L'Ecrivain

L’Ecrivain’s 21st birthday, in 2010, saw one of Dublin’s top restaurants receive a well-thought out redesign and there is still a freshness and buzz about the dining room that is more usually associated with a brand new restaurant,

This celebrated fine dining establishment has a special sparkle and a convivial vibe has always been a trademark of L’Ecrivain, where loyal diners come expecting wonderful cooking and leave feeling content every time. The combination of Derry Clarke’s multi-starred cooking and Sallyanne’s front of house hospitality create a top class experience to savour.

Classic French techniques meet the best of Irish produce in the kitchen to create a menu of imaginative and elegant dishes. A starter of pan-seared scallops might be accompanied by apple meringue, smoked roe crème fraîche tartare, sea buckthorn & apple - a combination typical of cooking which, while open to new ideas, is never a slave to fashion.

This Dublin restaurants seafood dishes are exceptional, whether it’s cod with white asparagus, squid, parsley purée squid ink aioli, chorizo & pistachio crumb, or maybe monkfish with artichoke purée, beans, chicken confit tortellini baby gem lettuce.

But game in season is a speciality also, notably Wicklow venison, and meat lovers will never be disappointed either - and earthy autumn dish of pork  with parsley root purée, roast beetroot, pork brick smoked bacon & apple popcorn demonstrates the importance of local ingredients and the innate understanding of seasonal pairings.

A superb European farmhouse cheese plate is offered but it would be hard to resists desserts, which are invariably a visual delight and can be guaranteed to round off a meal on a high note, from exquisite chocolate creations (perhaps a sublime chocolate & passion fruit combination) to Carrot & Walnut - carrot cake like you've never tasted it before, with candied walnut ice cream chantenay carrot confit, and verjus sultanas ...

Renowned sommelier Martina Delaney presides over an impressive cellar, and her knowledge and passion of the broad wine list guarantees a perfect match for your food. House wine starts at €35 and there is a good selection of half-bottles and wines by the glass, as well as plenty of French heavy weights.

Two intimate private dining rooms and the chic ground floor bar make L’Ecrivain an ideal choice for a private party, small wedding or celebration. Good value lunch menus mean it is an affordable option for a smart business lunch too.