Christof's Blog: Review: L'Gueuleton, Dublin, Ireland

It is Dine in Dublin week, so many restaurants have great offers and let you explore their menu for very reasonable prices. One of the pearls taking part this year is l'Gueuleton, a French eatery located on Fade Street next to Hogan's. So we took a culinary trip to the continent to try it out.

The atmosphere: The restaurant has two large rooms with plenty of seating available. Reservations are only made for large parties, so come early or you might have to wait a bit on the nice bar with a view of the open kitchen. The design is nice with a few cues towards the French theme. If you come later in the evening, when it becomes quieter, it is also a nice place to enjoy a glass (or bottle) of nice wine and have a tête à tête.

The noms: The dine in Dublin menu offered a good variety of their usual classics and was really good value for money. I will quote the normal list prices if available, to give you an idea of what you have to shell out for a nice bite to eat. I had the French Onion Soup with Gruyére Croute (7,80 €), which would actually be great if you drop in for a late night glass of wine and you don't want to start drinking on an empty stomach. The hearty broth was great and the classic combination with the cheesy baguette is a great way to warm you up on cold evenings. In my opinion it could have done with a tad less salt, but that is merely a minor critique. My colleagues had the Baby Spinach, Smoked Gubeen, Fresh Pear and Walnut Salad (8,50 €), which comes in a smaller portion and is probably the healthier choice compared to the rather heavy onion soup. We also tried the Guinea Fowl and Wild Mushroom Terrine with Tarragon Gribiche (9,00 €), which I haven't tried, but my colleague said was perfectly seasoned and accompanied by a nice homemade bread.

As a main, I chose the Moroccan Spiced Lamb with Sweet Potato Chips and Mint Yogurt (19,50 €). The meat was extremely tender and had a nice texture. Especially the combination between the Maghreb spices and the light mint sauce on the side was very nice. Personally, I thought that the sweet potatoes were not the perfect side for this dish and would have preferred something more crispy and savoury. The portion size was perfect for a three course menu, but as a standalone main for almost 20 €, I would say it is rather on the pricey side. We also tried the Roast Stonebass with Fennel and Castletownbere Crabmeat Bake and Vine Tomato Concassé (19,50 €), which was tender and here the main/side combination completely hit the spot. I especially liked the presentation with the crab pincer.

For deserts I had the Lemon Tart with Raspberry Sorbet (no menu price available), which I was warned would be sweet, but was actually not too sweet and had a very nice tangy citrus-taste.

The verdict: A little escape to the country of haute cuisine in this bistro is best done as a couple and late in the evening, accompanied by a bottle of wine from their good menu. The food was really good, although I think without the special Dine in Dublin week, it would have been a tad overpriced.

Ambience: 7 out of 10
Food: 8 out of 10
Value: 6 out of 10 (with the special offer 10/10)