) It has to be in the same premises. (We’ve made one exception with The Unicorn seeing as it only moved around the corner and remained within the same family.)
Beaufield Mews in Stillorgan seems to be acknowledged as Dublin’s oldest restaurant (established 1950) that is still in the same premises. Note: it closed in 2019. But what about the city centre?
Some contenders:
+ The Unicorn, 12B Merrion Court (Originally established in 1938 at 11 Merrion Row, it moved to Merrion Court in the early 1960s.)
+ The Trocadero, 4 St. Andrew’s Street (Established 1956)
+ Nico’s, 53 Dame Street (Established 1964) – CLOSED 2018
+ The Lord Edward restaurant, 23 Christchurch Place (Established 1967) – CLOSED 2015
+ The Gigs Place, South Richmond Street (Established 1970) – CLOSED 2012
+ Captain America’s, 44 Grafton Street (Established 1971)
+ Flanagan’s, 61 Upper O’Connell Street (Established 1980)
+ The Lobster Pot, 9 Ballsbridge Terrace (Established 1980)
+ Kingsland, 15 Dame Street (Established c. 1980) – CLOSED BUT NOW REOPENED
+ The Bad Ass Cafe, 9 – 10 Crown Alley (Established 1983)
+ Cornucopia, 19 Wicklow Street (Established 1986)
+ Da Vincenzo’s, 133 Upper Leeson Street (Established 1988) – CLOSED c. 2012
+ The Elephant and Castle, 18 Temple Bar (Established 1989)
Jammets Restaurant, Estd. 1901 on Andrews St moved to Nassau St. in 1927 and closed in 1967.
Click on the book for more.
Click on the book for more.
Donal
Ciarán
Sam
Come Here To Me! 
Fusciardi’s was estabilished on Capel St in 1937. Of course you could be snobby and dismiss a fish & chips but I’m happy to call it a restaurant.
If your going to put in The Elephant and Castle you may as well put in Cornucopia. Founded in 1986 it also holds the honor of being Dublin’s (Possibly Ireland’s) First and Oldest Vegetarian Restaurant.
Surely the wonderful Banannas was the first purely vegetarian and natural foods restaurant in Dublin est 1983 ….???
There was a vegetarian restaurant called The College operating at 3 and 4 College Green in 1900!
But were there any restaurants in Dublin before the Celtic Tiger years?? Not too many for sure. Early 80’s I do recall the Bad Ass and the Granary (was it where Bad Bob’s was later, in Temple Bar?). And one on the north quays, was it called “Murph’s” maybe? Sure we were all skinny and broke then anyhow, there wasn’t much call for eating out. Except of course in the Manhattan on the way out to Ranelagh/Rathmines in the small hours (is it still there, I’m not living in Dublin anymore these days).
the blackboard livingroom thunderbirds
ohenrys dawson st
Cheers Oisin, will add in Corunucopia now. Completely forgot about it.
@LeftAtTheCross, The Bad Ass is still going. Bad Bob’s turned into The Purty Kitchen a few years back, never heard of “Murph’s” and The Manhattan is sadly closed.
What about, The Last Post, once flourished on Ellis Quay
during the early 1960’s. It was managed by one Ian or Yan Kaminski who also ran The Baggot Mews………………………..
Brendan Behan was known to have visited The Last Post
Hiya James
Just wondering if you visited the last post or how you came to know about it?
Am doing a belated dive into my family history, and would love to know more about the goings on at the last post or baggot mews.
Thanks,
Liadain
Just came across this—I actually worked in Murph’s during 1979/1980. Murph’s was on Bachelor’s Walk, with sister restaurants on Baggot Street and in Cork. The O’Driscoll brothers –Murph and Kevin—sold the restaurants in the early 1990’s. They were very popular places, both for lunch and dinner, nice decor, good menu and pleasant staff (I would say that!). Main competitors were Capt America’s, Solomon Grundy’s (Suffolk St), and a restaurant on Westomoreland St, the name i can’t remember. It was ‘Disco Days’ in Dublin, a fun time, think we thought it was a bit of a Celtic Tiger, though we were all broke. Think a pint cost about 50p. Anyway, just showing my age, nice to think about ‘the old days!’
Good Luck!
I remember Murph’s only too well – part of the happiest time in Dublin! I worked there too in between lectures at UCD. I was part of a brilliant team who opened the restaurant with the brothers in 1974 – this was the Hard Rock equivalent (as far as food was concerned) in Dublin. The restaurant was waaaay better than anything else in the city at the time – remember the internal ‘bridge’ over the Liffey, just inside the front door? I went on to open something similar in Cork for a few years. Good times indeed.
Memories, claire o reilly, jan ryan, kevin O, I worked in Murphs baggot st , Murphs changed to gasworks ( worked there during that opening period)and at the doors of the jazz on sundays in wicklow street…what was the name of that restaurant
Your rule about ‘attached to hotels’ has ruled out a few notable eateries: The Dolphin on Essex Street, I suppose it closed at the end of the 60’s. There was a back entrance from the little court at the end of the alley by the stage door of the Olympia; The Moira on Church Lane (I think), and the Wicklow on Wicklow St. was always a haven if you didn’t like the company in Jammetts, and what about the original Red Bank near the old Theatre Royal, it was still going in the 60’s and perhaps later.
Who remembers the Paradiso on Westmoreland St. and Tasty’s on the Green next to the Cinema (the first bun burger), and The Green Tureen on Harcourt St., though you had to be very careful what you ate.
Great contribution David!
Lots of places I’ve never heard of.
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In the 70’s there was a restaurant in Westmoreland St called the Paradiso. I think it was run by two old ladies. The facade is still there stuck in the middles of the empty EBS building. The Berni Inn upstairs in what is now Lily’s Bordello was another popular restaurant in the 70’s.
My parents had their wedding breakfast in the Paradiso in 1956. My father also worked as a waiter in Barnardo’s in Lincoln Place.
For the most comprehensive history of Dublin Restaurants check out Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire’s PhD ‘The Emergence, Development, and Influence of French Haute Cuisine on Public Dining in Dublin Restaurants 1900-2000: An Oral History’ (http://arrow.dit.ie/tourdoc/12/)
[…] Madame Jammet. Jammet’s Restaurant has featured on Come Here To Me in the past, when jaycarax sought out Dublin’s oldest restaurant. The other featured Jack B. Yeats and Ernie O’Malley. O’Malley of course has featured […]
I have a drawing of a restaurant The Cedar Tree in Dame St (by ? Skelton) near the junction with South Great George’s Street. It seems to be Circa 1955.
About 2 doors away (in the same drawing) is a building then used by GEC – there’s an Osram neon sign at 1st floor level. This building was later used by Norths, the estate agents.
I was in the Paradiso in the 1960s. It was on the 1st floor, about 3 doors from O’Connell Bridge.. There were B&W stills of movie stars along the stairs leading to it.
J Rock
I know this post is old now but I’ve just come across it.
My parents owned the cedar tree in same street back in the 60s.
I’d really love a scan of the image you have if that’s possible?
Thanks
I was a student at UCD ’65-’68. The Manhattan would be packed after the pubs closed, especially Fri and Sat nights, most people eating eggs-chips-beans-sausage combos. Simple food, loud crowd, hot, full of energy — loved it. Tried Nico’s once, because they had pizza on the menu. But it was a deep-dish variety, and terrible (maybe just a bad night for the chef, but I never went back). I went to the Paradiso a few times on Saturday night. Kind of genteel, well-upholstered. A peaceful retreat, but I only remember that they served a great Knorr’s oxtail soup. Another place that was popular for post-pub late eats was Charlie’s, a basement restaurant on Lower Leeson St. They sold a lot spaghetti, but I never had a good spaghetti in Dublin in the ’60s. Does anyone remember The Gray (or Grey) Door, popular at lunchtime then? Or The Ould Cod (I think), another basement place, near Westland Row in the ’70s? And what was the first Indian restaurant in Dublin? I seem to remember one, also near Westland Row.
Great info. Thanks for the comment Tom.
I was at Trinity until 1955. The Indian restaurant-possibly Dublin’s first was owned by Michael Butt who was Indian. My parents used to eat on a saturday night in Jammets-what a marvelous menu, cuisine and ambience. Their duck and orange (caneton a l’orange) was magnificent-not just a sauce poured on duck. he head waiter, Joseph, I remember would write with pencil on the table cloth to pass race form tips onto my dad who would bet at Mirrelsons. Never since those days whether it be in Eusrope, Britain or the States have I eaten so superbly. Long may Jammets be remembered, BARRY E WHITE
Thanks for the comment Barry! Great stuff.
The Indian Tea Restaurant in Suffolk St fab Curries at lunch time and High Tea in the afternoon.
Hi Tom, trawling through internet I found your post. Many a drunken evening spent in Manhattan, Charlie’s and Ould Cod. Also Nico’s where I spent an entertaining evening with an Irish bullfighter named Henry Higgins.
A few more but no dates.
The Log Cabin in Wicklow Street
Rob Roberts in Grafton Street
The Copenhagen in Rathmines (Maybe too far out)
I’m not sure if a restuarant in a shop is allowed but Wolworths in Grafton Street had a huge sit down restuarant. It was very busy at lunch time. Hard to get a seat if you were not there by 1pm
my grandad owned the log cabin before opening the Horseshoe in lower baggot street
My mother MYRA Halpin ran the Copenhagen and another restaurant in Rathmines whose name escapes me
The other one in Rathmines was The Red Shoes–just beside (or actually behind I think) the Copenhagen.
Behind the Copenhagen in the alley was the Red Shoes. Paddy Murphy owner. Haunt of mostly prod school teens. I know
Fascinating stuff, and I only came across this site by accident when I was trying to remember the name of the coffee shop which flourished in the 1950s and 1960s at the corner of Upper Merrion Street and Lower Baggot Street. Was it called the Kilimanjaro?
There was an Inca Coffee shop there in 1969.
That was my Dad’s place and where he met my mum:-)
Kathryn Howard-Williams
[…] we’ve looked at Dublin’s oldest established restaurants and the city’s first Chinese […]
[…] we’ve looked at Dublin’s oldest established restaurants, the city’s first Chinese restaurants and the city’s first Italian […]
Does anyone remember Guys Restaurant on Merrion Row? Upstairs in Georgian House. The Universal Chinese Restaurant in Wicklow Street, and the Sunflower Chinese beside OConnell Bridge. There used to be a queue of people at lunch time to get into these Chinese Restaurants in the seventies. They offered a three course lunch for 2/6 (two shilling and six pence!) I remember the very good Indian Restaurant on Lincoln Place, just cant remember the name of it at the moment! The La Caprice in Andrew Street owned by Piedro the Italian man, It was opposite the Trocadero, It moved onto Dame street in the eighties. A very good pianist used to play there, Eamonn Monaghan who was a former member of the Capitol Showband!
Getting back to the Chinese Restaurants, if you ordered any of their specials, they always served a fried egg on top!!
Lincoln Place Indian was the Taj Mahal here is a link to a 1979 photo
http://dublincitypubliclibraries.com/image/gs006-taj-mahal
My mum worked in the travel agents “Albert Coffey” beside it in the 70’s.
A few places we used to go back then were, Captain America’s, Solomon Grundy’s, got to sit beside himself a few times, Thunderbirds, upstairs Grafton St. I think, Gallagher’s Steakhouse Abbey St, American Connection Talbot St. (where 101 is now). There was another American one off Georges St I can’t remember the name of, anyone remember it?
Claire
Loved Thunderbirds, always had the pizza with green peppers (that’s bell peppers, now that I’m more sophisticed with age !! hahaha) & I’ve been trying ever since to get a pizza COVERED with green peppers, and ONLY green peppers, but alas … impossible … even if I pay the price for them !!!
Jennifer
[…] 1: Previously we’ve looked at the city’s oldest restaurants, the first Chinese restaurants, the first Italian restaurants and the first pizzerias.) (Note 2: […]
[…] we’ve looked at the city’s oldest restaurants, the first Chinese restaurants, the first Italian restaurants, the first pizzerias and the first […]
Great reading all these comments here! I’m a “Dub” (female) and I can remember a lot of those restaurants, with pleasure!
[…] terms of food history, we’ve previously looked at the city’s oldest restaurants, the first Chinese restaurants, the first Italian restaurants, the first pizzerias and the first […]
[…] 1: Previously we’ve looked at the city’s oldest restaurants, the first Chinese restaurants, the first Italian restaurants, the first pizzerias and the first […]
my grandfather Eamon was a maitre de at the green rooster and later baggot mews
Charlotte, Three years later I now see your grandfather Eamon worked at my father’s restaurant The Green Rooster! My Dad was Australian, Billy Willis and opened the Green Rooster late 30’s.I would love to make contact with you, hear all about your grandfather cause as a child/teenage I was very close to all who worked there.
I only saw this last night – better late than never. My father, Joe O’Hanlon, of Irish Printers, was friendly with your father & probably did some printing for the restaurant. I remember eating there, on New Year’s Day I think, around 1961.
Years ago I read of a very colourful Australian MP named Willis & always wondered if it was the Willis of the Green Rooster.
Veronica, I’ve only recently seen your post in reference to the The Green Rooster and your father Billy Willis. He bought a house in Sutton in 1947 and I would love to contact you to see if you have any information on it.
Hello Veronica. I used to have lunch in The Hob Nob restaurant in Wicklow St., in the 70’s, and the lady owner(Mary King)told me she had connections/ ran the Green Rooster in the past. The Hob Nob was just up from The Wicklow Hotel on the same side. She had 2 sons and one daughter, and lived in south Dublin. …..big queues for The Int Chinese up the way on most work days. Lovely lady. Edward
I remember the Gray Door, an elegant restaurant in a townhouse, I just cannot remember the address, but I believe it was on Merrion Street Upper. The last time I was there was with my Aunt in 1985? maybe 1986. Service and food was great, very proper place too.
The Gray Door was in Pembroke Street. I remember dining there years ago with Don Baker after a gig. One of those lovely basement, out of the way places, where gigging musicians could get a meal after a gig.
It is a long time ago but I was never there but my first cousin Mae Quigley was married to the very original owner of ‘The Grey door’ and she was my Godmother, I being considerably younger .May sadly died of pernicious anaemia leaving 5 children. The Grey door was later sold to a Russian I think ,thereafter I lost track of it ,I wonder who owns it now or is it still run as a restaurant Carmel O’Brien.
Mulreany
The Grey Door was in Upper Pembroke Street. It was succeeded by a Russian-themed restaurant. I think there is still a restaurant in the same building.
Peter, my first cousin Mae Quigley was married to the man who owned ‘The Grey Door’ she Mae was older than me and was my godmother when she was 14 yrs old She was magnificent looking tall redhead, I think they had 5 children Mae died young of Pernicious anaemia and he sold out to the Russians, I believe it has changed hands many times.
By the way, does anyone remember a place called Chez Mac, which was a popular late-night hangout in the early 1960s? I think it was in a basement in Lower O’Connell Street. Calling it a restaurant may be gilding the lily. I mis-spent some of my youth there.
I had my first formal date at the Paradiso, I ordered spaghetti bolonese and was to embarrassed to eat it, because it was too difficult to eat! Long time ago, but still remember as I was starving!
When did the Paradiso open?
It hurts me to say this, but I’ve checked your criteria, and this definitely fits within them: McDonald’s on Grafton Street has been in the same place since the mid-seventies, which is longer than a number of the restaurants you have listed up at the top. It serves food, it’s not attached to a hotel, and it has been in the same place all along, so it presumably belongs on the list.
My first Maccers ever and first Maccers I had ever seen late 70’s, those terrible brown uniforms . Other places being Thunderbirds, Captains America, Burgerking/land ? on O’Connell St & Soloman Grundys, and a café on King Street South .
Looking through old family photos this morning I found a pic of my father from around 1950 with ” The Manhattan” written across the back of it. Dad was dressed in a tuxedo complete with white bow tie…so it seems from the posts above that the Manhattan was a late night place where he and his friends went for fish and chips after a formal dance? Thanks for all the info..its fascinating 🙂
Brilliant. Would you be able to scan it up and send it to us? We’d love to share it on our Facebook page?
I remember The Golden Spoon on Suffolk Street – used to love their flapjacks with syrup and cream. I also remember the Log Cabin on Wicklow Street and the Wagon Wheel tea room. which I think was on Anne Street. There was Jonathan’s on Grafton Street for nice lunches, salads, sandwiches etc. There was a lovely restaurant called The Old Dublin in the Coombe. My parents used to go to The Mirabeau. I loved the Paradiso on Westmoreland Street, In the 50’s and 60’s, the cinemas such as the Savoy had beautiful restaurants. Let nobody think there was nowhere to eat in Dublin prior to the Celtic Tiger.
Have you got Davy Byrns off Grafton Street. Lots of the literary greats frequented it . Quite old, can’t recall its date.
I worked in quo vadis in andrew street in 1974 and la caprice as well and casper and gumbeanies owned by the murphy brothers inwicklow street in 1981 and what about dobbins wine bistro
What a trip down memory lane. I felt sick with nostalgia at the mention of the Paradiso. Does anyone remember The Singing Kettle in Leeson Street where we hung out instead of going to lectures. And what about The New Amsterdam coffee house in either Duke St or Anne St?? How did I miss Eamon Monaghan tinkling the ivories?! We both hailed from Donegal in those far off days.
The Green Rooster in Dublin;s O Connell Street opened in the 40’s I think.
First late night restaurant run by Australian Willis .
I remember The Paradiso Restaurant in Westmoreland very well. It had a wonderful interior with ships rigging decorating the walls and ceiling. The food was superb also their wine list.
Another restaurant springs to mind also, an Italian restaurant called Alfredos which was located in a tiny street off D’Olier Street leading down to the quays and the Liffey, again superb menu. Ah, happy memories of the 1960’s!
The Paradiso was gorgeous. Wasn’t it on several floors, up a narrow stairway? One floor of which (I think the highest – in prices as well as altitude!) was called “The Captain’s Cabin” as far as I recall. Have I got that right? Anyone else remember?
Correction to my previous message: The Italian Restaurant located in the tiny street off D’Olier Street leading down to the quays and the Liffey was in fact called Ostinelli’s, and not Alfredo’s as previously mentioned……
Does anyone remember the restaurants in O’Connell St. one on the 1st floor of the Carlton cinema and another on the 1st floor of the Savoy.
My memory of the Carlton Cinema Rest’ was that it was full of elderly people as I was only in my late teens, I preferred the Savoy, but my real favourite was the quietness of the Capitol Cinema Rest’ Dont forget the Metropole Cinema and the Green Cinema on Stephens Green, now my memory is in overdrive.
Hi Sean, I worked in Dublin County Council – we used to go for lunch to the Carlton from time to time – just for Chicken Maryland.
I was looking to find the location of a restaurant in Abbey Street that was named Gallaghers in 1976. We got engaged in 1976 and went for a meal in Gallaghers and we were wondering if it still exists or has it been converted into something else.
I’m fairly certain it was at 83 Middle Abbey St. Near Easons side entrance. And is now Govindas, the Hare Krishna restaurant.
This (out of date) link seems to confirm it.
http://www.irelands-directory.com/Dublin/Dublin%201/Entertainment/Restaurants.html
Ostinelli’s was in Hawkins St. next to the Regal and the Royal. Does anyone remember the Kum Tong Chinese in Grafton Street.? Also in Rathmines you had Joe’s Steak House, Mollies. Sunset Strip,and the Copenhagen. In Ranelagh you had the Pronto and the Ozark Grill. The Del Rio opposite the Abbey Theatre must be one of Dublins oldest ( still going)
I am researching my family history and know that my great grand father owned a restaurant at 15 Lincoln Place Dublin in 1911. He previously worked at the Savoy Hotel on Grafton Street. I would be interested in any information I can find out about this time. Can any one suggest any good websites to visit?
Del Rio chipper on Marlborough Street (opposite Abbey Theatre) as Peter above mentioned has been open since 1948 according to their sign. And is still going strong. See https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g186605-d3225066-Reviews-Del_Rio_s_Cafe-Dublin_County_Dublin.html
I worked in The Cherry Tree on Nassau St.
in the middle 60’s when I was a student
at the College of Art on Kildale St.
I would nip down at about 6 o clock
and work until 9.
I was the first to hear of the birth of
Brenda Behan’s daughter when his
brother Dominic staggered in and
asked for a glass of sherry. He had
a battered looking bunch of flowers
In his hand.What a privilege to be told I was the first to know. The Cherry Tree was a lovely place with scrubbed wooden tables and a big
cat called Mimi. And they fed me.!!
I wonder if that would be the same child Brendan was celebrating when he and a gang came into Bartley Dunnes making both Bartley and Gerry very nervous as they were fairly well on at this stage. Let’s say it wasn’t their first stop.
This would have been 63 or 64.
What was the restaurant in basement in cathedral st . My favourite meal was the stuffed steak
The Country Shop on Stephens Green…all scrubbed pine long before it became fashionable. But it will always be the Paradiso for me in Westmorland St. Such memories….we were poor students how did we manage to go to all these places?! Just reading the word !Kilimanjaro! brigs on a fit of choking nostalgia and Eamonn Monaghan to boot!! Valerie Black (then)
It’s closed now, but I think at the time of the original article Sherie’s on Abbey Street, opposite Wynn’s was still in business and had been since 1947.
Who remembers the Faculty Balls at the Shelbourne Hotel? The L and H on a Saturday night at UCD? Maeve Binchy and Julian Drury Byrne?
Definitely the L&H….many a great debate during the week too…Mike Maloney, Gerry Danagher….certain there were many more
Talk about memories (especially with me coming from the Wee County). I came across this site while looking for history on Reuters Restaurant that used to be on Westmoreland St., where I saw the owners Lotus Esprit JPS 1979 parked outside. Brought back memories of The Crystal Palace on Henry St. (1960’s) Irish Steak house on O’Connell St. (1970’s when I moved to Dublin as a young fella), and Ma Byrne’s (can’t remember the Street).
I seem to remember Ma Byrne’s was in Liffey Street.
Think Ma Byrnes was in Liffey St.
Fascinated to pick up this thread, I recall from the early 1970s:
1) The Mermaid Café on Upper Merrion Street
2) Doctor Zhivago, above H. Williams Supermarket, on Lr Baggot Street – where the byline of the nightclub cum restaurant was, ‘Where love stories begin’, and then a wag added, ‘and where marriages end!’
3) Dublin Bread Company on Stephen’s Green, near to the Hugeonot Cemetery, with marvellous artwork adorning the walls and ceiling with a surreal Oriental theme, if I recall.
Was the Mermaid Cafe not on Merrion Row beside the Huguenot Cemetery?
Remember restaurant in basement in Cathedral St. . Lunch special was Stuffed Steak. Delicious. Anyone remember it’s name
It was called the Palace Restaurant and had an enormous barbecue/grill just inside the entrance door where magnificent steaks were grilled to perfection. I used to go there in the 60s. It was always packed
Neary’s pub anyone? The Brazen Head? this is the early 60’s. We had no money but seemed to have a wonderful time. Where has it all gone…now looking at grandchildren at University.
My dad worked in Jammet’s for a time, though we think he was only brought in to play in the restaurant’s football team! My Uncle Tommy ( my dad’s brother) was a waiter there until it closed in ’67. They both feature in Alison Maxwell’s book.
The Log Cabin in Wicklow Street. My parents used to take us there for our Christmas treat back in the 1950’s. Also Gaj’s (pronounced Guys) in Baggot Street – every day for lunch or early dinner after work. Fab. And not seen mention (maybe I missed it) of Quo Vadis in (I think) Trinity Street: the first ‘posh’ restaurant I ventured into. And don’t forget Trudi’s in Dun Laoghaire. Or Snaffles in Leeson Street … or the fantastic Art Deco cafe in the basement of Arnotts.
Anybody remember the Goodwill restaurant, beside the fire station in Pearse street, maybe around1950?
Anyone remember Smith’s of The Green, where Top Shop is now?
It was the most incredible delicatessen on Stephens Green.
At that spot, in early 1980s, I remember Pizza Hut produced a very good pie. And that was before a pizza pie was common in Dublin.
Speaking of pizza:
Bad Ass Café from inception in 1983 til suffering cultural vandalism 2011…who allowed that happen to a classic?
Correction:
“At that spot, in early 1980s, I remember Pizzaland produced a very good pie. And that was before”
Seemingly theres a difference between Pizza Hut and Pizzaland….regardless the fare at that place was good to my young, inexperienced palate.
Smiths of the Green was no.6 (?)Stephens Green North(I have the brass plate…somewhere,)and the cookery book author Maura(?)Lavery lived in Butter? Rathfarnham ………had her account with Smiths. A1 deli, best in Dublin. I knew James, her son, who died very young.R.I.P. Apologies for the (?’s) Edward.
Anybody remember the name of a late night wine bar close to what was the Gig’s Palace on Richmond Street, Dublin – this was the 1990s and you could go in for a bottle of cheap chianti and some breaded mushrooms and garlic bread after pub closing……
The Georgian….its next to the big old canal hotel which is now a language school. The Georgian is boarded up awaiting renovation while The Gig Place is now a trendy restaurant called The Richmond.
Caroline Records was next to Gigs and is still a dump.
The Manhattan nearby….you can see the sign is still there & site not yet renovated.
Remember Vertigo, pre The Gigs place – late night wine bar but bottles of Chianti, chips and garlic mushrooms served on sticky gingham tablecloths – fab 🙂
Scottiies was a late night snack bar near Leeson St. Bridge . In the Mirabeau. Which was owned by Sean Kinsella the only menu that was priced was the one given to the host. Very exclusive
Anyone remember a restaurant called The Place cafe..it was a restaurant and steakhouse. Our parents used bring us now and again for special occasions. It was near North Earl Street or up a side street near The Pro Cathedral.
Was it the Palace in Cathedral Street? Across from where the Revenue is now?
Anyone remember Le Disque, 4 Molesworth Street? I think it closed in 1973. It was known as Harvey’s Restaurant in the ’60’s. It was owned by Malcolm Glass, who was an export/import agent with an office in Essex Street, near the Dolphin Hotel, which had a Bierkellar in the basement serving Lowenbrau german beer and a restaurant which I remember being in for dinner in September 1972. Le Disque was one of the very first basement disco/restaurants with a wine bar, before Leeson Street really got going.
Many years ago in a previous life Le Disque opened in the basement of 4 Molesworth Street, Malcolm Glass was the owner, my friend Honore and I were the first disc jockeys – we operated a double turntable and thought we were the “Bees Knees” – I think the menu was mainly steak and wine, anyone remember the opening date – my memory is a bit fuzzy… I used to have a press cutting from the opening night – mislaid now…..
You can access newspapers on Irish News Archive. I see Le Disque advertised for ‘swinging young men with personality’ as managers. 🙂
‘Handsome trio of platter spinners’ – that would include you I suppose.
If you’d like copies of newspaper references to it, contact me through my website (I think you get it if you click on my name) and I will send you them.
Does anyone remember the name of the restaurant above the old Carlton Cinema on O’Connell Street??? racking my brains
It was the Charcoal Grill in the 70s.
I think it was just part of the cinema, Maura … both the Savoy and Metropole had restaurants as well.
Was the Green Rooster owned/run by a Mr Tullio in the early sixties?
In the 1950’s the Green Rooster was owned by an Australian called Willis who, I believe, had been an MP in Australia & who had a controversial history there. My memory is that Willis was involved in the Green Rooster as late as 1961.
Yes – he was the owner of the Green Rooster in the middle 60s. I worked there at weekends and earned loads of money
In tips People were so generous then.
I remember Mr.Tulio well He was short with dark hair – looked Italian. Nice man
FIRE Restaurant /The Supper Room at the Mansion House was built in 1864 – Dublin’s oldest and largest restaurant perhaps?
The Ritz in Middle Abbey Street was there for many years as was the Hideout alongside the Carlton cinema but my 1st taste of coffee was as a young child in the Skibo cafe Camden/Aungiers St.
Was Bewley’s not one of the earliest? 1840 I believe. I found this site when looking for a photo of The Log Cabin: pancakes dripping with creamed butter and maple syrup. What a joy after school in the 50’s! So many memories. What about Terry’s in Dun Laoghaire? Had amazing scampi there in 1967 a couple of days after my son was born in St. Michaels. I sneaked out of the nursing-home for a couple of hours.
We honeymooned in Dublin (June 1951) and used the Green Rooster often then. Great Food and service. Still have the menu . Sample prices: Sirloin Steak, green peas & potatoes-6/6, Bananas & cream-1/6, Pot of Tea- 10d.Wagga Wagga Surprise (a Sundae named by the Proprietor no doubt!)2/6. Wonderful memories. Food rationing then back home in London. Is the Green Rooster restaurant still there in O’Connell Street?
Arthur.
I used to work in Wagga! I would love to know what the ‘Wagga Wagga Surprise’ consisted of. Hard to imagine what feature of that (lovely) town could inspire a sundae.
I had a few lunches in The Palace Oconnell st
Opposite Bus Eireann early 70’s
Does anyone remember these Rathmines places. Joes Steakhouse, Mollys, or the Sunset Strip.
Molly was great, She served big steaks and plenty of tea and bread and butter
Anyone remember the name of a Greek restaurant in Lower Baggot Street late 70’s early 80’s – it was next door to The Baggot inn on the 1st floor ?
Zorba’s.
Thanks Trish …… I thought that myself but a friend of mine didn’t agree but hadn’t a name for it herself.
Greek restaurant Lower Baggot St, was called The Acropolis, I have that info from someone who used to lunch there regularly. Apparently the Moussaka was great!
The Acropolis was 46 Upper Baggot St. The one beside the Baggot Inn was Zorba’s.
Anyone remember a restaurant called maxims up a side street off Pearse st Trinity collage end there are gates on the street now (early 70s)
If I remember rightly Maxim’s was on the corner of Clare Lane and Clare Street where the new extension ofthe National Gallery is now
Thanks Frank your correct Clare lane I remember it now across the road from the Taj Mahall Indian restaurant
IFrom New Zealand Ive been trying to find out more about my grandfathers Berni Inn that he had in Grafton Street (?) Dublin around mid to late 1940’s. Aldo and Frank were cousins. My Grandfathers name was also Frank Berni, his wife was Domenica and they lived in Mt Merrion. I do not know when they sold it. I would be grateful for any information on dates, photos ect. Although google info states Berni Inns started 1950’s this was definitely mid to late 1940s..
In the 1970’s at Stephen’s Green (North) there was a Chinese Restaurant in the back of one of the buildings between the corner of Grafton Street and Smyth’s of the Green. You went in along a hallway/passage way to the restaurant at the back. (NB – I’m not confusing it with The Universal, later The Imperial, in Wicklow Street which had a similar entrance)
Can anyone remember its name ? …………. China City kinda comes to mind but it might not have been that at all
The Fortune Cookie?
Don’t know Trish …. while something about the name sounds familiar, I really can’t remember – I was hoping somebody might know for sure.
Hi! About the Unicorn Restaurant. I actually worked there in the kitchen with Chef Walsh in Mr Sidoli’s time in 1973. It was still on Merrion row no. 11. I remember the old kitchen upstairs. They had just opened the Unicorn Minor in Merrion court that same year (1973) so the old restaurant was still alive and well on merrion row in the 70s! Would love more information about the place!
The old Dublin , Francis Street ?
Had my engagement party in the Paradiso in 1964 Great night with few special friends