Peploe's - 16 St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
Set in central, expensive Dublin, Peploe's is a let-me-take-your-coat type of place, yet it doesn't make you plan your every bite so you don't seem anything less than posh. Being comfortably expensive, it provides charismatic and helpful waiters with french and spanish accents, minimal awkward waiting around time and excellent food, of course.
This is their lunch menu,which I was choosing from
What I had:
Brie aux Filo with Cranberries
Vegetable Risotto (alteration of the Dublin Bay Prawn Risotto)
Hot Chocolate Fondant with Caramel Ice-Cream
Drink: 2009 Riesling D'Alsace
Price ~ €35
After being seated, we were given bread and olive oil, which was better than a lot of things in life. That was an excellent start to the meal.
The appetizer - Brie, fried in filo pastry with cranberries was a perfect interpretation of one of my favourite relationships in the world of food. Thin pastry made the dish not too greasy and cranberries were a perfect freshness.
After asking for vegetarian options, I was offered risotto or pasta. I chose the risotto and it was good, but nothing special. I got tomatoes, courgette and capers in it, again, good olive oil (never too much) and a handful of rocket on top. Just a well made, good quality risotto, nothing more, nothing less.
The chocolate fondant was a dreamy dessert, but being quite overwhelming, only in connection with the ice cream. A spoonful of berry coulis gave it that extra kick (even though I am not a huge fan of fruit + chocolate)
I also tried the White Chocolate Crème brûlée which is also really well-made and definitely is a lighter, but sweeter dessert.
Generally, I had a very satisfying meal, both for my taste buds and foodie soul. I loved the service, the environment and the cheese.
Pescetarian heaven. In terms of a vegetarian diet, the menu does not offer a lot, but you can always ask and they will be keen enough to whip something up for you. Vegans will be bored and hungry though.
A.