Stitch and Bear

A long-running Irish blog with reviews of the best restaurants in Dublin and throughout Ireland. Some wine and cocktails thrown in for good measure!

Saturday, February 28, 2015

[Review] Fallon & Byrne at the People's Park, Dun Laoghaire

We had driven to Dun Laoghaire with the intention of a having a nice brisk walk along the seafront and taking a goo at the controversial new library. After walking all around the new venue, I quite disliked the cold, bleak exterior of the library, but really liked the wide open inside space, with lots of room for daytime readers. I'd love to see this new resource becoming a big part of the Dun Laoghaire community.

As well as building a new library, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is also currently engaged in restoring the famous People's Park to its original historic layout. The classically beautiful Victorian Tea Rooms pavilion has been refurbished and now hosts Fallon & Byrne's second restaurant (the first being their multi-storied home on Exchequer Street). In order to prepare for its new role, the pavilion has been extended with a lightweight glass structure to allow natural light to flood in, while the beautiful original features are retained. In addition to the restaurant, there's also a cafe/takeaway section stocked with sandwiches and salads where customers can quickly grab and go.
Interior at Fallon & Byrne at the People's Park
Following our walk, we managed to arrive at the Tea Rooms just in time to order from the lunch menu. A large salad of seared tuna salad with asian vegetables, sesame and soy dressing came stacked high on the plate with two decent-sized tuna steaks. A roasted skate wing offered up plenty of meat, along with tasty capers and braised leeks. I love skate wing, especially when served like this with lots of lemony, sharp butter and vinegary capers. 
Skate wing with braised leeks
Seared tuna salad with asian vegetables
Overall, Fallon & Byrne have done a good job here (as you would expect). They will cater to many different groups with this location; the morning coffee crowd, the ladies who lunch, followed by evening diners. When finer weather rolls around, it will be possible to sit on the terrace, or grab something from the deli to eat in the park itself. 

Personally, I know I'll be back on a sunnier day to sit out and watch the sunlight twinkle on the sea.

Fallon & Byrne, The People's Park, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
Tel + 353 (0)1 230 3300
URL: www.fallonandbyrne.com
Twitter: @FallonandByrne
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