92 Ranelagh, Dublin 6, Ireland.

Arrived for our reservation on a Sunday evening at 8:15pm to no waiting, which is always a bonus, but not always a given in Dublin.

Situated in an converted butchers in Ranelagh, The Butcher Grill is the newest venture by the people behind Dillingers. The decor is plain wood and the original shop tiles. Seating is at the bar or a selection of high tables with stools and benches.

The staff are full of smiles, very friendly and don’t make it an overly formal experience. From making drinks that were not on their menu to their general attentiveness, they helped make the experience extremely pleasant.

For drinks we had a Martini and a Gimlet. The Gimlet was not on the menu, but the tender did an excellent job with it.

To start we had the baby back ribs and four oysters on the half shell. My companion assures me the oysters were wonderful. The baby back ribs were delicious, the sauce was great, so much so, I found myself mopping it up with the entree bread we were given upon sitting down.

Main course was the strip-loin surf and turf medium rare for both. The steak was served on a wooden board with the prawns, in shell, on top with just the right amount of sauce.

The prawns were lovely, the sauce neither too busy nor too heavy. For someone who isn’t normally so fond of the strip-loin cut, the steak was great and brought no complaints.

Desert was an amaretto fogatto – homemade icecream in a martini glass with espresso and amaretto poured over it. A first for me and a wonderful combination.

Having arrived relatively late in the evening for a restaurant whose kitchen closes at 9:30 – we were left hassle free to drink and relax in our own time with no pressure to leave from the staff who were always up for a little bit of banter.

It is worth noting that while the restaurant says children are welcome until 6pm, with the high stools and tables I can’t really see how this would be comfortable. It is also, perhaps, a little on the pricey side for some. You can do it for between €20 – €40 per person, but for a full meal with drinks and wine, you could be spending quite a bit in comparison with some of the other places around the city.

The Butcher Grill is a superb addition to both the Ranelagh night life and the greater Dublin. I will be going back when I can. Try and go here.

Check here for The Butcher Grill website for photos and menus