Early Table is always growing - and right now, the newest additions to our platform are some of the most exciting restaurants in the city. Five very different restaurants, five very different reasons to book: a Brazilian rodízio experience that's becoming a Dublin institution, a sleek steakhouse on Mespil Road, a multi-level late-night venue, a Himalayan kitchen that's been winning awards quietly for years, and a Michelin-recognised neighbourhood gem in Harold's Cross.
What they all have in common? Exceptional food, real savings with Early Table, and the kind of evenings you'll be recommending to friends long after the bill is paid.
BAH33
Royal Hibernian Way, Dawson Street, Dublin 2
Brazilian Gaucho BBQ · All-you-can-eat rodízio · Great for group
There is no other dining experience in Dublin quite like BAH33. Tucked just off Dawson Street, this authentic Gaucho rodízio transports you directly to Southern Brazil - and if the restaurant being packed with actual Brazilians every night is any indicator, they're doing it properly.
The concept is beautifully simple: expert passadores move through the restaurant carrying skewers of slow-roasted meats - beef, pork, chicken, lamb - carved directly onto your plate, tableside. You control the pace using the iconic green-and-red card system: green for more (always green), red for a pause. The charcoal open fire is everything here, giving every cut that deep, smoky flavour that just doesn't happen in a conventional oven.
What to order: The rodízio option is the full experience - unlimited cuts until you physically can't continue. The picanha (rump cap) and costela (slow-roasted ribs) are the standouts, but honestly, let the passadores guide you. The salad bar and hot sides add balance to what is otherwise a gloriously carnivorous evening.
"TikTok has done half the marketing for BAH33 - the 'two hours of eating cuts of meat = heaven' review is not an exaggeration. This is a proper occasion restaurant at a price point that makes it genuinely accessible."
Oxhorn Grill
73 Mespil Road, Dublin 4
Modern Steakhouse · Charcoal Josper Grill · Baggot Street area
Oxhorn Grill has been one of the most quietly impressive openings of the past year - a proper steakhouse in Dublin 4 that doesn't need to shout about itself because the food does that for it. Located on Mespil Road, a short walk from Ballsbridge and the Grand Canal, it's become a genuine local favourite and a destination in its own right for anyone who takes their steak seriously.
The kitchen centres on a charcoal Josper grill -the gold standard for steakhouse cooking - which brings a specific depth of flavour and quality of crust that a standard grill simply cannot replicate. The menu goes beyond steak though: scallops, lobster ravioli, prawns, fish and chips, and a sticky toffee pudding that's already earned its own reputation.
What to order: The fillet steak with gambas is the dish reviewers keep coming back to - perfectly cooked, beautifully presented, and a combination that actually makes sense. The scallop starter sets the standard early. Dress code is smart casual; the room matches.
Old Fashioned Sam's
19 Montague Street, Dublin 2
Modern Irish · Multi-level venue · Rooftop terrace & hidden speakeasy · Live music Thu–Sat
Old Fashioned Sam's is one of the most ambitious new venue openings Dublin has seen in years. Sitting at the junction of Harcourt Street and Montague Street, this multi-story destination combines a first-floor restaurant, a heated courtyard with retractable roof, rooftop dining at Laura's Restaurant, and - best of all - Sam's Parlour: a hidden speakeasy-style whiskey and cocktail bar in the basement. Four spaces, one venue, zero reasons to go anywhere else for the evening.
The food is modern Irish with proper ambition - a steak with chimichurri that's drawn comparison to the best in the city, creative brunch options that turn the daytime into its own occasion, and a tasting menu for those who want to settle in and let the kitchen do the work. Live DJs Thursday to Saturday make the later hours feel like a proper night out rather than just dinner.
What to order: The fillet steak with chimichurri is the headline act in the restaurant. If you're coming for brunch, the menu has been drawing strong crowds at weekends. And if the evening is going well, descend to Sam's Parlour for a nightcap - the cocktail list is taken seriously.
For groups: Old Fashioned Sam's is built for it - private rooms, multiple spaces, and a team clearly comfortable hosting larger parties. Corporate events, birthdays, celebrations - it handles everything.
Kathmandu Kitchen
18 Dame Street, Dublin 2
Nepalese & Indian · Award-winning · Temple Bar area · Pre-theatre menu
Not every restaurant on Early Table is a new opening - and Kathmandu Kitchen is proof that sometimes the most rewarding discoveries are the ones that have been quietly excellent for years, right in the middle of the city. Situated at 18 Dame Street, steps from Temple Bar and the Olympia Theatre, this award-winning Nepalese and Indian restaurant has been a local favourite since 2012 and has the accolades to prove it: Best Nepalese Restaurant in Dublin at the Asian Restaurant Awards is not a title given lightly.
What makes Kathmandu Kitchen stand apart is the commitment to authentic flavour - Himalayan herbs and spices, freshly prepared with quality local ingredients, in a kitchen that genuinely understands what Nepalese and Indian cuisine can be when it's done properly. The momos (Nepalese dumplings) alone are worth the trip; the curry selection goes far beyond the usual suspects.
What to order: Ask the staff for guidance - they're knowledgeable, genuinely enthusiastic about the menu, and will steer you toward dishes you might not otherwise try. The momos are non-negotiable. The pre-theatre menu is excellent value, and the Saturday–Sunday weekend feasts are a different kind of occasion entirely.
Good for: Pre-theatre dinners (it's two minutes from the Olympia and close to the 3Olympia), groups who want bold flavour without the fine-dining price tag, or anyone who has been eating the same curry for too long.
Craft Restaurant
Harold's Cross, Dublin 6
Modern Irish · Michelin-recognised · Seasonal & locally sourced · Award-winning since 2016
If there is one restaurant on this list that is genuinely at a different level in terms of culinary credentials, it's Craft. Chef Philip Yeung opened this neighbourhood bistro in Harold's Cross in February 2016, and within months had won Best Newcomer in Dublin at the RAI awards. A Michelin Bib Gourmand followed in 2017, then again in 2018 and 2019. A Michelin Plate recognition in 2021. A track record that few Dublin restaurants can match.
And yet Craft remains, deliberately, a neighbourhood restaurant. The ethos is seasonal and local - ingredients lead, the kitchen follows. The menu changes with the produce available, which means every visit is slightly different and always honest. No unnecessary flourishes, no performance: just exceptional modern Irish cooking served in a relaxed, intimate space in one of Dublin's most characterful south city suburbs.
What to order: The chef's tasting menu is the way to experience Craft at its best - a well-paced sequence of dishes that shows exactly what the kitchen is capable of. The croquettes and venison are regularly cited in reviews. The wine list is small, carefully chosen, and perfectly matched to the food.
Good for: Birthdays, anniversaries, and any occasion worth marking properly. Also genuinely excellent for a Friday night when you want great food without the formality or the city centre prices.
.png)
