Back to Dublin for the first of my reports on non-Asian food eaten there (my previous reports have been of Persian/Kurdish food, dim sum and South Indian food). This report on the very popular Fish Shop on Benburb Street actually covers meals eaten across two summers. The family and I were in Ireland for six weeks this summer on an off-campus program I was co-leading; and the previous summer, my co-leader and I had visited for a week to survey the scene, as it were. Somehow I never got around to posting any reports on the eating done on that trip—perhaps because I got Covid when I got home and lost track of a lot of things. Anyway, my colleague and I enjoyed our dinner at Fish Shop in July 2022 very much indeed, and there was not much doubt that I’d go back to it again on the longer trip with the family in tow. And so it came to pass that we ate lunch there in July 2023. Here’s a quick look at both meals.
Fish Shop had its beginnings in a shed in a market just about a decade ago. Since 2015 they have been at their current location on Benburb St. They are a combo wine bar and seafood specialist. The food menu nominally changes daily but from what I could tell from looking at the menu two summers apart, there’s a fair bit of stability on it (or maybe the non-summer offerings vary quite a lot more than the menus at these two meals both eaten in July did).
They are known for the quality of their fish and chips, and it would be a mistake to not make a plate of fish and chips the center of your meal there. At the first meal my colleague ate the plaice and chips and I enjoyed the haddock. On the second visit, the boys split and enjoyed the haddock while the missus and I split and enjoyed the hake. However, I may have liked their small plates even more. At the first meal, the squid + capers on toast and the anchovy and Russian salad on toast were both ace. At the second meal we ordered more small plates (hence the split fish and chips mains). The dressed crab on toast had not been available in 2022 and so I was very glad to see it on the go in 2023. It was very good, as was the lightly battered and fried calamari. The stars of this round, however, were the smoked haddock croquettes and the cockles with sherry and chorizo (served with toasted bread to mop up the sauce). In 2022 there had been no desserts offered. This summer they had lemon posset with raspberries and shortbread. We ate it and it was excellent.
Only water to drink on the first visit. At the second I had a small glass of a very nice Spanish orange wine; the boys had soft drinks.
For a look at the restaurant and what we ate and drank, click on an image below to launch a larger slideshow. Scroll down for thoughts on service and to see how much it all cost.
As may be apparent from the photos, Fish Shop is a smart but casual setup. All the seating is at counters—either at the bar or right behind it, alongside a wall covered in wine bottles. Service is likewise casual but smooth and professional. Cost? The dinner in July 2022 came to roughly 27 euros each before tip. Lunch in July 2023 came to roughly 25 euros each before tip. Both very good deals for the quality, and especially in Dublin where prices are not low. I would recommend them highly if you’re in Dublin and enjoy seafood. Just remember: they’re closed on Tuesdays.
Alright, I’ll have another Dublin report next week; perhaps of another restaurant I ate at in both 2022 and 2023. This weekend I hope to get at least one more Italy report out, if not two. Let’s see how it goes.