Marco Pierre White Steakhouse & Grill — Restaurant in Dublin

Ate here last night, had been looking forward to it but felt let down in terms of value for money and food. At €168 for two we didn’t have our main courses at the same time and went to a different restaurant for desert as the service was poor.

The starters were nice, decor is as you’d expect for a pricey restaurant (lovely) and we went for the recommended wine which was very good. Ambiance was ok although at one stage a junkie was at the table beside us begging for about 6 minutes before the staff noticed and moved her on. Not something you want while eating.

During our starter I remarked how unusual it was that the table beside us was complaining the steaks were over cooked. Then our arrived and I realised why.

My wife and I ordered medium rare. My wife’s was medium well done and mine extremely well done and chewy. Spend about 10 mins trying to get the waitresses attention and sent it back. My wife was hungry so decided to start her food and she had finished he dinner 10 minutes before mine arrived. No one likes eating a meal while another person looks on.

The waitress was sent back to our table to explain char grilled to me... I felt as if they thought I was being unreasonable, I tried to explain that you’d expect a medium steak to be pink in the middle and that I ordered medium rare and there was no hint of pink at all. I didn’t really want to get into an argument and say that it wasn’t my first time eating steak in a restaurant so I just suggested if that was their version of medium rare, then I’d like a steak that was pink in the middle and maybe they should cook it rare this time to avoid it being overdone. In a good restaurant you shouldn’t have to adjust your asking because the chef doesn’t know what medium rare should be.

The chips were nice and the cream spinach might have been nice when it was warm but having sat on the table for 25 mins by the time my steak arrived it was cold and unpleasant. It would have been a nice gesture if they had brought a new (warm) side with the second steak as it took a while and the first plate taken away had half the side on it. The second steak was rare as asked and I was happy with that, so it was just attention to detail.

We poured our own wine most of the night (only exception was when the wine was delivered). Not a huge deal but usually in nice restaurants little details like this are how the waiting staff make their tips. We had to ask for water from the waitress and the head waiter, to be topped up with water. It felt odd being asked if everything was alright while having an empty wine and water glass in front of me and a side plate with a single onion ring, While my wife ate a main.

The waitress was very friendly but would have benefited from a little training, which in turn would have provided a better dinning experience and would increase her tips.

Maybe they were short staff that Saturday and the regular chef was on holidays?

So all in all we won’t be back. Avoid the steak if you do go there and at €168 for a two course meal there are many better restaurants near by who care about...

This was a last minute decision. I passed at 5.30pm and asked if they had a table for 2 at 7.30pm. I wasn't guaranteed a table inside but was told they could give me a table on the closed terrace. I was happy enough. When we arrived for our reservation they had a table inside. What struck k me was that by the time e we arrived there were a number of empty tables, these tables were never filled while we were there and the place was empty by 9.30pm. It was a Sunday night in January. Now I get it that they didn't want to guarantee an inside reservation for 2 people by seating g them at a table for 4 incase they would get a 4 person walking at the last minute but A Sunday night in Jan they could have take the chance. Our table was a very small table, cafe5style. Infact I was wondering how we would fit everything o the table when the food would come. We'll we did but not much room for comfort. The table was so close to the next table we felt like we were one double date with the couple at it. Service was very attentive and swift. Intact we were a bit surprised our wine order was taken instantly and we had barely taken a drink when the starters arrived. A bit to fast for our liking. However the food was excellent. The fried calamari starter was beautiful, Hot and tender, tasty, seasoned beautifully and not overdone with aioli sauce, a decent portion served on a bed of baby gem salad. My wife had the hot sourdough loaf. It was fresh hot and tasty. We both had ordered the same mains, Center cut fillet beef, medium rare, three times cooked fries my wife had mash, and we had a sideof creamed spinach. The Mash was very tasty, the spinach was delicious creamy and flavoursome. The three times cooked fries were crisp and fresh but tasted like frozen fries and not hand cut fresh fries. The portion of fries was very small, I could count the fries, I don't need to be stuffed but a few more fries would certainly have looked better and would have been enjoyed. I am a big man with a big appetite. The fillet Beef was simply delicious, the nicest I have had for a while, flavoursome seasoned just right and cooked just right. It was so tender and melt I the mouth. The garlic butter served with it was a huge portion, if only the fries were as good a portion. For desert I had Crème Brûlée, it was absolutely perfect. Just as it should be. Over all was I satisfied? Yes. My biggest criticism would be that service was too prompt a little breathing time between courses would have been nice and perhaps some table linen instead of the café style...

So, I'm very late to try Marco Pierre's, I'd heard mixed things about the place over the years.. but I love a good cut of a medium rare, so I was happy to finally throw my fork and knife into the ring. We sat out in the front terrace which has a comfortable and inviting garden aesthetic; our server was attentive and warm, and had her balance between humour and helpfulness down to a tee. We started with a delightful take on a margarita cocktail, and continued with an easy going french red. But.. unfortunately the food did not match our initial delight. I had settled on the beef cheek, which was incredibly sinewy - separating the meat with my knife and fork made it look like the strands of beef were held together with PVA glue, though I will say.. the jus & mash it came with was delicious. I'd like to think i was just unfortunate with a cheek that had been rushed through its cooking time. My two dinner mates had steak, one was satisfied, the other had left behind a selection of dissected fat and undercooked pieces of beef. Both agreed there are better steakhouses in Dublin. The part that irked me though, was dessert. There were several delicious homemade ice creams on the menu: malted milk, salted caramel.. perhaps more (I'm not sure) that came on the side of the tart tatin / choc torte etc. I'm a sucker for ice cream, so I ordered the selection from the menu. My friends' desserts arrived down with their delectable homemade ice creams on the side (and I got my spoon in there just to be sure!) ...but nope, I got a crystal bowel of the cheapest shop bought chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla ice cream that made me yearn for the carton of carte dor in my mother's freezer. It was a disappointing night of food and incredibly frustrating - everything we tried could have been a great dish, but instead they're shooting themselves in the foot with a couple of poor menu decisions and...