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One Pico Restaurant

Quietly located in a laneway near St. Stephen's Green, just a couple of minutes walk from Grafton Street, Eamonn O'Reilly's One Pico is one of Dublin's most popular fine dining restaurants.

The surroundings are elegant, with crisp white linen and fine china and glassware, and the cooking is exceptionally good: sophisticated, technically demanding dishes are invariably executed with confidence and flair.

The range of menus offered includes lunch and pre-theatre menus which, as usual in restaurants of this calibre, represent great value, an 8-course Tasting Menu, a vegetarian menu (on request), and an á la carte, with about ten quite luxurious dishes offered on each course, plus optional side dishes which should not be necessary as each main course is individually garnished.

There is an occasional small nod to Irish traditions, but this is classical French cooking with a modern twist, albeit based for the most part on the very best local ingredients. Specialities include creative seafood dishes - roasted skate wing is accompanied by crisp potato with crab, spinach purée and herb butter, for example - and there are also upbeat versions of traditional meat dishes such as a braised beef daube with roasted vine tomatoes.

Eamonn O'Reilly cooks with first class ingredients, turning them into classic dishes with lovely clean flavours, and his own unique style on each dish.

To finish, it is difficult to decide between an innovative and delicious cheese menu, or beautifully presented desserts that taste as good as they look - and include refreshing choices like a summer creation of luscious Wexford strawberries with creme patissiere, crisp tartine & strawberry granitaé.

This is a fine restaurant and has earned its place among the city's best.

*A sister restaurant is Bleu Bistro Moderne - see entry.

: Seats 85 (private room, 46). Air conditioning. L& D Mon-Sat: L12-3, D 6-11. Set L €30, Early D €38 (6-7.30); Set D €38, Tasting Menu €90, also á la carte. House wine €28. SC discretionary. Closed Sun, bank hols, 24 Dec-5 Jan. Amex, Diners, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

2 mins walk off St Stephens Green/Grafton Street near government buildings.