Girl and the Goose

What can I say? This restaurant was a fantastic discovery.
A quirky little place I spotted during a should we say less than sensible walk back to my hotel during the Dublin Horse Show, I reckoned that it looked like the kind of place that I would like to take a date.
In a way fate seemed to conspire the following day, I didn't get a date but a couple I am friendly with said that they were going to try it and invited us along, so a table of two became a table of five and the team were more than happy to accommodate.
The decor is the quirky kind of cool that I love, and in the bar made of books I was even able to make a suggestion for a book that would fit perfectly into a gap at the top. Because sometimes you have to be shameless.
The menu is an eclectic blend of French and Irish and at one point I was even tempted to go vegetarian as the options sound so moreish. I didn't though and instead opted to go for Goose Croquettes in an apple and celeriac remoulade followed by a Slow Cooked Lamb Shank with lardons and a potato and bacon strudel. If your mouth isn't watering yet it should be.
As a group we would be known to be big eaters so when it came to ordering additional sides our bubbly server stopped us at two because she would only have to throw them out. And she was right, the portions were incredibly generous which was not something one would normally expect when the food is of such high quality.
They had a good selection of beers available, I was delighted to see my old favourite Erdinger on the list, and the wine list was fantastic (yes, I had a pinot noir, and unfortunately I can't review it because I forgot to take a picture of the label and might have been a little tipsy).
The team were attentive and they were running everything to a T, there was no rush in getting our main course out after the starters, we were allowed time to rest before the main event, they were professional in checking up with us but not so professional that they couldn't have a bit of craic too.
The whole place has a friendly atmosphere in a cosy and quirky setting, with food that I really couldn't rave enough about.
And I didn't even mention my rhubarb and strawberry crumble. Nom.

Address
1st Floor, 10 Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Open
All week 12 - 9.30pm (10pm Fri & Sat, 9pm Sun)

Parking
On street, on Herbert Park Road

Website
​​​​girlandthegooserestaurant.ie/