Octopussy's Seafood Tapas — Restaurant in Fingal

An Unforgettable and Deeply Disheartening Dining Experience in Howth

Last Saturday, under the sunshine, I took my son to Howth for a lovely day out. We decided to try a well-known and always-busy restaurant called Octopussy. I’d heard of it many times but never managed to get a table due to the long queues. This time, we arrived early — at 11:50 AM — and were among the first in line. The restaurant was supposed to open at 12:00, but it opened at 12:10.

We were seated at a shared table with another couple. We assumed, as most would, that orders would be taken in the order of arrival. However, the couple who joined us later flagged a waitress and were served promptly, while we were continuously ignored. Three staff members passed by multiple times without acknowledging us, despite our visible attempts to get their attention.

After nearly 10 minutes, someone finally came to take our order. Then began a long and bewildering wait. Every table around us was being served — except ours. Even the couple sharing our table, who ordered after us, had almost finished eating by noon, while we had not received even a bowl of soup.

When I asked a staff member what had happened, she brushed me off with “Your order is not ready.” I tried again, speaking politely to another staff at the counter. Without checking anything, she told me, “Your food is fresh to prepare, it takes time.” But before I could respond, a man from the kitchen suddenly started shouting at me from across the restaurant: “If you cannot wait, you may leave!”

At that moment, every head turned. My son and I — the only Asian customers there — were humiliated in front of a full house. I was shocked. I’ve traveled and dined in many countries, and I’ve never encountered such direct hostility or discrimination.

I wanted to leave immediately. But my son is underage, and I didn’t want to escalate the situation. So we stayed. In silence. In discomfort.

At 13:10 — over 45 minutes after we ordered — the first dish arrived. No apology. No explanation. The atmosphere remained tense, with kitchen noise amplified, pans slammed aggressively. At one point, my son said softly: “Mom, I don’t like this place. I feel awful here.”

The food? Mediocre, nothing special. Certainly not worth the hype. A small bowl of cold fried shrimp was brought toward the end with a vague “Apologies for… the messing up.”

But this wasn’t just about slow service or cold food. This was about how we were singled out, ignored, shouted at, and ultimately made to feel unwelcome — because of who we are. I left that restaurant carrying more than just disappointment.

I’m sharing this not just as a review, but as a human being and a mother. No one should experience this — especially not when all you wanted was a joyful lunch with your child during...

They have the best oysters! The plan for the day was to drive to Howth and explore the town. But heavy rains and wind ruined those plans. Since we were on this side of the town, we decided to make the most of it and look for a meal of seafood. I had Octopussy's Tapas bookmarked when researching for the trip, so we decided to stop in for lunch. It was a Thursday at around 1:30, and the restaurant was almost full. It's a very small restaurant and it's mostly high top tables with bar stools, so it wasn't exactly looking baby-friendly, since had our 8-month old and a stroller with us. Luckily, they have a small back room (literally a room that can probably seat 4-6 people) that was available, and they seat us back there. It was nice and cozy, and cute - decorated like you were on a ship. Here is what we ordered:

-Carlingford Oysters (served in the shell with fresh lemon) - these oysters were everything! They were big, shucked properly, and tasted super fresh. It didn't need anything but the lemon but they did recommend us trying their housemade hot sauce. We did and we loved it, and ended up buying a bottle to take home. We also ended up ordering some more oysters for dessert (lol) -Seafood Chowder (squid, mussels, smoked coley, & prawns served with homemade brown bread) - this was full of seafood. It is heavy though since chowder is cream-based so I would recommend sharing this, as opposed to ordering one on your own. The brown bread was also very nice -Seafood Paella (paella rice, chorizo, mussels, gambas, squid rings, and smoked coley) - another dish filled with seafood. They don't skimp out here! I could have done without the squid rings (they tasted rubber-bandy, like they're from frozen), and the smoked coley. I'm not a huge fan of smoked foods. I didn't really taste it in the chowder - maybe the cream covered it up, but I was able to taste it more in the paella -Whiskey Scallops (cooked in whiskey butter) - very rich but the scallops were good. You definitely want to dip some of the brown bread in this sauce

There were so many other dishes we wanted to try but we had to stop ourselves from ordering too much for two people. Overall, it was a great meal and at these prices for seafood?! You really...

Location & Access: Situated in the bustling tourist area of Howth, Octopussy’s is right by the seafood market, Howth Market, souvenir shops, and the scenic harbor. The restaurant offers views of the sea, lighthouse, and port, creating a strong maritime vibe. It’s easily accessible by DART (a short walk) and via buses like H3 and 6.

Ambience & Space: The indoor dining area is quite small, with tables packed closely together. The strong seafood aroma indoors combined with the limited ventilation makes it less appealing for those sensitive to smells—an improved air conditioning system would help. The outdoor seating, however, offers a much more pleasant experience, featuring wooden benches and an open, breezy feel.

Cleanliness: The tables were prepared well with condiments already placed (sea salt, pepper, vinegar), which minimized the need for extra requests.

Menu & Pricing: The menu focuses on seafood tapas—mussels, oysters, prawns, calamari, squid, and fish—served in various styles. They also offer soft drinks and a selection of wines that pair well with seafood. Prices were reasonable for a tourist-heavy area. While most items appeared fresh (likely due to high weekend turnover), the food quality was average—nothing particularly unique or standout. A small note: lemon wasn’t served with the mussels by default, which is common elsewhere, so I had to request it.

Staff & Service: The staff member serving us was friendly and hardworking, but visibly overwhelmed. She initially forgot our drinks and only brought them after a second request—likely due to being very busy. Despite that, her attitude was kind.

Accessibility & Extras: The indoor area isn’t wheelchair accessible due to space constraints, but the outdoor seating area is more suitable and accessible for wheelchair users.

Final Thoughts: Octopussy’s is decent for a quick seafood bite in the heart of Howth’s tourist area, especially if you’re sitting outdoors. Don’t expect anything extraordinary, but it works if you’re already exploring the area and want a casual seafood experience with...