The Seafood Café by Niall Sabongi

We walked in and seated at the bar without a reservation on a late Sunday afternoon. The Sunday lunch menu cost 50e for the hake per person, which included two sides, two snacks, and a Bloody/Virgin Mary or Guinness. The snacks/starters of fried baby squid was delicious. The Greek style hake was really good, very happy with that. Our choice of sides (mashed potatoes & tomato salad) were both tasty but the fish had already been served with some potatoes & tomatoes so it was a bit overkill. We were stuffed before the dessert came out, which ended up being an incredible chocolate mousse. The staff were friendly & attentive. The restaurant itself is small, it probably seats about 20 customers inside and perhaps another dozen outside. There is just 1 toilet. I wasn't a fan of the automatic 10% "discretionary" service charge added to the bill, so my rating is not the full 5 stars.

Excellent food; top quality, fresh ingredients. My only gripe would be that they only had Madri lager - something less brand / premium would have been nice. The service was really good; very attentive. Good atmosphere but it’s quite a small place so a little cramped. We sat in the window which was good for people watching but a little awkward when the tour groups stopped by as they were stood directly facing us trying oysters and watching us eat.

Wow, such a great experience in downtown Dublin. Food was fresh and delicious, the details were evident in not only the preparation but also in the creativity of the dishes. Oysters were gorgeous, but the breem steak with chicken butter was a delight, and perhaps one of the best things I have eaten in a while. The chef owner works the kitchen right in front of you (if you are at the counter) and the rest of the staff was helpful and timely. This is a small and cozy location and is very close to, but not too close, to the Temple Bar street. Just an all around, excellent experience!

Super nice place, very small, we enjoyed oysters and a great lobster. Service was fabulous, especially Auguste is an absolute gem. 2 things we didn't like: the fries were underneath the lobster and drenched in fluid, we got an extra portion though to make up for it which was kind, and the house salad was perfectly forgettable. Overall highly recommend, we'll be back!

Was visiting fromDallas and someone suggested I must eat here. First day was impossible because it was an hour wait. We came back the next day with a reservation and were seated immediately. This place is a small seafood spot with only a handful of seats and an intimate setup in the middle of a very touristy area in Dublin. Unfortunately, the experience left much to be desired. The restaurant seemed charming at first glance, but the limited seating meant a long wait to get a table. With just one or two waiters juggling all the orders, service was slow. As for the food, I was disappointed. While I was hoping for fresh and flavorful seafood, the dishes were mediocre at best, lacking the seasoning and attention to detail you’d expect from a dedicated seafood restaurant. The shrimp in my pasta was definitely not well cooked. For the price, I expected much better quality. Overall, the cramped space, extended wait, and average food made this visit underwhelming. I won’t be rushing back anytime soon.

OK... where to start. This has just become my favourite restaurant in Dublin. Simply stunning fresh fish, amazingly well cooked. The oysters were some of the cleanest tasting I've ever had. The Sunday lunch sharing for two was divine. Gunard in a spicy coconut sauce. Stand out. We sat at the bar and got to watch the chefs in action. Just a great experience to add to the food. Snacks of crab claw, house gravadlax, and guiness bread. Chocolate mousse to finish. Literally, there was nothing to mark them down. Friendly, efficient, fun, tasty, and a memorable experience. That's what top restaurants should strive for. Loved it from start to finish. Get the chef's seat at the counter if you can. And enjoy. Feast your eyes on the food photos and book in when you can. Table served dessert was nice and relaxed. @niall... you should be proud. If you need any convincing just check out the bloody mary photo!

We went here on a cold night, and ordered like half the menu. Everything was absolutely delicious. Every dish was packed with flavor and cooked with love by Lucas. A few nights later, we also went to the highly rated Matt the Thresher seafood restaurant, and was totally disappointed (see my separate review). Seafood Cafe was so good, that we went back again the day after Matt the Thresher for lunch. They also have a lunch special menu. Again, every dish was absolutely delicious and freshly cooked to order. Prices were also very reasonable, and worth every penny. Recommend reservations. If you love seafood, this is a must visit

Just happened to stumble on this pearl. No reservation and got a lunch table on Saturday. Oysters with harissa for a starter. Grudgingly shared them with my wife. Seafood chowder was Devine and my wife had a crab roll and fries. Sloshed down with a big glass of piqpul. Great service, great food. We will be back. Xxx