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22nd Jul 2017

This Three Course Early Bird Dinner Needs To Be Your Next Date Night

clodagh

Finding a good Early Bird menu in Dublin can often be like trying to find a needle in a hay-stack.

There are countless options available that you don’t even know where to begin, and, more importantly, if they’re any good.

So what if I was to tell you of a three course Early Bird menu for €26.95, that runs every week-night, and is simply divine?

That’s what you get in the stunning Dalkey restaurant, 1909 Restaurant & Wine Bar.

Situated on a corner in Dalkey town, you’d be forgiven for walking past this restaurant without a glance inside. 

Its somewhat muted exterior holds no indication of what you will find inside.

You’ll be greeted some of the friendliest waiting staff around and – if you arrive after 7pm – by the live music courtesy of the baby grand piano that’s slightly hidden underneath the stairs.

We were seated upstairs, where we had to take a few minutes to take in the decor. Paintings, books, chandeliers; they all helped the truly relaxed atmosphere that flows through the restaurant. 

We decide to go for the Early Bird option, but were quickly stumped at what to choose.

The menu has a really great range, from mussels to steak to lamb belly, you’ll find yourself browsing through all options until you’re forced to make a decision.

To start with, we ordered the seafood chowder and the stuffed Yorkshire pudding, and we devoured them far too quickly for our liking. They were gorgeous. 

The Yorkshire pudding was filling without feeling greasy and soggy like they can be, and the chowder smelled incredible.

We finished our first course and were on the lookout for our next one.

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We followed this with fillet steak and goat’s cheese Wellington.

Even though we were both happy with our choices, we had food envy of every dish we didn’t order, because we could’t get enough. 

We got ahead of ourselves and also ordered some home fries and roasted veg to go with our mains, but we could barely finish them. Not that I minded, as I would order the home fries for that garlic mayo alone.

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The cheese Wellington was served on a bed of onion, peppers, courgettes and topped with a mushroom and onion puree that I needed way more of.

The steak was similarly served on some caramelized onions, along with horseradish and peppercorn sauce. 

The dishes were presented in such a way that you felt bad for digging in; they know how to do food presentation. 

Though we were suitably stuffed and happy, we decided to go the extra mile and order a cheese board to finish the night off.

Camembert, Brie, Irish cheddar and blue cheese served with fresh jam, honey and crackers was the perfect way to end the night.

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While it was all delicious, I’m sure you’re wondering the big question: how much?

The bill came to a total of €73.95, which we were more than happy to pay. There were some supplements for the steak and cheese, but it was well worth it.

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While it may not be the cheapest option out there, it’s certainly worth the trip to try it.

From the music to the ambiance to the decor, we felt instantly at ease and content as soon as we settled into our seats. 

Another thing I really enjoyed was the staff, who you could tell who were really passionate about food and wine, and more than happy to explain your dishes and wine to you. 

And when you’re finished, full and feeling sleepy, you can head to Dun Laoghaire for a refreshing walk along the pier to brush the cobwebs away.

Come here and you’ll remember your experience here, for the best reasons.

READ NEXT: This Dublin Café Boasts The Most Beautiful Dishes We’ve Ever Seen – And They Taste Even Better

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