QUICK-FIRE SUMMARY
Vibe Check
Pure indulgence and enchantment.
VIP treatment from the second you arrive.
Twinkling conversations amidst a flurry of attentiveness.
Cost For Eats
€720 (4 People – Tasting Menu)
Cost For Booze
€513.80 (This includes 3 x wine pairing, cocktails and coffees)
Booze-Free Options?
Yes! There are booze-free options for wine (red, white & bubbles), beer and cocktails. All are presented with the same style and grace as the alcoholic options, so non-drinkers won’t feel like they are sitting at the kids’ table. Absolutely loved this.
Highlight Dishes
There is literally no way I could pick a highlight dish out of this selection. Every course was an event of its own masterful wonder.
This spot is great for…
Special occasions, nights to remember or when you’ve won big on a scratch card.
If you want to book a table head to…
Bookings are made available in a very small window typically 2 months in advance. Set a reminder in your diary and be online promptly at 9.30am – they book out almost immediately.
You can view the booking windows on their website here.
DISH THE DETAILS…
I have procrastinated extraordinarily hard in an attempt to avoid sitting down and putting virtual pen to paper on this one…I’ve considered consulting the oracle of ChatGPT to help me find the appropriate selection of words that might even come close to summarising the experience of dining at Chapter One Restaurant. Because, quite frankly I have wrestled with an inordinate amount of imposter syndrome here. How could I deign to take on the might of the recently-crowned double Michelin star Dublin institution that is Chapter One?!
It’s simple. I’m not here to break down the flavour balances and techniques that are employed to transform the food that appears in front of you. It’s not my job to try and rationalise the illusion for you. I simply have to try and give you a small glimmer into the enchantment that takes place from the moment you step into this space…because that’s what it is…
IT’S A KIND OF MAGIC
Nestled in the most unassuming corner of Dublin City’s heart, you would be forgiven for walking past Chapter One and never even knowing of its existence. A stairway leading from the entrance to the Writer’s Museum on Parnell Square will transport you into a beating heart of pure luxury and enchanting magic. From the moment we arrived, we felt held by a team who move synchronously like clockwork. We had barely opened the door when we were greeted and escorted through a long corridor into the dining area. Only afterwards we asked…“How did they know we had arrived?!”
The same question could be asked throughout the whole dining experience – “How did they know?”
We felt like the only diners in the restaurant because the service was intuitive, timely…a level of skill that was approaching the extrasensory. A kind of care at attentiveness that cannot be taught, and was blended with humour and style.
I don’t know the first thing about Michelin magic. I’m not supposed to. We’re not supposed to. A lack of knowledge about the transformational process involved is one of the most crucial parts of the enjoyment of this dining experience. You have to suspend belief and trust your dining guides. We opted to not even look at the tasting menu in advance – we rolled with the eight courses as they arrived. Delighted in the subterfuge of flavours.
Such delicate moments of flavour. A meticulous attention to detail with minute flowers, gold leaf, mixed textures, and hidden gems. Each plate is an event, each event with its own story. Chef Patron Mickael Viljanen’s creativity, personality and humour are poured into each dish.
How to summarise this dining experience? Luxurious enchantment. Place your trust in this sorcery and you will be completely transported for a truly special evening.
WANT TO FOLLOW ALONG ON OUR NIGHTS OUT?
You can follow all the craic on Instagram where I am going to be looking for recommendations, shout outs, sharing updates and who knows…maybe running a few competitions along the way. Join us here.
