A 5 star experience at Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
We hadn’t eaten at any of Ireland’s Michelin starred restaurants before – some places with recommendations but none of the big names. On the weekend of my birthday this year, my husband and I treated ourselves to a child free weekend (my parents are wonderful, generous grandparents who look for every opportunity to have the boys to themselves 
). Dublin was our destination so we chose lunch at Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud on Saturday to celebrate my birthday in style.
Everything about the place is comfortable and stylish. All the staff were perfectly professional and friendly: we shared some rugby banter with Stéphane (he still believes that Brian O’Driscoll is the only Irish player France need to worry about – although maybe Tommy Bowe has made that list now too!) and a couple of tweets with front of house and head chef Kieran Glennon too.
I am not going to describe each dish in detail as I am not a restaurant critic (we both loved every mouthful of what was served right from the bread all the way through to petit-fours) but will instead let the pictures below do the talking. Every morsel was polished off both our plates, our glasses continually topped up, and portion sizes for the whole meal were absolutely perfect – something my husband commented on in particular and a topic I will revisit in the future. We chose the set lunch menu for EUR50 for 3 courses which also includes amuse-bouche and petit fours. Our total bill, including drinks but not service, was EUR132: this experience represented excellent value for money and next time we are going all out on the tasting menu (baby bump restrictions will not apply).
Foie gras with berry foam amuse bouche | Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
Lentil and smoked bacon soup | Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
Rabbit cassoulet starter | Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
Wicklow Venison loin main | Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
Calf's liver with bacon main | Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
Chocolate tart pre-dessert | Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
Petit fours | Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
We strolled down to the Natural History Museum just beyond Government Buildings to stretch our legs after lunch and said hello to Spotticus the Giraffe, wondered at the whale skeletons, and searched in vain for Anto the Dodo (he is currently interred in the upper galleries that are being refurbished). This is a place I remember being awestruck when visiting as a child and I look forward to bringing my boys to visit the “Dead Zoo” very soon.
So nice to see you blogging. Must be the calm before the storm time :0)
The photos are fantastic Karen and I think that getting away for a bit it hour the kiddies always makes it just that bit more special.
Thanks Móna – I just needed the bit of motivation to put the words down again! We try to have a weekend to ourselves each year and thankfully we have very willing babysitters who are only too happy to help. It’s very important to be a little selfish once in a while and spend that time together
Your lunch looks amazing! I’ve never been!
Like you I love the Dead Zoo… the boys will love it!
Good to see you blogging again!
Thanks for the push to get blogging again Margaret. The Natural History museum is fantastic place, I’ve always loved the whale skeletons.
Lunch was absolutely fantastic – flavours were perfectly balanced and service was impeccable. I’d recommend it to anyone.
The liver and bacon put mine to shame!!!!!
It’s a very nice review and definitely the photos are fantastic and the food looks delicious. The price was a bit on the expensive side but considering the food and the presentation might be worthy.
Thanks for sharing the photos and the advice.
Regards.
Thanks for visiting the blog – for the quality of food and service we received, we felt the cost represented excellent value. I’d have no hesitation recommending Guilbaud’s on that basis.
It looks fabulous. We rarely get away on our own (I think we spoil our kids and now they think we do everything as a four instead of staying with grandparents occasionally) but we are 20 years married this year so we’re definitely going to get away for at least one night on our own. Great photos of the food – mmm, I’m starving now!
We treat ourselves to a weekend away on our own each year since we’ve had children. The boys love staying with their grandparents and the grandparents love it even more. 20th anniversary is a great reason to spoil yourselves, Lorna.
We’re booked in here for lunch in two weeks time, really looking forward to it. Can’t justify the expense of the tasting menu though when it’s only about fifteen quid cheaper than The Fat Duck (which has twice as many courses).