Luigi Malones: Modern dining with historical ties
Uniquely, Temple Bar staple Luigi Malones offers patrons an experience normally reserved for museum-goers: an up-close look at Dublin's thirteenth century city wall. Discovered during the restaurant's construction, foundation-diggers uncovered a large section of original wall and incorporated it into the building's basement-level dining area. Upstairs, the atmosphere goes global, with bold colors and modern art on the walls, complemented by a huge dark wood ceiling fan, fashioned from the front propeller of a bygone classic airplane.
Despite the weighty history below, Malones has deftly managed to mingle past, present and future in its fun and accessible dinner menu. In dining rooms on the ground floor, basement and upper mezzanine, diners choose from world cuisine favorites, like entrecote steak, sizzling fajitas or authentic thin-crust pizza, to deliciously diverse options including the spicy, flavor-packed bean balti and BBQ pork and chorizo espetadas.
Appetizers are generous and finger-friendly, with heaped plates of nachos (topped with homemade guacamole and salsa) , buffalo wings, chicken strips (called goujons here, and in many other restaurants in Ireland) and gorgeously creamy leek and potato soup hitting hunger-beating high notes.
Sweet-toothed diners with a little room left at the end of their meal have a delightful selection of desserts to choose from - but topping the charts for most Malones regulars is the rich, creamy Toblerone & Butterscotch Cheesecake.
The restaurant's cheery serving staff work as a well-oiled team, meaning guests won't have to wait for an assigned waiter to refill glasses or clear plates. That same positive sentiment extends to reception, where walk-ins are seated quickly even during busy hours, as well as customer rewards. Here, Malones' diners club and loyalty - er, Royalty card - reward returning patrons €5 gift vouchers for every €50 spent. The card, once activated, can also be used at the chain's Cork and Limerick outposts.
HelloDublin Tip: For those on a budget in Temple Bar, Malones also offers a slimmed down early-bird set menu weekdays from 5-7pm. Packed with smaller portions of main-menu crowd-pleasers, the set menu options include two courses plus tea or coffee for €19.95, or three courses with tea / coffee for €24.95.
Posted by Bridget Reilly
