The Butcher Grill — Attraction in Dublin

The Butcher Grill had been recommended to me by steak lovers. When trying to check the menu online, I almost dismissed the place because the website seems to favour form over function: it looks cool but is very hard to read.

All my staff interactions were very pleasant, starting from booking all the way through payment: I inquired via email for a same day reservation and got a reply and booking confirmation within a couple of minutes! All staff were very welcoming and friendly and made us feel very well looked after (thank you!)

The food was very tasty, though I would have loved to see one side dish included in the EUR 30 fish dish to consider it great value for money.

The cocktails were very nice as well!

The main reason I struggle to recommend the place is the atmosphere: it is a small space, decorated in a way that looks really appealing (to me anyway). However, similar to my issue with the website, I feel like the place was designed to look good, not to perform its function best: The acoustics are really dreadful and even though the place wasn't packed when we dined there and the table next to us was free the whole time, we had a really hard having a conversation over all the noise and sadly it felt like a great relief to get out of there.

Would I go again? I might, if I plan on dining alone and bringing some good isolating headphones, because, again, the food was very good and the staff was lovely.

If there would be improvements made to the acoustics, I would be happy come back with company and recommend it to others without...

Food was fantastic and definitely rated 5 stars. We thoroughly enjoyed our cocktails too. The best meal we had had in Dublin until the bill arrived with an unwelcome, punative and totally unjustified EUR 70 surcharge for a large group. We were 5 adults but were seated at a table for 4 with a chair placed uncomfortably on the end. The female Manager/waitress had even verbally commented to us that the table was too small for 5 when serving our food. Naturally we questioned the charge and the Manager was sent over who was brusque and clearly irritated. She said this was a standard charge applied by all restaurants in Ireland (it isn't) that it was clearly mentioned on the menu (it wasn't and nor was it when I called to make the reservation) and that we only had to say and they would take it off (which they ungraciously did). There was absolutely no justification whatsoever for imposing any extra charge. In fact, quite the reverse as they had had 5 three course dinners and drinks from a table of 4. Quite honestly it simply felt as if we were being ripped off. The Manager's attitude was frankly rude and disrespectful. A real pity as up until then we had had a great experience which was completely ruined by unnecessary greed and poor handling...

The biggest disappointment. Me and my boyfriend went for the last supper tonight before I headed off travelling and it was such a let down. The ambiance is fab and such a nice venue. I will say the starters were very nice. However, my medium filet steak came cold, sent it back and they literally threw it back on the grill to cook more and it came back well done. I was so upset I didn’t even finish it. Explained to the server I wasn’t happy for the second time, and still got charged full price for a meal I didn’t eat. Didn’t even offer an alternative, as a past server it’s like they didn’t know what to do when a customer is disappointed. Hugely hugely disappointing for a nearly 50 quid steak. Very very below average meal for the price. I can’t believe my favourite part of a near €200 meal was the complimentary sourdough bread with olive oil and salt to start, absolutely divine. Wine is extortionate at minimum €45 a bottle. Wouldn’t recommend, had heard the greatest things and had booked a month in advance, was so so excited!!! Honestly the biggest waste of money and time on my last night at home. Huge regrets, don’t waste your time- book anywhere else...