The Merrion Inn — Restaurant in Dublin

It's small, it's not in an area with many other restaurants, it has "Inn" in the title, and it has a big plastic ice cream cone out front -- but The Merrion Inn has some of the best food and atmosphere that we've found anywhere in the area.

The (owner? maitre 'd? head waiter?) always has a friendly greeting and is super helpful if you need a table without a reservation ("Can you finish in an hour? Yes? Have a seat!") The entire staff are helpful and friendly, and the interior is lovely and reasonably spacious. And there's usually some sport on the telly.

But it's really the food (okay, the cocktails are wonderful too) that makes the MI stand out--everything we've had has been absolutely amazing, and at very reasonable prices. Among the dishes we've sampled there are Trout, Salmon, Featherblade Steak, Curry, and various pasta dishes. Not a single dud, and some were truly outstanding. And interestingly enough, the appetizers and sides (roast veg, mash, and risotto) are as good as the mains!

We go there often, and can't recommend it highly enough.

Reservations...

The place looks great and is nicely laid out. The menu offers a good selection of pub grub, a bit on the pricey side for what you get but no complaints about the food itself. It was let down by the service.

The booking system was down when we arrived, so staff didn't know how to seat us at one of several empty tables. We were left standing in the doorway and nonsensically told that they didn't want to put us at the wrong table (despite any four-person table being able to sit four people).

We were eventually shown to a table by a manager and they took our drinks order. I was handed a bottle of wine and two glasses which I had to open and pour myself.

They took our food orders promptly but one order was wrong - we were served the roast of the day (roast pork with potato and veg) instead of the special (pork tenderloin, black pudding stuffing and other trimmings).

Lastly, one person was still eating her food when a waiter asked to clear the table.

Overall, a decent spot. Could be much better if...

Soo delicious! The chicken was crunchy on the outside, soft and juicy on the inside. Seasoning was just right, not too much and not to little. Perfection. Chips were delicious, crunchy on the outside but not too hard. Salted gently with freshly grinded sea salt (rock salt anyways). Slaw.. I wouldn't try to start guesing what was in there in terms of spices, but it was again a delight. I wouldn't normally take home any leftovers, but as the portions are big (at least for me) and it was so good, I couldn't resist, and I finished it later at home. It was really good. Staff also very friendly and helpful. Excellent service and food. My colleagues had some types of pasta, someone had fish cake and some other dishes. Everyone really enjoyed their meals. Nice atmosphere and vibe inside. Left the tip off course as well deserved for great service...