Pichet — Restaurant in Dublin

I would love to give Pichet 5 stars, it certainly deserves 5 stars but for one unfortunate incident.

On the occasion of my wife's 60th birthday we had a fantastic time with 19 in our party with all the usual requirements and tastes.

The set menu for €68.50 was excellent value with just enough variety to give a good choice. The selected wines were fantastic, particularly the Monterals Chardonnay.

The waitress and the rest of the staff were superlative, everyone on the night and afterwards sang their praises for everything. It was worth every cent.

So why only 4 stars?

Well the process to book the table and check the menus had been ongoing for 2 months with a couple of site visits as well as a business dinner beforehand to taste the wines and check things out.

Everyone knew this was a 60th birthday celebration. This would have explained all too well the requirement for a prosecco toast ordered in advance for short speech and welcome.

Now I fully understand on a Valentine's weekend that no romantic couple wants to hear a loud party go through interminable I love you speeches at the nearby table. The issue I have is that the perfectly reasonable restaurant policy that speeches be held back to the end of the evening was not explained beforehand.

This would have saved €160 worth of Prosecco to the right time.

But that wasn't the problem. The problem was the passive aggressive manager explaining this firmly and repeatedly, then repeatedly, then repeatedly again and again and again putting me in an excruciating and embarrassing situation where the entire party just wanted to yell at hm to shut up and/or punch his lights out.

My wife was in tears.

There is an easy solution to this.

First, ensure your staff are trained so that they can communicate restaurant policy on speeches at an early stage so everyone is clear.

Second, send your restaurant manager on a course on manners and cop-on so he doesn't do his very best to ruin what was a 5...

We stumbled upon this restaurant by chance while looking for a place to eat without a reservation and were surprised to see it had a Michelin star. We decided to give it a try and asked for a table. At first, we were told—rather arrogantly—that it wasn’t possible. As we were leaving, we were suddenly called back and told we could have a table, but only for an hour. This didn’t appeal to us since it meant rushing through the meal, and when we hesitated, we were told in a dismissive tone that we wouldn’t find anywhere else to eat anyway. Eventually, we agreed, and the “one hour” somehow turned into an hour and twenty minutes.

From the moment we walked in, we felt unwelcome. The staff treated us as if we didn’t belong there or couldn’t afford to dine there. The atmosphere in the dining room itself was pleasant, but the service was condescending, cold, and far from what you would expect from a Michelin-starred restaurant. When asked if we wanted wine or water, we politely declined, only to receive another unfriendly remark. It was clear we were not made to feel like valued guests.

Because of this treatment, we decided to only order one main course each instead of a full meal. The food itself was fine—the sirloin and tagliatelle were tasty, though overpriced for what was offered. The real issue was the attitude of the staff. To make matters worse, we noticed other guests who arrived after us, also without a reservation, being seated without any issues and treated much more warmly. This only reinforced our feeling that we were not welcome.

The only positive note was one waitress (short hair) who was genuinely kind, but unfortunately, she was the exception. Overall, while the food was decent, the dining experience was terrible. The lack of hospitality, arrogance, and dismissive behavior ruined the evening for us. From a Michelin-starred restaurant, we expected much more. We left disappointed and will certainly not...

Having experienced many dining destinations across the globe, I can confidently assert that Pichet stands out as an outstanding establishment for world-class cuisine. The moment you step inside, the ambiance strikes a perfect balance between classic elegance and modern comfort, immediately making you feel welcomed.

The food at Pichet is exceptional. Head Chef Stephen Gibson's menu is a creative interpretation of French cuisine with an Irish twist. Each dish is artistically presented and skillfully combines the freshest local ingredients, resulting in a delightful dance of flavors in your mouth. Standouts during our visit included the pan-roasted duck and the perfectly seared scallops. For dessert, the dark chocolate delice was a taste of heaven, the perfect finish to a beautiful meal.

The wine list deserves its own accolades. A thoughtfully curated selection of both local and international wines caters to a broad spectrum of palates and perfectly complements the food. The knowledgeable sommelier provided excellent recommendations tailored to our taste and the dishes we chose.

But it's not just the food and drink that make Pichet a standout. The service is impeccable. The staff is attentive without being intrusive, displaying a deep understanding of their craft. They took special care to ensure we were well taken care of throughout the night, with perfect timing and a genuinely warm approach.

Pichet has mastered the delicate balance between high-quality, innovative cuisine and a relaxed, comfortable dining experience. It's not just a meal at Pichet; it's a culinary journey. A visit to Dublin is incomplete without dining at Pichet. Highly recommended for those seeking a remarkable gastronomic experience.

I will surely return to Pichet during my next visit to Dublin. My compliments to the entire team for creating such a memorable...