Having a birthday during the summer break inevitably resulted in a childhood filled with absent friends who were off on their vacations and missing out the privilege of a day off from schoolwork – an experience I still discuss with my therapist. The customary family celebration was always scheduled, potentially a picnic brimming with delightful treats, which invariably concluded with a trip to the emergency room, one of the perils of having an overly-enthusiastic kid.
I find birthdays delightful and this year, since my sister’s birthday is only a week after mine, an early joint celebration was organised. With a few sunny days as an indicator that summer might have finally graced us, I decided on The Garden Room at The Merrion Hotel as our party venue. The Garden Room, although a more relaxed option in the Merrion Hotel, boats a spectacular outside terrace with a view of a fountain and Rowan Gillespie’s sculpture of James Joyce. The sense of being at a lavish secret spot in the centre of Georgian Dublin is strengthened when the doors are left ajar.
Although our plans were dampened by rainfall on the day of our reservation, being seated adjacent to the window was almost as delightful. We took the chance to appreciate the striking artwork displayed on the walls, including Roderic O’Connor’s Red Rocks and Foaming Sea, William Scott’s Irish Still Life, and Colm Middleton’s Woman in Red. Recalling a tour of the hotel’s prized art collection, expertly guided by a curator from the National Art Gallery, I was struck by its magnificence.
As for the menu, it’s typical of a hotel restaurant – with a range of meat, fish, and vegetarian specialty dishes. Although I’m not keen on the prominence of farmed fish, my sister Olive immediately chose the sole on the bone (€54), which is a trademark dish.
Leading the way, we tried appetisers. We opted for Green Gazpacho served with Chipotle Cream, attractively priced at €13.50. This soup, aptly suited for a summer meal, is vegan and didn’t disappoint. The savoury blend of pureed cucumber, celery, spinach, and green pepper comes with tiny cucumber cubes, thin radish slices and avocado puree mixed in. Enhancing its freshness, coriander and lemon juice join the mix, and to our surprise, a tinge of harissa sauce adding a soft heat is revealed.
Opting for another starter, Smooth Chicken Liver and Foie Gras Parfait (€16.50) proved to be a luxury, with a blend of rich taste contrasted by grilled pineapple and pineapple salsa; a hint of red chilli making all the difference.
Our main course of Black Sole was a spectacle to behold. Grilled to perfection, this dish derives its golden hue from bountiful basting with butter. It is topped with rare brown shrimp and crunchy capers that amp up the flavour. The perfectly sautéed spinach beneath, seasoned with garlic and butter, merges beautifully with oven-roasted potatoes served in a statement copper pot. We paired it with a bottle of Domaine Pellehaut Chardonnay (€42), and it was a delightful combination.
I chose a meat dish – a Herb-Crusted Roasted Lamb Round (€38). Accompanied with peas, broad beans, pea puree, microgreens, and lamb jus, this dish uses lean topside roast from the hind leg, which while not the softest part of the lamb, is packed with flavour.
No meal is complete without dessert, hence we decided to share a Peach and Raspberry soufflé (€16.50)- a visual treat that was impressively puffed up. The waitress elegantly opened it at our table, pouring in a peach sauce. The airy soufflé served with the sauce and raspberry sorbet offered a delightful finale to our meal.
The Garden Room is an under-the-radar location suitable for special events. It’s a tranquil spot for an intimate dinner, a family rendezvous or a delightful tête-à-tête with a cherished sibling or friend. The pricing mirrors the ambiance, the laid-back environment and the complete seclusion for several blissful hours. On a sunny day, one could sit outside on one of Dublin’s loveliest terraces to dine.
A meal for two inclusive of a bottle of wine is priced at €180.50.
– The summary: Exquisite cuisine served on a hidden terrace in Georgian Dublin
– Origin of Ingredients: Sourced from Kish Fish, Glenmar, Marine Harvest, and Pat McLaughlin meat
– Options for Vegetarians: Green gazpacho and Thai green curry paired with vegetables and jasmine rice
– Accessibility: Fully wheelchair-friendly including restrooms
– Background Tunes: Jazz tunes.