Lurking with considerable intent on Dublin 8’s brand spanking new Le Pole Square, the Old Town Wine Bar does the Mediterranean-y tapas and small plate thing brilliantly.

With lots of polished wood, mahogany leather, marble-topped tables and a wall of gleaming bottles – the 70-plus vintages on offer include an exceedingly cheeky Zeno Tempranillo – the first wow factor is the room, which has plenty of seats at the bar if you just want to grab a drink. Vis-à-vis the latter, the coconut-infused White Margarita is sex in a glass.

There are more oohs and aahs when, diving into the short, sharp food menu, with the Dingle Bay Crab with Brioche, Pickled Apple and Caviar Mayo and Lissadell Bay Cockles with Mojo Verde both things of briny delight.

Crab, in particular, can be overpowered but the balance of flavours here is perfect.

The Skeghanore Duck comes confit leg-style atop a rich, aromatic Orange, Carrot and Anise puree, which leads to much plate-scraping.

Irish restaurants have a nasty habit of overcooking pasta dishes but the Artichoke Orzo special is perfectly al dente and the dictionary definition of comfort food.

It’s a tough act to follow but the Valrhona Chocolate Tart with Irish Coffee Cream also puts the world – if not your waistline – to rights.

The outdoor terrace will be great come the warmer weather – it will happen! – but the time to visit the Old Town Wine Bar is now while there are still tables to be had.

Old Town Wine Bar

There’s much excitement down Cork way with the Glass Curtain crew announcing the imminent arrival of Birdsong, a farm-to-fork eatery that’ll be taking up residence in the Cornmarket Street space formerly occupied by their Rooftop Farm shop. Leesiders who can’t live without their super-fresh veg boxes will be relieved to hear that that side of the business is now going online.

 

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Not content with serving up some of the best dim sum in Dublin – their Pulled Char Siu Pork Bau will have you purring with delight – the Lucky Tortoise are running Saturday afternoon dumpling rolling classes in their Temple Bar flagship.

Lucky Tortoise Dumpling making classes

Hawksmoor Dublin are up to their poshed-up fast food tricks again with The Big Matt, a double dry-aged beef patty, American cheese, shredded lettuce, onion, homemade pickle and special sauce monster of a burger that comes with beef dripping fries on the side.

It’s part of a new Monday-Saturday lunch menu at the College Green eatery, which for the vegans and veggies among you also includes a cracking Charcoal Roasted Butternut Squash with Shiitake & Oyster Mushrooms and Cashew Ricotta.

Tipple Of The Month

Jameson 40% Triple Triple Chestnut Edition

The Jameson crew celebrated Paddy’s Day with the launch of this triple-distilled limited-edition, which is aged in bourbon, sherry and sweet chestnut casks. The latter adds notes of toffee, cacao and toasted almonds to the liquid, which is as velvety smooth as it is complex.

With the latter in mind, take a little sip, roll it around your tongue and thank the uisce beatha gods for the wonders they have bestowed on us. It’s also great in cocktails – ours is an Old Fashioned, please – and at around €36 is great value for a whiskey of this standard.