herbstreet — Restaurant in Dublin

Updated 11/10/21: A friend wanted to go to herbstreet so I was there again at the weekend. I was disappointed that in the month since my original review below there had been no reply. I decided to update my review here with anything I had to add from the second trip and it would hopefully all get seen together. I don't write reviews to be mean or unfair, but hopefully to give constructive feedback to a business (I would rather know what's going on so I could improve, than potentially lose customers and not know why) and for other diners so they can know more about what they can expect before they spend hard-earned money. From the second trip I did note there was a side dish that never arrived, and a clogged toilet. Not hugely problematic but noted. As for the why that might be the case, while it wasn't as busy as I have seen it can get (I do understand busier = more things can get missed) I did consider there could be staff shortages customers wouldn't be aware of.

Original post: Usually have a great experience here. The owner seems very friendly and passionate.

Didn't have the usual 5 star experience today sadly. Had booked to celebrate a special occasion with family as this is a place I love. After the meal we ordered coffees and were told we would have to have them as takeaway. This was 63 minutes into the booking. I was a bit shocked, but we mentioned that the website/booking confirmation lists 1hr 30m and thought this was a simple table mix up.

We got our coffees, and then a bill was quickly dropped down. I was pretty embarrassed. I asked, so...how long is the booking? And it seems the website was wrong as apparently it should say 1hr 15m. The server then said as there was a mix up we could stay to enjoy the coffees however. But then she came back a third time with a card machine and requested payment there and then (at 1hr 20m). We left shortly after.

Another thing that bothered me was the dish I got. The mussels when I got them a few weeks ago were in a delicious tomato sauce, but today were just in a little water. I am guessing that the mussels are steamed in one pot, and the tomato-garlic sauce is in another, and that at plating the sauce was mistakenly not put in the bottom of the dish, hence the water left over from the mussels' steam was all that was there. And the bread it was served with seemed slightly stale, it's possible it was cut in the early morning prep and had hardened.

All in all I'm disappointed, like I said usually have a wonderful experience, but today was...

Myself and my partner have been customers at this restaurant for years now. I have to say that the staff and food have definitely downgraded. The only reason I am giving two stars and not one, is because the owner is extremely passionate and friendly and we’ve come here for years. I don’t usually write negative reviews but I was too disappointed with todays visit to not leave feedback. Beforehand when we ordered coffees, and if the waiter accidentally spilled them they would offer a new clean plate or offer to make another coffee. This is something that is expected. If you pay for a coffee you don’t expect the waiter to spill it on the table. However today one of the young waiter guys served the coffee and spilled it and walked away. This is what I mean by the staff downgraded, as in the past they would have offered to clean the spill. Secondly, I had ordered eggs Benedict and asked specifically for them to be medium. As in, the white part cooked and the middle runny. Just as many other customers, seeing an undercooked white part of the egg is definitely not appetising. The eggs were brought to me undercooked. I told the waiter that I asked for them medium and I also apologised as I don’t usually ask for plates to be brought back into the kitchen. He apologised and agreed that the egg was undercooked. For some reason, a second female waitress which didn’t serve us found the need to come out to our table and began debating that in fact the eggs were medium (despite the other waiter agreeing they were undercooked). I embarrassingly tried to explain to her that the white part was undercooked and that a medium cooked egg isn’t like that. She was extremely rude in her attitude. They brought the dish out again and I couldn’t believe that now, the eggs were over cooked. See picture below. I’ve had many poached eggs in my life and this is definitely not a medium egg, rather it is well done. On top of this the food was bland with little to no seasoning. Partner ordered pancakes and they were not the same as before. I didn’t finish the food and of course I still paid for the dish as it is fair. The owner apologised but the waitress didn’t even say have a nice day or thank you when we walked passed her. Great owner, incredibly rude waitress. I would’ve been ok with the dish if the waitress wouldn’t have made a point to come out and scold us on the eggs situation. More so the staffs attitude that made our visit at Herbstreet such an...

We would definitely not recommend this place.

My friend booked a table here as we were also going to a show in Bord Gais Theatre. There were 3 of us and the table was booked for 5pm. I had read lots of negative reviews but because my friend had booked it I didn't want to say anything and was willing to try it for myself.

The place opens at 5pm and we arrived at 5.05 and when we went in there were only 2 other tables occupied. My friend told the guy we had a table booked and gave her name. He checked his list, marked off the name and looked around him and said "there's a table over there". He pointed at the table directly inside the front door that was set for 4 people. All three of us hesitated because the restaurant was more or less empty and the table inside the door would be a last resort because it was cold when the door opened and there would be traffic in and out behind us. My friend said nicely " that table might be a bit cold at the door, is there any other table you can give us?" Directly behind him there were plenty of other empty tables. We cannot figure out why, except that perhaps he didn't like the fact we would question his decision, but he said " No, those tables are for 4 people this table is for 3." The table he was directing us to inside the door was already set for 4 people when he said it so it was obvious he was contradicting himself.

My friend pointed out that all the tables were the same but he argued that the one he was putting us at was smaller because it was for 3 people (in his opinion) although it was set for 4. This amused me a bit, a rectangular table that only sits 3 people?!

We again pointed at the other empty tables and asked if we could not just have one of them. He replied, "No! We are fully booked!" We had booked a table, we were there on time and the place was almost empty so we couldnt figure out what the problem was apart from his attitude.

At this stage I felt the negative reviews I had read were actually true and I wouldn't be happy staying to eat at a place where staff had this attitude so I assured my friend we'd get a table somewhere else to eat and we did. No problem. Food was fine and the staff who served us were most helpful and polite. I dont know how good the food is there but if this restaurant doesn't train their staff properly in how to serve reasonable customers there won't be too many people who will bother to hang around after the very bad first impression created...