Our two visits were almost three years apart, but there seems to have been no dip in the (very high) quality of food and service at the Winding Stair.

Right on the river, and attached to a bookstore, a meal there was the first thing we booked when we knew we’d be heading back to Dublin.  And we were not disappointed. The ingredients are local and artisanal and beautifully prepared.  

What also struck on our last visit was the smart service – to the point that our waiter politely but firmly told one of us the glass of dessert wine we ordered was a bad idea for the dessert we’d requested, and set us on the right path. Of course choosing the wrong dessert wine is a tiny thing, a ridiculous luxury ‘problem’ – but that interaction also demonstrated the level of respect the staff have for what the restaurant does.  If you’re going to invest in a good meal out, it’s great to invest in people who clearly care enough about what they’re doing to know the customer isn’t always right.