Note Dublin — Restaurant in Dublin

My Mum had been gifted a voucher for here so we booked lunch for the first time. We ordered the set 3 course limited lunch menu as there were no other options excluding snacks of focaccia or oysters. We chose a bottle of white wine from Puglia priced at €40 to share (2nd cheapest on the menu: overall limited value to be found on the wine menu). There is a discretionary 12.5% service charge added to the bill. We were charged €4 for two bottles of still water. We didn't ask for the second bottle and weren't informed there was a charge for the still water then we were charged a further service charge on top of that. The restaurant wasn't busy and has an uppity feel but did have some tables occupied at 2pm on a Friday afternoon. The set lunch menu was €32 per person which on paper looks good value. To start there was a waldorf salad (no other choice). It was tasty especially with the blue cheese and dressing. However, it was awkward to eat as the chicory (I think) was sword shaped. For mains, I chose the cavatelli in brodo with hedgehog mushrooms. It was tasty but I have eaten far better pasta dishes. I also got to try what my Mum ordered: pork collar with celeriac remoulade. Again flavourful but an incomplete dish if you don't order a side. For dessert, we were given the rhubarb fool (no other choice). Very tasty, however I was looking at this menu as a Speech and Language Therapist trained in managing swallowing difficulties and the limited menu had a high proportion of high risk foods (IDDSI) in terms of how they were presented eg the sword shaped chicory, the stringy apple, walnuts and the thick fibrous rhubarb stalks. I had a knife to cut up and modify the salad but didn't have a knife to cut the rhubarb stalks in the dessert and the spoon didn't cut it adequately. Perhaps something for the chef to consider so that food can be safer and managed more elegantly. There are other options in Dublin which I will explore the next time in terms of food...

We booked online - requires credit card, recommended by a friend in the area and a person I sat next to at the pub in Dublin yesterday who knows the chef.

Online menu is 3 courses for 33 - I looked the Menu up via website the day before and look amazing!

Today the menu was completely different. Our waitress was nice, good wine menu, and we ordered a 50€ white from France, it was delicious.

We added the focaccia as a pre- tasty, salty, spongy excellent! Added the potatoes also good.

First was crudite (French for veggies platter) In basic terms fresh sliced veggies with a sauce. I was surprised the chef didn’t add any elements to this basic dish, like cooking it. I understand it’s spring and exciting that veggies grow but some elements to know a chef chose this as my first course - maybe a toast nut or grill or sear some portion. Just cut up a a few veggies and serve with a dip?? My face…other people’s faces, were we on camera, was it a joke, was I missing a artistic moment…I felt all emotions, this is art, but disappointed was my overall feeling. Rabbits crunching the garden vibe.

Let’s move to second course, simplified glorified fish and chips? Not really but if I’m feeling negative I would say it. Fried cod with a salad - wait SALAD again after all those raw veggies?? Thankfully underneath the cold salad leaf was a warm puree of potatoes or other white root.

Lastly, dessert was apple strudel. I live in the alps so know a good strudel and this was not it. I was excited about the previously advertised lemon curd.

Bill 124€ two people Best laughed of trip (first course!) Pleasant experience but wrong daily...

We visited Note Dublin with very high hopes, especially after reading so many glowing reviews. Unfortunately, the experience fell far short of expectations. Let's start with the portions—absolutely abysmal. For the price they charge, you'd expect a great experience, but what we had was underwhelming to say the least. It's as if the kitchen is playing a joke on its patrons, serving up tiny, overpriced, bland dishes that even lack in good presentation.

Yes, the staff was very nice, and I genuinely appreciated their warmth and attentiveness. However, no amount of friendly service can compensate for what is, frankly, an exploitative dining experience. The ambiance? It was okay. Nothing special, certainly nothing that would make up for the other disappointments. If you're looking for a place to drop a significant amount of money for a meagre meal, this might be the spot for you.

One oyster (I mean ONE oyster, not "one portion of oysters"), one small piece of focaccia, one small starter (shared), two dishes of pasta, one glass of wine and one non-alcoholic cocktail, for 124 euros. For that price one would expect impeccable presentation and great taste, but none of that was delivered.

I truly, honestly wanted to like Note Dublin. I did, especially given all the praise it has received, but the reality is that this place is all style and no substance. Some of the reviews do mention a recent-ish drop in quality (not at all matched by a drop in price). I wish I paid more attention to those. Save your money and your time—there are far better places in Dublin where you can enjoy a high quality meal without...