The Exchequer Gastro Bar (Dublin, IRELAND) ★★★☆☆

We were supposed to have another big meal tonight but after the fabulous French lunch at two-Michelin-starred Patrick Guilbaud, it was time to take a U-turn for something lighter and less fancy tonight. Opened in 2009, The Exchequer Gastro Bar, on the corner of trendy Exchequer Street and South Great George's Street, is an award-winning gastropub specializes in serving comfort food with a modern twist. It looks like the perfect venue for a quiet dinner following our visit to the nearby Dublin Castle.



We had to wait a bit for our table since we didn't have advance booking. But no problem there since I had the company of this home brewed beer.

Irish seafood chowder – Creamy and hearty dish to start the meal with. Similar to the New England chowder I grew up with back in North America but this was not as thick and gluey.

Cockles and mussels with sourdough bread – A trip to Dublin isn't complete without trying some of their local cockles and mussels. A classic dish available in a lot of the local gastropubs, this definitely didn't disappoint. A simple tossed with white wine already did the trick.

Rabbit pate and garden green – The pate made with rabbit meat was served in little jar along with a small salad and toast topped with pear.

Baked pastry with veal, parsnip purée and vegetables – Our server warned us about the preparation time of this dish but since it came highly recommended, we decided it's worth the waiting time.

To be brutal honest, I didn't like the pastry at all. It was thick and chewy but the veal (cheek) stuffed in the middle was fairly juicy and tender. 

Once again, we ordered way too much food leaving ourselves no room for dessert. So, we decided to quickly settle the bill and take a slow walk back to our room. Hopefully, we can walk our tummy flat before bed time.

Food Rating: 5/10

Price: €€€

Address: 3-5 Exchequer St, Dublin 2, Ireland

Tel: +353 1 670-6787

Website: www.theexchequer.ie

Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 11:00pm daily