Green 19

Today I had lunch in Green 19, a fresh, lively restaurant on Camden St in Dublin. It's presence in the city is very welcome, no main courses over €10, cocktails all priced @ €9, espresso for €1.50! In these recessionary times, opening a restaurant would seem to be the craziest idea on the planet, but not so here. The decor is fresh & clean, with oak tables and stair treads providing some warmth to the colour scheme. Someone very clever added a small seating area outside, looking out over Camden St - allowing for smokers and sun worshippers to be part of the action. I got there early with my lunch companion to ensure we got a seat and on leaving just after 1pm there was a small queue forming at the door!

We shared a starter of Bluebell Falls Honeyed Fresh Goats Cheese with walnuts & roast pear - oh my word, heaven... I haven't had that particular goats cheese before, but it was creamy, delicately herbed & yummy... The salad leaves were impeccably fresh with a mix of rocket, baby spinach and mustard leaves, a lovely bitter accompaniment to the sweetness of the pear & honey dressing. Main courses were Beer Battered Fish & Chips for me and Braised Lamb Chump with winter root veg & baby potatoes for my eager companion. I was slightly disappointed with the fish - while the batter was perfectly crisp and delicious, the fish itself was somehow a bit soggy and tasteless. The chips were clearly homemade and tasty, if a bit overcooked. The lamp chump was the star of the show, tender and gorgeous with perfectly cooked carrots & parsnips.

Unlike most Irish diners, I did mention my problem with the fish and while the bill remained unaffected, the waitress was genuinely concerned and insisted on telling the chef, which was all I had hoped for. I also got a very sincere apology, more than expected.

Dessert was a must and despite there being only two choices, I managed to make a decision & gorged myself on the Chocolate Brownie with vanilla ice-cream. Oh wow, this was something else. Rich, chocolatey divine slightly gooey brownie, with whole hazlenuts contrasted beautifully with the vanilla icecream. My companion had an espresso and with all of that, plus two glasses of wine the bill came to a very reasonable total of €42.50.

Yum yum, try it if you're in Dublin, truly delicious, with quick discreet service, lively atmosphere and good food at a very reasonable price.